FUTURE LAND USE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | CHAPTER 9


which carries the benefits of minimizing travel distances and reducing intrusion into natural areas. Careful consideration of our infrastructure expansions is there- fore crucial to a prosperous, attractive, and enduring community. Chapter 6 of this plan outlines the needs for the future of the water system and sanitary sewer sys- tem, as articulated by city staff. Chapter 12 of this plan provides a detailed plan for the future of stormwater.


NATURAL RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION


Even with efficient development patterns, expansion of Cedar Falls at the edge of the existing community will likely occur in the coming decades. Smart planning promotes the balance of development growth with the preservation of valuable agricultural and natural areas. Natural areas provide important community spaces, habitats for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, added property value for adjacent development and other “ecosystem services.” Environmentally sensi- tive areas such as floodplains and drainageways must be maintained to avoid flood- ing and other adverse impacts to the built and natural environments.


SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Cedar Falls should promote buildings and infrastructure that utilize sustainable de- sign and construction standards. These standards conserve natural resources by re- ducing waste and pollution while making efficient use of land, energy, water, air, and materials. In areas where new development extends to agriculture or open spaces, that development should occur in conformance with best management practices for accommodating the natural environment. Cedar Falls should consider the trends already well documented regarding the region’s climate (i.e., increasing temperatures and increasing precipitation). Planning, development, infrastructure and resource management should account for these changes in the future.


COMMUNITY CHARACTER


New residential areas often develop incrementally, sometimes resulting in relatively isolated pods that lack common space and connectedness to the greater communi- ty. As a result, community character can be diluted as cities expand. A smart growth concept for Cedar Falls encourages promoting development that reflects the char- acter of the community and maintains a logical structure and connectedness.


MIXED LAND USES


Mixing compatible uses, such as including a corner store or a school in a residential neighborhood, creates more interesting and efficient communities. Providing uses that are closer and linked together can reduce the distance that people must travel by car to conduct their daily lives. Including multiple uses in a neighborhood en- sures that it is active throughout the day, thereby enhancing security and maintain- ing dynamic, resilient neighborhoods. A mixed land use pattern opens up oppor- tunities to build a variety of housing types conveniently located near commercial and civic activities.


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