(a) General. City Council, consistent with the mission and findings of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, and being mindful of the proud history of Urbana and of the importance of the downtown's character and architectural heritage in the every day lives of its citizens and in promoting business and economic development hereby declares as a matter of public policy that the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, development and redevelopment of the downtown are matters of public necessity involving the health, safety, and welfare of its residents and businesses.
The purpose of this Chapter, the "City Center Heritage Overlay District", is to:
(1) Provide supplemental regulations or standards which are consistent with the City's intent to guide public and private actions within the Overlay District in terms of redevelopment and re-use of existing land and structures, new development, and the preservation of the area's historic character and architecturally significant structures. These supplemental regulations are in addition to "base" or underlying zoning district regulations applicable in the "B-3 Central Business District". Whenever there is a conflict between the regulations of the underlying district and those of the overlay district, the overlay district regulations will control;
(2) Provide a more flexible instrument which governs development by the urban design principles and guidelines of building placement, building form and character, access and parking placement, and the availability of pedestrian amenities to establish and support a pedestrian-friendly shopping and civic center, contrary to conventional development control strictly by type of use;
(3) Maintain and enhance the distinctive character of the Overlay District by safeguarding the architectural integrity of the various period structures within it, and to prevent intrusions and alterations within the Overlay District that would be incompatible with the established character; and
(4) Provide for a means of design review for those aspects of redevelopment and new development within the Overlay District in order to ensure compatibility with the District's character, scale, building fabric, and historic architectural elements, in an effort to achieve a more attractive and viable business and civic environment for the City's residents and visitors.
(b) Objectives. The City Center Heritage Overlay District is specifically designed to:
(1) Maintain, promote and ensure Urbana's downtown as its historic business and civic center.
(2) Provide for increased opportunities and land use efficiency for redevelopment, new development and business development expansion.
(3) Assist property owners to rehabilitate their property and receive tax credits.
(4) Protect property and private investment.
(5) Encourage a viable and compatible mix of commercial, business, office, and residential uses in the district.
(6) Discourage the use of property with small and isolated free-standing structures oriented primarily to automobile traffic.
(7) Discourage the development of building additions and new construction which require large buildings, incompatible with the character and scale of the district.
(8) Maintain a continuous building form, parallel to the street, and without setbacks from the right-of-way.
(9) Prevent abrupt and severe differences and change in the character of development.
(10) Enhance the distinguishable character and scale of Urbana's city center.
(11) Protect the historically significant and other contributing structures and promote their longevity as a viable resources for re-use and redevelopment.
(12) Allow the application of performance standards to development and redevelopment so as to mitigate any adverse impacts on adjacent areas and the overall district.
(13) Promote public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. 4084. Passed 4-13-99.)