Commercial Grade

One of the great things about having a blog is being able to vent.  In connection with an appraisal assignment I attempted to clarify a confusing issue regarding the new fresh market zoning bonus that was recently enacted.  My question, in a C8-3 zone that permits a 2.0 commercial FAR and 6.5 for community facility uses, would the inclusion of a fresh market allow a commercial bonus in excess of the maximum 6.5 FAR, or additional commercial density within the 6.5 FAR?   Kind of a technical question that was unclear (to me) from reading the ordinance.  For clarification I called the zoning office and proceeded to have the most bizarre conversation that went something like this:

Me: Hi, I’d like to get some clarification on the fresh market bonus in a commercial zone.

Zoning:  Fresh market bonus.  What’s that?

Me: It’s a new zoning bonus that was recently approved.

Zoning:   I don’t know about it.  Did you try to find it in the ordinance?  Do you know where it is?

Me: Yes.  I read it and it’s confusing.  It’s Article 6, Chapter 3, section 63-00.

Zoning:  OK, Let me find it.  We’ll read it together.  What do you want to do on the property.

Me: I’m appraising the property so I want to understand the bonus.

Zoning (this is where it gets good):  Appraising it?  To appraise it you have to know about the zoning.   How can you get the market value without knowing the zoning?

Me (starting to get impatient):  Yes, I know.  That’s why I’m calling you.

Zoning (being rude):  You can’t just call zoning [That was my favorite part!].  You have to read everything and understand the zoning or how can you appraise it.

Me (starting to lose it): I read it and don’t understand it.  That’s why I’m calling you.  It’s clear that you can’t help me.   Is there anyone there that would be familiar with this bonus that I can speak with?

Zoning (even ruder):  Nobody here is going to talk to an appraiser (sneer…really!).   Everyone is busy doing things.   Nobody will talk to an appraiser.  You have to read everything.

Me (convinced that I am on Candid Camera):   Why is that? Are appraisers not worth their time?

Zoning (having had enough of me):  They are too busy.  I will read the zoning text with you.   Hold on while it comes up on my computer.

At this point I hung up.  And all I could think about is, with the drastic need to save taxpayer dollars, I have an excellent place to start!