Why are new zone types part of the Plan?
Zoning is a revitalization tool. Creating new zone types will encourage investment in the downtown core by assuring potential business owners that the ground level will be used for retail activities such as merchandise sales and restaurants. The use of the ground level for retail activities is linked to successful business establishments and economically healthy, active downtowns. Additionally, the continuous use of ground floors for retail activities maintains or increases the value of property. The effort to create new zone types is not the same thing as applying new zone types, re-zoning property. Re-zoning may come later as a natural outgrowth of economic development as a means to protect investment; also, re-zones using the new zone types could happen at the time of a new development downtown. As happens elsewhere in Fairbanks with other projects, the zone change could be a condition of a project moving forward.
