Transect zoning in dubuque county

1. Transect zoning in dubuque county Prepared by: Barrett Voigt Jamie Sanchagrin Evgeny Chavanin Special thanks to: Dr. Anthony Andrea Uhl

2. The Problem • The existing zoning regulation policy in the City of Dubuque does not result in the most efficient use of land.

3. Existing Policies

4. Why existing policies don’t work • Inefficient and unsustainable land use • Lack of balance between flexibility and predictability • Overconsumption of land has resulted in market inefficiencies with negative externalities in the form of sprawling development • Too many rules • Complex systems that are that are difficult to navigate • Creates unduly restrictive barriers • Too few rules • Bad urban form • Lack of predictability for investment

5. development in Dubuque county • Population decentralizing • West of Dubuque, smaller cities, and unincorporated areas • Expansion of public and private infrastructure • Incompatible with smart growth policies • Erosion of rural character

6. Population growth and housing stock growth

7. Diminishing Acres of farmland

9. Transect zoning as an alternative • Establishes different transect districts with different land use and development specifications across the rural-urban gradient. • Allows for varying levels of development intensity and character along the natural-to-rural-to-urban continuum.

10. Why Implement transect zoning? • It’s a zoning policy that provides a balance of flexibility and predictability for a more efficient and sustainable land use • Rules can provide for more opportunities of freedom • Minimums and maximums established rather than absolutes with hope of creating better variety • Responsive to local context • Function and intensity appropriate for locations • Involves public participation to define local context • Incorporates Jacob’s vision to reject the predefined and allow for the evolution of form from the action of collaborators

11. Research question • Would Transect Zoning have resulted in a more efficient use of land than development that occurred from 1950-2010 under past zoning policies?

12. Dubuque: A transect a study • Transect zones too new, few comprehensive studies available to obtain quantitative data • Used CommunityViz to evaluate how transect zoning would affect the City of Dubuque

13. Methodology • A modeling simulation that used Community Viz was performed to evaluate how development could have occurred if transect zoning would have been implemented in 1950. • Used ortho map imagery to define where development had occurred in the City of Dubuque up to the year 1950 and established a boundary

14. Methodology • A cross-section west of Dubuque outside of the 1950 development boundary was identified for comparison. • A visual survey identified this area as developed and indicated that the City of Dubuque had established this area for a higher intensity of development from 1950 to 2010. • Transect zones T-4 through T-6 were chosen for comparison because they allow for approximate development intensities.

15. Methodology • Suitability Analysis based on environmental factors was implemented to delineate transect zones • Build-out performed on each transect zone • Common impacts measured

17. Comparing Results

18. Comparing Results

19. recommendations • Based on the results of modeling data, the City of Dubuque should adopt transect zoning • Create larger tax base on smaller amount of land • Conserve environmental resources and open space • Decrease infrastructure costs • Prevent agricultural land loss • Minimize sprawl • Promote pedestrian oriented development that would result in reduced health care costs

20. Questions?