1. How
SAMPLE TEXTto Make Land Use
Inventories Meaningful and
Useful
September 21, 2012

2. Introduction
Why Inventory Land Uses
LBCS Model and Burlington, VT
Example
LBCS Applications and How-To
Interactive Survey
LBCS Advantages and
Disadvantages

3. Why Inventory Land Uses?
Understand
Existing
Conditions at
Point in Time
Identify Trends
and
Opportunities
Important
Component to
Comprehensive
Planning Process

4. Traditional Inventory Data
Standard Land Use
Coding Manual
(SLUCM) - 1965
Use Declined in the
1970s
Basic Inventory
Categories Evolved
Rely Heavily on
Assessment Data

5. Traditional Inventory Data

6. Traditional Inventory Data

7. LBCS Model History
Land-Based Classification Standards
Developed by APA with Federal Support
in 2000 and Updated in 2001

8. LBCS in Use
Philadelphia - Modified Activity Dimension
to Update Land Use Coding System
Georgia - Requires Use of at Least
Function Dimension of LBCS or a State
Model in Local Comprehensive Plans
Frederick, MD – Use Function and
Structure Codes in Zoning Code (Permitted
Uses Table)
Kansas – County Appraisers Must Use
LBCS Function Codes

9. LBCS Model
Five Dimensions
to Land Use
Hierarchical
Structure
“Specificity with
Flexibility”

10. LBCS Inventory Data

11. LBCS Inventory Data
Site: Developed
Structure: Residence over Office/Store; 60-
unit Multi-Family
Activity: Household Living, Restaurant,
Service-Oriented Commercial, Office
Function: Private Household, Personal
Service, Full-Service Restaurant, Bar,
Professional Services
Ownership: Private

12. LBCS Dimensions - Activity
Observable Use

13. LBCS Dimensions - Activity

14. LBCS Dimensions - Activity
Activity:
1100 – Household
Living
2200 – Restaurant
6300 – Movies,
Concerts,
Entertainment
2120 – Service-
Oriented Shopping

15. LBCS Dimensions - Function
Economic Use

16. LBCS Dimensions - Function

17. LBCS Dimensions - Function
Function:
5370 – Fitness, Gym,
etc.
6110 – Nursery/ Pre-
school
6510 – Outpatient
Care
6560 – Social
Assistance
6800 – Association,
Non-Profit

18. LBCS Dimensions - Structure
Building Form

19. LBCS Dimensions - Structure

20. LBCS Dimensions - Structure
Structure:
1203 – 3-Unit Multi-
Family
2230 – Standalone
Store
2270 – Gas Station

21. LBCS Dimensions - Site
State of
Development

22. LBCS Dimensions - Site

23. LBCS Dimensions - Site
Site:
7110 – Neighborhood
Park

24. LBCS Dimensions - Ownership
Ownership
Structure

25. LBCS in Burlington, VT
Downtown/Waterfront Planning
Process Funded by HUD Sustainable
Communities Challenge Grant
Initial Phase – Land Use Inventory
and Buildout

26. PlanBTV
Land Use Inventory & Buildout
Analysis
Climate, Energy & Green
Infrastructure Analysis
Retail Market Assessment
Transportation & Parking Study
Housing Needs Assessment
Parks, Arts, Cultural Resources
Assessments
Master Plan and Code Development

27. LBCS in Burlington, VT
Defined
Planning Area
Determined
Coding Levels
Desired

28. LBCS in Burlington, VT
Compiled
Supplementary
Data
Designed Survey
Sheets
Defined Blocks to
Organize Field
Survey

29. LBCS in Burlington, VT

30. LBCS in Burlington, VT
Site: Developed
Structure: Multi-Family (8
Units), Office, Surface
Parking
Activity: Household Living,
Office, Service-Oriented
Shopping, Parking
Function: Private
Household, Health &
Personal Care, Professional
Services, Personal Services,
Independent Artist

31. LBCS in Burlington, VT
Activity Function

32. LBCS in Burlington, VT
Site Structure

33. LBCS in Burlington, VT

34. LBCS in Burlington, VT
Helped Fully Understand On-the-
Ground Reality
Foundation for Retail Market
Analysis
Assisted in Housing Study –
Identified Lack of Diversity

35. Your Turn!

36. Property A

37. Property A

38. Property A

39. Property A Coding?
Site:
Structure:
Activity:
Function:
Ownership:

40. Property A Coding?
Site: 6000
Structure: 2400, 3230
Activity: 2110, 2120, 2310, 4110,
4500
Function: 2153, 2160, 2310, 2410,
6510, 6140
Ownership: 1000

41. Property B

42. Property B

43. Property B

44. Property B

45. Property B Coding?
Site:
Structure:
Activity:
Function:
Ownership:

46. Property B Coding?
Site: 6000
Structure: 2600, 2700, 5700
Activity: 2110, 2120, 3100
Function: 2160, 3600, 7300
Ownership: 1000

47. LBCS Advantages
Capture Physical, Economic and
Social Characteristics
Flexibility - Focus on Dimensions of
Interest, Hierarchical Coding System
Reveal Mix of Uses, Including Variety
of Commercial, in Traditional Town/
Village Centers
Better Track Change in Use Over
Time

48. LBCS Limitations
Labor Intensive – Opportunity for
Volunteer Use/ Community
Involvement
Limited Applicability at Larger Scales
Difficult to Maintain

49. Resources
http://www.planning.org/lbcs/
PAS Memo – July/August 2012
http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/PlanBTV/
Mike Zuba, AICP –
mikez@miloneandmacbroom.com
Rebecca Augur, AICP –
rebeccaa@miloneandmacbroom.com