Crossroads to Tomorrow

Community Design Charrette

Spring 2006

Produced by University of Georgia, Center for Community Design, and Preservation Walnut Grove DEVELOPMENT TOWN CENTER Continue to promote and Taking an idea to facilitate quality growth the next level... education throughout the Table of Contents community. Walnut Grove: Crossroads to Tomorrow

Introduction 1

Celebrate Your Rich History, Recent 1 Successes, and Community Spirit

Make Development Decisions Predictable, 3 Fair, and Cost-Effective

Grow a Town Center for Walnut Grove 5

Encourage Traditional Neighborhood Design 7

Demand Context Sensitive Road Design 11

Ensure Big Box Stores are 12 Appropriately Designed and Scaled

Relate Buildings to Each Other 13

Protect Walnut Grove’s Rural 15 Character

Keep the Community Involved 17 TOWN CENTER practices. character, and best management the community’s wishes, architectural and zoningregulationsmust reflect between the planning Concurrence planningand zoning. the placeof review alonehowever cannot take planning considerations. Design created todesignproposalsandsite a designreviewboardshouldbe which meetscommunity goals, To builda futureforWalnut Grove lifeincreases. created, andqualityof buildingsis marketable coreof potential israised,auniqueand to theirenvirons. Investment building usersrespondmorefavorably scale, neighbors, residentsandother andhuman traditional town grids buildingsaredesignedusing When and widesidewalks. thestreetsby treelinedmedians of should bebufferedfromthebusiness pedestrian environment. Sidewalks roadways, creatingamorepleasant sit closetothestreet,framing and Highway 81,newbuildingsmust Highway 138 near theintersectionof forward increatingatown center Walnut Grove movesthe Cityof where buildingsframethestreet.As intown centers more comfortable Research hasshown thatpeoplefeel Atlanta Regional Commission TAKEwww.thecenter-newton.org The www.lgc.org in California Local Gov. Commission www.placemakers.com APlacemakers LLC Smartcode LOOK...www.dca.state.ga.us DCA Georgia www.atlantaregional.com Center inCovington www.glenwoodpark.com ParkGlenwood www.suwanee.com Suwanee Town Center www.clarksgrove.com Clark’s inCovington Grove www.serenbecommunity.com inForsythSerenbe County

INTRODUCTION cities. confronting American challenges waya preferred tofaceplanning isfastbecoming public charrette areproduct-oriented.The Charrettes and arrives atacollaborative solution. designproblems focuses onparticular work sessioninwhich adesignteam describe arapid,intensive and creative Today theword has cometo charrette graded. away theirdrawingsand tobejudged carried (charrettes) as thelittlecarts sketching asfasttheycould,even on theseprojectsandwould continue pressure. worked They longhours design problemstosolve undertime Paris, studentswere assignedtough century, in theEcoledesBeauxArts the19th architecture school of means “littlecart.” Attheleading isaFrenchCharrette word, which Charrette? What is a get a few newspokesget afew forit.” to justtrying the wheel, were “We’re toreinvent nottrying Congress forthe NewUrbanism Congress Dover Kohl &Partners —Victor Dover CHARACTER emand ways that Walnut Grove can grow Grove Walnut that ways character. but not lose community design to sensitively There are ways vehicles move thoroughfares which and accommodate pedestrians. ofIn addition to discussing the width address ways OT, with D the roadway can use trees Grove Walnut in which shelter, to provide along the roadways and separation for beauty, shade, pedestrians from automobile traffic. D context sensitive design road best work The which communities with the Georgia Department of early (DOT), work Transportation Contact and often with DOT. district manageryour to discuss

TRADITIONAL known suburban known ourage courage familiar monotony of typical sprawl in suburban and exurban development Atlanta. text: “Growing See Randall Arendt’s Putting Conservation into Greener, Local Plans and Ordinances.” Mixed-use, pedestrian friendly Mixed-use, not a new neighborhoods are II War to World phenomenon. Prior characterized these neighborhoods, form their compact by and ofinterconnected networks streets the predominant urban form.were or Neighborhood Design Traditional TND is a popularized phrase used that describes this historic pattern of It is clearly different building. Neighborhood from Conventional also Development, sprawl. existing neighborhoods Retrofitting and creating new ones with TND principles can position Walnut of community as a desirable Grove distinguished from the lasting value, En traditional neighborhood design

THE TRANSECT wilderness to urban core. habitats, from habitats, . . . a gradient of. . . a T1 THE NATURAL ZONE

Natural preserve, recreation and camping Building types include utility infrastructure and camp buildings Traditional Thoroughfares limited to highways and roads Neighborhood Developments typically T2 THE RuRAL ZONE include: Natural reserve, agriculture, recreation, and camping Building types include utility infrastructure, agricultural buildings and farmhouses, and campgrounds · A variety of residential units, Thoroughfares limited to highways and roads including both rental and for-sale, Open spaces serve as farms, forests, orchards, and parkland follow a progression of decreasing density from the highest-density center to the lowest-density edge. T3 THE sub-urban ZONE

· A continuous street network has Low density residential and home occupations a hierarchy, from high-capacity Building types include houses and outbuildings boulevards to narrow rear lanes Thoroughfares limited to roads, streets, rear lanes, some unpaved or alleys. Neighborhood streets Open spaces serve as orchards, parks and greens should have relatively narrow roadways, small curb radii, and sidewalks, to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists as well as T4 THE general urban ZONE motor vehicles. Medium density residential and home occupations; limited commer- · Parking lots and garage doors cial and lodging Building types include houses and outbuildings, sideyard houses, should not face the street. Lots townhouses, live/work unity, corner stores, inns narrower than 50 feet should have Thoroughfares are limited to street and rear lanes The DOT Pedestrian and Streetscape parking accessed from the rear by a Open spaces: squares and playgrounds Toolkit is available online at: lane, alley or automobile court. www.walkable.org/download/ (Source: Mid America Regional Council T5 THE urban center ZONE Georgia_ped_streetscape_guide.pdf http://www.marc.org/Community/tnd.htm) CHARACTER Medium intensity residential and commercial: retail, offices, lodging, civic buildings TRADITIONAL Building types include townhouses, apartment houses, live/work unity, shopfront buildings and office building, churches, schools. PROTECT RURAL good, or hopefully better. good, or hopefully this community, either by either this community, You have so much in lost You replace has been lost what your own hand or the hand own your of need to government. You with something that is equally with something BIG BOX STORE design scale and . . . think about . . . think COMMUNITIES GEORGIA SERVI COMMUNITY COST OF files/EcCost.pdf www.forestry.uga.edu/h/centers/cfb/ canbeaccessed onlineat: report page several Georgiacounties. fifteen- The expenditure torevenue relationshipin illustrate graphs in Georgia.These community services on thecostof Georgiahasdoneextensive research of EconomicsattheUniversityAgricultural Jeffrey Dorfman,Professorof CES IN

|F|R|E|S|H| H S E R F can befoundintheacronymFRESH. buildings shouldrelatetotheirneighbors A simpleway toremember how fresh

Footprint andFoundation. Ro Shape. Roof

Envelope. Skin. Hol more symmetrical? orisit an asymmetricalarrangement they divided and segmented?Isit windows, atticvents, etc.? How are physically similarmaterial. should becladinavisuallyand its characteristics? Newstructures isthesurfacematerialand What height andwidth,etc. height, bulk,relationshipsbetween match theexistinginprojections, envelope. should new structure The but theshrinkwrap, what’s leftisthe a buildingandremoved everything match existingrootsinpitch. thenewstructure. ones surrounding shouldbesimilartothe structure thenew footprint andfoundationof es. Inwhatistheenvelope clad? W here arethedoors, I you shrinkwrapped If tenwro should thenewroof The The Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation described in this charrette report. described inthischarrette a town centerusingtheplanningtools city must beproactive andchoose tocreate accidental, leapfrogurbansprawl. The ortobe avictimof planned wisechanges Walnut Grove ispoisedtomake well- mistakes repeated. ratherthanhavingvision forchange land owners tomove toward apositive elected officials, asbusiness owners and istohelpyou ascitizens, thisreport as of thetwo. purpose The negative oramixof canbepositive,happen andthatchange to isgoing suppositionisthatchange The within thenextdecade. growth city thatwillexperienceenormous W thefutureof planning of areto beusedtoguidethe in thisreport recommendationsdescribed 2006. The 22–Sunday,September 24, September W place intheCityof took charrette The and Preservation. GeorgiaCenterforCommunity Design of Grove andconductedby theUniversity Walnut sponsoredbycharrette theCityof athree-day istheproduct of report This Introduc alnut Grove, Friday, alnut Grove, a tion PAGE 1 Community Spirit Recent Successesand Celebrate Y cities. appearance andmaterials. Intandum,thesetoolsareusedtocreate attractive which traditionallydealswithlanduse. new overlay The districtfocusesonform, overlay town. The districtcomplimentstheunderlyingzoning the centerof downtown forWalnut Grove andprovides incentives into fordirectinggrowth anoverlay foundationfor re-envisioning a districtisagood creationof The remaininglinksWalnutmost important Grove’s hastoits past. the City demonstratedimpressive foresightinpurchasing thisbuilding,oneof Recently, W CityHallmoved intooneof included. Honoring thecity’s pastisafantasticway tocelebrateanycity, W W for Walnut Grove’s provide aglimpseinto images centennialcelebration.The assembled historicphotographs teamviewed charrette thecollectionof The alnut Grove’s history, itsfoundingfamiliesandearlyarchitectural examples. future ishuge. Grove isasmalltown, its commitmenttoawell-planned meeting. reflectsthatwhile W This kickthe charrette off at statementwas turnout madebyAnother important thegreat Grove. signalingtovisitorsthattheyhavestep arrived in Walnut flagsareanimportant of inthe form Environmental graphics our Ri alnut Grove’s firstlogcabinhouses.The ch History, alnut Grove alnut Walnut Grove’s Historic CityHallBuilding. demolished. buildinginWalnut stonecorner Rusticated now Grove, on theway toeverywhere. Many Walnut mentionedthatthecityis residents Grove buildings. assemblage of community withaninformal Walnut showsarural Grove This historicimageof Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation Charrette. Grove during the Grove Design Community Some pictures ofSome pictures the UGA team in Walnut Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation safe andbeautiful. a newW the community and willhelptobuild and siteplanningcanachieve morefor buildingscale,quality growth, design of citizens whoknow theimportance officials, appointedleaders, and throughout thecommunity. Elected education facilitate qualitygrowth that thecitycontinue topromoteand teamrecommends charrette The change. adherence totraditionandmanaged codes, smart vision forqualitygrowth, thecommunityWhat describedwas a community. with astrongsenseof beautiful andeconomicallyviable a W meeting calledfor kick-off charrette Community comments alnut Grove, which iswalkable, alnut Grove thatisvibrant, fromthe

PAGE 3 F D M raiain o eomnain fworthy sitesinthearea. forrecommendations of organizations Urbanism sponsorawards design. Looktothese forexcellence growth insmart fortheNew such astheUrbanLandInstituteand Congress Organizations someone familiarwiththe projectwhocanexplaintheimplementationprocess. it, include about density, To design,andtransportation. themostoutof get physicalin andaroundAtlanta.These successstoriesdebunkcommonmyths growthKey projects stakeholders andlocalofficials shouldbeshown actualsmart (EPA).Environmental ProtectionAgency CodeTraining Placemakers LLC Smart in California, workshops, andthe CenterinCovington, theLocalGovernment(ARC), Preservation Commission The Community Affairs(DCA),the Atlanta Regional Commission of Department growth such astheGeorgia moreaboutsmart training tohelpelectedofficialslearn providegovernment agencies stateand regionalnonprofitsand A number of Monroe, trainingis critical! tsunami-like urbanadvancement fromSnellville, Conyers, Covington andeven takes qualitygrowth how training. toencourage Learning But inthefaceof isnewtomanyareasthathave change character.and managed asmall town orrural growth smart decisions. permitting Understandingthetoolsof implications of center. isnoteasy. This Localofficialsneedtobeeducatedonthe nuances and anewtown those thatwould have apositive impactonimplementingtheideaof projects, particular especially residentstoseethevalueexceptions andencourage of community ortake it away.grant variances, Localofficialswillneedto negotiate Walnut projectapproved GroveEvery by caneither addvalue theCityof tothe air, andCost-Effec ecisions Predi ake D evelopment c table, tive www.glenwoodpark.com ParkGlenwood www.suwanee.com Suwanee Town Center www.clarksgrove.com Clark’s inCovington Grove www.serenbecommunity.com inForsythSerenbe County Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation While the concept of a new creating is solid, the charrette center team town using the proven by expanded this vision oftechnique of a network interconnected than disperse traffic rather streets which as the bypass, on to a funneling traffic center. new town foundation for the rove Grove Walnut existing the City study of Planning Precision by prepared Precision Planning developed a conceptual proposal for Walnut Grove Town Center. Our team took that idea “to the next level.” Our team took that idea “to Center. GrovePrecision Planning developed Town a conceptual proposal for Walnut - - town town center for Walnut Grove. foresight in initiating the recommend which study ed the development of a positive change. The City The change. positive demonstrated important creative creative solutions devel oped through innovative partnershipsproduce can of Precision that shows proposal That Planning. an existing study which Grove of City the Walnut prepared with the help The UGA Team advanced advanced Team UGA The Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation dominate thenewtowncenter. parkinglotsnexttostreets not letlarge like couldbemore sprawl.Do result illustrated above.Theunintended connectionsare with inadequatestreet atowncenter The potentialhazardsof Not This PAGE 5 for Walnut Grove Grow aT own Center Do This for Walnut Grove’s newtowncenter. asthebasis streets of network interconnected Team’sThe UGACharrette foran Proposal streetscape. anaddedamenitytoatraditional provide trees Street adowntownfeel. create the street Buildings withpedestrianscalewindowsanddoorsfronting and pedestrians. movingtraffic between abuffer parkingprovides Street pedestrian scale. andsidewalks reinforce trees street traditionalcommunitydesign.The “Party reflect walls” Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation ater ater w local rivers, lakes, and streams. lakes, local rivers, A stormwater utility assesses a fee based on a property’s contribution to the need for stormwater management. The utility uses the amount of impervious surface on a property as the primary This user-fee basis for the fee. for the program to raise revenue system represents a way to its need. This those who directly contribute charging by to an across the method presents the City with an alternative land does not have Because undeveloped board tax hike. any impervious charged it is not a stormwater fee. surfaces, across the countryMore than 400 municipalities have utilities to fund their stormwaterdeveloped management user- in Georgia have At least ten communities programs. fees that fund stormwater These services. communities City Columbia County, County, include Athens-Clarke of City of Conyers, City of Covington, DeKalb Decatur, City of Douglasville-Douglas County, Fayetteville, County, City ofGilmer County, Griffin, and City ofSmyrna. http://www.accstormwater.com/billing/faq.asp Storm Considerations that found governments many local have In urban areas, stormwater management to be a barrier to compact, smart or detention ofgrowth. Retention stormwater often on site, ofleads to a waste drainage urban space with unsightly Codes the pedestrian environment. deteriorating basins, oflimiting the amount impervious surface on a site also be Theactually can result discouragedevelopment. compact a deterioration of regulations push quality as inflexible water further out, consuming more farmland.new development record of has already has a track One solution which This is a success in Georgia is the stormwater utility. or sanitation the fee that paid for water like much user-fee, service. Users are chargedplace based on the demand they the stormwater systems, on the system. In cities with sewer offthat flows on a business or residence places a demand the infrastructure, is costly to operate and maintain. which of through a system Stormwater be channeled must pipes into discharged and other devices before it can be safely We saw this area as a campus-like setting. setting. saw this area as a campus-like We Whether a new library, a it is churches, this idea or some other use, civic center, has promise. It is closer to the highway, to an it is it is easier for people to walk in the center of town rather in the edge of the space. The most important part of the plan is the grid, the network of punctuated streets, by vistas at the end of lined with streets, commercial buildings with residential spaces above. These elements combine to create a regular downtown. n Center own Center a T w Gro Grove Walnut for Seek out a context sensitive developer to produce a final Master Plan for the Many mixed-use new town center. communities have had success with this approach. It simplifies the implementation process and reduces The design ofuncertainties. the town articulatecenter should clearly follow and the community vision as well as be economically feasible. Or, the community may opt for a moreOr, bucolic community green, creating a campus-like setting. final Master Plan, the city may opt to include recreational features such as a skate park as part of the new town center. We looked at this end of looked We the downtown as a more informal and contemporary In the space. Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation PAGE 7 but different set of characteristics in theirstreets, landscape, and buildingdesigns. but differentsetof moderate andthenlower densityresidential neighborhoods, which exhibitsacoherent Within a city or town, there is also a continuum; from the urban downtown core, to the and cornices. placed streettrees, sidewalks, thatincludecommon walls, andbuildingforms flatroofs, urbanism,may have curbsandgutters, regularly ontheintensityof street, depending orbarns.has nocurbsorsidewalks Anurban and itsbuildingslooklike farmhouses harmoniously. fittogether theparts rural streettypically For example, a which allof tolocateanygiven thetransectisthatitserves placewithin acontextin valueThe of safe,comfortable, andecologically sustainable. is compact, walkable, andmixed-use, builtform apparent. This anditismeanttobe are andsocialstructure one moves differencesindesign,ecology alongthegradient, habitats, tourbancore. As from wilderness of agradient centralnotionisof The traditional neighborhoods, towns andvillages. transectisatooldevelopedThe toguidethebuiltenvironment toresemblethatof The ransec t nilsrto fthetransectappliedtoWalnut Grove. An illustrationof Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Alexandria, Virginia Charleston, South Carolina book Great Streets by Allan B. Jacobs Charleston, Alexandria and Savannah plans from the “Our most loved cities are loved cities “Our most on based smart growth framework The principles. of an interconnected series of streets, and mix of spaces, public small blocks, formuses combine to places of lasting and significance.” value ourage courage Source: Rise of Suburban Nation: The Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff by Andres Duany, Speck en traditional neighborhood design Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation and have proven tobeinefficient. proven and have which unfriendly topedestrians are enclaves creates streets of network Cul-de-sac andanunconnected Not This PAGE 9 Do This having tousetheHighways.having theCitywithout throughout tomove This willallowresidents andingress. options foregress intheCityexpand streets thatallnew cul-de-sac. Ensure for aging populations by connecting Make Walnut walkable Grove neighborhood design En courage traditional Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation Option for redesign of 138 and 81 with planted medians and street Highway trees. Enhance the intersection with prominent street crosswalks and brick corners. demand demand sensitive context design road Don’t let this happen to Walnut Grove happen to Walnut let this Don’t approved designs which designs which approved in Georgia worked have communities. T Pedestrian and DOT Pedestrian Streetscape Toolkit. These DOT are Georgia (blue area) are straight (blue area) are straight from the Georgia The four intersection designs on this page Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation PAGE 11 This is a concept for bridging the highways by extending a plaza across the treelined highway with prominent pedestrian crosswalks connectingthetwo. pedestrian crosswalks highway withprominent thetreelined forbridgingthehighwaysThis isaconcept byextending aplazaacross road design context sensitive D emand emand aesthetics slowtrafficandimprove patterns paving Alternative infrastructure. to pedestriansthattheCityisinvestedinpedestrian signal existingcrosswalks suchasrepainting Steps motoriststoslow down. crosswalks, reminding enhancevisibilityof patterns paving Decorative defineurbanspaces. helps Traditional townform Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation (Sources: Chris Duerksen and Chris Duerksen (Sources: the “Belling Blanchard, Robert Planning for Large Scale Box: from Proceedings Stores.” Retail Conference. the National Planning 1998.) www.sprawl-busters.com hile we as Southerners love low low as Southernershile we love aled and designed aled and Do not locate more than 50 percent ofDo not locate more than 50 percent the the off-street parking area between parking at the rear of the building. pedestrian Building features and details should be scaled in a manner that is friendly. Prohibiting blank walls. Allow no uninterrupted Allow length ofProhibiting blank walls. excess any façade in of 100 horizontal feet. If is greater a façade than 100 feet in length, it must incorporate recesses and projections along with at least 20 percent of length of total at least 60 percent of and arcades must awning Windows, the façade. the street. faced length abutting the public All facades of are visible from the adjoining properties the building which or to the pleasing scale features ofpublic streets should contribute the building and similar to the front encourage integration featuring characteristics community by façade. front façade ofthe primary the building and abutting street. Instead, encourage · · · · low cost. Some design recommendations to make the big box stores more visually the big box cost. Some design recommendations to make low appealing include: nsure big box stores stores box big Ensure are appropriately sc formThe box” ubiquitous “big of in the Southeast and and well is alive retail W climate. strong economic flourishes in Georgia’s look. There some are the “big box” love always don’t we prices and convenience, and new practices in trying sacrificing convenience without to tame the big box source: www.chieftain.com source: www.walmartfacts.com source: www.walmartfacts.com source: www.walmartfacts.com Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation eeeyo h omnt sbdpatc,rgrls f h s fthe building. theuseof orthecommunityisbadpractice, regardless of cemetery withabuildingwhichtothe doesnotrespond thecemetery Punctuating thevistaof values incommunities. Metal buildingswithblank property walls decrease PAGE 13 cenn h uligwt eeainpeevsvsaaostecmtr. aeti h atmtlbidn ul ntehato Walnut Grove. Make of vistaacoss thecemetery. thisthelastmetal buildingbuiltintheheart thebuildingwith vegetation preserves Screening to EachO Relate Buildings ther and increased taxrevenue. and increased was ahigher qualitybuilding guidelines andtheresult tocomply withlocaldesign the drugstore town required This thecountry. abundant throughout guidelines are complyingwithlocaldesign CVSstores Example of ornamentation. notoverdonewithexcessive thebuildingsare terparts, like historicMadison. Similartotheirhistoriccoun inMadison.Thesenewbuildinglook down theroad infilljust appropriate This isanexcellent exampleof shape. roof windows, doorsand of size, spacingandsize its footprint building complimentstheneighboringbuildingsthrough Thenew historic. Couldyou toldthedifference? have are thepicture is new. Thebuildingsontheleftside of thisstreet The triangularshapedbuildingattheendof front facade. the of occupying asignificantportion buildings designedprimarilyforthecarwithgarage are These “snouthouses.” Park tofindexamplesof theWalnutOne doesnotneedtogofarfrom City Grove - Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation S TER ’ GROVE ALNUT T W C PROTE CHARA C RURAL Rural character is an amalgam ofRural character is an amalgam features create a characteristic appearance. As each of which the elements disappear rural character is destroyed. Historic homes enhance the character of the area. Residential character at rural Walnut Grove. Residential character at rural Walnut Terminate important attractiveTerminate vistas with landmarks and civic buildings Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation asset and example of profitable working farmland. profitable asset andexampleof Farm HollowOrganic community Whippoorwill isanimportant PAGE 15 always pay more intaxes thentheydemandinservices. Unlike andotherworking houses, landsalmost consume more farmland. farmland diversifies theeconomy andcreatesamore viablecity. lotsizesalso off Larger housingtypes, forfamilies, singles, retirees, andyoungof couplesjuststarting undertake.local governments zoningwhich Therefore, provides foravariety children.school Fundingschools age isusuallythemostexpensive service lotsalsoleadstomorefamilieswith houses onlarge large An abundanceof tothenetwork. and connectingtheinfrastructure within adevelopment, thecitystillhastopick upthebillbetween developments pay Incaseswere formoreinfrastructure. thedeveloper pays forinfrastructure distancesbetween lothousesrequirethecityto other factors:thelarger thelarge W Snellville, Mariettaetc). toavoidexacerbated theproblemstheywere trying (seeConyers, Monroe, communities have hadcounterintuitive results, lotsizeshave andthelarge isabasic,There commonsenseappealtothisargument.However, many by increasingminimumcongestion lotsizes. houses: rationalisthatlarger The trafficand diminishingfarmland, communities seektofixtheproblemsof CityshouldreduceorremoveThe minimum lotsizerequirements. Manyrural RURAL CHARA PROTEC 2) spreadingoutthedevelopment allows formoreopenspaceandspreadsoutthe 1) leadtomoreexpensive homesandthusincreasetaxrevenue, and hile large lotsizesdoincreasehousingcosts,hile large theextrataxrevenue isoffsetby traffic and reduces congestion. traffic andreducescongestion. T W ALNUT GROVE’ TER S that isgoingtocontinue. isnotone destruction rural hoping thatthisimage of Walnut We Grove. are for all of become thefuture sothatthisdoesnot farmland Strategically preserve designcontrols. asScenicByways withcorridor protected not theyare Walnutaround willvanish tooif Grove lanes country Thenarrow vanishing. are roads Rural thishabitatshouldbeavoided. of destruction and important themare Allof granite outcroppings. Georgia’s Piedmontecology. Walnut hasmany Grove isavanishing of part The graniteoutcropping Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation Charrette. Grove residents during Grove Design the Community Some pictures ofSome pictures the Walnut UGA team and Walnut Grove Community Design Charrette | Spring 2006 | Produced by the University of Georgia, Center for Community Design and Preservation Eleonora Machado DesignandLayout: Report Jennifer Walker Julia Reed Pratt Cassity Editors: Report Not pictured:Richard Simpson,MLA Laura Hayden, MLA Estrella Valasquez, MLA Pratt Cassity, Coordinator Charrette W Lauren W Julia Reed, MLA Abby Bullock, MLA Mayor Cannon,W BLA Kenny Thompson, BALaura Bryant, Zhen Feng, MLA Left to right, members theteam are: Team The DesignCharrette Credits: .D. Cole, MLA oodward, MLA Community Design and Preservation (CCDP) Community DesignandPreservation Georgia’s Centerfor of University Director, alnut Grove PAGE 17 tion. Smart Growth Network.tion. Smart 2003 Growth II:100MorePoliciesGetting toSmart forImplementa Growth Network.Smart 2002 Growth: 100PoliciesGetting toSmart forImplementation. Report Resour change. anxieties surrounding not derailinitiativesby playing started onpublic beforetheyget rightanddoes thestory It iscriticalthatthelocalmediagets andtrafficcongestion.open spaceprotection,economicgrowth, life, qualityof theproblemsof principles canprevent someof growth tounderstandhow smart public educationisnecessary is disseminatedonaregularbasis. Frequently, amountof agood Continue towork withthemediatoensureaccurateinformation lic participation. topub barriers requires active andidentificationof recruitment publicinputateach stage process. Involving of awiderrange inthedecision-making thecommunity isengaged of portion possible alternatives isnecessary. However, oftenonlya small newinitiatives,support andeducationaboutthe information in development decisions. Inorderforthecommunity tofully communityContinue toencourage andstakeholder involvement Community Involved Keep the ces: - -

Historic photographs of Walnut Grove community e m a c

This report was produced by the University of Georgia Center for Community Design and Preservation 325 S. Lumpkin St Athens, Georgia 30602 (706.542.4731

To download an electronic copy of this report visit us at: http://www.sed.uga.edu/pso/charrettes/walnutgrove2006.pdf