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To create more livable neighborhoods, we need to make sure that
our communities are designed in such a way that they address the
needs of all residents and improve their quality of life. That means
taking into account the needs of a diverse population: the young,
the old, wealthy and poor, healthy and disabled.
While community design and the way we use land will be influenced
to some extent by geographic location, there are some time-tested
principles that can help us create and preserve vibrant, livable
communities. The Ahwahnee
Principles - which form the basis for the Local Government Commission's
work on livable, sustainable communities - address the issue of
community design in numerous ways:
- Create complete and integrated communities containing housing,
shops, workplaces, schools, parks and civic facilities essential
to the daily life of the residents.
- The size of the community should be such that housing, jobs,
daily needs and other activities are within easy walking distance
of one another.
- As many activities as possible should be located within easy
walking distance of transit stops.
- A community should contain a diversity of housing types to enable
citizens from a wide range of economic levels and age groups to
live within its boundaries.
- The location and character of the community should be consistent
with a larger transit network.
- The community should have a center focus that combines commercial,
civic, cultural and recreational uses.
- The community should contain an ample supply of specialized
open space in the form of squares, greens and parks whose frequent
use is encouraged through placement and design.
- Public spaces should be designed to encourage the attention
and presence of people at all hours of the day and night.
- Each community or cluster of communities should have a well-defined
edge, such as agricultural greenbelts or wildlife corridors, permanently
protected from development.
- Streets, pedestrian paths and bike paths should contribute to
a system of fully-connected and interesting routes to all destinations.
Their design should encourage pedestrian and bicycle use by being
small and spatially defined by buildings, trees and lighting;
and by discouraging high speed traffic.
- Wherever possible, the natural terrain, drainage, and vegetation
of the community should be preserved with superior examples contained
within parks or greenbelts.
- The community design should help conserve resources and minimize
waste.
- Communities should provide for the efficient use of water through
the use of natural drainage, drought tolerant landscaping and
recycling.
- The street orientation, the placement of buildings and the use
of shading should contribute to the energy efficiency of the community.
- The regional land use planning structure should be integrated
within a larger transportation network built around transit rather
than freeways.
- Regions should be bounded by and provide a continuous system
of greenbelt/wildlife corridors to be determined by natural conditions.
- Regional institutions and services (government, stadiums, museums,
etc.) should be located in the urban core.
- Materials and methods of construction should be specific to
the region, exhibiting continuity of history and culture and compatibility
with the climate to encourage the development of local character
and community identity.
For more information, click on one of the following topics:
Bike & Pedestrian Design
Downtown & Neighborhood Centers
Health and Physical Activity
Housing
Open Space
Regional Planning
Safety
Schools
Street Design
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