Bellevue looking to the future with new form-based code

The City of Bellevue is looking to the future concerning development and redevelopment.  Now in its 140th year as a city, Bellevue is kicking off a new initiative that will look at form-based code models that have been used to create great places elsewhere to apply in Northern Kentucky.

Coding Bellevue is about much more than looking at what has been done elsewhere though.  The motto for the whole initiative harkens to the historic nature of the community - "Preserving the past, preparing for our future."  According to city leaders, the initiative will take place over the next several months and will require extensive public participation in order to be successful.

"With form-based codes you can do three things," said Bellevue Assistant City Attorney Candace Klein who is also working on drafting the code.  "You can protect the assets you currently have, enhance the assets you would like to improve, or you can use a form-based code to transform your community."

In Bellevue's case, Klein says that they will be focusing on protecting and enhancing their current assets since the community already has a tremendous base to work from.

Much like the form-based code initiative taking place in Cincinnati, Coding Bellevue will eventually create a customized code for the Bellevue community to look to for its future growth and redevelopment.

The first of several public meetings will take place on Wednesday, January 27 from 7pm to 9pm at the Callahan Community Center (located behind City Building at 616 Poplar Street).  The informational event hosted by the City of Bellevue and Jeff Raser of glaserworks will introduce the concept of form-based codes and function as a kick-off to the Coding Bellevue initiative.

The next event will also be at the Callahan Community Center and will take place on Saturday, February 27 from 9am to 12pm.  This interactive workshop will provide the opportunity for the public to develop a vision for how Bellevue should evolve.  The crux of the workshop will be a Visual Preference Survey that will provide a foundation for the future form-based code.

Then over the course of four days, the Coding Bellevue Charrette will run from Monday, March 22 through Thursday, March 25 from 9am to 8pm each day.  This four day charrette will feature public presentations and opportunities for members of the public to interact with the consulting team, PlaceMakers LLC, about their work.

Klein concluded that, "It's going to be an exciting time for Northern Kentucky being the innovator on this, and I think we're going to see a lot of communities do this in the coming years."

Reservations for the Coding Bellevue Charrette are not required, but are requested and can be made by contacting Jody Robinson or John Yung at (859) 431-8866.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by Scott Beseler
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