Lesson 2.1 – Issue Orientation

Issue Orientation:

Welcome issue champion! 

Before your municipality can implement a policy related to cluster subdivisions, a discussion needs to take place among your community’s elected policymakers (council members). They need to be able to easily compare what is currently enacted in your community’s code against CiviclinQ’s guidance document (best practice recommendations) in order to identify gaps within the existing code and understand their policy options. 

In order to do this, you will need to be able to guide the discussion and answer basic questions.  Be sure that you are familiar with the following key points pertaining to cluster subdivisions:

• Decide what will be allowed in the land designated as open space. This might include parks, neighborhood gardens, and land in its natural state.
• A cluster subdivision may not work for every zoning district in your community. Use it primarily in the zones where larger lots and parcels of land have traditionally be located. Preserving land along your main street or high density areas may not be the best use of land.
• The density allowed is capped based on the underlying zone and how many acres are being proposed for development. Even if the lot size is small density can only build a certain amount of homes based on a density incentive, open space and the underlying zone.
• Requiring an HOA to be established with responsibility to maintain designated open space saves the municipality from having to do so.

Action Items:

1. Spend a minute getting familiar with CiviclinQ. Note the “Materials” tab located towards the top of the page. This tab contains all of the documents you need to complete this course module.

Move on to Lesson 2.2.