This report is an exploration of theoretical and applied aspects of form-based coding. First, it presents an in-depth look at conventional zoning, conditions surrounding its origins around the turn of the twentieth century, the system of legal precedents that supports zoning, the evolution of the zoning “toolkit”, and the scope of zoning policies which are prevalent today. Second, form-based codes are defined and differentiated from conventional codes as well as design guidelines. The organizing principles on which FBCs are based are explained and the components of FBCs are described. Issues and controversy surrounding FBCs are discussed. Third, diverse case studies from around the country are carried out in order to examine how form-based codes are developed and applied in various real-world contexts. Case studies are presented in two different tiers, primary and secondary. Primary case studies involve in-depth research, whereas secondary case studies receive a brief, overview-style treatment. Primary case studies are: St. Lucie County, Florida and Sarasota County, Florida. Secondary case studies are: Leander, Texas; Peoria, Illinois; Montgomery, Alabama; Arlington County, Virginia; Hercules, California; and Miami, Florida. Fourth, conclusions are drawn from the research and point towards best practices in form-based coding. The report concludes that form-based codes are not a cure-all, should be developed in the context of a visioning process, and should strike a balance in terms of regulation. Additionally, market factors play a major role. The high cost of coding is a major concern. Furthermore, code writers should be prepared to educate the public as part of their profession. / text

City design has long been recognized as predicated on power. Planners have the power to regulate the use and form of privately owned land—an enormous task. Zoning is the foundation of city planning. The caliber of cities' future development hinges on zoning. Over the last fifteen years, communities have been divesting themselves of their historic Euclidean zoning in favor of the newer concept of form-based code. However, changing an entire zoning code is an immense project that requires a massive investment of motivation, time, perseverance and money. Does changing code provide an answer to undesirable consequences of Euclidean zoning, or are the claims of form-based code advocates correct and their code the panacea for everything wrong with planning and development? This is a sweeping question and one that is asked in hundreds of planning offices by planners, urban designers, politicians and their communities. The primary question is why and how communities change from conventional Euclidean zoning to form-based code. This research examines the state of practice and the impact of form-based code on zoning. Issues critical to an examination of the theory and practice aspects of this investigation includes key questions: What motivates change? What difference does it make? Who are the primary motivators for change? What is the comparative analysis and the basis for change and the impact of form-based code? Two protocols, including online surveys of planning practitioners and case studies of Cincinnati, Denver and Miami, are used to investigate the intended, and often unintended, outcomes and consequences that emerge with a zoning change within an established community.

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Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / John W. Keller / Form-based codes are gaining in popularity and provide a much needed and adequate alternative to more commonly used zoning regulations. Analysis shows the inadequacies and negative consequences that zoning regulations have created over the past 100 years of use within the United States. The focus being that traditional zoning regulations create undesired and unsustainable communities. A progression of form-based codes from their origins to the use of form-based codes today shows how they can be used to influence and shape the built environment. Further examination of the evolution of form-based codes reveals the guiding principles and elements of more modern codes. When compared to traditional zoning regulations, form-based codes can assist in designing a better quality built environment by creating more conscious, significant and sustainable places and spaces within our communities. By looking at current ways in which form-based codes are implemented we can begin to define best management practices and speculate on the future of form-based codes.

Zoning is premised upon the segregation of land uses. Rudimentary zoning ordinances originated in New York around 1916 as a means of separating the lower class fabric markets from the upscale retailers of 5th Avenue nearby, and to reduce density. The Standard Enabling Acts of the 1920s granted governments the broad authority to enact zoning ordinances to reduce population densities in cities for the purposes of health, safety, and well being. The United States Supreme Court upheld this authority as constitutional in the landmark case of Euclid v. Ambler Realty (1926). In the roughly eighty years since the Euclid decision, zoning has become the planning profession's primary tool to regulate land use. While an effective policy response to issues at that time of a rapidly industrializing America, Euclidean zoning has unintentionally shaped the US landscape into a sprawling, auto-dependent society characterized by segregated communities of isolated populations. Euclidean zoning makes it extremely difficult to mix uses. As a result, 'traditional' development patterns with high-density housing, nearby commercial, and pedestrian-friendly walkways are virtually impossible to create. Many critics suggest that zoning promulgates sprawl. In short, Euclidean zoning prevents 'good' urban design. In recent years, new trends have emerged to address these problems to varying degrees of success. Form-Based Codes are one of the most recent planning innovations. With origins in the New Urbanist school of development, Form-Based Codes elevates physical design in city planning, as opposed to the 'use-based' restrictions of Euclidean zoning. This paper examines whether or not Form-Based Codes could be a viable solution to the ills associated with Euclidean zoning. Benefits and drawbacks of both Euclidean zoning and Form-Based Codes are debated, including a case study analysis, as well as a discussion of legal ramifications and future scenarios in land use planning. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

This document is a professional project and academic companion piece completed to partially fulfill requirements for the attainment of a Masters in City and Regional Planning at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The project is the City of King West Broadway Master Plan (Plan). The Plan was completed over the course of a year for a real-world client (The City of King) and provides new form-based code recommendations in the Plan Area. The Plan is included as Appendix A. The companion piece is intended to provide additional background research that was conducted during the planning process, but omitted from the final project. In the companion piece, I first explain why I selected the WBMP for my professional project. Next, I elaborate on the sources and inspiration for the goals of the project that are listed in the plan including grant requirements, input from the public, and current planning practices. Finally, I provide background research and justifications for two parts of the plan that have little reasoning in the text: mobilehome relocation law and the suggested development standards.

As an emerging urban design tool, form-base codes have been increasingly used by urban planners and designers since the 1980s. Focusing on the actual built environment, form-based codes can provide more predictable results of future development and help planners to more easily communicate with people through detailed diagrams to develop consensual visions. Despite all of these advantages, however, there is no study identifying the advantages of form-based codes over conventional codes in both quantitative and qualitative ways. This thesis proposes what aspects of form-based codes have a positive impact on community revitalization compared with conventional zoning and the differences between the regulation systems by establishing evaluation criteria - sustainability, connectivity, diversity, and design optimization and compactness. For clearer analysis, physical standards in both regulation systems will be considered, and those standards will be directly applied to the actual community development project, the Fort McPherson Redevelopment Plan.

This thesis examines how usability and design improvements affect user engagement on a website. By conducting interviews and analysing user behaviour and feedback related to a job application form, the study demonstrates that enhancements in usability and design can lead to improved quality in user responses. Specifically, an increase in the length and quality of text field input was observed, along with improved responses regarding profile pictures, links, and documents. However, there are certain limitations to consider, including the fact that participants were aware of the monitoring during the interviews, which could influence the authenticity of the results. Additionally, other factors that could have influenced user engagement were not taken into account, making it difficult to solely attribute the changes to usability and design improvements.

Form-based codes are evaluated with criteria often requiring additional clarification. To better identify form-based code evaluation criteria, this thesis identifies the major intentions of form-based codes from the literature and focuses on the first intention, quality of life. The form-based code literature relates quality of life to three principles with underlying parameters: neighborhood with a center and edge, proximity to daily needs, and walkability. Neighborhood refers to the identification of walkable districts of about .25 mile radius with a clear center and edge. Proximity to daily needs requires diversity of uses in proximity to residential uses so that residents travel short distances to address daily needs. Walkability is a more complex principle with numerous impacting parameters effective only when working in tandem with each other. A selection of six case studies from award-wining form-based codes test the presence of the three quality of life principles in form-based code practice and the findings are discussed. All six case studies incorporated the three quality of life principles with some differences in all form-based planning process phases. Neighborhood is used as equivalent to a .25 mile pedestrian shed. The value of the concept of neighborhood edge in from-based codes remains unclear, however, since few case studies included it and needs to be explored further. Neighborhood with a center and edge therefore can be rephrased to a .25 mile pedestrian shed with a center. The .25 mile pedestrian shed alone is a fundamental parameter in all 3 quality of life principles and all case studies incorporated this parameter. Proximity to daily needs parameters as identified are also incorporated in all case studies. Walkability parameters that require building adaptations to walkable environments were present in all case studies. Walkability parameters, however, addressing standards for sidewalks and streets, were uncommon in some studies and, as a result, application of walkability parameters varied across case studies. Therefore, satisfying the quality of life form-based code intention, the 3 principles of pedestrian shed with a center, proximity to daily needs, and walkability can be used as part of the set of criteria to assess form-based codes. All 3 principles point to the direction of sustainability in an effort to create cities that are efficient to manage and highly appropriate for daily human function.

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