(a) Unit Types. Notwithstanding the definition in Chapter 1242, multifamily residential dwellings may include a variety of unit types, including but not limited to attached, detached, townhouse, patio and similar unit types. Multifamily dwellings may also include a variety of unit types, including fee simple, footprint and condominium.
(Ord. 110-2020. Passed 2-22-21.)
(b) Landscaping. Required front yards in a multifamily development shall be landscaped and shall not be used for parking or any other purpose, except driveways to reach designated parking areas. Landscaping shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 1282.
(c) Landscaping Adjacent to Commercial Uses. Multifamily developments which are located behind commercial uses shall maintain a landscaped area with a 50-foot minimum width between multifamily buildings and the nearest commercial building or commercial parking or circulation area. This area shall be landscaped with lawns and planting beds as required by Chapter 1282, except for driveways to reach designated parking areas. The landscaped area may be included as part of the open spaces required by Section 1286.03 if it is under the control of and available to the residents of the multifamily development.
(d) Building Spacing. A multifamily development shall be considered as one building for the purpose of determining front, side and rear yard requirements, the entire group as a unit requiring one front yard, one side yard and two side yards as specified for the R-M District. All buildings in a multifamily development shall be a minimum of 20 feet apart. All garage doors shall be a minimum of 20 feet from a sidewalk or a private drive or street.
(e) Design Standards. All multifamily buildings and sites shall be developed to comply with the following design standards: (Ord. 139-05. Passed 1-9-06.)
(1) Attached or townhouse-type dwellings shall have a maximum of 2 units attached in a single building.
(Ord. 110-2020. Passed 2-22-21.)
(2) Garages shall be designed and located so that they are not the dominant visual element of the building or streetscape. All attached garages shall comply with one of the following:
A. The garage door shall be set back a minimum of two feet further from the primary access street, whether public or private, than the front wall of the main living area; or
B. The garage door shall be oriented perpendicular, or mainly perpendicular, to the access street.
All attached garages shall be fully integrated into the building mass.
(3) Multifamily buildings shall use offsets, projections, recess and other comparable design elements to avoid long, uninterrupted wall or roof planes. Blank walls are prohibited, except where necessary to maintain privacy.
(4) Doorways shall be defined and articulated with architectural elements such as intels, pediments, porches or overhangs. Doorways shall be compatible with the building as a whole and with the doors themselves.
(5) There shall be a maximum of 16 inches between exterior wall finishes and the final grade. Exposed foundation walls shall be covered with brick, stone or masonry with a surface design.
(6) Sidewalks shall form a network of pedestrian paths with a logical continuity. Walks shall be designed around large trees and outcroppings without being overly rigid in their placement.
(7) Open space areas shall be planted with trees, shrubs, hedges, ground covers and grasses, unless existing vegetation is to be retained. Landscaping shall be integrated with other functional and ornamental site characteristics to reinforce the character of the area.
(Ord. 139-05. Passed 1-9-06.)