Coincidently, some elements of the general plan haven't been updated since 1971 when "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel dominated the Grammy Awards.

And there's no doubt there have been troubled waters in the history of attempts to update the general plan. Two such attempts in the past 13 years have ended in failure. But the department's director, Tim Snellings, is manning the wheel of the ship and hoping the third time's the charm.

One of the ideas Snellings has for the general plan's course is the use of form-based planning or form-based codes, a relatively new concept that has quickly gained popularity in urban areas.

But is such a planning style good for Butte County? That depends on who you talk to.

Traditional planning involves putting an emphasis on land use over design and management. A form-based approach to planning sees the design of property as more important than use.

The city of Farmers Branch, Texas, explained form-based planning this way on its Web site: "Simple and clear graphic presentations for building height, how a building is placed on site, and building elements (such as location of windows, doors, etc.) are used to control development. Land use is not ignored, but regulated using broad parameters that can better respond to market economics, while also prohibiting undesirable uses."

Dan Breedon, the county's principal planner, said the idea of using form-based coding in the county is in the idea stage, like everything else in the general plan update.

"We wanted to have all the tools available to us that are out there," Breedon said. "We didn't want to limit our options."

Breedon said if form-based planning were to be included in the general plan, it would be within "spheres of influence," or the county land surrounding the borders of incorporated cities. Even then, the county would be working with the cities on developing form-based codes, since the surrounding county land could eventually be annexed into the city itself.

"We would anticipate working closely with the cities in each of the spheres if they wanted to adopt something like a form-based code in those areas," Breedon said.

Form-based planning could be appealing for urban-style, high-density development in the future because it's easier to understand that traditional planning, he said.

"It's a visual look at what the code wants you to do," Breedon said.

Pam Figge, a professor in the geography and planning department at Chico State University and a member of The Post's editorial board, has 25 years experience as a planner and doubts that using form-based planning in county land is a good approach.

"It's a great design concept," Figge said, "but it's like going from a newborn to having that newborn walk without crawling or learning to stand on its feet."

Form-based planning is better used by the cities within their own jurisdictions, she said, while a county like Butte is better off using its planning in a more defensive manner in order to protect open space between the county's communities.

While it could make sense to use form-based planning in county-controlled areas within a city's sphere of influence, the county would also want to consider adopting the requirements of the city for that area, she said.

"There's a lot of design criteria (in form-based planning)," Figge said, "and Butte County has no architectural design standards."

As it is, form-based planning has been included in the county's request for proposals sent out to possible consultants, Breedon said. Whether the concept is actually included in the general plan update is yet to be seen.

"As we see the process unfold," he said, "we'll see direction take place through the planning division, the Board of Supervisors and the citizens' advisory committee."

Current schedules have the general plan update being completed in late 2009.

The writer can be reached at rlahue@paradisepost.com.