This 440-page volume is packed with photographs, site plans, aerial perspective sketches, and cross-sections illustrating practical solutions to the challenges facing many communities located in the suburbanizing rural fringes of metropolitan regions all around the country. With more than 360 illustrations and 38 case studies of successful developments which have protected community character in 21 states, Rural by Design is considered by many to be the seminal work in its field.
This book examines a broad spectrum of "nitty-gritty" design topics in a highly readable, lively style. Topics covered range from sewage disposal and farmland preservation to greenway planning for interconnected open space and the design of affordable housing and rural subdivision streets. And it takes an in-depth look at how to reinvent the design elements of the "traditional town" in today's communities.
Rural by Design has been listed as one of 39 volumes recommended for “the essential planning library” by the American Planning Association. It is also required reading for the AICP exam (administered by the American Institute of Certified Planners).
Part 1. The Character of Towns
Common Qualities of Traditional Towns: Overview of the established traditions of town development, such as a sense of community and open space preservation.
Changes in the Pattern: How to rediscover traditional townscape elements, with an emphasis on scale factors and mixed uses.
Future Prospects -- Choosing Among Alternative Patterns: Examines ways to help communities envision their future and to help them identify those elements of their traditional townscape they'd like to see reflected in new development.
The Aesthetics of Form in Town Planning: How to build on the best of the past, while still planning for inevitable changes of the future. Looks at design awareness initiatives, hamlet design criteria, and subdivisions of the future.
Part 2. Alternative Scenarios for Conservation and Development
This 55-page section contains four case study texts accompanied by twelve full-page color plates depicting before situations with two contrasting scenarios -- conventional versus creative development alternatives.
Part 3. Implementation Techniques
Development in Town Centers and Along Highways: How to combine vital retail and civic functions with traditional form in town centers. Presents techniques to contain roadside commercial development on rural highways, and to ensure that new development will be designed to the highest standards, with such elements as rear parking, mixed uses, and native landscaping.
Affordable Housing: Examines various creative design techniques for compact neighborhood layouts, multi-family dwellings, accessory units, and other types of affordable housing. Looks at the role of land trusts and community land trusts.
Street Design: How to design residential streets appropriate for the level of traffic and amount of parking needed at typical building densities.
Scenic Roads: Profiles two comprehensive road studies in Delaware and Kentucky and describes methods to designate and maintain scenic roads in Delaware and Vermont.
Sewage Disposal: Presents "design with nature" approaches to dealing with sewage. Looks at ways to reclaim and reuse wastewater and to design innovative septic and sewer systems.
Encouraging Open Space Design: Describes incentives to encourage developers to incorporate open space principles into their proposals. Looks at open space sketch plans, density bonuses, real estate values, and how to ensure continued maintenance of open space.
Requiring Open Space Design: Informs local officials how to substitute effective standards to replace toothless "options" which developers may choose to ignore with impunity.
Greenways and Buffers: Looks at communities that have adopted comprehensive greenspace plans, such as Durham, NC. Examines greenway zoning and subdivision techniques, the link between greenways and property values, and how to design them as water quality buffers.
The Economics of Preserving Open Space: Cites a growing body of evidence demonstrating that open space preservation is economically beneficial to all parties involved.
Retaining Farmland and Farmers: Learn how to minimize conflicts between metro-farms and nonfarm residents. Looks at urban growth areas, agricultural protection zoning, and buffers.
Part 4. Case Examples
Residential Cases: Twenty-two cases including examples of all housing sizes, types, and prices where the central organizing principle has been open space design and/or compact, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.
Town Center Cases: Six examples showing different ways to expand and redevelop town centers.
Roadside Commercial Cases: Ten cases illustrating a high standard of design can improve commercial developments alongside major traffic corridors. Numerous examples disprove the conventional wisdom that highly visible front parking is essential for economic success.
To order copies of this volume, autographed by the author at no additional cost, please send a check in the amount of $65.95 per volume (the publisher's normal price) plus $11.95 postage (via Priority Mail). Although the book is soft-cover, it is produced with a durable sewn binding just like the original hard-cover version. For additional books, please add $7.00 each for shipping. Send check or money order payable to Randall Arendt, at 43 Prospect Avenue, Narragansett, RI 02882. Enquiries to rgarendt@cox.net