Livable Community Principles and Guidelines

The Livable Community Residential Design Guidelines respond to the growing housing needs of Watsonville's residents. The Guidelines conserve desirable characteristics of established areas. They shape new residential development to create more livable neighborhoods.

Watsonville's Need for Housing

Watsonville is a community caught up in the Bay Area's housing crisis. In 2000, Watsonville saw large increases in housing costs. Watsonville was one of the top three cities in California in terms of percentage increase. The pressure on existing residents to find housing, and housing that is affordable, will continue to rise unless more units are developed.

Conserving Neighborhoods

City policies emphasize infill and intensification of residential development, rather than expansion onto valuable agricultural land. The City's objective is to develop more housing in a way that conserves the desirable characteristics of established neighborhoods, while improving new and evolving neighborhoods. The Watsonville Livable Community Residential Design Guidelines meets this objective by framing a future that builds on the best of the past.

Shaping the Future

The Watsonville Livable Community Residential Design Guidelines are based on seven neighborhood and architectural design principles. The principles organize the community's desires expressed though workshops and meetings. These principles establish the basic design rules that will encourage housing in new and existing neighborhoods to contribute to a more livable Watsonville.

Principles

Overall Theme: Housing development should reflect the unique character valued by the community in Watsonville's traditional neighborhoods.

NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN

Principle 1: New Subdivisions

New subdivisions should be planned as an extension of the community's pattern of streets, parks, lots and blocks.

Principle 2: Infill Housing

In Watsonville's traditional neighborhoods, infill housing should be of similar scale, orientation and design as the existing structures.

Principle 3: Residential Streets

Residential streets should be pedestrian friendly with wide sidewalks, street trees and other amenities.

Principle 4: Mixed-Use Streets

Mixed-use streets should possess a pleasing pedestrian edge along the sidewalk.

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

Principle 1: Single Family Housing

The design of new single-family housing should reflect scale and street orientation of Watsonville's traditional neighborhoods.

Principle 2: Multifamily Housing

Multifamily housing should be designed to fit the scale and rhythm of Watsonville's traditional neighborhoods.