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Consolidating and updating obsolete regulations. The other <br />most frequendy cited reason ~or undertaking a UDO is the need <br />to revamp outdated and fragmented land-use and development <br />regulations. Over :he years, a jurisdiction's development <br />regulations too often become an uncoordinated conglomeration <br />of ordinances cobbled together by numerous authors at different <br />times. Commenting on Beaufort, South Carolina's, similar <br />predicament, Beaufbrt's community development director, <br />Libby Anderson says, "Over the past live years, we had [many'] <br />code amendments. There were internal code inconsistencies <br />such as multiple sign ordinances, each with its own set of <br />definitions, different tones in th~ various ordinances--we <br />needed a complete overhaul of the regulations." Beaufort's land <br />development regulations also make extensive use of tables, <br />drawings, and other graphics to convey information--a feature <br />that other communities should emulate. <br />Accorm-nodating new development concepts. Manyzoning <br />codes and subdivision regulations are not development-friendly <br /> <br />for a variety of reasons already mentioned. They become even <br />more problematic in jurisdictions where market conditions are <br />favorable for nco-traditional development, New Urbanist <br />concepts, or other more progressive development models. This <br />represents another reason given by communities for adopting <br />UDOs, especially in areas such as Florida and along the <br />Southeast coast,.where market demand is particularly strong for <br />this form of development. In these jurisdictions planners should <br />consider how to accommodate market demand with concepts <br />such as build-to lines rather r. han setbacks. The UDO can be <br />partikularly helpful because it reqUires a.comprehensive <br />reconsideration of how development is .to. be regqalated on the <br />parr of the community. <br /> In addition to the preceding reasons--generally considered <br />to be the top reasons--there are others frequently mentioned by <br />jurisdictions .and consultants who use and Prepare UDOs. Ttxey <br />include the de. sire to incorporate FEMA floodplain and other <br />sensitive natural resource provisions into the community's <br /> <br />Communities with Noteworthy UDOs <br />and Online Links <br /> <br />Clay County, Missouri, Land DeVelopment Code (incorporates "tier" development <br /> policy) www. ctaycogov.'com <br /> <br />City of San Antonio Unified Development Code ("purpose and intent" section <br /> noteworthy~ www. ci. sae. tx. us/dsd/udc <br /> <br />Town of Carroboro, North Carolina, Land Use Ordinance (one of the first adopted, very <br /> user-friendly) www. townofcarroboro..org/pzi/lou. <br /> <br />Lake Count'y, Illinois, Unified l])eVelopmenr Ordinance (incorporates recognized natural resource <br /> protection provisions andgood o,)ervie~) www. co. lake. i~us/planning/udo <br />Palm Beach County' Florida, Unified Land Development Code (example of state <br />"mandated" consolidation of regulations) www. co.palm-beach.fl, us/pzb/uldc <br /> <br />San Juan Count-y, Washington, Unified Development Code ('extensive definitions section <br /> and shoreline protection provisions) www. co.san-juan.wa, uslplanninglUDC <br /> <br />Other Publications and Articles Related to U'DOs: <br />A Unified' Development 'Ordinance. Michael B. Brough, Planners Pres& 1985 <br /> <br />"Zoning and Subdivision Codes, Unite!" Marya Morris, Planning 11/.1/93 <br /> <br />"Flexible Zoning." Douglas' Porter, Zoning News, 1/1/98 .. <br /> <br />development regulations; the ease of conveying planning <br />implementation tools and regulations to the public and <br />developers; the ability to make the regulations more database <br />searchable; and the ability to. give developers a single documenr <br />that will- answer all their questions about the development <br />standards and process. <br /> UDOs sound like a no-brainer, so does'it ever make sense <br />not to use them? There are more issues to consider based on the. <br />UDO experience of jurisdictions'and consultants over the past <br />t 5 years. <br /> <br />UDO Issues' <br />First, a UDO is by nature an implementation tool that <br />consolidates and coordinates ordinances. Frequently, these <br />ordinances are administered and. enforced by several different <br />staff or departments Within a jurisdiction. Under a traditional, <br />separate set of development regulations, there may be much <br /> <br />.3 <br /> <br /> <br />