Urban Smart Growth Demonstration Project

About the Program

Category: Planning (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Urban Smart Growth Demonstration Project was designed to demonstrate that an urban community can enhance its vibrancy, livability, and aesthetic character through the implementation of innovative planning techniques and community programs. By applying these techniques and programs in such a manner that they promote urban excitement and attractiveness, the results can be a “win-win” solution for developers, builders, architects, residents, visitors, and the community. Cities have an opportunity to attract and retain not only new residents to the community, but also those residents who are considering a move to the more rural areas of a county. One of the primary components of the Project is the development of several innovative, highly-visual, graphic-based document that will not only improve the ability of local leaders to plan for future growth and development, but also provide developers, architects, and residents with a clear understanding of how the community wants to grow and what it wants to look like in the future. These documents include architectural design standards, a downtown area master plan, and a city-wide master plan and zoning code. The architectural design guidebook and downtown master plan are completed and have been incorporated into community ordinances.