Are Form-Based Design Standards Easier Than Form-Based Codes?

Randall Arendt looks at how communities can achieve results similar to Form-Based Codes through a simpler set of form-based design standards (FBDS).

1 minute read

July 24, 2017, 9:00 AM PDT

By CHorose


Communities with limited resources may find it difficult to create Form-Based Codes (FBC). In updating his book, Rural by Design, Randall Arendt looked at alternatives to FBC that are working for small cities and towns across the country. Randall found that small communities like Freeport, Maine and Davidson, North Carolina have been able to achieve similar results with Form-Based Design Standards (FBDS). These design standards provide general guidance on design elements like setbacks, building height, and parking requirements. These standards reduce the complexity and cost of implementing form based zoning.

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