HomeMy WebLinkAboutMark Egge Form-Based Code Comments 0815191
Lacie Kloosterhof
From:Mark Egge <mark@eateggs.com>
Sent:Thursday, August 15, 2019 10:37 AM
To:Lacie Kloosterhof
Subject:Planning Board Comments
Hi, Lacie.
Would you mind distributing my comments below to the Planning Board?
---
Fellow Planning Board Members—
I met with Chris Saunders this morning regarding form-based code (as opposed to our current Euclidean or
“use-based” land use map). My high-level takeaways:
1. Form-based code has emerged as the need for traditional Euclidean zoning (e.g. separating dirty industry
from residential areas) has waned. In the years since use-based zoning's advent, overall society has
become cleaner and better at dealing with externalities such as pollution and noise.
2. Our existing UDC already contains many elements of form-based code (and has since 1994 with
Bozeman’s entryway corridor plan). Much of our current code could be carried forward under a form-
based framework. (More work would be required for our zoning map, which would likely need a
substantial redraw.)
3. Form-based code is often implemented at the district level (rather than citywide) providing block-by-
block form prescriptions. That said, we could use the same principles and a broader brush to create a
form-based future land use map.
My (personal) “ask” is for a short presentation to the Planning Board from staff or Logan Simpson on form-
based code versus Euclidean zoning (e.g. how form-based code has been implemented in other communities,
and how a form-based approach would support the goals in our Community Plan vis-à-vis the current Euclidean
approach, etc.) Seeing the stack of plans and drawings on Chris’s desk this morning, my suggestion would be to
ask our consultant to do this.
As a conceptual example, one way we could evolve our Community Plan Future Plan Use Map into a form-
based map would be to simplify our twelve current land use designations to just three:
1. Residential Emphasis Mixed Use (or, more simply: Residential)
2. Community Commercial Mixed Use (or, more simply: Commercial)
3. Public Lands and Institutions
And then provide degrees of gradation within each, e.g. for Residential:
Low Rise: 1 – 2 stories, setbacks required
Mid Rise: 2 – 5 stories, setbacks optional
High Rise: 4 – 6 stories, zero lot lines required
2
Finally, a few resources that I found helpful:
A Strong Towns take on Euclidian vs. Form Based Code through the lens of Jane Jacobs
Strong Towns on things we should regulate more, and regulate less and how form based code supports this (I'd
suggest starting about 2/3 of the way down, at "3 Things We Could Stand to Regulate Less - Density")
Here's an image of a form-based land use map:
Thanks for your consideration,
Mark
--
Mark Egge
(406) 548-4488