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GREENSBORO — City planners could go back to the drawing board on a downtown design manual, in hopes they can work with property owners who say it’s too restrictive.

City staff members worked with property owners beginning in 2006 to develop the guidelines, which detail how center city development should look and feel.

A draft of the manual has been adopted by the city planning board.

But a hearing before the zoning commission was delayed at the request of attorney Henry Isaacson, who represents 30 downtown property owners who wanted more time to consider it.

Planning Director Dick Hails said this week that the staff would take the next 60 days to respond to concerns about the manual.
The staff will host another public meeting on the design guidelines in August.

They hope to have the manual back before the zoning commission in September.

“There are a lot of property owners in downtown, and some of them are just surfacing now with concerns we have not heard before,” Hails said. “We want to make sure we have time to address them.”

The manual sets guidelines for parking, building facades, sidewalks and landscaping. It aims to keep the historic look of some parts of downtown and encourage pedestrian-friendly construction.

But some critics argue that the guidelines are too restrictive.

And City Council members balked when they heard that developer Roy Carroll, who built Center Pointe on Elm Street, had concerns about the design guide.

Some property owners were worried that the manual would constrict their ability to redevelop properties and would discourage new investment.

“In good times, the city should be helping to stimulate growth in the downtown area, much less an economic recession,” Isaacson said. “Whatever they are doing, the timing is terrible.”

Isaacson pointed out that some downtown landmarks, such as the First Citizen or United Guaranty buildings, would not meet the guidelines.

City staff members said the guidelines aren’t as restrictive as some property owners think.

But Hails said they were willing to discuss concerns to make sure everyone is comfortable with the manual.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com