The following minimum design standards shall apply to all improvements within any development plan district, except as indicated, and shall be considered in the review process by the planning staff or Plan Commission. The requirements of the underlying zoning district shall also be criteria for review. In the case of a conflict between the provisions of this section and other regulations in this chapter, the more restrictive standard shall apply, unless otherwise determined by the planning staff.
(A) District character. The proposed development shall be compatible with the design character of adjacent development in regard to scale and mass and shall promote the development goals and purpose of the zoning or overlay district in which it is located.
(B) Environmental design.
(1) It is the intention of the city to encourage the preservation of natural site amenities and to minimize the disturbance to the natural environment.
(2) Existing trees and other natural amenities shall be preserved wherever possible. The location of these features must be considered when planning common open space, building location, underground services, walks, paved areas and finished grade levels. Inquiries may be made into the means by which natural features will be protected during construction.
(3) The proposed development shall have a logical relationship to the topography of the site and adjacent property.
(4) Landscaping in the Riverwalk Overlay District shall be designed to soften the placement of buildings within the district and screen parking areas to create an overall streetscape along the Riverwalk. Landscaping standards shall be as follows:
(a) Parking areas and access drives located within 20 feet of the Riverwalk shall be screened so that vehicles are not visible from the Riverwalk. Landscape screening shall include one or more of the following treatments:
1. A 5-foot high opaque wall or fence in conjunction with shrubbery and/or trees. Fence and/or wall materials shall be compatible with facade materials used on the primary building.
2. Coniferous trees or hedges that are at least 5 feet in height.
3. An earthen berm that is at least 5 feet high in height. The earthen berm shall have vegetative ground cover.
(b) Yard areas that are adjacent to the Riverwalk shall have vegetative ground cover and include 2 or more of the following treatments:
1. Canopy trees;
2. Decorative trees;
3. Decorative bushes; and
4. Decorative fencing;.
(C) Site development.
(1) Structures shall be located to allow adequate light, air, and ease of entry and access by the general public and emergency personnel. The development shall conform to all applicable development standards and district regulations specified in this chapter.
(2) Riverwalk Overlay District structures shall be located to create an inviting, pedestrian-scaled "streetscape" along the Riverwalk (as amended per Ordinance No. 4533, dated November 8, 2000). For parcels within the Riverwalk Overlay that front Main Street, Jackson Boulevard, or Elkhart Avenue, the site should be designed to primarily address these streets. Consideration should still be given to creating an inviting atmosphere along the Riverwalk but these parcels must support an established street wall along these important corridors.
(D) Vehicular circulation systems - general. The following standards apply to all properties located within a development plan district:
(1) The number, location and dimensions of accel-decel lanes, passing blisters and entry drives, shall be evaluated on the basis of city’s Public Works and Utilities standards.
(2) All public drives shall conform to the standards established by the city’s Public Works and Utilities Department. Private drives shall conform to the standards of the city’s Zoning Ordinance.
(3) All streets, access drives and off-street parking areas shall be paved with concrete, asphalt or other approved surfacing material to adequately provide a durable and dust-free surface.
(E) Vehicular circulation systems - arterial streets. The following standards apply only to properties located on an arterial street within a development plan district:
(1) In order to reduce traffic hazards and maintain the traffic carrying capacity of the arterial streets, required access control elements may include:
(a) Cross-access agreements. The property owner enters into an easement agreement with adjacent property owner(s) and/or the city to provide cross property access allowing multiple developments to share a common entry from the arterial street. The agreement shall be in a form approved by the reviewing authority and shall be recorded.
(b) Frontage roads. The property owner grants the city an easement for the construction of a parallel frontage road to connect individual developments to a common entry from the arterial street.
(c) Temporary access drives. Where parcels adjacent to the subject property are undeveloped, a development plan may be approved with direct access to and from the arterial street provided that the property owner delivers to the city a commitment that if at any time access becomes available through a cross access easement or frontage road connected to a common entry, the property owner will close the direct access drive.
(2) The reviewing authority may require delivery of such other commitments as it may deem necessary to control site access.
(F) Vehicular circulation systems. Riverwalk Overlay District parking lots shall be designed to minimize vehicular traffic along the Riverwalk. Primary structures shall be located between the Riverwalk and access drives and parking lots. Service and access drives shall not be located adjacent to the Riverwalk.
(G) Pedestrian circulation systems. Walkways and plazas shall be constructed to provide pedestrian circulation throughout the development separate from all vehicular drives and parking areas. Where distance separation cannot be achieved, physical separation by means approved by the reviewing authority shall be required. Pavement treatment and materials should be such that they clearly differentiate pedestrian and vehicular circulation areas. Developments located in the Riverwalk Overlay District shall provide pedestrian access between the development and the Riverwalk. Materials used to construct the pedestrian circulation systems shall be complimentary to those used in the Riverwalk.
(H) Sanitary sewage disposal and water supply systems. All water supply and sanitary sewage disposal systems shall comply with the requirements of the city’s and state’s Board of Health, as applicable.
(I) Public or semi-public space. All developments including public or semi-public space must contain acceptable covenants insuring adequate maintenance of these spaces.
(1979 Code, § 151.152) (Ord. 4370, passed 7-20-1998; Am. Ord. 4533, passed 11-6-2000; Am. Ord. 5618, passed 9-11-2017) Penalty, see §
151.999