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City of newnan WWW.CI.NEWNAN.GA.US
For immediate release:
April 12, 2007
NEW DESIGN GUIDELINES PROPOSED FOR DOWNTOWN
The Newnan Planning Commission, along with the city Planning Department, is reviewing the design guidelines for downtown Newnan. Under new proposed design guidelines, new commercial construction and major renovations of existing buildings will have to compliment adjacent buildings and be compatible to the historic downtown area.
A new downtown design overlay district would be created to support and further the historical, cultural, and aesthetic heritage of the City of Newnan. The district’s design intent is to encourage quality development by establishing design criteria to ensure the protection of one of Newnan’s greatest assets, its historic character.
“Although the city has both the Quality Development Corridor and Building Exterior Quality Design Overlay Districts, neither covers the downtown area,” said Tracy Dunnavant, Planning and Zoning Director for the City of Newnan.
“Efforts have been made through redevelopment, streetscapes, and most recently funding of the urban redevelopment plan to make certain that the downtown continues to thrive and remain an aesthetically pleasing destination for both tourists and local citizenry. As of right now, types of building materials are left to the discretion of the builder, and the city is considering adopting language to ensure quality control for new construction for downtown,” continued Dunnavant.
The Newnan City Council has issued a moratorium on the issuance of building permits for new construction, additions to existing construction and exterior renovations of buildings on property zoned for commercial or office institutional uses in downtown including the Central Business District and Downtown Development Authority District until May 25, 2007 while the Planning Commission and Planning Staff studies the issue.
The Planning Commission is seeking public input on the proposed changes. They will hold a public hearing on the design guidelines during their next Planning Commission on Tuesday, May 8th at 7:00 p.m. at Newnan City Hall.
With the proposed additions to the zoning ordinance, guidelines for new commercial construction in the area include such requirements as enhancing the overall character of the district, being compatible with the dominant design characteristics of the historic buildings, being consistent with adjacent structures, and using building materials such as brick, stone, masonry, and stucco.
Rehabilitation guidelines include requirements such as storefronts shall retain original elements when possible, decorative features and architectural details shall be retained, original exterior materials shall be preserved to the greatest extent possible, and replacement features shall be compatible to original features.
In the proposed new guidelines, all developments in the Downtown Design Overlay District would have to submit all rendering and plans to the Planning Department for appropriate certificates of approval.
Dunnavant said that her department is available to answer questions and has copies of the proposed guidelines available for review. She can be reached at 770-254-2354.
The Mayor and City Council will have to approve the Planning Department and Planning Commission recommendations before the ordinance is officially adopted.
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