The Richmond Parkway study presents a real-world example of how stakeholder values influence the geodesign framework. Geodesign studies seek to make recommendations based on an understanding of current and future conditions. The future is constantly in flux and prevents us from making concrete determinations. As such, it is common for a stakeholder to ask for multiple scenario outcomes, or alternative solutions, which would be developed during the “change model” portion of the first iteration. Let's assume for a moment that McHarg had been required to develop alternative scenarios based on several possible developments within the study area:

  1. A new housing development was planned but not yet permitted for construction,
  2. A proposal to expand the Greenway was in-progress but had not yet been approved, and
  3. A new conservation zone was established that would not permit any construction.

To accommodate these possible developments, multiple scenarios would need to be created. The geodesign framework is designed to be flexible to allow for variations in each model to enable a team to produce multiple alternative scenarios.