1. INTERNATIONAL MUNICIPAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
NEW URBANISM LITE: HOW TO INJECT NEW URBANIST DESIGN PRINCIPALS INTO EUCLIDEAN ZONING SYSTEMS
June 21, 2012
Portsmouth, New Hampshire

2. NEW URBANISM
New urbanism created in early 1970s with Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberg based on a critique of communities created since Euclid.

3. NEW URBANISM
Standard zoning results in communities with no sense of place.

4. NEW URBANISM
Not walkable like Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, or even Portsmouth

5. NEW URBANISM
Based on separation, not interaction of uses.

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Subdivisions and site plans isolate buildings and serve automobiles, not people.

7. NEW URBANISM
New urbanism calls for new zoning principals – three-dimensional form-based codes.

8. NEW URBANISM
The neighborhood has a center.

9. NEW URBANISM
The neighborhood is walkable, and uses are mixed. Each street is three-dimensionally zoned as a transect with “build to” lines.

10. NEW URBANISM LITE
Zero lot lines for commercial uses. Parking in rear, where possible. No snoots.

11. NEW URBANISM LITE
So why not do it? Because it’s illegal under standard zoning.

12. NEW URBANISM
Standard zoning requires separation of uses. Town road standards require wide streets, discouraging bikes and pedestrians. The general public hates sprawl, but fears density – also financing problems.

13. NEW URBANISM LITE
Connecticut: 169 towns: Lab mice for new urbanist concepts.

14. NEW URBANISM LITE
Architectural review regulations in zoning codes: Noank and Stonington

15. Adopted to fend off teardowns and McMansions
NEW URBANISM LITE
Adopted to fend off teardowns and McMansions

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Limited to historic villages as overlay zones.

17. NEW URBANISM
Disapproval of architectural plans by commission: A basis for denial of zoning permit.

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Based on comparison of plan with surrounding properties for scale, front proportions, openings, building materials, textures, roof shapes, etc.

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Limitations: Is it authorized under the standard zoning enabling act? Buildings must still conform to zoning dimensional requirements.

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Village districts: Special districts authorized by statute for historic New England villages.

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Must reflect distinctive character of area, as defined in Plan of Conservation and Development.

22. NEW URBANISM
All exteriors assessed by special village commission staffed by architect or certified planner. Review criteria includes reinforcing existing buildings and streets, distinctive open spaces, vista protection, scale, proportion, massing, etc.

23. NEW URBANISM
Limitation is expense, particularly for small towns.

24. NEW URBANISM
Special development districts allow zoning overrides for qualified design. Encourage mix of uses. Allow greater density. Limited to certain areas of town.

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Based on master plan, site study, traffic report, and overall plan of development. Prescribes uses and development.

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Limitation: It is expensive for the developer.

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Code-based zoning: Hamden, Connecticut

28. NEW URBANISM
Focused on two major thoroughfares and supported by comprehensive study of streetscapes.

29. NEW URBANISM
Includes transects and “build to” requirements

30. NEW URBANISM
Mandates shared parking. Closely defines road design. Building massing and height mandated.

31. Limitations: Is it legally allowed?
NEW URBANISM
Limitations: Is it legally allowed?

32. NEW URBANISM
With seniors wanting to leave their ranch houses, the millenials wanting density, and the need to limit sprawl in GHGs, look for these concepts to be the basis of the next generation of development.