A. Sidewalk/Pathway Standards: Provide a sidewalk or pathway paralleling or nearly paralleling the street along the front edge of the property for all new developments and any building addition where the value of the addition equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the existing structure and/or site improvements as determined by the Bonner County assessor's office over any five (5) year time period. The sidewalk/pathway may be built within the public right of way (where authorized by the applicable agency) or on private property and shall be at least six feet (6') in width (except where greater widths are specifically set forth in the Bonner County trails plan). Where the sidewalk/pathway is provided on private property, an easement at least fifteen feet (15') in width allowing for public access is encouraged. For subdivisions in applicable zoning districts, the easement shall be noted on the plat, and the sidewalk/pathway constructed prior to final plat approval. The sidewalk/pathway shall be constructed with an all weather surface per specifications in the Bonner County trails plan or as approved by the planning director. The planning director may grant an exception to the above requirement if the following criteria are met, as determined by the planning director:
1. Adjacent property or properties along the applicable street frontage are not zoned for commercial uses.
2. For sites with multiple buildings fronting the street, a pathway along the street linking the two (2) buildings shall be required, but trail connections to the adjacent properties will not be required where subsection A1 of this section is applicable.
3. Sites at the end of dead end road where pedestrian connections beyond the road are not possible or desirable.
For all exceptions above, except subsection A3 of this section, the development shall be positioned in a way that allows for trail construction along the front edge of the property (or within the right of way adjacent to the front property line) in the future.
B. Pedestrian Connections: Provide walkways connecting all on site commercial and multi-family buildings with each other and the street for all new developments and any building additions where the value of the additions equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the existing structure and/or site improvements as determined by the Bonner County assessor's office over any five (5) year time period. For other additions or improvements, pathways shall be provided to connect any new structures with existing structures, as determined by the planning director. Buildings/uses where little or no pedestrian traffic is anticipated may be exempted from this requirement. Walkways must be clearly delineated from vehicular access and other areas by curbs, landscaping, or other elements as approved by the planning director. Walkways shall be at least four feet (4') in width or wider where greater pedestrian activity is anticipated. The pathways shall be constructed with an all weather surface.
C. Parking Lot Pathways: Large new or expansion of existing developments must provide specially marked or paved walkways through parking lots. Specifically, walkways should be provided every four (4) rows and a maximum distance of one hundred fifty feet (150') shall be maintained between paths. Parking lots less than one hundred fifty feet (150') wide or long are exempt from this requirement. Pathways must be at least five feet (5') in width and constructed with an all weather surface. The pathway must be separated from vehicular traffic by an elevation change, change in surface material or color, or other treatments as approved by the planning director. Where possible, the pathways shall be aligned to connect with major building entries or other destinations. The pathways shall conform to the minimum Americans with disabilities act (ADA) requirements as established by the federal government.
D. Parking Location Guidelines: New developments are encouraged to locate parking areas to the side or rear of buildings. For large sites (more than 2 acres), developments are encouraged to limit parking areas to no more than fifty percent (50%) of the lot frontage (other areas may be buildings and/or open space). Developments that meet these guidelines qualify for all of the following:
1. Landscaping buffers between any parking lot and a street may be reduced by fifty percent (50%) in width.
2. Minimum front yard requirements may be reduced by fifty percent (50%).
3. Setbacks for freestanding signs may be reduced to five feet (5').
E. Main Building Entry Standards For Commercial Uses: Weather protection at least four feet (4') deep shall be provided over all building entries. Accessory building entrances, service only entrances and secondary residence entrances are exempted from this requirement. Building entry standards are strongly recommended for industrial uses.
F. Lighting Standards:
1. Lighting shall be directed downward to the intended area to be lighted. All exterior lighting fixtures shall incorporate cutoff shields to prevent spillover into residential areas. Broadcast lighting fixtures that project lighting outward rather than downward are discouraged. Outdoor lighting shall be arranged so that the light is directed downward and away from adjoining properties. Temporary high intensity construction lights should be oriented so as to reduce or eliminate glare onto adjoining properties.
2. Freestanding light fixtures shall be limited to fourteen feet (14') in height.
3. Vehicular roadway and highway lighting shall be subject to the county requirements.
4. Mercury vapor light fixtures are prohibited.
5. When using decorative miniature lighting strings, bulbs larger than eleven (11) watts each shall not be used. Low wattage, light emitting diode devices and other lighting that reduces electrical use is encouraged.
6. Backlit awnings are prohibited.
The above lighting standards are encouraged for single- family uses in all zones.
G. Blank Wall Treatment Standards: Untreated "blank walls", as defined in section 12-802 of this title, adjacent to a street or customer/resident parking areas are prohibited. The intent is to add visual character of commercial and multi-family areas and add visual interest. Proposed methods to treat blank walls shall be submitted at the time of building location permit or building permit and shall include one or more of the following:
1. Transparent windows or doors.
2. Display windows.
3. Landscaped bed at least five feet (5') wide in front of the wall with planting materials sufficient to obscure at least fifty percent (50%) of the wall surface within three (3) years.
4. A vertical trellis in front of the wall with climbing vines or other plant materials. The trellis must be of sufficient size to enable plant materials to cover at least fifty percent (50%) of the wall surface within three (3) years.
5. Special architectural design features and/or use of materials that add visual interest and mitigates the visual impact of a blank wall. Developers are encouraged to incorporate landscaping elements in front of portions of the wall.
6. Other methods that add visual interest and mitigate the visual impact of a blank wall as approved by the planning director.
For blank walls that are longer than one hundred feet (100'), a combination of treatments are encouraged to add visual interest to commercial and multi-family areas.
H. Maximum Building Width: For all building facades adjacent to a street or customer/resident parking areas, the maximum building width shall be one hundred twenty feet (120'). The planning director may grant exceptions to the maximum building width, provided the building design complies with the following options:
1. The building features vertical building modulation so that it reduces the perceived scale of the building or makes it appear that it is two (2) separate buildings. To achieve this, the depth of vertical modulation must be at least twenty feet (20') and the width of the vertical modulation must be at least thirty feet (30'). Two (2) examples of how this is achieved is illustrated in figure 4-4 of this section.
2. Other treatments that successfully reduce the perceived scale of the building or make it appear that it is two (2) separate buildings as per the planning director. Examples include articulation techniques (repeating window patterns, changes in building materials or architectural detailing, or roofline modulation) that break the scale of the building down into components that are less than one hundred twenty feet (120') in width.
I. Recreational Space For Multi-Family Developments: Multi-family developments featuring more than four (4) dwelling units shall provide at least two hundred fifty (250) square feet of on site recreational space per dwelling unit. Examples of on site recreational space include landscaped courtyards, centralized lawn areas that can be used for informal recreational activities, common or private decks or balconies, or children's play areas. Such space shall be located, designed and maintained per the following:
1. Space shall be placed in a dedicated recreation tract or area if developed in conjunction with a planned unit development or subdivision.
2. Space shall be maintained by the landowner, homeowners' association, or other incorporated organization or private organization formed to provide long term care of the recreational space.
3. Space shall be centrally located in an area that is visible from two (2) or more of the proposed dwelling units.
4. Space contains physical conditions that allow for active and passive recreation. For example, slopes should generally be less than five percent (5%), soils and hydrological conditions should be compatible with desired active and passive recreational activities.
5. Space shall have no dimension less than thirty feet (30') except for trail segments and balconies.
6. Balconies and private decks may qualify for up to fifty percent (50%) of the required recreational space.
7. Required setback areas shall not be counted as on site recreational space unless the planning director finds that the design of the space will be usable for active and/or passive recreational activities.
8. Space shall feature landscaping and other amenities to make the area usable for active and/or passive recreational activities.
9. Large developments are encouraged to provide a range of activities that accommodate a range of age groups.
Exceptions: Developments in the alpine village district shall be exempted from these requirements. Also, developments in conservation subdivisions, where indicated on the final plat, may use common open space to meet these requirements where the applicant can successfully demonstrate that the design of the common open space will meet the recreational needs of residents.
J. Outdoor Storage: Outdoor storage of commercial and industrial materials:
1. Will be screened from view from any existing adjoining residence or residential zoned area, whether or not such property is separated by an alley or street per landscaping standards in subchapter 4.6 of this chapter.
2. Will not be located in any front yard setback.
K. Solid Waste, Recycling Collection Areas: All solid waste and recycling collection areas for commercial, industrial and multi-family residential uses:
1. Shall be located to minimize visibility from the public and adjacent nonindustrial uses. Service elements should generally be concentrated and located where they are designed for easy access by service vehicles and for convenient access by tenants.
2. When visible from a street or resident/customer parking area, the receptacles shall be enclosed on at least three (3) sides by a solid wall or fence of at least six feet (6') in height, or within an enclosed building. Screen fences should be made of masonry, ornamental metal or wood, or some combination of the three (3). The use of chainlink, plastic or wire fencing is prohibited.
3. Shall be animalproofed. (Ord. 501, 11-18-2008)