4.0. PCSR 02-08-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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20 Codifijing New Urbanism . ;; ;1 .Q :S ." il ~ 11 ~ . ." 1 ~ oll . "3 ~ The Seven Fountains in West Hollywood, California, is one of a number of Southern California projects designed by Pasadena- based architects and urbanists Moule c'.,- Polyzoides, and inspired by the 1920's courtyard housing of the region. FIGURE 7. HEIGHT TO WIDTH RATIO . APPROPRIATE FOR URBAN CONTEXT INAPPROPRIATE FOR URBAN CONTEXT In the urban context, streets are enhanced (ohen buildings establish a strong sense of spatial enclosure, both vertically and horizontally. . those provisions are essential for health and safety. In many states this action must be taken at the state level. (See the description of New Jersey Rehabilitation Code in Chapter 3.) Because private buildings shape public streets and civic spaces that together create the public realm, their design and placement are important elements of development regulations. While architectural style need not be prescribed, the Charter principles assert" architecture and landscape design should grow from local climate, topography, history, and building practice," thus avoiding the monotony of conventional suburban development and creating places of character and distinction. Regulations should be responsive to context at two levels: site-specific and regional. FOSTERING CONTEXTUAL DESIGN Adopt illustrated design standards. Adopt illustrated standards for build- ing design and site design to ensure design sensitive to the regional context as well as to the site's features and immediate surroundings. Address build- ing type and basic architectural elements rather than mandating specific styles or detail. Regulation of entries and fenestration is essential for safe and inviting streets. The streetscape can be further enhanced by addressing proportions, roof types and pitches, and materials. Rev"iew setback and height regulations. Review and amend setback and height requirements to maintain or create ratios between the height of build- ings and the distance between their facades. An appropriate relationship between the width of the streetscape and the height of buildings creates a comfortable sense of enclosure, making the public street feel like an "outdoor room." Spatial enclosure created by height-to-width ratio in urban spaces with a strong sense of place generally ranges from 1:1 to 3:1 (Figure 7). A critical mass of population as well as a mix of housing types and land uses is essential to achieving the intensity of development needed to sup- port walkable centers and to enable public transit to operate successfully. Promote. transit-supportive densities. Permit densities and concentra- tions of development that will support provision of transit service consis- tent with local and regional plans. Require minimum residential densities and lot coverage standards along existing or planned transit corridors. To support transit-oriented development, prohibit or limit auto-related uses . and surface parking within transit station areas, and codify standards for pedestrian facilities that provide multiple connections to transit. Improve parking regulations downtown. Institute parking regulations that support compact, walkable downtowns with the following provisions: . Reduce or eliminate minimum on-site parking requirements in locations planned for highest pedestrian activity. . Allow parking requirements to be satisfied by the use of on-street, municipal, common, or shared parking. . Establish parking caps that limit the maximum number or total square footage of on-site surface parking spaces.