Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

TO:	Lawrence Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission
FROM:	Sandra L. Day, AICP, Planning Staff
CC:	Applicant
Date:	January 25, 2006
RE:	Agenda Item 13, PDP-09-08-05, Northgate PCD

Attached is a draft copy of the Design Review Checklist used to assess the above referenced project to proposed design standards. This project was not designed with this set of standards as adopted code language. Site design review standards are categorized into two parts:

1) Site Planning and Design Elements and

2) Aesthetic Characteristics and Building Design.

The Commercial Design Standards address the following topics:

1. Site Planning and Design
1. Building location
2. Parking areas
3. Adequate pedestrian connections and access
4. Retention of existing trees
5. Consideration of natural features
6. Stormwater and drainage
7. Streetscape
8. Transitions with surrounding neighborhoods.
2. Aesthetic Character and Building Design
1. Tie buildings together visually
2. Facades
3. Building entryways and rooflines
4. Pedestrian interest
5. Materials and colors
3. Infill Development
4. Design Review Checklist

Staff is not established as an expert in these regulations. The proposed project is not intended to be nor was it designed as a new urbanist development. It does however; provide any elements found in both traditional development patterns and in the design guidelines.
Commercial Design Standard (Outline of Regulations)

1) Site Planning and Design

a) Natural Features

i) Natural Features

ii) Existing Vegetation

b) Stormwater and Site Drainage

i) Natural Drainageways

ii) Storm Drainage and Detention Areas

c) Streetscape and Neighborhood Transitions

i) Building Orientation

ii) Neighborhood Compatibility

iii) Neighborhood Connectivity

d) Vehicular Access and Parking Areas

i) External Circulation and Access

ii) Internal Circulation

iii) Parking Areas

e) Pedestrian Access and Amenities

i) Pedestrian Circulation

ii) Pedestrian Amenities

f) Outdoor Storage, Sales and Service Areas

i) Integration with Adjacent Development

ii) Integration with Site Development

g) Landscaping. Screening and Walls

i) Site Landscaping

ii) Parking Lot Areas Landscaping

iii) Buffering and Screening

iv) Fences and Walls

h) Lighting and Security

i) Parking Areas

ii) Pedestrian Scale

2) Aesthetic Character and Building Design

a) General Building Design

b) Facades and Exterior Walls

i) Articulation

c) Entryways and Rooflines

i) Entryways

ii) Rooflines

d) Architectural Details

e) Materials and Colors

f) Signage