HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR CULTURAL RESOURCE DISTRICT DECEMBER 10, 2013ITEM # 3
AGENDA REPORT
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MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2013
TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE CULTURAL
RESOURCE DISTRICT— UPDATE AND OVERVIEW
As part of an on -going work program, staff is drafting Commercial Design Guidelines for the
Cultural Resource District. An overview of the draft document will be presented to the
Commission and the public at the Commission's December 10, 2013 meeting.
The format and appearance of the Draft Commercial Design Guidelines for the Cultural
Resource District are modeled after the recently updated Residential Design Guidelines. Like
the Residential Guidelines, the Commercial Design Guidelines serve as a guide to assist
property owners, architects, contractors, and other design professionals in understanding the
City's goals for the preservation of historically significant buildings and neighborhoods. Another
purpose is to provide basic principles for achieving quality design and development compatible
with the character of the Cultural Resource District; the guidelines often help property owners
and design professionals in designing projects that are acceptable and consistent with the
design criteria and standards established for the Cultural Resource District.
The Guidelines recognize the unique identity of Old Town and provide flexibility in addressing
the specific needs and characteristics of the City's historic commercial district. The illustrations,
how -to methods, and design ideas shown in the Commercial Design Guidelines are to be used
as a "yardstick" against which to measure proposed projects; they are not intended to be
development standards as are found in the Zoning Ordinance. Applicable projects will be
encouraged to follow the spirit of the Guidelines to the greatest degree possible.
The Commercial Design Guidelines handbook is organized under the following topics:
• Introduction
Provides an overview of the Guidelines, the establishment of the City's historic
preservation program, the design review process, and certificates of
appropriateness.
Tustin's Historic Commercial Architectural Forms and Styles
o Describes One -Part Block, Two -Part Block, Temple Front and Arcaded Block,
and Framed Window Wall forms; and Western False Front, Neo- Classical
Commercial, Victorian Commercial, and Moderne styles.
Planning Commission Report
Commercial Design Guidelines
Page 2
• Commercial Design Guidelines Introduction
o Summarizes the California Historical Building Code and the Secretary of the
Interior's Standards For Rehabilitation.
• Preservation and Rehabilitation Guidelines
o Provides rehabilitation guidelines for store fronts, windows, entrances, decorative
elements, awnings, materials, and cleaning and painting.
• Incorporating Sustainability
o Presents ideas for making a building more sustainable through increased energy
efficiency in five areas: weatherization, heating and cooling, roofs, windows, and
solar technology.
• Adaptive Reuse
o Provides information on converting a historic building to a different use.
• Building Additions and Accessory Structures
o Discusses site plan considerations, compatibility, scale, mass, height, setbacks,
materials, etc.
• New Infill Development
o Explains site plan and architectural considerations for new development.
• Parking
o Discusses siting and design for surface lots, parking structures, and curbside
parking.
• Landscaping, Outdoor Seating, and the Street Environment
o Suggests appropriate landscape design, street furniture, walkways, outdoor sales
and seating, fences and walls, lighting, bicycle lanes and racks, and public art.
• Signs
o Discusses sign types, historic signs, and general sign guidelines
• Appendices
o Includes a glossary of terms, lists of appropriate materials and colors, an
overview of Low Impact Development (LID) principles, City approval process
summary, processing flowcharts, summaries of the Historic Register Plaque
Designation Program, Federal Tax Incentives for Non - residential buildings, and
the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties,
a landscape planting chart, and a list of helpful book, websites, and Codes.
It is anticipated that in January of 2014 the draft will be ready to release to stakeholders and the
public for a 30 -day review period. Stakeholders should include: Tustin Chamber of Commerce,
Tustin Area Historical Society, Tustin Preservation Conservancy, all owners of property within
the District, all owners of businesses within the District, and other interested persons. Following
the review period, staff recommends that a public workshop be held, at which the Planning
Commission will be asked to provide comments and direction to staff, and when appropriate,
make a recommendation to the City Council. /
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Scott Reekstin Elizabeth A. Binsack
Principal Planner Community Development Director