The City of Manitou Springs is a unique environment, located at the base Pike's Peak. Most of the community lies within a National Register Historic District. Concerned about protecting the existing, cherished character and preserving the community's unique heritage, the City established design guidelines for infill and redevelopment projects in commercial and residential neighborhoods.

The Manitou Springs Historic Preservation Commission generated preliminary design guidelines and has systematically updated two documents. In 2007, the City contracted with Parks & Gardens to evaluate and amend both documents and to a create consistent, user-friendly format that includes new illustrations and graphics. Parks & Gardens also developed a community involvement component that included Stakeholder Interviews, a Visual Preference Survey, public workshops and joint work sessions with the Historic Preservation Commission and City Council.

Design guidelines in the historic districts will focus on accepted principles of historic preservation as identified by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties: Preservation; Rehabilitation; Restoration; Reconstruction; and will encourage private sector development that is compatible with the existing historic context. New guidelines will address protection of views and concern for natural resources to ensure that new development is visually compatible with historic development patterns.

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