(a) Intent and Purpose. These guidelines are designed with the goal of attracting more investment in the Design Review District of Louisville and maintain commerce as well as promote civic, cultural and historic elements of our community. They are also intended to preserve property values, protect existing investment in the district, improve the quality of changes, protect significant architectural characteristics, support better design continuity and landscaping, deter incompatible alterations or construction, encourage more harmonious appearance of building exteriors, promote generally better signage and improve the quality of the environment. These guidelines reflect that over time many buildings may have lost some of their original architectural attributes to disrepair and renovations. The design standards set forth in this document are an attempt to preserve and promote this unique commercial corridor for the future.
It is the City of Louisville’s desire to place conditions upon exterior repair, renovation and demolition, as well as new construction, based upon a set of standards designed to maintain the integrity of the district. In order to maintain uniformity and the unique local character of this designated area, the City of Louisville shall require approval and permits for exterior renovations, additions, demolition and construction within the Design Review District.
(b) Geographic Area. A drawing of the geographic area of the Design Review District is attached as “Exhibit A”.
(c) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
“Alteration”, as opposed to “ordinary repairs and maintenance” as defined herein, means any change in the external architectural features of any structure or building, visible from a public way or from adjoining property.
“Board” for purposes of this chapter means the Design Review Board.
“Certificate of appropriateness” means the official document issued by the Design Review Board and/or Administrator approving and/or concurring in any application for a permit for construction, erection, alteration, removal, moving or demolition of any building, other structure or other physical elements in the Design Review District and determining that such project complies with the provisions of this Unified Development Ordinance.
“Design District” means a geographic area within which structures shall be subject to regulation in conformance with the provisions of this chapter, the boundaries of which are described in this chapter and as depicted on the adopted Design Review District Map.
“Exterior architectural feature” means the architectural style and general arrangement of the exterior of a structure, including the type and texture of building materials, all windows, doors, lights, signs and other fixtures appurtenant thereto.
“Historic Preservation District” is a group of buildings, properties or sites that have been officially designated as historically or architecturally significant.
“Old Downtown Commercial District” is designated as East Main Street bounded by Chapel Street and Mill Street.
“Ordinary repairs and maintenance” means any replacement of any part of a structure where the purpose and effect of such work or replacement is to correct any deterioration or decay of or damage to such structure or any part thereof and to restore damage to such structure or any part thereof and to restore same, as nearly as may be practicable, to its condition prior to the occurrence of such deterioration, decay or damage.
(d) Design Criteria.
(1) New Construction. These criteria are not intended to restrict imagination, innovation or variety, but rather to assist in focusing on design principles, which can result in creative solutions that will develop a desirable visual appearance within the City, preserve taxable values and promote the public health, safety and welfare.
A. Architectural style is not restricted. Evaluation of the appearance of a project shall be based on the quality of its design and relationship to its surroundings.
B. Buildings shall have appropriate scale and be harmonious and compatible with surrounding development.
C. All facades in the “Old Downtown Commercial District” must be a minimum height of 18 feet above finished grade.
D. Materials.
1. The materials of which new buildings are constructed shall be appropriate for, and typical of, materials traditionally used in the commercial architecture which inspired the design of the new building. In general, wood and brick are the most appropriate exterior materials in the area of the Design Review District. Use of facade materials other than wood or brick must be approved by the Design Review Board.
2. True wood exterior materials are most appropriate. The use of alternate materials such as hardi-plank, vinyl and other modern materials may be appropriate when they are used in the same way as traditional materials would have been used. This means that the shape, size, profile, and surface texture of alternate materials must exactly match historical practice when these elements were made of wood. Especially close attention must be paid to details such as corner boards, window and door trim, soffits and eaves, and trim to ensure a correct match to traditional wood elements.
3. Exposed concrete foundation walls are not permitted.
4. Storefront display windows typically had large panes of glass rather than smaller divided light windows found in residential designs. In keeping with historical practice, new storefronts should have large single light display windows. If multi-light windows are proposed, they should be based on specific historical precedent and should reflect the design, materials, appearance, and dimensional characteristics of the vernacular. Store-front display windows should have wood or painted metal framing.
5. Historically, true divided-light wood window sashes were the only ones available for multi-paned windows. Great care must be taken to ensure that the divided-light look and the proportions of the window panes are correct. The only acceptable form of this window is one in which the glass panes have vertical proportions (height greater than width) and correctly-profiled muntins with an internal spacer that gives the appearance of a muntin extending through the glass. In addition, there must be an offset between the upper and tower sash to give the window a double-hung appearance. No snap-in or flat muntins will be approved. New windows must be made of wood and may have either vinyl or aluminum cladding on the exterior.
6. Another appropriate option is to use true wood or clad one- over-one windows. The window sash need not be operable if it correctly simulates a double-hung appearance.
7. When a window design has been selected for a building, the same design should generally be used on all elevations. Use of other window designs as “accent” windows must be appropriate for the architectural style of the building.
E. Building components. At a minimum, the following elements of a project design shall be considered and shall have good proportion and relationship to one another.
1. Window treatment. The size, shape, color and materials of the individual window units and the overall architectural relationship of window openings.
2. Exterior detail and relationships. All projecting and receding elements of the exterior, including but not limited to porches and overhangs and the horizontal or vertical expression which is conveyed by these elements and the patterns of color and textures of surface materials.
3. Materials. The content, texture and color of materials.
F. Colors shall be harmonious and shall use only compatible accents.
G. Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on the roof, ground or buildings shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious with the building, plantings as is deemed appropriate, or they shall be so located as not to be visible from any public ways.
H. Refuse and waste removal areas, service yards, storage yards and exterior work areas shall be screened from view from public ways.
I. In residential areas monotony of design in single or multiple building projects shall be avoided. Variation of detail, form and siting shall be used to provide visual interest. In multiple building projects, variable siting of individual buildings may be used to prevent a monotonous appearance.
(2) Existing buildings or structures. The repair, renovation or alteration of existing buildings or structures shall be evaluated with respect to the following items:
A. Preservation of features. The distinguishing original qualities and the character of a building, structure or site and its environment shall not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible.
B. Respect for period features. All buildings, structures and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged.
C. Respect for changes over time. Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected.
D. Sensitivity for distinctive features. Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure or site shall be treated with sensitivity.
E. Repair of deteriorated architectural features. Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced wherever possible. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historic, physical or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures. Replaced features should match design, color, texture and visual qualities, however, alternate materials may be used.
F. Proper cleaning methods. The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken.
G. Protection of archeological resources. Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archeological resources affected by or adjacent to any project.
H. Compatible contemporary additions. Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical, architectural or cultural materials and such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the property, neighborhood or environment.
I. New additions. Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to structures shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the structure would be unimpaired.
(3) Landscape criteria. The extensive use of landscaping shall be required to improve the site appearance and maintain a positive image for the Design Review District. Trees shall be approved by the Louisville Tree Board. The following landscape design elements shall be required:
A. Commercial Zoning District.
1. Landscaping to be consistent with requirements of the Codified Ordinances of Louisville.
B. Residential Zoning District.
1. The use of street trees shall be required at fifty-foot intervals.
2. Trees shall be planted within ten feet of the public right-of- way.
3. Trees shall be a minimum of two-inch caliper.
4. Each site shall have a minimum of 30% of the plant materials as an evergreen variety.
5. Landscaping shall be installed within the parking lot to break up vast expanses of pavement.
6. Landscaping shall be located adjacent to the building foundation whenever possible.
C. Lighting shall be part of the architectural concept. Fixtures, standards and all exposed accessories shall be harmonious with building design.
(4) Exterior Lighting. Illumination of the structures, facades, parking areas/lots, streets, public signage, and other items not listed but which are otherwise affiliated with the established Design Review District shall be compatible with the design characteristics of the Design Review District, and established District theme, and shall be selected and installed in accordance with all applicable codes.
A. Facade lighting shall be designed to enhance the architectural elements of the structure including color and type of construction material, and compliment the structure’s physical attributes.
B. Roadway lighting and extensions should be designed in accordance with ODOT recommended lighting levels for the respective traffic density. Standards (posts) should match existing and/or the decor of the Design Review area; depending upon location, fiberglass may be an option. Either glass or polycarbonate (UV stabilized) luminaries should be selected with glass being preferred, with IES light distributions (optics/cutoff) appropriate to placement (street side/house side intersection). Lamps should provide a preferred area color rendition (HPS/warm), Metal Halide/white). Intensity and glare should be carefully controlled.
The above street lighting system components may be applicable with minor modification for parking lot lighting and similar applications.
(Ord. 12-15. Passed 3-19-12.)