ABSTRACT
Because communities vary so much in their layouts, topography, history, economy, culture, and functions, no single planning or design approach is likely to provide all the answers. However, much can be said for getting back to basics and building community character. To be sure, the design approach followed in most communities during the second half of the 20th century—giving free rein to suburban subdivisions and shopping strips—usually conflicted with official policies written in comprehensive plans, which typically favor compact, walkable communities where the green infrastructure of farm and forest is protected as a working landscape. In this context, a strong argument exists for returning to the time-tested design principles that guided the growth of towns during the 19th and early 20th centuries, as discussed in the preceding two chapters, whose main themes this chapter expands on and discusses in greater detail.
