The “Enhanced Accessibility for the Disabled” amendment introduced by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, Chair of the Management and Fiscal Policy Committee, and member of the Health and Human Services Committee, was endorsed by the Chair of the Planning Board and the Executive Branch. Trachtenberg’s amendment adds an additional public benefit in the “Diversity of Activities and Uses” category to the new “Commercial/Residential (CR) Zone” passed by the Council today.
Zoning Text Amendment 09-08, creating a new family of Commercial/Residential (CR) Zones, will allow some future redeveloped areas designated in master plans to become more dense mixed-use communities that will encourage residents and businesses to be less dependent on automobiles and more reliant on public transit.
Trachtenberg’s amendment will provide incentives to developers who opt to provide dwelling unit modifications for disabled persons, which will exceed County requirements and satisfy the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A117.1 Residential Type A standards—specifically established for wheelchair-bound individuals; and incorporates larger kitchens and bathrooms for wheelchair turns and lower counter heights to accommodate wheelchair heights.
The County requires compliance with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines for accessibility for all multi-family buildings and dwellings. All residential multi-family buildings and all units in those buildings must satisfy those standards. The amendment is an addition to the County’s Commercial Residential (CR) Zone, and is one of 28 possible public benefits. If the amendment is adopted for future plans, the Planning Board would then determine the percentage of Type A units necessary to receive density increases.
“Adding enhanced accessibility for disabled persons is a very important public benefit,” says Councilmember Trachtenberg. “Today’s decision by the Council will go a long way in extending equitable access for the disabled community.
# # #
No comments:
Post a Comment