Chapter 5 Form District Regulations Part 2 Traditional Form Districts Page4 of 5

5.2.4 Town Center Form District

1. The Town Center Form District (TCFD) represents a traditional pattern of development in Louisville and Jefferson County. Town centers are typically compact areas with a mixture of moderately intense uses that are developed around an identifiable core. They are often located at a historic crossroads or at the intersection of a major thoroughfare and collector roadway with connections to surrounding neighborhoods. Buildings are close to and oriented toward the street, and there is a connected street pattern, shared parking and pedestrian amenities. More intense commercial and residential uses are located in proximity to major thoroughfares, and the intensity of uses gradually declines toward an “edge” or “transition area” to lower density residential neighborhoods.
   
   The TCFD is intended to implement the following Cornerstone 2020 Comprehensive Plan Goals, Objectives and Plan Elements:
   
   

   Goals	Objectives	Plan Elements
   Community Form Goals D1, D2, D3, D4	Community Form Objectives D1.1; D2.1; D2.2; D2.3; D2.4; D2.5; D3.1; D3.2; D3.3; D4.1; D4.2; D4.3; D4.4	Plan Elements 1,2,3,6,7,9,12

   
   
2. Intent and Applicability
   
   The provisions of this Part are intended to ensure that new development within the TCFD is consistent with the established and desired pattern and characteristics of development within the district, promoting the following, as applicable:
   1. An identifiable core located at community crossroads;
   2. A mixture of moderately intense uses including civic, shopping, restaurants, offices and residences;
   3. A focal point for several neighborhoods and/or incorporated municipalities;
   4. A high level of roadway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian access;
   5. Special attention should be given to the compatibility of infill and redevelopment of both individual and integrated sites; and
   6. Establishment of new town centers requires a high level of planning and design.
3. Dimensional Standards
   1. Minimum Lot Size, Depth, and Width. There are no minimum lot size, depth, and width requirements in the TCFD, except as specified in paragraph b., below.
   2. Residential Lots and Building Setbacks. Residential lots and structures (both principal and accessory structures) shall comply with the Traditional Neighborhood Form District Standards in Section 5.2.2 or shall comply with Nonresidential/Mixed Use Standards below.
   3. Non-Residential and Mixed Use Structure Setbacks.
      1. Front Setback/Build-to line and Street Side Yards. There is no minimum front setback/build-to line or street side yard. The maximum front setback/build-to line and street side yard shall be no greater than 15 feet from the edge of right-of-way.
      2. Front Setback/Build-to line and Street Side yard – Infill Context. Where at least 50% of the street frontage (linear distance) within the same block face is occupied by principal structures, the setback/build-to line shall fall within the range of setbacks of the nearest two constructed properties or 15 feet, whichever is less.
      3. Corner Lots: See 5.5.1.A.2
      4. Outdoor seating areas. Open, unenclosed public seating or similar areas, fountains and outdoor amenities are permitted to encroach into the front setback as long as the corner requirements are met.
      5. Side Yard Setback. The minimum setback shall be either of the following:
         1. There are no side yard setbacks except where adjacent to a residential use or zoning district, in which case a minimum side yard setback of 5 feet shall be maintained.
         2. If the site is located at the edge of the TCFD, the depth of the required form district transition area/buffer yard must be maintained.
      6. Rear Yard Setback. Minimum 5 feet from rear property line. The rear setback shall be the depth of the required form district transition area buffer yard if the site is located in the Form District Edge/Transition Zone.
      7. Building Height.
         1. Except as limited within the Form District Transition Zone, the maximum permitted building height is 120 feet.
         2. Infill Context. Where 50 percent or more of the linear street frontage within the same or opposing block face is occupied by the principal structures exhibiting site design consistent with a traditional development pattern, the following additional standards shall apply:
            1. Where there are highly uniform building heights (at least 50 percent of the structures on the block face have building heights that vary by 10 percent or less), the building height of the new structure shall fall within 10 percent of the average height.
            2. Where there is more than 10 percent variation in building heights within the block face, the building heights of new buildings shall fall within the range of the building heights of the two nearest constructed properties.

Town Center Threshold Table

The following parts of chapter 5 shall apply to all developments meeting the thresholds and applicability requirements set forth in Table 5.2.5 below.