Urban Living

Step 3

Living Environments

Density

Mixed density in Southridge is residential development that contains a mix of housing types such as single dwellings and multi units and a variety of development forms such as size and height. In the North East of the greenfield is the higher dense. then in the middle of the area is the middle density that has a balance between the nature and the housing while the south of the area are the lowest density houses that are connected to nature and give the area the sense of the nature.

For new residential developments mixed density is encouraged as it provides housing choice, which promotes a more diverse community and caters for various stages of life, maximises infrastructure and land, and supports the provision of public transport (Places, 2009).

The Southridge Valley development plan is relatively sprawled, in order to not stray too far from the resident’s comfort zones. Looking at the current town of Okotoks, the sprawl includes primarily residential buildings, with the town centre singling out the commercial services that the town provides. Where as in the new development, a mix of services and functions are scattered throughout the area. This area is not as dense as it could be, however the provision of the daily services within walking distance combats the sprawl issues that Okotoks faces. The layout is close enough to what the inhabitants are used to but pushes them to think about future and other possibilities.

Density mapFigure 25: Density map

Urban living (High density) Densify around public spaces (Higher density) Encourage Mixed density residential development will be Courtyard living (Medium density) developed in an integrated way with connected street networks, mixed use land uses and public Organic living (Low density) transport to ensure: • Walking, cycling and public transport is planned and supported • Key destinations, such as shops, schools are within walking distance • Good streetscape integration and enhanced public space surveillance • High quality building design which contributes to the function, attractiveness and conviviality of an area • Adequate public areas are provided within walking distance, including open space and a variety of places for social interaction.