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Joe Stevens; Louisville Revitalization Commission; City Council <br />RE: Design Standards, Unintentional Costs of Planting Design, Purpose of City Boards <br />Need for City Architectural Design Standards and Guidelines <br />Well considered architectural and signage design standards and guidelines can influence the <br />character of our community. These environmental design elements, when and where applied <br />consistently, can be used to help strengthen our community identity and are the visual aspects <br />of wayfinding. Materials and details used in paving, retaining walls, signage (including lettering <br />type & color) and lighting, as examples, all play a part in identifying, branding and marketing our <br />community. These elements also have a direct relationship to wayfinding, by helping to connect <br />both citizens and visitors to our community These environmental elements will make our <br />community unique to our citizens and visitors. <br />Although these design standards are referenced on the City website (see Hwy 42 Revitalization <br />below), from recent presentations to our Board, we learned that the City does not have clear <br />architectural or signage design standards. <br />We would like to encourage the city leadership to established the strategic, architectural and <br />design guidance to shape our community identity and strengthen our wayfinding systems. <br />Please consider our concerns as we refer to the following projects. <br />Timeline of Community Projects <br />When the city hired the architectural firm to design (for example) the Library, did the City provide <br />architectural guidelines or standards to the design team? Or did this design team have free-will <br />to specify the materials and "look" of the project? Did these materials we see today (the red <br />brick, sandstone sills & details, concrete walls and steps, lighting, and signage) become the "de - <br />facto" standard that the city has adopted for its architectural guidelines and standards going <br />forward? <br />Or...as each new city design contract is awarded, can that new design team call -out any <br />materials they choose? Is there thought given to how these projects can unify and give identity <br />to our community? How does City architecture fit our wayfinding systems? Does City leadership <br />consider these things important? <br />Was the Police Station design based on any design standards or guide lines? Are there <br />elements of the Police Station and Library that unify our community? Is the signage consistent? <br />Are entry wall details consistent? Was the visual aspect of wayfinding considered? <br />These same questions should be asked about all pubic structures; buildings, underpasses, <br />bridges, park shelters, downtown/park/open space/trail signage for examples. <br />5 <br />