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Staff previews overhaul of Ybor City design standards, flags material flexibility
Summary
Historic preservation staff presented a major revision to the Ybor City design standards on March 25 that expands new-construction guidance, updates material guidance (fences, siding, roofing, windows) and proposes measured flexibility for substitute materials in specific, secondary applications; staff seeks BLC input before finalizing the draft.
Historic preservation staff told the Bay Latino Commission (BLC) on March 25 that the city is preparing a comprehensive update to the Ybor City design standards — a rewrite intended to modernize guidance, add detail for new construction and codify material recommendations — and asked commissioners for input on which materials should be eligible as substitute products.
Heather Bonds, historic preservation specialist, said the existing guidelines were adopted in 1986 and last substantially revised more than 20 years ago; staff has expanded the new-construction section from four pages to roughly 57 pages to address contemporary materials, rooftop additions, infill standards and site components such as sidewalk cafes, signage and street furniture. Bonds described the goals as improving organization, increasing clarity, promoting maintenance and encouraging rehabilitation over new construction.
A central question staff posed to the commission was how much flexibility to allow for substitute materials on new construction. Bonds noted national trends and recent changes in the Secretary of the Interior standards that allow more flexibility for substitutes in some cases: “While the use of matching materials is always preferred, the standards have purposely been updated to allow for the use of substitute materials in new construction,” she said, citing Preservation Brief 16 and updated rehabilitation guidance.
On specific materials, staff recommended:
- Fences: wood picket and metal fences should remain preferred. Vinyl and new chain-link fences should be prohibited; composite (wood-like) fencing may be considered as a secondary/site element because it can replicate wood’s appearance while improving longevity. - Siding: historic wood siding should be preserved on contributing buildings. For new construction, cement board (smooth side) is acceptable as an alternative to wood when it replicates historic profiles; vinyl siding is not appropriate. - Roofing: traditional Ybor profiles (corrugated pressed metal, 5‑V crimp, standing seam for larger buildings) should be referenced for new construction; material color and profile should be compatible with the district. - Windows: historically wood windows are preferred, but wood-clad aluminum windows that reproduce traditional inset, trim profiles and simulated divided lights have been accepted for new construction; flush-mounted windows and grids between glass are not appropriate.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about less-common roof types (barrel tile), the role of trim boards and how strictly to limit faux materials. One commissioner observed that composite or manufactured products can improve longevity and thus maintenance outcomes, while another urged caution and said the BLC should continue to reserve the right to evaluate substitutes on a case-by-case basis. Bonds said the draft will keep the ultimate decision with the BLC: “The BLC will have final approval on those substitute materials,” she said.
Bonds said the draft is still being coordinated with the city’s zoning-code rewrite and that staff is avoiding hard citations to municipal code sections because numbering will change; the goal is to complete the full draft by the end of the year and then proceed through public adoption channels. Staff asked for initial guidance on materials policy and signage/siting topics and said it will return with finalized language and graphics for the commission’s review.
Next steps: staff will continue drafting the six-part standard (introduction, maintenance, rehabilitation, new construction, site components, references) and will bring a complete draft back to the BLC as zoning-code changes become final. Commissioners encouraged clearer language on allowable substitutes for new construction, recommended adding trim/board details and asked staff to include practical guidance on maintenance and required installation details (for example, window inset and proper flashing).
No formal action was taken; the presentation was an informational update and an opportunity for the BLC to comment before staff circulates a near-final draft.
