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Town of Georgetown  Design Guidelines

Book III: Design Review in Georgetown

• trees and open space
• views
• steep slopes
• mostly undeveloped
• limited access

• To maintain the natural, forested character of the hillside
• To reduce the visual impacts of new developments (e.g., Keeping a structure small in size is encouraged.)
• To avoid the clear-cutting of the established mountain forest (e.g., Removing significant amounts of existing vegetation with the intent to replant is inappropriate.)
• To provide adequate, new landscaping that may help reduce a development's perceived size
• To avoid the cut-and-fill of steep slopes that might have negative visual impacts or create a geo-hazard
• To minimize the visual and environmental impact a new road might have
• To continue the use of stone retaining walls
• To minimize the amount of light spill from a structure
• To screen service and storage uses from view

• Building mass, size and form
• Setting
• Site design

1. Mass and Size

The rugged, hillside character of the Gateway Mountainside Character Area is important and should be maintained. New developments should respect this setting.

A. Use building forms which reinforce the natural topography.

1. Buildings that cut into slopes are encouraged where they can help minimize the perceived mass and size.
2. Step buildings down at hillside edges, to minimize visual impacts and reduce the apparent height.
3. Avoid placing tall buildings at high points on the site or in other highly visible areas.

B. Building heights on larger projects should be varied.

C. Large lots should be developed with several buildings, rather than a single structure.

1. This will help reduce the perceived size of the project.
2. The area between the buildings should also contribute to the overall positive open space of the site.

2. Building and Roof Form

The impacts a building has on this Character Area should be minimized. Although traditional roof forms are preferred, low pitched roofs or earth-covered roofs may be appropriate in some cases.

A. Use building forms that are similar to those structures seen historically.

1. Simple rectangular shapes should predominate.
2. Break up a larger building into subordinate elements to reduce its apparent size, especially for buildings on large parcels.

B. Roof slopes that repeat the slope of the mountainside are encouraged.

1. Roof forms that protect views of significant features and existing view corridors are encouraged.
2. Use muted colors that blend with the hillside.
3. 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.

3. Platting

The Gateway Mountainside Character Area establishes the outermost western edge of the town. It can be seen from many points in Georgetown and is the first view of the town from the Interstate. The visual impact of any hillside project should be minimized. The platting and placement of buildings should result in projects that blend with the natural hillside and are minimally visible from within the core of the town.

A. Locate buildings in line with existing contours when feasible.

1. Orientation to the conventional grid is not required in this Character Area.
2. New platting may be appropriate where it helps to minimize the visual impact of projects and preserve the natural character of the hillside.

B. Place buildings in locations that minimize visibility, not on high points of the proposed site.

1. Consider clustering if buildings will be clearly visible from below.

C. Preserve historic trails that are located in the hillside area.

1. Consider concepts that would incorporate these routes into shared open space and public roads.
2. Locate buildings to maintain significant views from these trails.

4. Streets

The terrain of the Gateway Mountainside Character Area is steep. As a result, site development, including new roads and driveways, may require deep cuts. These features may be visible from lower areas of town, and their visual impacts should be minimized.

A. Minimize the visual appearance of all new roads, as seen from lower viewpoints in town.

1. Consider ways to minimize disturbance of natural topography wherever new roads or drives are contemplated.
2. Keep cut-and-fill to a minimum.
3. Consider schemes that provide for compact streets and shared drives to minimize the area of roads.

5. Views

Views into the Gateway Mountainside Character Area, down to the core of town and to the mountains are very important and should be preserved. The potential impact that structures and site elements could have on these view corridors is great and should be avoided. Careful planning of the proposed project is a must.

A. Preserve views to scenic features.

1. Consider aligning streets to maintain significant view corridors.
2. This also applies to views into the mountainside. Therefore, developments should not negatively impact views slopes as seen from below.
3. See also the design guidelines for Views in Chapter 10, Section 4.

B. Provide landscaping around a development to help it blend in with the mountainside.

6. Building Orientation

The hillside area can be seen from many points in Georgetown and from the surrounding mountainside; therefore, any new project has the potential for significant visual impact on the overall character of the town. The visual impact of any hillside project should be minimized.

A. Place buildings in locations that minimize visibility, not on high points of the proposed site.

1. Consider clustering if buildings will be clearly visible from below.

B. Orient buildings on the site to complement the natural topography.

1. Orientation to the conventional grid is not required in this Character Area.

7. Cut-and-Fill

Site development in the Gateway Mountainside Character Area may require cutting new roads, driveways and foundations into relatively steep slopes. While basic engineering concerns are major issues in these cases, the visual impacts of the cuts that result are as well. To the greatest extent possible, cutting-and-filling of sloping areas should be avoided; but where it must occur, the visual impacts should be minimized.

A. Minimize cut-and-fill that would alter the perceived natural topography of the site.

1. Use earth berms, natural rock or natural stone retaining walls to minimize visual impacts of cuts. Hedges and fences may also be appropriate in some locations.
2. Minimize the height of walls and retaining devices.
3. See also the design guidelines for Fences and Walls in Chapter 11, section 2.

8. Landscaping

All projects must provide landscaping and screening on a site to help a development blend in with the mountainside. The use of typical ornamental materials may not be appropriate for the Gateway Mountainside Character Area. Typical hillside planting materials are natural and very modest in character. Simple grasses and trees should be considered for landscaping materials.

A. Use plant materials that blend with the hillside and screen a development from view.

1. Landscape schemes that are rough, natural and/or subdued in character are encouraged.
2. When feasible, preserve existing plant materials of significant size, including trees, shrubs and other natural landscape features in place, or relocate them within the site.
3. See also the design guidelines for Landscaping in Chapter 11, section 1.

9. Site Lighting

Any new development in the Gateway Mountainside Character Area stands a chance of being seen and detracting from the view of this area from lower in the town and from the interstate. Light emanating from within a building can have an effect upon the character of the town at night. Large areas of glass can become sources of glare and can affect perception of the night sky. For these reasons, the DRC will consider the potential lighting impacts that large glass areas may have.

A. Reduce the amount of light emanating from a development in the hillside.

1. Lighting from buildings located higher on hillsides are more visible at night and may affect the night character of the community.
2. Large areas of glass in exterior walls that may allow "spill-over" of interior light sources, resulting in nighttime glare, should be avoided.
3. Exterior site lights should be screened and focused down toward the ground to minimize their visibility from below.
   

Book 3 Chapter 8 | Book 3 Chapter 10