Spotsylvania Courthouse Spotsylvania Courthouse Historic Overlay DistrictHistoric Overlay District

AT A CROSSROADSAT A CROSSROADS

Photo by: Kate HusbandPhoto by: Cristine Lynch

HISP PLANNING LAB 2008

Planning LabPlanning Lab

Expands on Expands on previous courseworkprevious coursework

Practical experience Practical experience in a nearby in a nearby community community

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The ProjectThe Project

Assess Assess development development pressurespressures

Analyze the Analyze the current historic current historic district design district design guidelinesguidelines

Evaluate the Evaluate the current district current district boundariesboundaries

Photo by M. Megan McDonald

COA Applications 2001-COA Applications 2001-20072007

New construction 4

Rehab/additions 7

Signs 12

Fences/streetscapes 7

Total 30

0

1

2

3

4

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Ap

plic

ati

on

s New construction

Rehab and additions

Signs

Fences/streetscapes

New Construction COAsNew Construction COAs

4 applications4 applications CompatibilityCompatibility Area of influence Area of influence

Photos by Cristine Lynch

Rehab and Additions Rehab and Additions COAsCOAs

Use of synthetic Use of synthetic and substitute and substitute materialsmaterials

Owner compliance Owner compliance with COA decisionswith COA decisions

Episcopal Church Episcopal Church additionaddition

Photos by Cristine Lynch

Sign COAsSign COAs Increase in number of applicationsIncrease in number of applications Free-standing signsFree-standing signs Monument signsMonument signs Recommend new sign guidelines Recommend new sign guidelines

Photos by Cristine Lynch

Fence and Streetscape Fence and Streetscape COAsCOAs

Transition to small-Transition to small-town atmospheretown atmosphere

Sidewalk projectSidewalk project Fence guidelinesFence guidelines

Rezoning Rezoning ApplicationsApplications

1998-20051998-2005

Younger Office Younger Office (1999/2005)(1999/2005)

Rezoned from Rezoned from Rural to OfficeRural to Office

Retrofit historic Retrofit historic homehome

ImplicationsImplicationsPhoto by Cristine Lynch

Courthouse Village (1998)Courthouse Village (1998)Village Square (2005)Village Square (2005)

Courthouse VillageCourthouse Village

Village SquareVillage Square

Implications of Courthouse Implications of Courthouse Village and Village SquareVillage and Village Square

In the Path of In the Path of DevelopmentDevelopment

Photos by Cristine Lynch

Photo by Cristine Lynch

Where Will Pressure Be Where Will Pressure Be Felt?Felt?

Recommended Action by Recommended Action by the HPCthe HPC

Strengthen the Historic District Strengthen the Historic District Design GuidelinesDesign Guidelines

Create a mechanism for follow-up Create a mechanism for follow-up inspections of COA approvalsinspections of COA approvals

Initiate the expansion of district Initiate the expansion of district boundariesboundaries

Investigate protection of adjacent Investigate protection of adjacent farmlandfarmland

Recommended Action by Recommended Action by the BOSthe BOS

Adopt the current Draft Comp Plan Update Adopt the current Draft Comp Plan Update as it applies to the Districtas it applies to the District

Enact zoning congruent with Comp Plan, Enact zoning congruent with Comp Plan, including TNDsincluding TNDs

Make rezoning decisions on land Make rezoning decisions on land contiguous to the district that reflect contiguous to the district that reflect Comp Plan and Preservation Element goalsComp Plan and Preservation Element goals

Ask the HPC to conduct a “courtesy Ask the HPC to conduct a “courtesy review” when making rezoning decisions review” when making rezoning decisions on land contiguous to the Districton land contiguous to the District

Analysis of Analysis of Design GuidelinesDesign Guidelines

RehabilitationRehabilitationLandscape ArchitectureLandscape ArchitectureNew Construction New Construction FormattingFormatting

Architectural Rehabilitation Architectural Rehabilitation GuidelinesGuidelines

Document should stand aloneDocument should stand alone Emphasis on materials and detailsEmphasis on materials and details Photos and illustrationsPhotos and illustrations Advice and guidelines on Advice and guidelines on

maintenance and repairmaintenance and repair UtilitiesUtilities Energy retrofitting and renewable Energy retrofitting and renewable

energyenergy

Landscape Architectural Landscape Architectural GuidelinesGuidelines

Tree Ordinance and Tree Ordinance and LandscapingLandscaping

Pedestrian Pedestrian ImprovementsImprovements

Parking, walls, and Parking, walls, and fencesfences

Photo by Kate Husband

Photo by Kate Husband

Landscape Architectural Landscape Architectural GuidelinesGuidelines

Disability accessDisability access Signs and historic characterSigns and historic character New site designNew site design

Photo by Cristine Lynch Photo by Cristine Lynch

New ConstructionNew Construction StrengthsStrengths

– 4 Design 4 Design Tendencies in Tendencies in 1997 Jaeger 1997 Jaeger ReportReport

RecommendatioRecommendationsns– Strengthen Strengthen

Characteristics Characteristics of Existing of Existing DevelopmentDevelopment

– Develop Historic Develop Historic District IdentityDistrict Identity

– AdditionsAdditions

Photo by Cristine Lynch

FormattingFormatting

AudienceAudience Introduction- Convey the purposeIntroduction- Convey the purpose

– ToneTone– What Guidelines Can and Cannot Do What Guidelines Can and Cannot Do

SectionSection– What else to includeWhat else to include

Glossary, Bibliography, etc. Glossary, Bibliography, etc.

Formatting Cont’d.Formatting Cont’d. Labeling SystemLabeling System

– Current: 5.3.1.1Current: 5.3.1.1– Suggested: I.A.1Suggested: I.A.1

Appearance Appearance – Portrait LayoutPortrait Layout– Limit GraphicsLimit Graphics

PublicationPublication– OnlineOnline– Print copiesPrint copies

Winchester, VA Guidelines

Importance of a stronger district:

D. 1. of the Comprehensive plan:“Expand the district where appropriate”

Recommended Local Historic

District Boundary Extensions

Increased number of architecturally significant Increased number of architecturally significant structuresstructuresOffer a greater precedent for future decisionsOffer a greater precedent for future decisionsProtecting the historic viewshedProtecting the historic viewshedCorrelation with the comprehensive planCorrelation with the comprehensive plan

The following recommendations include:

147

148

149

150

152

47a4-a4

70

Current Local BoundariesCurrent Local Boundaries

Lot 147. The Dabney Lot 147. The Dabney FarmFarm

Lot 147. The Dabney Lot 147. The Dabney FarmFarm

Lot 147. Commands viewshed upon entrance or exit of

district. Only front portion is within district boundaries. Correlates to Comprehensive Plan.E. “Scenic approaches and buffers… shall be secured.”

Extension of boundary to the bypass would help protect the view sheds to the north and south of the bypass as well as asserting the rural nature of the Spotsylvania Courthouse District.

Lot 148Lot 148

Photo by Kate Husband

Lot 148Lot 148

Example of a Vernacular Italianate style house in the Historic District Area

Inclusion will strengthen the historic character

The lot, along with lots 149, 150, and 152 will continue the streetscape along Courthouse Road.

Lot 149Lot 149

Photo by Cristine Lynch

Lot 149Lot 149

Example of a Vernacular Queen Anne Style Structure.

Fits the overall character of the district.

Improves architectural precedent for HPC and guideline decisions.

Creates continuum down Courthouse Road with neighboring structures.

Lot 150Lot 150

Photo by Cristine Lynch

Lot 150Lot 150 Excellent example of Vernacular

Queen Anne Style

Contributes to the overall integrity of the district and street.

7-11 Convenience Store across 208, currently is inside the district. This substantial structure is currently not included.

Excellent architectural precedent for HPC and design guideline reference. Photo by Kate Husband

Lot 152Lot 152

Photo by Kate Husband

Lot 152Lot 152

While there is no permanent structure on lot 152, its location and size

warrants consideration for inclusion in the district. If accepted any new construction would be privy to the

Design Guidelines for New Construction resulting in a

contextually sensitive structure.

Lots 47a4-A4 and 47A4-A2

Photo by T.Morgan Riley

Lots 47a4-A4 and 47A4-A2

While there is no permanent structure on these lots, their location and size warrant consideration similar to Lot 152.

Would provide the HPC with the ability to use Design Guidelines; establishing a walkable, mixed use development at the base of the intersection, correlating to the Comprehensive Plan.

Lot 70Lot 70

Photo by T. Morgan Riley

Lot 70Lot 70

Example of a Vernacular Queen Anne Style Structure.

Fits the overall character of the district.

Improves architectural precedent for HPC and guideline decisions.

Boundary Recommendation Summary

The current Historic District boundaries that overlook several key areas described above.  – Lots 147,148, 149, 150,152,a4/a2, and 70– Extending the Dabney Farm boundaries is

important due to its rural character and contributing to the view shed. 

– The inclusion of the associated undeveloped lots would help control infill to the area.

Overall SummaryOverall Summary

District is experiencing development District is experiencing development pressure inside and outside its pressure inside and outside its boundariesboundaries

Its current guidelines have many Its current guidelines have many weaknesses which make them weaknesses which make them susceptible to insensitive development susceptible to insensitive development and modificationsand modifications

Current district boundaries exclude Current district boundaries exclude some historic resources and vacant lotssome historic resources and vacant lots

What Can Spotsy Do?What Can Spotsy Do? HPC members should work with HPC members should work with

developers of the Campus Master Plan in developers of the Campus Master Plan in an advisory capacityan advisory capacity

Strengthen the design guidelines (possibly Strengthen the design guidelines (possibly by blending 1989 with 1997)by blending 1989 with 1997)– Synthetic materialsSynthetic materials– Fence heights and streetscape standardsFence heights and streetscape standards– New construction and infillNew construction and infill– SignageSignage

Expand the district boundaries to include Expand the district boundaries to include nearby historic properties and associated nearby historic properties and associated undeveloped lotsundeveloped lots

Thank You for Allowing Us Thank You for Allowing Us to Conduct Our to Conduct Our InvestigationInvestigation

Photo by: M. Megan McDonald

HISP PLANNING LAB 2008