Neotraditionalism in Ten Easy Steps

The session on neotraditional development at the WAPA fall conference will contrast the theory of neotraditional development with its emerging practice in Wisconsin communities. A number of easy to use guides on neotraditional and/or transit-oriented development are available. The general principles of neotraditional design include:

1. Encouraging a mix of land uses to make walking for some trips more attractive and feasible.
2. Reducing lot sizes. Traditional neighborhoods typically have lots that are a third to a quarter the size of conventional suburban neighborhoods.
3. Reducing building setbacks from the street. Minimize distances between building entrances and transit stops.
4. Discouraging abundant free parking. Research has shown that typical parking requirements of 4 spaces per 1000 sq. ft. of floor area are excessive and contribute to inefficient use of land.
5. Providing generous landscaping, paved walkways, and safe street crossings. Build streets that serve pedestrians at least as much as they serve autos.
6. Building streets that are narrower than conventional subdivision street; require sidewalks, trees and other pedestrian amenities.
7. Building neighborhoods within walking distance (approx. 1/4 mile) of activity centers, shopping, etc.
8. Planning a "density gradient" in which higher densities are required near activity centers and transit stops (if available) with densities becoming lower as one moves away from centers. Encouraging clustering of buildings in centers, shared parking facilities, and pedestrian/bike pathways connecting centers.
9. Prohibiting cul-de-sacs unless pedestrian and bike access across the ends is provided. Encourage a grid or modified grid street layout that provide alternate routes to destinations.
10. Providing connections with neighboring developments to avoid "islands" of development that depend on collector streets for all travel between them.

Thanks to Carolyn Esswein and the Planning and Design Institute for contributing to this summary of Neotraditional Principles.

Resources:

Building Livable Communities: A Policymakers' Guide to Transit Oriented Development, The Center for Livable Communities, August 1996 (1-800-290-8202; http://www.bizline.com)

Inside the Black Box: Making Transportation Models Work for Livable Communities. Citizens for a Better Environment, 1996 (1-414-271-7280) or substantially the same publications is available online at http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CUTS/primer.html.

Design Strategies for Encouraging Alternatives to Auto Use Through Local Development Review, Association of Bay Area Governments and Bay Area Air Quality Management District. (510) 464-7900.