Click this link to optimize Flagstaff Community Forum for screen readers Skip to Content
Flagstaff Community Forum
Opengov

What design standards should be included in the La Plaza Vieja character overlay?

33 registered responses


Considering the project area in the map above, do you (select all that apply):

Response Percent Response Count
Own property and live in the Neighborhood Core 6.1% 2
Own property in the Neighborhood Core but live elsewhere in the City of Flagstaff 12.1% 4
I do not live in or own property in the Neighborhood Core and I do not expect to in the future. 63.6% 21
Other 27.3% 9

In theory, do you agree that the City of Flagstaff should craft and adopt some basic design standards to reinforce La Plaza Vieja's character?

Response Percent Response Count
Agree - good idea 54.5% 18
Neutral/Unsure 27.3% 9
Disagree - bad idea 18.2% 6

Why do you agree or disagree with this approach?

Answered
26
Skipped
7

Do you think one-story homes (both existing and new) should be exempt from any adopted design standards?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 36.4% 12
Neutral/Unsure 36.4% 12
No - bad idea 27.3% 9

Why do you think exempting one-story homes is a good or bad idea?

Answered
23
Skipped
10

Do you think the character overlay should include building face variation (façade articulation) standards?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 81.8% 27
Neutral/Unsure 9.1% 3
No - bad idea 9.1% 3

Why do you think facade articulation should or should not be included?

Answered
25
Skipped
8

Do you think the character overlay should include upper-floor articulation standards?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 56.3% 18
Neutral/Unsure 28.1% 9
No - bad idea 15.6% 5

Why do you think upper-floor articulation should or should not be included?

Answered
22
Skipped
11

Do you think the character overlay should contain requirements for a change in roof profile (roof modulation standards)?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 63.6% 21
Neutral/Unsure 18.2% 6
No - bad idea 18.2% 6

Why do you think roof modulation should or should not be included?

Answered
21
Skipped
12

Do you think it's a good idea to NOT regulate building materials in the character overlay?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 68.8% 22
Neutral/Unsure 12.5% 4
No - bad idea 18.8% 6

Why do you think building materials should or should not be regulated?

Answered
24
Skipped
9

Do you think standards for window trim or recess should be included in the character overlay?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 36.4% 12
Neutral/Unsure 42.4% 14
No - bad idea 21.2% 7

Why do you think window trim or window recessing should or should not be included?

Answered
17
Skipped
16

Do you think the character overlay should include a covered entry roof or porch requirement?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 57.6% 19
Neutral/Unsure 21.2% 7
No - bad idea 21.2% 7

Why do you think requirements for a covered entry or porch should or should not be included?

Answered
24
Skipped
9

Do you think the character overlay should restrict the location of off-street parking to areas located off of alleys or to the side of homes?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 36.4% 12
Neutral/Unsure 21.2% 7
No - bad idea 42.4% 14

Why do you think parking location restrictions should or should not be included?

Answered
23
Skipped
10

Do you think requirements for window consistency should be included in the character overlay?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes - good idea 12.1% 4
Neutral/Unsure 21.2% 7
No - bad idea 66.7% 22
Jesse Dominguez inside City Limits
December 9, 2022, 4:14 PM
  • Considering the project area in the map above, do you (select all that apply):
    • Own property and live in the Neighborhood Core
  • In theory, do you agree that the City of Flagstaff should craft and adopt some basic design standards to reinforce La Plaza Vieja's character?
    • Agree - good idea
  • Why do you agree or disagree with this approach?
    To keep with the character of the neighborhood
  • Do you think one-story homes (both existing and new) should be exempt from any adopted design standards?
    • Neutral/Unsure
  • Why do you think exempting one-story homes is a good or bad idea?
    Could change outcome
  • Do you think the character overlay should include building face variation (façade articulation) standards?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think facade articulation should or should not be included?
    Give it a nice design instead of box
  • Do you think the character overlay should include upper-floor articulation standards?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think upper-floor articulation should or should not be included?
    Looks and feels homey
  • Do you think the character overlay should contain requirements for a change in roof profile (roof modulation standards)?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think roof modulation should or should not be included?
    Break up will allow for a nicer looking buildings
  • Do you think it's a good idea to NOT regulate building materials in the character overlay?
    • Neutral/Unsure
  • Why do you think building materials should or should not be regulated?
    No response.
  • Do you think standards for window trim or recess should be included in the character overlay?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think window trim or window recessing should or should not be included?
    Trim allows for a nicer design
  • Do you think the character overlay should include a covered entry roof or porch requirement?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think requirements for a covered entry or porch should or should not be included?
    Protection and design
  • Do you think the character overlay should restrict the location of off-street parking to areas located off of alleys or to the side of homes?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think parking location restrictions should or should not be included?
    Takes away fro the appearance of the home and might be dangerous
  • Do you think requirements for window consistency should be included in the character overlay?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think window consistency should or should not be included?
    Aloowmotmto
  • Do you think the character overlay should include standards for roof orientation?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think roof orientation requirements should or should not be included?
    Most older homes are built with them. Would continue with the character
  • What elements of design are most important for a new character overlay to regulate in order to preserve the neighborhood character of la Plaza Vieja?
    1. Requiring consistency in facade windows means that all windows facing the street would have to be similarly sized, of consistent design or operation, or grouped in a way that creates symmetry and/or consistency on each floor.This would not require that any particular brand or style of window be applied but that the design of all windows be consistent across the front of the building. It would not regulate rear or side windows that are not facing the street.

      Building Face (Facade) Window Consistency
    2. Roof orientation standards would require that gabled-end roofs face the street on typically narrow lots (if there are multiple rooflines, at least one roofline would have to meet this standard). In the case of a property with a shed roof, this orientation standard would also be applied in some manner. 

      Roof Orientation
    3. Many homes in La Plaza Vieja have a simple covering supported with brackets mounted to the wall. A requirement for a covered entry or porch could be scaled to require something small, like a covered entryway, or something larger such as a full porch.

      Covered Entry or Porch
    4. Varying the face plane of a new building (facade articulation) is one of several ways to break up the massive appearance and larger scale of a building. Facade articulation refers to the surfaces of the building, whether they are flat, pushed up to the street, or pushed back.  Some examples include:

      • Roofline changes 
      • Covered entries or porches
      • Changes in the color and pattern of the materials between floors of the building
      • Building Modulation - requiring every 10-35 feet that the building jog in or out to mimic smaller buildings
      • "Other" vertical features, like chimneys or dormers
      Building Face (Facade) Variation (Articulation)
    5. Traditionally, homes in the La Plaza Vieja neighborhood have had parking and driveways located to the side or rear of buildings.  If included in a character overlay, the parking requirement would include placing off-street parking coming off of the alleys (where applicable) or to the side of homes where there are no alleys. This would allow the front porch, front doors, and windows to be visible from the street and prevent larger vehicles from blocking sidewalks or pushing back the front of homes further from the street. 

      Prohibit New Parking in the Front of Homes
    6. Windows have been referred to as the expressive eyes of a home. They can be clearly expressed or end up reading relatively flat to a wall surface. By recessing or trimming a window with a frame, shadow lines help to create a shadowed accent that more clearly defines the window.

      Window Trim or Recess
    7. The change in a roof’s visual profile (roof modulation standards) could apply to buildings longer than 30 feet with the goal of creating visual interest by not having excessively long and continuous roof lines. A variation in roof forms can add visual interest to a building by breaking up the building’s appearance against the skyline.

      Change In Roof Profile (Modulation)
    8. The purpose of upper floor definition standards would be to reinforce the neighborhood’s character of one-story buildings by clearly defining each floor level for two- and three-story buildings. This floor defining articulation allows anyone to easily recognize the number of floors and reduces the appearance of one tall wall that has no definition or change of plane.

      Upper Floor Definition (Articulation)
    9. A shed roof refers to a roof that slopes on a single plane. These roof types are uncommon in the La Plaza Vieja neighborhood but have become increasingly popular in new construction due to their cost-effectiveness and their ability to create sloped ceilings and abundant usable and naturally lighted interior spaces. Similar designs have been recently called “Mountain Modern”.

      Shed Rooflines
  • In your opinion, are there any of the elements from the previous question that the city should NOT regulate and why? (Use one blank for each element)
    No response.
  • Are there any other thoughts or opinions you would like to share with the project team and the La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood Association?

    Great job to all

Flagstaff Community Forum is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Flagstaff Community Forum is voluntary. The responses in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.

Your answers will NOT be saved

This is the form that was used to collect responses. It's here so you can try it and see how it worked when the topic was open.

The topic is now closed, and anything you enter into this form will not be saved.

Where would the overlay design standards apply?

While La Plaza Vieja includes commercial areas, the design standards will only apply to single-family and duplex homes within the neighborhood core on the map below. 

Check out our guidelines for civility
Back to Intro  
  Page 1 of 16