Page 2 - San Marcos, TX Design Manual

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Design Guidelines APPENDIX

significance should be preserved and considered as 5. Celebrate the Courthouse Square. As the major focal
design inspiration for new work in the district. This does point of the district, Courthouse Square should be valued
not mean copying earlier styles, but rather learning from in all urban design. This applies to properties in close
them. New work around these resources should be proximity to the square, but also relates to improvements
compatible with them. that may link other places to it, in terms of views,
pedestrian circulation and building orientation.
2. Contribute to the sense of place. Maintaining the distinct
identity associated with downtown is important as it sets 6. Design to fit with the context. Improvement projects
San Marcos apart from other communities in the region. should consider their context. In some areas, that context
This sense of place is established through a range of remains strongly anchored by historic buildings. In other
factors which should be considered in new developments. parts of the district, the context is more contemporary,
These factors include buildings that are smaller in with individual historic buildings sometimes appearing as
scale that are designed to incorporate components that accents. In still other areas, no historic structures exist.
contribute to the street fronts as pedestrians walk along In this respect, “designing in context” means helping to
a downtown street. These buildings are often an eclectic achieve the long term goals for each of these areas.
mix of architectural styles and are home to a variety of
uses including businesses and offices. In addition to a 7. Promote creativity. Innovation in design is welcomed in
mix of businesses and uses that invite people downtown, downtown. Exploring new ways of designing buildings and
street edges are designed to be inviting and to incorporate spaces is appropriate when they contribute to a cohesive
storefronts, seating areas and shaded spaces that urban fabric. This type of creativity should be distinguished
welcome visitors. Finally, iconic landmarks and views help from simply being “different.”
orient people when they’re downtown. 8. Design with authenticity. The district is defined by

3. Establish a sense of visual continuity. Establishing buildings and places that reflect their own time, including
a sense of visual continuity throughout downtown is distinct construction techniques as well as style. The
important. This sense of continuity can be established by result is a sense of authenticity in building and materials.
public realm features such as a coordinated landscape All new improvements should convey this sense of
palette. It can also be established by the built environment, authenticity.
through the use of similar building features. These features 9. Design with consistency. Buildings and places in the
should be derived from traditional buildings downtown, district that are highly valued are those which have a
especially those in the Downtown Historic District. These cohesive quality in their use of materials, organization of
features can be interpreted in contemporary ways. While functions and overall design concept. Each new project
creativity in new building design is encouraged, balancing should also embody a single, consistent design concept.
traditional building elements with new features and design
contributes to the visual continuity of downtown San 10. Design with durability. The district’s cherished buildings
Marcos. and spaces are designed for the long term with durable
materials. New work should have this same quality.
4. Implement appropriate transitions and transition areas.
Where a sensitive use, such as a single family residential
district, is adjacent to or near a CD-5D zone district
property, incorporate transitions within a property or
along a block to mitigate potential negative impacts on the
residential property. These negative impacts could include
looming buildings and loud noises, among other things. A
wide range of strategies to reduce negative impacts exist
and are explored in this Design Manual.

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