(a) Architectural Character.
(1) Shopping Centers. The architectural design of buildings within a development, including freestanding outparcel structures, shall be organized around a consistent architectural theme in terms of the architectural style, materials, texture, color, and scale of buildings. Themed restaurants, retail chains, and other franchise-style structures should adjust some aspects of their standard architectural model to be consistent with the development’s architectural theme.
(2) Individual Business or Franchise. Building design that is based on a standardized formula associated with a business or franchise shall be modified if necessary, to meet the provisions of this Chapter.
(3) Multi-Sided Architecture. Although the front facade of a building is expected to be the focal point in terms of the level of architectural character and features, all sides of buildings shall incorporate architectural detailing on all facades that is consistent with the front facade.
(4) Infill Development. All new development or redevelopment shall be compatible with the established architectural character of the surrounding area utilizing a building design and style that is complementary to the surrounding uses and structures. Compatibility may be achieved through the repetition of similar rooflines, similar proportions in relation to height, size, scale and mass, similar door and window patterns, building materials and color, and building orientation.
Figure 1151.06-1 Illustration of Inappropriate (Top).
and Appropriate (Bottom) Infill Development
(b) Building Transparency for Retail and Commercial Development. Building transparency provided by storefront windows, entrances, and other openings is a key element to establish a pedestrian-oriented context, and should be provided by retail and commercial development in the following amounts:
(1) Strip shopping centers or other multi-tenant commercial buildings should dedicate a minimum of forty percent (40%) of the length of the front facade, of each tenant space, to windows or transparent entrances.
(2) Buildings or tenant spaces that occupy 10,000 square feet or more of gross floor area should dedicate a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the length of the front facade to windows or transparent entrances.
(3) Outparcel structures should dedicate a minimum of thirty-five (35%) of the length of the front facade to windows or transparent entrances.
(4) Offices and other noncommercial structures should dedicate a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the length of the front facade to windows or transparent entrances.
(5) Clear glass shall be used for commercial storefront display windows and doors.
(c) Facade Massing.
(1) Offset Required. Front facades sixty (60) feet wide or wider shall incorporate wall offsets of at least two (2) feet in depth (projections or recesses) a minimum of every forty (40) feet. Each required offset shall have a minimum width of twenty (20) feet.
Figure 1151.06-2 Facade offsets for Nonresidential Structures
(2) Offset Alternatives. The following alternatives can be used in place of the required front facade offsets:
A. Pilasters having a minimum depth of one (1) foot, a minimum width of one (1) foot, and a minimum height of eighty percent (80%) of the facade’
B. Roofline changes when coupled with correspondingly aligned facade material changes.
Figure 1151.06-3 Illustration of How the Facade
Offset Provisions may be Applied
(d) Roof Line Changes.
(1) Roofline changes shall include changes in roof planes or changes in the top of a parapet wall, such as extending the top of pilasters above the top of the parapet wall.
(2) When roofline changes are included on a facade that incorporates wall offsets or material or color changes, roof line changes shall be vertically aligned with the corresponding wall offset or material or color changes.
Figure 1151.06-4 Illustration of Roof Line Changes
(e) Building Design and Mass. All architectural elevations of principal buildings shall consist of a base, a body, and a cap.
(1) The base shall occupy the lowest portion of the elevation.
(2) The body shall occupy the middle portion of the elevation.
(3) The cap shall occupy the highest portion of the elevation and shall consist of at least one of the following architectural features: a cornice, parapet, awning, canopy, or eaves.
(4) The base and cap shall be clearly distinguishable from the body through changes in color, material, pattern, profile, or texture.
Figure 1151.06-5 Illustration Showing a Building Base and Cap
(f) Roofs.
(1) Roof Types. All roof types are permitted. When flat roofs are used a parapet wall having a three-dimensional cornice treatment shall conceal them.
(2) Roofs Materials. Where any non-architectural roofing materials (e.g., tar and paper) are utilized, such roofing shall be concealed with parapet walls that have 3-dimensional cornice treatments or similar screening methods.
(3) Screening Rooftop Mounted Equipment. Roof-based mechanical equipment shall be screened from view of adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. The method of screening may include a parapet wall having a three-dimensional cornice treatment.
Figure 1151.06-6 Examples of How to Screen Roof
Mounted Mechanical Equipment
(g) Customer Entrances. Buildings with a total gross square footage of 10,000 square feet or more shall have clearly defined, highly visible customer entrances that include no less than three (3) of the following design features.
(1) Canopies/porticos above the entrance;
(2) Roof overhangs above the entrance;
(3) Entry recesses/projections;
(4) Arcades that are physically integrated with the entrance;
(5) Raised corniced parapets above the entrance;
(6) Gabled roof forms or arches above the entrance;
(7) Outdoor plaza adjacent to the entrance having seating and a minimum depth of twenty (20) feet;
(8) Display windows that are directly adjacent to the entrance;
(9) Architectural details, such as tile work and moldings, that are integrated into the building structure and design and are above and/or directly adjacent to the entrance, or;
(10) Integral planters or wing walls that incorporate landscape or seating areas. A wing wall is a wall secondary in scale projecting from a primary wall and not having a roof.
(Ord. 2020-4053. Passed 1-7-21.)