More land use changes, VA nixes cul-de-sacs

Last week, Virginia announced it would no longer accept cul-de-sacs in the state highway system. Most intriguingly for developers was VDOT’s connectivity standard, which compels localities to complete linkages between neighboring parcels even if land usage is different. Much, much more is detailed at Greater Greater Washington and via WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi (iTunes). VDOT Sec. Homer highlights slower speeds, improved connectivity (for residents and emergency vehicles), the inclusion of sidewalks, and reduced paving (for better stormwater management) as justifications for the regulatory revisions.

[Source: Millicent Bystander, flickr.com]

What’s particularly interesting about the connection requirements is that it should increase the accessibility of retail centers to surrounding neighborhoods by multiple means of transit (primarily auto and pedestrian). It will be interesting to see if some of the land use changes highlighted by Galley Eco come to pass more quickly in Virginia.

As a resident of an urbanized area of Northern Virginia, this is welcome news. I also suspect that when combined with a greater focus on reducing car use, Walkscore (see comments for how the NYT fumbled its citations), new funding priorities for HUD and DOT, and most importantly, new lending practices, we will start to see a long-term shift in development patterns over the next 5-20 years.

This is a fascinating real estate topic, so expect more posts.

[Note: For more info on street grid designs, see New Urban News.]
Update: VDOT began public hearings on the connectivity standards in early 2009. Charlottesville Tomorrow recorded this hearing in April.