Public input sought for Design Guidelines update

The City has begun updating the Downtown and Old Town Overlay Design Guidelines, which provide guidance for building and signage in the historic districts.

As part of the update process, the Planning Department will host a virtual open house from 3-4 p.m. Dec. 16 on Zoom and Facebook Live. A survey will also be available to collect public feedback on the update Dec. 16-30.

The updates to the guidelines include allowable materials, commercial signage, demolitions, and residential infill, and follow changes made by City Council in 2019 to the Certificate of Appropriateness requirements. The design guidelines were last updated in 2012.

“Most of the buildings on the Square are more than 100 years old, and while things change over time, we want to manage that change, so we can continue to enjoy the historic charm into the future,” Downtown and Historic Planner Britin Bostick said. “While the guidelines primarily affect property and business owners in the historic district, the way our historic districts look and feel is something we all love about Georgetown. Through this process, we want to learn what residents think it looks like to protect that historic character.”

During the Dec. 16 town hall, participants will get an overview of the project, as well as a chance to provide their opinion on what is working and what changes they recommend for the update.

The update is expected to be completed in summer 2021.

Current design guidelines, as well as information about the update and links to virtual meetings, are available online at historic.georgetown.org.

For more information, contact the Downtown & Historic Planner by calling 512-930-3581 or emailing historic@georgetown.org, or call the Planning Department at 512-930-3575.