(A) Purpose and intent.
(1) The purpose of this section is to establish minimum standards for exterior architecture of commercial, office, industrial, and warehouse buildings to ensure high quality of development, redevelopment and compatibility and evolving architectural or planning themes that contribute to a city image of quality, visual aesthetics, permanence, and stability which are in the best interest of the citizens of the city. These standards are intended to prevent use of materials that are unsightly, rapidly deteriorate, contribute to depreciation of area property values, or cause urban blight.
(2) These standards are further intended to ensure coordinated design of building exteriors, additions, and accessory structure exteriors in order to prevent visual disharmony; minimize adverse impacts on adjacent properties from buildings which are or may become unsightly; and buildings that detract from the character and appearance of the area. It is not the intent of this section to unduly restrict design freedom when reviewing and approving project architecture in relationship to the proposed land use, site characteristics, and interior building layout.
(Prior Code, Ch. 300 § 701.01)
(B) General requirements. This section shall apply to all commercial, office, and industrial buildings, additions, exterior remodeling, and accessory structures.
(Prior Code, Ch. 300 § 701.02)
(C) Minimum submission requirements. The applicant shall submit the following:
(1) Elevations and dimensions of all sides of existing and proposed buildings, including roof mechanical equipment, vents, chimneys, or other projecting items above the roof line;
(2) Elevations and dimensions of all existing or proposed solid waste and recycling containment areas;
(3) Detailed exterior descriptions, including type and color of all exterior building materials, exterior lighting, mechanical screening material, fencing, metal flashing, and the like;
(4) In order to aid in evaluating the exterior design, the applicant shall submit a schematic floor plan;
(5) Heating, air conditioning and ventilating and electrical equipment heights, locations, and screening materials;
(6) Colored renderings, exterior building, and finish materials samples and color palettes;
(8) Other information as required.
(Prior Code, Ch. 300 § 701.03)
(D) Exterior design standards. Exterior surface materials of buildings shall be subject to the following:
(1) For the purpose of this division (D)(1), materials shall be divided into Group 1 and Group 2 as follows:
Group 1
|
Group 1
| |
(a) | Brick |
(b) | Natural stone |
(c) | Glass |
(d) | Copper panels |
(e) | Other comparable or superior materials |
Group 2
| |
(a) | Specialty concrete block such as textured, burnished block, or rock-faced block |
(b) | Architecturally pre-cast textured concrete panels |
(c) | Masonry stucco |
(d) | Exterior finish installation system (EFIS) |
(e) | Opaque nonmetal panels |
(f) | Wood |
(g) | Other comparable or superior materials |
(2) Commercial buildings shall have materials comprising their exterior as follows:
(a) Group 1 materials must be used on a minimum of 50% of the building front exterior elevation.
(b) Group 2 materials may be used on the remaining exterior but may not exceed 50% of the building front.
(3) Garage doors, window trim, flashing accent items, and the like shall not constitute required materials that make up the exterior of a building.
(4) Garage doors shall not face the building front exterior elevation.
(5) Gasoline canopies and other accessory structures shall be constructed of the same materials and colors as the adjacent primary structure.
(6) Gasoline canopies shall not exceed 26 feet in height.
(7) Pre-fabricated steel structures shall not be allowed.
(8) Parking lots shall be required to have concrete curbs.
(9) As viewed from ground levels at all sides of the building, all mechanical equipment located on the roof or around the perimeter of a structure shall be screened by a raised parapet or with comparable and compatible exterior building materials.
(a) A raised parapet or other architectural feature that is an integral part(s) of the building may be required as screening for rooftop mechanical equipment or to soften rooftop views.
(b) Screening for rooftop mechanical equipment shall incorporate similar architectural features of the building and/or be constructed of materials and colors that are compatible with other elements of the building.
(c) Metal cabinets used to enclose and protect rooftop mechanical equipment shall not substitute as screening.
(10) Exposed roof materials shall be similar to or an architectural equivalent of a 300-pound or better asphalt or fiberglass shingle, wooden shingle, standing seam metal roof or better.
(11) Brick or stone exteriors shall not be painted during the life of the exterior materials.
(12) Equipment used for mechanical, processing, bulk storage tanks, or equipment used for suppressing noise, odors, and the like that protrudes from a side of a building or is located on the ground adjacent to a building shall be screened from public view as much as practical with materials matching the design of the building. Where miscellaneous exterior equipment cannot be fully screened with matching building materials, landscaping may be used as additional screening.
(Prior Code, Ch. 300 §§ 701.04, 701.05) (Ord. 7495, passed 5-15-2001)