Euclidean-based zoning codes can confuse even the most experienced planning practitioner. Many such conventional codes seem more a piecemeal collection of disjointed provisions than a coherent compilation of regulations and procedures. This comprehensive report shows you how to improve the quality of conventional zoning codes. It features techniques for preparing zoning regulations, definitions, and procedures that are easy to understand and enforce. It also includes many tables, charts, and checklists. A valuable reference for planners and attorneys who write or revise zoning codes.
A new way forward for sustainable quality of life in cities of all sizes Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Build American Prosperity is a book of forward-thinking ideas that breaks with modern wisdom to present a new vision of urban development in the United States. Presenting the foundational ideas of the Strong Towns movement he co-founded, Charles Marohn explains why cities of all sizes continue to struggle to meet their basic needs, and reveals the new paradigm that can solve this longstanding problem. Inside, you’ll learn why inducing growth and development has been the conventional response to urban financial struggles—and why it just doesn’t work. New development and high-risk investing don’t generate enough wealth to support itself, and cities continue to struggle. Read this book to find out how cities large and small can focus on bottom-up investments to minimize risk and maximize their ability to strengthen the community financially and improve citizens’ quality of life. Develop in-depth knowledge of the underlying logic behind the “traditional” search for never-ending urban growth Learn practical solutions for ameliorating financial struggles through low-risk investment and a grassroots focus Gain insights and tools that can stop the vicious cycle of budget shortfalls and unexpected downturns Become a part of the Strong Towns revolution by shifting the focus away from top-down growth toward rebuilding American prosperity Strong Towns acknowledges that there is a problem with the American approach to growth and shows community leaders a new way forward. The Strong Towns response is a revolution in how we assemble the places we live.
States and their local governments have practical tools to help combat urban sprawl, protect farmland, promote affordable housing, and encourage redevelopment. They appear in the American Planning Association's Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook: Model Statutes for Planning and the Management of Change. The Guidebook and its accompanying User Manual are the culmination of APA's seven-year Growing Smart project, an effort to draft the next generation of model planning and zoning legislation for the United States. The Guidebook is also pertinent to those who are affected by planning decisions and who have an interest in how the statutes are revised, including: Local planners Builders Developers Real estate and design professionals Smart growth and affordable housing advocates Environmentalists Highway and transit specialists Citizens.
The new student edition of the definitive reference on urban planning and design Planning and Urban Design Standards, Student Edition is the authoritative and reliable volume designed to teach students best practices and guidelines for urban planning and design. Edited from the main volume to meet the serious student's needs, this Student Edition is packed with more than 1,400 informative illustrations and includes the latest rules of thumb for designing and evaluating any land-use scheme--from street plantings to new subdivisions. Students find real help understanding all the practical information on the physical aspects of planning and urban design they are required to know, including: * Plans and plan making * Environmental planning and management * Building types * Transportation * Utilities * Parks and open space, farming, and forestry * Places and districts * Design considerations * Projections and demand analysis * Impact assessment * Mapping * Legal foundations * Growth management preservation, conservation, and reuse * Economic and real estate development Planning and Urban Design Standards, Student Edition provides essential specification and detailing information for various types of plans, environmental factors and hazards, building types, transportation planning, and mapping and GIS. In addition, expert advice guides readers on practical and graphical skills, such as mapping, plan types, and transportation planning.
Unleash the design potential in codes Building codes and standards are often seen as obstacles to design excellence. Not any more! With the help of this down-to-earth guide, architecture professionals and students can stop dreading these rules and start using them to their advantage. Cracking the Codes makes codes and standards accessible by promoting a sound understanding of regulatory issues --without getting caught up in the minutiae. The book works the way projects do, moving through each stage of the planning process to identify and consolidate the basic regulatory requirements that must be addressed at every step along the way. It equips readers not only to recognize issues that call for regulatory research and to work effectively with appropriate consultants, but also to suggest strategic directions that are compatible with regulatory requirements and to make informed decisions in response to consultants' advice. In addition to the model building codes, including the forthcoming International Building Code, this book covers zoning ordinances and covenants, as well as rules related to accessibility, historic preservation, environmental quality, consumer protection, and a host of other critical issues. Information is extensively cross-referenced to make topics simple to find, and the uniform methodology applied to each regulatory issue makes the book both easy to follow and design-friendly. No project team should ever be held hostage by lack of familiarity with codes and standards. Cracking the Codes gives architects the freedom they need to break the rules without breaking the regulations.
Incentive zoning has received renewed attention as communities implement smart growth principles into planning and development processes. Incentive zoning allows a developer to build a larger, higher-density project than would be permitted under existing zoning. In exchange, the developer provides something that is in the community's interest that would not otherwise be required (e.g., open space, plazas, arcades, etc.). The common types of community benefits or amenities for which state and local governments have devised incentive programs are urban design, human services (including affordable housing), and transit access. This report provides historical perspective, summarizes state enabling legislation, and describes the key substantive and legal issues local governments must address in crafting such regulations. Case studies from Arlington County (Virginia), Minneapolis, and Seattle demonstrate how incentives can be used to achieve smart growth objectives. The report also provides principles to guide model legislation for zoning and affordable housing incentives.
