The City’s first Design Standards were adopted in 2005 and included requirements for Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), small lot residential developments, duplexes and multi-family buildings. The 2005 standards were adopted in concert with a number of other zoning regulations allowing greater density, smaller lots, and narrower roads. In essence, the City was willing to permit much denser development so long as the new development was attractive and well planned.
In 2008 the City adopted a Master Plan for our historic downtown and surrounding areas. One of the 
primary goals outlined in this Master Plan was the adoption of design standards for the downtown (click here to view the entire Master Plan). To carry out this goal in 2018 City Council tasked Development Services staff with adopting design standards for the historic downtown and surrounding areas.
In December 2018 City Council adopted updated Design Guidelines that include the historic downtown and surrounding areas. Click here to view the entire Design Guidelines document.