Design review is a strategy for managing the quality and details of new development through focus on the appearance of construction and site planning details. Design review protects community character by applying urban design and architectural principles, and should provide a framework that helps guarantee fairness and consistency in the approval of buildings and new development.
There are also many more specific advantages for using review processes to achieve the benfits of quality urban design, including the following:
Economic: An increase in the overall ambience of older commercial areas, by respecting the human scale in facade and sign design, encourages shoppers to make longer visits and increase their purchases of goods and services.
Social: An affirmation or creation of a "sense of place," by building neighborhood identity and pride, which can encourage better local security, socialization and property maintence.
Greening: Well-designed mixed use development helps preserve green space by using less land for buildings, retaining more land in a natural state and including new energy efficient and sustainable technologies.
