A southwest Ohio city is updating its development code in response to a desire in the community to better protect the city's existing communities.

John Bush reports on the CodePiqua project in Pique, Ohio, which will generate a new development code and transportation plan for the city.
The CodePique effort grows out of Piqua's previous Plan It Piqua Comprehensive Plan, which recommended a code update for the city to better implement the goals set forth in the comprehensive plan.
"The purpose of the project is to put into place development standards that will promote neighborhood qualities that enhance existing developments and create a sense of a place. It also is meant to establish a new transportation plan that includes context sensitive standards for public right-of-way use and improvements," according to Bush.
Piqua Economic Development Director Chris Schmiesing is quoted in the article saying that the city's current development code is too generic to reflect the built environment of the city.
As for the transportation component of CodePiqua, Bush adds the following: "This initiative aims to help resolve many of the conflicts between modes of use, such as vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. It will also help serve as a basis for future decision making by the Piqua Planning Commission, City Commission and Transportation Committee."
The city contracted Austin-based planning and code consultant Code Studio to work on CodePiqua. More information on the project is available on Code Studio's website.
FULL STORY: New community planning project aims to improve economic development in Piqua

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