Development Scenarios
Master Plan
Utilizing existing conditions data and community-established planning concepts, the master plan provides a balance of land uses and preserve the integrity and sustainability of the entire Woodhaven Neighborhood. Development is concentrated in four areas, referred to here as the West, East, North, and Neighborhood Center Villages. Each area has a distinct character and purpose, which is described in more detail on the following pages. All incorporate the following design elements:
This plan addresses the community-established planning concepts in the following ways:
Create neighborhood centers with new entrances and gateways.
Each neighborhood village has a centrally located community gathering
space - either a park or town square. The primary new entrance/
gateway is positioned off Bridge Street between Oakland Hills Drive
and Country Club Lane leading into the Neighborhood Center Village.
Street improvements include paving enhancements and landscaping.
Improve the pedestrian environment and create new
opportunities for pedestrians and bicycles.
Narrowing wide streets such as Boca Raton Boulevard and Randol
Mill Road, will slow automobile traffic. Improving key intersections
with cross walks and pedestrian signals will improve pedestrian
safety. Adding street trees and other pedestrian amenities will make
walking more enjoyable. Compact, mixed-use development will allow
pedestrians to walk from their homes to shops and community areas.
The addition of new trails and parks will encourage more pedestrian
and bicycle travel.
- pedestrian friendly street design including street-facing storefronts and porches, street trees for shade and shelter, "hidden" parking lots behind buildings, and enhanced safety controls at intersections;
- a central community square or gathering place;
- compact development that encourages walking;
- diverse housing types for all ages and incomes;
- a trail and park system connecting village centers and providing recreation opportunities for all ages;
- consolidated public transportation facilities such as bus shelters.
Create community identity.
Each neighborhood village will have a particular focus such as senior
services or recreation, and will utilize assets such as views of downtown
or the Trinity River. Woodhaven residents will participate in naming
villages and reconfigured streets to enhance community identity.
Address the lack of neighborhood services.
This plan proposes an extensive system of trails and parks to provide
recreation opportunities for all ages. Village centers provide gathering
places and act as destinations for shopping and other activities.
Utilize design-based crime prevention strategies.
"Activating" streets with compact, pedestrian-friendly development,
residential porches, and street-facing store fronts, is known to discourage
neighborhood crime. With nearly around-the-clock "eyes on the street"
from pedestrians, residents, and store owners, criminals have no where
to hide.
Reduce apartment concentration and diversify housing types.
The Neighborhood Center Village will reduce apartment concentration
by removing the properties previously shown to be of the most concern
to the community. The Center will consist of a mix of uses and housing
options for all ages and incomes, including row houses, town homes,
and small-lot single-family homes.
Stabilize the remaining apartment complexes.
By removing some apartment complexes, the remaining complexes
will have less competition for tenants, increasing occupancy rates and
maintenance budgets. These changes can improve the quality of life of
all Woodhaven residents. Adding more ownership housing will assist in
stabilizing the remaining apartments and mitigating criminal activity.
Build on existing senior residential facilities on the west side.
Additional senior housing and community facilities are included on
Woodhaven Drive where existing retail development failed. This is mixed
with compact, single-family homes to provide a range of ages.
Encourage commercial and mixed-use revitalization on the east side.
Existing vacant parcels along Bridgewood Drive become hubs for mixed-
use development that are connected by pedestrian-friendly streets.