LINDON — Just because Lindon shares a border with Orem doesn't mean it wants to look like its neighbor.

City officials are in the process of approving new commercial design guidelines to help Lindon keep its small-town look and hometown feel, despite continued growth and construction.

"We want people to come into the community and know they're in Lindon," said City Councilman Bruce Carpenter in an interview about changes in the city, including the new sign ordinance and the proposed design guidelines.

The plan focuses on the burgeoning commercial areas along State Street and the new 700 North corridor, with a goal of encouraging "future development that will enhance the character of Lindon city," according to the design plan.

"Our desire is to help make Lindon stand out from other communities in a positive aspect," said Adam Cowie, Lindon's planning and zoning director. "Seven-hundred North is really an open slate. That's part of why I think there's more of a feeling of urgency — (it's) being constructed right now. The city would like to have this in place so we have architecture design and growth that is compatible and consistent through the city."

That's where Cooper Roberts Simonsen Architects of Salt Lake City come in. The company looked at streetscape, architectural character, parking and signage as key factors in creating a beautiful, unique city. Company officials presented their ideas in two separate public meetings to give city residents an opportunity to comment on what they liked about various design styles and example photographs.

"As you drive along State Street in Utah County, it's kind of hard to discern where one community ends and one begins," said Soren Simonsen, a principal with CRSA. "A lot of those (communities) are interested in having some sense of identity, both for pride of their residents, as well as a way to highlight and distinguish that they're not just part of a big agglomeration — (it's) something special here."

Some of the proposed ideas for aesthetically pleasing streets include maintaining a building height range of one to three stories to preserve the "small-town atmosphere, as well as having landscaped parking strips and wide sidewalks. The design architects also looked at the size and placement of trees and their leafy benefits.

One of the specific design elements Lindon wants to keep is the use of a white split-rail fence, giving some power behind their town slogan of "A Little Bit of Country." Although the rail is a keeper, other elements are still in question because the plan is still in the draft phases. Cowie said he expects more changes before it's approved, including architectural drawings and more specific design rules.