(A) (1) The purpose of the following architectural and site design standards is to evaluate proposed buildings and site improvements during site plan review to ensure that certain design and appearance standards are maintained. These standards provide a means of evaluating whether the proposed building design and site layout meet the overall intent of site plan review and this chapter.
(2) These standards shall be used to ensure all proposed buildings and site improvements meet the intent of this chapter.
(B) These standards also are intended to protect the general health, safety, welfare, and harmony of the village by ensuring that the village’s appearance, character, and historic and natural resources are preserved and respected by achieving high quality design; reducing the visual and physical dominance of the automobile; providing for pedestrian access and orientation; providing public open spaces; providing landscaping and seasonal color; and adding distinctive architectural features and roofline to the viewscapes of the village.
(1) Architectural standards in the C, CBD, O, and NOC Districts.
(a) Building form. Building mass, height, bulk, and width-to-height ratio must be similar in scale and in proportion to buildings within 500 feet for buildings in the C, CBD, O, and NOC Districts, unless existing buildings do not meet the standards of this section as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required.
1. Walls and facades. A single uninterrupted length of a building facade shall not exceed 100 feet. Recesses, off-sets, angular forms, curved or stepped walls, projecting vestibules from the plane of the wall, or other features shall be used to provide a changing and visually interesting shape. Vertical elements such as towers, cupolas, and chimneys are recommended.
2. Windows.
a. The approximate size, orientation, and spacing of windows should match that of buildings within 500 feet, unless existing buildings do not meet the standards of this section as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required. Window shapes shall be rectangular, square, or palladian (mostly rectangular with semi-circular top). Circular, octagonal, or diamond shaped windows are not permitted other than for decorative gable windows. Horizontal windows are permitted with a recommended width-to-height ratio of between one to one and four to one. Vertical windows are permitted with a maximum width-to-height ratio of one to two.
b. Windows shall be recessed and include visually obvious sills. Spaces between windows shall be formed by columns, mullions, or material found elsewhere on the facade. Clear window glass is recommended; green, blue, bronze, or smoke tints are permitted.
c. The first floor of front facades of nonresidential buildings shall include at least 30% windows, and remaining floors of front facades shall include at least 20% windows.
3. Roofline.
a. Roofline shall be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood character as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required. Pitched roof forms (gable, hip, shed) with overhanging eaves shall be used within the C, O, and NOC Districts with between four inches of vertical rise to 12 inches of horizontal run and 12 inches of vertical rise to 12 inches of horizontal run. Standing seam metal roofs may also be permitted within the C, O, and NOC Districts. Flat roofs should be used in the CBD. Mansard, mock mansard, or barrel roofs are not permitted.
b. Dormer windows are recommended. Distinctively shaped roof forms, detailed parapets, and exaggerated cornice lines shall be incorporated into roofline along building facades greater than 100 feet. Roof-top mechanical equipment must be screened by the roof form.
4. Main entrances. Main entrances shall be emphasized with larger doors and framing devises such as deep overhangs, recesses, peaked roof forms, porches, or arches.
(b) Building content. Buildings in the C, CBD, O, and NOC Districts should possess architectural variety, but must enhance the overall cohesiveness of the neighborhood’s character and appearance as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required.
1. Architectural features.
a. Building facades greater than 100 feet shall contain architectural features, details and ornaments that are consistent with predominating architectural styles found within the neighborhood such as: arches; roof cornices; contrasting bases; contrasting masonry courses, water tables, or molding; pilasters or columns; corbeling; contrasting bands or color; stone or ceramic accent tiles; colonnades; or porches. All sides of a building shall be similar in design, details, and materials to present a cohesive appearance to neighboring properties.
b. Elements such as wall clocks, decorative light fixtures, and door or window canopies are also recommended. Canopies should be of metal or canvas; vinyl canopies are not recommended. All nonresidential buildings must have interior downspout and gutter systems; exterior downspouts and gutters are not permitted for nonresidential buildings, except for those originally constructed for single-family residential purposes.
2. Entrance details. Main entrances to buildings shall incorporate devises such as canopies, overhangs, raised parapets over the door, larger door openings and display windows, accent colors, and architectural details such as tile work, moldings, and distinctive door pulls. Canopies should be of metal or canvas; vinyl canopies are not recommended.
3. Building materials. Building materials must be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood character, as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required. Building materials on the front facade or any facade visible from a public right-of-way must be primarily of natural materials conveying permanence, as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required. Each front facade, any facade visible from a public right-of-way, and any facade with a dedicated public entrance into the building should contain at least 60% of the recommended materials listed below, excluding window areas.
a. Recommended materials. Brick masonry, clear and reflective glass, stone, concrete slab (poured-in-place, tilt-up construction).
b. Acceptable materials. Split face, scored, or ground face block; beveled wood siding (lap, board and batter, shake); exterior finish insulation systems (EIFS).
c. Discouraged materials.
i. Smooth face block; vinyl siding; metal siding (standing seam panels, aluminum siding); T-111 and other wood panel siding; and
ii. Acceptable or discouraged materials, or similar synthetic or highly, reflective materials should not be used except for decorative or accent features only. Exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS) may be used for decorative or accent features, and may also be a primary facade material provided it is placed at a height of eight feet or greater and provided it is no more than 20% of the total facade area.
d. Colors. The following natural colors shall be used for the main portions of building facades and roof forms; neutral earth tones (sand to brown); shades of gray; traditional colors (e.g., brick red, forest green, navy blue); light, subdued hues (e.g., salmon); or white. Contrasting, accent colors which are compatible with the primary colors listed above are encouraged for trim, accent, and other decorative architectural features. The use of bright or fluorescent colors (e.g., purple, orange, pink, lime, yellow) is discouraged. Colors should be natural to the material or pigmented, and not painted on the material whenever possible.
(c) Historic District buildings.
1. New buildings and building renovations within the village’s historic districts must have architectural features, details, and ornaments such as arches, colonnades, cornices, or porches that are consistent with predominating architectural styles found within the district.
2. New buildings within the CBD must also contain the following elements.
a. New buildings in the CBD must be placed along the front property line with no front setback and must contain a second story if an adjacent building is built to the front property line and contains a second story. Building height, story levels, and window sizes are proportions must remain consistent with those of existing, adjacent buildings.
b. Although rear and side accessory entrances are encouraged where possible, new buildings in the CBD must contain a main front entrance fronting upon a public street.
(2) Architectural standards in other districts.
(a) Multiple-family residential developments. The architectural standards listed above in division (B)(1) for the C, CBD, O, and NOC Districts shall apply to multiple-family residential developments in the RM District.
(b) Industrial developments. Architectural standards within the M Districts shall be as follows:
1. Building materials.
a. Building materials for an attached office/main entrance portion of a building within an M District must be primarily of natural materials conveying permanence, as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required, such as: brick masonry; stone; concrete slab (poured-in-place, tilt-up construction); split face, scored, or ground face block; or clear or reflective glass. Exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS) may also be a primary facade material provided it is placed at a height of eight feet or greater. If a building within a M District does not have an attached office/main entrance portion, the above standards shall apply to the front facade of the building to a height of 12 feet.
b. The following materials, along with those listed above, may be used for all other facades of a building within an M District; smooth face block; and metal siding (standing seam panels, aluminum siding). The following materials shall not be used: beveled wood siding (lap, board and batter, shake); primarily metal exterior (such as unimproved facade material to a shipping container), vinyl siding; and T-111 and other panel siding.
2. Colors. Buildings within an M District shall comply with the standards of division (B)(1)(b)1. above regarding color.
3. Garages. At least 25% of individual garages on residential units within new residential subdivisions or planned unit developments should be side entry or recessed at least ten feet behind the front building line (living area).
4. Porches and awnings. The location, size, and types of architectural projections such as porches or awnings should be compatible with buildings within 500 feet in the same designated district as determined by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required.
(3) Signs.
(a) Signs and other site features should be designed and located on the site so that the proposed development is. aesthetically pleasing and harmonious with nearby developments. Site features such as decorative entry signs, ornamental lighting, and/or pedestrian furniture are desirable.
(b) Signs should be integrated with the architecture of the main building and should not appear to be tacked onto the building.
(c) Location, scale, and design of signs should be consistent with the character and appearance of other signs, streetscape improvements, and uses located along the same street.
(4) Open space, pedestrian circulation, and view protection.
(a) Site design should provide a pedestrian circulation system separate from that provided for vehicles and should ensure pedestrian safety.
(b) The location and design of landscaping and pedestrian areas should be compatible with and enhance the pedestrian and open space network in the area. Whenever possible, the location and design of open spaces should form a continuation of open space areas within the immediate vicinity so that open spaces are linked together in a connected system.
(c) The location, size, and use of yards should maintain the unobstructed view of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams for adjacent properties and from nearby public rights-of-way and public parks or open spaces. The placement of accessory structures in yard areas which block the view of waterways, lakes, and wetlands from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way should be avoided.
(d) Sidewalks at least five feet wide and at least seven feet wide where abutting parking should be provided along all public streets and private roads. Multiple-purpose pathways for pedestrian and bicycle use meeting the design standards of the American Society of Transportation Officials may be required along major arterial roads.
(e) Multiple-purpose pathways are intended to connect with existing or planned multiple-purpose pathways and to link residential areas to recreational facilities and commercial and institutional destinations.
(f) All developments should provide pedestrian walkways between public sidewalks and building entrances.
(f) A consistent type of ornamental lighting designed to illuminate pedestrian areas should be provided along all sidewalks.
(5) Parking and loading.
(a) The amount of parking for nonresidential uses in the CBD District required under §§ 157.145 through 157.151, “Parking and Loading”, may be reduced by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required, by up to 50% upon a finding that patrons will be able to walk to the use from nearby residential areas, patrons are parked at other uses and visiting several uses, and/or on-street parking is available.
(b) Parking lots visible from the public right-of-way should be screened from view by an evergreen hedge row or masonry wall which is consistent with other elements of the site and adjacent sites and should be at least three feet in height.
(c) Loading/unloading from secondary streets may be permitted by the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Commission, as required, rather that the required on-site loading, upon demonstration by the applicant that through traffic flow and access to neighboring uses will not be disrupted.
(d) Parking lot lighting should not be greater than 30 feet in height.
(6) Street and access design.
(a) The road system should be designed to balance the distribution of internal traffic so that no one road or access point is overburdened and relied on as the only path for a large number of vehicles. This objective should be accomplished by providing a collector road system in addition to local streets that is connected at frequent intervals to the arterial road network.
(b) Shared access or connections between adjacent uses as a means to limit conflict points and preserve capacity on adjacent roads may be required.
(c) In designing the road system, the objective should be to limit blocks to a maximum length of 600 feet.
(Ord. 259, passed 10-24-1995; Ord. 318, passed 11-17-1998; Ord. passed 2-1-2012; Ord. 459, passed 3-10-2020) Penalty, see § 157.999