Planners approve design standards

A proposed set of new design standards has won the endorsement of the Overland Park Planning Commission.

The standards were compiled in part because of the city's Vision Metcalf plan for the redevelopment of the Metcalf Avenue corridor. The plan's goal is to bring a series of mixed use developments to that main thoroughfare over the next 20 to 30 years.

The design standards are intended to help guide that hoped-for mixed use development. The guidelines seek to prevent unappealing appearances and to assure greater compatibility from one project to the next.

The planning board voted unanimously last week to recommend that the City Council approve the standards. The council is scheduled to consider the proposal July 13.

Mixed use projects are seen as the best way to encourage redevelopment in the city's northern area. Such projects place offices, stores, homes and recreation all within walking distance of one another.

The standards primarily apply to commercial and multifamily housing construction projects. They provide guidelines for such things as roofing and building materials, window designs and front entries.

There also are proposed new standards for the layout of entire developments. These would deal with such aspects as how and where to situate parking, walkways and plaza areas.

The standards would only be in place until a more comprehensive set of standards called form-based codes are completed and adopted.

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