(A) Arcades, awnings and canopies. In order to promote the appropriate use of arcades, awnings and canopies, the following standards shall apply to all arcades, awnings and canopies on all buildings, unless otherwise noted.
(1) Awnings and canopies, where provided, shall be placed at the top of window and door openings and shall relate to the shape of the top of the window or doorway.
(2) Awnings and canopies shall be made of canvas or similar material. Vinyl or metal awnings shall not be used unless they are constructed and designed to successfully mimic the style and appearance of canvas awnings or unless they are constructed of copper and designed as accent pieces for windows or doors.
(3) No awning on any commercial building which encroaches on a sidewalk or pedestrian walkway shall extend out from the building more than 2/3 the width of the sidewalk nor shall it at any point be less than 8 feet above the sidewalk.
(4) Awnings and canopies shall be self-supporting from the wall; no supports shall rest on or interfere with the use of pedestrian walkways or streets.
(5) In no case shall any awning, canopy or arcade extend beyond the street curb or interfere with trees or public utilities.
(6) Where provided, arcades shall be designed as an integral part of the building and as so shall relate in design, placement, material, color and scale to the building façade.
(B) Building orientation and presentation. In order to have buildings that successfully address public streets and public places, the following standards shall apply to all buildings, unless otherwise noted.
(1) Building façades should be substantially parallel to the front property line along the east side of North Carolina 12 except that corner buildings may be oriented to address the corner, and buildings interior to a development site may be arranged to front a common courtyard, parking area, driveway or private street and provide for safe and efficient pedestrian access.
(2) Buildings should be oriented to preserve views to the maximum extent possible, particularly along the sound. Narrow deep buildings are encouraged along the sound front.
(3) Appearance of large structures is mitigated when set further from NC 12. Small structures are traditionally close to the highway.
(4) Any side of a commercial building that is not intended to serve the public shall be screened from public view and the view of adjacent properties to the extent that all loading, storage, solid waste, maintenance equipment (brooms, mops, buckets and the like) and similar items are not visible to the public.
(C) Exterior materials. In order to have buildings clad with a type, texture and color of material that relates to natural material elements found in the Town of Duck, the following standards shall apply to all building exteriors, unless otherwise noted.
(1) Additions and new construction shall use facing materials that are compatible in quality, color, texture, finish and dimension to those common in the village commercial area.
(2) Under no circumstances shall metal siding be used on any structure. This does not prohibit the use of durable metal accent pieces or columns on surfaces when they are made to mimic traditional detailing (cornices, trim pieces, moldings and the like).
(3) Large modular materials shall be avoided or used only as accent pieces on street fronting façades.
(4) Paint colors shall be of low reflectance, subtle, neutral or earth tone colors or shall relate to natural material colors found within the town generally. Contrasting colors of brighter hues, including pastels, may be used to accent architectural details and entrances.
(5) Roof and exterior wall colors shall be low-reflecting.
(D) Façades, windows and roofs. In order to have well designed façades that add to the town’s architectural inventory and that provide visual interest to the pedestrian, the following standards shall apply to all façades, windows and roofs.
(1) Retail activities within buildings shall be oriented toward pedestrian ways and have direct access from sidewalks, decks or paths through storefront entrances.
(2) No publicly accessed building front shall remain unbroken (unpierced) by a window, architectural element, entrance or functional general access doorway for more than 50 feet.
(3) Building entrances shall be emphasized using design (massing), architectural features and changes in the roofline.
(4) No less than 50% of the horizontal distance of any building front shall be designed with arcades, windows, entrances, awnings, architectural elements including but not limited to pilasters, wall control joints, building appendages, screen walls or changes in parapet wall heights.
(5) Buildings with uses serving the public shall have recessed or covered doorways at each building front to shelter customers from the weather.
(6) Remodeling of existing buildings shall maintain the prevalent pattern and spacing of the windows and doorways, or be modified to appropriately address current commercial design standards.
(7) Windows on the street level front of commercial buildings shall constitute at least 20% and not more than 50% of the front façade.
(8) Display windows on commercial buildings shall be clear, transparent glass and shall not be lower than 12 inches above the sidewalk (including the lintel). For display windows that are heavily exposed to the sun, glass materials may be used that appropriately balance transparent views and sun protection.
(9) Frames and sashes for windows shall be of wood, vinyl or pre-finished metal and may have stone, brick or cast concrete lintels and sills.
(10) Architectural embellishments that add visual interest to a façade or roof such as dormers, chimneys, cupolas, watch and clock towers, shutters and other similar elements are encouraged.
(E) Size, scale and compatibility of design. In order to promote compatibility of design within the built environment while encouraging creativity and variety, the following standards shall apply to all buildings, unless otherwise noted.
(1) Building or store entrances serving the public shall occur at least once every 100 feet along a building façade.
(2) Wall articulations (or breaks in the façade or roofline) shall be designed not less than every 100 feet along the building façade.
(Ord. 04-21, passed 10-6-2004, § 42.2.2)