Model TOD Zoning Ordinance (PDF, 3.7 MB) - Reconnecting America

Model Transit-Oriented District Overlay Zoning Ordinance ■ June 29, 2001strategy for these types of stores, which often include prepared foods sections within their store,allows shoppers to drink coffee and dine in indoor and outdoor facilities. Moreover, Andronico’sMarkets have been innovating store designs that allows multiple entrances and unobstructedwindows to face the street, while also providing entrances to parking lots placed at secondarystreets or rear parking structures.10. Uses Requiring Large BuildingFootprintsA suggested maximum has been set for building footprints, but there are several issues that arejust as important to consider as building size. These can be divided into two categories: reasonswhy large-scale buildings are prohibited from TODs and reasons why exceptions could be made.For commercial uses it is not so much the use that should be prohibited, but the manner in whichit can be placed within a pedestrian-oriented setting.The major concern is that buildings should not be sited so they interrupt the desired pedestrianflow from the transit platform and station area to surrounding transit-supportive uses.10.1 Reasons for ProhibitionUses that require large building footprints are typically selling large-scale goods or largequantities of goods requiring the use of an automobile to carry merchandise home. As a result,floor area to parking ratios will demand larger parking lots as floor area expands. Moreover, toadvertise the fact that they have ample parking, such uses will typically face parking lots towardsthe street making connections between the sidewalk and the store entrance difficult, and removingactive building frontage from the sidewalk. Some “big box power centers” with multiple largeformat stores have site plans that result in arterial streets being more than an 1/8 of a mile awayfrom store entries.Large floor areas and parking lots elongate walking distances making accessibility to a variety ofdifferent uses by foot (trip linking) more difficult. In addition, large-scale goods and largequantities require stores to maximize their display area often sacrificing a street presence asinterior walls are used for display and storage. This creates an internalized orientation that, likeindustrial uses, turns a blank façade to the street. As pedestrians are naturally not the primaryclients of interest, large-scale, mass production can be devoid of architectural detailing andinterest, exacerbating the lack of interest created by an internal orientation.10.2 ExceptionsExceptions can be found where uses that are more typically found in auto-oriented settings havebeen designed to fit within a pedestrian setting. These are typically retailers who sell goods thatValley Connections ■ Chapter V ■ Page 11