3. ORIENTATION
• The direction in which a residential unit or project is oriented should be considered.
• This will affect potential solar gain.
• It also affects light penetration into units, as well as solar exposure for outdoor areas such as
patios and courtyards.
4. Entry
• Clear access to and identity of primary building entries must be carefully considered.
• Buildings and units should have a distinct main point of entry, usually identifiable from a public
way.
• Avoid primary entrances from parking structures or other ancillary elements.
5. MASSING
• The size and shape of residential structures individually and their arrangement relative to each
other are primary urban design considerations.
• Massing is a major consideration in determining how a building or group of buildings will relate to
the surrounding context.
• Height and bulk
6. DESIGN GUIDELINES
• Traditionally, design guidelines have been “use based,” dictating acceptable uses and densities.
• While this approach is still appropriate in some instances, increasingly design guidelines have
become “form based,” concentrating more on aesthetic and form issues.
7. PLANNING AND DESIGN SEQUENCE
• The planning and design sequence for residential development follows this general process:
1. Code delineation. Research and document all relevant plans and codes, and their effect on gross
densities, open-space requirements, setbacks, and design.
2. Programming. Clarify the number of units, typical square footage of units, and sizes of other physical
elements of the project.
3. Opportunities and constraints. Delineate all physical opportunities and constraints present on the site,
especially qualitative constraints, such as views, natural features, and adjacent uses.
4. Site plan testing. Delineate all development program elements, overlaid with code and site constraints.
Reconcile incompatibilities.
8. PLANNING AND DESIGN SEQUENCE (cont.)
5. Plan development. Develop project plans that reconcile all code and development program issues
for review by municipal officials.
6. Final platting. Coordinate and create, typically with a civil engineer, lot configuration and project
design for the final site plan.
7. Implémentation. Create construction documents, obtain building permits, and initiate construction.
9. Best practice principles
Regional vernacular
• Residential development should be sensitive to regional issues, including climate, materials and
methods, and regional styles and traditions.
• Residential style often reflects the region in which it is constructed.
10. MIXED-USE
• Mixed-use development includes a variety of uses within a project, such as neighborhood
commercial retail in portions of a residential project.
• Mixed-use development also helps provide basic services (e.g., Dry cleaners; food store; drug
store) to residents, increases design options, and creates opportunities for pedestrian-oriented
design.
15. Common subtypes
• Single-family detached units come in many
forms.
• The most prevalent subtype is the stand-alone
house.
• Another subtype is zero-lot line housing, where
there is no setback from the property line and
the structures do not share common walls.
Project size
• Lot sizes typically vary from 1/8-acre (0.5-
hectare) lots (approx. 5,500 square feet) to 2-
acre (0.81-hectare) or larger lots.
16. Aspect ratio
• Typical single-family lots will have a width-to-depth ratio of 1:2.
• Lot widths are typically multiples of 10 feet (3.1 meters), and can range from 30 feet (9.3 meters) to 100
feet (30.48 meters).
Setbacks
• Setback requirements are typical for single-family detached lots and will apply to front, rear, and side
yards.
• Typical setbacks range from 5 feet (1.55 meters) to 20 feet (6.2 meters), with front-yard setbacks
Greater than side-yard setbacks by a ratio of 2:1.
• Rear-yard setbacks are typically similar to side yard setbacks, but may be reduced if an alley condition
exists.
17. Vehicular access
• While vehicular access is often from the front of the lot, recent
trends encourage planners and developers to consider alleys for
vehicular access, where possible.
Coverage
• Some zoning classifications may place restrictions on the
percentage of the site area that can be covered by the building
footprint.
Mass and volume
• Some zoning classifications may restrict the height and bulk of
structures. Design guidelines or historic overlay districts may
restrict the volume and shape of the structure.
18. Orientation
• Structures should be oriented to take
advantage of Solar exposure and
prevailing winds, and toward the
Primary street on which they are
situated.
Parking
• Parking is commonly provided within the
lot, typically In garages accessed from
rear alleys or streets.
21. Common subtypes
• Single-family attached units come in many forms, including duplexes and townhomes.
• Many townhome variations have emerged as a result of market forces and regional vernacular
styles.
22. Project size
• Project sizes vary from 1/12-acre lots (approx 3,500 square feet or 325 square meters) to 1/5-
acre lots (approximately 8,000 square feet or 743 square meters).
Aspect ratio
• Typical single-family attached lots will have a width to- depth ratio of 1:4.
• Lot widths are typically multiples of 5 feet (1.5 meters), and can range from 20 feet (6.1 meters)
to 40 feet (12.2 meters).
23. Setbacks
• Setback requirements are typical for the front and rear of single-family attached lots.
• Typical setbacks range from 5 feet (1.5 meters) to 20 feet (6.1 meters).
• Rear-yard setbacks are similar to front-yard setbacks, but may be reduced if an alley condition
exists.
• For duplex structures, the setback on the side yard that is not attached will vary.
24. Vehicular access
• For single-family attached housing, vehicular access to the garage is typically
from alleys at the rear of the lot.
• In suburban conditions, some attached homes have garages in front or side
of the unit.
Coverage
• This type of housing will typically have a higher degree of site coverage
than single-family detached.
• Restrictions may still be placed on the overall site coverage of an individual
lot, and project wide provisions may need to be made for storm water
management.
25. Mass and volume
• This type of housing will typically be taller than single- family detached units, due to smaller lots,
parking underneath, or other factors.
• While most units are two or three levels, occasionally four- and even five levels units are in use.
For taller structures an elevator may be provided in the unit.
• Some zoning classifications may restrict height and massing of structures.
26. Orientation
• Structures should be oriented to take advantage of solar
exposure and prevailing winds, and toward the primary street on
which they are situated.
• More than any other type of housing, single-family attached
structures should also be oriented to enhance privacy between
units, especially on dense urban lots.
Parking
• Single-family attached units are often provided with an attached
garage immediately adjacent or under the dwelling unit, or may
have adjacent surface parking.
29. Common subtypes
• Multifamily low-rise is perhaps the most diverse housing
type.
• Subtypes include garden apartments and courtyard
apartments.
Project size
• Multiunit buildings typically occupy one lot, collectively
controlled through condominium ownership or by a single
property owner.
• The number of units and zoning regulations determine the
overall building size.
30. Aspect ratio
• Multifamily residential development projects are
extremely flexible in terms of lot configuration and
proportion.
• They may occupy relatively narrow, deep lots, or
shallow, wide lots.
• Due to the inherent flexibility of unit configurations,
building designs can adjust to many parcel variations.
Setbacks
• While setbacks for this type of residential use can
vary greatly depending on the urban context.
• Multifamily low-rise buildings are often subject to
greater setbacks than lower-density housing because
of larger building footprints and three- to four-level
building heights.
• Zoning restrictions dictate specific setbacks.
31. Vehicular access
• Principal access may be from a major public street or from streets
and driveways internal to the development.
• Access to parking can occur from the front, rear, or side yards
Coverage
• This type will typically have a higher degree of site coverage than
single-family attached.
• Restrictions may still be placed on the overall building site
coverage, and project wide provisions may be required for storm
water management and open space.
32. Mass and volume
• This type will vary from two to four stories in height.
• Flexible unit configurations allow corresponding flexibility in massing and volumetric configurations.
• This type allows a great variety of massing solutions.
Orientation
• Orientation of this type is primarily dictated by site configuration and access to primary streets,
though solar orientation may be a consideration.
• Due to larger building footprints, there may be orientation constraints on steep or hilly terrain.
Parking
• Parking is provided either within or immediately adjacent to the structure.
• In urban conditions, a parking structure may be provided beneath or next to the building.
36. Common subtypes
• Because of the vertically oriented, repetitive qualities of
multifamily mid-rise, this type has a limited number of
variations.
Project size
• Multiunit buildings typically occupy one lot, collectively
controlled through condominium ownership or by a single
property owner.
• The number of units and zoning regulations determine
the overall building size.
37. Aspect ratio
• Due to the presence of a building core, and thus a relatively large footprint, this type requires
fairly regularized parcels with an aspect ratio ranging from 1:1 to 1:2.
Setbacks
• While setbacks for this type vary greatly depending on the urban context, because of larger
building footprints and 5- to 12-level building heights, multifamily mid-rise buildings may be
subject to greater building setbacks than lower-density housing.
• Zoning regulations will dictate specific setbacks.
38. Vehicular access
• Principal access may be from a major public street or
from streets and driveways internal to the
development.
• Access to parking can occur from the front, rear, or side
yards
Coverage
• This type will typically have a site coverage range of
40 to 60 percent, though this may increase to 80 to 90
percent in urban conditions.
• Zoning will dictate the specific site coverage of a
building, and projectwide provisions may be required
for storm water management and open space.
39. Mass and volume
• This type will vary from 5 to 12 stories in height.
• Repetitive floor configurations with a building core will drive
overall massing
Orientation
• Orientation of this type is primarily dictated by site
configuration and access to primary streets, though solar
orientation may be a consideration.
• Due to larger building footprints, there will be some orientation
constraints on steep or hilly terrain.
Parking
• Parking is provided either within or immediately adjacent to the
structure.
• Due to the number of units in the building, a parking structure is
typically required.
