Agenda - 06-30-1994 - C-2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 Massachusetts. where about a dozen parcel so that the remainder of the sions. Some towns address this issue . towns have adopted it within the last tract can be preserved as unbuilt open by requiring developers to demon- two to three years.In Connecticut.the space. The degree to which clustering strate that their cluster plan would not town of Cromwell made state history achieves a significant savings in land produce a greater number of new when it became the first municipality while providing an attractive and homes than would be allowed under a to mandate open space development comfortable living environment standard layout. For this reason, designs for subdivisions located in depends largely on the zoning regula- developers may be required to submit certain types of natural resource areas. tions and the expertise of the land two inexpensive sketch plans for Although the basic concept of clus- planner. comparison. tering is fairly simple and well estab- Open Space:What Size and Shape? Will It Harmonize with Its lished, those who do not associate it Surroundings? with traditional townscapes tend to Unless local regulations specify view it as a new form of development. minimum area and dimensions for the Communities are often concerned Interestingly, it is the conventional open space. the"open space"can end that cluster housing will not blend suburban model that is actually the up being nothing more than a long. with a town's rural character. It is true more alien pattern in otherwise tradi- narrow fringe that abuts rear lot lines that some cluster developments built tional landscapes such as New Eng- and the parcel's outer perimeter. To in the past have failed to harmonize land. Conventional subdivisions look avoid awkward, unusable spaces, the with their surroundings. Recognizing "at home"only in places where, after zoning ordinance should require lots this potential problem, a few towns several years, they have become the and roads to cover not more than,say. now require new cluster plans to con- predominant building pattern. 50 percent of the parcel and should sist only of detached, single-family Ultimately, of course, community specify that at least one-half of the homes. each set on its own smaller residents and decision makers must open space must be configured to be lot. By resembling a traditional vil- address the question of the cluster usable for recreation or agriculture. lage pattern, a single-family cluster approach's appropriateness in rural or Counting Only Truly Usable Land plan ensures that every family will suburbanizing municipalities.The fol- have its own separate yard in addition lowing points arc useful in addressing Many communities require hous- to the larger open space created by the principal concerns typically ing density to be based on"net build- clustering. expressed at local meetings when the able area." which typically eliminates Architectural Design Issues open space or cluster development from the density calculation all or a concept is proposed. certain percentage of unbuildable To permit some variation in hous- The Open Space(Cluster)Concept lands such as wetlands or extremely ing types, a few towns have adopted in Practice steep slopes. Without this require- special permit procedures that autho- ment, the cluster approach could be rize their planning boards to approve The basic principle underlying used to propose a greater number of attached units under certain circum- cluster development is to group new dwellings than would be buildable stances. e.g., when units are carefully • homes onto part of the development under conventional subdivision provi- designed to reflect traditional archi- •. - Suburban zoning and subdivision standards have given us a "planned sprawl 28 Land Development/Fall 1991