HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 Draft Cultural Resources District 2-25-14G-V &
Irby, REPORT
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2014
TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: DRAFT CITY OF TUSTIN CULTURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES — FOR 30 -DAY REVIEW
PERIOD
ITEM #3
As part of an on -going work program, staff has drafted Commercial Design Guidelines (CDG)
for the Cultural Resources District (CRD). A copy of the draft document will be presented to the
Commission and the public at the Commission's February 25, 2014 meeting.
The format and appearance of the draft CDG for the CRD are modeled after the recently
updated Residential Design Guidelines (RDG). Like the RDG, the CDG 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 CRD; 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 CRD.
The CDG 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 CDG 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
CDG to the greatest degree possible.
The Commercial Design Guidelines handbook is organized under the following topics
• Introduction
o 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.
• 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
Planning Commission Report
Commercial Design Guidelines
Page 2
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 (5) 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
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.
The draft is ready to be released through the City's website 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 non - residential 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
Commission will be asked to provide comments and direction to staff, and when appropriate,
make a recommendation to the City Council.
Scott Reekstin
Principal Planner
Elizabeth A. Binsack
Community Development Director