Village Housing Guidelines

Village and Land Patterns Planning a Healthy Community Neighborhood Scale Residential Cluster

Village and Land Patterns

Protect natural features: Identify and protect natural features such as open space, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife corridors, traditional hunting grounds, animal habitat, etc. Open space (whether open fields, city parks, or mountain forests) provides beauty and space for human activities, in addition to species diversity and wildlife habitat.

Respond to historic pattern: Recognize existing historic patterns and scale. Develop in a manner compatible and complementary to existing practices. Root new development in local identity and history to help solidify the community fabric and respond to existing culture.

Respect riparian processes: Flood plains, rivers and streams, wetlands, and lakes are all critical to the health of our lands and our need for water. Respect edges, re-establish buffers and wetlands, use non-polluting practices, eliminate erosion, and mitigate stormwater run-off in your project.

Support productive landscapes: Local food and fuel production are becoming more and more important as our resources are taxed by war and desertification. Support productive landscapes within your project area by including them directly or linking to them—these could be woodlots, town forests, wind farms, local dairy and vegetable farm, fisheries, etc.