Designed as a compact, walkable community, Seaside features a radial street plan centered on a mixed-use Town Square, creating a network of narrow streets and mid-block pedestrian paths that prioritize human-scale interaction over car traffic. The design incorporates narrow pedestrian walkways, rear walks between backyards, and midblock paths to improve walkability and neighborly interaction. Seaside's land use strategy is rooted in mixed-use zoning. The town includes approximately 423 residential units, 42 specialty retail shops, 12 restaurants, a public charter school, an interfaith chapel, and various cultural institutions. Public spaces like Central Square, the Lyceum, and beachfront pavilions serve as focal points for community life and visitor activity. Residential blocks are organized with a graduation of building types: Larger beachfront homes front the ocean, denser housing clusters near the central square, and a blend of single-family and multi-family units are distributed further inland. This spatial sequencing supports both diversity in housing typology and a clear urban-to-rural transition. Environmentally, Seaside was notably ahead of its time. Unlike typical beach resorts that flattened dunes for ocean views, Seaside’s master plan preserved the site’s sugar-white sand beaches and natural dune systems. These dunes are ecological buffers and storm barriers, reflecting a commitment to long-term environmental resilience. David (Robert Davis, the founder) believed the untouched natural beauty, particularly the turquoise waters and bright beaches, was central to the town’s appeal. Beach access is intentionally democratized through public pathways and dune crossovers, ensuring the shoreline remains open to all residents and visitors. Underlying physical design is a strong regulatory framework rooted in form-based code, which unifies diverse architectural styles—Victorian, Neoclassical, Postmodern—into a cohesive streetscape. The code also enforces traditional urbanist principles, such as rear alleys, shared public spaces, and concealed garages. The emphasis on mixed-use development and transect-based planning influenced the later evolution of the Smart Code, making the project also a policy model for sustainable urbanism.