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<br />. <br /> <br />Developers and property owners are subject to the <br />design-standards only when they initiate a change to <br />the development expectations. In other words, they <br />have certain development rights on a by-right basis <br />exclusive of design criteria, but when they seek a <br />change, such as increased density, the design standards <br />wOllld be applied. <br /> <br />Parallel districts/floating overlays work in much the <br />'same fashion in that they may have certain perform- <br />ance criteria established in order to qualify. However, <br />unlike triggered mechanisms, they are written in a <br />manner that encourages their use. If the threshold cri- <br />teria are met (minimum development size, location in <br />conformance with adopted plan, etc.), developers may <br />have the parallel codes applied by-right and need not <br />go through any public approval processes. Many <br />Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) ordi- <br />nances are written in this manner. <br /> <br /> <br />In conclusion, design-based codes are appropriat~ <br />all types of communities from no-growth to high- <br />growth. Care must be taken to craft codes that are <br />appropriate for that community as well combine them <br />with a development approval process that encourages <br />their use. <br /> <br />Use of design-based codes can promote a more consis- <br />tent, sustainable development for nearly any commu- <br />nity. <br /> <br />Design-based codes are part of a great story of demo- <br />cratic design that traces its roots back to the time of <br />ancient Rome, helping communities improve their <br />quality of life and character for the next millennium. <br /> <br />- by Craig S. Lewis, AlCP, CNU March, 2003 <br /> <br />