Infill Compatibility Standards Draft Challenge Statement
Infill Compatibility Standards (ICS) is a project aimed at addressing the impacts of residential infill development. The city’s neighborhoods differ in such characteristics as development pattern, street pattern, block and lot layout, topography, natural environment, distance from the urban core, access to transportation options, surrounding land uses, and predominant architectural style. However, with a few exceptions in Special Area Zones, infill in most neighborhoods is regulated by base zone standards (setbacks, height limits, lot coverage limits) that may not fully address the neighborhood’s defining characteristics. As a result, some infill projects have been built that are described by neighboring property owners as having negative impacts on nearby residents. The project includes describing, categorizing, and addressing those impacts in the most effective way possible and demonstrating positive infill examples, while considering the impacts on the city’s growth pattern as a whole.

Growth Management Policies
The adopted Growth Management Policies (GMPs) direct the city to encourage infill development and increase housing density while maintaining the character and livability of individual neighborhoods. This project seeks to implement the policy directives in the GMPs.

Citizen Interest
The Planning Division is experiencing a very high level of citizen interest in both the Infill Compatibility Standards and the Opportunity Siting projects. Over the last year, issues related to neighborhood character, neighborhood involvement, and residential compatibility have risen to the top of citizen concerns and desires for Planning Division work. Planning staff are committed to making these high-priority work tasks a success.