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Chapter I - Background, Issues, and Goals hotels, and similar uses that place a premium on freeway visibil- ity and access are located adjacent to US 101. Residential devel- opment is located away from US 101 and adjacent to waterfront areas to capitalize upon the value of this water as an amenity. 2. Nice Places, Building Orientation, and Pedestrian Circulation Redwood City is pursuing "Nice Places" urban design policies that promote active, pedestrian-oriented streets and public spaces. This planning approach is essential for creating commu- nities that are attractive and "livable"; e.g., not dependent on automobile use for all aspects of everyday life. Creating nice places in the Precise Plan Area is also a key element for over- coming the locational disadvantages noted above; one of the major benefits of a high density residential environment is that it can offer walkable destinations. Building orientation and de- sign should create streets and ways that encourage residents to Locally-oriented commercial destinations are required to encourage walk to neighborhood commercial businesses, open spaces, tran- pedestrian activity. They are key ingredients of a liveable, high- sit stops, and other facilities within the Precise Plan Area, rather density community. than drive to external destinations. The Precise Plan's development standards and design guide- lines focus on creating a high density urban village that maxi- mizes "eyes on the street." They contain criteria to ensure ground level activity, locating occupied building space, dwelling unit entrances, lobbies, etc., rather than parking structures, along the frontages of streets and ways. The standards require a network of streets and ways that maximize opportunities for pedestrian circulation, support pedestrian activity with on-street parking, and encourage innovative design for private streets, with pav- ers instead of asphalt, bumpouts for parking, street trees, at- grade sidewalks, and other design elements. 3. Waterfront Access and Open Space - Community access to wa- . ter edge areas in the Bayfront is limited. The Precise Plan Area currently contains no publicly accessible water edge trails or Waterfront esplanades and open spaces will be created in park space, and private water-oriented recreational facilities are conjunction with new development. Final Plan - June 2004 - 12 -