Form Based Codes Get Second Look at Public Hearing

BRADENTON--A second draft of Bradenton’s Form Based Codes was presented to both the city council and public at a pair of hearings Wednesday at City Hall. A team from Coral Gables based contracted planning consultants Dover-Kohl and Partners went over the revamped second draft of the form based code using feedback from the previous workshop and public hearing November 3, 2010.

Joseph Kohl of Dover-Kohl and Partners

The purpose of form based codes is to offer more predictable built results in development of the city as an alternative to conventional zoning. These codes are adopted into city or county law as regulations and are not mere guidelines.

Input from the city council and public comments received at Wednesday’s workshops will be gathered by Dover-Kohl and Partners who will update the form based codes final draft to be brought before the city planning commission on March 16 and again to the city council for a two readings on March 23 and April 13. A vote for adoption of the codes would be during the April 13 meeting.

Andrew Dover and Joseph Kohl explained the revisions to several articles of the form based code. The majority of changes were minor such as updating and clarifying terminology, standards and requirements.

The second draft of the code is expected to be on the Bradenton city website within a week according to Planning Director Tim Polk. The public will have an opportunity to read it online and make further comments and suggestions at that time.