Published on
March 10, 2025
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In an era of housing shortages1, population shifts2 and rapidly advancing technology3, the ability to update your city’s code of ordinance both regularly and efficiently becomes increasingly important. While we all know there are a thousand ways to approach updates, and one of the most critical elements is having the most effective tools to get the job done.
Based upon my experience in the field of planning and community development, I believe that Ordinal is the type of revolutionary tool that will be positively impacting municipal governments for many years to come. In the paragraphs that follow, I will guide you through the ways that Ordinal is the best tool to ensure that, regardless of the population of your city, you are able to write and adopt the code that best serves your ever-evolving community.
If you don’t yet have a tool like Ordinal to help you update your city code, don’t worry – I will offer a few pointers regardless.
The last decade has seen much of the United States suffer greatly from a housing shortage that, according to experts, is significantly impacted by the lack of diverse housing options, or in the words of acclaimed Urban Planner Daniel Parolek, a lack of “missing middle housing”.4 So, what does this mean for your community? Well, it may mean that you are scrambling to find the answer for skyrocketing housing prices by adjusting your city’s code to allow for increased densities5, mixed uses6, or even adopting form-based code7 in the most appropriate locations.
However, all three of these options have pros and cons that must be taken into account, with Ordinal able to help you through that process. For example, if your city uses Ordinal, you might ask it something like “what are the highest densities in town?” and find that the highest densities are 24 units per acre. While in many small or rurals towns that may seem like a lot, but in rapidly growing cities, 24 units per acre may not be enough to allow for the types and numbers of housing units necessary to tackle rapidly inflating housing costs. Ordinal becomes a quick and easy way to begin the research process necessary to update your city’s code.
If you don’t have Ordinal, this process will take more time, but is still worth the legwork.
While the United States is not unique in dealing with rapidly shifting population and demographic trends, these trends often necessitate new and unique changes to code of ordinance. For example, if your city has been focused on attracting men and women in the 18-34 age range, it would be advisable to have the types of establishments that people of that age range would go to spend their money on, otherwise they’ll take their money to the next town over. What are these establishments? A short list would include bars, restaurants, fitness centers and outdoor event venues.9
With that in mind, if your city is using Ordinal, your work to research and update your code would begin with a question as simple as “Can I build a bar with my property?” Ordinal will respond with the details of whether or not you can build a bar and provide you with the portions of code that may need to be updated to allow for these types of establishments to be allowed in locations that are experiencing rapid population growth.
While this may be considered a “hot take” to some folks out there, if you are in a leadership position in government and not actively pursuing the most cutting edge technology for your team, then you are doing your team and the taxpayers a disservice. Why? Simply put, technologies used to make the implementation of goods and services should allow for the highest effectiveness of taxpayer dollars. At present, the use of AI in government (as well as an endless list of other roles) is feared to be putting folks out of work, but that is not necessarily the case.10
Several decades ago, there were fears that computers would put people out of jobs11, but we’ve come to see that this is not the case. Just as “computerphobia” faded with time, so too will “AI-phobia,” as AI will be integrated into our workforce and day-to-day lives in the same ways as computers.
With that said, Ordinal will provide a means for the type of efficiency that will have your team and the public more satisfied. By entering a question as simple as “what can I build with my property”, Ordinal can allow administrative assistants to almost immediately answer questions that would usually be reserved for planners to research. Such time savings over the course of weeks and months quickly results in planners being able to focus more on higher-level tasks, such as plan reviews, meetings and more.
Some other software that is making advancements in the govtech space include:
Cities are currently facing an endless array of new and unique challenges. It is important to arm your city’s workers with the best tools for the job of keeping your city’s code up to date. What does that entail? Assessing the needs of your community, doing your homework, and ensuring that your tech choices are meeting those needs.
Ordinal is a great option to serve the needs of ever-evolving municipalities, regardless of their population density, demographic make-up and geographic location.
4: https://missingmiddlehousing.com/
5: https://sustainablereview.com/high-population-density-pros-and-cons/
6: https://www.mansionglobal.com/library/home-type/mixed-use-building
7: https://formbasedcodes.org/
8: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/10/26/us/us-cities-downtown-chicago-seattle.html
9: https://placebased.media/blog/marketing-to-males-18-34
11: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/03/when-people-feared-computers/388919/
Ready to see Ordinal in action? Book some time with our team and we’ll show you just how valuable this could be for you and your staff.
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