Agenda - Planning Commission - 01/02/2003

Home

AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION Unified Development Ordinances: A Coordlnafed Approach' to Development Regulations By Barry &rogue, Aunified development o'rdinance (UDO) is generally defined as a single land-use ordinance that combines the provisions usually found within a jurisdiction's zoning code and subdivision regulations. The UDO typically incorporates other development-related regulations that jurisdictiofis traditionally maintained as freestanding ordinances--things such as sign regulations, design standards, and floodplain ordinances. UDOs can be called unified development codes or, more simply, land development regulations, depending on local custom or stare- enabling legislation language. The UDO typically incorporates other development-related reguiati°ns that jurisdictions traditionally maintained as Freestanding ordinances. While UDOs have evolved over the decades, they reach, ed something ora peak in popularity among planning practitioners in the mid-1980s. UDOs appeared to be a logical way of dealing with outdated and conflicting code provisions, the need for more flexibility in regulating new development, and the desire to improve administrative efficiency in regulating development. The recognition and popularity of UDOs was undoubtedly influenced by the publication in 1985 of Michael Brough's book, A Unified Deveto?menr Ordinance (Planners Press). UDOs continued to evolve and expand in their application throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium. This issue of Zoning News examines the status of UDOs today and provides insight as to how they have worked (or not), .who uses them, and why they remain an attractive plannin{ implementation tool. UDO Structure and Benefits One UDO benefit (some would-argue the primary benefit) is its structure and organizardom A good.UDO is not just a collection of chapters from the zoning code and subdivision regulations. Rather, it combines the various development regulations in a manner that reflects how the jurisdiction's development and land-use approval process actually proceeds. Good UDOs also explain the [and-use and land development provisions in a broader planning context. For exarnple, the first chapter of the Clay County, Missouri, land development code includes the following language: "This [and development code has been prepared in accordance with the county's comprehensive plan. It. is intended chat decisions made pursuant to this land development code will implement and be consistent with the comprehensive plan." Wetlanda and navural resource protection is a primary element in the Lake County, £llinois. unified develot~ment ordinance. The first chapter also lists =implement the comprehens'ive plan" as the firsc item under the purpose and intent section. This is a welcome feature for planners, and land-use attorneys who have tried to make a similar connection in the courtroom without the benefit of this type of language. Most good UDOs.also include within the first few chapters a description of the bodies, involved in the development approval process (i.e. city council, planning commbsion, board o£ adjustment, etc.) along with an explanation of development review procedures--again, further explaining the overall · . . about this article· Join us online! During January 13-24, go online to participate in our "Ask the Author" Forum, an interactive feature o£Zoning News. Barry Hogue, alCl~, will be available to. answer questions about this article. Go to t~e &PA website at wxvw. planninglorg and follow the links to the "Ask the Author" section. From there; just Submit your questions about the article using an e-mail link. The author will reply, posting the answers cumulatively on the website for the benefit of all subscribers. This feature will be available for selected issues o£Zoning News at announced times. After each online discussion is closed, the answers will be saved in an online archive available through the APA Zoning News webpages.