Everyone likely has at least one building in Bangor they wish wasn’t there. For some it is the city’s central fire station, an oversized concrete block plopped on Main Street. For others the bane of the architectural existence are the city’s auditorium and civic center or maybe it’s the huge flat-roofed box stores with their windowless facades.

A city task force has come up with lengthy standards and guidelines aimed at ensuring that new and renovated downtown buildings enhance the city’s architectural character and make use of assets such as river frontage and historic details. This overdue document was recently accepted by the City Council and will now be put in practice to the betterment of Bangor’s look and feel.

The architectural standards are the brainchild of Mayor John Cashwell, who works in a beautifully restored home turned office on Broadway. There are buildings in Bangor that are “surprising,” he says diplomatically. With major development planned on the city’s waterfront, a racino on the drawing board and a new courthouse on the horizon, he wanted to ensure that there weren’t more surprises. Instead, the aim is to encourage nice-looking, functional buildings that fit together.

Rather than dictating what types of building materials or what colors of paint can be used, the 10-member panel appointed by Mr. Cashwell came up with broad descriptions of what is acceptable in the downtown and along the waterfront and Main Street. Their list will serve as standards for buildings on city-owned land and guidelines on private property.

Large unbroken walls, for example, are discouraged, as are unscreened parking areas and cookie-cutter buildings identified with a specific corporation. High-quality building materials that will enable buildings to last 75 years or more, easily recognizable and accessible building lobbies and outdoor seating that conveys activity and pedestrian friendliness are encouraged.

Water views should be preserved and dumpsters and heating and cooling equipment should be hidden.

Task force member David Hughes, who works for Epstein Commercial Real Estate, said the guidelines will help developers know what is desired rather then guessing what the city’s planning board will approve. They will also protect a developer’s work and investment by ensuring that an out-of-place structure is not built next to a nicely renovated brick building.

Bangor is wise to try to gain control of its architectural destiny rather than living for decades with unwanted surprises. These guidelines will help accomplish that.