TRANSECT ZONING IN

DUBUQUE COUNTY

Prepared by:Barrett VoigtJamie SanchagrinEvgeny Chavanin

Special thanks to:Dr. AnthonyAndrea Uhl

THE PROBLEM• The existing zoning regulation policy in the City

of Dubuque does not result in the most efficient use of land.

EXISTING POLICIESPast Planning Policies

Past Planning Policies• Modernist

Urbanism (e.g. Euclidean Zoning, Auto-oriented)

• Special or Conditional Uses

• Performance Zoning

• Planned Unit Development (PUD), overlay zoning, floating zones, FAR, simplified planning zones (UK)

Better Planning Policies•Low Impact Development•Form-based codes •Smart Codes

WHY EXISTING POLICIES DON’T WORKInefficient 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

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

POPULATION GROWTH AND HOUSING STOCK GROWTH

DIMINISHING ACRES OF FARMLAND

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.

METHODOLOGY • Suitability Analysis based on environmental

factors was implemented to delineate transect zones

• Build-out performed on each transect zone• Common impacts measured

COMPARING RESULTS

Population

Buildout DU

Buildout Buildings

Amount of Open Space / Farmland Conserved (acres)

Land Available for Development (acres)

- 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000

29,710

16,694

19,393

10,726

1,077

6,522

3,786

4,104

248

1,077

28,646

17,750

18,798

5,658

11,820

Area Outside of 1950 Develop-ment BoundaryExisting Devel-opment Under Conventional ZoningDevelopment Under Transect Zones

COMPARING RESULTS

- 10,000,000 20,000,000 30,000,000 40,000,000 50,000,000 60,000,000

38,955,802

10,951,003

50,667,823

Commercial Floor Area (sq feet)

RECOMMENDATIONSBased 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

QUESTIONS?