(C) Administrative review. The Zoning Administrator shall review all plans in the Central Business District and provide the Downtown Development Authority the same set of plans for review and comment.
(D) Exterior design review.
(1) Intent. The exterior appearance of any building located within the Central Business District has an effect upon the desirability of the immediate area and of neighboring areas for business and other purposes. Maintenance of an attractive, compatible, and pleasing exterior appearance of such buildings will prevent impairment of the stability of the value of other real property in the area, permit the most appropriate development of the area, and will prevent attendant deterioration of conditions affecting the general welfare of the citizens of the city.
(2) Scope of application. Except for those items listed below, all plans submitted for site plan review and special use review shall be subject to design review requirements of this section. Those items exempt from these provisions are items such as window replacement, antennas, roof vents, small mechanical equipment not readily visible to the public, painting to a similar color, and items of ordinary repair and maintenance.
(3) Approval procedure. The Downtown Development Authority shall review submitted materials concurrently with site plan review by the Planning Commission. In considering approvals of site plans in the Central Business District, the Planning Commission shall review recommendations provided by the Downtown Development Authority. The Downtown Development Authority must forward a recommendation to the Planning Commission seven days prior to the Planning Commission meeting during which the site plan will be reviewed. If no recommendation is provided by the Downtown Development Authority, the Planning Commission shall complete the site plan review and approval process.
(4) Information required. The Downtown Development Authority shall receive same set of plans as being reviewed by the Planning Commission and promptly review all drawings, data, plans, and specifications in the same form as submitted to the Planning Commission.
(5) Design criteria. In the process of reviewing the submitted materials, the Downtown Development Authority shall consider:
(a) Site design.
1. The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition, between the building(s) with the streetscape to provide for adequate planting, safe pedestrian movement, and parking areas.
2. Parking areas shall be treated with decorative elements, building wall extensions, plantings, or other innovative means so as to screen parking area from view of public ways.
3. The height and scale of each building shall be compatible with its site and existing (or anticipated) adjoining buildings.
4. Newly installed utility services, and service revisions necessitated by exterior alterations, shall be underground.
(b) Building design. Architectural style, building mass, and placement shall be compliant with design guidelines of § 154.355.
(6) Approval standards. The Downtown Development Authority shall review the particular circumstance and facts applicable to each submittal in terms of preceding design criteria, and shall make a recommendation as to whether the proposal meets the following standards:
(a) The appearance, color, texture, and materials being used will preserve property values in the immediate neighborhood and will not adversely affect any property values.
(b) The building exterior will not detract from the general harmony of and is compatible with other buildings already existing in the immediate neighborhood.
(c) The appearance of the building exterior will not be garish or otherwise offensive to the sense of sight.
(d) The appearance of the building exterior will tend to minimize or prevent discordant and unsightly surroundings in the immediate neighborhood.
(E) Required conditions.
(1) Outdoor storage prohibited; exemption; personal vehicle rental or sale. Outdoor storage of goods, inventory, or equipment shall be prohibited unless a temporary use permit, to be issued by the Zoning Administrator. Approval shall be in accordance with under § 154.025. All permitted storage must be clearly accessory to the principal permitted use.
(2) Exemption. Inventory being stored, maintained, or sold as part of a business which has been granted a special use under § 154.352(B), which is part of an open air business or inventory consists entirely of personal vehicles as that term is defined herein and which personal vehicles were manufactured within the previous five years, and are for sale or rental.
(3) Definition. For the purpose of this definition, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PERSONAL VEHICLE. The term personal vehicle shall mean any automobile or light truck or van not exceeding 10,000 lbs. in gross vehicle weight (GVW) as that term is defined in the Revised Motor Vehicle Code, which vehicle is primarily designed to be used as a passenger vehicle but which may, with slight modifications (i.e., fold down seats) be used for hauling cargo.
(Ord. 96-008, passed 12-2-96; Am. Ord. 02-016, passed 8-5-02; Am. Ord. 08-004, passed 11-5-07; Am. Ord. 10-015, passed 4-12-10) Penalty, see § 154.999