Dartmouth College: Local Solutions Conference
How FBCs and Pre-Approved Plans Are Quiet Catalysts for Reform.
Union’s Christina Carlson, Associate Principal, and Arica Thornton, Associate, recently presented at Local Solutions: Bouncing Forward to Create Resilient Communities, a conference hosted by Dartmouth College.
Their talk, “The Zoning Trojan Horse: How Form-Based Codes and Pre-Approved Plans Are Quiet Catalysts for Reform,” looked at how zoning strategies can help address housing needs while maintaining community character.
They shared a Cape Cod case study developed in collaboration with the Cape Cod Commission, exploring local challenges like limited land, rising housing costs, and aging infrastructure. The project included illustrative site studies and a form-based code primer showing how thoughtful planning can support more diverse, resilient communities.
Christina and Arica also discussed pre-approved plan programs — a practical tool for streamlining permitting, lowering design and review costs, and supporting community-led development efforts.
