New zoning ordinances would focus more on how buildings look and fit into their surroundings, and far less on what goes on inside of them.
While residents and visitors may enjoy the pedestrian-friendly charms of Petoskey, Michigan, officials there are searching for better ways to preserve the town's rustic, village-like character. City planners say that the current, antiquated zoning laws guiding Petoskey's growth make their task harder because they favor autos over walkers and discourage redevelopment. Years ago that was not a problem, but now Petoskey is seeing strip malls and other signs of auto-dependency.
Thanks to Keith Schneider
FULL STORY: Worried About Sprawl, Michigan Town Considers "Form-Based" Development Rules

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont