The propaganda campaigners are on the warpath...as usual. Planners have created a false argument and spread it around so that people who are ignorant will think they're real smart when they accuse us of supporting individual rights that would permit a pig farm next to a church.
Yep, this is the 'argument.' That those of us who are alerting the public to the smart growth/UN Agenda 21 manipulation are ANARCHISTS. This is a smoke-screen and a diversion, an absurd smear that does not address the reality of how form-based zoning and General Plan requirements for Transit Oriented Development take our private property rights. The picture above is from wikipedia under the Form-Based Code entry. Take a look at the link for an animated example of how form-based codes work. These are zoning codes that are changing the face of America. The idea is that buildings should be densely packed and built right to the edge of the sidewalk. Look at the cartoon. See those buildings scoot up to the edge of the sidewalk? Those existing buildings that move like magic to the edge of the sidewalk ? Now go out on your street and do that. Go ahead, try and move the existing building to the edge of the sidewalk. Impossible, isn't it?
These cartoons really say it all. Monolithic buildings will be constructed where a variety of building styles once stood. Property owners are losing their land and buildings through regulations, restrictions, eminent domain, redevelopment, sustainable communities initiatives, and many more programs that shift property ownership to public private partnerships.
The false 'argument' that those of us fighting the redesignation of our city centers to Transit Oriented Development and mixed use would want to see a pig farm next to a church is designed to marginalize and mock you. The truth is that your zoning is made irrelevant by the overall plan for your city, called a General Plan, that trumps zoning. If you don't conform to the new form-based zone (adopted in some cities), or new General Plan mixed use designations then your building is 'legally non-conforming.' The goal is to gradually phase out all buildings and uses that don't conform, no matter what impact this will have on the existing owners or tenants of those buildings.
You can't move your existing building 20 feet. You can't just build two stories of apartments on top of your retail store. Your city knows this. The planners know this. You know this. But the press will lie and call you an anarchist in order to misinform the public. Fight back. Counter this false argument with the facts of form-based zoning.
Speaking of facts about form-based zoning, here's a doozie: (From Wikipedia--Mandatory codes. This is the most common adoption approach. It has the most regulatory "teeth"—compliance is required. But it is the most ambitious of the approaches, making the new code a seamless part of, or a complete replacement for, the existing zoning ordinance. The form-based code can be adopted as a new zoning district or as an overlay district. Unique to California and a few other states with appropriate enabling legislation, form-based codes can be contained within a planning document called a "specific plan," which can completely override the zoning ordinance for a given geographic area.
So what does this mean? It means that zoning is irrelevant, that form-based codes can over-ride zoning and be mandatory. What else? That, with few exceptions, anything that fits into the building is ok. This code is 'form-based' which means that it's form over function. Yes, if you can squeeze into the building then it doesn't matter what you do in it. In Mexico you see this as having a tortilla factory (extremely noisy) in a residential neighborhood because it fits in the building. Sound good?
Smart Growth is an ideology. It is also the hardscape for your future poverty under UN Agenda 21/Sustainable Development.
These cartoons really say it all. Monolithic buildings will be constructed where a variety of building styles once stood. Property owners are losing their land and buildings through regulations, restrictions, eminent domain, redevelopment, sustainable communities initiatives, and many more programs that shift property ownership to public private partnerships.
The false 'argument' that those of us fighting the redesignation of our city centers to Transit Oriented Development and mixed use would want to see a pig farm next to a church is designed to marginalize and mock you. The truth is that your zoning is made irrelevant by the overall plan for your city, called a General Plan, that trumps zoning. If you don't conform to the new form-based zone (adopted in some cities), or new General Plan mixed use designations then your building is 'legally non-conforming.' The goal is to gradually phase out all buildings and uses that don't conform, no matter what impact this will have on the existing owners or tenants of those buildings.
You can't move your existing building 20 feet. You can't just build two stories of apartments on top of your retail store. Your city knows this. The planners know this. You know this. But the press will lie and call you an anarchist in order to misinform the public. Fight back. Counter this false argument with the facts of form-based zoning.
Speaking of facts about form-based zoning, here's a doozie: (From Wikipedia--Mandatory codes. This is the most common adoption approach. It has the most regulatory "teeth"—compliance is required. But it is the most ambitious of the approaches, making the new code a seamless part of, or a complete replacement for, the existing zoning ordinance. The form-based code can be adopted as a new zoning district or as an overlay district. Unique to California and a few other states with appropriate enabling legislation, form-based codes can be contained within a planning document called a "specific plan," which can completely override the zoning ordinance for a given geographic area.
So what does this mean? It means that zoning is irrelevant, that form-based codes can over-ride zoning and be mandatory. What else? That, with few exceptions, anything that fits into the building is ok. This code is 'form-based' which means that it's form over function. Yes, if you can squeeze into the building then it doesn't matter what you do in it. In Mexico you see this as having a tortilla factory (extremely noisy) in a residential neighborhood because it fits in the building. Sound good?
Smart Growth is an ideology. It is also the hardscape for your future poverty under UN Agenda 21/Sustainable Development.
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