Within the Planning Department, urban designers establishes guidelines for each planning area. Blending architecture, landscape architecture, and environmental stewardship, good urban design results in areas that are both functional and attractive. Urban designers work on these elements to create urban design guidelines:
- Street Character
Improving the character of the street system, promoting walking, providing easy access to transit, creating inviting connections to services - Open Spaces
Establishing open space systems designed to serve people of all ages and needs, providing a variety of urban spaces, such as a plazas, urban parks and town commons connected by a system of greenways and sidewalks - Building Form and Character
Fostering the design of buildings that shape public streets and open spaces and considering density, building heights, setbacks from the curb, and parking locations - Landmarks and Gateways
Preserving and highlighting the elements that make a community unique, and increasing access to historic resources
Learn more about urban design concepts in this presentation by Arun Jain, a Portland, Oregon designer who created the Urban Design Framework for Central Portland and has more than 25 years of international experience in practice and academia. He presented to the Planning Board in October 2011.