How To Maintain and Enhance the Character of the Town
The committee proposes that we follow in the footsteps
of many other communities that have developed design guidelines
for commercial and multi-residential developments. In doing so,
the Town should be clear about what we expect of a developer
regarding
both site and
building
design.
 The
Town should enlist an ad hoc committee of volunteers and professionals
to prepare a handbook of design guidelines to provide prospective
developers.
Design standards should illustrate
preferred building design and site layout. Then, the Town can
require developers to prepare conceptual plans adhering to these
guidelines, in addition to the relevant codes.
New development should be designed to fit into
the natural surroundings and ensure architectural
quality and compatibility with local styles rather than becoming
a dominant element
of the landscape.
For non-residential development, the standards should
additionally establish requirements for scale of activity,
access, and
setbacks, and should illustrate signage, lighting,
pedestrian/bicycle circulation,
and the preferred location of parking lots to ensure
that a proposed project is in harmony with adjacent properties
and enhances the
visual environment.
The standards should be specific
to the conditions and
desired look of the different neighborhoods and commercial
areas.
Signs Should Complement
Our Neighborhoods
While the current Zoning regulates the size and
height of signs, it does not encourage the types of
signs that
can enhance the visual
character of an area. The Zoning should be amended
to include more detailed requirements for signage, and these
requirements
should
be included in a separate section of the Code to facilitate
the review of sign proposals.
A new concern has emerged that is not currently
addressed in the code. Temporary signs proliferate for garage
sales and special events.
We
recommend that the
town adopt
a temporary
and portable sign regulation that limits the size,
location, and time limits for posting and removing
temporary/portable signs
and requires that
the poster’s identification be included on
the sign.
We should establish a fine for non-conformance.
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