Compact, Mixed Use, and Transit Oriented Development

(1-6 points)

Intent

To encourage compact and mixed use development, high level of connectivity within the city or community and encourage walking, biking, and transit use.

Requirements

Design Compact and Complete Centers (CCCs) on the master plan or land use map of the city or community. CCCs are measured as areas within a ½ mile (800 meters) walking distance of a central point that represent a strong mix of uses, public transit availability, density, and walkability. CCCs may overlap. The CCCs should support mixed use development which is internally and/or contextually complementary, is densely populated and has internal and surrounding connectivity. Meet the following requirements:

1. Population density (1-2 points) 

Demonstrate that the majority of estimated population of the city or community resides within CCCs. Cities are awarded points based on the table given below.

Table 3. Percentage of population residing in CCC

Percentage of population in CCC (Total of all CCCs)	Points
40% to 69%	1
70% and above	2

 2. Complementary uses (2 points) 

Demonstrate that each CCC has a balanced mix of uses and activities such as residential (high, medium and low density), commercial and institutional, accessible and usable open areas and others in each CCC. Define land use mix in all CCCs as internally complementary and/or contextually complementary.

• Internally complementary development
  • Residential uses between 15% and 85% of the total planned floor area and is complemented by other use types within the CCC.

AND/ OR

• Contextually complementary development
  • More than 50% of the total planned floor area is dedicated to uses that balance the category of uses predominant in surrounding transit station catchment area or adjacent CCC within the project boundary.

3. Access to transit facilities and diverse uses (2 points) 

Design CCCs to ensure that all residential and non-residential buildings are within ½ mile (800 meters) walking distance of an existing or planned mass transit station such as bus rapid transit stops, passenger rail stations (i.e. light, heavy, or commuter rail) or commuter ferry terminals or within ¼ mile (400 meters) walking distance of an existing or planned bus, streetcar or informal transit stops that connects to a mass rapid transit station or a pulse point within 3 miles (5 kilometers) and within ¼ mile (400 meters) walking distance of at least 10 planned diverse uses (see Appendix 2). Diverse uses provided should reflect the planned socioeconomic profile (income, demographics, race and ethnicity) of the CCC. The following restrictions apply:

• A use may be counted as only one use type (e.g., a retail store may be counted only once even if it sells products in several categories).
• No more than two uses in each use type may be counted (e.g., if five restaurants are within the required distance, only two may be counted).
• The uses accessible to each counted dwelling unit must represent at least two categories.

AND At least 75% of all residential and non-residential buildings outside the identified CCC are within ¼ mile (400 meters) walking distance of an existing or planned bus, streetcar or informal transit stops that connects to a CCC’s mass rapid transit station or a pulse point within 3 miles (5 kilometers).

References: STAR BE-3 Compact & Complete Communities LEED v4 ND NPD credit: Mixed-Use Neighborhoods

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.