(a) The City hereby finds that excessive uniformity, dissimilarity, inappropriateness or poor quality design in the exterior appearance of buildings, structures and uses in zoning districts for Single Family and Two Family Districts, Multiple Dwelling Districts, Apartment House Districts, Office Building Districts, Retail Districts, Commercial Districts, Manufacturing Districts, adversely affects the desirability of the affected zone and by so doing impairs the benefits of occupancy of existing real property in such zones, impairs the stability and value of both improved and unimproved real property in such zones, prevents the most appropriate development of such zones, produces degeneration of real property in such zones with attendant deterioration of conditions affecting the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants thereof and impairs the relationship between taxable value of real property in such zones and the cost of community services provided therefore. It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to prevent these and other harmful effects in all zoning districts, in the interest of promoting the public health, safety, comfort and general welfare; to promote the public conveniences and prosperity; to concert a value of buildings, structures and real property; and to encourage the most appropriate use of land within said districts.
(b) The Planning Commission shall act as an Architectural Review Board, with the consultation of the City’s Architect for all projects proposed in any zoning district, but only in the U-1 Single-Family District and the U-2 Two-Family District when there will be any addition or new construction, or any change of exterior materials on a residence.
(c) Upon receipt of a completed application for a use and occupancy certificate, or for any permitted principal building, structure or use or any addition or structural alteration thereto, that is required to be submitted to the Planning Commission, in any zoning district, shall be referred to the Planning Commission for compliance with this chapter (unless it is in a U-1 Single-Family District or a U-2 Two-Family District and there will be no additional or new construction nor any change of exterior materials on a residence). Any building, structure or use and any addition or structural alteration thereto that is required to comply with this chapter shall, upon application to the City for zoning approval, submit a plan showing the following:
(1) The name, address, and phone number of the owner or lessee and the professional architect or engineer who prepared the plan, the plan date, north arrow, and scale. Each plan sheet shall show the seal and signature of the professional architect or engineer who prepare it.
(2) The address of the lot and parcel number.
(3) All lot lines with dimensions and total acreage.
(4) The “footprint” showing the dimensions of all buildings, structures and uses both existing and proposed.
(5) All elevations of buildings and structures at finished grade, both existing and proposed, and the location of all existing and proposed driveways and fences. All elevations shall be drawn to the same scale, which shall be not less than one-quarter of an inch to the foot, except that the front elevation may be drawn to a larger scale. Each elevation shall show the accurate location of windows, doors, shutters, chimneys, porches and other architectural features, all materials and finishes on an accurate finish grade line, and existing and finished grade elevations in first floor level at each corner of new construction and existing and finished grade elevations at each corner of the site shall be indicated.
(6) A floor plan, showing building cross sections and typical wall sections.
(7) A landscaping plan.
(8) Location and dimension of all mechanical equipment, driveways, fences, walkways, decks, patios, signage and lighting; and all accessory buildings, structures and uses, whether existing or proposed.
(9) Color samples of all major finish exterior materials.
(d) Upon review of an application following within the scope of this chapter, the Planning Commission shall consider the following architectural and landscape elements:
(1) Architectural details shall be harmonious with the building’s overall architectural style and shall preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area.
(2) Emphasis shall be given to architectural elements such as windows, balconies, porches, and doors that create a complementary pattern over them, dividing large buildings into smaller identifiable components.
(3) The mass, proportion of scale to buildings; roof shapes; roof pitch; and proportions and relationships between doors and windows should be harmonious among themselves and with those of the surrounding area.
(4) Buildings shall be integrated as much as possible within existing building locations, landscape, and topography. The building’s location shall be oriented parallel or perpendicular to the road and the front of building shall face the road.
(5) The design of buildings shall complement the general setback, roofline, roof pitch, arrangement of openings, proportion and scale of existing buildings in the surrounding area. Blank walls (without openings) shall not face any road.
(6) Public and private areas shall be defined through the use of walkways, plantings, wall, fences and other elements that are in keeping with the overall architectural design.
(7) Exterior lighting fixtures shall be in harmony with the architectural character of the building.
(8) Areas for parking, refuse disposal and storage and other accessory buildings, structures and uses shall be consistent with the character of the principal building and the surrounding area.
(9) The exterior architectural character and functional plan of the proposed structure, or use, when erected, will not be at such variance with existing structures, structures currently being built, in the immediate neighborhood as to cause substantial depreciation in the property values of such existing structures or structures currently being built.
(10) The site utilization and orientation of the proposed building, structure or use shall be reasonably integrated with existing roads, drives, vehicular traffic patterns and pedestrian walkways abutting the property upon which the proposed building, structure, use or additional alteration thereto is being considered.