Nine Elements of Form-Based Code Presented to Town Council

The Leesburg Town Council finally came to an agreement on Monday regarding the integration of a form-based code into Leesburg’s Crescent District. The plan, which involves urban-style development, places primary emphasis on the physical form of development, with lesser emphasis on land use.

In March, council members deferred the effective date to July 31, 2013 by a 5-2 vote in order to allow more time to decide on which direction they’d like to take. The form-based code was first approved back in February 2011.

To help, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher presented nine elements, which could be used for form-based zoning in Leesburg. It was up to the council to determine where elements could be applied.

Among the ones that showed highest interest were architecture, building materials and color, dimensional standards and parking.

Building height, streetscape and landscaping had a had a bit of debate while a regulating map, which would identify where many design standards apply in the district, attracted no interest at all.

Following Monday’s presentation, Boucher was one of many to agree that progress was finally being made. It will help provide much-needed direction to staff, he said.

Mayor Kristen Umstattd commended Boucher and said he did an excellent job trying to get a sense of where council stands on the various elements.

"While most of council wants some variant on form-based code, and I suspect some version will pass, it's unlikely that there will be a unanimous vote to adopt any particular version," Umstattd said. "For me, personally, there are three sticking points: too much density, not enough parking, and the potential $30 million bill to the taxpayers to pay for the infrastructure when all uses are by-right and the developers don't have to offset the impacts of increased density."

The Town Council will revisit the issue during their May 21 work session. To learn more about the Crescent Form-Based Code visit the Town of Leesburg's website, where background information, as well as adopted text, can be found.