Importance of townhouse design

Townhouses in the past

Montco2040 Goals

Townhouse Trends in Montco Attached and multifamily housing have become the dominant form of built housing, averaging 66% of the total number of housing units built in the county.

Impacts of Townhouse Communities

Townhouse Design Elements

Street pattern

Open space and recreation Walking trails Gathering spaces Central greens Playgrounds Natural areas

Pedestrian circulation Sidewalks connect residents to community destinations and improve the walkability of a development Verges provide buffer between sidewalks and roads Trails as part of the overall pedestrian circulation

Parking Courtyard parking Parking stalls On-street parking Individual driveways and garages

Garages and driveways: Front-loaded One-car garage, one-car driveway

Garages and driveways: Front-loaded One-car garage, two-car driveway

Garages and driveways: Front-loaded Two-car garage, two-car driveway

Garages and driveways: Rear-loaded Attached

Garages and driveways: Rear-loaded Detached

Landscaping and street trees Softens building facades Provides important ecological functions Street trees Property buffers Internal screening Foundation plantings Central greens Open space

Front yard areas Front yard areas define the overall aesthetic of the community

Architecture and building massing Changing trends from two-story to three-story Building materials Location of front door and garage Number of units in a row

Best Practices

Require street trees Benefits of trees Cooling shade Stormwater control Wildlife habitat Traffic calming Improves property values Beautify streetscape Locate trees in verge areas (at least 8 feet wide) between sidewalk and curb Locate in front yard if no verge

Alley access Locate garages in the rear of housing units Enables front yards to have porches and landscaping On-street parking is created Limits pedestrian conflicts with cars

Alley access Attached rear-loaded garages

Alley access Alley-only access with walkup front yards

Alley access Detached rear-loaded garages

Alley access

Alternatives to alleys Paired driveways

Alternatives to alleys Side-loaded garages for end units

Alternatives to alleys Tapered driveways

Alternatives to alleys Mixed front- and rear-loaded garages

Right-size parking requirements Townhouse residents tend to have fewer vehicles per household On-street parking enables on demand resources

Articulate façades individual units

Garage design standards

Articulate façades building rows

Articulate façades community Most codes allow 5 to 8 units per acre Allow for flexible density on a case by case basis Require a mix of housing types within a development >50 units, 2 housing types >100 units, 3 housing types

Connected system of sidewalks and trails

Create recreational opportunities Create clear pathways to common open space to avoid appropriation as private backyard space

Create recreational opportunities Central greens with gathering spaces, pathways, play equipment, fitness equipment, and field areas

Naturalize stormwater management BMPs Addition of plantings, trees, and other intentional amenities to stormwater basins and rain gardens No fencing around basins if slope permits

Thank you

Speaker Panel Chris Canavan Senior Vice President W.B. Homes, Inc. Jason Duckworth President Arcadia Land Company Lisa Thomas, RLA, AICP, LEED AP President Glackin Thomas Panzak, Inc.

The Underworld of Townhome Development

Modern Stormwater Management - Impact on land development design

Utilities - Underground Conflicts Galore

Alley/ Parking: Haverford Court, Haverford, Montgomery County, PA Project name Alley width Parking pad depth T otal Village at Valley Forge 20 19 39 Haverford Court 10 14 24 10 14

Windsor Ridge Chester Springs, PA

Applecross Country Club East Brandywine Township, PA