MDT assists communities in planning and designing a viable, appropriate future. It works not only with design issues such as main street improvements, but also with the fundamental planning process that allows residents to take the initiative in continuing to plan a future that reflects the dreams and interests of the community.

MDT believes a community’s future depends on the physical, social, environmental, and economic values its citizens embrace. The work of MDT involves translating these values into sustainable design ideas the community can implement.

Community-Based Planning Principles

• Recognize that people are a community’s best resource for visioning and investing in the future.
• Approach planning and design problems with an interdisciplinary team to achieve balanced planning and physical design solutions.
• Understand a community’s unique sense of place is developed through respect for the local environmental, physical, social, and economic characteristics.
• Promote physical design as an integral component of a community’s quality of life offers the most effective use of the Design Team’s planning and design skills.
• Encourage redevelopment in areas where urban infrastructure exists, or new development in areas where infrastructure capacity exists, ensures that a community’s land and utility resources will be used efficiently.
• Promote compact development patterns ensures that a community uses its land, transportation, and civic resources wisely.
• Encourage development of public-realm amenities that will attract private sector construction is an effective economic development strategy for improving community quality of life.
• Promote a range of housing types ensures that citizens of differing incomes, lifestyles, and preferences have a range of housing choices within the community.
• Promote a range of commercial building types ensures a range of building and employment choices within the community.
• Encourage community stakeholders to collaborate with one another ensures that community improvements are directed responsibly.
• Use graphics and visual references to communicate ideas quickly and effectively.