Mix-use development combines residential, commercial, retail, cultural and institutional uses into one single development project to address urbanization, sprawl and decentralization issues brought on by zoning regulations that separate land uses legally.
Encourage mixed-use development as an approach to meeting common master plan goals such as economic development, affordable housing, traffic reduction and community wellbeing. Engage local business owners and representatives, stable housing advocates and transportation agencies in identifying potential mixed-use development sites.
Economic Development
Mixed-use developments combine commercial, residential and public spaces for maximum economic benefit to local economies, creating jobs and supporting small businesses while producing tax revenue that helps lower public costs while expanding community services.
Mix-use developments provide property owners with a more diversified income stream, lessening the risks of single-use investments in an unpredictable real estate market. Furthermore, mixed-use developments are more appealing to consumers looking for amenities like shopping, dining, and entertainment nearby.
As part of a comprehensive planning process, ensure mixed-use development is included in community plans and visions as part of a mixed-use development project. Engage with residents, organizations, leaders, elected officials and planning board members to collect needs and preferences; educate elected officials and planning board members about mixed-use development; provide strategies to mitigate displacement; identify and remove any barriers that impede this type of development like restrictive zoning ordinance provisions, parking requirements that limit space for alternative modes of transportation or design standards which do not promote integration, density or compatibility.
Housing
Mixed-use development integrates housing, shopping and office zones intentionally into one space to maximize land use efficiency while increasing walkability and decreasing commute times. This can promote walkability while decreasing commuting times while increasing walkability.
Integrating housing and commercial space helps local economies by creating more attractive business locations that draw shoppers and residents alike. Furthermore, integrated space can revitalize once-stagnant downtown areas to revive them economically while creating a sense of community belonging.
Community outreach can help identify local priorities that support mixed-use development. Once this has been accomplished, various planning tools may be employed to implement a mixed-use master plan:
Transportation
Mixed-use neighborhoods are designed to place everyday destinations within walking distance, helping residents get around without the use of their cars and reduce both traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
Opposed to classic models of urban planning which divide cities into zones for housing, retail and offices, mixed-use developments cluster residential units above ground-level shops for optimal use of land space without compromising open space and can help increase overall efficiency by making better use of all available land resources.
Communities can encourage mixed-use development by either encouraging projects on publicly owned property, or mandating mixed use in new construction. They can also support affordability by working with community institutions and stable-housing advocates to identify projects offering both affordable housing and job access, and projects which support affordability through partnerships between projects offering both. Finally, communities can collaborate with transportation agencies to connect mixed-use plans with potential transit investments that would both benefit roadways as well as transit demand (U.S. EPA has developed a spreadsheet tool which estimates peak-period internal trip capture rates for mixed-use development sites in order to facilitate this).
Community
Engaging multiple land uses in close proximity increases interaction and creates a vibrant community. Public spaces like parks, plazas, and community centers facilitate social connectivity and give residents a sense of ownership within their neighborhood. Offering housing options across a range of income levels makes urban living more accessible.
Municipalities can support mixed-use development by adopting zoning ordinances that support flexible building designs, expedited permit review times, reduced development fees, and other incentives that enable developers to realize what the community envisions. They may also work closely with business owners and representatives, community organizations and affordable housing advocates to identify how mixed-use development might benefit both their business operations as well as the broader community.
These partnerships can facilitate the implementation of strategies to encourage mixed-use development. For instance, collaborations can identify commercial areas in need of investment with transit infrastructure that supports multiple uses for their respective businesses.