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<br />Staff Report <br /> <br />September 21,2006 <br /> <br />ARCHITECTURAL & BUILDING STANDARDS <br /> <br />Back2round: <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council has directed staff to consider adding architectural and building <br />standards (exterior) to Chapter 106 ofthe Code of Ordinances. The purpose is to enhance <br />the overall impression of the City, to have quality developments along major <br />thoroughfares, and eventually attract new sustainable businesses to La Porte. Recent <br />developments have generated preliminary discussion on possible controls on architectural <br />standards or fa<;:ade on buildings fronting the major corridors or thoroughfares throughout <br />the City. These discussions centered on the Main Street District as a way to facilitate <br />interest in redevelopment of the Downtown area. Issues arose over the proliferation of <br />metal buildings along the City's major access ways, which may detract from upscale <br />development and negatively impact prospective developments. <br /> <br />Staff analyzed the situation thoroughly and presents this item to the Planning and Zoning <br />Commission for discussion and further guidance in order for possible changes to the <br />Code of Ordinances relating to architectural and building standards in La Porte. <br /> <br />Existine: Reauirements: <br /> <br />Current ordinances allow some controls to be included with Special Conditional Use <br />Permits (SCUP) associated with uses listed as "conditional" within certain zoning <br />districts and for construction within Planned Unit Developments (PUD), which normally <br />follow with some form of developer's agreement, e.g. Port Crossing. No such control, <br />however, is associated with construction of a development whose use is "permitted by <br />right" within a certain zoning district. Available provisions are that the building must <br />meet current building codes, but the City has no tools to enforce architectural and <br />building standards or dictate fa<;:ade material. <br /> <br />Sue:e:ested Reauirements: <br /> <br />The following standards shall apply to buildings located within designated areas: <br /> <br />1. Architecture shall be anchored by traditional elements and materials with the primary <br />material being brick, concrete, rock and/or glass. Exterior Finish Installation System <br />(E.F.I.S.), stucco, concrete, stone, glass, and tile elements may be introduced as <br />exterior design elements, accents or trim, clay-faced brick shall be used on at least <br />50% of the exterior building skin - a minimum of 4' in height in the same material. <br /> <br />~HfBIT A <br />