(a) Street Facades. Street facades shall be designed with offsets and other breaks in the vertical plane to create an interesting and varied streetscape. A minimum of two-thirds of a building’s street facade shall fall within the front yard zone established above. Street facades greater than 60 feet in length shall incorporate one or more wall plane projections or recesses having a minimum depth or at least three percent (3%) of the street facade and extending at least twenty percent (20%) of the length of the street facade.
(b) Parking Within Front Yard. Parking within the front yard zone established above, and extending between the front yard zone and the right of way line, shall be limited to a maximum width of 45 feet measured perpendicular to the right of way line. This dimension allows a single loaded parking bay as established in Table 1276-3 in Chapter 1276.
(c) Modifications. Planning Commission may approve front yards or front yard parking greater than the maximum in the following instances:
(1) An applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Planning Commission that a greater yard is necessary for maneuvering or display for uses such as, without limitation, auto dealers, auto service stations, and garden centers.
(2) The master plan for the site shows that the negative effect of buildings with more than the maximum front yard will be offset by other buildings included in the master plan that will line the right-of- way in compliance with the maximum yard.
(3) An applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Planning Commission that more front yard parking than a single loaded bay is necessary because of the unique characteristics of the business or site.
(d) Review Standards. Before approving a front yard or front yard parking greater than the maximum, the Planning Commission shall find:
(1) That the objectives of the Pearl and Center Road Corridor Plan adopted by Ordinance 86-04 will be met, including the vision, goals and preferred characteristics in Chapter 3 of the Corridor Plan; and
(2) That the negative effects of greater building yards, including without limitation the impairment of pedestrian activity and streetscapes visually defined by a “sea of asphalt” will be outweighed by required landscaping and other required site amenities as provided below in subsection (e) hereof.
(e) Greater Yards or Parking. Where the Planning Commission approves a front yard or front yard parking exceeding the maximum, the Planning Commission shall, as part of its findings, require one or more of the following improvements to lessen the negative effects of larger front yards:
(1) Pedestrian amenities to create a physical and design linkage with the street, including, without limitation, plazas, benches, bike racks and landscaped or covered walkways.
(2) Structural elements such as walls or decorative metal fencing used to satisfy the purpose and intent of the maximum yard requirement. Such walls or fencing shall be a minimum height of 4 feet, constructed of materials similar to or harmonious with the street facades of nearby buildings, and shall have openings no wider than necessary for vehicles or pedestrians to pass through.
(3) Landscaping within adjacent parking areas equal to twice the minimum requirements in Section 1282.08(b).
(Ord. 24-08. Passed 4-28-08.)