Clearzoning

The latest overview of Clearzoning.

clearzoning overview

More PowerPoint presentations from Rod Arroyo

Lathrup Village Complete Streets Plan

A draft of the City of Lathrup Village's Complete Streets Plan was presented to the Planning Commission at its May meeting. The Plan provides a vision for enhancing non-motorized transportation within the City limits and beyond. As a separate chapter of the City's Master Plan, the Complete Streets Plan builds upon previously-adopted Master Plan concepts and further illustrates planning concepts. This includes development of a walkable city center area and the provision of non-motorized connections from nearby neighborhoods to local business districts.

The City's planning and transportation consultants, Birchler Arroyo Associates, Inc., worked with the Planning Commission to develop the draft plan, and they are now embarking upon a Non-motorized Transportation Improvements Program (TIP). The TIP will establish a five-year program for improvements and assist in setting funding priorities.

The City of Lathrup Village and Texas Township, Michigan have used Clearzoning® to transform their zoning codes into user-friendly, online, and highly-illustrated zoning codes. These interactive zoning ordinances are part of a strategy to better communicate zoning regulations to the development community, design professionals, citizens, and business owners.

Texas Charter Township

Texas Charter Township in Kalamazoo County, Michigan has transformed its zoning ordinance into a user-friendly, online document by partnering with Michigan-based Clearzoning®. The Township's Zoning Ordinance now has additional color graphics, navigation tabs, hyperlinks, and a new format that makes it easier to use and understand. Terms are word-searchable, and the entire document can be downloaded from the Township's web site.

The Township's Planning Commission conducted significant research on approaches for improving its Zoning Ordinance. After concluding research into better ways to zone, the Township hired Clearzoning® to assist them in the transformation process.

This Zoning Ordinance update is seen as both an economic development tool and enhancement in customer service. It makes it easier for developers, business owners, and design professionals to understand the zoning code, and it is available around the clock and around the world via the Township's web site. It also makes it easier for residents to access and understand zoning regulations. It is clearly a better approach to sharing zoning regulations with the public.

Texas Charter Township, located near Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the southwest portion of Kalamazoo County. The Township has approximately 36 square miles of land and has a population of approximately 13,000 people.

City of Lathrup Village

There has also been a fresh zoning change for the City of Lathrup Village, Michigan. The City transformed its existing zoning ordinance into user-friendly, easy-to-understand, hyperlinked ordinance that is available on the internet - Look under Quick Links.

This effort is seen as an economic development tool. It makes it easier for developers, business owners, and design professionals to understand the zoning code, and it is available around the clock and around the world via the City's web site. It also makes it easier for residents to access and understand zoning regulations.

The City of Lathrup Village, a suburb of Detroit, is in an ideal location for redevelopment. Seeking to enhance its main commercial corridor, Southfield Road, the City embarked on a master plan process that led to the vision of a downtown, right in the heart of the corridor. Lathrup Village took the opportunity to implement several Master Plan recommendations by consolidating zoning districts and creating new zoning districts that more appropriately address the needs of the community. The new Clearzoning® code includes a form-based, Village Center District, which provides more direction for the physical design of the new downtown area.

About Clearzoning®

In times of slow growth, communities can take a wait-and-see attitude or they can take positive steps to open the door to new economic development. A user-friendly zoning ordinance can be one of the strategies that sets a community apart from others that are competing to attract new jobs and an expanding tax base.

At the same time, a clearer zoning code will help make municipal government more efficient and transparent. If a zoning ordinance is clear and online, many questions can be answered without contacted the local staff. This frees up staff time to do other important municipal functions.

Clearzoning® maintains the regulatory effect of a zoning ordinance, zoning bylaw or zoning resolution. It transforms the code into an easy-to-read, better organized, digital document that will revolutionize the way the code functions. Plain text and black and white graphics are reborn as colorful illustrations. Words and phrases become searchable online, sections of the code are hyperlinked, and regulations are easier to understand. For more information, visit Clearzoning or follow www.twitter.com/clearzoning.

Clearzoning®, the term "clear and connected" and the Clearzoning logo are registered trademarks of Birchler Arroyo Associates, Inc. Clearzoning® ordinances are copyrighted, and the format, organization, graphics, outline, and other unique features are protected by U.S. copyright laws.

Better Zoning: Making Zoning Codes Easier to Understand

A great zoning ordinance is more than just the words that regulate development. It is a reflection of the community's master plan vision, and it is one of the first things a developer looks at as part of the due diligence process for a new project.

A typical zoning ordinance is not user friendly. Many are cumbersome to work with, difficult to search, and challenging to understand. The regulations may be state-of-the-art, but if the average person can't understand it, the code is not working to its full potential. A poorly designed zoning ordinance can lead to confusion and litigation. It may also drive developers away to other communities in the same region.

Clearzoning® is a clear alternative that transforms municipal zoning codes into digital, user-friendly files that better communication zoning regulations. Clearzoning® maintains the existing regulatory effect, but presents the information in a way that is easier to understand. Clearzoning® is clear and connected.

Clearzoning® can transform a zoning code in about four months. Once Clearzoning® is in place, it can free up staff time spent answering zoning questions. It also serves as an economic development tool by 1) making a zoning code user-friendly, 2) making the code available around the clock and around the world on the internet, and 3) sending a message to businesses that the community treats economic development seriously and wants to be customer-friendly.

For more information, visit the Clearzoning® website. Email: info[at]clearzoning.com.

Three New Year's Resolutions for Local Government

January is a great time to think about goals for the upcoming year. At Birchler Arroyo Associates, Inc., we believe that as economic times improve, they will bring a new set of challenges to communities. Residents and business owners continue to become more aware of the issues surrounding sustainability and will gravitate to those places that have planned for economic growth, quality living, and protection of natural resources. As Edward T. McMahon, senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute, said in the fall 2010 Planning Commissioners Journal, "If you can’t differentiate your community from any other community, you have no competitive advantage."

We believe that there are three things communities should pursue in 2011 that will pay off in the long run when development and growth return.

Plan for Complete Streets. The term "complete streets" may be relatively new, but BA staff have been incorporating the complete streets concept - designing roadways to safely serve users of all ages and abilities - into land use plans, thoroughfare plans, and downtown plans for 30 years. Complete streets concepts include making roadways safe and functional for bicycles, pedestrians, and transit riders as well as motorists, motorcyclists, and truckers. Implementation of complete streets concepts can be incorporated into a small-scale project or as part of a long-term planning strategy. In addition to helping a community develop a complete streets policy, we can also assist communities with related activities including:

• Identifying opportunities to implement low-cost pavement marking changes to implement complete streets elements during road resurfacing
• Providing hands-on experience in helping plan and implement an extensive network of on-street bike lanes
• Modeling alternative street-use plans to evaluate the impact on various users of the road right-of-way.
  

Transform development codes. In times of slow growth, communities can take a wait-and-see attitude or they can take positive steps to open the door to new economic development. A user-friendly zoning code can be one of the strategies to set your community apart from others vying to create jobs and grow the tax base. BA and its subsidiary clearzoning have helped communities by using advances in technology and widespread accessibility of the Internet to transform their traditional text-based zoning ordinance and provide online access to application forms. Improvements to the organization and visual presentation of ordinances can make them more user-friendly as well as foster economic development. Visit Lathrup Village to see our most recent clearzoning project.

Update Recreation Plans. The 2010 Recreation Passport program of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a new way to fund state parks, non-motorized trails and local parks. The DNR is developing a grant program that uses Recreation Passport funds for local communities. This grant program will be an additional source of funding, to complement existing funding resources, including the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and Land and Water Conservation Fund. Communities must have current recreation plans to make application for any of these funding opportunities. Keep in mind that updates may only be made to recreation plans before they expire, so communities should check the dates of their current recreation plans. Call us with questions or for assistance with recreation planning or grant applications.

For more information, please visit Birchler Arroyo Associates, Inc.

Lathrup Village's Transformed Zoning Ordinance

The City of Lathrup Village, Michigan has a new zoning ordinance that is user-friendly, hyperlinked, and full of clear, colorful graphics. It also has a new form-based district for the Village Center area that requires pedestrian-oriented building placement and design elements.

This new zoning ordinance, developed in cooperation with clearzoning, a municipal coding company based in Lathrup Village, is intended to improve customer service and promote economic development. The City's recent Master Plan update calls for a new, walkable downtown on Southfield Road, north of I-696. The new clearzoning code provides the regulatory framework to implement the plan. Developer interest is already being demonstrated, and the new code sends a message that the City is taking positive steps to implement its long-range plans.

For more information, visit the City's web site or www.clearzoning.com. For a visual flyover of the future development concept, link to this video.

Adapting Big Box Users to a Local Context

Many big box users have developed branding elements that range from logo schemes and signage to building appearance and architectural elements. Many municipalities also seek to have new development reflect either existing community character or desired character components that have been developed through the planning process.

The examples below show how one big box user, Wal-Mart, has adapted to the desires of local communities to reflect unique character elements. The Wal-Mart in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan has an urban component, even though it is located in a suburban setting. The overall development, Heritage Park, includes walking trails, a park, and natural features. The plans were approved through a Planned Unit Development (PUD) process.

The Wal-Mart in Waynesville, NC reflects the rustic character of Waynesville, which is small town nestled in a valley surrounded by views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The town's Master Plan was developed to protect the unique mountain character and prevent cookie-cutter designs. The final approved design has a brick facade and also includes a stacked stone entryway. The front building facade is articulated to break up the large mass and create depth. The store also features pitched roofs and wood timbers.

One key component for municipalities is to clearly establish community character elements through the Master Plan process. This provides policy direction for the design guidelines and ordinances that should follow and implement the Master Plan strategies.

Birchler Arroyo Associates, Inc. (BA) is a community planning firm based in Lathrup Village, Michigan. BA has assisted municipalities with constructively working with big box users to develop plans and designs that reflect local community character.