C1.6: Locate Projects Within Existing Developed Areas – Above Green

(4 points)

INTENT

Reduce development impacts, support local economy, and improve human health and well-being by selecting sites within existing developed areas.

REQUIREMENTS

Locate the project on a site that meets all of the following criteria:

An infill site within 500 feet (152.4 meters) of existing publicly provided water and wastewater infrastructure

Close proximity to basic services so that at least one entrance to the project is within a 0.5-mile (0.8-kilometers) walking distance of at least seven publicly available basic services. (Refer to the list of basic services in the Glossary):Each basic service must have a separate exterior entrance, and no more than half of the minimum number can be situated in a single building or under a common roof.

No more than two basic services of each type may be counted (e.g., if five restaurants are within walking distance, only two may be counted).

A single retail store of any type may be counted only once even if it sells products associated with multiple-use types.

RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES

During the site selection process, give preference to sites that are close to existing water and wastewater infrastructure, or properties within developed areas that have pedestrian access to a variety of existing services.

For pedestrian safety along urban roads with speeds of 40 miles (64.37 kilometers) per hour or higher, design a buffer between the road and the sidewalk.The width of a sidewalk depends primarily on the number of pedestrians who are expected to use the sidewalk at a given time; high-use sidewalks should be wider than low-use sidewalks.

A sidewalk width of five feet (1.52 meters) is needed for two adult pedestrians to comfortably walk side-by-side. This measurement should be the minimum width of all planned sidewalks.