The design of all sites and buildings within the district shall conform to the design guidelines established in the Village Redevelopment Plan. Variations from the guidelines may be allowed when approved as part of a Development Plan, provided the intent of the Village Redevelopment Plan is met. Specifically the following provisions shall apply to all areas in the district outside of the Market Square area:
(A) Lot area, lot width and yard requirements.
(1) Setbacks for commercial structures.
Front yard: Build-to line (0-10 feet)
Side yard interior: Zero feet minimum
Side yard corner: Same as front
Rear yard: 20 feet
(2) Setbacks for residential structures.
Front yard: As outlined in the Village Master Plan
Side yard interior: Zero feet minimum
Side yard corner: Same as front
Rear yard: 20 feet
(3) Setback for parking.
Front yard: No parking permitted unless approved specific to a site plan
Side yard: Five feet
Side yard corner: Five feet
Rear yard: Five feet unless adjacent to residential then minimum of 20 feet
(4) Front yard build-to line established. In the village district in the front yard, a build-to line is established which provides a minimum and maximum front setback for buildings and other structures, from the right-of-way or property line. The minimum front building setback shall be zero feet and the maximum shall be ten feet.
(5) At least 65% of the street frontage of any lot shall be occupied by building facades meeting the build-to line. Other portions of a building beyond the 65% may be setback farther than required by the build-to line.
(6) There is no minimum lot size for non-residential uses.
(7) Residential parcels shall maintain a lot width that is adequate for the design of the structure. A minimum separation of 15 feet shall be maintained between detached units.
(8) Parking shall not routinely be permitted in the front yard. However, in site specific cases it may be permitted subject to site plan review and parking shall be screened with a decorative wall, railing, hedge, or a combination of these elements, to a minimum height of three feet and a maximum height of four and one half feet above the level of the parking lot, at the build-to line.
(9) Drive-through lanes. Drive-through or drive-in lanes are not allowed within the build-to or in front of any building; they must be located to the side or rear of a building. This does not pertain to driveways providing access to a site.
(B) Building design and materials.
(1) All buildings shall be designed to accomplish the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and the Village Master Plan. Building materials shall be attractive in appearance, durable with a permanent finish, and of a quality that is consistent with the standards and intent of the Master Plan. Where appropriate, buildings shall carry over materials and colors of adjacent buildings, with the exception of prohibited materials.
(2) All building designs shall be subject to the review of an architect to assure compatibility with the intent of the city regulations. The architect shall be selected by the city, with the cost of review charged to the planning escrow submitted by the applicant.
(3) All buildings shall include the following elements:
(a) Accent materials shall be provided and included on all sides of a building and all sides shall be treated the same.
(b) Buildings containing office and retail uses shall maintain 50% transparency from grade to a height of 12 feet on each first floor front that faces a street or public open space (sidewalk or plaza).
(c) Complimentary major material colors.
(d) A combination of vertical and horizontal pattern designs in the building facade.
(C) Any exterior building wall adjacent to or visible from a public street, public open space or abutting property may not exceed 50 feet in length without significant visual relief consisting of one or more of the following:
(1) The facade shall be divided architecturally by means of significantly different materials or textures; or
(2) Horizontal offsets of at least four feet in depth; or
(3) Vertical offsets in the roofline of at least four feet, or fenestration at the first floor level that is recessed horizontally at least one foot into the facade.
(D) Exterior commercial building materials shall be classified as primary, secondary, or accent materials. Primary materials shall cover at least 60% of the facade of a building. Secondary materials may cover no more than 30% of the facade. Accent materials may include door and window frames, lintels, cornices, and other minor elements and may cover no more than 10% of the facade. Allowable materials are as follows:
(1) Primary exterior building materials may be natural or cementious brick or stone, glass or equivalent if approved by the city's architect.
(2) Secondary exterior building materials may be integrally colored decorative block, integrally colored stucco or equivalent if approved by the city's architect.
(3) A water managed Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) may be permitted as a secondary material on upper floors only.
(4) Accent materials may include wood or metal if appropriately integrated into the overall building design and not situated in areas that will be subject to physical or environmental damage.
(5) All materials shall be integrally colored.
(6) Sheet metal, corrugated metal, plain flat concrete block (whether painted or integrally colored) are prohibited materials unless they are approved on a specific design as accent materials.
(7) Lighting may be used to accent the building and site and shall be identified at the time of site plan review.
(E) All residential developments are subject to the design criteria as outlined in the Village Master Plan and require site plan review. Each submittal shall include architectural renderings for proposed structures that include a variety of colors and materials. In addition, all residential developments shall conform to the following performance standards:
(1) Each unit shall include an attached garage that is a minimum of 480 square feet in size unless a smaller size is appropriate for the unit design. The specific size is subject to the approval of the city as part of the site plan review. The garage shall be incorporated into the design of the structure and may not extend further towards the public street then the front of the house.
(2) At least 30% of the front exterior building finish must consist of brick, stone, or an equivalent material if approved by the city's architect.
(F) Trash handling and screening.
(1) All trash, recyclable materials, equipment for handling them, including compactors, shall be totally screened from eye level view from public streets and adjacent properties, and shall be located to the side or rear of the building. This may be accomplished by locating within the principal building, or stored within an accessory building constructed of the same materials and colors and attached to the principal building.
(2) Loading docks: Loading docks shall not be located in the front yard and shall be completely screened from eye-level view of public streets and public open spaces, by means of landscaping which is at least 80% opaque year round within two years, or by a screen wall of the same materials and colors as the principal building.
(3) All mechanical equipment, whether roof-top or located on the ground shall be completely screened from the ground-level view of adjacent properties and public streets, or designed to be compatible with the architectural treatment of the principal building.
(G) Landscaping.
(1) All areas not occupied by buildings, parkways, driveways, sidewalks, or other hard surface shall be sodded or mulched and landscaped with approved ground cover, flowers, shrubbery and trees and shall be irrigated.
(2) At least 10% of the total land area within the perimeter of parking and driveway areas shall be landscaped.
(3) Parking lot islands and medians shall be a minimum of six feet wide.
(4) Overstory trees shall be provided along all parking lot perimeters and medians at a minimum of 20 feet on center.
(5) A landscape plan shall be created for each site and shall include a full complement of overstory, ornamental, and evergreen trees, shrubbery, and ground covers that are hardy and appropriate for the locations in which they are planted, and which provide year-round color and interest.
(6) The acceptable planting materials are outlined in the Village Master Plan. Other materials may be approved at the discretion of the city.
(H) Signage/awnings. Each building proposed for development shall submit a comprehensive sign plan that addresses the size, location, and number of signs proposed. The submission of a comprehensive sign plan supersedes the city sign ordinance as may be applied in other zoning districts because of the unique nature of the Village District.
(1) Wall signs shall be located in a designated area located between 12 feet and 16 feet above grade.
(2) Attached wall signage shall consist of individual letters or script logos mounted on the building.
(3) Box signs or cabinet signs, whether on a wall, projecting or on canopies shall only be allowed for logo signs as approved as part of the overall signage plan.
(4) Wall signs shall be flat, projecting a maximum of six inches.
(5) Any illumination of signs shall be done in a manner to complement the type of sign proposed. Lighting shall be accomplished in such a manner as to prevent glare.
(6) Freestanding signs shall be limited to monument style signs on a solid base that are a maximum of ten feet in height and 100 square feet in area, including the sign base.
(7) Awnings shall not extend more than 5 feet from the building facade and they shall not be backlit.
(Ord. 2001-947, passed 1-22-01; Am. Ord. 2003-991, passed 3-17-03)