Project Background
Central Atlanta Progress has partnered with the City of Atlanta on an initiative to review and update the current zoning regulations that govern the physical growth and development of Downtown. The need to evaluate the current SPI-1 zoning Downtown has been identified repeatedly through multiple comprehensive planning efforts that Central Atlanta Progress and others have sponsored. Central Atlanta Progress has taken the lead to procure the required funding and to assemble a team to implement this recommendation.

The scope of the Downtown Livability Code initiative involves reviewing current and future land uses and development patterns in conjunction with prior comprehensive planning efforts. This background information and input will provide the basis for drafting text amendments to the City of Atlanta Zoning Ordinance. This process will result in a set of proposed changes to the current code that will be submitted for review, comment and adoption by City Council. The goal is to revise the current zoning regulations, as needed, for Downtown in order to reflect the desire and vision of Downtown stakeholders. Goals include:

• Create a vibrant Downtown environment where people can live, work, meet and play.
• Promote a mix of uses that support pedestrian activity and human interaction
• Provide development standards for the street environment to enhance the public realm and encourage pedestrian activity throughout Downtown.
• Streamline the permitting process for projects Downtown with a clear, easy to understand code that reduces the need for variances and re-zonings.

What is an SPI?
The majority of Downtown is currently zoned within three SPI districts. SPI - an abbreviation for Special Public Interest - is a City of Atlanta zoning designation. SPIs are designated districts of the city where the community has come together to create an ordinance that reflects the community's vision for the future development of that area. SPIs are separate zoning districts, not an overlay. The ordinances that govern them are adopted as part of the City's zoning code and supplant any previous zoning designations except Historic District designation and corresponding oversight by the Urban Design Commission.

Atlanta SPI zoning districts typically include regulations that govern:

• Use restrictions including a specific list of permitted uses and uses requiring special use permits
• Building design specifications including allowable bulk, density, and sometimes façade design requirements
• Streetscape requirements including lighting, screening, trees, setbacks, and yard requirements
• Parking requirements
• Open and public space requirements
• Affordable housing and mixed-use requirements

The current SPI-1 district covers the majority of Downtown Atlanta. SPI-13 was adopted several years ago for the area surrounding Centennial Olympic Park. Other zoning designations within the Downtown Livability Code's study area are SPI-2 around the North Avenue MARTA station and several commercial designations.

Who is involved?
The Central Atlanta Progress and City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning staffs along with the consultant team of Tunnell Spangler Walsh and Urban Collage, Inc. have designed a process that we hope will involve all concerned and interested stakeholders. In addition to soliciting input and feedback from all interested parties through the focus area meetings, Advisory and Working Committees have been established to guide the process. These committees comprise representatives from the following groups:

• Downtown property owners
• Large and small Downtown businesses
• Private and public development community
• Downtown resident groups: Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association, the Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association, Central Atlanta Neighbors and the Marietta Street Artery Association.
• Georgia State University
• MARTA
• Hospitals: Crawford Long and Grady
• Atlanta Housing Authority and the Atlanta Development Authority
• Fulton County, State of Georgia and the Federal Government
• Trees Atlanta, PEDS and PATH
• Midtown Alliance

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