§ 118-1441. Building design standards.

(a)

Building Orientation. All parcels adjacent to State Road 50 shall have as the primary customer entrance, an entrance along the facade that faces State Road 50. Additionally, secondary entrances facing other public streets or adjacent buildings shall be encouraged

(b)

Building setbacks. Except as provided for herein, all new development and any additions to existing buildings must comply with the setbacks established by the underlying zoning classification of each specific parcel. The rear yard setback shall be at least 20 feet and the side yard setback shall be at least ten feet from the property line. In the event the rear or side yard is adjacent to a public street, the rear yard setback shall be at least 20 feet and the side yard setback shall be at least 20 feet from the property line.

(c)

Architectural cohesiveness. Architectural style will be coordinated to create a visual cohesiveness that integrates individual projects, buildings, and signs within the commercial corridor.

(1)

Buildings, principal structures, accessory structures, awnings, canopies, and signs shall have a consistent and cohesive style.

(2)

This division is not intended to prohibit or discourage unique and distinctive designs but rather prohibit and discourage visually disjointed projects or buildings that are conspicuous to the casual observer.

(d)

Size and mass of buildings.

(1)

The design of buildings shall include elements such as color, shape, materials, varying height, and forms that break up large expanses of blank walls. All design plans submitted to the city for approval shall contain these design elements.

(2)

Building designs shall create visually appealing entrances and provide decorative roof and facade treatments.

(3)

Windows and door openings shall relate to human scale and integrate the building with the surrounding site. The wall or walls of any nonresidential structure, building, or addition shall be constructed without openings that would allow occupants of the structure to view directly into adjacent residential developments.

(4)

All nonresidential sites included in this requirement shall be oriented in a manner that will promote and strengthen pedestrian activity.

(e)

Exterior designs, materials and color.

(1)

Predominant exterior building materials shall be high quality materials, including, but not limited to, brick, sandstone or other stone, split-face decorative block, glass, stucco and/or masonry. Exterior building materials shall not include smooth-faced concrete block, tilt-up concrete panels or prefabricated steel panels, unless the visible finish is brick, stucco, stone, or split-face decorative block. Except as provided in this division, the rear and side facades shall be of materials and design characteristics consistent with that of the front; use of inferior or lesser quality materials for side or rear facades shall be prohibited. Metal-skinned buildings or structures are prohibited.

(2)

The use of day-glow or fluorescent colors shall be prohibited. The use of black, gray, primary and/or secondary colors are prohibited as the predominant exterior building or roof color(s). Earth-tone colors are encouraged.

(3)

Building trim and accent areas may feature any color(s) not specifically excluded in this division provided said color is limited to ten percent of the affected facade segment, with a maximum trim height of 24 inches total for its shortest distance. Neon tubing shall not be an acceptable feature for building trim or accent areas.

(4)

Walls not used as part of a structure shall not exceed a height of six feet, however, decorative features and appurtenances of a wall may project above the six feet a maximum of two feet. Walls shall be maintained and in good repair.

(5)

Exterior building design shall integrate appropriate design features such as fenestration, bays, fascia, cornices, columns, cupolas, entry focal points, gables, belt courses, lintels, pilasters, porticos, or other decorative elements to enhance overall architectural design. Entrances to a building shall be articulated with porches, porticos or other architectural forms which create a distinct entrance.

(6)

Awnings, arcades and canopies shall be designed to shelter pedestrians from sun and rain, create a transition of scale from the street to the building entry, reduce heat against the storefront glass, and provide a distinctive image and identity for each business in the building. Lighting shall not be directly attached to a canopy or awning.

(7)

All building facades and exterior walls which are visible from adjoining properties and/or public rights-of-way shall be visually established by architectural features such as columns, ribs or pilasters, piers and fenestration pattern. In order to add architectural interest and variety and avoid the effect of a single, long or massive wall with no relation to human size, the following additional standards shall apply:

a.

No wall that faces a street or connecting walkway shall have a blank, uninterrupted length exceeding 100 linear feet without including at least two of the following: pilasters, columns, canopies/porticos, arcades, colonnades, change in texture or masonry pattern, windows, trellis with vines, or an equivalent element that subdivides the wall into human scale proportions. Such walls shall also incorporate wall plane projections or recesses having a depth of at least two feet in off-set and extending at least 20 feet in length.

b.

Building walls facing the front yard or street side yard shall have window(s) and door(s). Such facades shall have display windows a minimum of six feet in height along no less than 60 percent of their horizontal length. Side or rear walls that face walkways may include false windows and door openings defined by frames, sills and lintels, or similarly proportioned modulations of the wall, only when actual doors and windows are not feasible because of the nature of the use of the building.

(f)

Roofs. All buildings shall incorporate sloped roofs. Flat roofs may be permitted upon approval by the planning and zoning board provided that architectural features are incorporated which provide the appearance of a sloped roof structure. In addition, parapets concealing flat roofs and rooftop equipment such as HVAC units from public view shall be provided. The average height of such parapets shall not exceed 15 percent of the height of the supporting wall and such parapets shall not at any point exceed one-third of the height of the supporting wall. Such parapets shall feature three-dimensional cornice treatment or a decorative tower.

(Ord. No. 03-30, § 2, 9-17-03)