Comprehensive Plan - Carbondale, IL

2Land Use CharacterAdopted June 22, 2010and CommunityGrowthThis overview of existing physical characteristics provides insight into thecommunity’s urban form, current uses of land, and supporting infrastructureand public facilities. This chapter and Chapter 3, Community Mobility,illustrate current and future land use patterns and identify issues for analysis.Planning for future land use and community character will depend, in part,on how Carbondale has grown and evolved in the past and where it standstoday as a small city that still retains an historic and academic flavor. It willbe important for community leaders and residents to appreciate how thephysical development pattern of Carbondale is moving away from—orbuilding upon and reinforcing—traditional practices and amenities. This maybe accomplished through a series of recommended programs, ordinances,and capital projects, as well as through implementation of the Future Land UsePlan. In short, this chapter provides the missing link between ideals and actionso that the vision of land use expressed by residents can become a reality.City of CarbondaleComprehensive Plan2.1 IntroductionIn many ways, residents seek to retain the small city atmosphere that hascharacterized Carbondale throughout its history. There has always been a senseof “place” associated with Carbondale as a city and a regional center in SouthernIllinois. Carbondale residents identify with the City’s historic Downtown and itsdifferent neighborhoods. There are many urban design and land use elements thatcombine to create this perception of Carbondale. Streets with extensive tree coverand local parks help to complete the picture. Likewise, Memorial Hospital and SIUassist with “place-making” by creating destinations that draw residents and visitorsalike. Lastly, the large businesses that employ local residents are also landmarks andcontribute to the overall impression of the City. The issues that relate to land use,development and redevelopment, community design and appearance, Downtown,and historic preservation are addressed in this chapter.Most of the land within the corporate limits of Carbondale is developed, so theprotection of existing neighborhoods is a critical issue for residents. This is sucha critical issue that it occupied a majority of time for voicing resident opinions atthe Community Symposium. Many of the housing and neighborhood issues fall intothis category of addressing the already built-out areas of the city. A second majoropportunity is addressing new development, the so-called “greenfield” developmenton the City’s edges (and just outside its edges). Zoning for new development needsto encourage quality new development and protect neighbors from incompatibleland uses. Lastly, redevelopment in the Downtown area that focuses on urban formand walkable spaces is an issue. The opportunity for Downtown redevelopmentwill be ripe once the proper financial and zoning incentives are in place. This is not2.1Land Use Character and Community Growth