Agenda - Planning Commission - 07/01/2004

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inctuding build-to tines, parking standards, and s~andard pro~oWpes ~hat va~ from the prescribed physical form. The coun~ intends ~O rEevalUatE the code (o address some of these issues before applying the form-based approach to other areas. FORM DISTRICT ZONING Form districts emerged as a concept in the Cornerstone 2o2o Comprehensive P~an for Louisville and jefferson County, Kentucky (devel- oped in thJ midq.99os and adopted in 2ODD). The Cornerstone zo2o piannin§ process revealed a genera( dissatisfaction with conven. tional regulations and practices that result in the separation of uses, sprawling development pa[terns, and the imposition of suburban forms tn traditional nei§hborhoods. A Community Form Committee was charged with seeking new ways of addressing future develooment pat- terns, recognizing the need for increased diver- sity, certain[y., and flexibility in the re§ulator,/ process. The resulting form district concept estab/ished ~.z districts that prescribe desired development patterns in context with the sur- rounding' environment, from the downtown urban core to uaditiooal neig'hborhood and sub- urban marketplace [commercial) districts. To-implement this concept in a politically acceptable manner, a new Land Oeve!opment Code was developed as a "two-tiered" approach, This approach combines the use re§uladons of the preexisting 39 zonin§ dis- tricts with form districts that re§ulate density and intensity and prescribe contextual design standards, such as build-to lines based upon the established devetopment pattern. All dimensional re§ulations and standards were moved from the zoning districts to the form districts. Watlace Roberts & Todd, LLC and Clarion Associates were consultants to Louisville and Jefferson County in the develop- ment of the form districts. Adopted by Louisville Metro and the cities of Hurstbourne and Lyndon, the new Land Development Code took effect in March ~-oo3. Several other jurisdictions in Jefferson County are in the process of adopting' the new · code. The application of the form districts on a re§ional basis is a departure from the nor- mal application of form-based coding' to spe- cific geographic areas within a community, However, existing use and density re§ula- tions were maintained to minimize the politi- cal issues inherent in rezoning the entire region. According to Louisville Metro plan- nih§ and design staff, the initial reaction of developers to the adopted form district regulations has varied. One developer of a small shopping' center in the neighborhood form district, who was initially skeptical of the new code, has since incorporated the recom- mendations of the urban design staff, including, buildings arrayed around a pedestrian-scale central parking area that func- tions as a "town square." Other devel- opers have embraced the form district concept as a frog'ressive option that allows flexibility for innovative design. Overall, the devetopment community and residents seem to prefer the form district concept because it establishes a sense of predictability in desi§n that is not overly restrictive, but promotes compatibility with adjacent development. While asserting' that form district zoning is a chan~e in a positive direction, the Louisville Metro staff acknowledges the learn- ing curve required for its implementation. As a new process for all involved, the impacts' are not yet fully measurable and a number of issues have been raised regarding, the appli- Cation of the form district design stand.ards to site;specific condit!ons. To address these issues, revisions to the regulations ,,viii be ' made over the next year. At this time, Louisville Metro is about two years away from considering a transition from the two-tiered approach to a more cor~plete in[es, ration of conventional zoning' with the form districts. Neverthetess, according to the plannin~ and 1 14 ZONINGPRACTIC.~ os.oz, AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION