Old Town Residential Design Guidelines

This project has concluded.

The new Old Town Residential Design Guidelines document was approved by the Board of Trustees on April 14th 2026.

You can view the approved documents on the right.

The Carbondale Historic Preservation Commission (CHPC) received a grant to expand the existing Historic Preservation Design Guidelines document and add a new chapter for homes in the Old Town Residential (OTR) zone district. Please see the map above to see the OTR zone district boundaries.

Project Goals

Adapt and update Chapter 2, Additions to Historic Buildings, of the Historic Preservation Design Guidelines to ensure site design, form and massing, and architectural design and details are sensitive to both the Historic Commercial Core (HCC) and OTR zone districts.
Develop a new “Chapter 4” detailing design considerations for new residential construction in the OTR. "Chapter 4" would focus on, at a minimum, the following topics:
- Site design
- Building form and massing
- Architectural details
- Building accessories and appurtenances
Reference any Secretary of the Interior Standards unique to residential design in the new chapter. Illustrate diagrams to visually reflect massing, setbacks, and important design feature guidelines.
Code text amendments are necessary to cross-reference pertinent information between these guiding and regulatory documents. The proposed code text amendments would also consider requirements for courtesy reviews earlier in the development review process to provide a greater opportunity for property owners to incorporate the CHPC's recommendations into the final design.

Timeline

The project is in its late stages. The guidelines have been written and are awaiting BOT approval. Please see the timeline below for the project history.

May 2024 Town of Carbondale releases Request for Proposals for professional consulting services
September 5, 2025 Agreement for Professional Services with Reid Architects, Inc, signed by Town Manager
December 5, 2024 CHPC work session with Reid Architects
February 6, 2025 CHPC and consultant Field Visit to OTR zone district
March 15, 2025 CHPC received and discussed Chapter-level Design Guideline Outline
July 15, 2025 OTR Resident Open House. 9 residents attended, learned more about the project, and gave feedback.
October 3, 2025 Public Outreach at First Friday Event Booth
October 4, 2025 Public Outreach at Potato Days Event Booth
September 15, 2025 Draft Design Guidelines Due
September 15, 2025 Draft Report on Proposed Code Amendments Due
November 6, 2025 Community-wide Open House Discussion
April 1, 2026 Final Design Guidelines Document
April 1, 2026 Final Report on Proposed Code Amendments
April 1, 2026 Documentation of Public Outreach including Spanish Translation
April 1, 2025 Final Project Report

To learn more, take a look through the documents on the top right.

This project has concluded.

The new Old Town Residential Design Guidelines document was approved by the Board of Trustees on April 14th 2026.

You can view the approved documents on the right.

Project Goals

Adapt and update Chapter 2, Additions to Historic Buildings, of the Historic Preservation Design Guidelines to ensure site design, form and massing, and architectural design and details are sensitive to both the Historic Commercial Core (HCC) and OTR zone districts.
Develop a new “Chapter 4” detailing design considerations for new residential construction in the OTR. "Chapter 4" would focus on, at a minimum, the following topics:
- Site design
- Building form and massing
- Architectural details
- Building accessories and appurtenances
Reference any Secretary of the Interior Standards unique to residential design in the new chapter. Illustrate diagrams to visually reflect massing, setbacks, and important design feature guidelines.
Code text amendments are necessary to cross-reference pertinent information between these guiding and regulatory documents. The proposed code text amendments would also consider requirements for courtesy reviews earlier in the development review process to provide a greater opportunity for property owners to incorporate the CHPC's recommendations into the final design.

Timeline

The project is in its late stages. The guidelines have been written and are awaiting BOT approval. Please see the timeline below for the project history.

May 2024 Town of Carbondale releases Request for Proposals for professional consulting services
September 5, 2025 Agreement for Professional Services with Reid Architects, Inc, signed by Town Manager
December 5, 2024 CHPC work session with Reid Architects
February 6, 2025 CHPC and consultant Field Visit to OTR zone district
March 15, 2025 CHPC received and discussed Chapter-level Design Guideline Outline
July 15, 2025 OTR Resident Open House. 9 residents attended, learned more about the project, and gave feedback.
October 3, 2025 Public Outreach at First Friday Event Booth
October 4, 2025 Public Outreach at Potato Days Event Booth
September 15, 2025 Draft Design Guidelines Due
September 15, 2025 Draft Report on Proposed Code Amendments Due
November 6, 2025 Community-wide Open House Discussion
April 1, 2026 Final Design Guidelines Document
April 1, 2026 Final Report on Proposed Code Amendments
April 1, 2026 Documentation of Public Outreach including Spanish Translation
April 1, 2025 Final Project Report

To learn more, take a look through the documents on the top right.

Forum

Discussions: All (3) Open (3)

Questions
about 1 year ago
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Please ask any questions you have here and we will answer as soon as possible!
Please ask any questions you have here and we will answer as soon as possible!
How would you describe the character of the houses in the OTR Zone District? What (if any) facets of that character would you like to be preserved into the future?
about 1 year ago
Share How would you describe the character of the houses in the OTR Zone District? What (if any) facets of that character would you like to be preserved into the future? on Facebook Share How would you describe the character of the houses in the OTR Zone District? What (if any) facets of that character would you like to be preserved into the future? on X (formerly Twitter) Share How would you describe the character of the houses in the OTR Zone District? What (if any) facets of that character would you like to be preserved into the future? on Linkedin Email How would you describe the character of the houses in the OTR Zone District? What (if any) facets of that character would you like to be preserved into the future? link

1 Response

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Which of the following characteristics of the OTR do you think are important to be preserved? Site Design Scale/Massing Materials Architectural Style
about 1 year ago
Share Which of the following characteristics of the OTR do you think are important to be preserved? Site Design Scale/Massing Materials Architectural Style on Facebook Share Which of the following characteristics of the OTR do you think are important to be preserved? Site Design Scale/Massing Materials Architectural Style on X (formerly Twitter) Share Which of the following characteristics of the OTR do you think are important to be preserved? Site Design Scale/Massing Materials Architectural Style on Linkedin Email Which of the following characteristics of the OTR do you think are important to be preserved? Site Design Scale/Massing Materials Architectural Style link

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Old Town Residential Design Guidelines

Questions

How would you describe the character of the houses in the OTR Zone District? What (if any) facets of that character would you like to be preserved into the future?

Which of the following characteristics of the OTR do you think are important to be preserved? Site Design Scale/Massing Materials Architectural Style

Documents

Quick Polls

Which of the following characteristics of the OTR do you think are important to be preserved? (please add additional comments to the forum on this topic if you have them)