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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
Name not available inside City Limits
January 12, 2023, 10:30 PM
  • Considering the project area in the map above, do you (select all that apply):
    • Other - Own property close to neighborhood and love the area.
  • 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?
    Flagstaff is already ugly enough, design standards need to raised and considered to keep improve our cities aesthetics.
  • 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?
    Only existing one story homes should be exempt, new construction should be required.
  • 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?
    Building face variation requires great consideration of design which hopefully leads to higher quality construction and better visual design.
  • 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?
    Yes, breaks up the facade and creates less blocky structures
  • Do you think the character overlay should contain requirements for a change in roof profile (roof modulation standards)?
    • Neutral/Unsure
  • Why do you think roof modulation should or should not be included?
    Builders are capable of very bad roof modulations. Requiring it doesn't mean it will look good.
  • Do you think it's a good idea to NOT regulate building materials in the character overlay?
    • No - bad idea
  • Why do you think building materials should or should not be regulated?
    Unregulated materials will allow builders to default to the cheapest materials. Allow everything except lapsiding, require no common materials on adjacent properties.
  • 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?
    Recesses should also require decent eave extension to prevent water damage.
  • 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?
    Hell yeah. Who doesn't want shade or water protection.
  • 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?
    • Neutral/Unsure
  • Why do you think parking location restrictions should or should not be included?
    No response.
  • Do you think requirements for window consistency should be included in the character overlay?
    • No - bad idea
  • Why do you think window consistency should or should not be included?
    This will require builders to alter floorplans for a silly design aesthetic.
  • Do you think the character overlay should allow shed roofs on garages, detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), storage sheds and similar structures? NOTE: ADUs are limited to 800 square feet by the current city code and are also allowed over garages.
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think shed roofs should or should not be allowed on accessory structures?
    No response.
  • Do you think the character overlay should allow a single-family home or duplex with only a single shed roof with no other roof plane adding variety to the home?
    • Yes - good idea
  • Why do you think shed roofs should or should not be allowed on homes?
    Well designed homes can also have single plane roofs.
  • Do you think that any allowance for shed roof single family homes and duplexes should include a requirement that the roofline integrate two contrasting roof planes?
    • No - bad idea
  • Why do you think any shed roof standards should or should include a requirement for contrasting roof planes?
    The idea of variation in design doesn't always equate to good design.
  • Do you think the character overlay should include standards for roof orientation?
    • No - bad idea
  • Why do you think roof orientation requirements should or should not be included?
    Roof orientations should have many considerations ie: sun, water, snow. Form should follow function.
  • 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. 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
    2. 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)
    3. 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
  • 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)
    • Roof orientation should not be regulated.
  • Are there any other thoughts or opinions you would like to share with the project team and the La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood Association?

    What I like most of La Plaza Vieja is the variation in design and architecture. Too much prescriptive regulation will only be more restrictive in what can be built. This will lead to too many projects being redundant in design. If better design and preservation is desired, mandate builders to hire architects to assist in planning and design.

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.

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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. 

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