Driven by New Urbanism, more than two dozen communities in the U.S. have loosened zoning restrictions in recent years. Cities are opting to use form-based codes, a concept less concerned with the use of buildings and more with their appearance and the way they relate to each other.
The goal of city planners is to shape the streetscape according to a vision for a neighborhood. The new approach has been called “performance-based zoning.” An example is a large development in Fremont, Calif., where the city council changed its approach to zoning on a nearly 900-acre development adjacent to a light rail station.
Planners started with several goals—a certain number of jobs, a certain number of homes including affordable homes, and strict standards for a low carbon footprint. The developers were allowed to design the project as they saw fit as long as they could achieve those goals.
The performance-based approach is contrary to the principle of separation of uses that led to color-coded zoning maps pinned up in most town halls. According to the old philosophy, ach zone had its own designated use: residential, commercial, or industrial. This method is increasingly seen as inappropriate for urban development—especially infill, downtown, and transit-oriented projects.
(http://www.citylab.com/housing/2014/08/braving-the-new-world-of-performance-based-zoning/375926/)
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jul 12, 2017
New International Building Code allows weather-resistive barriers above 40 feet
Danger of propagating flames now deemed negligible.
Codes and Standards | Jul 10, 2017
New mass plywood panel project moves ahead with federal grant
New material is substitute for concrete and steel in multi-story projects.
Codes and Standards | Jul 6, 2017
Trump ups ante on apprenticeships, gives private sector more room to design them
Initiative aimed at alleviating construction industry worker shortage.
Codes and Standards | Jul 6, 2017
Flawed modeling to blame for green buildings failure to live up to hype on energy efficiency
Explains energy performance gap from expected savings to actual savings.
Codes and Standards | Jul 5, 2017
Research study examines tall timber buildings worldwide
Industry group developing criteria for categorizing wide range of construction approaches to tall timber buildings.
Codes and Standards | Jun 30, 2017
AAMA releases new document on aluminum fenestration and energy efficiency
The free download addresses entrances, storefront framing, curtain walls, windows and skylight fenestration systems.
Codes and Standards | Jun 29, 2017
Fire codes prevent cladding used on Grenfell Tower from being used in U.S.
Reports suggest an extra $6,300 for fire-resistant cladding could have prevented the tragedy.
Codes and Standards | Jun 28, 2017
Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, Standards ASCE/SEI 7-16, has been updated
The document is used for determining design loads including dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, wind, and fire.
Codes and Standards | Jun 27, 2017
Cold-formed steel framing engineering guide for building projects released
Better sound attenuation for subfloors and exterior continuous insulation are among the matters addressed.
Codes and Standards | Jun 26, 2017
L.A.’s new ordinance requires energy and water efficiency benchmarking
Structures 20,000 sf and larger must demonstrate steps to boost efficiency.