Today's Best Form-Based Codes -- Madden CNU 17

Today’s Best Form-Based CodesCNU 17 – Denver

FBCI Mission:
To advance the knowledge and use of, and develop standards for, Form-Based Codes as a method to achieve a community vision based on time-tested forms of urbanism.

Blue Springs Downtown Development Code

Downtown Blue Springs, Missouri FBC180 Degree Design Studio

Building Typology

Blue Springs DowntownA 15 year vision
Historic Downtown Core
Historic Residential Neighborhoods
21st Century Transit Village

Blue Springs DowntownTransect Zones

Blue Springs DDC: Downtown Review Board

Blue Springs DowntownFirst Projects

West Evanston Form-Based Code

Dallas Form Districts

Existing Code Problems
Unpredictable Outcomes
Districts Do Not Create Urban Places
“One Size Fits All” Approach
Each Project Involves Negotiation
No Districts to Implement Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

The Dallas Code is friendly to developments like this . . .

. . . and unfriendly to
developments like this

New Code Approach
forwardDallas! mixed use building blocks provide context for differentiating mixed use standards
Urban Mixed Use
Multi-Modal Corridor
Transit Center
Campus District
Main Street
Urban Neighborhood

New Code Approach
New Districts Designed as Base Zoning Options
Form-Based Codification
Additional graphics and improved page layout
Includes Minor Streets Standards

New Code Approach
Hierarchy of Elements:
ZONING DISTRICTS: Districts Applied Based on forwardDallas! Policy Guidance
BUILDING TYPES: Building Types Allowed in Specified Districts
PERMITTED USES: Uses Allowed in Specified Building Types

New Code Approach
Three New Districts:
Urban Mixed Use (UMU-)
Low, Medium, High Intensity
3-Stories . . . 8-Stories . . . 12-stories
Urban Residential (UR-)
Low, Medium, High Intensity
Residential Transition (RTN)
Low Intensity Only

New Code Approach
Two Frontages
Shopfront
Requires single- or multi-story shopfront building with retail on ground floor
Accommodates large-format retail, not just “main street”
Mixed Use Shopfront
Requires multi-story shopfront building with retail on ground floor
Vertical mixing of uses (residential or office above retail)

Code Format
Building Types by District

Code Format
Building Types

BuildingTypes

Code Format
Use Regulations

Streets and Streetscape
Variety of streetscape plates can be matched to a variety of street types

Implementation
Enabling Legislation Only– NOT Location-Specific Zoning Changes
No Map Changes
Each Map Change Considered as a Rezoning
The Goal is to Enable Good, Urban Mixed-Use in Specific Target Areas
Around Transit Stations (TOD)
Along Transit Corridors

The View from the Jury:
Current issues in FBC writing