Maintaining
and
protecting
Newton's
unique character takes a lot of hard work. It's not a simple situation,
and the community needs to have a variety of different tools
and techniques
that can be used in appropriate ways to help achieve the goal of neighborhood
preservation. Design Review Guidelines have been used in many communities
around the country, and may offer significant benefits for Newton.
They offer a particularly effective tool for dealing with development
outside existing Historic Districts.
Design Review provides
a forum for citizens and developers to work toward achieving a better
urban environment through attention given to fundamental design principals.
Design Review is intended to affect how new development can contribute
positively to a city's neighborhoods. Design guidelines offer a flexible
tool - an alternative to prescriptive zoning requirements - that
can allow new development to better repond to the distinctive character
of its surroundings.
City
of Seattle -
The City of Seattle, Washington, has implemented a Design Review
Guidelines program and has many years of experience in
its implementation.
City
of Creve Coeur - The city of Creve Coeur is an affluent
suburb of St. Louis, and has implemented Design Guidelines.
City
of Lake Forest - The City of Lake Forest is a well-known suburb
of Chicago, and established its Building Review Board in 1962. The
Board is made up of seven Lake Forest residents who are appointed
by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council. The Board is
responsible for carrying on the long tradition of Lake Forest by
working to preserve the special character and uniqueness of various
neighborhoods inthe City, and protect property values throughout
the community. The Board reviews projects that are outside the boundaries
of the City's Historic Districts. The Board reviews all proposals
for demolition, inwhole or part, of existing buildings, the architectural
design of new buildings, building additions and alterations, requests
for building scale variances, exterior lighting, signs, landscaping
and overall site plans for new developments.
