Elverta Specific Plan

Design Concepts Review

 

 

Community of Neighborhoods

The Specific Plan design guidelines and standards are organized to emphasize neighborhood planning that supports overall community planning objectives. The Plan does not design individual properties. However, it provides overall standards and identifies image objectives, design concepts, site planning criteria, architectural guidelines and streetscape requirements for neighborhoods.

Elverta Neighborhoods

Elverta will develop with four distinct different types of neighborhoods. In all, the plan identifies 20 neighborhoods - - of which seven are located in the village center, nine are in areas adjacent to the village center, and three are in the northern ag-res area.

Town Center District

The Town Center contains the community center, community park, commercial services, and high-medium density housing and transit stop.

Village Center Neighborhoods

The village neighborhoods are those that fall within the urbanized portions of the loop road. These neighborhoods have a more formal character.

Residential Neighborhoods

The other residential areas that fall outside the loop road have a relaxed and informal character. These neighborhoods also contain low residential densities as a perimeter buffer to Elverta.

Agricultural- Residential Neighborhoods

The northern portion of the Elverta community is agricultural-residential that develops as neighborhoods with a distinct rural flavor.

Town Center

The Town Center District will become the principal meeting and social focus for Elverta's future 12,000 residents. The community shopping center, multifamily development and community center buildings will need to be sited and designed to facilitate auto access and connections to the multi-use trail network while creating places for the community to gather.

Town Center Design Principles

Site Design:

1. Use buildings to shape and activate community spaces.

2. Use the edges of buildings to connect and shape pedestrian experiences.

3. Use landscaping to frame open spaces and connections.

4. Use landscaping to create and enhance the settings and places in Elverta.

5. Community and commercial buildings should be sited as visual references and landmarks.

 

Architectural Design:

1. Community and commercial buildings should reflect the rural regional setting.

2. Community and commercial buildings should have large simple sloped roof forms.

3. Commercial buildings should have transparent storefronts (including the market and pad buildings).

Village Center Neighborhoods

The Village Center Neighborhoods are the residential areas located within the Elverta loop road. The neighborhoods will have a distinctly urban village character - - grid blocks, narrow streets, smaller setbacks, street-orientation of porches and set-back garages.

Village Center Design Principles

 

Site Design:

1. Smaller streets should have smaller lots.

2. Opaque privacy fences and sound walls should not separate housing from open space or roadways.

3. Houses and entries should have a street orientation.

4. Garages are setback from the front of the house.

5. Every lot should have a street tree in keeping with the guidelines.

 

Architectural Design:

1. Housing should have simple roof forms with gables facing the the street.

2. Houses should have street-facing porches.

3. Corner lot houses should have visual interest on each street frontage (no blank walls).

Outer Neighborhoods

Elverta's residential areas outside the Village Center (loop road) are to be developed as a sophisticated suburban neighborhoods (rather than fragmented subdivisions). In contrast to the Village Center neighborhoods, the outer neighborhoods have "relaxed" curved streets, larger setbacks, and more horizontal, low-slung housing design.

Outer Neighborhood Design Principles

Site Design:

1. There should be a clear street hierarchy for improved wayfinding.

2. Smaller streets should have smaller lots.

3. Opaque privacy fences and sound walls should not separate housing from open space or roadways.

4. Houses and entries should have a street orientation.

5. Every lot should have a street tree as specified in the design guidelines.

 

Architectural Design:

1. Housing should have simple roof forms with roof ridges running parallel with the street.

2. Houses should have street-facing porches.

3. Corner lot houses should have visual interest on each street frontage (no blank walls).

Rural Neighborhoods

The northern edge of Elverta is to be developed as three rural neighborhoods. These areas provide an opportunity to own animals and farm on small parcels. The area maintains the characteristics of rural county areas - - secondary structures, scattered houses set back from the road, and informal landscape without curb/gutter/sidewalk improvements.

Rural Neighborhood Design Principles

 

Site Design:

1. The neighborhoods should have a variety of lot sizes (to avoid appearance of large-lot tract housing).

2. The areas should be visually open.

3. Houses should be set back from the roadways.

4. Parking should be located behind the primary structure.

 

Architectural Design:

1. Housing should reflect the rural traditions in terms of materials and design.

2. Houses should have simple central mass with porches or verandas.

3. Secondary buildings should reflect their function and vernacular traditions.

Schools

Elverta's schools should become an integral part of the design. The schools should be visual references and landmarks. In keeping with the principles established for the plan, the schools are sited and designed as source of civic pride for Elvertains.

School Design Principles

 

Center District School Site Design:

1. The building lobby should be a visual terminus to the north-south neighborhood access road.

2. The classroom wings should open towards the loop road.

3. Parking should be located between the school and the neighborhood park.

 

Elverta District School Site Design:

1. The entry lobby should be located on the corner as a landmark.

2. Parking should be located between the school and the neighborhood park.

 

Architectural Design:

1. The schools should have pronounced, visible entry lobbies.

2. Simple, sloped roofs are desirable features.

3. The building massing should be broken into smaller elements.

Community Center and Park

The Community Center and Community Park will function as a social and recreational hub for Elverta. They are to be symbols of the Elverta's rural village lifestyle.

Community Center and Park Design Principles

 

Site Design:

1. The community center building should be located as the visual terminus of the neighborhood entry road.

2. Parking should happen around the front entry, not in the park.

3. An outdoor amphitheater should be located near the community building.

4. Tennis courts should be located near, but visually separated from the community center building.

5. A water feature should located near the 16th Street and Elverta Road intersection.

6. Landscaping should provide a distinct geometry and spatial quality for the park.

 

Architectural Design:

1. The community center building design should reflect its functional and rural vernacular traditions.

2. The building should have a simple mass and sloped roof.

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