Some Acronyms used in Atlanta Planning and Zoning & their meanings

 

ADA          Atlanta Development Authority

 

APAB          Atlanta Planning Advisory Board. an advisory board with representatives from each of the 24 NPUs

 

ARC          Atlanta Regional Commission

BATMA          Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association

BNA          Buckhead Neighborhood Alliance

 

BZA        Board of Zoning Adjustment. a 5 member panel of citizens appointed by the City Council. The BZA hears variance and special exception requests. BZA meetings are held on 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

CDBG          Community Development Block Grant

 

CDP          Comprehensive Development Plan, developed by city with NPU input, to provide a broad policy framework for development and growth.

 

CID          Community Improvement District (a taxing mechanism)

 

CIP          Capital Improvement Program

 

CMAQ          Congestion and Mitigation Air Quality (funds)

DRI          Development of Regional Import (a recommending body)

FAR        Floor Area Ratio

HERO          Highway Emergency Response Operation

I-I           Light Industrial District

 

ISTEA          Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (emphasizes integration of transportation and land use)

LC&DR Program          Light Construction & Debris Removal Program

LOS        Level of Service (traffic term: graded A-F)

LUI         Land Use Intensity

MA TI     Metro Atlanta Transportation Initiative

NPU          Neighborhood Planning Unit, 1 of 24 voluntary citizen planning units

O-1          Office-Institutional

 


PAC          Planning Advisory Committee for TSAS

 

PD-H          Planned Development Housing District

 

PD-MU          Planned Development-Mixed Use

 

PD-OC          Planned Development-Office-Commercial (zoning)

 

PIP         Public Improvement Program--a 1994 bond referendum passed to repair city streets, bridges, viaducts, storm drainage systems & parks

 

PUD          Planned Unit Development (mixed use development)

R-LC          Residential-Limited Commercial R-I, R-2, R-3 etc. (see Zoning)

 

RTP          Regional Transportation Plan

 

SPI          Special Public Interest District, a special overlay development plan which puts tighter restrictions on existing zoning ordinances than would ordinarily apply. The purpose of the SPI for the Lenox/Buckhead/Lindbergh MARTA stations is to facilitate greater use of pedestrian transportation and public transportation, and to reduce the traffic congestion in the Three Station Triangle.

 

SSES          Sewer System Evaluation Study

TCU          Transportation/Communication/Utilities (land use term)

TMA          Traffic Management Association

TMP          Traffic Management Plan

 

TOC          Transit-oriented Development

 

TSAD          Transit Study Area Development (funded by Federal Government)

VBB          Volume Based Billing (pay as you throw)

ZRB          Zoning Review Board, a 9-member committee appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The ZRB hears requests for special use permits and rezonings. Meetings are held on the 1st Thursday and the following Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers.