08/21/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAI~ DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS One of the most distinctive features of most new multi-family complexes is the proliferation of garages and carports. Some of this is the result of the incentives offered by the city for attached ga[ages and for screening of carports, but the market is also increasingly demanding garages and carports as standard features. Often, these garages and carports are a prominent visual feature of new developments; many times being sited around the periphery of the development and along major arterials, thus dominating the streetscape and public view into the developments. Long unbroken stretches of carports are not unusual. Often the carports are of a design and materials inferior to the primary multi-family residential structures. Overland Park contains a wide variety of natural features that reflect the true essence of the Midwest: rolling hills, tall grasses and shrubs, hardwood forests, meandering drainages and ravines that dramatically cut through the landscape. Most significantly, the combination of these landscape elements results in a complex and visually-appealing color palette of the open prairie. While Overland Park does require a modest amount of open space in multi-family developments to be set aside for use of the residents or dedicated to the public, the amounts are lower than in other comparable jurisdictions aro~Jnd the United States and the space is sometimes not useable. Open space is generally not connected to other open spaces, trails, or parks to create a true city. system. As a result, some multi-family developments in Overland Park do not appear to be integrated into their natural surroundings and have few existing trees preserved to soften their visual impact. Some development sites have been totally regraded and all existing vegetation removed. Also in contrast to multi-family developments in the older neighborhoods, south of Interstate 435 most multi-family developments are rigidly segregated from single-family developments and typically contain only one housing type (e.g., all apartments vs. mix of apartments, townhouses, and duplexes). Thus, a mix and balance of uses is currently missing, which is a vital factor in creating a strong community. CITY OF OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS 5 OCTOBER 7, 2002