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<br />When your zoning ordinance breeds
<br />headaches and confusion among users,
<br />it may be time for an overhaul.
<br />
<br />
<br />mixed use approaches, adequate public facili-
<br />ties requirements,.green building design and-
<br />low-impact development, and hybrid codes.
<br />One best practice that addresses organization
<br />rather than regulatory approach is the unified
<br />code.
<br />Here are some of the best practices to
<br />consider.
<br />Conservation design. Often associated
<br />with subdivision design, conservation design
<br />is a means of providing flexibility in lot size,
<br />setbacks, and building location to encourage
<br />or allow cluster development. It is a means of
<br />ensurin,g open space for protection of environ-
<br />mentally sensitive lands or agriculturallands
<br />and encouraging compact development.
<br />Point system. Proposed developfnent
<br />is evaluated on how well it meets criteria
<br />~"
<br />and standards. Standards are often perfor-
<br />mance-based. Development that a,Gl1ieves the
<br />required number of points may b~.ap;proved.
<br />With more points, higher densitiesi-lay be
<br />possible. "
<br />Single-map sY5~em. The traditional zon-
<br />ing code indudes a map of zoning districts,
<br />each with a defined set of permissible uses.
<br />The compT.ehensive plan or land-use plan also
<br />contains a map of land-use districts, eaj;;h with
<br />a set of permissible uses. In situations where
<br />the comprehensive plan contains a fairly de-
<br />tailed map of land-use districts, there is li~1;le
<br />distinction between the land-use map and-the
<br />zoning map. It can significantly streamline the
<br />process to rely on a single map of districts to
<br />define permissible uses. Site design standards
<br />are adopted to regulate the design of develop-
<br />
<br />74
<br />
<br />ment for th~se districts, but there is a single
<br />set of districts on a single map.
<br />Performance zoning. This technique con-
<br />trols the impacts of development rather than
<br />the specific uses and site design. Performance
<br />standards, such as maximum trip generation,
<br />may be adopted. A wide range of uses would .
<br />be permissible so long as the standard is met.
<br />Coupled with compatibility standards and
<br />intensity standards, performance zoning en-
<br />courages flexible use and design and stream- ,
<br />lines the regulatory approach.
<br />
<br />
<br />Form-based code. The focus of the form-
<br />based code is the development pattern, urban
<br />form, and building form rather than specific
<br />, .
<br />use. A form districtis defined by the scale and
<br />character of development and may rely on
<br />prescriptive standards in a "regulating plan."
<br />Smart code. A smart code is focused on
<br />encouraging compact development, mixed
<br />uses, preservation of open space, connectivity
<br />and improved pedestrian movement, and im-
<br />proving predictability in development review.
<br />A smart code is the regulatory compqnion to
<br />smart growth te'chniques in a comprehensive
<br />plan.
<br />New urbanism. Two development ap-
<br />proaches are generally cOFlsidered "new
<br />urban ism." Trad itional neigh borh ood, d evelo p-
<br />ment (TND) recalls the urban. neighborhood
<br />of 50 years ago, focused on walkable scale,
<br />variation in housing type, mixed uses, and
<br />specific building and street designs. Tran-
<br />sit-oriented development (TOD) describes a
<br />compact development type near and around
<br />transit stops. It is similar in many respects to
<br />TND, but may ha\(e even higher density and
<br />intensity consistent with its location near tran.
<br />sit, particularly rail.
<br />Planned unit development (PUD or PO).
<br />This is no longer a new concept, but is an
<br />established approach to provide for flexibility
<br />in design and use and to plan and regulate a
<br />large area under unified control. Successful
<br />planned development approaches may be
<br />customized in a variety of ways to meet urban,
<br />suburban, and rural development needs.
<br />Adequate public facilities or concurrency.
<br />This is a timing mechanism that ensures the
<br />availability of public facilities and services
<br />(roads, water, sewer, etc.) to serve develop-
<br />ment. Development is postponed or carried
<br />out in phases if serVices and facilities are not
<br />available.
<br />Green building design and low-impact
<br />development. Green buildings typically refer
<br />to energy,efficiency and conservation of en-
<br />ergy and water in the design, construction,
<br />and operation ofthe building. The purpose
<br />of green building design standards is to
<br />reduce environmental impact through en-
<br />ergy-efficient materials, solar systems, and
<br />water conservation techniques. Low-impact
<br />development is often associated with storm-
<br />water management techniques, such as dis,
<br />connected impervious surfaces, biofiltration
<br />beds, rain gardens, rain barrels to collect
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<br />ZONINGPRACTICE 12.08
<br />AMERICA PLANNING ASSOCIATION Ipage 6
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