Review continues of Triangle District's mixed use
By Grace Lovins
Review of the mixed-use requirements in Birmingham’s Triangle District continued on Wednesday, May 22, as the city’s planning board discussed short term and long term components of the current ordinance they want to address.
The board began looking at mixed-use requirements in the city’s Triangle District in October of last year. Discussions were brought up over concerns that buildings were not adequately proportioned in terms of their uses, activated frontage was lacking and allowing developments bonus stories for receiving a LEED certification was not working well for the city.
Planning director Nick Dupuis kicked off the discussion by revisiting some of the items that were previously discussed by the board during the Wednesday, May 8, meeting, which included some of the recommendations in the city’s 2040 plan and the 2007 Triangle District Urban Design Plan.
Dupuis listed multiple recommendations in the meeting packet: public parking, sustainability, transit access, affordable housing, public amenities, such as parks and open space, urban design, mixed use, historic preservation and child care.
Focusing on the potential short term, chair Scott Clein said that he thinks the best option at the time was to work with the five considerations that are already laid out in the current ordinance and make slight changes as appropriate.
Other board members brought up additional items they felt should have more immediate attention. Board member Janelle Boyce said she would be more comfortable with removing the options for developers to gain two extra floors if they earn a LEED certification. She said the certification should just be the city’s standard and the current state is just a giveaway of two extra floors.
Board member Bryan Williams said they should really focus on the commercial uses in the district, saying the entire board is unhappy with the situation they are currently in. Clein suggested the board move forward with short term items next, and then move on to discuss other items like LEED and commercial uses that will require more study.
The board took no formal action but will continue discussions on short term and long term solutions in the future.