(a) Purpose. The City has the following four distinctly different commercial/industrial types of development within its planning area: Downtown (B-1); Mixed Use Highway (B-2); Commercial (C); and Industrial (I). They are different in character, purpose, and mixture of uses. The design considerations vary for each type, although there are many common design elements outlined below.
(b) Standards.
(1) Connections. Commercial developments must be linked with surrounding areas by extending City streets, sidewalks, and/or paths directly into and through the development, thereby providing convenient, direct pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access to and from all sides of the development.
(2) Accessibility. Developments must be accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists as well as motorists. The emphasis must not be placed solely on parking and drive-through functions. Site plans shall equally emphasize the following:
a. Pedestrian access to the site and buildings;
b. Gathering areas for people; and
c. Auto access and parking lots.
(3) Walkways. Walkways must be located and aligned to directly and continuously connect areas or points of pedestrian origin and destination, and not be located and aligned solely based on the outline of a parking lot configuration that does not provide such direct pedestrian access.
(4) On-street parking. Streets and other elements of the site plan shall be designed so that on-street parking is a functional part of the development (except along arterial streets).
(5) Building orientation. Where possible, buildings shall be located to front on and relate primarily to streets. Building setbacks from local and collector streets should be minimized in order to establish a visually continuous, pedestrian-oriented street front. In the case of large buildings for employment, storage or auto-related uses, where greater setbacks are needed, a minimum of thirty (30%) percent of the building shall be brought to the setback line. If a minimized setback is not maintained, the larger setback area shall have landscaping, low walls or fencing, a tree canopy and/or other site improvements along the sidewalk designed for pedestrian interest, scale and comfort.
(c) Industrial/business park architectural standards.
(1) Purpose. State Highway 149 provides the opportunity to localize industrial/business park development, as well as highway commercial. The following standards shall apply.
(2) Building massing and form.
a. Office and entry spaces shall be distinguished from the building mass.
b. Large, square, "box-like" structures are not an acceptable form. Architectural elements with smaller forms stepping outwards and down shall be included.
c. Loading areas shall not front any street or public right-of-way if at all possible.
d. Parking requirements shall be provided to the extent possible at the rear or sides of the building.
(3) Siting structures.
a. Structures shall be sited to avoid a "wall" affect along public rights-of-way and along adjacent property lines. This can be achieved by varying the building setbacks and clustering buildings.
b. Where multiple buildings are proposed on a development parcel, buildings shall be oriented to allow views into the project and shall preserve high quality views through the project (e.g. views of the mountains).
(Ord. 395 §3, 2016)