Adopt development/design standards and programs that facilitate infill, redevelopment, and adaptable buildings.
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
 |
Adopt design standards that address the downtown core and encourage compatible infill development; parking standards waived to recognize on-street & shared parking facilities; repurpose vacant/underutilized downtown sites as green space, event space, play areas, outdoor siting and eating, transport/information areas, EV charging or make-ready infrastructure. Report infill incentives under action 7.4 |
 |
Small houses (~500 sq.ft.) allowed under CUP on non-conforming vacant city lots; standards facilitate the evolution of strip/large format commercial areas into more livable/walkable neighborhoods with a mix of land use and including gathering places. |
 |
Limit annexations or infrastructure extensions until infill and redevelopment goals are met; encourage building, mall and parking ramp design such that structures can be adapted for different future uses. |
Resources
- Infill Score is an on-line self-assessment tool for cities to (1) gauge the degree to which city policies and stragegies facilitate development of vacant land, and (2) learn about 30 strategies and policies that can accelerate infill, redevelopment and community revitalization.
- The ULI-MN (Re)Development Ready Guide for cities outlines development policies and practices (including brownfield remediation) to attract private investment, grow jobs, support a full range of housing choices, and build tax base for the well-being of the city.
- “Fill the gap” programs for vacant and underutilized downtown (mostly commercial) buildings tend to have these simple/cheap elements: (1) maintain a current and public inventory of ‘opportunity sites’; (2) coordinate with local and county economic development staff and local lenders; (3) install temporary/semi-permanent uses such as green space (flowers, vegetables gardens), event space (farmer’s market, arts and crafts market, art exhibit space), play area (with or without a public restroom); outdoor siting and eating (benches, food truck location, beer garden), transport/information area (bike parking, kiosks, mid-block alley connection).
- Build a Better Burb is the online journal for suburban design and redesign. It began with a focus on retrofitting suburban downtowns on Long Island (NY) and has expanded to include manuals and engaging visuals to help suburban residents and leaders explore solutions from across the country that can be applied to their communities.
- Articles, events, thoughts and resources on Sprawl Repair - guidance for transforming fragmented, isolated and car-dependent development into complete communities. See also the short Mall Retrofit plan for small, efficient steps, creating cheap space for incubating new businesses and artisan uses, as well as providing affordable student housing.
- Designing strucures that can be adapted for different future uses is an art of the past. For example, when parking ramps first emerged they were designed so they could be turned into warehouses and offices by having flat floors and high ceilings.
- See EV resources at Drive Electric Minnesota.
Order Number
5