Since its origins in the early twentieth century,the underlying intent of zoning has remained essentially unchanged;to protect the health and safety of residents–largely defined by the presence of detached single-family homes–from the threats associated with proximity to non-residential uses.Euclidean zoning,though being largely successful in meeting this goal,unfortunately segregates land uses which have led to sprawling development patterns,mediocre buildings,& faceless places.It is extremely difficult to mix uses,and virtually impossible to create “traditional” development patterns with high-density housing,nearby commercial and pedestrian-friendly walkways.Recently,new trends have emerged to address these problems to varying degrees of success.Form-Based Codes are one of the most recent planning innovations.It represents a fundamentally different way of regulating land-use,with a focus on physical form and a community’s design vision rather than simply buffering incompatible uses.
