Introduction | Summary | Master Plan Document | Annual Reports | Implementation Strategies
2005 Master Plan Annual Report
Community Appearance
2005 Annual Report | Land Use | Economy | Community Appearance | Community Facilities & Services | Housing | Transportation | Implementation
Click here to view/download a pdf version of the Community Appearance Section.
Community Appearance Meeting Summary
From Meeting Dated Wednesday, March 8, 2006
In Attendance
- Tim Moloney (Parks & Recreation Department), Moderator
- Chad Gibson, Bryan Wagner (Development Department), Joe Valentino, Aaron Miller (City Manager’s Office), Steve Cothrel, Sally Gard (Parks & Recreation Department), Wayne Miller (Public Services Department), Robin Sowry (City Attorney’s Office)
Goal
Enhance the beauty of our neighborhoods, natural surroundings and architectural amenities and preserve these qualities within the residential and commercial setting along lighted sidewalks, streets, parks and in other gathering places.
Executive Summary
The Community Appearance goals address the role of the City in shaping the physical appearance of the community. It provides general guidance for protecting and enhancing the appearance of residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, the natural environment, and public spaces.
Upper Arlington can be very proud of its physical appearance, and various implementation strategies of the Master Plan and the subsequent requirements of the Unified Development Ordinance have done much to further what were already considered community strengths.
Three primary considerations continue to affect the progress made to date in realizing the strategies of the Community Appearance section:
- Definitions of the physical character of Upper Arlington can be subject to interpretation. Taken out of context, Master Plan language can appear to contradict itself, or the “guiding” nature of the language can result in contradictory opinions on the best way forward. While this may cause moments of confusion or frustration as specific issues arise, the flexibility of the document is intentional to allow for changing circumstances, opportunities and public sentiment.
- Human and funding resource limitations continue to pose a challenge to all facets of Master Plan implementation. Several strategies in Community Appearance have either progressed slowly or not at all as a result of these restrictions. City Council and community input is vital to help prioritize projects and identify the funds necessary to their successful implementation. In turn, Staff must bear the responsibility of providing educated choices that fully detail the benefits and impacts specific projects would have on other implementation areas.
- The Master Plan is a vast guiding document that touches on all facets of the community. As a result, specific details or intentions can appear to be “lost in the mix” as various bodies perform their roles at the City. As issues work their way through these bodies, the roles and range of responsibility change at times, with seeming contradictions arising as a result, and this trend is likely to continue.
Several areas in Community Appearance continue to require further consideration or direction from City Council before they can proceed further. They include pertinent elements recommended by the Transportation Plan, expanding pedestrian orientation, and exploring a percent-for-the-arts requirement for new construction projects.
Many of the objectives and strategies set forth in this section have been addressed or can be categorized as routine City business and have been marked as such for future Master Plan Annual Report updates. As a result, they will only contain update information in future reports as projects or items of note occur.
Objective Highlights
Objective 1. Require a high-quality exterior appearance of all residential structures.
- Much of the framework for realizing this objective is in place through requirements of the Unified Development Ordinance and other related City ordinances. The development approval process, building permitting and inspection process, and the proactive Property Assessment Monitoring Program, all help to ensure such requirements are adhered to by property owners.
- Minor adjustments become necessary over time as new issues arise.
Objective 2. Require new commercial development to be of the highest quality – improving the exterior appearance and functionality.
- The framework is in place to establish the highest standards for any new construction in the community, through the Unified Development Ordinance, Building Code and other related City ordinances. Construction, accessibility, landscaping, screening and other requirements all come into play as opportunities for redevelopment or new development occur.
- The City’s development codes continue to be monitored and adapted as necessary, as part of routine City business.
- Staff consistently considers all development proposals within the framework set forth by the Unified Development Ordinance and Master Plan goals. The Board of Zoning and Planning, (and City Council when called upon) considers projects from a broader perspective, with some rulings running counter to the official Staff recommendation as a result.
- Increasing density is “land-driven.” There is a tendency for developers to want to greatly intensify residential properties when redeveloping them, yet the City is yet to see the density it desires with commercial district redevelopments. Staff discussed the challenges of obtaining the desired density in commercial districts based on market forces and other economic issues.
- Enhanced landscaping and screening requirements are consistently meeting with success as new projects are brought before the City.
- Staff considered whether the reconfiguration of streetscapes should be applied to new residential projects as well as commercial, and that this area be reconsidered since it is not always being required to the extent desired as new projects come forward.
Objective 3. Preserve historic sites and structures as vital components of the City’s built environment.
- Historic structure preservation requirements have been contingent upon consideration of the associated issues and it is believed the current need does not warrant preservation guidelines at this time.
- In 2005 significant improvements were undertaken at the Mallway Park, located in the City’s first commercial district along Arlington Avenue.
- Other historic strategies are undertaken annually as part of routine community activities, such as the Wall of Honor dedication each May and historic home/walking tours hosted by the Upper Arlington Historical Society.
Objective 4. Improve gateways to the community to reflect an appropriate image of Upper Arlington.
- A list of community gateways have been identified by the Parks & Recreation Department, each with its own unique set of circumstances requiring an adaptable landscaping plan. Gateway enhancements are now considered routine as development or other opportunities are brought forward. It is a tribute to the Master Plan and Council leadership that the City has been able to progress with significant gateway improvements.
Objective 5. Promote pedestrian orientation.
- Strategies within Objective 5 are tied to the Transportation section, as they address pedestrian orientation and sidewalk connections. As mentioned within Transportation, issues of existing policy and associated costs can act as roadblocks to enhancing pedestrian orientation.
- A special committee of City Council began to address the numerous issues surrounding a comprehensive network of sidewalks in 2005. The work of the Infrastructure Policies Committee continues in 2006.
Objective 6. Promote public art.
- Progress has been made with expanding public art in unique ways. A public art component was incorporated into the Mallway Park renovation in 2005, and the Cultural Arts Division has begun an “Art in Work Spaces” project, coordinating exhibits within local businesses.
- Consideration of a “percent-for-arts” component was undertaken during initial planning for the new Reed Road Water Park. Funding issues did not allow for implementation, however a community tile project was implemented to bring an artistic element to the facilities landscaping.
Community Appearance
Strategy Responsibilities / Recommended Amendments
Objective 1. Require a high-quality exterior appearance of all residential structures.
| a. Reviewing property maintenance requirements and related zoning codes to ensure they are meeting City goals. |
Development, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Ongoing / Routine |
| b. Adopting residential design guidelines to require that multi-family structures (including mixed-use structures) are architecturally compatible with their environs. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning, City Attorney |
Complete / Routine monitoring |
| c. Developing a means to evaluate and review architectural appearance to meet implementation standards. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Complete / Routine monitoring |
| d. Continuing to require new multi-family structures to use masonry or stone in their facades, and require pedestrian orientation and amenities. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Ongoing /Routine |
Objective 2. Require new commercial development to be of the highest quality – improving the exterior appearance and functionality.
| a. Adopting commercial design standards and guidelines. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning, City Attorney |
Complete / Routine |
| b. Mandating that future development is pedestrian friendly, walkable, compact and transit oriented. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Ongoing / Routine |
| c. Supporting increases in density if consistent with the Master Plan and Study Area Plans. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning, City Attorney |
Ongoing / Routine |
| d. Increasing landscaping and screening requirements for commercial development. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Complete / Routine monitoring |
| e. Reconstructing the streetscape in commercial areas to provide for adequate sidewalks, street trees, landscaping, access management, and other similar improvements. |
Development, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Further direction required, Ongoing with new construction |
| f. Continuing to monitor the success of the City’s development codes. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Ongoing / Routine |
Objective 3. Preserve historic sites and structures as vital components of the City’s built environment.
| a. Continuing to support the designation of buildings, structures and districts on the National Register of Historic Places. |
City Attorney, City Council (and Historic Resources Commission if created, see 3.b. below) |
Ongoing |
| b. Considering the creation of an official Historic Resources Commission. |
City Attorney, City Council |
On Hold |
| c. Continuing to promote the local register and historic preservation guidelines. |
Cultural Arts, City Council (and Historic Resources Commission if created, see 3.b. above) |
On Hold |
| d. Celebrating the City’s history on an annual basis through a public event and by promoting historic home shows and walking tours. |
Cultural Arts, City Manager, Historical Society, (and Historic Resources Commission if created, see 3.b. above) |
Ongoing / Routine |
Objective 4. Improve gateways to the community to reflect an appropriate image of Upper Arlington.
| a. Conducting a thorough survey and evaluation of the City’s major gateways and recommend improvements. |
Parks & Recreation, Development, Cultural Arts |
Completed |
| b. Implementing gateway improvements on a priority basis. |
Parks & Recreation, City Council, Development |
Ongoing/Routine |
Objective 5. Promote pedestrian orientation.
| a. Requiring pedestrian orientation in building design and site design within commercial design standards and guidelines. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Complete / Routine monitoring |
| b. Requiring and/or promoting pedestrian orientation in all public construction projects. |
Development, City Council, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Further direction and funding required |
| c. Strengthening pedestrian connections between commercial areas and residential neighborhoods. |
Development, City Council, Public Services, Board of Zoning & Planning |
Long Term / Further funding direction required |
Objective 6. Promote public art.
| a. Enriching the built environment through public and/or private investments in public art. |
Cultural Arts, City Council |
Long Term / Ongoing, Further funding direction required |
| b. Exploring implementation of a percent-for-arts requirement in City funded projects. |
Cultural Arts, City Council |
Immediate / Further direction required, On Hold |
Updated 5/25/06
City Manager's Office
City of Upper Arlington
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone:614-583-5040
Fax: 6124-457-6620
www.ua-ohio.net
|
