Neighborhoods
The Framework for the Future calls for the creation of identifiable neighborhoods, served by a hierarchy of activity centers, with landscaped boulevards linking the centers and a network of greenways throughout the City. Residential neighborhoods are key components of the City's land use pattern. The plan establishes the neighborhood as the "building block" of the City and the unit which compatible development and redevelopment can occur. Neighborhoods are places where people's daily activities take place.
Identity and Character
Neighborhoods are planned as identifiable areas, enclosed by natural boundaries such as rivers, creeks, woods and open space, or man-made boundaries such as arterial streets, railroads or dissimilar land uses. Apart from the physical boundaries, neighborhoods can be defined socially and culturally. Each neighborhood should have its own identity and character based upon historic, architectural, or natural features. This can be accomplished by establishing a commitment to planned development and redevelopment, by instituting proper zoning, site plan and subdivision ordinances, by adopting appropriate public improvement policies and proper design standards, and code enforcement.
Neighborhood Entrances
Approaches and entrances to neighborhoods should be attractive and appealing. However, the commercial zoning that historically occurred along the City's major highways allowed incompatible uses such as gas stations, convenience stores, auto sales, and drive in restaurants to be built at entrances to neighborhoods. These uses should be carefully regulated to protect the homes behind them. The City has adopted stricter standards for lighting, noise, signs, landscaping, and buildings for these uses when they are located at entrances to neighborhoods. The City also has worked to create attractive gateways to its neighborhoods, although more is needed to ensure the entrances to our neighborhoods are protected.
Compatible Infill
The proposed development of an infill lot should be sensitive to the style of development which was prevalent during the period when the majority of the existing homes on the block were constructed and should incorporate as many architectural features as practical into the exterior design of the proposed infill development. Architectural features such as covered front porches, two story homes, roof pitch, window style, garages, and siding materials should be considered. Any proposed development of an infill tract should take into consideration the density, size and style of existing development on adjoining parcels. If the proposed development, for example, includes smaller lots, smaller homes or homes with fewer architectural features or embellishments than what exists on the adjoining parcels, the proposed development should incorporate elements taken from the adjoining parcels into the proposal. Such incorporation of elements may include minimum lot size, minimum (or maximum) house size, building material selection, number of stories, and architectural elements.
Neighborhood Conservation
The residential character and architectural rhythm of the older, two story homes in the Southeast Community, which are built on 5,000 square foot lots, should be preserved and not impacted by overcrowding single family structures built on smaller 2,500 square foot lots. New development in older established neighborhoods should have the same front yard setbacks prevalent on the block. This can be achieved through better infill development and by combining small 25' x 100' residential lots into larger parcels. New construction in the community should complement the design and character of existing homes.
Buffers
Neighborhoods should be separated from adjacent non-residential uses by wide buffers of open space, trees, and woods, and protected from incompatible infill development.
Neighborhood Services
Neighborhood schools, local parks, sidewalks, and churches should be located within neighborhoods. These low impact community facilities provide places for interaction within the community.