E . Development Pattern
Louisville ’ s development pattern can be broadly characterized into three zones radiating outward from the Ohio River and downtown Louisville ( See Figure III . E . 1 : Generalized Land Use Map ). The innermost zone , generally circumscribed by the Interstate 264 loop and the Ohio River , is largely built out and contains the densest and oldest development in the City . Louisville ’ s downtown is the hub of this zone . The second zone , from Interstate 264 to the loop formed by the Gene Snyder Freeway , is characterized by a more suburban pattern of development with vacant land interspersed among residential and industrial land uses particularly in the outer part of the zone . The land use pattern of the outermost zone , from the Gene Snyder Freeway to the City boundary , is distinguished by a more rural road network supporting lower density residential development and significant tracts of vacant land . Commercial uses in Louisville are concentrated in downtown Louisville and along major arterials ( such as Dixie Highway , Preston Highway , Bardstown Road , and Shelbyville Road ) which radiate outward from the hub .
According to a survey by Jefferson County DPDS , approximately 96,940 acres of land or 40 percent of the County was undeveloped in 1992 ¹². Of this total , approximately 56 percent was characterized by development constraints such as shallow depth to bedrock , steep slopes , hydric soil conditions , and / or susceptibility to flooding . Most of the remaining vacant land was concentrated in outer Jefferson County , especially the Floyds Fork Drainage Area .
Facilitated by a readily available infrastructure of roads , sewer lines , and water lines , development within the inner part of Louisville has experienced extensive residential , commercial , and industrial growth . Vacant tracts of land are still found interspersed in the predominant pattern of developed land uses , often in areas characterized by sensitive environmental resources such as stream corridors and hydric soils . To date , this land use pattern is less prevalent in the outer part of Louisville due to less extensive infrastructure ( including limited public sewer service in the Floyds Fork drainage area ) and lesser demands for development . However , growth pressures are increasing in this area as evidenced by the suburban homes which have been constructed on large lots along many roadways in the past 30 years . On the other hand , there is also indication that this growth pattern has changed with the increase in smaller households and more interest by millennials in living in a vibrant urban environment and more demand for apartments .
Park and open space resources are part of the existing pattern of land use , affording visual relief from the surrounding urban fabric , providing recreational and environmental benefits , and helping to define neighborhood boundaries . Of particular significance is the historic system of Olmsted-designed parks and parkways , which was originally conceived as an interconnected open space network providing multiple recreational , environmental , and visual benefits . As the last major park system Frederick Law Olmsted , Sr . designed , Louisville ’ s Olmsted parks are considered his most mature park system and area priceless open space resource for
Parks and Recreation System Master Plan | III . CONTEXT AND COMMUNITY INVENTORY 59