The following site design standards will be required for all garden apartment and/or townhouse developments:
(a) Maximum building coverage shall not exceed thirty (30) percent of the lot area.
(b) The distance between any two (2) buildings within a garden apartment or townhouse development shall be not less than twenty (20) feet.
(c) There shall be a greenbelt planting strip proposed along all side, rear and front property lines of any garden apartment or townhouse complex. The width of the landscaped planting area shall be at least twenty (20) feet. The Planning Commission may modify this requirement and instead allow a reduction in width, based on evidence presented by the property owners and/or their agents, showing that the reasonable ability to comply with the requirement does not exist by reason of limited site area or natural feature characteristics. The Planning Commission may require evergreen screening or a screenwall in its place.
(d) All garden apartment and townhouse developments shall be served with public sewer and water facilities.
(e) Subject to Planning Commission review and recommendations, a minimum of ten (10) percent of the total lot area shall be developed for recreation and park purposes.
(f) Provision shall be made for safe and efficient egress and ingress to public streets and highways serving any garden apartment or townhouse development, which shall be designed to minimize congestion and interference with traffic flow.
(g) The site shall be developed and facilities shall be provided in such a manner as to ensure adequate drainage.
(h) Lighting facilities shall be required where deemed necessary for the safety and convenience of residents and visitors. These facilities shall be arranged in such a manner as to protect abutting streets and adjacent properties from unreasonable glare or hazardous interference of any kind.
(i) Provision shall be made for serving garden apartments and townhouses by refuse collection vehicles. No incinerators are permitted. All refuse and garbage shall be screened and stored in waste disposal containers and shall meet the provisions stated in Section 1288.30.
(j) Design guidelines.
(1) Building facades are considered the public faces of buildings. All four (4) sides of the building must be addressed with consistent architecture.
(2) Natural materials, such as natural brick, stone, and wood are encouraged.
(3) Complementary design.
A. All developments and/or redevelopments should rely on neighboring architecture and not necessarily on corporate architecture to distinguish themselves while complimenting existing quality development.
B. Roof pitch, bulk and materials types shall be considered during design and/or renovation.
(4) All mechanical equipment, including roof top equipment, shall be screened from view.
A. Mechanical equipment, including but not limited to HVAC, generators, trash compactors and other such items shall be so screened and shielded in order to conform to the noise standards adopted in Section 1228.27.
B. All screening both in terms of visual and sound, shall be consistent with the architecture of the building.
(5) Accessory structures must be consistent in architecture and size and proportion with the principal building and subject to setback and lot coverage requirements.
(6) Off-street parking is required as specified in Chapter 1290, except that off-street private parking shall not be the dominant feature of the site. Parking is not permitted in the front yard. In addition, off-street parking may be public, private, or a combination of both and shall be located within three hundred (300) feet of the proposed use.
(7) Sidewalks or a multi-use path, as shown on the City's adopted plan, are required with each development.
A. Sidewalks along the public road shall be a minimum of five (5) feet in width and shall require the installation of a brick soldier course on both sides of walk. If the area between the soldier course and curb is less than three (3) feet, the soldier course shall be extended to the curb.
B. A pathway, if required, shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet in width, subject to the engineering and design standards of the City.
C. A paved walk connection shall be provided from the path or walk at the street to the front entry of the building. It shall be a minimum of five (5) feet wide.
D. If appropriate, additional sidewalk or pathway connections may be required to connect pedestrians to and from parking areas. This walk shall be five (5) feet in width.
E. At any point where a pedestrian pathway or walk crosses an entry/exit driveway, a stamped concrete or stamped bituminous crosswalk is required. The crosswalk shall also include reflective white lines outlining the stamped area. The crosswalk shall be a pattern and color approved by the City.
F. At any point where a pedestrian connection crosses a driveway, the pedestrian crosswalk shall be marked by white crosswalk striping.
(Ord. 2008-01. Passed 3-10-08.)