This Manual has been designed to meet the needs of a variety of users, including; property owners, business owners, architects and other design professionals, and building and landscape contractors, as well as members of the Zoning Board of Appeals,City Council, city staff and the general public It is intended to serve as a guide for preserving and perpetuating an authentic character of development along the Highway 20 Corridor throughout the City of Galena. Accordingly, it summarizes the conditions and themes of existing development, describes the desired character of future development, and provides general and detailed standards for the pattern, form and quality of future development. In addition, provides guidance on how to apply this information to a particular development project, and outlines the design and development review and approval process.
This Manual is part of the City of Galena Zoning Ordinance (see § 154.303 ) and provides standards for development within the Highway 20 Corridor Overlay District. As such, it contains only some of the standards applicable to development in the Corridor, with the remainder of the Zoning Ordinance and other city codes and ordinances providing the rest. In designing a development project then, it is essential to be highly familiar with both the contents of this Manual and all other applicable zoning and land development regulations contained in the City Code. This Manual has been designed to be consistent and work in concert with all of the other city zoning and land development provisions. However, where the provisions of this Manual conflict with any others contained in the Zoning Ordinance or the Subdivision Ordinance (see Chapter 153 of this code), the provisions contained in this Manual shall prevail.
The contents of this Manual provide the following four key concepts to guide the layout and design of new development within the Highway 20 Corridor Overlay District:
Chapters III, IV and V describe the pattern and condition of existing development along the Highway 20 Corridor and the desired character of future development. Understanding these baseline conditions and desired themes is an important first step in crafting a development plan that is sensitive to its context.
Chapters VI and VII provide design standards for subdivisions and Individual lots respectively. Regardless of which level of development you are considering, both chapters should be reviewed together, as they provide detailed direction on the form, style, orientation, scale, and materials desired for development within the Corridor. Each of the design standards was established based on the defining characteristics of the Corridor as described in the previous chapters. As a result, the standards are reflective of Galena's unique image and are intended to result in development that contributes further this to authentic character.
Chapter VIII recommends that the city, state and new development projects incorporate site features that "tell the story" of Galena's history and natural setting This can be accomplished through a variety of means including everything from markers and signage, to sculpture and other works of art
Chapter IX is a "cookbook" explaining how to fully incorporate all of the information in this Manual in your development project, while Chapter X describes the design and development review and approval process. The process is intended to provide predictable, swift and positive outcomes for development proposals that meet the spirit and letter of the design standards.
As a design manual, the information, photographs and illustrations contained in the following pages address and respond to the opportunities for enhancing and preserving the visual environment of the Highway 20 Corridor and the entire City of Galena. The design standards in this Manual are, by specific intent, illustrative rather than prescriptive. They do not dissect every architectural or site design influence, nor do they attempt to prescribe specific, detailed ways to handle every type of project or site. They do, however, provide the City of Galena with an objective methodology and common framework for reviewing proposals and attaching conditions, if any, to project approvals.
One final important note to keep in mind as you begin using the information in this Manual and designing your project; most of the area within the Highway 20 Overlay District is outside of the Historic District, As a result, the current and future character of development along the corridor is separate and distinct from that within the Historic District. While there are common elements between the two, this Design Manual does not encourage nor permit development that attempts to mimic development within the Historic District. Instead, it seeks to encourage development that is responsive to its unique setting on the prairie above the downtown and that contributes to an authentic, high quality sense of place that is complementary to, but not a duplication of, the Historic District. Having a good understanding and appreciation of the unique aspects of the architecture and form of development within the Historic District is important to establishing the overall context for future development. However, it does not drive the design standards contained in this Manual, nor should it drive the design of specific development projects.
Terms
ACCESS ROAD. Secondary public street that connects with a Cross Street providing access to the rear of development.
CROSS STREET. Public street that intersects with Highway 20 providing access to and from development parcels and establishing a development node.
INTERNODAL AREA. Area between nodes characterized by setback development and open space along Highway 20 frontage.
NODAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERN. Pattern of development which creates concentrated Highway 20 frontage development at limited access points (cross streets). This pattern is market driven and reinforces the preservation of viewsheds.
NODE. Area characterized by concentrated development and smaller setbacks, located primarily at cross street intersections with Highway 20.
OPEN SPACE SEPARATOR. The portion of an internodal area located adjacent to Highway 20 which separates development from Highway 20. This separator helps to creates nodes and maintains veiwsheds.
SIGNIFICANT VISTA CORRIDOR. Location of significant unobstructed views to distant features (e.g. bluffs) and pastoral landscapes often located at ravines and framed by ridges.
VIEWSHED. Unobstructed view to distant landscape features, horizon, etc.
VISTA CORRIDOR. Contiguous open space created by separation of buildings that allow for unobstructed views to distant landscapes from Highway 20.
Design Standard Terms
The design standards contained herein are either mandatory or discretionary. The terms
REQUIRED and PROHIBITED are mandatory. The terms PREFERRED and DISCOURAGED are discretionary. These terms are defined as follows:
DISCOURAGED. Discouraged items are design elements that should not be used in order to maintain the desired character and quality of the Overlay District. These items are not typically found along the Corridor, and detract from the existing and desired character of the Overlay Districts. Discouraged items are thought to not comply with the following goals with respect to desired Corridor character and quality:
Consistency of the context and goals for development.
Consistency of the corridor development concepts.
Consistency of the design district's character.
Consistency of the pattern of development.
Consistency of building orientation, design and materials.
Consistency of site features and elements.
PREFERRED. Preferred items are design elements that, whenever possible, should be used in order to maintain the desired character of the Overlay District. Such items are those typically found along the Corridor and which, in combination with other preferred items, define the existing and desired character of the Overlay District. Preferred items are thought to comply with the following goals with respect to desired Corridor character and quality:
Consistency of the context and goals for development.
Consistency of the corridor development concepts.
Consistency of the design district's character.
Consistency of the pattern of development.
Consistency of building orientation, design and materials.
Consistency of site features and elements.
Incorporating preferred items into a design increases the probability of, but does not assure, project approval.
PROHIBITED. Prohibited items are design elements that do not maintain the desired character or quality of the Overlay District, and are not permitted under current codes or regulations. Use of prohibited elements mandates project denial.
REQUIRED. Required items are design elements that are necessary in order to maintain the desired character and quality of the Highway 20 Corridor Overlay District. Compliance is mandatory for project approval.