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Home My WebLink AboutIR 8343 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8343 July 31, 2001 dt OOA T To the Mayor and Members of the City Council tYP. SUBJECT: Urban Design Standards for Downtown Fort Worth Background In recent years, parts of Downtown Fort Worth have been immensely successful in attracting people back to the central city to live, play, shop and learn. This renaissance of Downtown is in part attributable to the authentic urban quality of these areas. The more successful areas of Downtown have built upon the urban characteristics dealing with the public walkways, landscape and ground level building edge (facades and signs/banners). Building on these successes and the Downtown Strategic Action Plan, the Urban Design Committee was formed, comprised of 30 members representing various stakeholders in the Downtown area. This committee, with the assistance of a consultant and staff provided by Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., developed a draft of the Urban Design Standards for Downtown Fort Worth. The Urban Design Committee produced draft guidelines to insure that future developments in the downtown area would continue the trend of high quality projects and appropriate attention to the public areas. The draft standards emphasize the importance of the following areas: walkways; landscape; building edge; signs and banners; gateway streets and corridors; and, parks, plazas and public art. The suggested Urban Design Standards for the downtown area were reviewed with the City Council in mid- 2000. Discussions on the implementation of the standards led the Committee to review the document with additional groups and stakeholders. Presentations were made to the following groups: Plan Commission Zoning Commission Parks and Community Services Advisory Board Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee Greater Fort Worth Board of Realtors From the review, it was determined that the most appropriate method of implementing the standards is to establish an overlay district as part of the zoning ordinance that would outline the guidelines of development and the procedure for review. Interstate 30 on the south, Summit Avenue on the west, the Trinity River on the north and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad on the east would create the boundaries of the overlay district. As applications are submitted for building permits, the Development Department and a Design Review Board would review the plans pursuant to the zoning ordinance guidelines to ensure the Urban Design Standards are followed. Building projects within the overlay district that include exterior work r,would be evaluated on the Urban Design Standards relating to walkway areas, landscape, building edge and signs. At the time a building permit application is submitted, the Development Department would review the project's features relating to walkways and landscape. This review will be conducted as part of the normal ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8343 July 31, 2001 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council ti fay$ SUBJECT: Urban Design Standards for Downtown Fort Worth plan review process and should not lengthen the normal process. The Design Review Board would review project features relating to building edge and signs. If a developer does not agree with the Development Department's conclusions on the proposed walkways and landscape, they can appeal the rulings to the Design Review Board. Should a developer not agree with the findings and recommendations of the Design Review Board (walkways and landscape appeals from the Development Department or Board's recommendations dealing with building edge or signs) they would be able to appeal those decisions to the Board of Adjustment. The attached diagram outlines the review process. It is proposed that the Design Review Board would be a three-member panel appointed by the Mayor. To insure the review process is timely, it is proposed to meet weekly and provide two alternate members to provide a quorum of three. Membership on the Design Review Board would include an architect/design professional, a downtown business owner or manager and a real estate professional. Sunested Process of Consideration To begin the implementation of these standards, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and the Urban Design Committee would conduct a public input meeting, conducted through the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, regarding the formulation of the overlay district, process of review and the Design Review Board. A presentation of the findings of the meeting and a draft text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance would be reviewed with the City Council. Once consensus and direction was gained from the City Council, staff would process the proposed ordinance through the Zoning Commission. Unless there is objection from the City Council, the staff will work with Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. to initiate the suggested process of consideration. If you have questions or need more information about this project, please contact Bob Riley, Development Director or Mike Groomer, Assistant City Manager. AaryW �ackso4n City Manager Attachment ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS 5128/01 DRAFT PROPOSED PROCESS FOR SECURING BUILDING PERMITS IN DISTRICTS WITH URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS Developer applies to Development Dept. for building permit. Development Dept. determines whether the proposed construction is subject to urban design standard s. Subject to standards, e.g. Exe= from standards, e.g. • New construction • Interior remodeling • Addition • Routine maintenance • Exterior alteration Development Dept. determines whether Development Dept. issues building permit. pertinent standards are objectiveor subjective. T2� Standards areobjective e.g. Standards areapb jective e.g. • Sidewalk width Signs and banners • Landscaping Building edge ------------------------- Development Dept. issuesor denies the Development Dept. calls meeting of building permit. Design Review Committee: Three members and two alternates, with a quorum of three. . ..................................... Applicant or other interested party may Committee certifies Committeedemes appeal administrative decision to Design consistency with certification and Review Committee. standards and Devd- Development Dept. opment Dept. issues denies building building permit. permit. L---------------—-------------- Applicant or other interested party may as eallCommittee's decision to t 10 d RP r he Boar of Adjustment. 4 1 *4 A July 9, 2001 Downtown FortWorth, Inc. Mayor Kenneth Barr And City Council Members 1000 Throckmorton Fort Worth, TX 76102 Dear Mayor and Council: Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. has developed a comprehensive set of Urban Design Guidelines for our Downtown. The Urban Design Guideline Committee worked with Gideon Toal, Inc. for the past two years to create a flexible but effective set of standards for the future development of the Downtown. During that process the City staff have been important players in the development of the guidelines. After the Draft Guidelines were approved by the Urban Design Committee they were presented to the following organizations, City Boards and Commissions: City Plan Commission City Zoning Commission Ow' ', City Parks Board F' Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee Greater Fort Worth Board of Realtors The guidelines were well received by all of these organizations. After extensive discussion with City staff from the Development and Planning Departments, it was determined that the Guidelines needed to be implemented by City Ordinance, which would establish a Design Review Board. The Board would review those aspects of a prospective development that are ambiguous in relation to the Guidelines. The ordinance recommended would be part of the Zoning Ordinance and regulatory in nature. Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. requests that the City Council direct the City staff to work with Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. to develop the necessary provisions of an ordinance which will create a process of review regarding Urban Design issues in the Downtown. Sincerely, Kenneth R. Devero President cc: Greg Upp, Chairman of the Board 777 Taylor Street, Suite 100 Fort Worth, Texas 76102-4908 (817)870-1692 Fax(817)335-31 13 www.dfwi.o19