Cracking the Code: How Konveio Transforms Public Engagement in Zoning Updates

Zoning codes form the legal backbone of urban development, yet they remain misunderstood by much of the public. While zoning has existed for over a century, effective engagement on zoning updates continues to challenge planners. That's where Konveio comes in. Unlike community visioning or broad comprehensive planning, zoning code updates require a more technical and nuanced conversation. Productive engagement hinges on helping stakeholders grasp how zoning actually works. Konveio is uniquely built to bridge this knowledge gap.

Meeting the Needs of “The Public”

Zoning updates typically attract two groups: the “involved public,” who seek to shape policy outcomes, and the “wider public,” who are concerned about personal impacts. Konveio supports both by enabling planners to communicate zoning updates in a clear, contextual, and accessible way. Konveio’s Community Mapping feature integrates with Esri ArcGIS to create interactive swipe maps, making it easy for users to compare existing and proposed zoning in a single, user-friendly interface. The City of Salida used the Community Mapping feature to update their Land Use Code. Planners were able to upload zoning code drafts as dynamic documents and each section of the code could be commented on directly, allowing participants to engage with the exact clauses that matter most to them. For the wider public, that meant less confusion and more targeted feedback. For the involved public, it provided a framework for detailed, policy-oriented dialogue.

Zoning Isn’t a Plan

A common pitfall in zoning engagement is the assumption that zoning updates are opportunities to revisit past planning decisions. In reality, they’re about implementing established policy. Konveio helps planners clarify this distinction by connecting zoning code sections to the comprehensive plan language they’re based on. Through tools like interactive summaries, linked appendices, and AI-guided tours of documents, Konveio contextualizes proposed changes. Users can see not just what a section says, but why it exists, how it relates to past plans, and where it fits in the broader regulatory framework.

Flexible Formats for Inclusive Engagement

Zoning code updates often benefit from topic-specific discussions that mirror the format of in-person workshops. Konveio makes it easy to recreate these experiences online while streamlining feedback from both virtual and in-person events. Planners can replicate physical meeting formats online by creating station-style web pages, with each focused on a controversial zoning topic. These pages can include embedded videos, maps, infographics, and surveys, giving users a self-guided experience and enabling asynchronous feedback. Whether attendees drop in virtually or in person, their insights are captured in one unified system. Sticky notes from in-person meetings can be transcribed using Konveio’s AI tools and seamlessly integrated into the platform’s comment dashboard.

AI-Powered Insights That Save Time

Zoning updates can attract hundreds of comments, many long and complex. Konveio’s AI automatically tags, summarizes, and themes comments, giving planners a fast track to understanding public sentiment. It even breaks down feedback by topic and sentiment, helping agencies prioritize revisions with confidence. By removing administrative bottlenecks and making feedback easier to interpret and act on, Konveio lets planners focus on making better policy, not just managing input.

The Bottom Line

Konveio brings clarity, efficiency, and inclusivity to engagement on zoning code updates. From dynamic document review to AI-powered comment analysis and interactive mapping integrations, it supports a deeper, more productive conversation around zoning. In a time when zoning decisions have never been more consequential or more complex Konveio helps agencies engage smarter and build community trust through transparency and understanding.