Rendering of a Complete Street in Hawaii (Image: honolulu.gov)
In 2009, the State of Hawaii passed a law requiring county transportation departments to adopt Complete Street policies to create safe streets that are accessible to all users, including people walking and biking, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. The National Complete Streets Coalition—another program of Smart Growth America—has played a leading role in expanding the popularity and effectiveness of Complete Streets nationwide.
But when Maui County adopted such a policy in 2012, it fell victim to a common problem—the policy did not override age-old restraints embedded in the county’s zoning code. Among other elements, Complete Street policies emphasize the importance of street design but often times, it’s the local ordinances that dictate what’s actually possible: the layout of street networks, how land can be used, the quantity and character of open space. So this spring, the county asked for a zoning code review from FBCI and SGA as part of FBCI’s Codes for Communities program.
Some of the recommended reforms included:
Do away with dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs. Dead ends, cul-de-sacs, and the twisty, disconnected street grids they produce encourage and even necessitate more car trips, crippling Maui’s vision for more multi-modal transportation. A more walkable street network with sidewalks and slower speeds should be a priority. Using a grid pattern—coupled with regulations to support a mix of land uses—would promote a safe and highly accessible environment.
Put wide lanes on a road diet. Hawaii’s Highway Standards mandate wide lanes that encourage speeding. Narrower lanes encourage slower speeds that are safer for people walking or biking and open more space available for bikes, wider sidewalks, or transit lanes.
Focus on people first. Maui’s streets reflected the prevailing design practice in the U.S.—cars first with everything else as an afterthought. FBCI code reviewers encouraged the county to consider people walking and cycling first by creating wider shoulders or adding protected bicycle lanes and off-road, multi-use paths for example.
Share parking lots and driveways. Maui’s zoning permitted exclusive parking lots with sporadic driveway entrances. Requiring more mixed-use development and aligning driveways with shared and connected parking lots would improve traffic flow and crash prevention.
Reduce car trips with mixed-use development. Mixed-use districts—places with a mix of retail, residential, office and light industrial space, parks and plazas, and other uses—are becoming increasingly important as Maui continues to grow. Zoning for the creation of these multifunctional, walkable areas could lead to a 35 to 50 percent reduction in traffic.
Retain rural character. A detailed county thoroughfare plan with narrow roadways, a network of off-street, multi-use paths, and additional landscaping was proposed to improve safety and ensure rural character was not lost.
This code review illustrates how crucial zoning is to producing an effective Complete Streets policy. With both the National Complete Streets Coalition and FBCI under one roof, SGA is able to better offer a multi-layered approach that includes a degree of zoning reform.
Zoning review for a transit-oriented Omaha
Rendering of potential redevelopment under the form-based code in Beaufort, SC (Image: Dover, Kohl & Partners)
Topics ranged from defining a form-based code, to how it differs from a more conventional code, to the reasons for adopting one. Projects in Beaufort, SC; Fort Worth, TX; and Conway, AR were detailed and called upon to discuss valuable lessons.
Local communities can’t fully address their challenges without a long look at the local zoning and land use codes that encourage (or discourage) certain types of development. By bringing FBCI into the larger ecosystem of Smart Growth America, SGA is able to offer more complete assistance to local communities who are eager for a better way to grow. Bringing FBCI to the table allows a wider audience to recognize that form-based codes are a vital tool for building high-quality places and realizing a community’s potential.
Don’t let a zoning ordinance stand between your community and smart growth. Register for an upcoming FBCI course or consider our Codes for Communities program today!