Renaissance neighborhood leaders back amended character overlay after months of volunteer work

A neighborhood‑led effort to strengthen a character overlay in the Renaissance neighborhood drew public testimony and council approval.

Arena Fotis, vice president and historian for the Renaissance neighborhood association, described months of volunteer work—including multiple public meetings and drafting by a small work group—that produced the revised overlay. "This is what our neighborhood wants," Fotis said, summarizing the volunteer process and the association’s goal of keeping garages rear‑facing and avoiding fully paved front yards.

Councilors noted an amended backup with a different garage‑setback measurement for that neighborhood; one councilor flagged that the amendment changed the garage setback for this neighborhood from 18 feet to 36 feet. The council approved the ordinance amendments (items 7b–7c) as presented and recorded the roll‑call vote. The franchise ordinance for Coxcom LLC (7b) and the neighborhood overlay amendment were approved with the emergency clause noted on 7b.

Neighborhood advocates said the overlay responds to prior tearing down of smaller homes and replacement with large builds and front‑facing garages; councilors said the measure balances preservation with infill options and retains the ability for property owners to seek BOA exceptions.