Over the past couple years Downtown Development Authority members in Trenton have frequently discussed the issue of developing a set of “design guidelines” for the city’s central business district area along West Jefferson Avenue.

It is not really a glamorous or highly publicized topic, but one of those fundamental, underlying issues of which DDA officials and DDA business owners are becoming more and more aware.

In fact, quick searches on Google or Yahoo on the topic of “downtown design guidelines” will overwhelmingly show that the subject is a huge issue not only for DDAs in Michigan, but for similar downtown authorities throughout the country.

It’s frankly been somewhat of a touchy topic in Trenton. While DDA members and other officials see the need and the potential benefits, they’ve always moved cautiously and slowly when it comes to issues that have an impact on property owners’ rights and the cost of doing business in town.

At the same time, however, DDA members and other city officials throughout the years have been on the receiving end of criticism by businesses and residents for not providing a better framework for local design and signage consistency. Some of the conflicting visuals seen along West Jefferson and West Road are daily reminders of that.

Trenton’s DDA has watched with interest while other nearby communities have created design guidelines. Woodhaven has adopted a comprehensive set of guidelines. Dearborn recently adopted what it calls a “design overlay” that serves an addendum to zoning ordinances for the city’s two downtowns, the east and west Dearborn business districts.

In fact, the majority of the cities throughout the state that are members of the Michigan Downtown Association have either enacted downtown design policies or have undertaken discussions about creating such policies. The underlying goal of nearly all of these efforts is to clarify building design goals and encourage a consistent approach to development in the specified downtown area.

The policies that ultimately are adopted range from a simple list of “suggested” design preferences to rules that can be enforced just like city ordinances.
While Trenton continues to discuss the development of a permanent set of downtown design guidelines, the DDA recently developed and adopted a basic set of preferred standards on an interim basis.

The DDA members felt that, since it could take several months to create a comprehensive plan — an effort that typically requires the assistance of a paid design consultant — an “interim” set of standards would at least be a small step in the right direction and give incoming developers direction on creating “the best fit” when pursuing projects in Trenton’s central business district.

The DDA’s “guidelines” are simply guidelines at this point. They were put forth as “recommendations” and do not reflect changes or additions to city zoning ordinances. What they do reflect, however, is the DDA’s best attempt to guide future downtown construction in the direction that will have the most long-term benefit on local development and property value. It is believed that, over time, the city many find it preferable to incorporate some or all of the guidelines into city ordinances.

The permanent design guidelines, once enacted, will have other benefits as well. For one, it will allow the DDA to complete the establishment of a long-sought façade improvement program that will make it possible for businesses in the central business district apply for grants to supplement the cost of improving their building fronts. The caveat with the grant program, however, is that the “guidelines” do become requirements for those seeking DDA funding. Typical façade grant programs also require grantees to enter an easement agreement where the DDA becomes part owner of the building front for a specified period of time, typically a minimum of five years. The main reason for that rule is to discourage people from utilizing the program merely to make a profit on the sale of their buildings. The program’s intent is to encourage the success of businesses committed to improving and growing in Trenton, right along with the DDA.

Anyone who is interested in obtaining Trenton’s interim design guidelines can request it by email at jhoshaw@trentondda.com.