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What Land Development Regulations Do Land development regulations dictate how land can be divided, assembled, built upon, and used and include subdivision, zoning, and sign ordinances. Subdivision Ordinances Subdivision ordinances manage how land is split up or assembled and regulate how public improvements and infrastructure are designed and constructed. They accomplish this by establishing standards for a variety of topics including the minimum length of blocks; how roads need to be connected; where sidewalks are required; where street trees need to be planted; how stormwater is managed; and the amount of land required to be dedi- cated or activated for parks, schools, and other community facilities. Zoning Ordinances Zoning ordinances are the means by which local govern- ments regulate land use. Local governments receive the authority to establish and adopt zoning ordinances by the state zoning enabling act to manage how land is devel- oped and used in order to protect public health, safety, and welfare. There are several approaches to zoning, including but not limited to those detailed as follows. • Euclidean Zoning. Euclidean zoning is the traditional approach to zoning that divides a community into zoning districts based on the types of uses that are desirable in different areas and establishes rules for how land in each district can be developed and used. Euclidean zoning districts keep high intensity uses that may impact surrounding properties, like manufacturing, away from less intense uses, like homes and schools. Each district establishes different rules that limit development activity, including which use types are allowed and how they are permitted as well building size, where on a lot a building can be located, how much open space must be left over, and how much parking has to be provided. Form -Based Zoning. Form -based zoning also divides a community into zoning districts, however, unlike Euclidean zoning, form -based zoning districts are based on the types of urban form and development patterns that are desirable in different areas. The foundation of form -based zoning districts in many communities is the rural to urban transect, which defines a series of areas that transition from rural areas utilized for agriculture to dense downtowns and urban cores. Form -based zoning primarily regulates what development looks like and secondarily how development is utilized. This is accom- plished by establishing standards for different building types and how building fagades relate to the public realm. • Incentive -Based Zoning. Incentive -based zoning is a type of Euclidean zoning that offers flexibility in stan- dards and requirements in exchange for items that help a community reach its goals such as the provision of affordable housing, and preservation of open space and environmental features. Increased density, height, or lot coverage are some of the most common types of incen- tives offered along with relief from requirements for parking and other development standards as detailed on the next page. 126 101M-11adMi7:1SMAIMiVEi701wo Implementation Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan