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City of St. Louis
ZOning UPgrade (ZOUP)
A Modern Code to Meet the Moment
Zoning Section + Planning and Urban Design Agency of St. Louis
About The ZOUP
This past winter, the Planning Commission adopted a holistic update to the Strategic Land Use Plan (SLUP) after extensive community engagement. Building upon that momentum, the zoning upgrade will modernize how land use is regulated in the City, improving clarity, consistency, and responsiveness to community priorities. The City has engaged a team led by Code Studio, a planning firm specializing in zoning, to guide the process and embed best practices from across the country into St. Louis’s new code.
Project Goals
Plan
Implementation
Organization & Usability
Economic
Development
To ensure consistency
with the SLUP and
other on-going or
adopted planning
efforts.
To modernize
and improve the
organization, usability & user- friendliness of
the code.
To facilitate development aligned with the SLUP’s vision for land use by removing zoning barriers and streamlining the approval process.
High Quality
Built Form
Climate
Resiliency
To improve the built environment and create walkable neighborhoods by providing new and improved standards that focus on urban form.
To support walkability and transit use and mitigate the risks of flooding and urban heat island effect.
Public Engagement Goals
PREPARATION
ENGAGEMENT
EDUCATION
TRANSPARENCY
COLLABORATION
EMPOWERMENT
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Ensure decision makers have buy-in so the new code and map is grounded in the technical, legal, and practical reality of effective zoning policy.
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Ensure that the city’s boards and commissions are involved to translate observations/challenges into the new code and move toward a system where variances are used sparingly.
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Ensure that all community members can effectively use, interpret, and comply with the new zoning code.
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Ensure diverse voices are substantively involved in the process.
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Provide education that includes what zoning is (and isn’t) and how it works; how we’ve arrived at the zoning policy we have today; and how updated zoning is an important tool in creating positive change.
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Meet and exceed legal/procedural requirements of adoption.
Tools For Outreach
Guided by
Community
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Advisory Committee
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Topical Working Groups
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Conversations with Stakeholders and Surveys
Regular Communication
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Website
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Social Media
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Newsletters
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Press Releases
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News Media
Education &
Workshops
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“Code Connect” Webinars
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Expert Panels
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Public Workshops
Internal Collaboration
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Cross-Departmental City Working Group
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Elected/Appointed Officials
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee plays a vital role in the Zoning Code overhaul team. Its responsibilities include providing insights and perspectives on how zoning issues impact the community; supporting the overall approach to the overhaul—including education, engagement, and communication efforts; helping to refine documents and review draft materials; offering feedback on the usability of proposed code updates; and facilitating communication between the City, the Consultant team, and St. Louis residents. The Committee will be established by early this summer, following an application period and lottery selection.
Topical Working Groups
These groups will bring together people experienced with the zoning code and other related topics, including City staff and those working across St. Louis in a variety of relevant sectors and industries. Working Groups will be assembled by City Planning and Zoning staff to ensure there is deep experience and a broad range of perspectives included in these technical discussions.
Cross-Departmental City Working Group
In addition to the Topical Working Groups, a Cross-Departmental City Working Group will be established to bring together representatives of various City departments and agencies. Meeting periodically throughout the Overhaul, the group will provide insight and ensure alignment with other planning processes and objectives.