Belgrade’s draft code establishes a solid foundation for land use, zoning districts, development regulations, agricultural protections, and infrastructure standards. The code is well-written, easily understood, transparent, and promotes smart growth principles. The code’s “broad stroke” approach (rather than delving into specific regulatory areas) will prove instrumental in helping the city accommodate cultural and economic changes.

GAR has identified areas that can be improved, such as the housing market, commercial landscape, and growth management toolkit. Additionally, underdeveloped or not mentioned provisions include: affordable housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), short-term rentals (STRs), density tools, and transportation and parking. Our recommendations are, generally, as follows:

• Increase or improve predictability, flexibility, and transparency
• Streamline procedural processes, or the removal of unnecessary procedural requirements
• Adjustments to specific provisions to carefully remove barriers to density and infill