5. Guidelines for Site & Landscape Design
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5. GUIDELINES FOR SITE & LANDSCAPE DESIGN Site Design, Parking & Treatment of Historic Landscape Features This chapter includes: • Introduction ............................................................................................................................ Page 92 ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS • General Principles for Site & Landscape Design ........................................................ Page 93 DOCUMENT • Residential Site & Landscape Design ............................................................................. Page 94 » Fences & Walls ........................................................................................................................... Page 95 » New Retaining Walls ............................................................................................................... Page 97 • Commercial/Multifamily Site & Landscape .................................................................. Page 99 » Streetscape & Parking ............................................................................................................ Page 99 » Alleys & Service Areas ........................................................................................................... Page 100 The design guidelines include many photographs and diagrams to illustrate • Site & Building Lighting .................................................................................................... Page 101 acceptable or unacceptable approaches. » Site Lighting ........................................................................................................................... Page 102 The illustrations are provided as examples » Building Lighting ................................................................................................................... Page 103 and are not intended to indicate the only options. If there appears to be a conflict between the text of the design guidelines and a related illustration, the text shall prevail. KEY TO ILLUSTRATION SYMBOLS A checkmark on an illustration indicates an approach that is generally appropriate. An asterisk on an illustration indicates an approach that may be acceptable in some contexts or situations. An X mark on an illustration indicates an approach that is generally inappropriate. 01-27-16 — DENVER, COLORADO 5. Guidelines for Site & Landscape Design | 91 INTRODUCTION Site features and landscapes are an • The design of new landscape BUILDINGS ADJACENT TO PARKWAYS important part of Denver’s historic features such as retaining walls on Denver has a distinctive system of historic context. Proper treatment of these an individually-designated Denver parkways that serve as central organizing features helps retain the unique qualities landmark or any property in a historic corridors and confer special identity to that make Denver special and assists with district adjacent properties and neighborhoods. the preservation and interpretation of • The location and design of a new Over a dozen of the city’s early parkways historic buildings and districts. or expanded surface parking lot on are designated under Denver’s City This chapter provides guidelines for site an individually-designated Denver Beautiful Parkways Historic District. Several and landscape design that apply to a landmark or any property in a historic designated parkways, such as the 7th variety of projects, including: district Avenue and Williams Street Parkways, have • The location and design of service not only stand-alone historic value, but are • The treatment of historic streetscape and mechanical areas on an also focal points and character-defining features such as street trees individually-designated Denver features of residential historic districts. and furnishings (benches, trash landmark or any property in a historic Denver Parks and Recreation regulates receptacles, etc.) on an individually- district development adjacent to parkways, designated Denver landmark or any including setback requirements, and • Other site and landscape design property in a historic district design restrictions for buildings, walls and considerations including landscape fences, and curb cuts to ensure that these • The treatment of historic landscape screening and the site lighting on parkways retain their historic character. For features, such as a historic site wall, historic commercial properties sloping “Denver Hill” yard, or fence more information, contact Denver Parks on an individually-designated Denver This chapter begins with general site and Recreation. Proposed changes to landmark or any property in a historic and landscape guidelines, followed by historically designated properties adjacent guidelines that are specific to residential district to parkways are also subject to LPC design or commercial properties. review, and these design guidelines. Owners proposing changes adjacent to CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT landmark designated parkways are advised When planning site and landscape designs in a historic district, it is important to carefully to coordinate early with both Denver review the district’s character-defining features. See “Appendix A: The Character-defining Parks and Recreation, and Landmark Features of Denver’s Historic Districts” for more information. Preservation staff. 92 | 5. Guidelines for Site & Landscape Design DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR LANDMARK STRUCTURES & DISTRICTS General Principles for Site & Landscape Design 110. Preserve established trees and historic tree lawns. 111. Preserve historic stone sidewalks INTENT STATEMENTS GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR SITE & LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5a To preserve historic site features that 5.1 Retain and restore historic site and landscape features. support the character-defining features a. Preserve original landscape and features, such as walkways, fences, site walls, of historic properties and districts street trees, historic stairways and special plantings or ornamental site features that are character-defining features of the property or historic district. 5b To ensure that new site features b. Preserve historic stone sidewalks. See “Historic Sidewalks” at left for more information. maintain and enhance historic character c. If beyond repair, replace deteriorated historic site features with matching 5c To maintain a strong relationship features, including design and materials. between buildings and the street d. Retain original open space patterns at the sides and rear of a structure. through sensitive site design 5.2 Preserve established trees and historic tree lawns. CARE OF ESTABLISHED TREES a. Preserve established and specimen trees in the front yard area and tree lawn. Assess tree conditions and ensure measures of protection/preservation are The City Forester provides information on included in any development plans. the maintenance of established trees, as well b. Maintain grass and/or low-water ground cover in an existing or new tree as assistance with the selection of hardy, lawn (the landscaped area between the street and the sidewalk). drought-tolerant plants. More information is c. Do not cover or pave an existing tree lawn, except for ADA-compliance or to available a the Denver Forestry Web Site. provide necessary connections to the sidewalk. 5.3 Plan new site and landscape features to respect the character-defining HISTORIC SIDEWALKS features of the historic district or individually-designated Denver landmark. Many of Denver’s original sidewalks are a. Landscape the street-facing portion of a lot to be consistent with historic constructed from sandstone quarried landscape patterns on the street, such as matching tree types where one is missing along a consistent tree row. along the Dakota Hogback near Lyons, Colorado. Lyons sandstone was also b. Where an established tree has been removed, replace it with a similar species. used in some Denver buildings exported c. When introducing a new site feature or modifying an existing feature, such as a to Midwestern cities. Many of Denver’s stairway, fence or retaining wall, respect historical patterns in terms of placement, proportions and design compatibility with surrounding historic context. Lyons sandstone sidewalks have been replaced with concrete. Those that remain d. When designing a new sidewalk or path, use colors, styles and finishes similar are highly valued for their color, character to those seen in nearby historic sidewalks. and durability, and should be preserved. e. Avoid introducing new site features that convey a false sense of history. f. Avoid introducing new readily visible site features, such as curb cuts, which were not historically present on the property, or prevalent in the historic district. INTENT STATEMENTS 01-27-16 — DENVER, COLORADO 5. Guidelines for Site & Landscape Design | 93 Residential Site & Landscape Design 112. Preserve the context of a historic building and district by 113. Maintain the character of a “Denver Hill” sloping maintaining historic front yard landscape areas. front yard area. 5d To preserve the context of a historic GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR RESIDENTIAL SITE & LANDSCAPE DESIGN building and district by maintaining historic front yard landscape areas 5.4 Maintain front yard landscape areas. a. Reserve most of the front yard area for a grass lawn or a designed xeriscape 5e To maintain the traditional features, that uses low-water plantings while maintaining the appearance of a such as topography and plantings, landscaped front yard. that define private yards without b. Where grass is not used, plant less water-intensive