Review The COR Design Guidelines

As the City embarks on an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, including the new Development Plan for The COR, as well as an update to the Zoning Code related to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Staff would like to discuss if there is any desire to include revisions to the Design Guidelines for The COR.  Based on feedback received over time, staff would like to discuss specifically design guidelines as it relates to the residential portions of the development.  These areas are indicated as COR 4 (identified as TC 4 in the Design Guidelines).  The current Design Guidelines are attached to this report. 

Notification not required at this time.  If changes are desired to the Design Guidelines, Staff recommends outreach to existing and potential developers in the area.

When the  Ramsey Town Center development was originally conceived, a high emphasis on architectural standards was placed on the development through a separate document known as the Design Guidelines.  The Design Guidelines are a part of the City's Zoning Ordinance, adopted by reference.  The emphasis was added partially in response to the high density of the development as well as the desire of the development to be a large emphasis as the identity of the community.  There is a considerable amount of flexibility built into the Design Guidelines, allowing a developer to propose an alternative construction method that still achieves the design objectives of the Design Guidelines.

The commercial and office park areas of The COR continue to meet or exceed the Design Guideline standards.  However, given changes in the residential market, the City has continually experienced requests from residential developers to relax certain design guidelines.  Staff has had to balance the desire from builders for flexibility and relaxation on certain regulations with the ultimate vision for the development and the community as a whole.

As part of the site plan approval for portions of the development and private restrictive covenants, the original vision did not include typical split level single-family homes.  However, as the Master Developer and Architectural Review Board became inactive, these private covenants have not been able to be enforced.  Certain drafts of the restrictive covenants included such things as roof pitch, specific architectural materials, and fences.  Not all of these additional regulations found in the private, restrictive covenants are found in the City's Design Guidelines, thus the City has limited ability to enforce.  Staff has also identified fences and accessory structures (sheds) as topics for additional discussion as it relates to the Design Guidelines.

In response to market conditions, and based on feedback received from developers, various split-level models have been approved in the small-lot single-family portions of the development.  This has come with mixed reviews, especially from existing builders who have already invested in the development.  It became apparent during these similar requests that if the City desired to continue to control roof pitch and split-level dwelling units as originally intended, some of these standards should be included in the Design Guidelines.

Staff would like to discuss any potential changes the City Council would like to see in design guidelines for residential developments in The COR.  Specifically, Staff is seeking direction on any inclusion of standards such as roof pitch, specific architectural materials (beyond what is already included in the Design Guidelines), fencing, accessory structures, etc.

Based on discussion.

All costs associated with reviewing the Design Guidelines are being handled as part of regular staff duties.

Based on discussion.