Form-Based Code, Part 2: Public Standards

In our previous post, we shared our excitement about the expansion of Form-based code policies through Salt Lake City. We are confident that this shift in policy will allow the city to better organize its growth. Form-based code, by definition, “nurtures predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form (rather than separation of uses) as the organizing principle for the code.”

There are 5 elements to any good Form-Based code:

1.     The Regulating Plan

2.     The Public Standards

3.     The Building Standards

4.     The Administration & Definitions

Today, let us dive into the second element: The Public Standards.

Salt Lake City is fortunate to already have much of this work done within its Street Typologies Design Guide. Within it, there is a wide variety of “sweet” streets to match the needs and character of each transect zone, as defined in the regulating plan. However, much work still remains to be done. After all, streets are only one of many types of public spaces; parks, squares, trails, and other types of open spaces need to be provided with their own typology.

Source: Salt Lake City Transportation

The City has identified roads like S Temple and downtown portions of 200 E, 900 S, and Main St as urban green streets.

Lastly, it needs to be restated that the superiority of Form-based code emerges from its inclusive process.  According to the Form-Based Code Institute, the intent of a form-based code is to provide the means to equity in a compassionate city. To that end, its implementation must rely on “residents’ priorities, expertise, concerns, and aspirations, inviting existing residents—regardless of who they are,'' to piece together the parts that will shape the physical aspects of their community.  And that, we believe, is the recipe for Sweet Streets.