Form-based codes in Cincinnati

On April 28, 2012 Cincinnati neighborhoods began the process of developing a form-based code for Cincinnati. The five-day citywide charrette — an open, multi-day visioning process involving all types of community stakeholders — will result in a Cincinnati template for neighborhoods to use as a foundation in developing a form-based code for their communities. More than 700 Cincinnati stakeholders met with the professional team that is writing and illustrating Cincinnati's form-based code over the course of the charrette, The consultant team will includes planners, architects, illustrators, transportation engineers, economists and retail consultants.

Vice Mayor Qualls has been working with neighborhood leaders from around the city who are interested in form-based codes since 2008, and introduced the City Council motion that initiated form-based codes development for Cincinnati. She has also organized several delegations of neighborhood leaders, city staff and developers to travel to Nashville to learn firsthand about that city’s successful implementation of form-based codes.

The charrette builds on the work over the last two years by expert consultants. Opticos Design has documented existing regulatory obstacles, reviewed best practices, and conducted a focus neighborhoods analysis. Rick Hall and Asssociates is developing the new city street standards that will be a critical element of the form-based code. Read more about the city’s form-based codes study here. The result will be a template that will provide the basis for a form-based code specific to a neighborhood that chooses to adopt one; adoption of a form-based code is completely voluntary.

The new code will describe, in words and clearly drawn graphics, what form and scale of development is desired and permissible. The code will create and employ an urban to rural transect. A transect is an illustration showing a range in scale of urban The code will include building form standards (building placement, frontage, etc.) and public space standards (street thoroughfare standards, civic space standards, etc.).

The city administration will present the new form-based code to the City Planning Commission and City Council for approval by the end of 2012. In the meantime, College Hill, Madisonville, Walnut Hills and Westwood are now planning for neighborhood-level charrettes in the fall to adapt the template to develop a form-based code for their neighborhood business districts.