Loxahatchee Greenways Project

Patterns of Development

Multi-family housing doesn't have to mean massive high-rise condominiums. Townhouses with attractive landscaping and courtyards provide privacy while maintaining a sense of community.

The results were striking. In every community, highest ratings were given to images with an emphasis on people-oriented communities. Participants liked old-fashioned, tree-lined streets, with wide sidewalks and well-defined crosswalks. In residential areas, they liked homes with a variety of architectural styles, placed close to the curb on narrow streets that invite walking and bicycling. They preferred town-houses to high-rise condominiums, traditional downtown business districts to strip shopping centers or malls, and mixed-use development to multi-story office buildings or "big box" retailers. They gave high marks to streets designed for people instead of automobiles, with sidewalks and bikeways, on-street parking, natural landscaping, trees for shade, and lights and signs placed for pedestrians. They liked pristine waterfronts, with native plants, paths leading to the water's edge, and lots of green spaces.

People clearly support efforts to revitalize downtown areas. They like commercial development that features outdoor seating, balconies, arcades and on-street parking. They do not like businesses designed for cars with large parking lots set directly on the road, a building set far back from the property line, and little or no landscaping.

The surveys were backed up by respondents' written comments. When asked what was best about their communities, they mentioned things like small town character, waterways and waterfront, and downtown revitalization. When asked what was worst, replies included traffic congestion, lack of sidewalks and bike paths, and lack of public transportation. The Visual Preference Surveys gave community planners, developers and local officials a powerful message about the vision people have for their communities, visions already being implemented by these communities.

People like residential developments that offer privacy and greenery. The design of this neighborhood, with fences and native vegetation, gives residents a sense of privacy even though houses are placed close together. Community gardens give homeowners places to relax and chat with neighbors.


Planning for cars

One of the most powerful influences on community planning is transportation. Decisions about how cars will be handled not only the size of houses or the number of trees ultimately determine how "people-friendly" a community will be. Street design and layout also give our neighborhoods much of their character.

It is no accident that many of the greatest problems identified by participants in the Visual Preference Surveys had to do with transportation. Congestion, lack of sidewalks and bike paths, and little or no public transportation are problems faced by communities throughout the Loxahatchee Region. Reducing our dependence on automobiles will create more pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, healthier ecosystems and ultimately, more livable communities.