City of Livermore, California - Development Code Update

The City of Livermore has recently adopted a General Plan as a blueprint for the future of the City. In 2008, Lisa Wise Consulting, in partnership with Opticos Design Inc., was retained by the City to conduct a citywide development code update to implement the General Plan vision. The objectives of the update included streamlining the process, accommodating a diversity of housing types, updating standards, and protecting private property rights. Throughout the code drafting process, LWC assured the code met these objectives and is consistent with existing documents and State Law.

The update process began with a review of archival data and existing conditions, one-on-one stakeholder interviews, a joint workshop with city committees and commissions, and a 3-day intensive charrette process. The workshops and meetings were utilized to derive the key issue areas, opportunities, and desires of the City residents and staff.

LWC also conducted several site visits to study key focus areas. The end product synthesizes community input and vision and provides major improvements to the standards, administration, and usability of the code.

The City of Livermore Development Code was awarded the 2011 Driehaus Award by the Form-Based Codes Institute. The award recognizes excellence in the writing and implementation of form-based codes.

Completed in collaboration with Opticos Design, Inc.