The document compares neighborhood development standards between Germany and the United States. It discusses how the German Assessment Matrix and LEED-ND rating systems both evaluate categories like location, transportation, density, and mixed uses. German planning regulations exist at the national, state, and local levels. At the local level, municipalities use land use plans (F-plans) and regulating plans (B-plans) to guide development. These plans establish use zones, height limits, and other development standards. The document compares B-plans to American zoning approaches like conventional zoning maps and form-based codes.
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Learning from German Planning: Goals, Regulations and Ideas for the U.S
1. Learning from German Planning:
Goals, Regulations and
Ideas for the U.S.
CNU XVII
June 10, 2009
Faith Cable
Smith Partners
faith.cable@smithpartners.com
2. Overview
• Similar Goals and Rating Systems:
LEEDND & the German Assessment Matrix
• German Planning Regulations
National, State & Local
• The German Bplan
• Comparing Regulating Plans – Ideas for the U.S.
PUDs
FormBased Codes
4. Rating System Categories
Assessment Matrix LEEDND
• Mobility/Location/Reachability • Smart Location & Linkage
(30%) (SLL: 30 points)
• Emissions (10%) • Neighborhood Pattern & Design
• Microclimate (5%) (NPD: 39 points)
• Use of Ground & Area (20%) • Green Construction & Technology
• Nature: Flora & Fauna (15%) (GCT: 31 points)
• Water (10%) • Innovation & Design Process
(IDP: 6 points)
• Energy (5%)
• Townscape Scenery (5%)
5. Comparison Categories
1. Location and Previous Use
2. Transportation and Reachability
3. Walkable Neighborhoods
4. Social Issues
5. Protecting Nature
6. Building Green
7. Minimizing Pollution
6. LOCATION
Assessment Matrix LEEDND
Best: In a neighborhood center Best: Previously Developed
Ok: 1530 minutes by transit or bicycle + Infill Site
to a neighborhood center + High Street Centerline Density
Worst: distant from a neighborhood Worst: Not Previously Developed
center (30+ minutes) + Not Adjacent or Infill Site
+ Low Street Centerline Density
Source: Google earth
7. TRANSIT
Assessment Matrix LEEDND
Transit graded by comparison with Credit given for number of total transit
auto travel, considering: rides per weekday within a
type of transit ¼ mile/400 m. (bus & tram) walk or
frequency ½ mile/800 m. (heavy rail) walk:
proximity to the station or stop Best: 500+ Rides
other stops along the line Worst: 2059 Rides
regional connections
8. BICYCLING
Assessment Matrix LEEDND
Best: Smooth ground, safe traffic, Bicycle network must connect 50%
connections between neighborhoods, of buildings to 4 diverse uses
reaches destinations within 3 miles (4800 meters)
Ok: Moderate accommodation, no + Bicycle parking = 15% of car
hazards parking
Worst: High traffic, no bike lanes,
bad connections to destinations
Source: City of Berlin FIS
9. DAILY NEEDED GOODS / DIVERSE USES
Assessment Matrix LEEDND
Supply of daily needed goods: Credit given for number of
Best: are within walking distance diverse uses that are within a ½
Ok: are reachable by bicycle or mile (800 meter) walk
transit in 10 minutes Best: 10 Diverse Uses (+4)
Worst: are further away and easier Worst: 2 Diverse Uses (+1)
to reach by auto
Laundry/Dry Cleaner
Convenience Store
Pharmacy
Groceries Hair Care
Post Office
10. DENSITY
Assessment Matrix LEEDND
Residential Density: Residential Density:
Best: Lot Coverage: 0,6 & FAR: 1,8+ Best: 71+ DU/acre (+7)
Worst: Lot Coverage: 0,1 & FAR: 0,10,2 Worst: min. 7 DU/acre (+1)
Mixeduse Density: NonResidential Density:
Best: Lot Coverage: 0,8 and FAR: 2,4+ Best: >3.5 FAR (+7)
Worst: Lot Coverage: 0,5 and FAR: 1,5< Worst: 0.75 to 1.0 FAR (+1)
12.5 DU/acre 21.8 DU/acre 35.0 DU/acre
(3,0) +1 / 7 (2,7) +2 / 7 (2,1) +3 / 7
14. At the National (Bund) Level
• Federal Ministry of Transport, Building
and Urban Affairs
– National Spatial Planning Law outlines
framework, goals, principles and procedures
– Baugesetzbuch or “BauGB” establishes
national regulations for local land use planning
and development
• Building/Land Use Regulations
• Plan Drawing Requirements
• Regulation on Determination of Value
• Spatial Planning Laws
15. At the State (Land) Level
• The State Spatial Planning Acts
specifics spatial development
goals and sets boarders
between densely populated
areas and open space.
• The Regional Plan coordinates
development with the provision
of transportation and other public
infrastructure.
16. At the Municipality (Stadt) Level
• Flächennutzungsplan (Fplan): A Comprehensive/Zoning
Land Use Plan for a municipality over 1015 years that is
approved by the regional government.
– It is binding for public
agencies
– No basis for private
compensation claims
18. At the Municipality (Stadt) Level
• Bebauungsplan (BPlan): A Regulating Plan or “legally
binding landuse plan” provides the basis for the detailed
and legally binding control of building development.
– Derived from the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (FPlan).
– Can be prepared by a municipality in advance of development or
from a developer’s plan
– Serves as a plat map.
25. Zoning Process – American Comparisons
German American
Standard FormBased
1. Bplan 1. Zoning Map 1. Regulating plan
1.1 Use Zones Commercial* Transects*
(MixedUse, Residential* Use Zones*
Residential) Industrial* Frontage type
1.2 Height PUD Street type
1.3 FAR /
# of Units 2. PUD Master Plan
1.4 Setback (or site plan)
1.5 (other bulk
criteria….)
*Regulating criteria for height & bulk
listed by usebased category
28. Bplan Requirements: (2) Use
2. The Type of Building
Use: this regulates the
type of building uses 1. Smallscale residential (WS)
that are in the land use 2. Exclusively residential (WR)
plan, such as general 3. General Residential (WA)
4. Special Residential (WB)
residential or mixed 5. Village Area (MD)
use area. 6. MixedUse Area (MI)
7. Town or city (MK)
8. Commercial Area (GE)
9. Industrial Area (GI)
10. Other Special (SO)
29. German Cities Minneapolis
1. Smallscale residential (WS) 1. R1 Singlefamily District Overlay Districts
2. Exclusively residential (WR) 2. R1A Singlefamily District 1. PO Pedestrian Oriented
3. General Residential (WA) 3. R2 Twofamily District 2. LH Linden Hills
4. Special Residential (WB) 4. R2B Twofamily District 3. IL Industrial Living
5. Village Area (MD) 5. R3 Multiplefamily District 4. TP Transitional Parking
6. MixedUse Area (MI) 6. R4 Multiplefamily District 5. SH Shoreland
7. Town or city (MK) 7. R5 Multiplefamily District 6. FP Floodplain
8. Commercial Area (GE) 8. R6 Multiplefamily District 7. MR Mississippi River Critical
9. Industrial Area (GI) 9. OR1 Neighborhood Office Area
10. Other Special (SO) Residence 8. DP Downtown Parking
10. OR2 High Density Office 9. B4H Downtown Housing
Residence 10. DH Downtown Height
11. OR3 Institutional Office Residence 11. NM Nicollet Mall
12. C1 Neighborhood Commercial 12. HA Harmon Area
13. C2 Neighborhood Corridor 13. NP North Phillips
Commercial
14. C3A Community Activity Center
15. C3S Community Shopping Center
16. C4 General Commercial
17. B4 Downtown Business
18. B4S Downtown Service
19. B4C Downtown Commercial
20. I1 Light Industrial
21. I2 Medium Industrial
22. I3 General Industrial
30. German Cities Bloomington, MN
1. Smallscale residential (WS) 1. SingleFamily Residential R1 26. Commercial Service CS0.5
2. Exclusively residential (WR) 2. SingleFamily Residential R1A 27. Commercial Service CS1
3. General Residential (WA) 3. Large Lot SingleFamily RS1 28. Commercial Office CO0.5
4. Special Residential (WB) 4. MultipleFamily Residential R4 29. Commercial Office CO1
5. Village Area (MD) 5. MultipleFamily Residential RM12 30. Commercial Office/Mixed Use
6. MixedUse Area (MI) 6. MultipleFamily Residential RM24 CO2
7. Town or city (MK) 7. MultipleFamily Residential RM50 31. Residential Office RO24
8. Commercial Area (GE) 8. Neighborhood Office B1 32. Residential Office RO50
9. Industrial Area (GI) 9. General Commercial B2 33. Conservation SC District
10. Other Special (SO) 10. General Business B3 34. Freeway Development FD1
11. Neighborhood Commercial Center B4 35. Freeway Development FD2
12. Central Business CB
13. Freeway Office and Service C1
14. Freeway Commercial C2 Overlay Districts.
15. Freeway Commercial Center C3 1. Planned Development PD
16. Freeway Office C4 Overlay
17. Freeway Mixed Use C5 2. Flood Hazard FH Overlay
18. Regional Commercial CR1 3. Bluff Protection BP1 Overlay
19. Industrial Park I1 4. Bluff Development BP2
Overlay
20. Limited Industry I2
5. Airport Runway (AR17)
21. General Industry I3 Overlay
22. Industrial Park IP 6. Airport Runway (AR22)
23. Mixed Use CX2 Overlay
24. High Intensity Mixed Use HX2
25. High Intensity Mixed Use With
Residential HXR
31. Bplan Requirements: (2) Use
2. The Type of Building
Use: this regulates the
type of building uses 1. Smallscale residential (WS)
that are in the land use 2. Exclusively residential (WR)
plan, such as general 3. General Residential (WA)
4. Special Residential (WB)
residential or mixed 5. Village Area (MD)
use area. 6. MixedUse Area (MI)
7. Town or city (MK)
8. Commercial Area (GE)
9. Industrial Area (GI)
10. Other Special (SO)
33. Bplan Requirements: (2) Use
General Residential
(Allgemeine
Wohngebiete)
By Right: residential
buildings; retail &
restaurants that serve
the daily needs of
residents; workshops;
small hotels; religious,
cultural, health, sports
facilities
Conditional: hotels, non
disturbing industry, gas
stations, office buildings
35. Bplan Requirements: (3) Form
3. The Degree (Extent/Amount) of Building Use and
Amount of Land to Be Built On
Height/Bulk:
– Number of stories (roman #)
– Lot coverage ratio (“GRZ”)
– Floor area ratio (“GFZ”) or Open
the maximum number of units per
building (2 “WO”)
– Construction: open or closed (“o”/ “g” )
– Roof specifications (pitch)
Closed
36. Bplan Requirements: (3) Form
3. The Degree (Extent/Amount) of Building Use and
Amount of Land to Be Built On
Lines: Other:
– Buildwithin lines (blue) – Wall height (“WH” 5,20 m)
– Buildto lines (red) – Set back areas
– Property lines – Rules for parking and
– Traffic lines development
– Character of the nearby
environment
– Window placement
37. Bplans: How do you read one?
1. Buildwithin line (blue)
2. Buildto line (red)
3. Property line
4. Plot number
5. Type of building use
6. Number of full stories
7. Lot coverage ratio
8. Floor area ratio
9. Construction
10. Roof pitch
11. Border of the Bplan
44. The PUD District:
Regulation by Master Development Plan
Purpose of a PUD:
• FLEXIBILITY
• Mixeduse
• Affordable housing
• Environmental preservation
• Cluster development
• Quality design
45. PUD Submittal Requirements
for a Master Development Plan
1. Building location, height, bulk and square footage;
2. Type and square footage of specific land uses;
3. Number of dwelling units;
4. Detailed street and utility locations and sizes;
5. Drainage plan, including pipes and water storage areas;
6. Grading plan;
7. Generalized landscape plan;
8. Generalized plan for uniform signs and lighting;
9. Plan for timing and phasing of the development;
10. Covenants or other restrictions;
11. Renderings or elevations of the entrance side of buildings to be
constructed in the first phase of the development.
Source: City of Minnetonka
46. Improving PUD Administration
• The Bplan: all regulations on
one plan! Easy to integrate
into GIS
• Clear Graphic Standards
• More flexibility for better
administration:
Easier to adjust building size
and bulk on a parcel level than
to create a new district or
recalculate a PUD
47. Similarities to Formbased Codes:
Design First, Codify Second
FBCs Commonly Include:
• Regulating Plan
• Public Space Standards
• Building Form Standards
The Village at Hendrix Collage
48. Design First, Codify Second
• German Bplan
– Drawn by city planning staff; sometimes based on a
developer’s plan
• FormBased Code Regulating Plan
– Usually drawn by a consultant to a city (sometimes to a
developer);
– Uses a “kit of pieces”
Design Limitations in the U.S.
• City planning staff typically aren’t urban designers
• Codifying better design is more easily explained
by graphic standards
50. Decoupling Use and Form
Regulating Plan for the Lamar/Justin
TOD Station Area Plan, City of
Austin (98 pages)
• Land Use & Building Density
– TOD Medium Density Residential Subdistrict
– TOD High Density Residential Subdistrict
– TOD Live / Work Flex Subdistrict
– TOD MixedUse Subdistrict
– TOD Corridor MixedUse Subdistrict
• Circulation, Connectivity & Streetscape
• Site Development Standards
• Building Design Standards