SBC's partnership with June Lake continued with a successful workshop on June 5th.  The workshop brought together various members of the community working in teams to review and discuss the Draft Community Design Implementation Guidelines.  The vision for June Lake is to ultimately develop into a moderately sized, self contained year around community.  The guidelines are a tool for the community to achieve this vision while maintaining the character of this unique area.

The guidelines deal with four elements of the community 1) community structure 2) commercial core 3) new neighborhoods 4) residential design.

Workshop participants were divided into four groups to review details of the specific design guidelines.  As a group they were challenged to:

*  Determine what three guidelines are most important
*  Review what three guidelines they would edit, delete or rewrite
*  Determine what three things would make the guidelines better
*  Present recommendations as a group

The guidelines were updated with the recommendations of the community some of the recommendations are listed below.  For further information or for a full copy of the Guidelines see the June Lake website http://Junelakeloop.com/design
 
 
 

 Key Land Use Concepts:
*  Well planned development retains June Lake's mountain community character
*  Growth is contained in and around existing developed areas
*  The Village is retained as the community's commercial core
*  Rodeo Grounds/West Village develops a well coordinated resort with a balance of resident and visitor housing, including a major commercial/recreational node across from June Mountain

 Community Design:
*  Preserve June Lake's mountain village and rural character
*  Maintain and improve June Lake's visual quality
*  Emphasize the visual dominance of the natural environment
*  Promote scenic views from commercial establishments
*  Visually link June Lake's community areas

 Design Guidelines:
*  Develop Predictable and clear design requirements
*  Ensure an open process
*  Understand the unique character of June Lake
*  Create detailed visions
*  Write design guidelines to implement the vision
 
 
 

Group #1 Community Structure Community Character Objective: To ensure quality growth of a human scale that relates to existing patterns of development.

3 Most Important Items in Guidelines:

1. Provide safe pedestrian connections through a network of sidewalks and trails throughout the community.

2.  Incorporate topographical and natural features including significant vegetation into new neighborhoods and new infill development.

3.  Provide consistent street elements to compliment and unify the village core, i.e.; streetlights, trees, etc...

Things to Make The Guidelines Better:

1.  Establish a special district for the core.

2.  Incorporate the guidelines into the general plan.
 

Group #2 Commercial Core Pedestrian Oriented Streets Objective: To create lively, attractive functional and pedestrian friendly  streetscapes.

3 Most Important Items in Guidelines:

1. Pedestrians are given priority with the provision of wider sidewalks on both sides of the street.

2. Create continuous pedestrian activity by minimizing gaps between buildings, blank walls, and parking lots.  Create pedestrian connections to parking lots at the rear or sides of buildings.

3.  Orient buildings and activities toward the street.  Plan for active uses such as retail, services, and restaurants at the street level to encourage pedestrian activity.

3 Things to Make the Guidelines Better:

1.  Make a reference to canopies and awnings.

2.  Include the usage of hidden/park-like parking structures.

3.  Provide public facilities such as; seating, restrooms, drinking fountains,
shading/weather protection, etc...
 

Group #3 New Residential Neighborhoods Streetscapes Objective: To create a lively, attractive, functional and pedestrian friendly streetscapes in new residential areas.

 

3 Most Important Items in Guidelines:

1.Orient buildings and activities toward the street.

2.Ensure that garages do not dominate the streetscape.

3.Promote "eyes on the street" by minimizing front yard setbacks and in providing porches and front windows.

 3 Things to Make the Guidelines Better:

1.  Incorporate the suggested changes.

2.  Make the guidelines clear and concise with little room for interpretation.

3.  Clearly define process for the interpretation and implementation of guidelines.
 
 

Group #4 Commercial Core Massing and Building Design Objective: To provide for attractive building forms, facades and roof designs.

3 Most Important Items in Guidelines:

1. Locate the main building façade towards a public street.  An important component of the village's main street is the re-creation of continuous building ines to define the street.

2. Design buildings to ensure a transition in scale, form and height from adjacent buildings.  Use building mass, location of windows, horizontal lines, cornices, gables and roofs to create transition and change scale.

3.  New buildings are encouraged to have pitched roofs with appropriately scaled dormers and gables.  Such roofs would provide attic space, which could be used as attractive penthouse apartments or office space.  Square or flat rooftops on large residential or mixed-use buildings are prohibited.

3 Things to Make the Guidelines Better:

1.  Provide a mix of uses to ensure vibrant retail core.

2.  Eliminate redundancies and simplify readability.

3.  Hire a good architect and planner.