the structure of a sustainable community

Streets are vital to the success of a sustainable community.  Streets are the public realm and framework for each community and each zone.  Streets should be highly connected in some form of a grid.  The block lengths defined by this grid network should be short, providing numerous vehicular route alternatives and maximum walkablity.  The street should be treated as an outdoor room, allowing street trees and building frontages to create the walls for this room.  Streets, especially in the south, should have ample street trees for their environmental benefits and refuge from the summer heat.  The character of streets should change in form as they pass through conservation areas, boroughs, neighborhood centers, and into urban cores.  All streets should have ample sidewalks, separated from the drives by street trees.  Streets should incorporate on street parking in where suitable.

Also called preserve, reserve, open space, or greenspace.  Conservation areas are located on the outside or between areas deemed suitable for development,  Conservation areas should include natural areas, farmland, and environmentally sensitive ecosystems.  Certain conservation areas should be preserved in  perpetuity and should define the growth boundary for communities.

Also called a boroughs.  Neighborhoods should be relatively compact but offer a wide variety of lot sizes, residential product type, and living styles.  Varying product type should not be separated into zones, but rather mixed as much as possible to promote a framework for a healthy social environment.   Neighborhoods should include very limited retail and office.  Neighborhoods should be located within walking or biking distance to neighborhood centers.

Neighborhood centers should include a mix of residential, office, retail, and dining uses.  Neighborhood centers should be more dense than boroughs, be allowed taller building heights, and be located to maximize walking and biking access from the surrounding boroughs. 

Urban cores should contain the highest density of development.  Amounts of retail, office, and residential should not be limited, except by building height.  Building hight should be determined by local character of the region.  Urban centers should be the center of activity for the town or city or settlement, and should be located to provide maximum walking and bike access from surrounding neighborhoods.

The park is also essential to the success of the community.  Parks should be included in all zones of development and should be located within a 5-10 minute walk of each residence.  Parks can take on many forms such as passive parks, ball fields, squares, plazas, as well as other types.  The location within the urban fabric of the community should dictate the type and size of park needed.

The district is an area of specialized or emphasized use within any development zone.  It could be a specialty business district, a dining district, an art district, a bar district, a school campus, etc.  Different regulations concerning development requirements are placed on districts.

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street

conservation

(T1-T2)

neighborhood

(T-3)

neighborhood center

(T-4)

urban core

(T-5)

park

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district