Zoning, Form-Based
Codes, & Subdivision Regulations
The oft-repeated admonition, "Keep It Simple," is a reminder that life is complicated enough without adding to the complexity. The knowledgeable professionals at LSL Planning know that even a simple zoning ordinance can be formidable. That's why our focus is on creating documents that are clear, concise, and easier to understand.
Our approach draws on experience gained from crafting zoning and subdivision ordinances for nearly 100 communities. Large cities, suburbs, first-tier communities, rural townships, and counties have relied on LSL to make their development regulations more useful, effective, and up to date. With nationwide experience, our planners know what will work where you live. We carefully match the right rools with your community's vision and goals.
We understand the importance of making a zoning and subdivision ordinance easy to interpret and apply. The planners at LSL have served as zoning administrators, planning commissioners, and ZBA members. We are often called on to represent communities as expert witnesses in zoning litigation.
Put our experience to work for your community.
LSL's planners have coauthored a number of planning and zoning handbooks for a variety of audiences. Our principals are frequent instructors at state, regional, and national seminars on a wide variety of zoning and specialty topics.
Need something new? We promote innovative tools such as overlay zones, transfer of development rights, a variety of PUD options, and form-based codes.
The LSL approach combines solid technical review, public involvement, and clear objectives for your zoning ordinance. Your new ordinance or subdivision regulations will incorporate sound risk manamgent principles, rely on an easy to use outline approach with detailed standards and graphics.
The end result is an ordinance that works for the applicant and your community.
It's that simple.
Really.
FORM-BASED CODES
One of the freshest concepts to be introduced to zoning
in decades, Form-Based Codes (FBC), is receiving widespread
attention from local officials and interested citizens,
striving for a more sustainable approach to community development.
Form-Based Codes rely on design concepts and patterns intended
to preserve the best of a community, creating more livable
environments and spaces. FBC focuses on the physical form
of the building and its relationship to the street and
adjacent buildings. Compatibility of uses is achieved through
design and orientation, instead of strict land use separation.
In the FBC, provisions are developed with an eye toward
a specific physical plan for new development and redevelopment.
Distinguishing features of the FBC are increased use of
administrative approvals, incentives for quality design
and development, and the use of minimum and maximum dimensional
requirements intended to create a greater degree of certainty
in the development process.
Having organized a nationally recognized team of design
professionals, public participation specialists, and planners
to address all elements of the FBC, the LSL team is working
with several communities who are adopting this approach.
FORM-BASED CODES
Birmingham Triangle District • Downtown Farmington • Genoa Town Center • Grass Lake • Leesburg, VA Crescent District • Macomb Town Center • Wixom Village Center
ZONING ORDINANCES
Cities, Towns, and Villages
Belding • Carson City • Cedar Springs • Columbus, IN • Chelsea • DeWitt • Dundee • Farmington • Fenton • Ferrysburg • Fowlerville • Fremont • Gaylord • Greenville • Imlay City • Kentwood • Lowell • Monroe • New Buffalo • Newaygo • North Muskegon • Rochester Hills • Rockford • Romulus • Roosevelt Park • Sanford • Spring Lake • Swartz Creek • Wixom • Zeeland
Townships
Backus • Big Prairie • Blendon • Brighton • Cato • Cedar Creek • Chester • Courtland • Croton • Dundee • Edwards • Egelston • Elmwood • Ensley • Exeter • Florence • Genoa • Georgetown • Grosse Ile • Handy • Laketon • Leroy • Lyndon • Lincoln • Northville • Pennfield • Pine • Reynolds • Sheridan • Sidney • Solon • Sullivan • Watertown • Weesaw • Ypsilanti
Counties
Bartholomew, IN • Gratiot • Ionia • Isabella • Ogemaw • Steuben, IN |
