"Our form-based code charrette in April of 2008 was enlightening," says Winter Park Mayor David Strong. "We had enthusiastic community participation, and we came away with new insights about code alternatives. What we plan to do now, before we move forward on consideration of a new code, is step back and work diligently to complete our comprehensive plan."

While that puts new code work on hold, the delay is temporary, says the mayor. The city will benefit by having a more coherent progression, one that moves logically from the general principles to specific regulations. When the city completes the state-required comp plan, says the mayor, it "will help us set the right framework for future regulation, including our future code."

The April charrette provided five intensive days of discussion led by the consulting teams of Canin Associates and PlaceMakers. By the concluding presentation, a plan for interpreting Winter Park's "village character" and applying it to growth in the city's key business corridors emerged. That vision for future growth in harmony with Winter Park's best traditions could be enabled by a form-based code customized especially for the city.

For an overview of Winter Park's form-based code planning effort, click on "Overview" in the navigation at the top right of this page. And to follow the day-by-day progress of the April, 2008, charrette, click on "Charrette Journal" in the same toolbar, then navigate through the successive date tabs.

None of the hard work of citizens and community leaders will be lost while the comp plan study is underway. "In shaping the comp plan," says Mayor Strong, "we will be able to apply all we have learned over the last year, including that intensive week in April."

The mayor says, "We hope to forward our plan to the state in August and have a state-approved plan in place by the end of the year. Then, we can pick up where we left off, customizing a code to fit our overall goals.

"I am confident Winter Park citizens will be proud of the results and of all the hard work they have put into planning for our future."