The toolkit promotes urban zoning reform to increase and diversify housing availability The toolkit, which the White House released in late September, calls for the development of “high-density and multifamily zoning,” “streamlining or shortening permitting processes and timelines,” and allowing “by-right development,” all of which are in line with elements t of form-based codes. The […]
“Form-based codes aren’t cheap. If we keep the existing zoning map and add some building-form standards, we’d be almost there.” Some planning directors have had these hopeful thoughts when deciding whether to pursue a form-based code. The question acknowledges the need to make changes to zoning, but naively hopes for simple tweaks. Zoning that effectively […]
CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, FL DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The City of Fort Lauderdale is the seventh largest city in Florida and the largest of Broward County’s 31 municipalities. The City prides itself on its collaborative working relationships within the community and has been ranked as one of the nation’s best cities in a variety […]
Greetings! I’m pleased to update you on some changes at FBCI over the past few months. We moved our headquarters from Chicago to Washington, D.C. and brought on some new board members. We’ve also welcomed aboard Marta Goldsmith as FBCI’s new Executive Director. Marta, who has a strong urban planning background, will run the Institute’s […]
Chattanooga’s form-based code is part of an innovative vision for the city’s economic, environmental and cultural future. Following a recent visit to Chattanooga, Bruce Katz wrote in a Brookings Institute blog, “Something special is happening in Chattanooga.” As Katz points out, too often venture capitalists “pay too little attention to small and mid-sized cities with […]
A new guidebook, Placemaking as an Economic Development Tool, has been published by The Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University in collaboration with the MIplaceTM Partnership Initiative. The book, which is available for download free of charge, is designed to help communities understand how effective community and economic development can be enhanced through effective […]
The U.S. residential real estate market is undergoing dramatic change; its evolution influenced not by the largest demographic — Baby Boomers — but by their offspring, the Millennials. Neighborhoods and cities preferred by most of this generation are those that are planned and designed with innovative form-based codes. These were some of the key findings […]
June 9, 2016 — The Form-Based Codes Institute (FBCI) today announced the 2016 Driehaus Form-Based Codes Award is being presented to communities in Florida and Washington for their implementation of innovative and effective codes. Honorable mention is being made to a Tennessee community. The Driehaus Form-Based Codes Award is sponsored by FBCI with the generous […]
Chairperson Lisa Wise will represent FBCI at the Global Cities in an Era of Change 2016 symposium, March 30-April 1, at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. The symposium will unite thought-leaders and decision-makers to address the challenges and opportunities the real estate industry faces as the built environment adapts to meet the needs of […]
Humans are social, yet this primary fact of life is oddly absent as a core consideration in modern urban development regulations. To ignore the social needs of our species is to lose sight of one of the most positive drivers for shaping sustainable urban form. Providing for the satisfactions of community counters sprawl. Yet conventional […]
FBC 101 (Virtual Edition) is back this spring!
Last fall, the Form-Based Codes Institute successfully hosted its most popular class–FBC 101: The ABCs of Form-Based Codes–in a virtual, synchronous setting for the first time. FBCI staff worked for several months with seasoned instructors and other form-based code experts to develop the content and activities. Because of increased interest and use of form-based codes […]
Accessory dwelling units promoted as a strategy to increase affordable housing stock at White House event
The Biden administration hosted a virtual webinar on February 1st highlighting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as one way to increase affordable housing stock across the country. An esteemed group of fourteen thought leaders, advocates, and government officials from across the country convened to share their expertise and insights, advocate for ADUs, and discuss current barriers […]
The City of Farmers Branch, Texas seeks consultants to prepare a city-wide comprehensive plan & station area form based code
Two Proposals Requested The city of Farmers Branch, Texas is seeking proposals from qualified consultants for professional services to prepare a city-wide Comprehensive Plan and expansion of the Station Area Form Based Code (PD-86). The Farmers Branch Department of Planning & Zoning invites you to submit your proposal to either or both of these RFPs. […]
Announcing 2021 Driehaus Award Winner: The Evolution of Form-Based Codes
Today, the Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America is thrilled to announce the winner of the fifteenth annual Richard H. Driehaus Form-Based Code Award for achievement in the writing and implementation of a stellar form-based zoning code–the City of South Bend Zoning Ordinance for the City of South Bend, Indiana. City of South Bend […]
The Village of Shorewood, Wisconsin seeks consultant for its Commercial & Mixed-Use Districts (Hybrid Form-Based Code Zoning)
Proposal Requested The Village of Shorewood is seeking a consultant to update the Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts within its Zoning Code to include form-based elements alongside updated use classifications (hybrid). The Village’s Central District Master Plan Design Guidelines shall serve as a starting point, but incorporation of additional “best practice” form-based elements are expected. This […]
This model code for Marin County, CA exemplifies the differentiating strengths of form-based codes: clear guidance for better design…more
This citywide code is an excellent model for any city—particularly legacy cities—seeking to use code reform to promote fiscally…more
This code strikes the perfect balance between walkable urbanism and conservation of natural areas. It is well-organized, easy to…more
This code was adopted in 2018 for a suburban corridor linking established historic village centers in western Connecticut. Prior commercial…more
The Downtown Code for Lafayette, LA was adopted within one year of the city’s Downtown Action Plan to stimulate development…more
FBC 101 (Virtual Edition) is back this spring!
Last fall, the Form-Based Codes Institute successfully hosted its most popular class–FBC 101: The ABCs …
The Biden administration hosted a virtual webinar on February 1st highlighting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) …
Two Proposals Requested The city of Farmers Branch, Texas is seeking proposals from qualified consultants …
Smart Growth America’s new Center for Zoning Solutions (CZS) builds on FBCI’s legacy, empowering communities to create livable places, promote health, and achieve shared prosperity through innovative zoning solutions, including form-based codes.
CZS continues FBCI’s mission by developing standards, writing and reviewing codes, and educating communities through celebrated FBC courses and the Form-Based Code Award.
Learn more at https://smartgrowthamerica.org/zoning/
Fatima Ali-Salaam
Patricia Wallace
EUNICE MARQUEZ
Carlos Gaivoto