Architekwiki
  • Home
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Other
    • Reading List
    • Ochre >
      • Ochre
      • Ochre KB
      • Ochre FAQs
      • Ochre Help
    • Details
    • The 3 Aspects
    • About
    • Subscription FAQs
    • Terms of Use
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Other
    • Reading List
    • Ochre >
      • Ochre
      • Ochre KB
      • Ochre FAQs
      • Ochre Help
    • Details
    • The 3 Aspects
    • About
    • Subscription FAQs
    • Terms of Use
  • Subscribe

Architekwiki

A Resource For Architects
Click here to get good stuff in your inbox

Zoning Analysis Tools

6/4/2018

 
Zoning
Zoning is an odd duck. Zoning is unique among codes because you might not be able to build.      Period.

Every other code will allow you to proceed if you can show compliance, which is generally just a matter of money - more of it.
​
With zoning, no amount of money can buy permission to proceed if you don't meet the requirements.   Sometimes you have to wait a year before re-applying!

Traditionally, zoning investigation was not the architect's responsibility. It is not in the scope of Basic Services. Many public bodies think they are exempt from zoning requirements. (I don't agree.)  And many private entities are oblivious. In both cases, you will find that no one is going to look at zoning, if you don't. 

You want to know about zoning because you are sure to be considered the culprit if something goes wrong - no matter what the contract or tradition says.

We used two strategies.
  1. For public clients we take a quick look at the requirements before we are told to ignore them. We then report on any POLITICAL liabilities that might lie ahead due to zoning along with an offer to investigate and report back as an additional service.
  2. For private clients we ask how they want to handle the zoning investigation so that we know how to design the building to keep them out of hot water. We point out that we can do it as an additional service. 

To oversimplify, zoning 'permits' certain uses, 'allows' others conditionally, and 'regulates'  other requirements:
  • setbacks from property lines to structures,
  • curb cut locations (where drives may intersect the street) 
  • parking,
  • signage,
  • fencing, 
  • landscaping (often)

If you have a landscape architect or civil engineer on the design team, you might delegate the zoning issues to them. My experience is that you will still have to spend time reviewing the zoning ordinances yourself, if you want to make sure of compliance. The LAs are too willing to recommend exceptions, which are time consuming and not guaranteed of approval. The civil engineers are, well, engineers; and the first idea they have that meets zoning will be the last idea they explore.

To assist us in doing the zoning investigations, we developed two documents - a checklist and a standard format for the report. (Click the links to download.) These are both good starting points, but every project has its unique issues that need to be sussed out.

Here's what these documents look like...
Zoning
CHECKLIST

Picture

Picture
Randy Royer link
12/29/2015 09:42:06 pm

Ah zoning. Please don't put all of us LA's in the same basket. My experience has not been to advocate for exceptions. More often than not we tend to point out requirements that have been overlooked.

Rick Wolnitzek
12/30/2015 08:12:41 am

Randy,
Sorry. I did say it was my experience. I should have pointed out that most of my LA experience is with my cousin. That might be the real problem.


Comments are closed.
    Resources

    Start Here

    YouTube Channel

    Join The Mailing List

    Picture

    Terms of Use
    Your use of Architekwiki is implicit agreement with the 
    ​
    Terms of Use.
    Thank You for your donation

    x
    Get Good Stuff in Your Inbox
    Picture
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Business Development
    Business Management
    Design
    Detail
    Miscellaneous
    Project Management
    Resources

Picture

Picture
VISIT ARCHITEKWIKI'S RESOURCES
​
START HERE
ABOUT
SIGN UP
TERMS OF USE
Architekwiki | Architect's Resource | Greater Cincinnati 
© 2012-2022   Architekwiki​