City of San Antonio Design Districts and Form Based Zoning Policy

1. Design Districts &
Form Based Zoning
City of San Antonio
Department of Planning and Community Development
August 2012 1

2. Urban Design Districts
 Arts & Entertainment
Districts
 Corridor Overlays
 Neighborhood
Conservation District
Overlays
 Form Based Zoning
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3. Design Districts within ICRIP
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4. Arts & Entertainment Districts
4 Special Zoning Districts
 Currently applied along East
Commerce Street and the eastern
reaches of Houston Street
 Support a vibrant, mixed-use
urban neighborhood centered
around existing arts &
entertainment venues
 Encourage reinvestment
 Ensure private development
reflects the public investment in
the area
 Ensure new uses are compatible
with the surrounding
neighborhood
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5. Corridor Overlay Districts
Distinct development and
signage standards along
commercial corridors to improve
aesthetics
 Hill Country Gateway – IH10 W
 Northeast Gateway – IH 35 N
 HWY 151 Gateway – SH 151
 Roosevelt Metropolitan Corridor
 Bulverde Preservation Corridor
 S. Presa Metropolitan Corridor
 Austin Hwy/ Harry Wurzbach
Metropolitan Corridor
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6. Neighborhood Conservation Districts
Zoning overlay to address the appropriateness of
new construction in established residential
neighborhoods and commercial areas
 Define unique character
and features
 Promote compatible infill
development
 Protect neighborhood
integrity
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7. Form Based Zoning District – River North
Rezoning implemented the
River North District Master Plan
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8. Form Based Zoning
Use Form Use Form
Conventional Form Based
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9. Transect Zones
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10. Form, Use and Walkability
 Urban form that
complements area and
encourages pedestrian
activity
 Variety of uses within
walking distance
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11. Flexibility and Form
 Mix of uses
 Uses can change without rezoning
 Protect investment
– Predictability
– Consistency
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12. Form of Streets & Sidewalks
Conventional Zoning Form-Based Code
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13. Development Process
 DPCD assists in the plan review process, in conjunction
with reviews by other disciplines
 Overall permitting timeline remains the same
 Consolidated Review Committee (FBZD ONLY)
– Multi-department, multi-agency working group
– Provides a single interface between applicant and
departments/agencies
– Reviews and discusses plans and plats one-on-one with
applicant
– Issues a recommendation to the approval authority
– Does not have the authority to vary development standards
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14. Consolidated Review Committee
 Planning & Community Development
 Development Services: Zoning, Engineering (Streets & Trees),
Land Entitlements, Plan Review
 Applicable Local School Districts
 Historic Preservation
 City Architect
 Capital Improvements Management Services
 Parks and Recreation Department
 Bexar County
 CPS Energy
 SAWS
 Public Works: Streets, Stormwater, and Disability Access
 Fire Department
 VIA Metropolitan Transit
 Office of Environmental Policy: Bicycle
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15. Texas Cities with Form Based Codes
 Addison
 El Paso
 Farmers Branch
 Fort Worth
 Hutto
 Leander
 Little Elm
 McKinney
 Mesquite
 San Antonio
 San Marcos
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