Rye residents will get their first chance to weigh in on new design guidelines for the Central Business District at two public workshops on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28.

The city is hosting Downtown Rye Design Week with Community Design Labs on Monday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Rye Free Reading Room. Consultant Yard & Company will work on zoning analysis between the two sessions. Both labs run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The Oct. 26 session is an open-house mixer where residents can talk with the project team about building character, storefront design, pedestrian connections and public spaces. The Oct. 28 session will present preliminary design concepts and gather feedback on building height, scale, setbacks and streetscape design, according to the Rye Record.

Between the two sessions, Yard & Company will evaluate existing zoning rules, study downtown properties and develop initial design concepts based on community input.

The effort grows out of a 2025 review by the city's Central Business District Development Review Committee (CBD DRC). The Rye City Council created that committee on Feb. 26, 2025, drawing members from the Planning Commission, Board of Architectural Review, Board of Appeals and Landmarks Advisory Committee. The committee delivered its final report in June 2025.

The gap is in design. The committee found that Rye's existing zoning generally supports downtown's character and scale, but buildings can meet every zoning requirement and still clash with their neighbors.

"A building can comply with our zoning regulations and still be out of character with the surrounding downtown," City Manager Brian Shea said in the city's announcement. "We want to address that by establishing clearer expectations for building design, particularly as properties are redeveloped in the years ahead."

The committee recommended hiring a consultant to identify preferred and discouraged architectural features. The City Council issued a request for proposals on April 15, 2026, and selected Yard & Company. The city also adopted a six-month moratorium on new development applications in several areas, including the CBD and adjoining B-1 and B-2 districts, while the standards are developed, according to council records.

Mayor Josh Nathan called the workshops "an exciting opportunity for the community to help shape that vision" in the city's Oct. 15 announcement.

Residents who cannot attend in person can take an online survey at downtownryedesign.com. The survey covers downtown character, pedestrian connections, parking, storefronts and building design. It includes an interactive map where users can flag specific locations they see as opportunities or challenges.

The design initiative runs alongside Rye's broader comprehensive plan process, which drew more than 130 residents to its first workshop on Oct. 16, as we reported that week. The comprehensive plan will set a long-term citywide vision, while the design guidelines will focus specifically on the CBD.

After Design Week, Yard & Company will refine its recommendations for future consideration by the City Council.