A Mixed-Use Overlay (MU) zone is hereby created and added to the development opportunities allowed on all properties as specified herein to provide areas within the City where mixed-use development may be constructed in order to implement the City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element. The intent of the MU zone is to encourage vibrant, walkable communities, increase the availability of for-sale and/or for-rent housing choices in the City, while preserving the vitality of existing commercially and industrially zoned areas of the City. Mixed-use developments may also include amenities for residents, open space areas, internal circulation programs, and parking facilities as specified. The objectives of the Mixed-Use Overlay (MU) zone shall be as follows:
A.
Expand the options and opportunities for commercially zoned properties by allowing for combinations of commercial and multi-family residential uses on the same lot subject to specific objective standards, rules, and procedures.
B.
Create the potential for more intensive development in certain commercial and industrial areas, while providing transitional spaces between mixed-use developments and existing single-family residential zones.
C.
Retain and bolster the City’s commercial tax base by encouraging commercial uses that focus on providing goods and services at the neighborhood and regional level.
D.
Plan for projects that achieve the desired neighborhood character through appropriate architectural design.
E.
Affirmatively further fair housing by expanding housing choices for the City’s diverse populations.