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Council prioritizes design guidelines, downtown master plan and an infill inventory
Summary
Council agreed to develop design guidelines for historic downtown, produce an infill inventory linked to zoning, and provide a public-facing site map to help prospective businesses identify available properties and permitted uses.
Council discussed moving forward on a downtown master plan and, more immediately, developing and approving design guidelines to guide the external appearance and signage of buildings in the historic district. Staff noted the town already has a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance; design guidelines were presented as the missing element that will streamline BAR (Board of Architectural Review) decisions and reduce uncertainty for property owners and developers.
"Develop and implement design guidelines," the facilitator summarized as a clear, actionable goal, and staff recommended low-cost approaches such as adapting model guidelines and linking them to the zoning map. Council also directed staff to compile an infill inventory linked to zoning and to post that information on the town website so prospective businesses and developers can easily identify sites and permitted uses. The town will also explore improved business-facing web tools and a clickable inventory to support economic outreach.
