Eustis commissioners debate design standards: balance rules with flexibility

EUSTIS, Fla. — Commissioners at an April 5 workshop asked staff to inventory existing downtown design standards and return options for modest updates that protect historic character while avoiding overly prescriptive rules that can deter development.

Consultants and staff reminded the commission that master plans typically set vision and that design standards are usually applied in the city’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs). City staff agreed to extract the current design guideline language and return it in a concise packet for the commission to review.

Commissioner comments ranged from a preference for higher material quality and three‑dimensional facades to concerns that overly strict rules can make renovation of older buildings more costly. "Design standards can be a double‑edged sword," consultant Mike Gohman said, noting that too‑specific standards can discourage creative projects or raise renovation costs for existing building owners.

Commissioners asked staff to explore targeted updates and to evaluate whether a streamlined waiver process or flexible review can reconcile historic preservation, visual quality and practical development realities.