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Introduction to Character Area Planning
Character Area Planning Overview
CityShape 2020 Summary Report (pdf/703kb/14pp)
What Are Character Areas?
Character Areas are areas of the community that have achieved a unique, recognizable, character that is different from neighboring areas. These differences may be the result of topography, age and style of housing, built environment, land use patterns, landscaping, street patterns, open space, or streetscapes.
Why Area Character Area Plans Important for the Community?
Character Areas are areas of the community that have achieved a unique, recognizable, character that is different from neighboring areas. These differences may be the result of topography, age and style of housing, built environment, land use patterns, landscaping, street patterns, open space, or streetscapes.
How do Character Area Plans relate to theZoning Ordinance, the General Plan,and other City Policies?
Scottsdale’s General Plan has three interrelated functions:
- It is an expression of community goals and priorities;
- It is a guide to decision-making; and
- It fulfills legal requirements created by state law.Some of the components of the General Plan are: Land use, Transportation, Environment, Safety, PublicServices, Housing, etc.
The General Plan Form and Function
Level 1 - Citywide
- Broad citywide guiding principles to guide the physical development of the community
- Discussion on Community Form
- Establishment of Character Plan Approach
- Creates the overall skeleton (economic, transportation, etc.)
- Administrative policies/guidelines
Level 2 - Character Plans
Note: The City is divided into 10-20 character areas
- Vision and Role of Character Area
- Strategic Plan forCharacter Area
- Focuses on Implementation
Level 3 - Neighborhood Plans
- Detailed, specific level of planning
- Small geographic area
- Action Focused (Opportunity, Problem Solving)
What is the process for developing a Character Area Plan?
The process of developing a Character Area study involves five key activities:
- Background Research - Collection of a wide range of information andexisting plans for the area, such as environmental, land use, and historicalinformation. Furthermore a definition of housing types and age, designthemes, street design, business/industry structure and pattern, and ownershipconditions in the area are needed forthe background research. This establishesand creates an important base of insight and information for the area uponwhich dialogue about future plans can be derived.
- Issues and Goals Identification - Confirmation of concerns, desires, andperceptions of those who live , own property, or work in the area. Formationof these priorities helps to create consensus regarding the direction of theplanning process.
- Alternative Plans - Explore and assess various ways to achieve the desiredgoals. Often plans include trade-offs and considering different ways to achievethe stated goals can help in deciding which route is best.
- Final Recommendations - Presentation of final recommendations via formaland informal public hearings.
- Implementation - It is important that the planning not end as a little-useddocument sitting on a shelf when carrying out the final recommendationsof the plan. Rather these plans will become the basis for further action to carryout the goals of the plan.
Citizen involvement is encouraged in all phases of the Character Area process.
What will result from Character Area Plans?
- A comprehensive set of Policies, Guidelines and Recommendations on a wide range of subjects (such as land use patterns, transportation, public utilities, landscaping, architecture, and drainage).
These Policies, Guidelines, and Recommendations will reflect:
- Visions for the future of the area
- Expectations of the community
- Aspirations of the residents of the area
- A strategy for implementing those Policies, Guidelines, and Recommendations
Implementation may include:
- Prioritized methods and means to be employed (ordinance amendments, design standards, process changes, etc.)
- Actions required to carry out recommendations (City Council, Stipulations of the Boards and Commissions, etc.)
Implementation of Character Plans may take many different routes:
Character Area Studies Help to Promote:
A higher awareness by the entire community of the value of the physical character of the city and its many parts.
- General awareness of the character of individual areas of the community and how they fit together and contribute to the overall community.
- Inclusion of “character” as a consideration for private and public decisions within the area.
- A more complete and more commonly understood vocabulary of the major character elements for an area.
- Higher prioritization of projects promoting character issues in the City Budget.
- A basis for networking by arearesidents and business owners.
- Wider acceptance of the visual and functional differences of varying neighborhoods within the city.
