Here is the same picture but with several busses in a stack. Note that there are six busses and that busses are typically 10 feet tall suggesting that the building as rendered is only about 60 feet tall. Note that the busses are directly in front of the building, so distortion due to perspective should be minimal to none.
To help envision what seven stories really looks like, here is a picture of North Hills. I can't say how tall they are in feet, but clearly these are six story buildings. This picture probably gives a pretty good clue to what seven story buildings look like.
Buildings of this height or higher were recently approved by the Planning Commission for the Neighborhood Mixed Use area along Hillsborough Street because they were found to be permitted by the UDO. This approval perfectly illustrates the disconnect between the UDO and the Comprehensive Plan which says:
Heights would generally be limited to three stories, but four or five stories could be appropriate in walkable areas with pedestrian-oriented businesses.
The intent of the UDO was for it to implement the Comprehensive Plan. Clearly this has not happened. We call upon City Council to fix this and many other deficienies within the UDO immediately.
