What are the advantages of form-based codes?
According to the current Brookline zoning by-law, most multi-family housing projects require a special permit. Applying for a special permit gives the town the opportunity to disallow projects that are not deemed appropriate for their neighborhood or modify projects as a condition of getting a special permit. However, in the current zoning, there are no objective guidelines that developers or boards can look to to determine whether a specific project is appropriate for its neighborhood.
Form-based zoning codes are specific, measurable and defensible. Under form-based zoning codes, building projects will have to meet predictable characteristics of their neighborhoods and their surroundings regardless of not needing to apply for a special permit.
The MBTA-CA Consensus Warrant Article also contains a Site Plan review based on the specifications within the form-based code and that also allows for community input.