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Commissioners favor step‑backs above three stories to preserve pedestrian scale
Summary
Consultants showed 3‑D views and commissioners generally supported a policy that requires step‑backs above about three stories (roughly 36–40 feet) to preserve street scale; material choices such as brick and glazing were recommended.
Consultants used 3‑D renderings to demonstrate how podiums with step‑backs can preserve a comfortable pedestrian experience even when buildings reach three to five stories.
Melissa Fry and Ryan Wallace described street‑level treatments (large glazing, active retail frontages) and recommended ground‑floor materials such as brick or fiber cement with restrained metal accents for higher‑quality appearance. Ben Levinger summarized the approach: protect pedestrian scale with step‑backs and careful façade treatment.
Commissioners and council members generally agreed that requiring a step‑back once a building exceeds a three‑story podium would help preserve form and neighborhood transitions; developers noted two‑story podiums are usually easier structurally but that a podium‑plus approach can accommodate higher densities.
No formal height ordinance was adopted during the work session; staff and consultants were asked to translate the concepts into draft standards for future hearings.
