Covington, Kentucky, located just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, has implemented a fundamental shift in the city's planning philosophy by adopting a new form-based Neighborhood Development Code.
"The Covington city commission last week approved a new Neighborhood Development Code (NDC) to replace the previous zoning ordinance," according to an article published by the River City News.
"The 'outgoing' Zoning Ordinance, adopted in 2006 and changed numerous times, separated Covington into parcels of land based on single, allowed 'uses.' The new 'form-based' or 'character-based' development code focuses on how structures relate to the surrounding public realm like the 'character' of the neighborhood," according to the article.
A press release from the city called the new NDC, "a fundamental change in philosophy and approach whose impact will be felt in every project, ranging from a homeowner adding a porch to a developer building a subdivision to an entrepreneur locating a new business."
The city worked with Kendig Keast Collaborative to complete the multi-year process of overhauling the city's development code. The approved version fo the NDC is available online, and the city is promising to release articles in the coming weeks and months to describe how the new NDC will work for businesses and residents of Covington.
Read the full story: Covington Approves Neighborhood Development Code, Ditches Old Zoning Ordinance
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