How do the Design Guidelines relate to me?
Residents and businesses occupy environments that result from a number of factors, including municipal development regulations, project financing, site constraints and opportunities, and local market demand for certain kinds of investment. The Design Guidelines represent policies that respond to a growing demand for places that offer choices related to housing, commercial activity, jobs and means of transportation. Residents and businesses can use the Guidelines as a tool for promoting sustainable lifestyle choice in their own community.
What is my role in implementing the Design Guidelines?
Residents and businesses are empowered through their ability to vote, whether it is in the civic sense or market sense. Advocating local officials to adopt transit-supportive regulations is one way to ensure Chicagoland becomes a more sustainable region. “Voting” through consumer choice is another effective means of sending the message that a transit-friendly environment is desired. This can be done through individual action, or through collaborative efforts such as local advocacy.
What parts of the Design Guidelines should I focus on?
Residents and businesses should focus primarily on chapters 1-3. These establish the context for the Design Guidelines and provide the justification for transit-supportive development. However, though more technical in nature, chapters 4-6 can benefit from community-based input regarding specific design principles. For example, these chapters provide general parameters for things such as infrastructure design or site and building design. Local visioning can provide another layer of detail, identifying specific design elements, such as decorative pavers, building materials, sign requirements, etc., that fit within the overall framework of transit-supportive design but instill a more locally-unique character.