CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE OVERVIEW

Department of Development: January 2011

Why Are We Talking About Form-Based Codes? Conventional Euclidean zoning presents many challenges to creating attractive, sustainable neighborhoods –

• Promotion of sprawl and auto-dependence by separating uses

• Loss of community character and historic context

• Restriction of mixed use developments and buildings

• Over extension of city resources – infrastructure construction and maintenance, emergency services, schools, etc.

• Results in reduced diversity and community interaction

Form-Based Codes are used to –

• Create neighborhoods where people can live, work, and play rather than housing developments, strip malls, and office parks

• Ensure that development is appropriately scaled to surrounding land uses and the public realm

• Design communities that encourage active transportation (walking, biking, etc.)

• Integrate human and natural systems • Maximize existing infrastructure • Encourage social cohesion

While they can be applied anywhere, form-based codes are most successful in –

• Downtown areas that are already densely developed have a mix of land uses • Locations where high quality aesthetics and physical character are important, such as historic districts • Areas of heavy pedestrian activity

The suburban development (bottom) is typical of conventional zoning principles, which separate land uses into distinct districts. This pattern increases auto-dependence and strain on the road network, while reducing connectivity. Alternatively, the mixed-use development (top) exemplifies form-based zoning, which promotes appropriately scaled, well connected land uses.

CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE OVERVIEW

Department of Development: January 2011

Zone by Transect – • Under form-based zoning, the city is divided into several zones (transects) • Moving from lower (T1) to higher (T6) the land uses become more intense and the scale of

development increases in density

CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE OVERVIEW

Department of Development: January 2011

Comparison with Conventional Zoning:

CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE OVERVIEW

Department of Development: January 2011

CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE OVERVIEW

Department of Development: January 2011

Main Components: At a minimum, a form-based code, written to enable or preserve a specific urban form, consists of building form and public space standards keyed to a regulating plan. An urban design is the intention or goal, the form-based code is the regulatory tool to achieve it.

1. Regulating Plan - A plan or map of the regulated area designating the locations where different building form standards apply, based on clear community intentions regarding the physical character of the area being coded.

CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE OVERVIEW

Department of Development: January 2011

2. Building Form Standards - Regulations controlling the configuration, features, and functions of buildings that define and shape the public realm.

3. Public Space Standards - Specifications for the elements within the public realm (e.g., sidewalks, travel lanes, on-street parking, street trees, street furniture, etc.).

CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE OVERVIEW

Department of Development: January 2011

Form Based Code Links Definitions & Model Code

• http://planningwiki.cyburbia.org/Form_based_code (Cyburbia Planning Wiki)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form-based_code (Wikipedia)

• http://www.smartcodecentral.org/ (Smart Code Central – Model Form Based Code)

• http://formbasedcodes.org/ (Form Based Code Institute)

Examples

• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio: http://cfo.cityofcf.com/content/commdevelop/devcode/mastercode.pdf

• Petaluma, California: http://cityofpetaluma.net/cdd/cpsp.html

• Miami, FL: http://www.miami21.org/

• Farmers Branch, TX: http://www.ci.farmers-branch.tx.us/work/planning/ordinances/station-area-codes ()

• Winter Springs, FL: http://www.winterspringsfl.org/EN/web/find/codes/DocsFormsPubs/43915/towncentercode.htm

• Arlington, VA: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/forums/columbia/current/CPHDForumsColumbiaCurrentCurrentStatus.aspx

• Pass Christian, MS: http://www.ci.pass-christian.ms.us/planning_zoning.html

CITY OF NEWARK FORM-BASED CODE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Department of Development: January 2011

Education and Organization

• Hold informal discussions/education sessions with downtown businesses, property owners, City Council, and other potential stakeholders

• Create FBC stakeholder group and hold Stakeholder Meeting(s) #1

Data Collection • Identify key downtown characteristics and elements. Will include elements that should

be protected & encouraged as well as those that should be restricted & discouraged • Convert characteristics and elements into design metrics (most likely ranges of metrics)

Create FBC Parameters • Establish street, public/open space, and building/block types • Stakeholder Meeting(s) #2 • Develop design and function standards for each street, public/open space, and

building/block type • Create the regulating plan that assigns a street type and building/block type to all land

in the district • (Optional) Develop additional regulating standards: architectural, signage, landscaping,

etc., or coordinate with applicable sections of existing code (work with local architects as needed)

• Stakeholder Meeting(s) #3

Write FBC Zoning Text • Draft new zoning text and graphics (iterative process) • Review by stakeholders, Planning Commission, and City Council (iterative process) • Revisions based on stakeholder, Planning Commission, and City Council comments

(iterative process)

Approval Process • Approval by Planning Commission • Adoption by City Council