4. Understand the Building Blocks: Neighborhoods, Communities, Districts and Corridors in the Region.

One characteristic of sprawl development is that it is unstructured. An alternative is to recognize that the basic building block of a city, county or region is the neighborhood. Neighborhoods structured into coherent communities and tied together by special districts and corridors create more efficient and memorable places.

Principles and Concepts: for Neighborhoods

• Neighborhoods should be laid out with convenience in mind, having schools, parks, shopping areas, restaurants and employment centers nearby.
• Increased density and a mix of housing types will support neighborhood services, shops, public transit, and recreational opportunities.
• Public facilities and good design will reinforce neighborhood identity.
• New subdivisions should be designed as parts of future neighborhoods, including street and pedestrian connections.

Principles and Concepts: for Communities

• A community should consist of a cluster of neighborhoods, with a population large enough to support a high school, sports complex and shopping centers.
• Community facilities should be located along the edges of neighborhoods, near the center of the community or along major boulevards in mixed-use town center developments.
• Civic buildings, town centers, parks and streets play major roles in defining the character and identity of the community. (boulevard illustration, street hierarchy)
• Town centers, which can include shops, upper-story offices, housing and public facilities, will differ in scale and design depending on whether the community is rural or urban.

Principles and Concepts: for Districts

• Districts are special areas such as the university district, downtown, employment parks and commercial districts.
• Landscaping, signage and architecture should contribute to a unique identity for each district. New developments should incorporate design themes that contribute to the unique purpose or identity of the district.
• Districts should have flexible development provisions that encourage good urban design and a choice of transportation options.
• Districts with nuisance impacts should be located so that they do not detract from neighborhood integrity.
• Mixed uses within districts should be encouraged.

Principles and Concepts: for Corridors

• Corridors connect neighborhoods, districts and communities and often form the edges of neighborhoods or communities.
• Continuity and connectivity are two attributes of successful corridors.
• Roadway corridors should share as many of the features of neighborhoods as possible. They should support mixed uses and multiple forms of mobility.
• Corridors should be recognizable as distinct places and should be distinguished by landscaping, architecture and signage.
• Natural features along transportation corridors, such as creeks and ridges, should be treated as resources to be conserved and enhanced rather than obstacles to be overcome or removed.

Special Focus: Downtown as a District

• Downtown’s natural and historic resources should be preserved.
• Housing within and near downtown is critical to its vitality.
• A pedestrian-friendly downtown with safe, appealing streets and public spaces is essential.
• Downtown’s commercial capacities, including retail potential and vacant property, are significant resources.
• The waterfront and nearby neighborhoods should be functionally and attractively connected to downtown.

This is not a legal document. It does not replace or amend the existing procedures and regulations governing the publication of agency information. If you have questions, please contact MPC by telephone at (865) 215-2500.