Town of Georgetown
Design Guidelines
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Introduction
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The Millsite Residential Character Area, a residential area just to the north of the Historic Design District, represents a unique neighborhood within the community. It contains many features that are similar to those found in the older residential neighborhoods, such as building materials, front yards and rectangular building forms. The area also contains some of the oldest structures from the original "George's Town." However, residences are predominantly newer and larger in size than historic residences.
The area is composed predominantly of rectangularly-shaped structures that are typically oriented with the short side facing the street. Buildings are typically larger in size than in the Historic Residential Character Area.
Although the Millsite Residential Character Area bears many resemblances to areas in the Historic Design District, it is developing a different context: with larger buildings, less landscaping and attached garages. A large-size multifamily development also exists in the northern part of the area.
Summary of Key Characteristics
Key design characteristics of this Character Area include the following:
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single-family residences dominate (although they are larger than those seen in the Historic Design District)
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larger versions of traditional building forms
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horizontal wood siding dominates
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variety of architectural styles
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gabled or hipped roof forms
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simple architectural detailing
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no sidewalks
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most homes have garages
Another important feature of this Character Area is that it contains one large multifamily development.
Design Goals
The Millsite Residential Character Area has undeveloped land within
its boundaries. The development of his land can affect the character
of the area. Developments built in the recent past have respected certain
aspects of the older buildings. This tradition of using similar building
materials, landscaping, building mass and size should be continued in
designs for new buildings. The potential for additional large, multifamily
developments is a reality, and care should be taken that they will relate
to the traditional setting of this growing, predominantly single-family
neighborhood.
The design goals for the Millsite Residential Character Area are:
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To enhance the residential qualities of the neighborhoods
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To encourage a variety of architectural styles within the context of traditional buildings (e.g., These newer buildings should also relate in size.)
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To provide landscaping that highlights and defines public and private spaces on a site, similar to that seen historically (e.g., The planting of large, or shade-providing trees in this Character Area is particularly encouraged.)
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To preserve and restore historic structures, where they exist
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To develop new buildings that respect their historic neighbors (e.g., When a new development is planned adjacent to smaller existing buildings, it should not visually dominate them. Stepping a larger structure down as it approaches smaller buildings would be appropriate.)
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When needed, to design an addition such that the existing character of the building is maintained (e.g., An addition should be placed to the rear of the property and not visually dominate the primary structure.)
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To reinforce the basic characteristics of the surrounding context (including size, form, siting, landscaping and materials) when larger developments are considered
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To maintain the established street grid system (e.g., New developments should not introduce curvilinear street systems.)
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To keep the automobile, and its associated storage, as an ancillary use on a site (e.g., Parking an automobile should not be the primary or dominant feature on a building's site.)
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To minimize the amount of light spill from a structure
Organization of This Chapter
This chapter presents the design policies and guidelines that are applicable
to both new construction and alterations of non-historic buildings located
in Georgetown's Millsite Residential Character Area. They are organized
into two sections dealing with the following issues:
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Building mass, size and form
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Setting
1. Mass and Size
The general shape of a new building should continue to relate to those historically established in the adjacent Historic Design District. However, the overall size of the structures in this Character Area tend to be larger than in the Historic Design District. This tradition should continue.
A. New building should be similar in mass and size to neighboring structures.
- Single family homes are generally one, one and a half or two stories.
- Multifamily residences are up to three stories.
B. Develop buildings that maintain the general shape of structures in the Historic Residential Character Area.
- Buildings size, however, should be tied to the size of the lot. Small buildings are appropriate for smaller lots, and larger structures are appropriate for larger lots. Large structures on small lots are discouraged.
- Where a larger building is necessary, "break up" the massing into components that reflect traditional proportions.
- On larger structures, consider organizing the building mass into subordinate elements
- Consider stepping down the mass of larger buildings to minimize their perceived size at the street.
C. New construction should be within five feet of the average height of structures within the immediate neighborhood.
- Residences within a 300 foot radius of the new structure should be used in calculating the height of the surrounding context.
D. A facade should appear similar in dimension to those seen traditionally in the town.
- Typically, a residential building front ranges from 15 to 30 feet in width. Additional widths were accomplished with a setback or change in building plane.
2. Building and Roof Form
Visual continuity should be reinforced through the use of building proportions and shapes that are similar to those found in the Historic Design District. A traditional residential structure consists of a simple rectangular form as the primary mass of the main building, to which smaller shed additions and porches are attached. The result is a "composite" form that is smaller in size toward the street and to the rear of the lot.
A. The simple forms of gable, hip and mansard roofs are appropriate.
- Free-form, low gable, coned, A-frame and geometric shape roofs are not appropriate.
- Dormers should be simple and subordinate to the overall roof form.
- Alternative roof element shapes may be considered in instances where views and solar access are to be protected and preserved.
- Shed roofs are appropriate as secondary roofs and may be considered for multifamily units.
B. Orient major roof elements to maintain existing views.
- Orientation of the major roof element must take into consideration the impact on neighboring properties.
- Flat skylights mounted flush with the roof may be considered in areas that minimize their visibility from public ways. Bubbled or domed skylights are not appropriate.
C. Roof forms should be similar to those seen traditionally.
- Traditional roofs are simple and steeply pitched and most have hip or gabled ends facing the street. Most primary roofs have pitches of 8:12 to 12:12. Primary roofs on new construction should have a minimum pitch of 8:12. Shed roofs, on additions, have a wider range of pitches from 4:12 to 12:12.
3. Relationship to the Town Grid
The traditional street grid found in the core of Georgetown is a key ingredient that visually knits various neighborhoods together. As the town expands to the north, however, the street grid is less and less apparent. Many new developments have been platted to follow the natural contours. Wherever the historic street grid still exists, it should be respected.
A. Respect the established town grid.
- Locate buildings on sites such that they reinforce the parcel orientation. To do so, orient primary building walls and roof ridges in line with the established town grid.
B. Build streets to extend the traditional grid system, where possible.
- Extend the grid pattern of streets unless changing topography makes this impossible or would preclude building traditional style structures.
- Extending a street that is part of the historic grid with a curvilinear street or a cul-du-sac is inappropriate.
4. Building Orientation
Traditionally, a building was oriented with its primary wall planes in
line with the parcel's property lines. Since most buildings were rectangular
in form, this siting pattern helped reinforce the image of the town grid
in each neighborhood. These traditional patterns of building orientation
should be maintained throughout the Character Area.
A. Orient a new building parallel to its lot lines, similar to that of historic buildings.
B. The use of a porch on a residential building is strongly encouraged.
- This also applies to large, multifamily structures. There should be at least one primary entrance and it should be identified with a porch or entry element.
C. See also the design guidelines for building orientation in Chapter 10, Section 5.