These Community Design Guidelines were developed by an Ad Hoc Committee appointed by the City of Grass Valley City Council. The Ad Hoc Committee, whose membership included elected and appointed officials along with others representing a cross-section of civic interests, was assisted by City staff and professional design consultants. Relying on the Community Design Element of the Grass Valley 2020 General Plan as a framework, the Ad Hoc Committee developed these Guidelines with the overall aim of maintaining a balance between accomodating growth and maintaining the City's aesthetic values.

The Community Design Guidelines are intended to provide design professionals, property owners, developers, and citizens-at-large with a clear and common understanding of the City's expectations regarding the aesthetics and functionality of development proposals in Grass Valley. In short, they provide direction as to how new or revitalized developments should look and fit into the community. Since the Community exhibits a varied range of circumstances and conditions under which development must occur, the intent of the Guidelines is to encourage creativity within a flexible yet defined framework of design principles.

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City of Grass Valley Community Design Guidelines
Adopted February 26, 2002

Cover (1.65 MB)
Chapter 1 Introduction (210 KB)
Chapter 2 Glossary of Terms (911 KB)
Chapter 3 Design Guidelines for Commercial Projects (8.85 MB)
Chapter 4 Design Guidelines for Office Projects (7.39 MB)
Chapter 5 Design Guidelines for Industrial Projects (3.57 MB)
Chapter 6 Design Guidelines for Multi-Family Projects (5.45 MB)
Chapter 7 Special Planning Areas (6.68 MB)
Appendix A City Ordinance Design Requirements (83 KB)
Appendix B Erosion Control Design Criteria (51 KB)
Appendix C Trash/Recycling Enclosure Design Criteria (162 KB)
Appendix D Mail Delivery Facilities Design Criteria (44 KB)
Appendix E Plant Selection Guide (74 KB)
Appendix F Metal Building Guidelines (51 KB)