Form-Based Codes –

some Common Pitfalls

Form-Based Codes: The Spectrum

Low Regulation High Regulation

Staff Levels / SkillsCommunity CultureGoals of the FBC

Low Certainty High CertaintyBasic Form Form +Easy Process Longer Process

Where is your community on the Spectrum?

Form-Based Codes: The Spectrum

Mediocre Public Realm Quality Public Realm

Have you ever measured a street?Own a copy of a Don Shoup book?

How open-minded are your fire officials?Pub Works/ Engineering familiar w CSS?

Does your City Forester understand/like cities?How strong is your City Manager?

Streets too Wide “Complete” StreetsToo much free parking Parking in BalancePoor Streetscapes Consistent StreetscapesMediocrity / Failure Success

Where is your community on the Spectrum?

Build-to Lines

Build-to Lines

Build-to Lines

Platting

Platting

1 story building prohibition

1 story building prohibition

1 story building prohibition

1 story building prohibition

1 story building prohibition

1 story building prohibition

Auto-oriented use prohibitions

Auto-oriented use prohibitions

Building Typology – Small Civic Building

Building Typology – Small Civic Building

Building Typology – Small Civic Building

Building Height Measurement

Building Height Measurement

Building Height Measurement

Design Guidelines vs Standards

Design Guidelines vs Standards

Some Notes on Parking

Some Notes on Parking

Approx 330 off-street spaces

Approx 50 on-street spaces on 39th

Approx 87,000 sq ft of first-floor comm. space

Approx 3.8 off-street spaces / 1,000 sq ft – just for first floor space

Approx 2.75 off-street spaces / 1,000 sq ft – incl. 2nd floors

Modest modal split

Language & Process

Language & Process

Expedite somehow:

Staff, Administrative

Separate Review Body

Separate Procedure through existing Body

Language & Process

Language & Process

Consider the Increment