Re: "Remarks by Dummies" on zoning issues

[TheArtist]

Being largely a "dummy" on the issue myself, perhaps the solution would be simpler zoning or a dummies guide?  A SimCity color coded map of what can go where.  I know there is a comprehensive zoning map online, but it's just not pretty enough for most of us dummies to figure it out.

Light green = single family
medium green = duplexes and 8 plexes
Dark green = massive apartment complexes

Same with blue for commercial:
light - small retail/offices
medium - big box stores, strip malls/2 story offices
dark - malls/4+ story offices sky scraper potential

Industrial brown:
light - small warehouse, studio, etc.
medium - larger warehouse, machine shop, etc.
dark - full fledged factory

We've all played the game!  I'm know there are more details than that, there is mixed use etc. too - but to give a general idea it could be helpful.  Interesting if nothing else. 

I wish you could have been at that meeting with the Form Based Codes people this week. They talked about just this sort of thing. They showed those color coded maps, the stated intentions of the zoning to create "such and such"  good environment, each different area described and regulated, tons and tons of regulations trying to get what the people were going for and to close possible loopholes, etc. They showed multiple examples of how municipalities tried really hard with zoning to get what they wanted and avoid what they didnt want.

They showed some of the municiple zoning documents which had computer generated images of what the hoped for outcomes would be along certain example streets and intersections. The kicker was when the presenter showed what these cities actually got. At best the photos showed laughable charicatures, of kinda, sorta almost, but for all practical intents, complete failure. The developments truly fit the letter of the law, but not the true intent.  As the presenters went on, you could really see how terrible zoning was in and of itself, at helping to create a desired outcome.

Then they showed how Form Based Codes worked, and it was like,,, Ah, Ha! I see, I get it now. And it was soooo simple in comparison to Zoning.

[Limabean]

Have our zoning codes gotten to the point where we are just re-arranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic with every attempt to revise or simplify?

Can we as a city re-invite our current zoning codes to comply with the PlaniTulsa vision?

Will we be trying to pull a new freight train with a Model T?