The ACT Government's new vision for Gungahlin includes fewer cars along the main retail strip and higher density commercial and residential development near the town centre.
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The zoning changes required variations to the territory plan, the capital's key planning document, and were tabled in the Legislative Assembly yesterday.
Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development Simon Corbell said the changes would encourage a lively town centre with retail, commercial and entertainment venues, while maintaining an ''urban village'' feel.
He said the Government had taken the Gungahlin Town Centre Planning Report into account in a bid to improve transport infrastructure in the area.
"The variation to the Territory Plan will enable the transport network to be improved to discourage through traffic and to encourage pedestrians, cyclists and bus routes along Hibberson Street,'' Mr Corbell said.
"Cars will be encouraged away from this busy main street by the establishment of a ring route road system which surrounds the town centre."
The zoning changes will also help to grow sporting facilities with Gungahlin Oval expanded to allow for additional car parking.
Planning spokesman for the Gungahlin Community Council Alan Kerlin said residents had been waiting years for the plan to be released.
A draft concept plan for Gungahlin was released in 2008 and 129 comments and submissions were received by the government.
Mr Kerlin said the town centre stagnated while the plans were finalised.
''A lot of things have been waiting for this to happen and the development of the town centre can finally occur,'' Mr Kerlin said.
But he praised the Government for its consultation process and said the Gungahlin Community Council had raised a number of concerns about the draft plan.
''We've had input in it over a number of years and it's been largely productive discussions right the way through. It's a matter of having a look at the final product and hopefully they have captured what we have been talking about,'' Mr Kerlin said.
But Green planning spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur said she was concerned the variations to the territory plan had not been provided to the Legislative Assembly planning committee.
