American Planning Association's Iowa Chapter Best Practice Award_Architectural Guidelines Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 2.
ITEM TITLE: American Planning Association's Iowa Chapter Best
Practice Award for Architectural Guidelines
SUMMARY: Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens to present the
American Planning Association's Iowa Chapter(APA-IA)
Best Practice Award to the City of Dubuque for its
Architectural Guidelines.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
APA Award Certificate Supporting Documentation
2016 APA Iowa Chapter Awards Application Supporting Documentation
Certificate of
Award
The American Planning Association
Iowa Chapter hereby awards
City of Dubuque
Best Practice
Architectural Guidelines
10/20/2016
Benjamin Champ, AICP Date
I p
APA Iowa Chapter President
D a 2016 APA-Iowa Chapter Awards
American Planning Association
Iowa Chapter
Making Great Communities Happen
APPLICATION FORM
i
Nominations for the APA— Iowa Chapter Planning Awards must be received at the submission
e-mail address listed on page 2 by Monday, August 22, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Any entries
received after that date will not be considered for an award.
I nominate_ City of Dubuque Architectural Guidelines for a 2016 APA-IA Planning Award.
This submission is to be entered in the category of: Best Practice
Section A - Attachments
The attachments outlined in the "Eligibility and Information"section of the 2016 Awards Rules
and Awards Categories document are mandatory. Submissions lacking these attachments will
not be considered. Applications must be submitted in a .pdf format, and must be
submitted as one document.
Section B - Submission Coordinator
Please provide the name of an individual to act as your submission coordinator. The submission
coordinator will work with APA-Iowa's Awards Coordinator to obtain additional information and
materials from winning entries in preparation for the annual awards presentation ceremony.
Name: Laura Carstens
Organization: City of Dubuque
Title: Planning Services Manager
Street Address: 50 W. 131b Street
City: Dubuque
State/Zip: Iowa 52001
Phone: Office: 563-589-4210
E-mail: Icarsten(a)cityofd ubugue.org
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2016 APA-Iowa Chapter Awards
Section C - Notification
Please provide the names of up to two individuals, other than the nominator, to be notified in the
event this submission is selected to receive an award. If this submission is for an individual, that
person must be listed below as one of the two contacts.
Name: Randy Gehl
Affiliation: Public Information Officer. City of Dubuque
Street Address: 50 W. 13-1 Street
City: Dubuque
State/Zip: Iowa 52001
Phone: Office: 563-589-4151
E-mail: publicinfo(a)citvofdubugue.org
Name: Christy Monk
Affiliation: Chairperson. City of Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission
Street Address: 50 W. 13-' Street
City: Dubuque
State/Zip: Iowa 52001
Phone: Office: 563-583-4900
E-mail: christymonkogmail.com
Section D — Nominator
Please see the rules regarding eligibility to determine who may serve as a nominator. (This
person could be the same person as the submission coordinator.)
Nominator: Laura Carstens
Affiliation: City of Dubuque
Street Address: 50 W. 13'—"Street
City: Dubuque
State/Zip: Iowa 52001
Phone: Office: 563-589-4210
E-mail: Ica rsten(&citvofd ubug ue.oM
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2016 APA-Iowa Chapter Awards
Section E - Press Notification
Please provide the contact information for any media outlets (newspapers, television stations,
etc.) you would like to be contacted if this project receives an award:
I
Name: See enclosed media contact list
Street Address:
City:
State/Zip:
Phone:
I
E-mail:
Name:
Street Address:
City:
State/Zip:
Phone:
E-mail:
Section F - Award/Certificate Information
Should this submission be selected, the following information will be included on the award or
certificate (space is limited):
Name of Entities Receiving Award: City of Dubuque
Name of Project/Plan (If Applicable): Architectural Guidelines
Number of Awards Requested (if more than two): one
Names/Organizations to be Engraved on Award(s): City of Dubuque
APA-Iowa will provide up to two awards per award winner. More awards can be
provided, at the winner's cost.
I certify that the parties credited did the submitted work and meet all eligibility requirements. I
understand that any entry that fails to meet submission requirements may be disqualified.
Signer must be authorized to represent those credited.
Signature of Nominator: *,
Name of Nominator: Laura Carstens
Date: August 22, 2016
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City of Dubuque's Architectural Guidelines
Best Practice
This award nomination is for the City of Dubuque's 2014 Architectural Guidelines manual
available on-line at htto:/rWww.citvofdubugue.org/Architectural-Guidelines.
SUMMARY:
As Iowa's oldest city, Dubuque is known for its historic architecture that makes up much of the
downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The Planning Services Department provides staff
support to the Historic Preservation Commission, the community's steward of these resources.
In 2012, the Commission set out to replace design guidelines in different formats for different
areas -- historic districts and Downtown — with an updated, consolidated manual for use
community-wide. A consultant was retained to work with a Steering Committee of community
stakeholders and a Technical Committee of City staff and Commission members to develop a
draft manual for public input and City Council adoption. The result was a comprehensive review,
update and consolidation of existing guidelines and integration of new guidelines for accessibility
and sustainability into a high-quality, user-friendly, on-line manual.
Adopted in 2014, the Architectural Guidelines assist property owners in making historically
appropriately improvements to historic building exteriors. The manual is a resource on best
approaches for repair, maintenance and rehabilitation; historic building styles; and financial
incentives. The visual direction of green, yellow, and red "stoplight" indicators help direct an
appropriate improvement strategy through preferred and acceptable approaches. This in tum
facilitates planning, review and approval.
CRITERIA:
Originality and innovation.
The Architectural Guidelines are written to be understood and applied by a layperson planning
preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration projects. The manual begins with an emphasis on
planning. Planning A Preservation Project walks the user through the steps of determining historic
significance, assessing integrity, identifying accepted treatments, and then developing an
improvement strategy. Chapter 1 - Rehabilitation Guidelines for Historic Properties, is organized
based on the most frequent inquiries, prevalent design cases, and customer service needs
experienced by the City's Planning staff.
Chapter 5 - Design Guidelines for Sustainability describes general guidelines and principles of
sustainability, and then leads the user through a planning process to understand the inherent
energy efficiency of historic buildings, identify energy conservation opportunities, and evaluate
energy generating technologies (solar collectors, wind power, green roofs). Liberal use of
illustrations aids the layperson in understanding this chapter.
The Architectural Guidelines are supplemented by a variety of common and unique resources:
an Appendix with Benefits of Historic Preservation, Urban Design and Basic Principles for
Sustainability for Historic Properties, The Secretary of the Interior's Standards, Preservation
Briefs and Tech Notes, Financial Incentive Toolbox, Dubuque's Architectural Styles, and Glossary
of Terms.
Implementation and Transferability.
These Architectural Guidelines provide guidance to City staff, residents, neighborhood
associations, and the Historic Preservation Commission for public and private improvements in
City of Dubuque's Architectural Guidelines
historic districts. These guidelines serve as a valuable tool for Dubuque's historic districts, which
are predominantly residential. The Architectural Guidelines also have greater focus on
development opportunities in the Downtown that are not typical in the built-out historic districts,
i.e. new construction, transitional building types, and varying character areas. The Architectural
Guidelines have proven valuable in directing investment and appropriate development within both
historic commercial and residential areas. They are made even more relevant with the
incorporation of modem accessibility and sustainability practices.
The Architectural Guidelines are very transferable. They address exterior architectural design as
well as streetscape and landscape design in historic districts based on the Secretary of the Interior
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The Architectural Guidelines manual includes
excellent visual examples which illustrate appropriate and inappropriate treatment approaches for
building and site features. The manual also includes detailed text which clearly communicates
appropriate and inappropriate treatment approaches for building and site features. Additional
graphics (illustrations, sketches, graphs, tables, flow charts) are used to better illustrate issues
and approaches within the document.
Participation.
City planners developed the scope of services and managed communication, community
engagement, final adoption, and web posting. The project consultant,Winter& Company, initially
met with a Steering Committee of design professionals, developers, property owners, business
owners, and representatives from historic areas and Dubuque Main Street.
Once the direction of the project was established and key issues were identified, the consultant
developed the draft manual with a Technical Committee consisting of City Planning staff and
Historic Preservation Commissioners augmented with staff from key City departments: Housing
& Community Development, Economic Development, Parking, Transit, Public Works, Leisure
Services, Engineering, and Neighborhood Development. A list of committee members is in the
manual.
Property and business owners in the historic areas and Downtown were invited to provide input
and attend an open house. The consultant facilitated committee meetings, public open house,
and City Council work session with support from City planners.
Committee members included those familiar with preservation, rehabilitation, and design review,
and those not as familiar. This range of participants, plus the general public, helped City planners
engage people with a variety of experience and perspectives. The resulting Architectural
Guidelines reflect consensus of the best format for a comprehensive, user friendly resource.
Effectiveness and results.
Dubuque's Architectural Guidelines are a resource to assist with preserving and enhancing the
historic characteristics of a building, in tum fostering neighborhood stability and community vitality.
While our goal was one consolidated manual for historic areas, the Guidelines can be used
citywide.
The Guidelines seek to balance objectivity with flexibility, to manage change so the traditional
character of the community is respected while accommodating compatible improvements. They
reflect the City's goals to promote economic development, the community's sense of place, and
adaptive reuse of historic building stock. They help direct planning for an appropriate improvement
strategy through preferred and acceptable approaches using an effective "stoplight"format.
City of Dubuque's Architectural Guidelines
Green Light: appropriate/preferred approach.
Yellow Light: acceptable/alternative approach, however, needs further research and
consultation with City Staff.
K Red Light: inappropriate, may detract from architectural integrity or cause damage to a
building or feature.
J
Existing Condition: A folk or Preferred Approach, when historic Acceptable Approach,when historic
vemacularslyle house with the original documentation is available:A folk documentation Is not available: A
porch removed. or vernacular style house with a folk or vernacular style house with a
replacement porch designed similar simplified Interpretation of traditional
to that seen historically. porch design.
Where do the Architectural Guidelines apply? In Historic Districts: exterior alterations visible from
the public way that require a City permit. For Downtown and citywide: exterior alterations with
public funding.
Using the Architectural Guidelines, Planning staff assist with preservation planning and design
approvals in 1-2 days. This streamlined process gets projects approved in less time and with more
guidance.
SIOUX CITY / DES MOINES / DUBUQUE DELAFIELD
18 August 2016
Laura Carstens
City of Dubuque
Planning Services Manager
City Hall-50 W.13th Street
Dubuque IA 52001
Dear Laura,
The adoption of the Architectural Guidelines by the Historic Preservation Commission(HPC)and the City of
Dubuque has made a significant impact in efforts related to properties within the downtown and historic
districts.
The guidelines serve as a basis for evaluating proposed alterations to applicable properties. The HPC uses the
guidelines and the examples therein to evaluate alterations to an historic property and render design approvals.
The consistent application of the guidelines allow City staff to review a proposed alteration and,if in keeping
with the guide lines'recommended approach,render an approval. This has streamlined the process,allowing
projects to move forward more quickly and with more guidance than in the past. If a project does come before
the HPC,it is because the applicant is requesting a design approach that differs from one suggested in the
guidelines. This aids the commission members in evaluating the appropriateness of projects;the guidelines are
useful as a reference as the HPC makes recommendations.
Since City staff now has the ability to review design applications based on the defined and applicable
architectural guidelines,this has allowed the commission to broaden their scope. The HPC has created a work
plan with multiple initiatives,of which education of the public is a key component. The guidelines are referenced
extensively and often serve as a baseline for design discussions during events spearheaded by the commission.
An example of this is a recent historic tax credit workshop where it was suggested that the public utilize the
Architectural Guidelines as a starting point when considering a renovation project.
The guidelines have helped raise awareness of historic properties by residents,initially through the public input
process and community member involvement in creation of the guideline document. Now,the guidelines are
available to anyone and serve as a best-practice document;they have been used by homeowners outside the
applicable areas as historic guiding principles.
The Architectural Guidelines have been fully integrated into City and HPC processes and serve as an important
tool to help Dubuque retain and rehabilitate our historic fabric.
1
Christina Monk
Historic Preservation Commission Chairperson
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August 18, 2016
Awards Committee
American Planning Association
Iowa Chapter
Dear APA Iowa B est Practices Award Evaluators,
Dubuque Main Street(DMS), a downtown development corporation, salutes and endorses the nomination
of the City of Dubuque for the Planting Tool Best Practice Award from APA Iowa. We encourage the
nomination committee to give our City Planners and their Architectural Design Guidelines strong
consideration.
DMS, as the managing organization for the districts comprising Dubuque's most treasured architectural
critical mass, cannot emphasize enough the importance and usability ofthese design guidelines.Not only
do they help us preserve our architectural treasures,they provide a very practical tool for contractors,
developers and advocates of reuse of our historic building inventory. The symbols used to indicate good,
marginal and incorrect practices are creative, easy to follow and could easily be used in other
communities.
With substantial demand for appropriate rehabilitation and, at times,new construction, a guidebook such
as this is invaluable. DM S staff uses this tool on a regular basis. The economic benefit of this
strategies/procedural manual is significant. There is no question:the value of the City of Dubuque's
Architectural Guidelines is beyond significant. It is one of the most successful reference tools DM S
utilizes.
Should anyone need further details of our endorsement of your recognition for the City of Dubuque,
please call me at(563)588-4400.
Sincerely,
uanei L. Lossranco
Executive Director
City of Dubuque
Architectural Guidelines
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