Design Guidelines Manual Update and Revision

The goal of this project is to update and revise the existing Design Guidelines Manual into a clearer and more usable document, which will be adopted by the Mayor and Council as official policy. Once adopted, the revised Design Guidelines Manual will be used in the Plan Amendment process, the Rezoning process, and in the review of certain development plans, including subdivisions using the Residential Cluster Development option. The revised Design Guidelines Manual will also provide an adopted policy framework for future design-related amendments to the City’s Land Use Code.

The Design Guidelines Manual has been reorganized into three separate components. Each component is intended to act as a stand-alone document that contains guidelines relevant to that type of development.

Preliminary drafts of the revised Design Guidelines Manual can be viewed through the following links:
1.Single Family Residential
2.Multi-family Residential
3.Commercial/Mixed Use.

Each component consists of four elements: 1) site planning; 2) architectural design; 3) landscape design; and 4) signage and lighting. Within these elements are guidelines that contain an Intent statement, which describes a desired outcome, and a number of Implementation Methods. The intent of these guidelines is to suggest a range of solutions to satisfy a policy objective rather than to prescribe design solutions. This approach provides flexibility for the design professional in demonstrating compliance with the spirit or intent of the guidelines.

The revised Design Guidelines are at an early stage of draft. Over the course of the next several months, the Department of Urban Planning & Design is soliciting input and comments on the draft Design Guidelines Manual. We appreciate your feedback.

Click here to send your comments via e-mail.

Mailing Address:
City of Tucson, Department of Urban Planning & Design
P. O. Box 27210
Tucson, AZ 85726-7210