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Land Use Mix <br />Overview <br />The Town Center Master Plan identifies <br />the preferred mix and approximate <br />location of a variety of land use types. <br />Together with the Zoning Code, these <br />guidelines focus on the following overall <br />objectives: <br />• Promote vertical and horizontal mixed <br />use (within a building, within a block, <br />winthin a district) <br />• Provide a variety of housing types, <br />styles, pricing <br />• Encourage increased density in and <br />around the central core area <br />• Promote an interesting mix of building <br />styles, scales and massing for each <br />sub -district <br />• Support creative, innovative, high <br />quality design solutions as the <br />benchmark for success <br />• Integrate mix of uses with public <br />green space within each district <br />• Provide a variety of commercial types <br />• Mix residential and commercial uses <br />to promote street -level activity <br />throughout the day <br />Guideline Recommendations <br />The mix of land uses in the Town Center <br />will encourage activity during the day <br />and into the evening and nighttime <br />hours. As a focus of commerce, <br />employment, recreation and housing, <br />the Center closely resembles a small to <br />medium size Midwestern downtown in <br />scale and character. Land uses are <br />intentionally mixed, to bring shoppers <br />and workers into the area during the day <br />and attract new residents and visitors to <br />entertainment venues in the evening. <br />The civic component of the Town <br />Center, exemplified by the new City Hall, <br />Police Station and variety of public <br />spaces and squares, adds an important <br />element to the land use mix and brings a <br />level of authenticity to the district. <br />Objectives <br />• Encourage vertical mixed-use in the core with housing and office space over retail <br />uses along the street. <br />• In residential districts, particularly closer to the core, a limited amount of retail uses <br />will be encouraged to service residents and provide nearby places to gather. <br />• Promote innovative models for housing that include a mix of townhomes, flats and <br />lofts within single buildings or on the same block. <br />• Accomodate larger, 'big box' retailing within the Town Center; only if innovative <br />design approaches are used including two story buildings, use of liner stores facing <br />the street, minimal blank walls, creative parking strategies, etc. <br />• Where similar uses create a `family' or campus of buildings (e.g. medical campus), <br />buildings should reinforce the street edge and parking should be set within the core <br />of the block. <br />• Uses shall promote pedestrian friendly streets, contributing to street level activities <br />and overall visual character of each district <br />• All uses should reinforce the street edge <br />6 Ramsey Town Center Development Guidelines <br />