Book Description

Alternative development standards would encourage development patterns which are more affordable, discourage sprawl, are environmentally responsive, support transit, reduce automobile dependency, and create more liveable communities. This report considers development standards at two scales: local and regional, with a focus on the latter. It begins with discussion of why alternate standards are needed and a literature review of the current state of development standards and related initiatives. It then presents case studies of four urban centres chosen to explore existing development standards, explore the relationship to urban form, and assess the current status of regional and local development standards in North America. Finally, it illustrates a new approach to applying development standards, using a fictitious community that portrays a fabric of rural concession roads, natural water features, and an existing village. Before and after plans illustrate the evolution of this community, planned according to an integrated approach.