Once the richest city in the country, Hartford has faced challenges that require new strategies for catalyzing economic development. This article, penned by the chair of the city's Planning & Zoning Commission, describes recent zoning reforms that aimed to modernize an outdated code, dramatically reduce administrative burdens, and place Hartford at the forefront of local environmental stewardship. The Commission entirely replaced Hartford’s old code with a streamlined, form-based code that has environmental sustainability at its core.  Code revisions were guided by four overarching priorities:  economic growth, environmental sustainability, access and mobility, and food security.