(A) Landscaping. Landscapes shall be preserved in their natural state insofar as practicable, by minimizing tree and soil removal and grading. Any grade changes shall maintain continuity with the general appearance of neighboring developed areas or shall maintain continuity with the natural features immediately adjacent to the site. The orientation of individual buildings shall maintain maximum natural topography and ground cover patterns. Topography, tree growth and natural drainage shall be treated as fixed determinants for the location of roads, driveways, yards, structures and lots rather than being treated as elements which can be changed to accommodate a preferred or desired development scheme. Landscaping shall unify and organize different site elements, creating visual continuity.
(B) Streets. Streets shall be designed and located in such a manner as to maintain and preserve natural topography, ground cover, significant landmarks and trees; to minimize the need to cut and fill; and to preserve and enhance views on or off of the subject parcel.
(1) Streets shall conform to the existing terrain and shall follow land contours as closely as possible. Although some streets may therefore be laid out in a curvilinear manner, they shall be interconnected as much as practicable. In flatter areas, a more historic, rectilinear grid pattern is preferred. Access from a primary road to the site shall be adequate, and shall have the capacity to handle the traffic generated by the proposed project. Culs-de-sac shall be avoided.
(2) Street and traffic (as well as sidewalk) patterns shall promote pedestrian traffic so that it is more convenient and pleasant to walk the short distances within the village than to drive. Drive-through windows or facilities do not promote pedestrian traffic in any way and shall not be permitted within the village.
(C) Development. Proposed development shall be related harmoniously to the terrain and to the use, scale and architecture of existing buildings in the vicinity that have functional or visual relationship to the proposed buildings. Proposed buildings shall relate to their surroundings in an appropriate fashion.
(1) Compatibility. New construction throughout the village shall be compatible with surrounding properties, in terms of formal characteristics such as height, massing, roof shapes and window proportions and locations. When new construction is surrounded by existing historic buildings, building characteristics, including building materials, shall be harmonious with those of adjacent properties. COMPATIBLE does not imply identical, but instead suggests that the element is not so different as to cause a visual disruption to the streetscape. A HISTORIC BUILDING is any building over 50 years old.
(2) Height and massing. These elements are governed primarily by the height and setback requirements found within individual districts, however, attention shall be paid to the individual mass of a particular building on the street where it will be or is located. The size and configuration of a building shall be harmonious with that of other buildings within the immediate vicinity. New buildings shall generally follow contemporary design approaches but shall respect and reflect the traditional scale, proportions, rhythms and mood of existing traditional structures. These values shall be interpreted strongly into contemporary building design, but without resorting to the use of imitation historic building details. Building design shall be consistent within the unit, and the “patch-working” of historically unrelated style elements is generally prohibited. Buildings shall be oriented fronting the street and/or the location of the frontage of the lot unless another design principle necessitates otherwise in the opinion of the Commission. The minimum building spacing requirement is intended to prevent the construction of long, narrow buildings and provide privacy, light and air within dwelling units; where window locations along a wall are such to provide adequate privacy, light and air within the building, the spacing between buildings may be reduced and narrower lots may be permitted.
(3) Roofs. There shall be no maximum or minimum roof pitch required or any absolute prohibition of particular types, colors and textures of roof materials; provided, however, that the pitch and materials shall be in keeping with the architectural style of the structure. Notwithstanding this general rule, structures within a PUD shall have a roof pitch of no less than eight-twelfths.
(4) Windows. Vertical height of windows shall be harmonious, to the extent practical, with those of other buildings in the vicinity. The height to width ratio of windows, generally, shall not be less than one and one-eighth to one. Double-hung and casement windows are favored over sliding, fixed or “awning” windows. Windows shall be framed on the exterior with casing boards and shall be rationally ordered both vertically and horizontally so that the building facades shall be visually well balanced. In most cases, windows shall be located singly rather than in groups, depending upon the traditional patterns established by buildings in the vicinity.
(5) Building materials. Wooden clapboard, board and batten, cement board (e.g., Hardie plank) or artificial (vinyl/aluminum) clapboard siding is allowed, provided that such siding has a non-reflective, matte finish. “T-111” artificial board and batten style siding, asphalt siding of any style, plywood siding and metal siding (other than aluminum, see above) are prohibited. Shake shingle siding is permissible if it is straight cut, not randomly cut. Brick shall be of a color, size and texture that is typical of older buildings; masonry joints shall be as thin as possible. Non-masonry artificial brick siding and non-masonry artificial stone siding are prohibited. While smooth-faced cement blocks are prohibited for exterior walls, split-face block is permitted.
(6) Driveway. A setback of five feet from the property boundary shall be required for all driveways.
(D) Open space. All open space shall be designed to complement the visual amenities of the area by maximizing its visibility for persons passing through or by the site or overlooking it from nearby properties.
(E) Signs and other structures. The color, size, height, lighting and landscaping of signs and structures on the site shall be evaluated for compatibility with the local architecture and maintenance of views of natural landscaping, historic buildings and parks. The evaluation shall review proposed developments, including signs, in view of their compliance with design guidelines included in this chapter.
(F) Historical preference. The removal or disruption of historic, traditional or significant uses, structures or architectural elements shall be minimized insofar as practicable, whether these exist on the site or on adjacent properties.
(Ord. 1999-03, passed 3- -1999; Ord. 2013-04, passed 2-4-2013; Ord. 2014-07, passed 11-3-2014)