Miami firm to do Bradenton code writing

BRADENTON — After listening to four hours of presentations, the city selection committee picked a Miami-based consulting firm Wednesday to direct the city’s writing of formed-base codes for development downtown.

The panel of city staff said it chose town planners Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. because of their local partner, the Fawley-Bryant architectural firm, which has done work for the city.

Form-base codes are a relatively new planning concept, replacing the Euclidian zoning codes that most cities and counties in the United States have been using for more than 100 years to direct how their communities are developed.

Unlike zoning laws, form-based codes give developers a predictable result of what can be built on a specific plot of land, using a code that dictates physical form rather than what is not permitted on the property.

During deliberations after the four firms gave their pitches, committee member City Clerk Carl Callahan said he was a little disappointed with the overall presentation from Galina Tahchieva, a partner with Duany Plater-Zyberk. However, based on their national reputation and the strength of Mike Bryant’s introduction, he said they were his top pick.

“I was impressed with Fawley-Bryant taking the lead and reaching out to a national firm,” Callahan said. “Also, their team includes Gibbs Planning Group, which is noted for its economic development of the commercial and retail area.”

Several committee members were concerned about Tahchieva’s suggestion that her firm has a set of codes on the shelf, which they call SmartCodes, that can be adapted to Bradenton’s needs.

Building Official Bill Whitelock, a panel member, said the SmartCodes were good, “but we don’t want someone dictating to Bradenton.”

But in the end, Fawley-Bryant’s strong community commitment won over the committee and they unanimously picked Duany Plater-Zyberk.

Tim Polk, the city’s director of community development and planning, said with the committee’s choice he will ask the city council for permission to begin negotiating with Duany Plater-Zyberk.

Once a contract is achieved, the council would have to approve it.

Polk said it could be as early as August for the company to begin the process, which includes an analysis period, community workshops and town hall meetings, and the writing of the code.

If an agreement cannot be reached with the first choice, negotiations could be held with the second-place firm, Coral Gables-based Dover, Kohl & Partners, whose local partner, Karin Murphy Planning & Consulting Inc., has also previously done extensive work for the city.

The committee members said the other two firms, Urban Design Associates and Seth Harry & Associates both did well in their presentations, but fell short on several issues.

Carl Mario Nudi, Herald staff reporter, can be reached at 745-7027.