UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Engaging the public in the visual relationships of zoning — rather than emphasizing only the public health, safety and welfare aspects of land-use controls — will be the topic of a web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension.
Presenting the 75-minute webinar at noon on May 18 will be certified planners Carolyn Yagle and Andrew Schwartz, with Environmental Planning and Design, and Ryan Jeroski, with Oakmont Borough.
How do towns transform their thinking about zoning and land-use controls while influencing other communities to do the same? That is a key question, according to Yagle, who noted that the webinar will highlight three communities and their experiences in pursuing a form-based approach.
"Engaging the public in the visual aspects of zoning, rather than text, has allowed three Pennsylvania communities to be in the driver's seat so that they can work cooperatively with the private sector in welcoming desirable economic development and revitalization," she said.
"From new development in greenfield landscapes to infill, the communities aim to be respectful of existing patterns, scales and community character."
Presenters will discuss the communities of Oakmont Borough in Allegheny County, Clymer Borough in Indiana County, and Marietta Borough in Lancaster County to highlight the reasons each community pursued a form-based approach to their zoning ordinance.
"Clymer Borough's form-based approach represents how innovation and flexibility in local codes are paramount in achieving development in their community, and Marietta Borough desired to ensure that the character of established neighborhoods remained intact," said Yagle.
By comparison, Oakmont Borough developed a hybrid of a form-based ordinance to guide areas of targeted development, Jeroski pointed out.
The panelists will share specific ordinance structures, advantages of ordinance development methods and lessons learned by the three communities.
Previously recorded webinars offered in the monthly land-use series, which all start at noon and are recorded for future viewing, included the following:
- "Reed vs. Town of Gilbert: The Supreme Court’s New Rules for Temporary and other Signs"
- "When It Rains, It Drains: An Overview of MS4 Stormwater Management"
- "Dealing with Conflict over Natural Resource and Land Use Issues: An Introduction to the Strategies and Tools"
- "Stabilizing Neighborhoods through Vacant and Abandoned Property Initiatives"
The cost of the webinar series is $40 for all five webinars and $75 for all five webinars for those who want to receive certification maintenance credits from the American Planning Association.
Contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-296-3400 or by email at ptw3@psu.edu for more information, and visit Penn State Extension's Economic and Community Development website to register for the webinars.