How do the Design Guidelines relate to me?
Elected officials have the responsibilities of establishing local priorities, and enacting policies and regulations to implement them. The Design Guidelines provide direction regarding various aspects of community development that can help achieve specific local priorities. Whether they include sustainability, enhanced mobility, economic diversity and vibrancy, or many others, elected officials should consider how local priorities align with the principles described in the Design Guidelines.
What is my role in implementing the Design Guidelines?
There are many ways elected officials can use leverage or regulatory tools to implement the Design Guidelines, depending on how closely the guidelines align with your local vision and how proactive you wish to be in requiring certain things for new development. Local incentives, expedited development review, and other programs are effective ways to encourage use of the Design Guidelines. A more proactive approach is to include reference to the Design Guidelines in local development review procedures and standards.
What parts of the Design Guidelines should I focus on?
It is strongly recommended that you review all sections of the Design Guidelines. There are, however, several sections that you may find more relevant than others. As an elected official, you are responsible for finding a balance between the overarching and more general vision of your community with specific regulations and standards that guide development. As a result, you may find the following sections of the Design Guidelines most applicable to your role as an elected official.
