[Massplanners] Form Based Code-Massachusetts

[Ted Brovitz]

Happy Friday Everyone!

We (Brovitz Community Planning & Design and Dodson & Flinker) have worked
on several form-based codes over the last ten years:

·         Northampton Downtown and Florence Form-Based Codes – Northampton,
MA (2017-2022) (Adopted)

·         Norwood Downtown and Route 1 Form-Based Code (2017 and 2021)
(Adopted)

·         Greenbush Masterplan and Form-Based Code - Scituate, MA
(2016-2018) (Adopted)

·         Oak Grove Masterplan and Form-Based Code - Medway, MA (2018)
(Adopted)

·         Downtown Plan and Form-Based Code - Danvers, MA (2018) (Adopted)

·         Maple Street 40R Neighborhood Plan and Form-Based Code - Danvers,
MA (2017) (Adopted)

·         Portsmouth Gateway Zoning Amendment – Portsmouth, NH (2017)
(Adopted)

·         Downtown and Commercial Districts Form-Based Code - New Bedford,
MA (2015) (only Table of Use/Performance Standards and Sign bylaw adopted)


We are currently working on a form-based code for the Burlington 128
District which includes corporate office, life science, R&D, retail/general
commercial, and possible residential/mixed use.  A common theme for all of
these projects is developing a community-led visioning process which serves
as the foundation for translating ideas into new zoning.


Ted Brovitz


[image: BCPD Address Line.png]




On Wed, May 31, 2023 at 1:30 PM Darlene Wynne via MassPlanners <
massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

> Beverly has a draft set of Design Standards that operate like a hybrid FBC
> we will be submitting formally this year after working out some tweaks. Tim
> Love / Utile developed the standards for us as well.
>
>
> Darlene Wynne, AICP
>
> *City of Beverly*
>
> *Director of Planning & Development*
>
> *978-605-2341*
>
> *dwynne at beverlyma.gov <dwynne at beverlyma.gov>*
>
>
>
> *--*
>
>
> *When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of
> State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot
> be kept confidential. *
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 31, 2023 at 12:08 PM Maren Toohill via MassPlanners <
> massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
>
>> Littleton has adopted 2 FBC districts, the Village Common mixed-use FBC
>> district (June 2020), and the King Street Common mixed-use FBC district
>> (October 2021). We didn’t completely let go of the uses that are allowed in
>> the FBC districts, but it’s much more about the look, feel, design, and
>> streetscape/public realm than the prior zoning. FBC can be a zoning best
>> practice in certain cased, but a community must have the staffing/training
>> to properly implement; it can offer a “clear path” for developers.
>> Communities are saying “if you design to this particular standard, you will
>> get the approvals needed to build/redevelop”.
>>
>> Littleton hopes to use the King Street Common FBC district to help meet
>> the MBTA Communities multifamily zoning requirements (with a few tweaks).
>>
>> Other communities with FBC include Ayer, MA (and Bozeman MT if you need a
>> field trip – just kidding!) Hopefully others will chime in, I’m not up to
>> date on other communities that have adopted/are working on FBC.
>>
>> George Proakis, the new Town Manager in Watertown holds a wealth of FBC
>> knowledge. Consultants Tim Love and Jessy Yang at Utile helped guide
>> Littleton through the FBC development and adoption process – I highly
>> recommend their work.
>>
>> Best of luck with the process,
>>
>> Maren
>>
>>
>>
>> Maren A. Toohill, AICP
>>
>> Town Planner
>>
>> 978/540-2425
>>
>> MToohill at littletonma.org
>>
>> Town of Littleton
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* MassPlanners [mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org] *On
>> Behalf Of *Katharine Lacy via MassPlanners
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 31, 2023 10:55 AM
>> *To:* Christopher Skelly <CSkelly at berkshireplanning.org>
>> *Cc:* Mass Planners <MassPlanners at masscptc.org>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Massplanners] Form Based Code-Massachusetts
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> **THIS EMAIL WAS SENT BY AN EXTERNAL SENDER**
>>
>> Littleton did.  Hopefully Maren will weigh in!
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, May 31, 2023 at 10:18 AM Christopher Skelly via MassPlanners <
>> massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
>>
>> Has anyone else adopted form based code besides Lowell, Pittsfield and
>> Somerville?
>>
>>
>>
>> Anyone from Lowell or Somerville like to share their thoughts?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Chris Skelly, Project Specialist
>>
>> Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
>>
>> 1 Fenn St., Suite 201 | Pittsfield, MA 01201
>>
>> c: 413-834-0678
>>
>> cskelly at berkshireplanning.org
>>
>> www.berkshireplanning.org
>>
>>
>>
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