Vision 2050

What Are Place Types?

Place types are the critical link between medium or long-range policies and short-term, “on-the-ground” land development regulations. They have well-defined boundaries that provide clear design intent with visual and descriptive definitions of how each place will be developed.

The Vision 2050 includes three major place typologies: Centers, Neighborhoods, and Corridors.

• Centers are denser activity areas, ideally located in proximity to major transportation corridors or transit routes, and primarily defined by a mix of job-creating activities and residential development.
• Neighborhoods are predominantly residential places, but that should also include other uses such as schools, civic uses, open spaces, local shops and restaurants. In much of our suburban fabric, these complementary uses may be missing, increasing automobile dependency.
• Corridors are the connecting links between neighborhoods, centers and other special areas. They are primarily defined by streets, roadways or transit lines, but also extend into adjacent development to integrate transportation and land uses.

Why Are Place Types Important

Place types organize the future development pattern, set a desired urban form, encourage greater walkability, create accessible public spaces, promote a more competitive environment for small businesses and foster a greater housing diversity.

Typology definitions may include a target-mix of land uses, the layout of roads and parking, the character and distribution or open spaces and civic uses or other the location of major infrastructure elements such as master stormwater planning areas or utility corridors.

How Are Place Types Determined?

Unincorporated areas that have already been developed in the past may receive a designation during the ongoing mapping process.

The great majority of the County’s suburban neighborhoods will also be mapped, with the primary goal of maintaining or reinforcing their existing residential character.

Environmental lands, undeveloped areas and rural properties do not receive a place type designation, unless — and until — they become part of a specific land development application or small-area planning project.

The designation process of future planning areas will become another component of our regular land development process with the specific goal of providing more predictable development outcomes.