Land Use Planning and Zoning

  1. Zoning as Primary Implementation Tool
    1. The Zoning Ordinance
      1. Structure and Components
        1. Zoning Map
          1. District Boundaries and Designations
            1. Map Scale and Accuracy
              1. Map Amendment Procedures
              2. Zoning Text (Ordinance)
                1. Definitions and Interpretations
                  1. District Regulations
                    1. General Provisions and Standards
                      1. Administrative Procedures
                  2. Types of Zoning Districts (Euclidean Zoning)
                    1. Residential Districts
                      1. Single-Family Residential
                        1. Detached Dwelling Requirements
                          1. Lot Size and Width Standards
                            1. Accessory Dwelling Units
                            2. Two-Family and Duplex
                              1. Design and Compatibility Standards
                              2. Multi-Family Residential
                                1. Apartments and Condominiums
                                  1. Townhouses and Row Houses
                                    1. Senior Housing
                                    2. Density Controls
                                      1. Units per Acre Standards
                                        1. Minimum and Maximum Densities
                                          1. Bonus Density Provisions
                                        2. Commercial Districts
                                          1. Neighborhood Commercial
                                            1. Small-Scale Retail and Services
                                              1. Mixed-Use Provisions
                                              2. Community Commercial
                                                1. Shopping Centers and Plazas
                                                2. Central Business District (CBD)
                                                  1. High-Intensity Commercial Uses
                                                    1. Mixed-Use Development
                                                    2. Highway Commercial
                                                      1. Auto-Oriented Businesses
                                                        1. Drive-Through Facilities
                                                        2. Office Districts
                                                          1. Professional and Administrative Offices
                                                            1. Medical Offices
                                                          2. Industrial Districts
                                                            1. Light Industrial
                                                              1. Warehousing and Distribution
                                                                1. Light Manufacturing
                                                                  1. Research and Development
                                                                  2. Heavy Industrial
                                                                    1. Manufacturing and Processing
                                                                      1. Extractive Industries
                                                                      2. Industrial Parks
                                                                        1. Planned Industrial Development
                                                                      3. Agricultural and Rural Districts
                                                                        1. Agricultural Preservation
                                                                          1. Farming Operations Protection
                                                                            1. Agricultural Support Services
                                                                            2. Rural Residential
                                                                              1. Large Lot Development
                                                                                1. Cluster Development Options
                                                                              2. Special Purpose Districts
                                                                                1. Historic Preservation Districts
                                                                                  1. Design Guidelines and Standards
                                                                                    1. Certificate of Appropriateness Process
                                                                                    2. Institutional Districts
                                                                                      1. University and College Campuses
                                                                                        1. Hospitals and Medical Centers
                                                                                          1. Government Facilities
                                                                                          2. Open Space and Conservation Districts
                                                                                            1. Parks and Recreation Areas
                                                                                              1. Natural Resource Protection
                                                                                                1. Conservation Easements
                                                                                                2. Planned Development Districts
                                                                                                  1. Mixed-Use Development
                                                                                                    1. Flexible Design Standards
                                                                                                3. Zoning Regulations and Development Standards
                                                                                                  1. Use Regulations
                                                                                                    1. Permitted Uses by Right
                                                                                                      1. Conditional or Special Uses
                                                                                                        1. Prohibited Uses
                                                                                                          1. Use Classification Systems
                                                                                                            1. Accessory Uses and Structures
                                                                                                            2. Dimensional and Bulk Standards
                                                                                                              1. Lot Area Requirements
                                                                                                                1. Minimum Lot Size
                                                                                                                  1. Lot Width and Depth
                                                                                                                  2. Setback Requirements
                                                                                                                    1. Front Yard Setbacks
                                                                                                                      1. Side Yard Setbacks
                                                                                                                        1. Rear Yard Setbacks
                                                                                                                          1. Waterfront and Special Setbacks
                                                                                                                          2. Building Height Limits
                                                                                                                            1. Maximum Height in Feet
                                                                                                                              1. Maximum Number of Stories
                                                                                                                                1. Height Measurement Methods
                                                                                                                                2. Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
                                                                                                                                  1. Calculation Methods
                                                                                                                                    1. Bonus FAR Provisions
                                                                                                                                    2. Lot Coverage Standards
                                                                                                                                      1. Maximum Building Coverage
                                                                                                                                        1. Impervious Surface Limits
                                                                                                                                      2. Parking and Loading Requirements
                                                                                                                                        1. Minimum Parking Ratios by Use
                                                                                                                                          1. Parking Space Dimensions
                                                                                                                                            1. Accessible Parking Standards
                                                                                                                                              1. Shared Parking Provisions
                                                                                                                                                1. Loading Zone Requirements
                                                                                                                                                  1. Bicycle Parking Requirements
                                                                                                                                                  2. Signage Regulations
                                                                                                                                                    1. Sign Types and Classifications
                                                                                                                                                      1. Size and Height Limitations
                                                                                                                                                        1. Location and Placement Standards
                                                                                                                                                          1. Illumination and Animation Rules
                                                                                                                                                            1. Temporary and Portable Signs
                                                                                                                                                            2. Landscaping and Buffering Standards
                                                                                                                                                              1. Planting Requirements by District
                                                                                                                                                                1. Screening and Buffering Between Uses
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Tree Preservation and Replacement
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Stormwater Management Landscaping
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Zoning Administration and Procedures
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Administrative Structure
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Zoning Administrator Role
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Permit Review and Issuance
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Code Interpretation
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Violation Enforcement
                                                                                                                                                                            2. Planning Commission Functions
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Development Review
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Public Hearing Conduct
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Advisory Recommendations
                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Zoning Board of Appeals
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Variance Request Hearings
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Administrative Decision Appeals
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Special Exception Permits
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Governing Body Authority
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Legislative Decision Making
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Zoning Amendment Approval
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Policy Direction
                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Development Review Process
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pre-Application Consultation
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Application Submittal Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Staff Review and Analysis
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Public Notice Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Public Hearing Procedures
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Decision Making and Appeals
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Enforcement Procedures
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Violation Investigation
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Notice and Compliance Orders
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Civil and Criminal Penalties
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Court Enforcement Actions
                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Flexibility Devices in Zoning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Variances
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Use Variances
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Criteria for Approval
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Unnecessary Hardship Standard
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Area or Dimensional Variances
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Practical Difficulty Standard
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Minimum Variance Principle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Variance Application Process
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Application Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Public Hearing Procedures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Conditions of Approval
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Special Use Permits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Conditional Use Permits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Standards-Based Review
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Operating Conditions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Special Exception Permits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Quasi-Judicial Review Process
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Temporary Use Permits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Time-Limited Approvals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Zoning Amendments
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Rezoning (Map Amendments)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Application Process and Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Public Hearing and Notice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Spot Zoning Concerns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Text Amendments
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Ordinance Language Changes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Initiation and Review Process
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Adoption Procedures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Planned Unit Developments (PUDs)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Mixed-Use and Flexible Design
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Negotiated Development Standards
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Master Plan Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Phased Development Approval
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Overlay Zones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Additional Regulations for Specific Areas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Floodplain Overlay Districts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Historic Preservation Overlays
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Design Review Overlays
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Environmental Protection Overlays

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. The Comprehensive Plan Document

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Advanced and Alternative Zoning Techniques