(A) The Waterfront Development Corporation shall review any developmental activity within the waterfront review overlay district as provided in §§ 162.40 through 162.48. The review by the Corporation is limited to the policies and standards established in §§ 162.40 through 162.48 and shall not include any consideration of whether the use is appropriate under the zoning regulations.
(B) The Board shall review all plans for conformity with the design standards established in § 162.48, and, in addition, shall consider whether the developmental activity is compatible with the overall scheme of development for the waterfront area. In making that determination, the Board shall be guided by the following policy statements of basic goals and concepts for the Waterfront Review District:
(1) Unified public spaces. The waterfront and adjacent lands in the district should be planned in a coordinated manner, with connected open-space systems, pedestrian ways, and public activity areas. Landscape concepts and details of materials and construction shall be related to convey a sense of harmony and unity.
(2) Continuity and coordinated private development. Design theme and aesthetic concept should both exhibit a relationship to the waterfront, and be coordinated with adjacent development. As appropriate, circulation systems should have continuity between parcels.
(3) Public accessibility to river’s edge. The Ohio River water’s edge should be accessible to the public for view and use throughout the W-1 and W-2 areas, and is preferred, where practicable, in the C-1 portion of the W-3 area.
(4) River’s edge treatment. The waterfront is viewed as the city’s front door and the face of the community. The quality of its appearance is important. The views from the river, I-71, I-64 and other vantage points are to be considered in design.
(5) River Road Parkway. River Road serves as a main entrance to the city and as an access road to the waterfront. This resource should be developed as a unified visual experience, in the tradition of the city’s existing parkway system.
(6) Downtown connection. The Central Business District (CBD) of the city should be tied directly to the waterfront through pedestrian and vehicular connections.
(7) River’s edge concept. From the wharf and Belvedere area to the outer limits of the WRO area, the character of the river’s edge will change from an urban “hard edged” setting to a natural and naturalized landscape appearance.
(8) River Road Parkway concept. The parkway is viewed as a human-made linear open space serving as a major entry to the city. From downtown to Zorn Avenue the character is expected to range from an urban tree-lined and lighted boulevard scene, through a transitional multi-use developed setting, to a naturalized open-space appearance.
(Lou. Metro Ord. No. 66-2004, approved 6-3-2004; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 265-2007, approved 11-26-2007; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 194-2018, approved 10-30-2018)