Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development / BMPS
Engineers working alongside designers and planners to ensure that infrastructure, design of buildings and communities complement each other. Includes utilities, communication, stormwater, water quality, and transportation infrastructure.
Mixed Use
Create an emphasis on the look, feel and function of an area rather than what happens inside the buildings. This comes with the recognition that the most vibrant and successful areas are ones that have a complimentary mixture of uses including places to live, work, shop and gather.
Life on the Street
Buildings, uses, and urban design that creates a lively, active street environment.
Building Form
Design guidelines or development standards intended to ensure that new buildings are thoughtfully designed, human scale and street level friendly. Buildings should also include durable materials so that they can be re-used for a variety of tenants and uses.
Transit-Oriented Development
Includes a mix of commercial, residential, office, and entertainment centered on, or located near, a transit station. Focuses on increasing residential density and overall levels of activity to capitalize on transit investments. Also creates seamless connections to and from the transit, which encourages people to use the system.
Public Plazas and Gathering Spaces
Spaces near civic buildings and parks provide areas for people to gather, creating a sense of community. These spaces should be designed with the demographics of a location in mind. For example, people of varying ages, cultures and abilities.
Natural Features/Environment
Incorporating nature into the design of a place, which provides green space, passive recreational opportunities, and environmental value.
Parks, Open Space and Trails
A connected system of active and passive recreation opportunities that enhance quality of life.
Complete Streets
Ensure the streets and rights-of-way work for people in cars, on foot, on bikes, riding transit and other means of transportation.