Resident warns Cleveland’s form-based code allows parking in residential areas and omits tree-preservation requirements

A resident raised concerns at the Oct. 13 Cleveland City Council meeting that the city’s form-based code (FBC) gives administrators authority to approve commercial parking lots adjacent to residential properties and omits established tree-preservation requirements.

“FBC was pitched by the administration as providing more equitable options in housing, transportation, and a reduced reliance on cars,” Michael Armstrong said. He described a project on Detroit Avenue where an addition to a medical facility in a mixed-use zone was accompanied by a 14-to-23-space parking lot sited on parcels between two homes in a residential H4 district, which he said required only administrative approval rather than Planning Commission review.

Armstrong also said he found no references in the FBC text to the city’s Title 7 tree-preservation protections (chapters he referenced as 34150–34153) and cited FBC Chapter 3.001’s stated intent to balance conservation and development. “Tree preservation is not required in form based code neighborhoods,” he said, and warned that an administration plan to expand FBC citywide by 2027 would risk removing tree protections across the city.

Armstrong said he will provide council with details by email. No formal action on the code was recorded at the meeting; his remarks were delivered during the public-comment period.

Ending: Armstrong urged council to consider amending the FBC before any citywide expansion to preserve existing tree protections and community conservation goals.