In October 2001, the City adopted
downtown guidelines (PDF) to provide the City a basis for providing financial incentives to encourage business and property owners to comply with design or building requirements as part of an area-wide commercial facade program. These design guidelines were developed with the assistance of Bellinger Foster Steinmetz, Landscape Architecture and the Paul Davis Partnership.
The Downtown Design Guidelines apply to all parcels within the C-01 and C-02 zoning districts. This includes parcels along El Camino Real between Apple Avenue and Elm Avenue In addition, the guidelines apply to commercially zoned parcels on Oak Avenue between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. While El Camino Real between Walnut Avenue and Apple Avenue is considered part of the downtown, development patterns in this area are different than the downtown core. Specific recommendations are included for this area at the end of the guidelines.