Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Natural Resource Guidance Checklist (NRDB)
This document is one of a series of “checklists” produced for local units of government by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource, Metro Region. It outlines key components of a typical local unit of government (LUG) planning document, related specifically to providing density bonuses to developments that conserve important natural resources.
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/OITDSShared/asp/NavDisclaimer.asp?Leaving=GQGP&GoToURL=http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/nrplanning/community/nrchecklists/densitybonus.pdf

Model Ordinances

The City of West Sacramento, California
Municipal Code, Title 17, Division V, Chapter 48
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/OITDSShared/asp/NavDisclaimer.asp?Leaving=GQGP&GoToURL=http://www.ci.west-sacramento.ca.us/cityhall/municode/default.cfm?title=17&chapter=48

Aids For Visualizing This Tool

Fulton County, GA - In 1992 the City of Roswell enacted a Parkway Village Design District overlay up to 1000 feet in depth along the Crossville to Woodstock Road Corridor with the purpose of capturing and preserving the authentic rural landscape and 19th century local building tradition before it was undermined by development pressure. The goal is to recognize the effects of the Highway 92 road widening spanning six miles from Holcomb Bridge Road west to the Cobb County line. Parkway Village was established to provide property owners along Highway 92 with an opportunity to develop their property, while simultaneously providing large buffers and setbacks for those abutting the properties along the roadway. This cohesive development plan is intended to discourage piecemeal zoning. The overlay district allows mixed uses and provides an overlay of design requirements with optional bonus incentives. The illustrated guidelines also provide for retrofit and in-fill. The Planning and Zoning Administrator may approve bonuses in order to recognize exceptional design features.

Implementation Examples Outside Georgia

Maryland - Montgomery County has an inclusionary housing program in place that requires developers of 50 or more units of housing to make 12.5% to 15% of the units affordable. In return, developers receive a density increase of up to 22%. The county controls the selling price of the units for 10 years and the rental rate for 20 years to ensure that they remain affordable. After that time, when the units are resold at market rates, the county shares in the profits. In addition, the County Housing Authority and a nonprofit clearinghouse can purchase up to 40% of the affordable units built through this program. The program was recently modified to create a sliding scale for the density bonus to encourage and reward higher proportions of affordable housing. The program was established under legislation adopted by the County Council and approved by the County Executive. It is run by the county’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Other Resources

Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing - Density Guide for Affordable Housing Developers
This publication builds a case for high density development by citing advantages of dense patterns of growth and dispels the myth relating density to overcrowding. It cites examples from several Southern California cities which have taken steps to encourage higher density development and the production of affordable housing by creating incentive programs and smart growth land use policies, and designating appropriate densities for residential uses. It also includes data on Southern California cities' maximum densities (units/acre) for both residential zone and commercial zones that allow residential development. Changes to the State’s density bonus laws are cited at the end of the document.
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/OITDSShared/asp/NavDisclaimer.asp?Leaving=GQGP&GoToURL=http://www.scanph.org/publications/Pubs2004/Density%20Guide.pdf

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