(a) Purpose. Neighborhood-scale multifamily design standards apply to multi-family developments in RM-6, RM- 8, or RM-16 zoning districts and are intended to be compatible with the character of residential neighborhoods.
(b) Applicability. These design standards shall apply to all new multi-family construction and building expansions located in RM-6, RM-8, and RM-16 zoning districts resulting in structures with a minimum of three up to a maximum of 12 dwelling units and/or expansion of parking lots.
(c) Maximum number of units per building. The maximum number of units per multi-family structure in the RM- 6, RM-8, and RM-16 zoning district shall be 12 units.
(d) Design standards.
(1) There shall be no more than one ground level entrance per street-facing façade. An entrance may be in the form of a recessed foyer and include multiple doors.
(2) A minimum of two windows are required per building façade, making up at least 15 percent of the area of any street-facing façade.
(3) No street-facing façade shall exceed 50 feet in length without at least a two foot change in the horizontal wall plane.
(4) Street-facing roofs that exceed 50 feet in length shall be subject to the following standards based on the type of roof provided:
a. Sloped roofs shall provide one or more of the following:
· A two foot horizontal variation in the roofline, or
· A roof element, that includes one of the following: dormer, cupola, gable, hip detail, or roof projections.
b. Flat roofs shall provide a cornice or other decorative band shall be provided to serve as a building cap for the entire roof. In addition, a minimum two foot vertical variation shall be provided for at least 15 percent of the length of the façade.
(5) Parking shall be provided to the side or rear and not closer to the street than the street-facing facade of the structure.
(6) Parking lots with more than four spaces shall be screened when adjacent to a single-family use. Screening shall include:
a. A mix of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs to result in a vegetative screen that is 75 percent opaque year round and planted in a minimum five foot-wide planting strip, or
b. A fence or wall with a minimum height of six feet with the finished side of the fence facing the abutting property or street. Fences longer than 25 linear feet shall be landscaped with trees and/or shrubs planted in a minimum five-foot planting area, except around access areas, spaced no farther than eight feet apart in order to screen at least 50 percent of the fence or wall. Placement of such fence shall be on the development side of the required five-foot planting area.
(7) For structures with more than four units, the side setback shall be at least ten feet.
(8) The front of the structure shall be oriented to face the primary access street.
(9) The height shall not exceed three stories or the maximum permitted height of the zoning district, whichever is less.
(Ord. No. 4608, § 1(n), 8-22-17)