Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America

Tony Perez, Education Committee Chair

Senior Associate
Opticos Design, Inc.
Berkeley, CA
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With 34 years of experience, including 12 as a public sector planner, Tony Perez has spent the last 22 years helping communities improve their zoning codes with a focus on writing Form-Based Codes. An expert in translating policy direction into clear and implementable development standards, Tony works to enable  Missing Middle Housing by identifying and addressing barriers, improving neighborhood walkability and writing supportive standards. 

Tony is fluent in the language of Urban Design and Architecture, enabling him to extract maximum information and direction from a client, designer or stakeholder’s unique vision. He has worked with various New Urbanism leaders and innovators, including Stefanos Polyzoides, Paul Crawford, and Dan Parolek, learning the intricacies of preparing quality Form-Based Codes.

A leader in advancing the practice of Form-Based Codes, Tony has been on the Driehaus Award Jury and is a board member of the Form-Based Codes Institute. He is also an energetic educator, working with public sector planners across the United States to help them learn and explain Form-Based Codes, as well as teaching Form-Based Planning and Zoning at Cal Poly Pomona University.

Tony is from the California Delta town of Isleton and lives with his family in Southern California. 

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