DEVELOPMENT PLAN OPEN SPACE SYSTEM OPEN SPACE SYSTEM The neighborhood provides for a range of open space types. The Village Square is an important open space in the neighborhood. It serves as a gathering and meeting space for neighborhood residents and visitors alike. Community-oriented spaces include landscaped areas such as pocket parks, the Elementary School Park, greenways, and the Transit Green. The activities and uses within these spaces include playgrounds, sports fields, community gardens and picnic areas. Naturalized community open spaces include the buffer areas along SR 113 and agriculture field edges, as well as some greenways. These areas consist of a more natural and informal landscape, such as screening vegetation, surface drainage swales, and pathways. The Recreation Fields along Hutchison Drive provide large sports fields for UC Davis students, as well as neighborhood and City residents. The Recreation Fields also provide additional drainage retention area during large storms. A large habitat area with drainage ponds is located along Russell Boulevard. This expansive open space area serves as a retention and percolation pond and habitat area for birds and animals. It also creates a buffer to the surrounding area and provides for expansive views to the south and west. 18 UC DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLAN
DEVELOPMENT PLAN TRANSPORTATION & CIRCULATION SYSTEM TRANSPORTATION & CIRCULATION SYSTEM The transportation and circulation system focuses on the pedestrian and bicycle network, as well as the major transit connection provided along the Transit Green, which is within a fiveminute walk of all points in the neighborhood. Autos are limited to neighborhood streets, alleyways and a few major roadways. The primary objective is to provide safe, efficient and convenient access and circulation for all modes of transportation. The bicycle and pedestrian system links sites throughout the neighborhood via a network of lanes and pathways. A bicycle bridge connects directly across SR 113 to the Central Campus. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities also connect to the campus core along Hutchison Drive. The street circulation system is organized as a traditional street grid, with a few special arterial and collector streets to carry higher volumes of traffic. Traffic calming measures are built into the circulation system, including grade-separated bicycle underpasses along major bicycle routes and the possible use of traffic circles or roundabouts at key entries along the "Main Street. The streets are designed to be pedestrian-oriented and slow, with narrow street sections, bicycle lanes, use of large canopy street trees, small building setbacks, and parking in the rear of houses off of alleyways. There is no vehicle connection to Russell Boulevard, other than for bicycles and emergency access at Arthur and Eisenhower intersections. UC DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLAN 19
DEVELOPMENT PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS The neighborhood s site design is linked to several key environmental design principles and practices. At both the site and building scales, environmental design is primarily related to four key areas: solar access, cooling winds, on-site drainage, and transportation. Design features at the building scale are outlined in Chapter 5, Typical Design Characteristics. The neighborhood s street grid and buildings are oriented to maximize solar access and daylighting during winter months and mitigate heat gain during summer months. This orientation also allows structures to utilize solar panels for power generation. The site design takes advantage of the prevailing Delta breeze winds in the summertime, which provide natural afternoon and evening cooling during summer. Drainage swales use existing topography to channel rainwater into ponds at the northern edge of the neighborhood, allowing for groundwater percolation and habitat areas. All housing is located within a fiveminute walk of the Transit Green and transit line, helping to reduce automobile use in this transit-oriented neighborhood. An integrated bicycle network links the neighborhood to the city and the campus. 20 UC DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLAN
DEVELOPMENT PLAN INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS Several primary utility corridors form the backbone of the neighborhood s infrastructure systems. Three key onsite systems include domestic water, sanitary water, and storm drainage. Water for residences, educational facilities, commercial/service areas, civic uses and irrigation is supplied through the University s domestic water system. This water is pumped through pipes under major roadways. Wastewater from buildings is collected along the primary utility corridors and pumped into the UC Davis sanitary sewer system. This system includes sewer main lines and pumping facilities that channel neighborhood wastewater to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on the South Campus. Treated wastewater is discharged to the South Fork of Putah Creek, or recycled for secondary uses on the Central Campus. Stormwater is captured on-site and directed into nearby drains and drainage swales. The water is then channeled to the ponds at the northern end of the neighborhood, where it percolates into the ground or evaporates. During large rain events and wet periods, excess water is collected and pumped south to Putah Creek. For more information on infrastructure systems, including electrical power, natural gas, communications and solid waste, refer to the 2003 LRDP and 2003 LRDP Environmental Impact Report. UC DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLAN 21