7. Aesthetics
The image of the city is especially dependant on the way the City looks, i.e., aesthetics. Our physical appearance helps shape the way we perceive ourselves and how others perceive our community. To ensure that we achieve a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing built environment, we must have some basic standards of quality. Although aesthetics can be subjective, it does have key elements that include: architecturally sound designs, compatibility with its surroundings, appropriate use and mix of materials, balanced use of colors, proper lighting techniques, and well-designed site elements such as landscaping, pedestrian access, green building techniques, and parking. To accomplish this, the City should develop basic design guidelines for its built environment and neighborhoods to ensure that the way our community looks mirrors our adopted vision for the future. This will require changes to the state code and changes to the City ordinances to prepare and adopt design guidelines for new development.
