1. Tale of Two Codes: A New Approach to
Form Based Codes in New England Towns
Jane Lafleur, Friends of Midcoast Maine
Paul Dreher, City of Newport
Ariana McBride, Orton Family Foundation

2. where do you
want to live ?

3. anywhere?

4. Anywhere?

5. Anywhere?

6. or somewhere?

8. Or Somewhere?

10. how do we keep
somewhere
from becoming
anywhere?

11. tools technology
research
methods
publications

17. Orientation

18. Why Form Based Codes?
“Setting the stage and then preparing for
the actors, the script, the audience…and
the reviews….”
Setting the stage…
• Visioning and capacity building
• Community code writing
• Community building and place-making

19. Traditional Zoning vs. Form Based Code
Conventional Zoning Form Based Codes
Regulatory • Use focus • Form focus
Approach • Individual uses of property • Fit with nearby buildings and
public realm
Use Focus • Single use districts • Mix of uses
Building • Uniformity in neighborhoods • Diversity in neighborhoods
Focus • Limited design standards • Focus on architectural form and
• Setbacks public spaces
• Build to lines
Street • Little emphasis on right-of-way • Attention to streetscape
Focus

20. Advantages of a Form Based Code
• Are prescriptive.
• Create a predictable result.
• Can shape a high quality physical environment.
• Encourage independent development by
multiple property owners, reducing need for
large land assemblies and mega-projects.
• Define and codify a neighborhood's or
community’s existing "DNA.”
• Are easier to use by non-professionals - shorter,
more concise, and organized for visual access
and readability.
• Are easier for non-planners to determine
compliance.

21. Damariscotta Maine
The Process before the Code

22. The retail size cap initiative

23. Heart & Soul Planning Project

24. Story-telling and
Identifying Community Values

25. Damariscotta Values
We value having culture and nature in
We value working locally and close proximity, where we might see a
growing locally owned businesses. seal or a moose but we also have
restaurants, art galleries, local theater
and a library, all within walking
distance.
We value an accessible community
We value living locally, being able where we have easy access to goods and
to afford to live and shop in Town. services, to local government and
information.
We value community involvement
where people participate in We value a strong sense of community
schools, organizations, churches and where people trust one another and
community events and festivals. feel safe.

26. Developing a Community Vision through
the Charrette Process

27. A concept for Downtown
A concept for Piper Common
A concept for
Business Route 1

28. Newport, Vermont:
The Process before the Code

29. Growing Community through Partnerships-
The Community As Expert

30. The Beginnings - Sleeper Place

31. R/UDAT – Bringing the Community Together

32. Form Based Code – Could it work here?

33. The Code Writing Process

34. “Begin with the map and end with the map…”

35. On the ground
• The power of the pen in the
hands of the community…

36. On the ground… The Code Product

37. Using the Code:
Damariscotta, Maine & Newport, Vermont

38. Lessons Learned
• No heroic leaders…instead community ownership
and shared leadership
• Time and number of workshops
• Code education versus a political campaign
• The nature of a code: technical but user friendly
• Keeping diverse people engaged throughout the
process
• From vision to policy to community building and
place making
• Capacity building - community building and the
community as the expert

39. An empowered community

40. Listening to the Community

41. Forming Partnerships

42. Activating the place-
Community Ownership

43. Damariscotta, Maine –
“We did not choose this specific code…we built community.”

44. Newport, Vermont:
from “Can’t happen here” to “Anything is possible”.

45. For more information
• The Orton Family Foundation
Ariana McBride, NE Projects Senior Associate
152 Maple Street, PO Box 111
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802)388-6336, ext 205
www.orton.org
brosenbluth@orton.org
• Town of Damariscotta, Maine • City of Newport, Vermont
Tony Dater, Town Planner Paul Dreher, Zoning Administrator
21 School St., Damariscotta, Maine 04543 222 Main Street, Newport, Vermont 05855
(207) 563-5168 (802) 334-6992
www.damariscottame.com www.newportvermont.org
townplanner@damariscottame.com dreher.zoning@gmail.com
• Friends of Midcoast Maine • Newport City Renaissance Corporation
Jane Lafleur, Executive Director Patricia Sears, Executive Director
5 Free Street, Camden, Maine 04843 194 Main Street #208, Newport VT 05855
(207) 236-1077 (802) 323 1056
www.friendsmidcoast.org www.discovernewportvt.com
jblafleur@friendsmidcoast.org patricia.sears@discovermewportvt.com