Page 4 - San Marcos, TX Design Manual

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Design Guidelines APPENDIX

Division 3: DEsiGn ConTEXTs c. Street level character: Building fronts are visually
interesting are activated primarily with stoops and
Section A.1.3.1 Description of Context Areas forecourts. Storefronts and display cases may be
appropriate in some cases.
A. Purpose. This section includes goal statements for each of
the Design Contexts within CD-5D as well as the Midtown d. Frontages and setbacks: A high percentage of each
Entertainment District in CD-5 (see Figure 1.1, Design Context building front aligns at the sidewalk edge, however
and Midtown Entertainment District Map). These contexts are with some variation in setbacks for active outdoor
areas identified by community workshop participants as having spaces.
unique character, constraints and/or design goals. Please note
the Downtown Historic District Courthouse Square area is not e. Parking: Parking is accessed from alleys and is
included, as a separate design review system is in place for concealed from the street, in tuck-under designs or
the historic district. See the maps on the previous page for the structures.
location of the design contexts.
2. Downtown Core. Within the Downtown context it is
1. University Edge. The University Edge context should especially important to maintain compatibility with the
create a safe, pedestrian-friendly transition between Courthouse Square. Increased density is appropriate
campus and CD-5D. New campus development in this where it does not impact the character of the square. The
context should be compatible in scale and respectful of the Downtown Core frames the Downtown Historic District
district’s design traditions. In addition, within the University and draws closely upon its design traditions to establish
Edge there are key public views up to campus and down a sense of visual continuity between the two areas.
to the Courthouse Square. New development should New buildings express a scale at the street frontage that
preserve and enhance these views. The University Edge appears similar to that of buildings in the historic district.
context creates a pedestrian-friendly connection between While compatibility with the historic styles is appropriate
campus and the Downtown Core context. New buildings and important in the Downtown Core, replication of
may be larger in scale here, in keeping with campus scale, historic styles is inappropriate.
while drawing upon downtown’s design traditions.
Variations in the articulation of building fronts and in
Of special note are key public views, both north to overall massing reflect the scale of the historic district,
campus and south to the Downtown Historic District. New with expression elements that define traditional building
development should preserve and enhance these views by widths and building heights that step down to traditional
varying building massing and creating outdoor spaces that heights for portions of larger buildings. The rhythm of
permit views through to key landmarks. new building fronts reflects the width and rhythm of
historic buildings. New building designs draw on and are
Key Characteristics. compatible with the historic character, but are designed to
be “of their time.”
a. Scale: Larger buildings here can be compatible
with the scale of the university. Buildings in the Buildings in the Downtown Core should be pedestrian-
University Edge should act as a transition in scale friendly design that includes wide sidewalks, activated
from the Downtown Core to the Texas State University ground levels – transparent windows and display cases
Campus. for example – and shaded walkways. The use of trees and
overhangs to provide shade is crucial.
b. Building massing: Buildings vary in their massing,
to express modules similar in form to those seen Key Characteristics.
historically.

San Marcos Design Manual A:5