Fairfax Board of Supervisors Passes Motion to Study Form-Based Codes From the CLERK'S BOARD SUMMARY REPORT OF ACTIONS OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MONDAY, July 11, 2005 http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/bos/summary/2005/05%2D07%2D11.htm FORM-BASED CODE (10:36 a.m.) With reference to his Board Matter on Form-Based Code, Chairman Connolly said that he was presenting it after attending a seminar in McLean with Supervisor DuBois. He said that it was another way of looking at mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, and revitalization. As the County, along with the entire Washington Metropolitan Region, examines ways to plan for the projected influx of two million new residents and 1.6 million new jobs over the next 25 years, the Board needs to look at available options to better integrate mixed uses into the communities. At an open community forum sponsored by the Coalition for Smarter Growth and the McLean Citizens Association, among others, on the topic of urban design initiatives, urban designer Geoffrey Ferrell delivered a presentation on form-based code, citing his experience with a successful pilot project along portions of Columbia Pike in Arlington County. Chairman Connolly’s background material indicated that form-based code emphasizes the design of any given parcel, rather than the use. As such, a grocery store may look similar on the outside to the multi-family residential building next door, with each conforming to the same set of architectural and design guidelines. In the Columbia Pike project, the public input came at the front end of the process, rather than waiting until individual rezoning cases were considered. Stakeholders representing a broad swath of the affected community came together and, over a series of charrettes, by consensus, contributed extensively to the design of their neighborhood. As a result, developers know what design elements are allowed within the project area, and neighbors know what their community will look like as development projects are proposed for that portion of Columbia Pike. This was a three-year effort and cost several hundred thousand dollars to develop. Projects conforming to this code are considered administratively and are not subject to the public hearing process. Chairman Connolly asserted in his written documentation that as the County explores mixed-use development, especially as a tool for creating communities that reduce dependency on cars, the applicability of form-based code to portions of the County should be evaluated. While form-based code is not a viable option for every single parcel in the County, certain locations may be particularly well-suited to benefit from form-based code and could present an opportunity to promote walkable mixed-use communities in certain areas. Accordingly, jointly with Supervisor DuBois, Chairman Connolly moved that the Board direct staff to prepare an analysis of form-based code and the Columbia Pike project as it could apply to Fairfax County, and to develop recommendations for a form-based code pilot project for the Board’s consideration if deemed feasible, and report with its findings. This analysis and set of recommendations should include, but not be limited to:
Supervisor DuBois seconded the motion. Following discussion regarding a similar presentation by the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation and the issue of shared parking in a block, the question was called on the motion, which carried by a vote of eight, Supervisor McConnell being out of the room, Supervisor Hyland not yet having arrived. |
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