What is Urban Design?
Urban design is the practice of shaping the physical features of cities, towns, and neighborhoods to make them functional, attractive, and livable.
It sits at the intersection of architecture, planning, and landscape architecture. Instead of focusing only on individual buildings, urban design looks at the bigger picture and how buildings, streets, public spaces, and infrastructure work together.
How does Urban Design apply in Orange County?
The Urban Design team reviews projects that move through the Development Review process with the Development Review Committee (DRC). The team evaluates projects for walkability, connectivity, building placement, and compliance with code regulations under:
Article XIII. - Architectural Standards and Guidelines for Commercial Buildings and Projects
Applicants may also receive non-code-related comments, which are provided as urban design best practice suggestions. All comments, both regulatory and advisory, are shared with the applicant through the planner assigned to the project case.