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Memo -Ddowntown design• Planning & Economic Development MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor Maxwell and Hopkins City Council Members FROM: Kersten Elveru using Coordinator DATE: April 15, 2002 SUBJECT: Hopkins Downtown Design Guidelines • The purpose of the discussion regarding this item at the April 23, 2002, City Council worksession is to make the Council aware of the effort that is underway to develop design guidelines and standards for improvements made in the downtown and to receive direction regarding this project. Attached is the most recent draft of the design guidelines and standards, as well as the proposed meeting schedule for the committee. Please keep in mind that the draft is a very fluid document at this paint. Background When the City app{ied for Livable Communities funds for the Cornerstone project, the Livable Communities advisory board strongly encouraged the City to develo}} desig^ guidelines for the development. Those guidelines were developed with the assistance ofa committee made up of business owners, tenants and interested community members. The design committee saw a benefit in expanding the guidelines to include all central business district properties that are remodeled ur redeveloped. In addition, tht desire to see the City adopt design standards has been expressed by canunurtity members, sor~retimes as a result of projects that they feel should not have been allowed. . Design guidelines and/or standards are fairly common for historic or established business districts. The design committee has been using guidelines adopted by a number of area cities as a reference tool. Overlay District The design standards could be enforced through the incorporation of the standards into the zoning ordinance. However, since the central business district has two zoning ckassit~cations (B- 2 & B-3) and those classifications also appear in other areas of the City, staff is recommending the establishment of an overlay district. An overlay district is a mapped area with restrictions beyond those in the underlying zone. An overlay district is usually used when there is a special public interest in an area that does not coincide with already mapped traditional zones. In cases where there is a conflict between the requirements of the overlay district and the underlying zone, the overlay restrictions apply. Guidelines Vs. Standards Items identified in the draft document have been separated into two categories: guidelines which are recommendations and standards which are enforceable requirements. It is the committee's feeling that guidelines with no enforcement provision would not be followed, at the same tithe some ideals are cost prohibitive and/or controversial and need to be recommendations rather than requirements. Proiect Schedule The design committee has been meeting on a monthly basis and is scheduled to continue to meet through September 2002. If the Council supports the concept, staff will be preparing a public input/informational schedule to gain community backing. To date, the concept has been presented to the Hopkins Business and Civic Association who voted to support the efTort and promote it within the business conununity. The committee is also scheduled to discuss the effort with the Twin West Business Council in May. Conclusion Obviously, this is an initiative that requires the City Council's support. It is important to identify areas of concern so that the committee can move forward with a document that the City Council is comfortable with in spite of some inevitable opposition. S Proposed Design Committee Agenda & Schedule Meeting Date Topic February 20, 2002 Purpose, Area & Applicability Signs & Awnings March 20, 2002 Height, Setbacks, Roofs/Parapets, Utility Areas & Mechanical Equipment Screening April 17, 2aoz Width, Fenestrations (windowsldoors) May 15, 2002 Materials & Detailing, Color, Franchise Architecture June 19, 2002 Streetscape, Lighting, Parking, Landscaping & Drainage July 17, 2002 Front & Rear Entrances August 21, 2002 Enforcement i DRAFT Design Goals, Objectives, Guidelines & Standards Hopkins Downtown Overlay District For discussion purposes only INTRODUCTION The Hopkins downtown overlay district was adopted in order to meet the following goals: Goal 1: Preserve the small-town, unique character of Mainstreet Hopkins Goal 2: Complement the existing historic architecture Goal 3: Enhance the pedestrian orientation of downtown Hopkins and encourage streetscape design that is inviting and on a human scale The boundaries of the overlay district are as follows: First Street North to First Street South from 7r" Avenue to 13t" Avenue The standards outlined will apply to the following: All newly constructed buildings All exterior building improvements and signage changes that require a building and/or sign permit All new or reconstructed parking areas with 5 or more spaces The guidelines are intended to convey desirable elements. They are recommendations and not requirements, unless public financing is involved in the construction or rehabilitation of the building. The standards identified are requirements and enforced through the City's Planning Department. Any building, parking area or sign that lawfully exists at the time Ordinance 02-~ is enacted, which would not otherwise be permitted under Ordinance 02-_, may be continued as legal non-conforming in the same manner as existed before the effective date of the Ordinance. • Awnings Objective: Ta enhance the historic feel of Mainstreet while providing sun protection for display windows, shelter for pedestrians, and a sign panel for businesses. Guideline: Retractable or operable awnings are encouraged. bong expanses of awning should be broken into segments that reflect the door or window openings beneath them. Standard: Awnings cannot extend across multiple storefronts. Awnings must be constructed of durable, pratecti~e, and water repellant material. Hard plastic awnings are not allowed. Backlighting of awnings is not allowed. Examples of Awning MaterialslTypes Canvas awning Signs Ob4ective: Signs should be architecturally compatible with the style, composition, materials, colors and details of the building and with other signs on nearby buildings, while providing for adequate identification of the business. Guideline: Symbolic and historic three-dimensional signs such as barber shop poles and appropriately sized projecting signs are encouraged. Signage should have the capability of being lit in the evening, although the source of light must not be visible to motorists or pedestrians. Signs constructed of natural materials such as metal or wood are preferred. Permanently painted window Signage is encouraged if compatible with the architecture of the building (see example). Painted window signs should not consume more than one-third of the glazed area of the window. Yemporarily painted Signage Standard: Internally illuminated signs are prohibited except for theater Signage. Pylon and monument Signage is prohibited. Neon signs are permitted on the exterior of the building and in display windows, if not covering mare than one-third of the window surface area. Permanently painted Signage ~ Projecting signs must be no greater than 12 square feet and have a ~ maximum width of three feet and cannot extend beyond the first floor of the building. No less than 10 feet of clearance shall be provided between the sidewalk elevation and the lowest point of the projecting sign. Maximum distance between sign and building face is one fact. Temporarily painted window signage is limited to one-third of the window surface area. Signs cannot black or obliterate design details of the building upon which they are placed. The combination of Wean signage, permanently painted signage and temporarily painted signage shall not exceed a total of two- thirds of the window surface area. Height . Objective: New development and redevelopment should complement the existing pattern of building heights. Standard: Buildings in the overlay district cannot exceed four stories and 45 feet in height. Setbacks Objective: Buildings in the overlay district should work together to create the "wall of buildings' effect associated with traditional "Main Street" areas. Standard: New construction and infill buildings must maintain the alignment of facades clang the sidewalk edge. Exceptions may be granted through a variance if the setback is pedestrian oriented and contributes to the quality and character of the streetscape. An example would be for outdoor dining. In instances where there area parking areas abutting the street, the sidewalk edge must be delineated with pi{lars and fencing that is . consistent with the City of Hopkins streetscape theme. _ - ...._ ~_ Roofs & Parapets Objective: Roofiines should mimic the separate yet complementary rhythm of historic Mainstreet buildings. Guideline: Flat roofs (slightly sloped to drain) are preferred with parapets that articulate the rhythm of the buildings. Parapets should be embellished with brick detailing and stepped or sloped to achieve a visually interesting yet harmonious sequence along the building facade. Standard: Sloped roofs are not allowed unless the roof form is concealed by a parapet or false front. Exceptions may be granted if the sloped roof is used on tap of a multi-story building to help reduce the overall height of the fapade and define the residential character of the upper floors. Utility Areas & Mechanical Equipment Screening Objectiive: Utility areas and mechanical equipment should be designed so that it does not detract from the aesthetic appeal of the district. City of Hopkins' streetscape Standard: The screening of exterior trash and storage areas, service yards, loading areas, transformers and air conditioning units should be architecturally compatible with the building it is adjacent to. If the utility area is separate from the building it serves, it should be consistent with the City of Hopkins streetscape theme. All roof equipment must be screened from public view at street level. All exterior trash and storage areas, service yards, loading areas, transformers and air conditioning units must be screened from view. Width Objective: To break up the monotonous appearance of long facades. Standard: A building more than 45 feet in width should be divided into increments of no more than 45 feet through articulation of the facade. This can be achieved through combinations of the fallowing techniques: • Divisions or breaks in materials • Window bays • Separate entrances and entry treatments • Variation in roof lines • Building setbacks Fenestrations (Windows & Doors) Objective: To encourage large, open views into the commercial space enhancing the pedestrian experience by providing a visual connection to the use inside the building. On upper levels, windows should provide privacy while aesthetically and functionally serving the building. Guideline: The restoration ar renovation of a storefront should attempt to return the facade to its original character. Preserve original materials or details and the shape of original openings and replace missing original elements such as transom windows. On upper floors, the windows should be vertically oriented. Arched taps, columns framing the windows and decorative lintels are encouraged. Standard: A minimum of 30% of the ground level facade and sides of buildings adjacent to public right of ways shall be transparent (windows and doors}. • A minimum of % of the building's rear facade facing a public right of way, parking area or open space shall be transparent. Reflective or heavily-tinted glass is not allowed. Preserve details Don't reduce window size