Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/01/2018

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in which a prescriptive code ensures good urbanism without the need for additional public input during development review (formbasedcodes.org). A form -based code, as the name suggests, is intended to focus attention on the urban form of the commu- nity, downplaying the need for the typically intense use regulations applied in Euclidean zoning. The other key element of the form - based code is that it brings together a focus on private development in relation to the public realm (the space from the face of one building, across the street and sidewalk to the other building across the way). This is intended to assure that land use and multi - modal transportation issues are taken into account together. The code document is typically highly illustrated, and uses simple tables to display what was once conveyed through paragraphs of legalese. The form - based code is typically the result of detailed planning, often conducted with the general public through a charrette process, which enhances the ease of adoption of new zoning in many communities. The challenge is that many citizens feel as though their input on each development project is critical to the final quality and neigh- borhood fit, even where detailed planning has already occurred. In many cases, this challenge is compounded by politicians that believe they have been elected to determine the individual outcomes of development proj- ects. This reluctance to let go often leads to great zoning districts that are subject to the same old review processes. In some communi- ties, this leads to adoption as an overlay or parallel code (in which both old and new zon- ing can be selected by applicants), rather than committingto the new model of zoning. This reduces predictability, one of the key elements of a form -based code, and increases the com- plexity for staff when explaining the rules. When viewed in light of simplification efforts, one final challenge associated with form -based codes is that they do not typically remove any existing zoning from the books, just add to the existing content. Also, by estab- lishing multiple systems in place in the same community, they can be confusing as well. 0 A community charrette process can help to build support for adopting a form -based code or related techniques. Lean Urbanism The "lean urbanism" movement is all about making small incremental changes and tac- tical projects possible (leanurbanism.org). It aims to reduce both the extent of devel- opment standards applied to smaller projects, along with streamlining the review for those projects. In communities that apply a public review and comment process to the majority of their develop- ment approvals, it can be just as costly and challenging to move through the approval process with a small-scale project as a large one. This often impacts local property owners, who come to believe they cannot get through the approval process on their own. The end result is that these high - discretion communities often find their developers are outsiders to the commu- nity that often bring a focus on short-term gains over long-term planning goals. Lean urbanism is focused on enabling local, small-scale changes, expanding opportu- nities for young entrepreneurs, makers, immigrants, and others typically pushed out of the development system. It's important to note that many com- munities already apply variable thresholds to exempt smaller projects or make them more affordable. This often includes simpli- fied subdivision review, reduced stormwater obligations, and in the case of renovation or adaptive reuse, even reduced building code requirements. However, every community could use a review of the ease with which small-scale projects can be achieved. It's not clear whether lean urbanism should be considered a zoning reform move- ment, since it does not impact all project types, but rather has its specific focus on the small-scale activities. From this perspective, it may serve better as an economic develop- ment policy of the community, implemented not only through zoning, but all kinds of permitting including business licensing and street vending. Once again, from the perspective of simplifying zoning, it may do so, but also likely creates a two-tier system (small versus large), instead of simplifying the entire system for all. ZONINGPRACTICE 1.18 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION I page 3