I llinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, BroMenn Regional Medical Center, the town of Normal and the city of Bloomington hired "new urbanist" and consultant Doug Farr, with the Chicago-based firm Farr Associates to present a proposal for the future Main Street

And so the Main Street beautification plan began.

For it to be implemented, it requires the passage of the form-based code.

Farr held three meetings - or "charrettes" - over the past two years. He held up a picture of a nice looking building, along a street lined with beautiful trees. The second picture was of a run-down building. Those attending were asked which vision they would rather see for Main Street. The vote was solidly for the pretty picture. It was this survey that evolved into reports to the media that "people in the community want this."

And this disturbing quote from Farr's book on urban renewal

"Because the projects are routinely deemed illegal under local zoning laws and go against most conventional development practices, the new urbanists have pioneered new approval techniques (notably the town planning charrette)."

Why the fuss about the form-based code?

Should some of us have to rebuild, we have to rebuild at least a three-story building and become landlords, renting out the upper stories to students, because we will no longer conform to the standards. We don't want to be forced to be landlords. Getting insurance or affording the required insurance now becomes a crucial issue.

If we want a pedestal sign in front of our building, it can't be much larger than a stop sign.

The original plan didn't allow for drive-throughs. That affected McDonald's, Walgreen's, dry cleaners and more. The uproar over that absurd proposal caused it to be quickly withdrawn.

Even ISU President Al Bowman, at a recent Rotary meeting said, "I like to drive through McDonald's and get my coffee."

Weaver's Rent-All, which has been here for 56 years, has an "x" through it on the plan. This type of business will not conform under the form-based code.

For Growing Grounds, the form-based code would change its entire parking access and beautiful "green" frontage display - a design that makes Growing Grounds the success it has been for years. It would destroy its business.

This "sustainable urbanism" is relatively new to the public sector. It lacks a history of results.

As presented, utilizing the form-based code will turn Main Street from auto-oriented to pedestrian-oriented. That depends on high-density housing to succeed.

At a meeting last week, where business owners could attend but could not speak, Normal Mayor Chris Koos suggested a "conflict resolution expert" be hired and work toward compromise on the form-based code. We suggest a "common-sense expert."

Main Street business owners are more than willing to work together to improve Main Street, but not with a form-based code. It's not the answer. It's the problem. We look forward to working together toward a common-sense solution.

Dale Nafziger is owner of Growing Grounds. This commentary represents a unified response from more than two dozen business owners along the Main Street Corridor - from Avanti's on the north and Tobin's in the middle to Growing Grounds on the south - regarding the proposed form-based code and Main Street Corridor plan.