OUR PHILOSOPHY
Urban planning and allied disciplines of urban design, zoning, and environmental planning are our focus. Through our work we seek to give form to community aspirations, and foster places that are vital, livable, and reflect environmental stewardship. Our work is place-based – responsive to context, physical and natural settings, economic realities, and community needs. It is directed toward improving the quality of the living environment and promoting sustainable development patterns.
Dyett & Bhatia (D&B) was incorporated in California in December 1975 and has been providing professional services for the last 40 years. D&B's sole office is located in Oakland, CA. Our small size – about 25 employees – allows us to be nimble and responsive in our work, communication, and outreach. We conduct analysis and develop policies on a range of planning topics from land use and urban design, to economic development, sustainability, and social and environmental justice. The professional services we offer are focused on: urban design and specific plans, development codes and zoning ordinances, general plans, environmental planning and assessment, community engagement, geographic information systems (GIS), three-dimensional computer modeling, and visual simulation.
Our firm has won 12 awards in the last four years alone from the American Planning Association (APA), as well as two national awards from the APA in the last six years, including for California's first Public Health Element.
We believe that plan-making is a collaborative effort, involving a diversity of stakeholders, and we are committed to active community engagement, and considerations of social and environmental equity in planning processes. Our work continues to evolve in response to changing concerns of urbanism; however, our underlying commitment to creativity, excellence, and shaping livable and sustainable places remains unwavering.
Dyett & Bhatia (D&B) was incorporated in California in December 1975 and has been providing professional services for the last 40 years. D&B's sole office is located in Oakland, CA. Our small size – about 25 employees – allows us to be nimble and responsive in our work, communication, and outreach. We conduct analysis and develop policies on a range of planning topics from land use and urban design, to economic development, sustainability, and social and environmental justice. The professional services we offer are focused on: urban design and specific plans, development codes and zoning ordinances, general plans, environmental planning and assessment, community engagement, geographic information systems (GIS), three-dimensional computer modeling, and visual simulation.
Our firm has won 12 awards in the last four years alone from the American Planning Association (APA), as well as two national awards from the APA in the last six years, including for California's first Public Health Element.
We believe that plan-making is a collaborative effort, involving a diversity of stakeholders, and we are committed to active community engagement, and considerations of social and environmental equity in planning processes. Our work continues to evolve in response to changing concerns of urbanism; however, our underlying commitment to creativity, excellence, and shaping livable and sustainable places remains unwavering.
Dyett & Bhatia has a highly-trained staff of approximately 25, with academic backgrounds and professional experience in urban and regional planning; urban design; zoning; urban environmental planning; urban economics, architecture; graphic design; and public meeting facilitation. Dyett & Bhatia’s technical staff specializes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), cartography, three-dimensional computer modeling, and computer-aided visualization.
Each Dyett & Bhatia Partner is an experienced practice leader and firm owner, with full decision-making authority, committed to excellence and nurturing enduring relationships.
LEADERSHIP
We are connected by a shared passion for planning and places, and a fundamental desire to enhance the quality of life of the communities we serve Our work methods are rooted in collaboration and inquisitiveness, and our work culture is engaging and inclusive.
LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
Dyett & Bhatia is a leader in urban planning, renowned for its pioneering, creative, and award-winning projects.
Through our work we seek to give form to community aspirations, foster vital and livable places, and promote environmental sustainability and equity. Our work is place-based, tailored to each community’s specific needs. We believe plan making is a collaborative effort that engages and connects people and communities.
Our areas of practice are general plans; specific and area plans, including station area plans, downtown plans, and corridor and neighborhood plans; zoning; environmental review; and community engagement. Our work is place-based, responsive to context, physical and natural settings, and community needs. It is directed toward improving the quality of the living environment and promoting sustainable, equitable, and just development patterns. Our geographic focus is the western US; we have done projects across the US and overseas.
We are connected by a shared passion for planning and places, and a fundamental desire to enhance the quality of life of the communities we serve Our work methods are rooted in collaboration and inquisitiveness, and our work culture is engaging and inclusive.
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San Diego Downtown Zoning
Dyett & Bhatia prepared the San Diego Downtown Community Plan and the Downtown Planned Development Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance); both were adopted concurrently in 2006. Key aspects of the zoning regulations include:
Combination of form-based, use, and performance approaches. The zoning regulations promote mixed-use, transit, and pedestrian-oriented development. Building bulk and massing standards ensure that sunlight reaches parks and streets, and promote fine-grained and large floorplate developments in appropriate settings.
Flexibility and distinctive neighborhood development. Uses, building height, intensities, and several other features are regulated separately from one another, allowing for flexibility in application and furthering development of distinctive neighborhoods.
Map based approach. Retail uses, view corridors, building bulk and mass, intensity, height and other provisions are regulated through maps.
Integration of street typology and zoning. Street level uses are linked with character based street typology to ensure integration of public and private realms.
Community Benefits. The plan and the zoning regulations establish an incentives-based approach to achieve desirable civic benefits. These include FAR exemptions for active uses along designated streets; and bonuses for specific amenities such as public open space, affordable housing, larger units, eco roofs, and infrastructure improvements in specific areas. Many of these programs have been very popular and have raised tens of millions of dollars in community benefits. The system is entirely voluntary and transparent, and is available as of right (subject to zoning and geographic limitations, as established in the plan).
Transfer of Development Rights. Provision of new parkland and open space to match the increased intensities is one of the key tenets of the plan; acquisition and development of these was expected to cost approximately $200 million. To provide funding for these, a multi-pronged system is established, including FAR “purchase” and a system of bonused Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) for sites designated as public parks. The program is grounded in analysis of benefits and costs, and sending and receiving sites are matched to ensure TDR viability.
Thousands of new housing units, numerous hotels, and other buildings have been built under the zoning regulations.
Adopted 2006