Agenda - 08-19-2010 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Form -based codes A relatively new approach to regulating development, form -based codes are used to achieve a specific urban form rather than designate specific land uses, as is typical in conventional zoning. Form -based codes can help a community support mixed uses, diverse hous- ing options, and open space while also paying atten- tion to design details such as streetscapes and facades. Because they are simpler to envision than conven- tional codes, form -based codes provide a community with a certain level of predictability about the public realm, whether applied to new or existing develop- ment. Georgia has made a statewide shift toward form -based codes, and small towns in the state, like Covington and Suwanee, have found form -based codes helpful to revitalizing town centers and preserving small -town character. Context-sensitive design Context - sensitive street design links roadway planning and design to adjacent land uses and neighborhood type. For example, when a driver is transitioning from a high -speed arterial to a downtown business dis- trict, he or she might find narrower streets lined with parked cars, which obligate slower speeds and a focus on courtesy and safety. Context - sensitive street design also includes a complete network of sidewalks and bike routes so that all have safe and affordable trans- portation options. A range of design characteristics like this can subtly change driver behavior and enhance the pedestrian experience. Context - sensitive design 116 Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities 27 Parks can help draw residents downtown and serve as local landmarks that reflect community history. can also highlight local history and heritage, as is the case with the new Cobblestone Street Interpretive Park in Booneville, Missouri. The park incorporates a his- toric cobblestone street — thought to be the first paved street west of St. Louis —that was rediscovered during site investigations for a new highway bridge. The park, developed in tandem with the highway bridge, has become a local landmark that reflects local history and helped revitalize the town's waterfront.46 Green street design Green street design options are aimed primarily at environmental enhancement, although they have addi- tional advantages. Typical strategies for green street design include reducing impervious surface cover to Context-sensitive design, as Illustrated by these street Improvements in Keene, New Hampshire, can help link roadway designs to adjacent land uses and support a range of transportation options. Photo courtesy of City of Keene a s 52 a