HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 Downtown District Design Standards Phase 1- Concepts for a Downtown Building Facade and Property Maintenance Code AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 6/23/2014
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: Linda Pauly/Gary Karp DPW
Staff Phone No: (541) 726-4608 Estimated Time: 30 minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Promote and Enhance
our Hometown Feel while Focusing on
Livability and
Environmental Quality
ITEM TITLE: DOWNTOWN DISTRICT DESIGN STANDARDS PHASE 1: CONCEPTS FOR A DOWNTOWN BUILDING FAÇADE AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Council is asked to (1) discuss and provide input on Attachment 1 Downtown Building Façade and Property Maintenance Standards - Elements to be Considered to identify which items (if any) the Council is interested in regulating; and (2)
direct staff to draft Municipal Code language for review by Council this fall. The
proposed standards would affect existing Downtown buildings and property.
ISSUE STATEMENT: This is the first phase of a public planning process that will produce a set of coherent and consistent design standards to improve Downtown’s overall image,
attractiveness and economic vitality. Council has directed staff to prepare Downtown District Design Standards to ensure that development projects, new uses
and new public improvements will make positive contributions to improve the look,
feel and functionality of Downtown.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Building Façade and Property Maintenance Standards to be Considered (Phase 1)
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
At the May 12, 2014 work session, Council provided input on a list of potential
Downtown Design elements to be considered in this project. Staff proposes to address Building Façade and Property Maintenance Standards as the initial step in the regulatory update because improvements to the physical condition of existing
downtown buildings and property:
• can be accomplished in the short term;
• can immediately influence sense of safety, comfort, walking behavior and level of Downtown user/visitor/shopper interest (e.g. natural surveillance,
crime prevention through design);
• address other fundamental community health, safety and welfare issues
(e.g. cleanliness, weed control, potential hazards); and
• are separate from matters of style, architectural design and purely aesthetic
concerns;
• will encourage utilization of the existing Façade Improvement Program
dedicated funds.
Future project phases will be developed and presented to the Council for review and adoption later this year. For example, the City has applied for Code Assistance from the State’s TGM program to prepare a Downtown Streetscape plan and form-
based design standards that will be applicable to new development and to improvements located in and adjacent to the public right-of-way. The project team
will work with a consultant team, the Downtown Citizen Advisory Committee and
the Technical Advisory group to propose a set of coherent and consistent design standards to improve Downtown’s image, attractiveness and economic vitality.
These actions support the outcomes envisioned in the Council’s adopted Downtown Urban Design Plan and Implementation Strategy.
Council Action Item:
City Council Work Session June 23, 2014
Downtown District Design Standards – Phase 1:
Downtown Building Façade and Property Maintenance Standards
To Be Considered Council is asked to select items from the following list to be included in the Downtown
Building Façade and Property Maintenance Standards. The proposed standards would
affect existing Downtown buildings and property.
On May 12th Council directed staff to develop regulatory concepts for potential design
elements that could be regulated differently in Downtown. Council confirmed that the
proposed categories of design standards address Council’s concerns and warranted
further investigation. These include — as a first step — potential Downtown Building
Façade and Property Maintenance Standards that would be applicable to Downtown
property and existing buildings. This would require: (1) development of code language;
and (2) Council’s adoption of an amendment to the Springfield’s Municipal Code.
Council directed staff to develop standards that will be affordable to the businesses
while addressing: inside window sign standards and building lighting, appearance
standards for vacant and occupied buildings, parking lots, trash clean up, graffiti
removal and vegetation maintenance. Staff proposes this first phase set of standards
to address fundamental community health, safety and welfare issues (e.g. cleanliness,
visibility, weed control, potential hazards) that affect the Downtown District’s
functioning as a walkable, inviting City center. Future project phases will address
matters of style, architectural design and more comprehensive design and
development concerns. If directed by Council, the project team will work with the
Downtown Citizen Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Group, Main Street program
and City Attorney’s Office to draft Municipal Code language for review by Council
after the summer recess.
On June 6th and 10th, 2014, staff conducted a visual analysis of the downtown area to
assess how some of the specific problems identified by the Council could be addressed
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 14
by this code. The photographs included here and in the work session presentation
record the appearance of downtown streets and alleys as seen through the eye of the
pedestrian.
Springfield Municipal Code Standards - Downtown Building Façade and Property Maintenance Standards
1. Condition of Paint
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 14
2. Condition of walls, siding, and decorative features including but not limited to cornice, eaves, lintels
Attachment 1, Page 3 of 14
3. Condition of windows and doors and their transparency
Attachment 1, Page 4 of 14
4. Condition of signs, marquees, canopies and awnings
Attachment 1, Page 5 of 14
4. Abandoned or dangerous signs, poles, planters and other hazards
Attachment 1, Page 6 of 14
Attachment 1, Page 7 of 14
5. Condition of roof drains, gutters and downspouts
6. Condition of vacant buildings
7. Paint condition/maintenance of private murals
Attachment 1, Page 8 of 14
8. Sanitation
9. Condition of sidewalks, driveways, parking areas
Attachment 1, Page 9 of 14
Attachment 1, Page 10 of 14
10. Weeds and vegetation maintenance
Attachment 1, Page 11 of 14
11. Fences and walls
Attachment 1, Page 12 of 14
Desirable Outcomes – A Few Examples of Good Storefront and Signage
Attachment 1, Page 13 of 14
Attachment 1, Page 14 of 14