Page 5 - San Marcos, TX Design Manual

A APPENDIX Design Guidelines

a. Scale: Buildings express heights between two and a. Scale: Buildings express heights that are one or two
three floors at the street edge. Upper floors are set floors at the street edge. Upper floors are set back
back from the front. from the front.

b. Building massing: Buildings vary in their massing, b. Building massing: Buildings vary in their massing,
to express modules similar in form to those seen to express traditional residential forms and smaller
historically. commercial buildings.

c. Street level character: Building fronts convey active c. Street level character: Building fronts convey active
uses inside (including storefronts and offices) with a uses inside (including storefronts and offices) with
high degree of visibility. a high degree of visibility. Others have porches and
courtyards that connect to the street.
d. Frontages and setbacks: A high percentage of each
building front aligns at the sidewalk edge, however d. Frontages and setbacks: Setbacks vary, with some
with some variation in setbacks for active outdoor buildings close to the street, while others are set back
spaces. with lawns and courtyards in front.

e. Parking: Parking is accessed from alleys and is e. Parking: Parking is located in the rear or in tuck-under
concealed from the street, in tuck-under designs or designs.
structures.
4. Transit Neighborhood Oriented Development. Projects
3. Residential/Transition Edge. For new development within within the Transit Oriented Development context should
the Residential/Transition Edge context it is important to establish a strong pedestrian orientation. The street front
minimize impacts from higher scale development on the character is especially important here to encourage
character of the adjacent residential neighborhoods. New pedestrian activity. The Transit Neighborhood context
development should provide a transition in scale between honors the culture and heritage of the surrounding
the taller buildings in CD-5D and the existing residential neighborhoods and accommodates a mix of uses, with an
neighborhoods. The Residential/Transition Edge design emphasis upon housing that focuses on potential transit
context houses a mix of uses including retail, cultural access. Taller buildings and higher density development
centers, churches, offices, and residential. Buildings in this is appropriate in this context, if it is designed to include
design context create a transition from the more intensive elements of human scale and an active street level. The
development of the Downtown Core to the lower density use of building modules to reduce the perceived scale of
residential neighborhoods that lie to the west. the building is crucial, especially if a new building is large
in scale. New development draws upon the downtown’s
Buildings draw upon both traditional residential and design traditions, but in more abstract ways than in the
commercial types in their forms, materials and relationship Downtown Core.
to the street. Most buildings in this design context are
set back from the street edge and include landscaping in The eastern portion of the Transit Neighborhood may
front. This is particularly important for larger buildings. be a more appropriate location for taller, more dense
Courtyards and forecourts are appropriate. In some cases, development. Where it is near established single-family
smaller buildings may be located closer to the street edge. residential neighborhoods, transitions are needed to
Along the sensitive edges of abutting residential districts, reduce negative impacts. Throughout the area, projects
buildings are designed to minimize negative impacts, with should have a strong pedestrian orientation. The street
reduced height, increased setbacks and landscaping. front character is especially important here to encourage
pedestrian activity. New development also incorporates
Key Characteristics: green spaces and bio-diverse landscaping, and connects
to greenways when possible.

A:6 San Marcos Design Manual