FAR, Mid-Cities, MR-800b

Posted August 6th, 2007 by AIASD Admin
in

Posted by John Doe 08-28-2006, 09:58 PM

I am allowed to have (up to) an FAR of 1.25. The FAR is further delineated by the front 40% and rear 60% of the lot.

In my thinking, based on reading the definitions of FAR in the definitions sections of the Land Development Code, ("numerical value obtained by dividing the gross floor area of all buildings on a premises by the total area of the premises...") I should be able to take .75 of 1.25 and put it on the front 40% of the lot.

I ran this by a colleauge and they said no, I need to take the area of the front 40% and .75 of that is what can be built in the front of the lot. I think he's crazy but he assures me he's correct.

Which one of us is right on this?

FAR bonus and set backs in Mid-Cities PDO ›

Response

On August 6th, 2007 AIASD Admin says:

Posted by Kevin Pollem 10-28-2006, 10:38 AM

This is another example of unclear language in the Muni-Codes. The PDOs are the worst. Of course, to the people at the city, the language is perfectly clear.

Anyway, your colleague is correct.

Section 103.1505(c)(D) of the Mid-City Communities Planned District reads,
"In the MR-800B zone, the FAR in the front 40 percent of a lot shall be limited to 0.75"

GROSS floor area is defined as a percentage of the entire lot but here we are just talking about the Floor Area Ratio which adds to the confusion.

Perhaps the code should read:
"In the MR-800B zone, the FAR in the front 40 percent of a lot shall be limited to .75 multiplied by 40% of the total lot area."? __________________
Kevin Pollem, AIA
http://www.fakturaarchitecture.com