The City's Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO), effective June 1, 2017, consolidates development-related regulations into a single unified code document for a more consistent, logical, integrated and efficient means to review and encourage development. The USDO is administered by the Planning Department in conjunction with the Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Board, and Historic Resources Commission, which play an essential role in approving development projects, upholding historic preservation, and maintaining land use compliance in our City. Project review is coordinated with other City Departments to ensure site designs and practices are consistent with local, state and federal laws, includes sustainable measures, and creates a positive and compatible reflection of our community form.