Guiding Principles
Charleston Place is a community that responds to the nature that surrounds it. Lot development should reinforce this vision with homes and landscapes that address all lot edges in a similar manner.
All lots front the neighborhood streets and back up to open space. The main facade of the home should always address the street. Limited street setbacks and welcoming facades strengthen the sense of community. In the same respect, the nature that surrounds each lot is also key to life in Charleston Place. Whether bordering a public park, waterfront, or wooded edge, each home should utilize architecture and landscape design to respond to the surrounding open space.
All lots are intended to address the street side and open space side in a similar manner. Flex zones, porch, and garage encroachment zones allow for maximum flexibility in the design of each home so that they may appropriately respond to existing conditions on site. These standards will allow for diversity in the neighborhood and respect for natural conditions while maintaining spatial continuity along each street and open space.
Corner lots (those bound by a street or open space) should address all three edges of community interface. This may be done architecturally, with a porch that wraps around the corner, or with a small gesture, like a colorful planting bed at the corner or along the open edge.
Lot Development
Extra care has been taken in the planning and construction of Charleston Place to demonstrate a light touch on the land. Individual lot development can also be done responsibly in order to further protect natural vegetation and maximize the usable space on each lot.
Topography
Because of the varied terrain in Charleston Place, almost every lot will be affected by topography. Architecture will need to adapt to the land, creating opportunities for additional living space on the back or side of the home that follows the slope.
Preservation
Trees and the natural understory add immeasurable character to the homesites in Charleston Place, reflecting the regional context and southern culture.
Native vegetation helps establish the natural heritage of the community, provides instant shade and habitat, and eliminates the need for excessive additional planting on each lot. All lots should be surveyed in order to identify significant trees (over 8” DBH - diameter at breast height) and sizable patches of understory. Lot clearing should be kept to a minimum (see Clearing, Preservation and Grading on page 19) and every effort should be made to preserve the natural vegetation around the building envelope.
Specimen trees are natural landmarks that measure 20” DBH or more. These specimens have already been identified by species and a plan showing their locations can be found in the Appendix (see page 29). Specimen trees should be preserved. Homeowners with specimen trees on their lots must receive prior DRB approval in order to remove or alter them in any way. |
