Gainesville › Unified Land Development Code

Article 8 — Site and Architectural Design Guidelines, Chapter 8-1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS

current as of 2025-12-16verified current · checked 2026-08-24Officialofficial source ↗7 sections · full chapter

§ 8-1-1

Findings

(a)The Governing Authority of the City of Gainesville finds that its citizens have widely shared human values related to the visual environment. The desire to protect certain features of the visual environment reflects a widespread pattern of community preference. That finding is supported by community visioning and character area delineation completed as a part of the city’s comprehensive planning process.

Regulations for design review and aesthetics are therefore based on the visual sensibilities of the average person in the community.

(b)The Governing Authority of the City of Gainesville finds further that visual harm to a widespread pattern of community preference can occur without the imposition of the site design and architectural review provisions adopted in this article. The requirements contained in this article are related to legitimate public purposes, and they are the minimum necessary to prevent substantial harm to existing features of the visual environment of the city.

(c)Without guidance, future developments will likely be self-contained, compartmentalized, and without coherence and relationship with other developments. Without guidance, developers are unlikely to interrelate streets, buildings, human uses, and natural systems in a manner that results in a coordinated, pleasing, and sustainable built environment across property lines.

§ 8-1-2

Purposes

(a)Establishing the appropriate character of the city requires attention to the aesthetics of development, buildings, and sites. It is in the public interest to direct and control the visual appearance of buildings, structures, landscapes, and development in the city, to prevent patently offensive harm to the existing visual character of the city, and to safeguard the happiness, comfort, and general well-being of citizens.

(b)Careful attention to the architectural design of buildings and the layout of land development sites is in the best interests of the city, its citizens, and business owners.

Attractive and integrated architectural and site design features tend to improve an area’s image, raise overall property values, attract new businesses and residents, and improve the quality of life.

(c)Design guidelines provide criteria to evaluate the appropriateness of proposed changes to individual buildings, properties, and land use activities. The design guidelines provided in this article are intended to provide clear guidance to property owners and their engineers, landscape architects, site designers, and architects on best practices for site design, land development, and architecture of buildings.

Criteria in this article allow for a wide range of architectural and site design solutions but also articulate strong preferences for certain designs. These guidelines are not intended to force a level of sameness; instead, a richness of character and expression is desired.

(d)This article is intended to establish a predictable and clear process for review and approval of the site design of land developments and architectural features of buildings.

§ 8-1-3

Definitions

Attractive: Having qualities that arouse satisfaction and pleasure in numerous, but not necessarily all, observers.

Character: Special physical characteristics of an area, building, structure, or site that set it apart from its surroundings and contribute to its individuality.

Cohesiveness: Unity of composition among elements of a building or among buildings and/or structures, and their landscape development.

Continuity: The flow of elements or characteristics in a non-interrupted manner.

Safety lighting: Exterior lighting that involves ensuring proper levels of illumination to provide safe working conditions, safe passage, and the identification of outdoor hazards.

Security lighting: Exterior lighting installed solely to enhance the security of people and property.

Undergrounding: The placement of utility lines below ground, with the removal of above-ground poles, wires and structures as applicable.

§ 8-1-4

General Requirements

(a)Land development shall be required to comply with the site design review requirements of this article, unless specifically exempted from compliance with this article in accordance with Section 8-1-6.

(b)Buildings and structures shall be required to comply with the architectural design review requirements of this article, unless specifically exempted from compliance with this article in accordance with Section 8-1-6.

(c)No grading or alteration or improvement of land shall take place prior to approval of site design in accordance with the requirements of this article.

(d)The Community and Economic Development Department shall not issue a minor land development permit or a land development permit until and unless site design review has been accomplished in accordance with this article.

(e)No construction of buildings or structures shall commence, and no building permit shall be issued by the Community and Economic Development Department, prior to the approval of the architectural design in accordance with the requirements of this article.

(f)No demolition permit shall be issued by the Community and Economic Development Department for any building or structure in the Central Business District prior to the approval of the demolition of said building or structure by the Community and Economic Development Director.

(g)A demolition permit may be denied for the following reasons:

(1)The proposed new structure or use on the site is not compatible with the Central Core character area and the design guidelines as identified in Chapter 8-5.

(2)The demolition permit allows the demolition of a historically significant building that contributes to the Central Core character area.

(h)If the demolition of the building or structure is denied by the Community and Economic Development Director, the applicant shall have the right to appeal in accordance with Chapter 18-7.

§ 8-1-5

Interpretation

(a)The provisions in this Article which use the term “shall” are regulations and must be followed.

(b)When the terms “should” and “are encouraged” are used in this chapter, the language shall be considered a guideline, and flexibility toward compliance may be exercised if it is determined by the community development director that the spirit and intent of the guideline is being followed or an alternative to the guideline is acceptable.

However, successive departures from the guidelines may be considered grounds for denial of an application for site design review.

§ 8-1-6

Exemptions

The following are exempt from the provisions of this article:

(a)Previously approved. Development consistent with previously approved site and architectural design plans, or their equivalent, as determined by the Director.

(b)One- and two-family dwellings. The development of detached, single-family dwellings and two-family dwellings shall be exempt from the site plan review requirements of this Article unless the Director determines that a minor land development permit is required as detailed in Chapter 11-6. One- and two-family dwellings shall also be exempt from the architectural review process established in this article unless otherwise specified as a condition of zoning approval.

(c)Activities in historic districts. Any development, building, or material change in appearance within the Historic Preservation Overlay, as established in Chapter 7-7 of this ULDC. This shall not prevent the Historic Preservation Commission or the Community and Economic Development Department from considering and applying various design guidelines of this article, if appropriate, to development and buildings within the Historic Preservation Overlay during the process of considering the issuance of certificates of appropriateness.

(d)Re-occupancy. Re-occupancy of a building for which design review has already been approved.

(e)Interior renovations. Alterations and repairs to the interior of existing buildings.

(f)Other. Other instances as may be determined appropriate by the Director. To this end the Director may exempt a project or activity from compliance with this article for good cause shown. Any such decision to exempt an activity from compliance with this article and the reason for such exemption shall be documented in writing by the Director and shall be public record. Exemption decisions by the Director are subject to appeal in accordance with Chapter 18-7.

§ 8-1-7

Character Areas Recognized

The following character areas are established in the Gainesville comprehensive plan and are hereby recognized for purposes of applying the site and architectural design requirements of this chapter. The boundaries of the various character areas shall be as delineated in the Gainesville comprehensive plan, as may be amended from time to time:

Central Core Historic Mill Villages Traditional Neighborhoods Suburban Neighborhoods Lake District Suburban Commercial West Side Economic Development Gateways Limestone Medical Corridor Regional Recreation/Conservation