Fort Ord’s long-awaited regional urban design guidelines have finally come to fruition.

After more than two years, 33 task force meetings, 25 stakeholder meetings and 24 drafts, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority released its draft regional urban design guidelines for a two-week public comment period beginning May 16. (The comment deadline is May 31; comment on www.fora.org.)

The guidelines are intended to further refine the Base Reuse Plan, which was adopted in 1997, and help create cohesive, sustainable design elements on the former Fort Ord.

The guidelines expand on design principles outlined in the Base Reuse Plan, and provide a concrete framework for abstract development concepts like “unique identity,” “sustainable practices” and “diverse neighborhoods.”

The guidelines put a premium on mixed-used development centered around “villages,” improved retention of millennials and baby boomers, and seek to leverage preserving open space as a way to spur economic growth, in part by increasing bicycle tourism. The guidelines require bike lanes on every street, and establish paved trails that align with the proposed Fort Ord Recreational Trail and Greenway.

Marina resident Karyn Wolfe got involved with the process, and was part of a group that helped overhaul the palette of plants that would be allowed by developers, which speaks to the goal of creating a “unique identity.” Initially, most of the plants were non-natives, but the palette now consists of 90-percent native plants.

Wolfe says she wasn’t happy that some language got watered down as to what percentage of native plants would be used, but overall she’s happy with the draft.