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CfA"\~ ATTACHMENT 5 FLOOR AREA RATIO The floor area ratio (FAR) was developed as a more refined and adaptable measure of intensity than building coverage. It expresses in one measure, instead of several, the mathematical relationship between volume of a building and unit of land. FAR. however, cannot replace more traditional bulk controls entirely. Often it is not a sufficient height control nor does it regulate the placement of a building on the site. Floor area ratio is the gross square footage of a building divided by the net square footage of a parcel. Floor area is calculated by adding the square footage on every floor of a building and is measured from the exterior of a building's walls. Floor area ratio can be expressed as either a decimal as shown in the illustration below, or as percentage which was used in this staff report. Thus, a FAR of 0.5 is the same as a FAR of 50 percent. v <' '.... ,./ -, -/ ',-,' f- 0.:5 f" Ä2 ~ ..... ~z..o FAJt4 /'" ~/ FLD:)(. Ae.EA ~ TO '-' If a FAR of 0.5 was applied to a 10,000 square foot lot, a building with 5,000 square feet of floor area could be built. The 5,000 square feet of floor area could be arranged on a single story covering one-half of the lot, or on two stories covering one-fourth of the lot, or on multiple stories depending on the height limits in a given district. If a FAR of 2.0 was applied to a 10,000 square foot lot, a building with 20,000 square feet of floor area could be built. The 20,000 square feet of floor area could be arranged on two stories covering the entire lot, on four stories covering one-half of the lot, on eight stories covering one-fourth of the lot, or in other configurations depending on the height limits in a given district. Source: A Glossary of Zoninq, Development, and Planninq Terms, Planninq Advisory Service Report Number 491/492, Edited by Michael Davidson and Fav Dolnick -1"."-- --y- "