Large Format Commercial
Design Principles:
1. Strong Street Edge: All commercial retail development, including Large Format (or ‘Big Box’) uses, should provide physical definition to streets and public spaces. This physical definition is achieved by locating buildings close to the street edge, with off-street parking located behind or beside buildings. Definition of the street edge is a legitimate role for large format retail development and should be achieved wherever possible.
2. Distinct ‘Sense of Place’: Commercial retail development should incorporate high quality architectural treatments, building materials, and site planning that provides visual interest at the scale of the pedestrian, reduces building mass impacts, respects local character, and provides a distinct sense of place.
3. High Quality Public Amenities: Development should provide high quality public amenities that promote a positive site appearance and promote pedestrian activity and social interaction.
4. Dual Frontages & Multiple Entrances: Commercial retail development should provide multiple entries at multiple frontages to improve site design flexibility and options for building location.
5. Capitalize Infill Opportunities: Large surface parking areas at the street edge provide opportunities for infill development. Infill development should provide a strong street edge, and frame entries and main drive aisles.
6. Think Ahead: Block patterns for ‘Big Box’ development should be designed to ultimately accommodate denser, mixed-use development.
Source: Regional Municipality of Niagara, Model Urban Design Guidelines, 2005
Additional Resources:
Beaumont, Constance: Better models for superstores. National Trust for Historic Preservation. Washington, 1997.
Maryland Department of Planning: “Big Box Retail Development”. Baltimore, 2001.
Maryland Department of Planning, “Infill.” Baltimore, 2001.
http://www.op.state.md.us/planning/ M&gs/infillfinal_1.pdf
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals - Bicycle Parking in Commercial Areas
http://www.apbp.org/pdfs/bikepark.pdf
