(A) Buildings with one primary entry. For buildings with one primary entrance that provides interior access to multiple individual dwelling units or non-residential tenant spaces, the primary building entrance must face the street. See Figure 312-1.
(B) Multiple independent entries. On lots where units/tenant spaces have independent entrances, all ground floor units/tenant spaces with street frontage must have an entrance that faces the street. If any wall of a ground floor units/tenant space faces the street, the units/tenant space must comply with this requirement. For units/tenant spaces that do not front the street, entrances may face the interior of the lot. See Figure 312-2.
Figure 312-1: Building Entry Orientation - Single Primary Entry
Figure 312-2: Building Entry Orientation - Multiple Primary Entries
(C) Entrance design.
(1) Residential projects. A street-facing primary entrance to residential buildings must feature a porch, covered entry or recessed entry clearly visible from the street to give the entrance prominence. Entrances must be connected to the adjacent sidewalk with a pedestrian walkway. Recessed entries must feature design elements that call attention to the entrance such as ridged canopies, contrasting materials, crown molding, decorative trim or a 45-degree cut away entry. This standard does not apply to secondary or service entrances.
(2) Non-residential projects. Primary entrances to non-residential and mixed-use buildings must be emphasized and clearly recognizable from the street. Methods to achieve this result include:
(a) Projecting non-fabric awnings or canopies above an entry (covered entry);
(b) Taller building mass above an entry, such as a tower that protrudes from the rest of the building surface;
(c)
Special corner building treatments, such as rounded or angled facets on the corner, or an embedded corner tower, above the entry;
(d) Special architectural elements, such as columns, porticos, overhanging roofs and ornamental light fixtures;
(e) Projecting entries or projecting bays in the facade;
(f) Recessed entries or recessed bays in the facade; and
(g) Changes in roofline or articulation in the surface of the subject wall.
(D) Exceptions.
(1) Where a building or ground floor unit/tenant space has frontage on two streets (e.g., on a corner), only one of the two sides must have an entrance.
(2) The Director may allow an exception to the building entry requirement in this section with an administrative adjustment.
(3) To approve the administrative adjustment, the Director must make the findings in § 155.412.030(F) (Findings for Approval) and find that:
(a) The street-facing building wall incorporates architectural features and design details beyond the minimum requirements in § 155.312.050 (Architectural Features); and
(b) The exception allows for a clearly superior project to that which can be achieved while complying with the building entry requirement.
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 902 C.-S., passed 8-18-20; Am. Ord. 916-C.S., passed 7-6-21; Am. Ord. 938-C.S., passed 11-1-22)