(A) Purpose. The purpose of these standards is to promote attractive, well-designed development that is built to human scale; to promote and protect the appearance, character, and economic value of new development; to encourage creativity in new development (as opposed to homogeneity or “look-alike” projects); and to foster attractive streetscapes and pedestrian environments, while accommodating safe vehicular movements and access.
(B) Applicability. These standards shall apply to all developments that are subject to site plan review (see § 153.046).
(C) Architectural design guidelines. The intent of the architectural design guidelines is to ensure respect for the character, integrity, and quality of the built and natural environments of the town; it is not intended to stifle innovative architecture. The following criteria shall be used in evaluating applications:
(1) General design.
(a) Single, large building masses shall be avoided. Structures with walls of more than 1,500 square feet shall incorporate fascias, canopies, arcades, building setbacks of three feet or more, or other multi-dimensional design features to break up large wall surfaces on their street-facing elevations. Wall structures shall be visually divided by such features into areas of 750 square feet or less.
(b) All elevations of a structure shall be in harmony, one with another, in terms of scale, proportion, detail, material, color, and high design quality.
(c) The side and rear elevations of buildings shall be as visually attractive as the front elevation, especially where those side or rear elevations are most often viewed by the public. Rooflines and architectural detailing shall present a consistency in quality design.
(d) All structures within a proposed development, including gasoline canopies, shall utilize a uniform architectural theme and shall be designed to create a harmonious whole. It is not to be inferred that buildings must look alike to achieve a harmony of style. Harmony of style can be created through property considerations of scale, proportion, detail, materials, color, site planning, and landscaping.
(e) The scale of buildings and accessory structures, including canopies, shall be appropriate to the scale of structures located in the surrounding area. Canopies designed as domineering or overpowering architectural features are strongly discouraged.
(f) Long, monotonous facade design, including, but not limited to, those characterized by unrelieved repetition of shape or form or by unbroken extension of line, shall not be permitted.
(g) The architectural design and material finish of buildings, signage, gasoline pump canopies, and other necessary structures shall be compatible with one another and with adjacent and surrounding structures where such structures are substantially in compliance with these requirements.
(h) Structures which are of symbolic design for reasons of advertising shall not be permitted. A symbol or symbols attached to a building shall not be allowed unless it is secondary in appearance to the structure and landscape and is an aesthetic asset to the building and surrounding area.
(i) The location and dimension of wall signs shall be indicated upon the architectural elevations of proposed structures and shall maintain compatibility with the architectural features of the structure.
(2) Building materials.
(a) Concrete finishes or pre-cast concrete panels (tilt wall) that are not exposed aggregate, hammered, sandblasted, or covered with a cement-based acrylic coating shall be prohibited as an exterior building material along any building elevation visible from public rights-of-way.
(b) Unpainted or bare metal panels, regardless of depth or thickness, shall be prohibited as an exterior building material.
(c) Corrugated of sheet metal, except stainless steel, copper, or galvanized metal shall be prohibited as an exterior building material along any building elevation visible from public rights-of-way.
(d) Mirrored glass with a reflectance greater than 40% shall be prohibited from covering more than 40% of the exterior walls of any building.
(e) Materials shall express their function clearly and honestly and shall not appear as materials which are foreign to the character of the rest of the building.
(f) Any building exterior elevation shall consist of architectural materials which are equal in quality, appearance, and detail to all other exterior elevations of the same structure. Nothing in this section shall preclude the use of different materials on different exterior elevations of the same structure so long as those materials maintain the architectural unity and integrity of the entire structure.
(g) Shingles, metal standing seam, tile, or other roofing materials with similar appropriate texture and appearance shall be utilized. Flat roofs will not be discouraged where they are appropriate to the design theme of a structure.
(3) Building color.
(a) Color shades shall be used to unify the development.
(b) Color combinations of paints shall be complimentary. In no case shall garish colors be permitted. In general, no more than three different colors per building shall be allowed.
(4) Multiple building developments. Each individual building within a development shall feature predominant characteristics including, but not limited to, consistent rooflines, use of compatible proportions in building mass and outdoor spaced, complementary relationships to the street, similar window and door patterns, and the use of complimentary building materials in terms of color, shades, and textures. Monotony of identically designed multiple building projects shall be avoided. Variation of detail, form, and siting shall be used to provide visual interest. The use of different textures, shadow lines, and contrasting shapes may also be used to provide visual interest.
(5) Building orientation.
(a) Facades and entries. To the maximum extent feasible, primary facades and entries should face the adjacent street or a connecting walkway with a direct pedestrian connection to the street without requiring pedestrians to walk through parking lots or cross driveways.
(b) Views. Where it is reasonably practical, proposed structures shall not impede scenic rural views from the main road, from existing structures, or from natural settings.
(c) Loading areas. Structures shall be oriented so that loading areas are in no manner visible from residential districts, from existing rights-of-way, or from planned future public rights-of-way. Loading areas may be oriented toward adjoining developed properties which are commercially zoned or toward adjoining properties eligible for future commercial development if and only if they are entirely screened from view by the use of fencing which is compatible with the overall architectural scheme of the project and/or are appropriately landscaped.
(d) Corners. All corner developments shall have buildings located close to the corner with majority of parking to the side and rear.
(e) Siting. All buildings shall be sited so that a direct relationship with the primary street is established. The architecture, landscaping, and building siting must work in concert to create a unified appearance.
(f) Gas stations. Buildings shall be sited so that gasoline pump dispensers are located to the side of the building or located behind the buildings so that the building is between the pumps and the primary street frontage. If located on a corner lot, the building would have to be situated in the corner of the lot at the intersection.
(6) Mechanical equipment and trash receptacle screening. Locations of all mechanical equipment and dumpsters shall be shown on all site plans. All mechanical equipment and trash receptacles shall be shielded and screened from public view, Mechanical equipment shall be shielded with walls, fencing, or landscaping that screens the equipment entirely. Dumpsters shall be screened with a minimum six-foot opaque fence or wall on all four sides and located toward the side or rear of the principal structure.
(7) Drive-through services. All order boxes, menu stands, pickup windows, service/teller windows, and required vehicle stacking associated with drive-through services shall be located to the side or rear of buildings. For the purpose of this section, the SIDE OR REAR shall mean the area behind a projected line running parallel from the front (street facing) side(s) of the structure to the side property lines. This concept is depicted in the graphic below:
(D) Landscaping design guidelines. The purpose and intent of landscaping design guidelines is to reduce the visibility of paved areas from adjacent properties and streets, moderate climatic effects, minimize noise and glare, and enhance public safety by defining spaces to influence traffic movement. Landscaping will reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and provide transition between neighboring properties. The following criteria shall be used in evaluating applications:
(1) General design.
(a) Landscaping shall be required between buildings and sidewalks and parking lots and driveways. The scale of the proposed landscaping shall be in proportion to the building.
(b) Landscaping does not only include trees and plantings but also paving, benches, fountains, exterior lighting fixtures, fences, and any other item of exterior furniture. All items of the landscape are to be selected not only for their functional value but for their aesthetic value and must compliment the whole.
(c) All utility lines in the suburban areas such as electric, telephone, CATV, or other similar lines serving individual sites, as well as all utility lines necessary within the property, shall be placed underground. All junction and access boxes shall be screened with appropriate landscaping. All utility pad fixtures and meters should be shown on the site plan. The necessity for utility connections, meter boxes, and the like should be recognized and integrated with the architectural elements of the site plan. All properties shall comply with the town’s right-of-way management ordinance where applicable.
(d) Ease of pedestrian access between proposed developments and adjacent developments shall be a required consideration in the development of a proposed project’s site and circulation plans.
(2) Parking; drives.
(a) Parking areas and driveways shall be paved with material which is appropriate to the comprehensive design scheme of the project and to the intensity of use to which parking areas and driveways will be subject.
(b) Buildings shall be sited so that the majority of parking is located to the side and rear of the building. The placement of the major portion of a proposed development’s parking area to the rear of a main structure’s corridor facade or within a courtyard surrounded on three sides by a proposed structure is strongly encouraged. The rationale for this guideline is to promote good proportional spatial definition for the corridors to be accomplished through a reduction in the distance required for a building’s setback.
(c) Drive-through access shall be integrally designed with the building and not dominate the design. Only single lane drive-throughs are allowed. Multi-lane drive-throughs are only allowed for banks (or similar financial institutions), post office, or utilities.
(3) Site lighting. Site lighting shall be from a concealed light source fixture and shall not interfere with the vision of vehicular traffic. A lighting plan with photo-metrics shall be stamped and signed by a registered professional engineer and comply with the following criteria:
(a) Maximum average foot-candles shall not exceed five foot candles as depicted on photometric plans with a maximum not to exceed 12 foot candles close to light sources. Maximum foot candles under gasoline canopies and outdoor sales lots shall not exceed 30 foot candles.
(b) All exterior lights shall be arranged and installed so that the direct of reflected illumination does not exceed 0.5 foot candles above the background measured at the lot line of any adjoining residential or agricultural parcel and public right-of-way.
(c) Lighting shall enhance the overall aesthetics of the site.
(d) Security lighting shall be provided, particularly at pedestrian walkways.
(e) Lighting shall be integrated with the architectural design of the buildings.
(f) Light sources (light bulbs) shall not be visible. They shall be shielded to reflect down onto the ground and not out onto the streets or neighboring property.
(Ord. 2012-06, § 9.6, passed 10-18-2012; Ord. 2013-07, passed 10-17-2013)