Creation

Any municipality with zoning authority is able to establish ordinances for PUDs. The
municipality must have adopted zoning and subdivision ordinances and should have a
comprehensive plan. While a PUD allows for flexible project design, standards are needed to
protect public health and safety and to assure design quality and conformance to an overall plan.
Some examples of standards or criteria to be included in PUD regulations include:

Areas where PUDs are allowed Developer provision of land and capital improvements for public
uses. Dimensions and grading of parcels and a ceiling on the total number of structures permitted
in the development. Permissible land uses Population density limits. Amendment procedures.
Schedule of development and assurance of completion. Preservation of architectural, scenic,
historic, or natural features of the area.

The PUD ordinance should clearly spell out the review process, opportunities for public
involvement, and procedural guidelines. Besides these standards, the community’s
comprehensive plan should provide the overall context within which the proposed development
needs to fit.

Administration
There are four general steps to developing a PUD: Pre-application conference The developer
consults with planning staff for ordinance and process clarification and discusses initial project
plans. Site plan review.

The site plan review consists of a detailed site analysis of existing features, often an on-site
walkabout, and a discussion about project goals and possible design solutions. Preliminary
development plan.

The plan includes specific documents and maps giving a legal description of the project, a
detailed site plan and supporting maps. The plan commission holds a public hearing at which the
developer presents the PUD proposal and the planning recommendations are made available for
public review. Final development plan.

The final plan contains the detailed engineering drawings of the entire site and process for
completion of the project. The entire site plan for the PUD will be reviewed as a single entity.
The plan commission would, at this time, approve recording the plat.

MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT & COMMERCIAL CENTERS

Significance of the mixed-use development & commercial centers
Mixed-use developments create vibrant urban environments that bring compatible land uses,
public amenities, and utilities together at various scales. These developments seek to create
pedestrian friendly environments, higher-density development, and a variety of uses that enable
people to live, work, play, and shop in one place, which can become a destination.
Mixed-use developments contribute to the creation of places that enliven urban districts while
meeting the everyday needs of the community. They offer many advantages over single-use
districts in fostering better urban environments, some of which are described below.
Design requirements for mixed use development & commercial centers
Zoning
Conventional zoning typically allows for one single quality or function in an area at the
exclusion of all others; some communities do allow for cumulative zoning, however, where uses
with lesser impacts are allowed in higher-impact zones (e.g., residential allowed in commercial
zones). At the district, neighborhood, and town center scale, one dominant building function,
use, or type creates a less vibrant and engaging experience. Mixed-use developments can be
made possible by modifying the zoning ordinance to accommodate a broader range of
compatible uses. For example, consider changing a single-use district to either a planned unit
development (PUD) district or an overlay district to allow for a mixed-use development.

Vitality
Place making has been one of the
greatest achievements of mixed-use
development. By revitalizing and
diversifying urban areas such as
downtowns, waterfronts, transit
nodes, and infill sites, these developments become community destinations.
Sustainability
Mixing uses and allowing for higher development intensities creates more efficient and less
consumptive buildings and spaces, which can be less of a burden on the environment.
Convenient Access
The proximity of diverse uses makes it possible to reduce vehicle trips and encourage transit
ridership. Mixed-use developments can support higher transit use and may be a catalyst for siting
transit facilities in the area.
Safety
Mixing residential, commercial, and professional activities within a compact area ensures
activity throughout the day and evening, creating a sense of safety.
Layering
Layering uses, as in vertical mixed-use development, increase the development cost and the
associated risk. Mixed-use developments can cause planning and management complexities that
might not otherwise exist in a single-use project. Developers need to be aware and well informed
of the timeline and cost implications from the onset of the project, to help reduce the
complexities that would evolve otherwise. Up-front efforts to inform local code officials of the
methods and conditions for mixed-use project review can be beneficial.

INDUSTRIAL PARKS & DISTRICTS

Significance of industrial parks & districts
Industrial parks are areas within a community designated for activities associated with industrial
development, which can include materials processing, materials assembly, product
manufacturing, and storage of finished products. Uses can include manufacturing facilities,
warehouse distribution centers, and truck terminals.
Industrial parks can be stand-alone developments within a community, or they can be adjacent to
or part of a larger regional industrial district spanning a number of contiguous jurisdictions.
Industrial parks rely on the availability of large tracts of land, efficient transportation systems,
and sufficient infrastructure for their success and for their ability to integrate into the larger
community.
Design requirements for industrial parks & districts
Siting parameters

 Transportation

Industrial parks should be located in close proximity to major transportation systems, including
regional and interstate highway systems, with an efficient system of local roadways between the
industrial pand the highway system. Access to other types of transportation systems, such as rail,
port, and airfreight, should be available, if they are characteristic of the region and in demand by
the industry.

 Utilities and Infrastructure

Industrial parks require dependable utility systems. Sufficient supplies of water for domestic fire
protection and for use in industrial processes should be available, and sanitary sewer systems
need sufficient capacity to support waste generated in the park. Adequate supplies of natural gas
and electricity also are necessary.
Consideration should be given to developing regional stormwater management facilities to
support the industrial park. Best management practices for stormwater quality and quantity are
ideally developed on a district or regionwide basis, based on the watershed of the area

 Land Area

The land area needed for an industrial park can range from 20 acres to hundreds of acres. Large,
rectangular tracts of land that are available for development at competitive prices in the region
should be considered as sites. Land should have minimal impediments to development, to make
it competitive in the marketplace. Conditions such as steep topography, exposed bedrock,
wetlands, sensitive environmental areas, and irregularly shaped parcels can contribute to site
development costs and inefficient use of the land.

Organizational Systems
Industrial parks tend to be organized according to a grid system, to optimize flexibility in parcel
shape and size. Internal street patterns also follow a grid, to accommodate heavy truck traffic.
Newer industrial parks, which often include office space and require less excessive truck use,
may use more curvilinear road systems that follow the natural contours of the land. Parcel sizes
often vary, to capture changing market conditions. Most parcels are between 200 and 300 feet
deep and allow for land to be rsubdivided to create larger lots, if desired.
Circulation and Parking
Traffic, road, and parking standards depend on the uses allowed in the industrial park. Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) standards should be reviewed when developing the circulation
and parking system for the area. These standards include road width and bearing capacity, truck
loading and turning requirements, traffic generation guidelines, and parking requirements based
on type of use. Major access points should not conflict with pedestrian movement or adjacent
residential areas, and local traffic flow should not be disrupted as a result of truck movement.
Buffers and Open Space
Most industrial parks require planted buffers to separate them from residential uses. They also
require sites to be planted and to retain tree cover. Modern industrial parks are often lower in
density than older industrial areas; some require between 70 and 80 percent open space. Height
and bulk standards, floor area ratios, and other density standards for structures should be
compatible with competing industrial areas throughout the region, yet provide for land to be set
aside for buffer zones, greenbelts, and protection of environmentally sensitive areas.
Structural Elements
While utilitarian industrial parks with inexpensive structures and minimum site improvements
are often required for competitive reasons, enhanced design adds value to the industrial park, the
community, the owners, and the employees. Among the elements of enhanced industrial park
design are underground utilities, architecturally harmonious structures, planted areas, and road
systems that allow for safe and efficient movement.
Potential impacts
The compatibility of industrial uses with adjacent uses will depend highly on the type of industry
that locates in the area. When considering an industrial park, the following are among the types
of typical impacts from industrial uses:

 Transportation: Increased traffic volume and overall impacts on local and regional
transportation systems
 Community services: Increased demand for community services, including utilities;
police, fire and rescue; emergency services; and medical facilities
 Pollution: Specifically, air pollution generated from increased traffic and/or processes
carried out throughout the industrial park; may also include light pollution, water quality
impacts, and noise
 Aesthetics: Ensuring compatibility of the design and operation of the industrial park with
the character of the community
Performance Standards
Industrial parks are increasingly governed by performance standards. In addition to the typical
setbacks, buffers, and landscape planting requirements, these standards govern light and glare,
noise, vibration, air pollution, odor, heat and humidity, electric interference, radiation, outdoor
storage and waste disposal, traffic, fire and explosive hazards, and toxic and hazardous materials.
Consult local regulations or published materials on industrial performance standards to develop
specific standards.
Park Covenants
In addition to zoning regulations, covenants can also be used to guide industrial park
development. Such covenants can describe the type and character of industry allowed within the
industrial park, general guidelines for building construction, environmental considerations,
buffer zones, and overall general aesthetics. These assure potential users that their investment
will be protected by similar development within the industrial park. Covenants can also be
written so that existing users within the park have input into the approval of future users locating
within the park. Like zoning regulations, park covenants should be clear and result in a positive
conclusion when all conditions are complied with.

EDUCATIONAL CAMPUSES
Significance of educational campuses
The primary purpose of a school is to provide a place conducive to the learning experiences of
the youth who attend the school. Placing schools close to the heart of the communities they serve
decreases automobile usage and commuting time. Schools built within a community can also
leverage opportunities to enter into partnerships with local libraries, theaters, arts centers, and
recreational facilities.
Design requirements for educational campuses
School grounds programming
School grounds are an important part of a school’s educational experience. They should be as
carefully considered as the building plan.
Elementary Schools
For elementary schools, the exterior program is a critical part of the school facility’s success. An
understanding of the school’s curriculum helps to determine the appropriate types of outdoor
learning opportunities and plan for them as an integral part of the site. Include the identified
spaces during programming and predesign, and integrate them with the pragmatic requirements
of security, access, environmental, and utility design needs.
Outdoor learning opportunities for elementary schools may include the following elements:

 Pathways
 Playgrounds and play structures
 Secure and observable bike park areas
 Free play hard surface space—rectangular or square areas free of equipment and
including a range of game markings
 Soft surface areas, such as sandboxes or aquatic features
 Quiet areas with fixed seating for conversation, teaching, reading, or other forms of
individual and group interaction
 Loud areas for dramatic, musical, or other similar types of play, such as amphitheaters,
covered pavilions, or open-air porches

Middle and High Schools

Middle and high school sites may include features that require some authorities to determine the
widest and best use of the available site area. The following possible uses may need to be ranked
by importance:

 Sport and play fields (e.g., football, soccer, and tennis)

 On-site pedestrian pathways that connect other community features
 Facilities constructed in partnership with other municipal or private organizations
 Expanded on-site parking and bus access
 Wooded or naturally preserved areas for environmental protection or study

Site selection
Siting a school facility is an important community decision and should be consistent with the
community’s adopted comprehensive plan.
When selecting a new school site, preference should be given to in-town sites to maximize the
proportion of students who can use safe routes to school on foot or by bicycle. Apart from
demographic considerations of population and proximity to other facilities, consideration must
also be given to the following:

 Size and available building area

 Shape of the site (rectangular sites are usually easier to plan)
 District standards on school size
 Noise and other potential externalities that could affect the site
 Soil conditions or environmental damage that may require remediation
 Land availability
 Purchase and site modification costs
  Utilities availability
 Geographical area served
 Access to roadways and public transportation
 How students will travel to the site (on foot; by bicycle, school bus, or public
transportation, or automobile drop-off)
 Community components (partnerships) to be included, such as medical or police facilities
 Community use of the facilities, such as the library or gymnasium
 Curricular focus and after-school program

Selection criteria for middle and high school sites may be broadened by the need to house larger
populations, exterior sports field requirements, and a commuting population that may drive to
school.

Seven major building components are shown here in relation to their importance of proximity to
exterior functions. The relationship priority of these areas depends on the type of school and the
specific program requirements of the project. Relationship of some areas to public access may
vary, based on community partnerships. For example, a joint-use school/public library needs a
clear and accessible public entry from the exterior.
Site design
Playgrounds, covered porches, and hard surface exterior spaces are all widely used at elementary
schools. In locating the playground on the site, it is important to understand the curriculum and
how the exterior facilities can support learning. Consider locations with the following
characteristics:

 Good views
  A combination of sunny and shaded space
 Protection from noisy roads
 Easy access from the building interior
 Fences and protection from off-site intrusion
 Protection from winter wind, and exposure to summer breezes
 Access to other types of outdoor activities

The diagram illustrates key concepts in developing a well-planned and visually observable site.
Key concepts include: proper building zoning for controlled access before, during, and after
school hours; maintaining a clear visual path at the perimeter of the building with minimal
building relief to reduce the opportunity of individuals to conceal themselves around corners or
behind landscape features; and a single point of visual control of exterior play space protected
from adjacent streets by a distance of 150 feet. If site clearances cannot be maintained at these
distances, consider a site wall or fence to separate onsite activities from the general public.
Site Safety
Expanded hours of use, community use, and nontraditional schedules may require increased
security attention. A clear set of use guidelines should be established for each project.
Landscape planting and lighting
Landscape planting enhances the learning experience by providing environmental study
opportunities and improved aesthetics.

GOVERNMENT CENTER & PLAZA COMPLEX

Government offices have traditionally been built in the center of cities and towns. It made sense
to build city or county offices in a location that was easy to travel to, near homes of the
employees, and near supporting and complementing retail and services. However, given the
change in shopping habits, dependence on the automobile, increased dependence on computers
and the internet, and the rising cost of land in the city center, some argue that there are fewer
reasons to keep government offices downtown. Public Buildings and Downtown Public buildings
are important both socially and economically to a downtown area. Municipal office buildings,
courthouses, libraries and post offices are essential components of healthy downtowns. These
facilities draw many employees and users of public services who are likely to spend money at
downtown businesses. Government workers who come each day to a downtown public building
will spend between $2,500 and $3,500 annually, according to Place Ec
Federal, state and local government leaders are beginning to recognize the important role they
play in downtown revitalization efforts. Federal agencies are now required to consider downtown
areas first when looking for new space. They are strongly encouraged to locate there unless there
are compelling reasons to the contrary. State agencies also attract and generate significant
economic activity, and several states have established policies directing state agencies to locate
downtown whenever possible. Relatively few local governments have enacted similar policies,
but are beginning to recognize their importance to downtown. onomics, a Washington, D.C.-
based consulting firm.
Like a successful building, a plaza requires a program of use and a strong concept. Therefore,
careful thought should be given to a plaza's principal functions and to its relationship with the
adjacent public realm (i.e., streets, pedestrian routes, other open spaces), activities and
architecture.

A plaza is an open space designed for public use and defined by surrounding buildings and/or
streets. Its primary functions are to encourage a diversity of opportunities for social interaction
and activities, to provide relief and relaxation, to expand and reinforce the public realm and to
contribute to the livability and general amenity of the downtown and other developing parts of
the city.

Historically, plazas have been central to the development of urban centers. As the city grows,
opportunities are presented through new development to provide open spaces that offer delight,
surprise, rest, enlightenment and amusement for a wide variety of users over the course of the
day, week and year. Activities accommodated by public plazas such as socializing, resting,
eating, bus waiting, exhibitions and open-air markets add to the quality of city living and
working, enhancing diversity and increasing the educational and cultural opportunities that
define the positive experience of urban living.

While some plazas may act primarily as pedestrian nodes, others function best as important
viewpoints or enhance the setting for a building. A plaza should also reflect and reinforce the
character of its location.

DESIGN CONSIDERATION
  PLAZA COMPLEX
 Visibility and views
 Defensible space
 Safety
A plaza should afford good visual surveillance opportunities both from within the space and
along the edges. People need to feel secure and will usually avoid dark hidden corners and
vacant places.
 Design
Good street-to-plaza visibility announces the plaza's internal attractions. It signifies that it is a
public space, it permits users to watch street activity and it makes the space safer.

Good visibility can be achieved by the following:

• arranging any walls and planting to not screen or block off the plaza from the street;

• locating the plaza at or as close as possible to street level, preferably no more than 1.0 m above
or below street level.

A plaza should be designed to maximize opportunities for casual monitoring from its perimeter
and abutting developments. Surveillance and overview from adjacent sidewalks, windows and
decks are necessary components that contribute to the safety of a plaza.

A plaza will be unsuccessful if it is not well used because of a perception of unsafeness. The
design of a plaza should provide for safety. Regard should be given to principles of designing for
safety such as defensible space, clear sight lines, good lighting and provision of alternate
"escape" paths. The differences in usage, ownership and responsibilities among commercial,
commercial/residential and residential plazas should be recognized, so that the different
approaches to their design relative to urban safety is addressed at the initial planning stages. For
example, zones of responsibility should be established and delineated in the design of these plaza
types, taking into account their respective use patterns.

LINKAGES
A plaza should be linked to other surrounding open spaces, as well as interior spaces such as
lobbies, to create a dynamic pedestrian network. Such links will make the plaza more useful and
provide a more dynamic, coherent urban environment.
Lighting and public features
Good night time generalized lighting is important to enhance safety of a plaza, particularly if it
functions as a short cut or as a through route for pedestrians. Appropriately located and designed
lighting may also discourage loitering.
Accessibility
In autumn and winter, darkness occurs in late afternoon, coinciding with rush hours. This is
generally a time of maximum plaza pedestrian flow, generated from office and retail buildings so
lighting should be on timers to account for seasonal changes.
A plaza should also provide easy and direct access to public telephones and information signs.
A plaza should provide easy and direct access particularly for the elderly, disabled and young
children. Ramp slopes should not exceed 8.3 percent and handrails should be incorporated.
Selection of surface materials should result in easy access for the elderly and disabled, and also
discourage incompatible plaza activities such as skateboarders. Placement of planters, non-
moveable eating and handrails should further encourage easy wheelchair and pedestrian access,
and seek to discourage the use of skateboards.

Noise environment
High levels of traffic, industrial and other ambient noises detract from the enjoyment of a plaza.
Noise can be partially mitigated by detracting attention from the noise source through the
introduction of such elements as fountains or waterfalls.

Weather protection
Sun paths, sun altitudes and shadow patterns in the plaza should be examined for all seasons,
particularly the spring and autumn. Sunlight is particularly valued at lunch time in commercial
business areas.
Sunlight can be maximized by:
• locating seating in areas of maximum sunlight;
• creating sun traps - areas surrounded by walls with an orientation toward the south (walls
should
not block plaza/street visibility);
• utilizing reflective light surfaces (if no direct sunlight is available).
Such protection should be provided at waiting points and along major pedestrian routes.
Protection can be achieved with the following devices:
• canopies;
• awnings;
• shelters;
• glazed trellises.

Environmentally sensitive design

Wind reduction can be achieved by the following measures:
• avoid large, open, unprotected areas;
• avoid wind funnels: narrow openings between buildings with easterly or northwest alignment;
• utilize planting, low walls and canopies for wind deflection.
  Plaza Complex
Garden rooms framing new lawns and the Playgrounds create a lively, verdant frame for a large
gathering space centered on City Hall. A mirror fountain provides an informal place to play
during the day, but can be turned off during civic events.

P ropos ed
Exis ting
Fulton Mall
Lawn terraces between the Library and the Asian Art Museum provide a place to play and hang
out, and are framed by benches and places to sit in sun or shade. New pavilions and seating on
the Library terrace create a quiet place to people-watch.
P ropos ed
Exis ting
Leavenworth Street
Leavenworth is transformed from forlorn alley to neighborhood park with a dog park, fitness
park, community message board, and game tables. Dramatic lighting marks the gateway day and
night, and special paving reinvigorates the space as a welcome mat that connects the Tenderloin
to Civic Center's public spaces.

P ropos ed
UN Plaza
Adaptation of the existing fountain provides visibility, planting, accessible and usable space, and
productive stormwater function, transforming a barrier into an amenity to the neighborhood and
a welcoming gateway. A civic promenade from Market St to City Hall is a space for
commemoration of the UN Charter, the history of Civic Center, and of local/neighborhood
heroes. New places to eat and recreate on Leavenworth St and at BART add vitality at the
plaza’s edges.

 GOVERNMENT CENTER

Public Space Framework

Concept Design Plan

Pavilion Concepts

KIOSKS at Civic Center Plaza STREET PAVILION at Civic Center Plaza STREET PAVILION  at Civic Center
Plaza
LIBRARY PAVILIONS  at Fulton Mall PAVILIONS at Civic Center Plaza
MARKET PAVILION at United Nations Plaza

Large Events in Government Center

Civic Center’s public realm will be designed to welcome civic events of all types and sizes. The
following are types of large events and their considerations are shown below.

LARGE SPONTANEOUS EVENT (e.g. Women’s March)

Daily Life at Governement Center
Government Center’s public realm will be designed as a flexible place that welcomes daily life,
with diverse activities over the course of the day and evening, weekdays and weekends.

NIGHTTIME - Daily Life and Activity

Daily Life at Civic Center

RESORT COMMUNITY DESIGN

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Community Design Element is to set forth fundamental concepts and
principles that will assure the highest possible quality of life, guiding and directing the physical
design and development of the City of Palm Desert. In this regard, the element is intended to
encourage creativity and design excellence in community design and development, which results
in a community that is attractive, cohesive and in harmony with the natural setting and
surrounding communities. Furthermore, the Community Design Element proposes design
concepts and principles that enhance the community’s functional characteristics, to create a more
livable, efficient and sustainable city.

The Community Design Element helps the City examine current patterns of development, and
identifies the City's challenges, resources, and opportunities for enhanced community design.
The element also sets forth a land use and conservation ethic that is integral to protecting the
City's most important and valuable characteristics. The goals, policies and programs bring
together the principals of other elements into an overall set of qualitative guidelines that help
enhance community connectivity, preserve the natural environment and improve the quality of
living for all residents and visitors. They provide guidance to enhance the appearance of existing
and new commercial and industrial development, residential neighborhoods, streets, public
facilities, and parks and open spaces. The element is also intended to promote a more sustainable
and healthy community.

The Community Design Element is interactive with and responsive to several other elements of
the General Plan, including Land Use, Circulation, Open Space and Conservation, Parks and
Recreation, and Arts and Culture. The Community Design Element addresses the fundamental
issues of these other elements and combines these ideas in a single element. The Community
Design Element is effective when the management of land use, traffic, community safety and
appearance, and environmental systems promotes continuity, uniqueness and a special sense of
place.

By implementing the essential goals and policies of the Community Design Element the City
confirms its support for sustaining and enhancing the quality of life and the built environment in
the City. In addition to staff-level implementation of community design standards, the
Architectural Review Board Commission, Planning Commission and City Council review and
approve public and private development design proposals. Environmentally and aesthetically
sensitive design is essential to the preservation and enhancement of the character and values of
the community. Controlling the type and intensity of land uses, managing transportation, flood
control facilities, and protecting community open space and conservation areas must compliment
both the built and natural environments.
The Resort Community

Not all segments of the community will measure quality of life by the same yardstick.
Developments and neighborhoods in Palm Desert can be divided into two types, A) residential
and hotel resorts that serve the tourist, vacation and second home markets, and B) developments
and neighborhoods that are geared to the City's permanent population. Many of the needs and
community design issues of each differ, while others are common concerns of all facets of the
community.

Vacationers and Seasonal Residents

Residential resorts and vacation-oriented developments serve seasonal residents (snow birds) and
short-term visitors. These developments range from gated golf course communities to timeshare
and hotel-based resorts typically with their own golf and other recreational amenities. Seasonal
residents and visitors to these developments are focused on vacationing and relaxation in a
tranquil and largely self-contained environment, and do not typically involve themselves in the
full range of community activities. Therefore, the internal relationships within these
developments are more important than their relationship to some of the City's commercial
districts, institutions, parks and open space, and other public facilities. Seasonal residents in the
destination resort communities are typically less interested in engaging in the external
neighborhoods of the general community. Nonetheless, the quality, attractiveness and safety of
the community have a direct effect on the desirability of Palm Desert as a destination second
home and tourist resort.

Permanent Resident Community

Permanent residents benefit from the full range of commercial, institutional and recreational
services and opportunities available in the city. These include the many services and uses
enjoyed by the City's vacationers and seasonal residents, including fine dining, specialty retail,
entertainment, golf and other recreational amenities.

Permanent residents are the core of the community and typically live in neighborhoods where
knowing and interacting with neighbors is the essence of a tight-knit community. Ideally,
permanent residents, including families with children, should have a reasonable expectation of
safe and convenient access to parks, shopping and other community services and amenities
without the need to travel great distances or to rely primarily on the arterial roadway network.
Community Design and Quality of Life

The essential purpose or goal of effective community design is to assure the highest possible
quality of life for the City's residents, whether part- or full-time, and for those who come to visit
and vacation here.
Community design issues encompass all aspects of the City, including its residential and
commercial neighborhoods. Properly designed and integrated neighborhoods include a diverse
cross section of the community and provide convenient opportunities for social interaction
between residents. They are also small enough and have a sufficient level of interconnectivity to
retain a distinct neighborhood identity. Creating and sustaining distinct neighborhoods is
essential to the concept of community.

In general terms, quality of life can be addressed by assuring the following:

• An integrated community with a full range of housing, shopping and commercial

services, work places, schools, parks and open space, and civic and institutional facilities
essential to the daily life of the residents

• A land use pattern that efficiently distributes homes, employment centers, parks, schools
and other institutions, shopping and services

• A logical and efficient hierarchy of streets that are part of a connected network, which
disperses traffic by providing a variety of pedestrian and vehicular routes to any destination

• A distributed system of physical and service infrastructure that provides for the efficient
delivery of utilities and public services

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DESIGN

The concept of sustainable communities has only emerged fully in the last decade and
sustainability still has many definitions and meanings. From an economist's perspective,
sustainable community design is a means of ensuring the maintenance of our standard of living
and quality of life. From an ecological perspective, sustainability involves a holistic view of the
physical environment that includes not only humanity but also the physical and ecological
context in which we are embedded. The sustainable community is integrated with its
environment in a manner that optimizes its maintenance over time.

Major elements of the sustainable community include environmental health, energy efficiency,
land use relationships and efficiencies, resource use and management, and efficient traffic and
circulation. Economic vitality is also a primary component of sustainable quality of community
design.

Community Design Principles for a Sustainable Quality of Life

Some of the existing patterns of urban and suburban development can seriously impair our
quality of life. The symptoms include traffic congestion and air pollution, the loss of open space,
the need for costly improvements to roads and public services, the inequitable distribution of
economic resources, and the loss of a sense of community by urban sprawl, disconnectedness
and socio-economic isolation. Some of the fundamental principals that can help assure
sustainable quality of life include the following:

A. A balanced and integrated community providing safe and convenient access on local streets
and containing a diversity of housing, shops, work places, schools, parks and civic
facilities.

B. A community with a diversity of housing types, sizes and affordability that serves residents
from a wide range of economic levels and age groups.

C. A sufficiently diverse local economy that provides a range of sustainable employment

opportunities for the community’s residents.

D. Centers of community focus that combine residential, commercial, civic, cultural and
recreational uses.

E. Public spaces that encourage the congregation and interaction of people from all walks of
life and at all hours of the day and night.

F. Streets, pedestrian paths and bike paths that provide fully connected and interesting routes
to all destinations, encouraging pedestrian and bicycle use and optimizing safe integration
with vehicular traffic.

G. A community plan that preserves natural terrain, drainage, and vegetation of the
community within parks, greenbelts and community open space areas.

H. Community, development and building design that conserves energy and material
resources, optimizes the efficient use and recycling of water, encourages use of drought
tolerant landscaping and minimize waste.
I. Siting, design and orientation of buildings that contributes to the optimal seasonal use and
avoidance of solar energy, enhances natural ventilation, and reduces overall energy
demand.

Regional Design Principles

In addition to those principles that should guide community planning and development,
additional principles that address regional issues are also important. This is especially true in the
Coachella Valley where urban development and jurisdictional boundaries are largely contiguous
and interact with one another. The following regional principles address regional
interrelatedness.

A. Coordinate with CVAG in regional land use planning integrated within the larger
transportation network built around major transit nodes and facilities, including bus routes,
rail stations and freeway interchanges.

B. Coordinate regions environmental planning to provide a continuous system of integrated

ecosystems, open space and wildlife corridors based upon the conservation, preservation
and restoration of local environments and habitats.

C. Encourage regional architectural styles and design concepts that encourage the
development of local character and community identity, emphasizing the use of materials
and methods of construction responsive to local conditions, and exhibiting continuity of
history and culture, and compatibility with the physical and aesthetic environment.

Understanding and Integrating the Natural Environment

 The natural environment
of the Coachella Valley
is the physical complex
of geology, topography,
climate and ecological
resources. It is the
"natural" setting of the
City and has influenced
how the community and
the region have
developed. Designing
within the parameters of
the natural environment
can pose several
constraints and
opportunities for devel-

opment, which if managed wisely can and have enhanced the community's quality of life. For
instance, flood control facilities primarily serve to control and convey storm runoff, but they also
function as wildlife corridors and as open space for recreational activities, such as hiking,
equestrian, biking and golf. Environmentally sensitive community planning also supports the use
of open space buffers, building and landscape designs that conserve energy and water, recycling
valuable resources, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment.

Combined, these strategies value and preserve essential resources while expanding economic
growth and opportunity; they can be characterized as being environmentally responsive. By
practicing environmental responsiveness, it is possible for new development not only to
minimize damage to the local ecosystem, but also to improve the surroundings. In fact,
environmentally responsive development can serve as an "economic engine" for bringing about
ecological restoration. This process of sitting lightly on the land, even when modifications to the
landscape are made, is the essence of environmental responsiveness.

Harmonizing Community and Development Design

An essential aspect of community design involves harmonizing new land uses and developments
with the existing built and natural environments. Design strategies can allow the City to retain
the low intensity resort-residential community character in new development, even in areas
where higher development densities are realized. Sensitivity to height limits, using natural
materials, and complementary colors and tones for building surfaces, and the generous
integration of open space into community design are in keeping with the essential character of
the community.
Flexibility and sensitive design evaluation, and the ability to see the positive qualities of various
architectural styles are also essential to a responsive design review process. If quality design is
lacking and cannot be secured from the developer or architect, then unsatisfactory development
proposals should not be approved. Sensitive design harmonizes with surrounding buildings and
the environment, avoids excessive disruption and does not overtly compete for attention.

Contrasting design approaches should avoid being abrasive and seek a civilized and lively
integration with the existing and planned development environment. It is equally important not
to homogenize the design elements of a neighborhood, leaving it a boring repetition of
elevations, rooflines and building materials and colors, or to promote an eclectic and unrelated
collection of styles.

Community Design and Continuity

Community design, cohesiveness and continuity require a holistic community vision while
maintaining and preserving the City's unique and cherished qualities. This perspective also
recognizes the characteristics that have been handed down overtime, and that create connections
to the natural and historic features of the City.

Continuity provides unity and stability to the community, and develops a sense of permanence
and pride of place. In community design, this principle can be maintained through an adherence
to quality land and site planning and architectural styles, an integration of desert landscaping,
preservation of open space land and valuable natural resources, and the development of
functional circulation patterns. Community design and continuity not only strengthen the City,
but also help to establish meaningful relationships between the City's built environment, its
residents and its natural environment.
Establishing a Sense of Place

Establishing a sense of place,

or placemaking, is
an important dimension
of sustainability and
community design that
enhance the quality of
life. People need to feel
attachment for a place in
order to invest themselves in
the community. To foster a
sense of place, communities
must cultivate built
environment and settlement patterns that are enriching and uplifting, inspirational and
memorable, and which create a feeling of belonging and
attachment. A sense of place can also be nurtured by understanding and respecting the
bioregional context of the community, including the climate and geography, open space lands,
and native flora and fauna. Placemaking in community design also respects the history and
character of existing and man-made features that have added to the familiarity of the place.

Lastly, placemaking requires that a special effort be made to create and preserve places, rituals
and events that encourage greater attachment to and cohesiveness of the social fabric of the
community. This can be attained with the development of gathering spots and public places, such
as the Civic Center Park, as powerful focal points within the community, and by planning
activities that promote community attachment and social interaction.

COMMUNITY FORM AND DESIGN PLANNING

The assessment of site planning and building design should determine the correlation between
and influence of new and in-fill development to other structures and the environment; that is, the
planning context must be fully considered. Careful consideration also needs to be given to the
location and components of proposed development. Existing conditions should be a point of
departure for area planning and design, optimizing possibilities while efficiently working around
limitations. Planning and design criteria assist in determining a projects compatibility with the
surrounding area. These criteria include:

* Planning Context Assessment

* Site Analysis and Development Planning
* Building Height
* Building and Structural Setbacks * Proportions and Massing
* Pattern and Rhythm of Structures
* Roof Types and Materials
* Surface Color and Texture
* Building Projections
* Architectural Details
* Landscape Design and Materials

Site Analysis and Development Planning

Understanding the natural conditions of the land through thoughtful site analysis must be the
initial step in addressing development constraints and opportunities. This process is also
essential in matching appropriate development with the characteristics of a site.
On a landscape scale, this planning is embodied in the Land Use Element, while site specific
analysis and planning are based upon the above-cited criteria. While land planning involves the
consideration of area-wide elements, site planning primarily involves the distribution of
buildings, parking, driveways and landscaped open space areas over a site.

The development site plan establishes the relationships between structures, parking and open
space areas to the street and surrounding lands. The impacts of site design are not always easy to
visualize and assess without the development of a detailed site plan. Frequently, the complexity
or importance of a proposed development may warrant preparation of perspective renderings of
the plan and structures.

Accurate representation of proposed future development can easily be accomplished through the
use of inexpensive and powerful computer-based visualization tools. Care should be taken not to
allow artistic applications of color, landscaping and graphic “eye wash” to obscure or
misrepresent the final built product. Together with building architecture, site planning is the
critical design parameter determining the compatibility of proposed development with the
existing development in the area and the character of the community.

Building Proportions, Height and Setbacks

Structures should be planned as integrated elements within the natural environment. This
primacy is achieved by establishing guidelines for building scale and proportion, structure,
height, and setbacks that are environmentally sound and sensitive.

Within the context of existing development and appropriate design, new structures should be
similar in height to and compatible with other buildings in the vicinity, with the goal of
preserving and enhancing design qualities of the built environment while maintaining important
viewsheds. Assigned setbacks should be harmonious with the streetscape, surrounding structures
and scenic resources. Variations in building massing are encouraged but should reflect a sense of
compatibility as a group.

Building proportions should neither dominate the street nor other structures, and should limit the
fragmentation of viewsheds to the greatest degree practical. New developments can establish an
important baseline for a neighborhood and provide a model against which to judge subsequent
proposed development. Occasionally, it may be appropriate for new development to be
equivalent or subordinate to older structures and the prevailing development pattern. Generally,
however, the height and width of building elevations should not be dramatically out of character
with existing neighborhood development, the streetscape or natural scenic viewsheds.
Pattern and Rhythm in Community Design

Nature provides varied examples of pattern and rhythm, which are instinctively pleasing and
inspiring. These natural patterns can be emulated in community design, primarily expressed in
the distribution of structures and the expression of building architecture. Roofline designs and
the voids and solids of buildings can articulate the recurrent and alternating patterns of the
surrounding landscape, including the slopes and peaks of the hills and mountains. The patterns
and rhythms that result from new and existing development should create a theme that conveys
harmony and coherence between structures and the natural environment. At the street level, the
viewer should be provided an interesting and varied integration of structures, hardscape and
landscaping that tie these elements together in an effective and pleasing manner.

Roof Types and Materials

The design of roofs and the selection of roofing materials is an essential design element that
effects how well a building is integrated into its context. Roof types and materials can play a
critical role in either complementing or degrading the cohesiveness of the built environment and
the natural scenic viewshed.
Roof types provide a variety of possibilities for contrasting or imitating other elements of the
built or natural environment, and range from flat to a multiple array of hipped roofs. The same
design criteria of scale, pattern and rhythm are applicable to judging the compatibility of roof
design and materials. Excessive building height is frequently associated with the desire to create
more volume within a building, to accentuate the building facade or to accommodate roof-
mounted HVAC and other equipment. Roof design must be balanced with the building elevation
it helps to create.

Color and Surface Texture

The Coachella Valley is
frequently associated with the
sunny and bright conditions
of the Mediterranean and
these conditions make the
selection of surface texture
and color especially
important. In recent years,
surfaces and colors that
emulate and complement the
course and warm tones of the
surrounding environment
have become highly desirable.
Shiny or highly reflective finishes produce glaring surfaces that do not complement or integrate
well with the viewshed or are not pleasing to the eye. Important
examples have emerged in the City of how contrast can be made compatible within broader
standards through the juxtaposition of architectural motifs and the use of contrasting, unusual
colors and building materials.

The surface textures of buildings and other structures differ from the patterns and rhythms of
building volumes and spaces in that texture is provided on a substantially reduced scale and may
not be evident from a distance. Texture seldom acts as a strong design element that is equal in
visual effect to architectural pattern and massing. Over time, architectural tastes and styles
change, and while the use of strong color can play a dominant role in the design of structures,
color is easier to change once construction is completed. Building surface textures can range
from smooth adobe-type stucco or plaster to fluted or split-faced concrete aggregate block.
Texture must be carefully considered to assure that it complements the overall design while
being compatible with other building materials.

Building Projections and Architectural Details

While the first and most essential concern of

building design lies in the creation of interior
space that serves the planned function of the
building, the development of architectural
style and detail should also be integral to
design. The articulation of a selected style is
expressed in the details and projections that
grow out of the building and play important
functional and aesthetic roles. Architectural
projections and details can address issues of
screening and privacy, while also affecting
how well the building harmonizes with
surrounding development.

Residential living space can be further

enhanced through the use of porches and
verandas that provide protection from sun
and wind, while providing a
venue for communication with passers-
by and enhancing residential
community cohesiveness. Architectural details, whether simple or ornate, may represent
legitimate design principles, however buildings of
differing architectural styles can clash or strongly contrast with surrounding development, and
thereby may suffer from the comparison. Once again, the context of the building's built and
natural environment must be carefully considered in determining the appropriateness of a
particular architectural style.

Landscape Design and Materials

Landscape design is an essential part of accomplishing quality community design and has a
profound effect on the quality of life enjoyed in the community. Desert conditions require
creative landscaping designs responsive to limited water resources and to the natural setting. The
desert terrain includes a versatile collection of plant life that should be explored and employed in
all scales of landscaping.

Rock and stone arrangements, fountains and other water features further enhance, complement
and contrast with the native scenery. Proper landscape planning requires special attention to the
water needs and exposure of plantings, and the selection and cultivation of suitable plant
materials. While landscapes are visually important, they can also create micro-climates providing
protection from strong winds, shade from the intense summer sun, and reduced outdoor and
indoor temperatures.

One of the most prominent and visible

exterior features of neighborhoods,
private communities and other
developments is parkway landscape
treatment. Design can range from the
formal to the “natural” or combinations
of both approaches. Formal design may
include ordered rows of date palms or
other distinctive trees, regularly
interspersed with equally ordered
shrubs and beds for annuals plantings.

Less informal designs seek to imitate nature by interspersing native and nonnative desert
plantings in more of a
free-form or random pattern. Groupings of major elements and the use of lawn areas may also be
integrated into both more and less formal designs. The need for progressive water conservation
and control of landscape maintenance costs has also prompted the greater use of native and
nonnative drought-tolerant planting materials. The City has been a leader in the promotion of
these desert landscape materials and design themes.

Residential Neighborhood Design

Residential neighborhoods are distinctly different from places where we work and shop, and
should be viewed as refuges from the noise, light, traffic and commotion of City business
districts. Nonetheless, the location of residential areas and their accessibility to
neighborhoodserving commercial and community centers is also an important consideration. The
push toward a more efficient use of residential lands has spurred development of higher density
neighborhoods with integrated and well-distributed open space areas, narrower streets and an
emphasis on walking and bicycling.

The cohesiveness of the neighborhood is substantially affected by the appropriateness and

quality of architectural design. Architectural compatibility and variety can be established
throughout the neighborhood through the coordinated and complementary use of various design
components, including building colors, roof design and tile color, window and garage door
treatment, and architectural building accents and details. These components should be mixed to
create a balance of variety, compatibility and conformity or cohesion.

The City is host to numerous gated communities designed with walls and perimeter landscape
treatments consisting of wrought iron, stuccoed concrete block, plain and painted slump stone,
split-faced block, plastered, brick-capped or tile accented, and intermittent columns or pilasters.
Walls may be straight, stepped or meandering. Interspersing solid walls with wrought iron
fencing provides views into development open space areas and relieves the closed in feeling that
walls can engender along roadways. While walls may vary in height, they are generally not to
exceed six feet above grade.

In addition to closing off developments from

the public right-of-way, continuous solid
walls can create the above-mentioned
canyon effect, while effectively mitigating
the impacts of traffic noise on residential
neighborhoods. Wider parkways provide
additional wall set backs and landscape
treatment that reduces the enclosed feeling.
Wall breaks and fenestration along public
rights-of-way help to integrate private
community open space and viewsheds with
those of the traveling public. The City should

Open Space and Parkland

encourage the continued use of this type of viewshed window as a means of reducing the tunnel
effect and preserving scenic vistas.

Traditional suburban development typically divides land into a checkerboard layout of nearly
identical residential lots with no designated open space. The result is a repetitive landscape of
home lots and streets. This style of development, which is permitted by many local zoning
ordinances, can be inefficient and consumes open space and fragments wildlife habitat.
However, by carefully clustering houses on smaller lots an efficient, conservation-oriented
subdivision can provide the same number of buildable lots as a conventional subdivision and still
preserve substantial open space.

This integrated planning approach not only reduces development costs by reducing the roads and
utilities that must be built, it also helps foster a greater sense of community among residents.
Walking paths and recreation areas get people out of their homes to meet neighbors and enhance
neighborhood cohesiveness. Homeowners have smaller lots to care for and yet everyone shares
attractive vistas and a community sense of spaciousness. Access to open space and conservation
of habitat, scenic landscapes, ecologically valuable land and recreational areas are important
components of livable communities and healthy economies.
Landmarks and Focal Points

Other important elements of community include

landmarks and focal points, which lend identity and
character to the community. Landmarks or focal
points may include natural, historic, architectural, or
cultural areas of interest. Major entry points to the
City and its neighborhoods also warrant special
design consideration. The City's thematic entry
signage program utilizing Arizona sandstone and
Native American imagery complements the
aesthetic and historic context of the community. The
City has developed noticeable and distinctive
transitions into the incorporated boundaries of the City and this
concept is being extended into its neighborhoods. The provision of adequate area for significant
landscape or architectural treatment, City entry signage, special paving, and other identifiable
treatments all lend character and identity to City entry and other focus points.

Landscape architectural elements in the City include the Civic Center Park, which provides a
public park environment and community gathering place profiling date gardens, public art,
performance venues and the unique conditions of our desert environment. Landscaping elements,
monumentation, sculpture, signage, site furnishings, and open space areas should all be
considered in the development standards and policies for landmark or focal point enhancement.

Scenic Highways and Public Viewsheds

Scenic resources constitute some
of the most important community
assets of the City. Major scenic
viewsheds include the
San
Jacinto, San Bernardino and other
mountain ranges surrounding and
encompassing the City, as well as
the desert floor. Preservation of
these scenic vistas has been an
important goal of the community.
However, various types of land
development, the construction of
buildings and walls, landscaping,
roads and the extension of utility
lines and other facilities have all
impacted the scenic resources of the community. As viewed from public thoroughfares and
private lands, the City’s natural scenic beauty provides residents and visitors with a direct
experience of the dramatic landforms that define the character of the community. Promoting a
quality image of Palm Desert is very much associated with the City’s viewsheds. Scenic
resources are visible along essentially all major roadways in the City and its planning area.

Signage and Viewsheds of Public Rights-of-Way

Commercial signage along major roadways
provides important business identification
but also can degrade the value of the
viewshed along public rights-of-way.
Balancing the needs of business with the
importance of preserving scenic views in an
on-going process. The City sign ordinance
provides the standards, guidelines and
regulations that strike this balance. In some
instances it may be appropriate to encourage
or require the retirement of existing signs
that are inconsistent with the goals,
policies and programs of the General Plan and applicable ordinances. Reducing the
impacts of commercial signage can minimize the adverse economic impact on business, while
assuring a restoration of the viewshed along existing and planned commercial corridors.
Businesses located within Redevelopment Agency (RDA) project areas may be able to
participate in and benefit from RDA sponsored sign renovation programs.
Transportation and Community Design
As the community continues to grow, it will
continue to face a broad range of
transportationrelated community design
issues. Design issues and details include street
signage, bus turnouts and shelters, bike lanes and
other onroad graphics, and utility structures and
facilities. Roadway congestion and other
deterrents to the efficient movement of goods and
people can result from inadequate land use and
transportation planning. Providing an efficient
network of arterial roadways will address area-
wide and regional transportation needs, while
protecting residential neighborhoods
from through-traffic.
Pedestrian and other non-motorized movement must also be facilitated through the development
of a continuous system of sidewalks and bike and cart paths that are designed and constructed to
assure safety, while complementing the resort character of the community. Such facilities not
only meet the needs and interests of the community, but also serve to facilitate the use of
nonmotorized transportation and will contribute, however modestly, to reducing roadway
congestion.
A logical hierarchy of transportation corridors should be designed to link residential
neighborhoods, public facilities and commercial areas. Street design must facilitate the
movement of people and traffic sensibly. Improving roadways and local transportation systems
can reduce traffic congestion and air pollutants. Street systems that assign all traffic through a
limited number of intersections at the arterial streets should be avoided to reduce congestion and
enhance roadway operations. More options in driving from one destination to another should be
offered to motorists as a means of reducing congestion on arterial streets. Creating
pedestrianand-transit-friendly districts allows people to drive to their destination, park once and
accomplish their business at multiple outlets.

Community Design in Public Facilities

In addition to the community design issues associated private residential, commercial and
institutional projects, consideration of community design issues should also encompass public
buildings, utilities, and street traffic control and safety devises that have the potential to detract
from the appearance of the community. The attractiveness of the community is important to
residents and visitors alike, and the City should consistently make the appearance of the City one
of its highest priorities. Current efforts include the development of unique and distinctive desert
landscape treatments on major roadways. Desert colors and tones can also be integrated into
street signs, traffic signals and lighting standards to soften their impact on the surrounding
viewshed.

The design of bus shelters has also been a City

priority, with the construction of new facilities that are
functionally superior and aesthetically pleasing. Bus
shelters can utilize architectural styles that
complement the streetscape treatment and elevate the
appearance of these utilitarian structures. Utility
cabinets located along the street, including traffic
signal and telephone switching facilities, are
frequently painfully obvious. Efforts to have these
installed in underground vaults have been resisted but
more success has been had with having these highly
visible facilities painted more neutral desert colors.
Likewise, overhead utility lines intrude on scenic viewsheds that can be minimized through the
City's ongoing program of utility undergrounding.

Art in Public Places

More than any other city in the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert's art-in-public-places program has
been an extremely successful enhancement to the attractiveness of the City, and provides
significant opportunities to express and reinforce the diversity and cultural cohesion of the
community. Consistent with the principle of a resort community that values its mountains and
wild places, public art can also integrate
native landscaping to reflect the surrounding mountains and desert dunes and washes. It can
include the attentive design and placement of public buildings, as well as placement of manmade
monumental sculpture on public lands, or within the rights-of-way of major roadways.

The City's Art in Public Places Program has been created in order to promote an aesthetic
experience of the city, balancing the community’s physical growth and revitalization of its
cultural and artistic resources. The community's aesthetic values are reflected in, and provide the
basis for, cultural identification throughout the community’s planning efforts.

The Arts and Culture Element presents policies and programs that maximize the role the City can
play in encouraging and supporting the cultural environment of the community. In addition to
the direct support given to City-sponsored activities and facilities, the City can and should play
an important role in helping to encourage and enhance the activities of public and private
nonprofit enterprises supporting the arts. The purpose and intent of this involvement is to further
a better understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the cultural environment in the City.

University Park Planning Area: Putting It All Together

The City has created and has the opportunity to implement land use and development principles
and plans that complement and optimize the California State University (CSU) Campus and
surrounding lands. The CSU campus creates unique opportunities for an integrated mix of
institutional, commercial, residential and recreational uses that interact synergistically as a
cohesive neighborhood providing an enhanced and sustainable quality of life for residents,
employees and visitors.

Commercial development in the University Park neighborhood should range from that which
supports the campus, its students, faculty and employees, to neighborhood shopping for local
residents. Opportunities for entertainment retail are significant and may range from dinner
theaters, nightclubs and conventional restaurants to specialty retail outlets. Strategically and
conveniently located neighborhood shopping will meet the day-to-day needs of residents living
in this area. There are also important opportunities in this area for the development of business
park and research and development centers that take advantage of the CSU campus and
programs and provide highly skilled and well-paying jobs.

The University Park planning area is bounded by arterial roadways that provide excellent access
to the regional transportation network, while limiting the impacts of arterial traffic on local
neighborhoods. Within the planning area, traffic circulation can be efficiently provided by
smaller streets and a comprehensive network of pedestrian and bike paths that limit the length of
trips and the need for the use of an automobile. This transportation network can also keep most
intra-area traffic off of the arterial roadway network.

The University Park commercial district will also benefit from the tourist and resort residential
market in this area, including hotels, major timeshare projects, destination resorts and
recreational facilities, as well as the substantial passer-by markets along the City gateway
arterials of Cook Street and Portola Avenue. The sports and entertainment arena at the
University will also complement and support development of an entertainment-oriented retail
component along Cook Street.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The City has made significant progress in improving the quality of life of its residents and
visitors, and can continue to promote these qualities through thoughtful community design. The
integrated application of planning, architectural and landscape design standards and principals
will provide better guidance and direction to developers and design professionals. Community
design considerations, ranging from integrated mixed-use developments to preservation and
enhancement of scenic highways, can subtly and profoundly shape the image of the community.
Basic criteria to promote good and thoughtful design enhances community cohesiveness and
coherence and has allowed Palm Desert to emerge as a thriving and highly marketable resort
community. It is evident that community design considerations are directly related to issues
associated with land use, traffic, arts and culture, health and safety, economic development and
environmental systems.

The Community Design Element can be implemented by several mechanisms, including the
thoughtful application of the other elements of the General Plan, the City Zoning Ordinance, and
through Redevelopment Plans and Specific Plans for individual project areas. The most effective
instrument will be the Zoning Ordinance and associated development codes and guidelines,
which set forth specific standards and establish design parameters and guidelines for site
planning, building and landscaping, and other areas of community design. On the zoning district
level, the Zoning Ordinance will assure that development occurs in a manner consistent with the
design goals of the community.