The Vine Street Transitional (VST) District is intended to provide compact, appropriate-scaled buildings along the west side of Vine Street in Crestline Village for detached single-family, attached single-family (townhouse dwelling), professional and business offices and mixed use (residential above office). The district may be applied to sites which can establish an effective transition from the Local Business District in Crestline Village to adjacent residential neighborhoods and the Crestline Elementary School site. The district is intended to provide a high degree of pedestrian connectivity within Crestline Village to increase accessibility and patronage of businesses, and to enhance the pedestrian character of Crestline Village.

The Vine Street Transitional (VST) District is also intended to emphasize lot frontages, and the orientation, location, and façade design of the buildings, as a key determinant of development that is transitionally compatible with the neighboring Local Business, Residence-A, Residence-C and Recreation Districts, and a key element in shaping the transitional character and streetscape of Vine Street in Crestline Village.

The VST District may be applied to those properties abutting the west side of Vine Street in Crestline Village, as that village is defined by reference to the village boundary line for Crestline Village in section 129-557 of the City Code.

(Ord. No. 1899, § 1, 11-12-2013)

The uses permitted in the Vine Street Transitional District shall be as follows:

(1)

Detached single-family dwellings;

(2)

Attached single-family dwellings (townhouse dwelling units);

(3)

Professional offices;

(4)

Business offices;

(5)

Mixed use, with residential uses above office uses;

(6)

The uses in any of the above permitted uses may be condominium units;

(7)

Accessory structures and accessory buildings customarily incidental to the above permitted uses.

(Ord. No. 1899, § 1, 11-12-2013)

(a)

Minimum dimensions of parcel.

(1)

Minimum area of parcel .....7,500
square
feet

(2)

Minimum width of parcel at all points between the street line and the front setback line .....50 feet

(3)

Minimum number of feet of the parcel which must abut a street .....50 feet

(b)

Minimum yards and building setbacks.

(1)

Minimum front (primary) yard setback .....5 feet

(2)

Minimum front (secondary) yard setback .....8 feet

(3)

Minimum rear yard setback .....5 feet

(4)

Minimum side yard setback:

Zero feet if party wall;

Five feet for end units or a detached single-family dwelling.

(5)

An enhanced primary entrance feature may extend up to five feet beyond the permitted and constructed front building line of the building provided that:

a.

It occupies no more than 30 percent of the front façade (primary or secondary) of the lot;

b.

It remains unenclosed, with no fixed windows or screens;

c.

Any roof structure on or associated with the feature is up to one and one-half stories;

d.

It is designed as an extension of the primary building using the same foundation, building materials, architectural styles and ornamentation as the primary building.

The front lot line shall be deemed to be the edge of the adjacent public right-of-way.

(c)

Building limitations.

(1)

Maximum building area:

For detached single-family dwellings: 60 percent of the total area of the parcel, reduced by additional open space required by section 129-554 for residential uses.

For attached single-family dwellings (townhouse dwellings): 80 percent of the total area of the parcel, reduced by additional open space required by section 129-554 for residential uses.

For office and mixed use: 80 percent of the total area of the parcel, reduced by additional open space required by section 129-554 for residential uses.

(2)

Maximum building height .....36 feet

At any and all points, the maximum external building height shall be measured from the existing grade of the sidewalk at the lot frontage, or the proposed grade at the front building line, whichever is lower.

(3)

Maximum number of stories .....none

(4)

Maximum allowable density: One dwelling unit per 2,500 square feet of land contained in the parcel

(5)

All rooftop equipment shall fall within the permissible roof heights, be located away from slopes or areas exposed to the public street, and otherwise be screened from view from adjacent public streets or be incorporated into the skin of the building or internal to the block.

(Ord. No. 1899, § 1, 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 1930, § 1, 2-23-2015)

(a)

Location of parking must be in accordance with section 129-555 of the village overlay standards.

(b)

Minimum off-street parking per dwelling unit: Two spaces.

(c)

Visitor and accessory parking for two or more attached single-family dwellings shall be one-half parking space per unit;

(d)

Surface parking, interior parking or parking structures for the dwelling units and for visitor or accessory parking shall meet the parking design and vehicle access limitations of section 129-555 of the village overlay standards.

(Ord. No. 1899, § 1, 11-12-2013)

(a)

Compliance with village overlay standards. All uses allowed in the VST District are excluded from the building type specifications in section 129-553 of the village overlay standards, but must otherwise conform to the remainder of the village overlay standards in its entirety.

(b)

Exterior lighting. If artificial illumination is provided for a parking area, it shall be arranged so as to shine and reflect away from any adjacent residential areas and away from any streets adjacent to or near the parcel. No lighting fixtures used for any parking area shall be elevated more than 14 feet above the ground, except for a light which is installed on the ceiling of a porch of a dwelling unit and is designed to illuminate only such porch. Each lighting fixture shall be designed and installed so as to direct its beam of light below the horizontal plane of such lighting fixture.

(Ord. No. 1899, § 1, 11-12-2013)

Each application for Vine Street Transitional zoning shall be accompanied by a master development plan. The master development plan shall contain the following information, in addition to the general requirements for a zoning amendment found in article XXV of the city's zoning ordinance:

(1)

Written documentation, including:

a.

A legal description and confirmation of current zoning of the subject property.

b.

The names and addresses of the applicant and owner of the property.

1.

If a corporation, the principal officers and members of the board of directors must be provided.

2.

If a partnership or limited liability company, general and managing partners must be provided.

i.

A statement of development objectives to be achieved through the particular approach proposed by the applicant, including a detailed description of the character of the proposed development and its relationship to surrounding areas.

ii.

The substance of covenants, easements, and other restrictions that will be imposed on the use of the subject property, structures, and other improvements.

iii.

A statement describing how the proposed development will meet the objectives of the district and how it will minimize the impact of increased densities, both within the zone and for surrounding properties, and otherwise offset increased density.

iv.

A written description of all efforts made to contact and discuss with neighboring residential property owners the proposed development, along with a general statement of neighborhood concerns and proposed actions to address said concerns.

(2)

A site plan, which shall include the following items, either on the site plan or on an accompanying document.

a.

North arrow, scale, size, boundary lines, and dimensions of the subject property;

b.

Means of access to and from the development, including a delineation as to how said access is to be provided (e.g., identification of easements, etc.);

c.

The areas to be devoted to each use if multiple uses are proposed;

d.

The location, size, and character of any common spaces and improvements identifying the nature and type of material for such improvements, if applicable;

e.

Streets, driveways, and sidewalks;

f.

A grading plan identifying existing and proposed contours;

g.

A general landscape and buffer plan identifying the nature and type of materials proposed to be utilized;

h.

An exterior lighting plan;

i.

A preliminary drainage plan that indicates the location of proposed detention areas;

j.

Location and identification of all utilities, easements, and fire hydrants;

k.

General location of structures and the minimum floor area, height, and number of floors to be proposed in each dwelling;

l.

A rendering generally describing the conceptual character of the development and of individual structures, including examples of architectural styles and types of building materials to be utilized;

m.

Building setbacks from the boundaries of all property lines, proposed lot lines, public and private streets, and other buildings;

n.

The number, location, and size of all parking spaces and the locations thereof relative to the streets and driveways that provide access to and from the development; and

o.

Description of all paving materials for private improvements.

(Ord. No. 1899, § 1, 11-12-2013)

(a)

Application process and preliminary conference.

(1)

Except as provided to the contrary in this ordinance, applications for zoning or rezoning property to the Vine Street Transitional (VST) classification shall follow the application procedures established for all zoning or rezoning applications.

(2)

At least 30 days prior to the first public meeting at which the proposed rezoning is to be considered, the applicant shall meet with the city's zoning officer to review the application and master development plan and to discuss any revisions thereto that would, in the view of the zoning officer, bring the plan into conformity with applicable city codes and ordinances, including the zoning ordinance, and which would better meet the objectives of this article.

(3)

Following the aforementioned meeting and any revision to the plan agreed to as a result thereof, the application shall be set for consideration by the planning commission at the earliest practicable date, taking into account any notice and hearing requirements that must be met in connection therewith.

(b)

Review by planning commission. The approval process shall comply both with procedures set forth in article XXV of this chapter for a zoning amendment and any additional procedure required by this article. After submission of a master development plan by the applicant, the proposed Vine Street Transitional (VST) zoning proposal shall be placed on an agenda of the planning commission for consideration. The planning commission shall hold a public hearing on the Vine Street Transitional application and make a recommendation to the city council thereupon in accordance with article XXV, section 19-25-1, of the Mountain Brook City Code. The commission may consider all factors allowed by law in making its recommendation and should specifically consider the compatibility of the project with surrounding property, the impact of the project on surrounding uses, the conformity of the project with the objectives of the city's master plan, and the purposes of the Vine Street Transitional District.

(c)

Review by and final action by the city council. Following action on the rezoning application by the planning commission, the commission shall forward its recommendation and any accompanying report on the application to the city council, along with the proposed master development plan and any related documents. After providing notice of the proposed rezoning and a public hearing thereupon in the manner provided by the City Code and by applicable law, the city council may approve the rezoning request (with accompanying master plan) as submitted, approve the rezoning request conditionally, amend and approve the rezoning request, or deny the rezoning request. In reviewing and acting on the rezoning request, the city council may consider any factor permitted by law, and specifically the compatibility of the project with surrounding property, the impact of the project on surrounding uses, the conformity of the project with the city's master plan, and the purposes of the Vine Street Transitional District. In approving any application for Vine Street Transitional zoning, the city council may impose such terms, conditions, restrictions, or limitations as it deems reasonable, appropriate, and necessary to meet the objectives of this ordinance or to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the City of Mountain Brook.

(d)

Binding effect of approved master development plan. The master development plan that is required to be submitted with an application for zoning or rezoning shall be deemed an integral and essential element of any zoning or rezoning approved hereunder; and the plan, if and as modified and approved by the city council, shall be binding on the property and any subsequent development thereof unless and until the property is subsequently rezoned or modified in the manner prescribed by law; provided, however, that in order to accommodate such minor adjustments to the approved master development plan as may be required by engineering or other circumstances unforeseen at the time of its approval by the city council, the city's zoning officer is authorized to approve alterations to the master development plan which, in his opinion, are incidental or minor in scope, and which maintain the intent and character of the approved master development plan; further provided that, as an overlay district, approval of a Vine Street Transitional zoning classification shall not preclude use or development of property that is permitted under its underlying zoning classification.

(Ord. No. 1899, § 1, 11-12-2013)