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Date <br />Project Name <br />Attention <br />May 9, 2008 <br />Charrette for San Jose District, City of Bisbee <br />City of Bisbee: John Charley, Community Development Director; Melanie Greene, Planning <br />Assistant <br />A PRIMER ON FORM-BASED CODES <br />"A form-based code is one that is based primarily on "form"—urban form, including the relationship of buildings <br />to each other, to streets and to open space, rather than based primarily on land use. " <br />A Form-Based Code is a development code that provides the developer/applicant greater flexibility in <br />permitted land uses in exchange for more stringent regulations controlling urban form. These types of codes <br />support mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly and mixed housing development more effectively than conventional <br />codes do because they provide greater guidance on how buildings are expected to face the street, adjacent <br />residential neighborhoods and open spaces. Form-Based Codes are becoming increasingly attractive to <br />municipalities that want greater control over how buildings look and feel. Cities that have adopted Form- <br />Based Codes include Bend and Portland in Oregon; Petaluma, Pleasant Hill, Palo Alto and Hercules in <br />California. <br />A BRIEF COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL CODES AND FORM-BASED CODES <br />URBAN FORM GENERATING CHARACTERISTICS <br />CONVENTIONAL CODES <br />• Include extensive lists of permitted, prohibited <br />and conditional uses by zone. Many land uses in <br />conventional codes lists are outdated and do not <br />reflect the nature of contemporary employment <br />models or dwelling types <br />• Often disallow a mix of uses <br />• Prohibit adaptability of buildings to other uses <br />over time <br />• On zoning maps, land use designations typically <br />begin and end at the center of the street or Right <br />of Way <br />FORM-BASED CODES <br />• Consider the building "walls" that frame the <br />Right of Way (often referred to as the "public <br />realm") as one of the primary determinants of <br />form <br />• Regulating plan zone designations typically <br />transition at the back of the lot <br />• The same or similar development standards <br />typically apply to both sides of the street <br />• Land uses allow a much broader range of <br />uses within a zone or subarea; also allow a <br />greater mix of uses <br />• Many uses are allowed if they meet <br />performance standards <br />1 <br />338 fVW 5TH AVENUE PURTLANO OR 97209 i 503.445.7372 i 503.445.7395 >•Ci;:;i'�:C,�. .. <br />