(a) Architectural style. Forms and finish materials of buildings, signage, gasoline pump canopies and other accessory structures shall be compatible with neighborhood character, or within the same development, through compliance with the following standards:
(1) All buildings, including gasoline pump canopies, shall utilize a consistent architectural style. Different buildings, businesses or activities in the development may be distinguished by variations within the architectural style. Architectural sign graphics used as predominant siding is not permitted.
(2) The sides and back of buildings shall be as visually attractive as the front through the design of rooflines, architectural detailing, and landscape features.
(3) Vending machines and other site accessories shall be integrated into the architectural theme.
(b) Character and image. In new buildings, and to the extent feasible, in development projects involving changes to existing building walls, facades or awnings (as applicable), entrances shall be clearly defined and recessed or framed by an element such as an awning, arcade or portico in order to provide shelter from the summer sun and winter weather.
(c) Facade elements.
(1) Minimum wall articulation. Building bays shall be a maximum of 30 feet in width. Bays shall be visually established by architectural features such as columns, ribs or pilasters, piers and fenestration pattern. In order to add architectural interest and variety and avoid the effect of a single, long or massive wall with no relation to human size, the following additional standards shall apply:
a. No wall that faces a street or connecting walkway shall have a blank, uninterrupted length exceeding 30 feet without including at least two of the following: change in plane, change in texture or masonry pattern, windows, treillage with vines, or an equivalent element that subdivides the wall into human scale proportions.
b. Side or rear walls that face walkways may include false windows and door openings defined by frames, sills and lintels, or similarly proportioned modulations of the wall, only when actual doors and windows are not feasible because of the nature of the use of the building.
c. All sides of the building shall include materials and design characteristics compatible with those on the front.
(2) Facades that face streets of connecting pedestrian frontage shall be subdivided and proportioned using features such as windows, entrances, arcades, arbors, awnings, and treillage with vines, along no less than 50 percent of the facade.
(d) Variation in massing. A single, large, dominant building mass shall be avoided in new buildings and, to the extent reasonably feasible, in development projects involving changes to the mass of existing buildings.
(1) Horizontal masses shall not exceed a height to width ratio of 1:3 without substantial variation in massing that includes a change in height and projecting and recessed elements.
(2) Changes in mass shall be related to entrances, the integral structure and/or the organization of interior spaces and activities and not merely for cosmetic effect.
(e) Building base, body, and cap. All architectural elevations of principal buildings shall consist of a base, a body, and a cap.
(1) The base shall occupy the lowest portion of the elevation, and shall have a height no less than eight percent of the average wall height.
(2) The body shall occupy the middle portion of the elevation, and shall have a height no less than 60 percent of the average wall height.
(3) The cap shall occupy the highest portion of the elevation, excluding the roof, and shall have no less than eight percent of the average wall height, not to exceed the height of the base.
(4) The cap shall consist of at least one of the following architectural features:
a. Cornice;
b. Parapet;
c. Awning;
d. Canopy; or
e. Eaves.
(5) The base and cap shall be clearly distinguishable from the body through changes in color, material, pattern, profile, or texture. A cap and base shall incorporate at least three of these design patterns.
(f) Materials. The materials used on a building facade play a large part in determining the appearance of a building. In order to ensure that a building is aesthetically pleasing, it is important to ensure that the materials and the colors used on the exterior of a building are pleasing to the eye and are compatible with the surroundings. As a general rule, the use of high quality natural building materials such a wood, brick, and native stone contribute to aesthetically pleasing facades. The following is a list of permitted materials for the building base, body, and cap:
(1) Building base. Brick, native stone, manufactured stone, or textured concrete masonry units.
(2) Building body. Wood, brick, native stone, manufactured stone, or other applied materials such as exterior insulated finish system (E.I.F.S.).
(3) Building cap. Brick, native stone, manufactured stone, textured concrete masonry units, wood, or applied materials such as exterior insulated finish system (E.I.F.S.).
(g) Facade colors. The use of low reflectance, subtle, neutral, or earth tone colors on the facade usually results in an acceptable appearance. The use of high intensity colors, metallic colors, black or fluorescent colors as the predominate facade color usually does not result in an aesthetically appealing building. Building trim and accent areas may feature brighter colors, including primary colors, but the use of neon tubing as a feature for a building is not permitted.
(1) Building base. The base shall read as a single, subdued, earth tone color.
(2) Building body. The body shall read as a single, subdued, earth tone color. A maximum of three accent colors are also permitted that are compatible with the body color.
(3) Building cap. The cap shall consist of colors that are compatible with the building body color, any accent color and to each other.
(h) Roofs. In order to reduce the massive size of large structures, flat roofs should be avoided if at all possible. The use of varied rooflines, through the utilization of parapets and/or sloped roofs, is encouraged. The roof treatment should harmonize with the neighborhood character. Building walls, parapets, and/or roof systems shall be designed to conceal all roof-mounted mechanical equipment from view to adjacent properties and public rights- of-way.
(1) Permitted roof styles shall include gable, mansard, and hip roofs. Flat roofs are permitted if disguised through the use of parapet walls.
(2) The height of any pitched roof shall not exceed the average wall height to the building.
(3) Permitted materials for pitched roofs include wood, slate, fiberglass reinforced asphalt shingles, and standing seam or terned metal.
(Code 1989, § 92.056; Ord. of 11-15-2005; Ord. of 3-3-2010; Ord. of 3-9-2010)