I’ve run into a similar planning puzzle on a smaller site. The first layout looked spacious, but residents would have needed a car for almost everything, while the denser version left too little room for useful green space. What helped was mapping daily trips first, then placing the school, shops, transit access, and housing around those routes. I’m still collecting good planning references, and residential development in Concord looks like a useful starting point. I’d be grateful for any other practical checklists or case studies people recommend.