AMHERST — How the future streetscape and public and private properties will look in downtown Amherst, where so-called infill mixed-use projects have been built in recent years and a new five-story building is under construction, is the focus of new design standards being developed.

Before specifics and details are incorporated into a proposal for these updated downtown design standards, eventually to be presented to town boards and committees, Dodson & Flinker Landscape Architecture & Planning of Northampton, working with the town’s Planning Department, is holding a series of public workshops.

Starting at 3:30 p.m. Friday, residents are invited to a walking tour from the North Common in front of Town Hall. There, those participating will have a brief conversation on the greenspace, before walking throughout downtown, stopping at various points to talk about what the streets, buildings and sites look like.

This will be followed by a listening session, commencing at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School. The hope is for people to talk about aspects of downtown that are successful and what needs improvement.

Finally, the following day at 9 a.m., a 3½-hour visioning session will be held, also in the high school cafeteria. Interactive activities will refine the community’s vision of how downtown can remain vibrant, welcoming and sustainable. Refreshments will be served.

Registration for the various workshops are requested, but not required.

Senior Planner Nate Malloy told the Planning Board that he anticipates there will be online supplemental information and opportunity to offer comments beyond the downtown walkabout and in-person meetings.

Malloy said the town has also engaged a consultant to update Amherst’s housing production plan, with expected online surveys and a community event taking place on Oct. 1.

The downtown design standards work is being funded through the town’s fiscal year 2025 capital improvement program and $150,000 set aside in that budget, said Town Manager Paul Bockelman.

Dodson & Flinker responded to a request for proposals last fall and began its work in early 2024, with recommendations to be finalized by the end of 2025. Those recommendations are expected to be reflect local knowledge and community priorities.

In its proposal, Dodson & Flinker wrote that it will assemble draft standards for the right of way and public realm, such as streets and vegetation, including planters; outdoor dining; sitting areas and alcoves; and public art. Another part of its work will be developing draft architectural design standards for buildings and potential redevelopment areas and doing before and after prospective illustrations.

When the consultants began their work, it was with focus groups and “stakeholders,” including developers, the Business Improvement District, student and non-student downtown residents, and marginalized groups, such as Black, Indigenous and people of color and LGBTQ+ communities. Each of these meetings brought together representatives from other panels, including the Planning Board, Historical Commission, Design Review Board and Disability Access Advisory Committee.

Dodson & Flinker has done similar work elsewhere, including in 2022 when it wrote the form-based code for downtown Northampton and Florence center, as well as the two-family form-based code for Northampton and Pelham village center zoning with design standards.