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Riverton council approves changes to commercial architectural standards; downtown 'Civic Center' area to require brick element
Summary
Riverton City Council approved Ordinance 25-12 to revise commercial architectural standards, including a "consistent architectural consideration" standard for all four building sides and a required brick element in a defined downtown/civic area.
Riverton City Council approved Ordinance 25-12 amending several commercial architectural standards, after a public hearing and discussion about how the rules apply downtown.
City planning staff summarized the revisions, saying the code will now require "consistent architectural consideration" for all four sides of a building rather than an absolute "four-sided" standard that had raised concerns about cost and feasibility. Jason (city staff) told the council that the change intends to require consistent materials and cohesion without forcing identical treatments on rear walls.
The code amendment also removes a prior cap on glass as a material; staff said the updated language allows glass as an architectural material while preserving city discretion to determine whether references are to windows or glass as a larger design element. The council added targeted exceptions for precast concrete (tilt-up) on side and rear walls in commercial regional and PCC zones to avoid costly treatments on nonvisible loading-dock walls.
Councilmembers debated a focused requirement for a brick element in a small downtown/civic area. Jason described a geographic core where brick would be one required element: "between 1830 and 1300 West, and then from Petersen's Market to the senior center," covering both commercial gateway and downtown zoning. Supporters said the material requirement promotes cohesion with the existing civic center and nearby developments; opponents argued the city should allow more modern materials and design flexibility.
After discussion, Councilmember Broker moved to approve the ordinance with the changes before the council. The motion carried; the council approved Ordinance 25-12 as amended.
Ending: The ordinance will be codified into the Riverton City Code (amending the referenced sections) and staff will apply the new standards to future commercial review and permitting in the defined civic center area.
