Worried About Sprawl, Michigan Town Considers 'Form-Based' Development Rules

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.

1 minute read

April 24, 2006, 9:00 AM PDT

By David Gest

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

Read the full story: Worried About Sprawl, Michigan Town Considers "Form-Based" Development Rules

Sunday, April 23, 2006 in Michigan Land Use Institute

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