(1) Off-street private parking should not be the dominant feature of the site. An effort should be made to soften parking through landscaping and site design and location.
(2) Any change in use from what exists at the time of the adoption of this C-3 General Commercial District shall provide additional parking area as specified in Chapter 1290.
(3) When any change of use occurs within the C-3 General Commercial District which would require an increase in parking area over that required by the previous use, additional parking equal to the difference between the two (2) requirements shall be provided.
(c) Pedestrian Connections. Sidewalks or a multi-use path, as shown on the City's adopted plan are required with each development.
(1) Sidewalks along the public road, private road, entry drive or service drive shall be a minimum of five (5) feet in width and shall require the installation of a brick soldier course on both sides of the sidewalk. If the area between the soldier course and street is less than three (3) feet, the soldier course shall be extended to the road.
(2) A pathway shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet in width, subject to the engineering and design standards of the City. The path shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet in width where it must meet AASHTO requirements.
(3) A paved walk connection shall be provided from the path or sidewalk at the street to the front entry of the building. It shall be a minimum of five (5) feet wide.
(4) 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, and include the brick soldier course as outlined above; or have a width of eight (8) feet to be consistent with the City-approved pathway plan.
(5) At any point where a pedestrian pathway or sidewalk 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.
(6) At any point where a pedestrian connection crosses a driveway, the pedestrian crosswalk shall be marked by white crosswalk striping.
(d) Landscaping. All landscaping with the exception of City-owned street trees shall be well maintained and kept alive. If necessary, the City will maintain or contract out the necessary landscaping and bill back the costs of the maintenance to the property owner including an administrative fee. Landscaping shall be as required per Section 1288.22.
(1) If applicable, street trees shall be planted every thirty (30) feet on center for each street or entrance drive longer than thirty (30) feet.
(2) Street trees shall be a combination of canopy trees and ornamental flowering trees and shall alternate in their placement.
(3) The area between the sidewalk or pathway and the road shall be planted with lawn or low growing perennial landscaping no higher than thirty (30) inches but dense enough so that it provides for consistent visual interest. Stone, hard surface, mulch and other such similar materials are not permitted in this area. A City approved corridor landscaping plan shall supersede this requirement.
(e) Screening.
(1) All shredding bins, generators, air handling units and other such similar items shall be screened through a combination of a wall, fence and landscaping. The wall shall be consistent with the materials used in the building. If a fence is used the fence shall be opaque in nature and solid wood or vinyl, colored to blend with the building. The height of the wall or fence shall be equal to the height of the object being screened, except that it shall not be greater than seven (7) feet in height. Each shall require the installation of landscaping around the perimeter of the screening. See Section 1288.30 in regards to permitted and prohibited dumpster screening.
(2) All roof top mechanical equipment shall be screened and shielded.
A. Mechanical equipment, including but not limited lo HVAC, generators, trash compactors and other such items shall be so screened and shielded as to muffle noise.
B. All screening both in terms of visual and sound, shall be consistent with the architecture of the building.
(Res. 2007-02. Passed 7-11-07; Ord. 2008-01. Passed 3-10-08.)