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Part 5. Urban Space Standards 501. Applicability A. The urban space standards apply to new development as well as the reconstruction of existing streets and other public (and publicly accessible) spaces. B. The urban space standards establish the rules and standards for the sTREET-SPACE/public realm (especially streets and sidewalks). 502. Intent A. Although commonly thought of as just SQUARES, greens, plazas or parks, the urban space (or public realm) is much more; it includes the complete STREET-SPACE-the public domain between the building FACADES: the travel lanes between the curbs as well as the sidewalks; the public plazas as well as urban parks and civic GREENS. B. The urban space standards are directly related to that goal. Specifically: 1. They establish an environment that encourages and facilitates pedestrian activity. "Walkable" streets are comfortable, efficient, safe, and interesting. 2. They ensure the coherence of the STREET-SPACE, serving to assist residents, building owners, and. managers with understanding the relationship between the STREET-SPACE and their own lots. 3. They contribute to ultimate sustainability. Native trees and plants contribute to privacy, the reduction of noise and air pollution, shade, maintenance of the natural habitat, conservation of water, and rainwater management. C. Property frontages and FACADES are part of the public realm, literally forming the walls of the public sTREEr-SPACE and are therefore subject to more regulation than the other portions of the private property. D. The private, interior portions of the lots (toward the A~~EYS or rear lot lines) are much less controlled to allow commercial operators to utilize these spaces as efficient working environments unseen by the public and allow residents to have private (semi-private for apartment and condominium dwellers) gardens and courtyards. 503. Street Type Specifications The street type specifications illustrate typical configurations for STREET-SPACES within the Downtown D2 District. The plans and sections specify vehicular travel lane widths, curb radii, sidewalks, tree planting areas, and on-street parking configurations. They also provide a COMPARATIVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING time as a gauge of relative pedestrian crossing- comfort between the various street types. A. Intent and Principles General Intent a. Streets are a community's first and foremost public spaces and should be just as carefully designed and planned as any park or public building. The character of the sTREEr-SPACE-both its scale and its details-plays a critical role in determining the pedestrian quality of a given location. b. Streets must balance the needs of all forms of traffic-auto, transit, bicycle and pedestrian-to maximize mobility and convenience for all City residents and users. Their character will vary depending on their location: some streets will carry a large volume of traffic and provide a more active and intense urban pedestrian 29