I’ve been thinking recently about how zoning is done in such massive blobs (at least in the US), it doesn’t allow for any walkable stores like the video below mentions. I know Europe is much better, in general, for walkability, but how much of that is historic (ie, not reproducible today)?
Would a checkerboard approach to zoning enhance new neighborhoods and allow for 3rd spaces?
Your checkerboard approach reminds me of the way the western United States is divided up in 1 square mile checkerboards between public and private lands. It is a very novel approach and I think that would be a favorable application for communities of a small size like the land mass of Liberland.
Ahh I didn’t know any where had intentionally done this… Can you name a specific place? So I can find out the history of why it turned out like that.
Here is the best website I have so far and it shows the flaws in the checkerboard system in terms of easements. I think we can mitigate this with the proper planning on how property easements are established beforehand. I do not like their opinions necessarily but it does show the history and where the checkerboard system in California is today.
Oh wow I didn’t know about this history, crazy! I guess I shouldn’t have used the term “checkerboard,” as that govt policy hasn’t worked out perfectly, although maybe it did achieve their goal of not dumping all the land into the hands of the super-rich.
Ok forget “checkerboarding”, let’s just call this idea, “improving walkability by allowing small commercial plots inside big residential zones.”
We need to work on our terminology for sure Murf! But the original point I was making earlier about easement accessibility is the most essential I think to improving walkability between different zones. I am trying to put my thoughts to paper on how to resolve this problem. I think a standard 20 ft or about 6 meters for our non American friends here should be the width to work with it can accommodate underground utilities, a sidewalk and a 9 ft (3 meter) rd for one way traffic.
I don’t quite understand the idea you’re putting forward. How do easements connect to walkability?
Earlier in this thread we agreed that the checkerboard was not good at promoting diversified zoning because everyone would be landlocked easements around each square promote walking accessibility between different zones.
Yeah land without an easement shouldn’t even be allowed to exist. Let’s call it “fantasy dream land”, because all it’s good for is dreaming up fantasies that will never come true.
The only way to get to it is by drone 
In my humble opinion, LiberLand should be developed and build (civil engineering) in different stages.
First settlers with (farm) lands and buildings –> public, business and government spaces –> re-building/re-structuring LL`s (space land) for modern ( civil) architecture.
Without stages (plan & implementation) we’ll either never start a (serious modern) construction or run into insurmountable problems very soon. (Again, these are just my experiences talking).
Yeah you’re probably right. I heard they were working on some sort of plan, or at least they may have a plot map laying things out. I’ve not seen it publicly posted though. That’s one thing Martin and I agree on is that if a plan is not publicly posted, it can’t receive feedback from anyone, and so a poorly designed plan may end up getting put into action.
I can say Murf that there is a land registry for LL https://landregistry.ll.land/
I hope that the land issues are fixed before too much land has been distributed, I don’t know how the land is claimed but I know one has to be a citizen and I think it is akin to what in America was called homesteading you just have to stay there in LL for I want to say 28 days. Please don’t quote me I cannot say that is accurate info.
I read somewhere that one has to stay in LL at least 25 days to become citizen and obtain land-rights. Then claim land and permanently occupy it in person (or via proxy) to keep it.
Gardeners have one trick: when laying out a new park just sow grass all over, let people walk wherever they want the first summer. Then lay the tracks down where they have already formed 
Some way of letting things sort themselves out in natural ways is the best by far I think!
Thank you for your ideas gentlemen! My biggest fear is someone or some business buying up all of the land and then reselling it to people at a much higher price. Yes I know that is how the free market works but there is also a crony angle to it as well. The person/business may only want to sell to “favored” people and not to those who have shown interest or even outright provided an offer to purchase said land. I know the argument of the free market but at the same time I don’t want crony capitalism either.
Martin I definitely share your same worries, and I think we have a lot of research and mental work to do before the answer to this issue is clear.
Chris that is a smart trick, I’m betting many of the roads of LL are already walking paths.