What is the Placebuilder?
The Placebuilder is a compilation of the urban planning best practices found in the policies throughout Imagine Lexington. It sorts these best practices into development criteria that are applicable to proposed developments seeking a zone change. In addressing the development criteria, applicants demonstrate that they are in agreement with the Comprehensive Plan, and that their individual developments work toward implementing the broader Goals and Objectives developed by the community.
A fundamental piece of The Placebuilder is the menu of different place-types that assist the developer in determining the appropriate ingredients for their site, such as zoning, site priorities, and desired density, based on the surrounding context. These place-types give way to an offering of development types, which are density-based options intended to enhance compatibility and support neighboring conditions. The selection of desired place-type and development type will guide the user to the appropriate criteria for his or her site, which are actionable items derived from the policies within the plan. In this way, the structure of The Placebuilder tool allows it to function as a distillation of the larger Goals & Objectives of Imagine Lexington.
In addition to providing guidance for applicants seeking a zone change, The Placebuilder puts a strong emphasis on promoting healthy discussion between developers and neighborhoods. It achieves this by providing a common language and common objectives to create an avenue for productive, transparent conversations among all stakeholders.