Orlando, FL, USA - Traditional City Design Standards
The City of Orlando created design standards for three large infill developments around the downtown area. According to the City of Orlando web page, the goals of the standards are the “establishment of a spatially coherent and identifiable sense-of-place through complete neighborhoods, development of compact and clearly identified communities built around sets of neighborhoods, a mixed use of land, equal consideration to all modes of transportation, and establishing civic spaces for social interaction and community building.” Design standards are provided for a variety of uses including residential, neighborhood convenience retail, and office uses in several different areas, including residential, commercial, and mixed-use districts. These standards focus on the scale, façade material, roof styles, orientation of the building, and pedestrian accessibility. For more information, visit the City of Orlando's Residential Development Standards Guide.
Austin, TX, USA - Smart Growth Matrix
To streamline the review process, give a clear sense of development expectations, and provide a financial incentive for Smart Growth, the City of Austin (Texas) created a matrix that evaluates development on several predetermined criteria including the design of new developments. Projects that score highly on the evaluation receive a variety of fee reductions and financial incentives such as infrastructure investments by the City. Not only does Austin put its money where its vision is, but it also reduces regulatory uncertainty and provides developers with a clear sense of the city’s vision for growth and development. (Information on the Smart Growth Index can be found at www.ci.austin.tx.us/smartgrowth/sgmatrix.htm)
