But regional planners imagine a future in which shoppers can travel from place to place on foot, bike, or public transit, with common areas where people can congregate. Suggestions include moving buildings closer to the street with parking in the back, eliminating sprawling parking lots in favor of compact garages and public green space, and constructing buildings that span Route 9 to create pedestrian connections.

“What we’re trying to do is get people to think about developing in a different way,” said Bruce Leish, director of the MetroWest Regional Collaborative, part of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

The public agency is presenting its suggestions for development along the roadway Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Callahan Center, 535 Union Ave. in Framingham, in a public forum titled “The Future of Route 9.”

Built out to its current zoning, Leish said, the stretch of Route 9 from Wellesley to Southborough will eventually balloon, with development increasing by 88 percent . At the same time, he said, traffic will increase by 41 percent. 

“It’s zoned, essentially, for sprawl,” Leish said.

Using the principles of smart growth — a planning strategy that emphasizes compact, mixed-use development — Route 9 could still increase its current square footage by 60 percent while increasing traffic by 20 percent, Leish said.

Planners focused on three areas along Route 9 for their suggestions. In the Fayville area of Southborough, they envision buildings closer to the corners of the intersection at Route 9 and Oak Hill Road, with a landscaped median to slow traffic and allow for easier pedestrian crossing.

In the Framingham Centre historic area near Framingham State University, planners propose reducing the number of access roads and parking lots, and replacing pavement with retail space to create a shopping village.

Perhaps the most dramatic reenvisioning is reserved for the “Golden Triangle,” the crowded commercial area that stretches for nearly 2 miles between the Speen Street interchange in Natick and Route 30 in Framingham.

In addition to constructing buildings across Route 9 and moving shops closer to the road in Natick, planners imagine moving cars off of the existing massive parking lot at Shoppers World in Framingham. The lot would be replaced with a public green and a compact garage with retail space on the ground floor. Additionally, smaller shops and residential space would be built above and beside the mall’s big-box stores.

“We’re trying to animate Shoppers World,” Leish said.

Bonnie Biocchi, president and chief executive of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, said there might be a disconnect between what planners want for the region and what makes business sense.

“Sometimes we have these great visions, but in reality they’re not as easy to implement,” Biocchi said.

For example, Biocchi said, she is skeptical about the viability of residential units mixed in with retail space. The Nouvelle at Natick condo development at Natick Mall was largely seen as a flop, with units selling for huge discounts off their initial listing prices.

“I’m not convinced that people are going to flock to the Shoppers World condo complex,” Biocchi said. “I think that’s more of an urban concept than a suburban concept.”

Biocchi also said that, while she sometimes finds crossing Route 9 hectic, it is impractical to wish away traffic.

“As much as I can understand wanting to encourage more pedestrian traffic, there may be some level of skepticism,” Biocchi said. “I think people are used to driving to a location, parking, and conveniently getting in and out of a store they choose to patronize.”

But Leish defended the concept of a mix of residential and retail space.

“Maybe it’s people who want to be able to go out their front door and have Starbucks there and do some shopping and not have to drive,” Leish said. “It’s a suburban alternative to living in the city. All indications are, this is the type of market that might be successful.”

And Leish said he merely wants to make life easier for pedestrians, not eliminate cars.