(A) Design elements. The following design elements shall be incorporated into Zone 6 of the planned development to assure an overall sense of harmony.
(1) Define spaces with buildings with landscaping and walkways where appropriate.
(2) Maintain character of the site as a whole through building materials, landscaping, lighting, pedestrian orientation.
(3) Provide continuity between commercial and residential buildings, through similar detailing, materials or other building elements.
(4) Enhancement of the pedestrian friendly environment by providing access from sidewalks into and throughout the commercial areas, between buildings and across parking areas where appropriate.
(5) Wherever a surface parking area faces a street frontage, such frontage shall be screened with landscaping elements consisting of a hedge, shrubs or hardscape elements.
(6) All refuse, recyclable materials, and equipment for handling them, including compactors, shall be totally screened from eye-level view from public streets and adjacent properties, whether in the front, side or rear, either by being stored within the principal structure, totally screened from view by the principal building, or stored within an accessory structure enclosed by a roof, and readily served through single or double doors, or an overhead door on tracks.
(7) Loading docks shall not be located in the front, and shall be screened from eye-level view of public streets by means of landscaping that is at least 80% opaque within two years, or by a screen wall of the same materials and colors as the principal building.
(8) Any screening, fences or walls shall be constructed of a landscape materials or masonry material similar to and complimentary to the primary building material and architecture.
(9) Lots having parking areas with 15 or more parking spaces shall provide parking for bicycles near building entries, but without encroaching into pedestrian walkways.
(10) On-site parking for a senior apartment and independent living units within a continuum of care facility use permitted herein shall be provided at a rate of 1.1 spaces per unit, of which a minimum of one space per independent living unit shall be enclosed.
(B) Commercial building design and materials. The goal of these guidelines is to assure that commercial areas present an architectural appearance that is visually compatible and complementary in use of building form, design and materials.
(1) Design elements of commercial buildings should include:
(a) Well-defined entrances, with creative use of materials in varied colors and textures.
(b) Columnar forms at key building corners.
(c) Variety in building planes, both vertically and horizontally.
(d) Extended covered entrances, window canopies, and other pedestrian-scale elements at main entries.
(e) Buildings situated along a local street shall incorporate four-sided architecture.
(f) Mechanical equipment on building exteriors, roofs, or parking areas shall be screened from view from all public streets and adjoining properties.
(g) Design elements and material requirements shall apply to the large anchor tenant building.
(2) Exterior building materials shall consist primarily of brick, stone, or color-impregnated decorative block. Secondary materials may include coated or anodized, non-reflective, glare-free finished metal, integrally colored EFIS, or color-impregnated, fiber-cement siding. Accent materials, such as wood, metal or fiber cement, may be used in trim, fascia or soffit, if appropriately integrated into the overall building design, and not situated in areas that will be subject to physical or environmental damage. Accent materials shall be wrapped around walls that are visible from a public street or open space.
(3) Buildings containing office and retail uses shall maintain 40% minimum window coverage on each first floor front, where the primary entry faces a street or public open space.
(C) Landscaping. The goal of these standards is to assure that the commercial areas present a landscaped appearance that is compatible with adjacent residential areas. A landscape plan shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered and incensed in the state, and shall include the following design elements:
(1) Provide screening for undesirable views.
(2) Compliment the architectural form of the building.
(3) Define walkways, internal traffic circulation areas, special use areas, and building entries through the use of special paving materials such as brick pavers, stamped concrete, paving stone, or a combination thereof.
(4) Provide a pleasant street environment.
(5) Soften the visual impact of large paved areas.
(6) Mitigate the impacts of lighting or other negative influences.
(7) Landscaped islands within the parking lots shall be provided for all parking lots in Zone 6. The total area of the islands shall be at least 5% of the parking lot area, and no island shall be less then the size of a standard parking stall.
(8) All cart storage corrals in the parking areas shall be incorporated within a landscaped island, paved with concrete, having a concrete barrier curb around the edge, and concrete barrier curbs that delineate the cart storage lanes. Signage indicating the location of the cart corrals may be affixed to a single pipe rail located at the halfway point of the cart storage lanes. No signage advertising products or stores shall be allowed in the cart storage corral area.
(D) Parking. Parking may be calculated in aggregate, if the following exists:
(1) A convenient pedestrian connection between properties exists between the lots.
(2) The parking areas share a property line.
(3) A vehicular connection between the lots exists.
(E) Signage. A master signage plan shall be created to assure an overall harmonious theme within the entire commercial area that complements the entire Cobblestone development.
(1) Signage shall be in accordance with Chapter 154 and City Council-approved common signage plan.
(2) Signage on buildings located directly adjacent to residential areas shall be non-illuminated.
(3) Anchor/center sign area may be increased to 312 square feet for the Cobblestone Lake Commercial addition, subject to the following:
(a) Only one anchor/center sign shall be allowed.
(b) The maximum sign area for any one business on the anchor/center sign shall be 180 square feet.
(c) No other pylon, monument or ground signs that bear business advertising shall be allowed.
(F) Monument signage. A master monument signage plan shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by City Council and shall meet all the following standards and requirements:
(1) Monument signs shall be set back a minimum of one foot from the right-of-way line of 160th Street West.
(2) Monument signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the right-of-way line of all other public and private streets.
(3) No monument sign may be located in an easement of record without approval by the City Council.
(4) All monuments shall be properly located in accordance with § 155.335.
(5) The maximum height of any monument sign shall be 12 feet.
(6) All monument signs shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by City Council prior to issuance of a building permit.
(7) All monument signs shall be in accordance with Chapter 154 of this code, except as otherwise provided herein.
(G) Apartment and continuum of care residential community building design and materials. The following design elements shall be incorporated into the design for any apartment permitted herein and continuum of care residential community buildings to assure an overall sense of harmony.
(1) All building elevations shall be considered a front for the purpose of exterior building material use and appearance.
(2) Appropriate transitions in the building’s fascia, such as height façade details and landscape buffers, shall be incorporated.
(3) Building materials shall be those normally used in this part of the country for permanent type of construction, which is found in generally acceptable as good architectural design, and which are compatible with other building designs in the planned development area.
(4) All exterior elevations shall have a vertical exposed exterior finish that shall consist of a combination of non-combustible materials such as brick, stone, stucco, and the like. The use of cedar, redwood, and high quality cementitous fiberboard, sometimes referred to as “Hardi Plank/Panel” may be used when incorporated with before-mentioned non-combustible materials.
(5) Metal skins materials, such as baked enamel, stainless steel, aluminum sandwich panels as the like as primary field materials for buildings shall not be permitted. This type of material may be used as a design element.
(6) The use of vinyl, steel, aluminum siding for the exposed exterior finish shall not be allowed.
(H) Apartment and continuum of care residential communities landscape design and materials. The following design elements shall be incorporated into all site plans of apartment uses permitted herein and continuum of care residential community buildings.
(1) All areas of a site not occupied by buildings, parking lots, or other improvements shall be landscaped with vegetation including trees, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, and/or grasses in accordance with a landscape plan approved by the city.
(2) A landscape plan shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered and licensed in the state and the following design elements shall be incorporated:
(a) All plant materials to be utilized shall be identified on the plan and a landscape plant materials list provided;
(b) Landscape materials shall be utilized to soften the visual impact of large paved areas, provide screening of undesirable views, and compliment the architectural design of the building;
(c) Underground irrigation systems shall be installed and utilized in all landscaped areas; and
(d) Landscaping shall be integrated with other functional and ornamental site design elements, where appropriate, such as recreational facilities, paths and walkways, fountains, trellises, pergolas, gazebos, patios, fences, walls, street furniture, art, sculpture, and the like.
(3) A landscape plan approved by the City Council under this provision shall be exempt from the minimum requirements set forth in § 155.349.
(Ord. 804, passed 2-22-07; Am. Ord. 816, passed 7-12-07; Am. Ord. 840, passed 6-26-08; Am. Ord. 855, passed 3-26-09)