(A) Generally. These standards apply to multiplexes developments within the district(s) where they are permitted as set out in § 156.B.003, Use Table.
(B) Standards of design.
(1) Materials. Any primary or standard building materials may be used in any proportions. The allowable types and proportions of building materials are set out in § 156.D.002, General Requirements.
(2) Street elevation(s).
(a) Street-facing building facades must use vertical modulation, such as recesses and projections, and horizontal modulation, together with material and color changes, and fenestration to break up wall planes and to clearly distinguish individual dwelling units. The building facades, materials, and colors must substantially vary so no three units are the same. (See illustrative examples in Figure 156.D.005-1, Illustrative Application of Building Design Standards.)
(b) A townhouse community with three or more buildings must substantially vary the buildings in heights, dispositions, scales (number of units), materials, and colors.
(3) Bulk. Townhouse dwellings may include up to but not exceed eight units.
(4) Transitions.
(a) When directly abutting or across a street from a single-family detached dwelling in an RM or RH district, the building height must be equal to or no greater than eight feet higher than the abutting dwelling. When separating single- and multi-family dwellings or nonresidential development, a townhouse dwelling may not exceed the adjacent single-family detached dwelling by more than one story. See Figure 156.D.003-3, Scale Transitions. Building height may not exceed two stories when adjacent to an RL district.
(b) Bufferyards are required per § 156.F.004, Buffering.
(C) Building elements. All townhouse buildings shall include a minimum of three of the following building elements:
(1) Outdoor gathering areas;
(2) Sculptures, monuments, and other public art installations;
(3) Porches;
(4) Functional shutters;
(5) Bay windows;
(6) Balconies; or
(7) Columns, eaves, rakes, cornice lines, or frieze boards.
(D) Awnings. Awnings, where installed, shall be constructed with fabric or metal coverings. Plastic coverings are prohibited.
(E) Balconies and railings. Balcony and railing materials may be different than the materials used on exterior walls.
(F) Roof massing. Roof forms and rooflines must be broken into a series of smaller building components when viewed from the street. Long, linear unbroken rooflines exceeding 50 feet are prohibited. Such treatments may include elements such as dormers, towers, or chimneys. (See Figure 156.D.005-1, Illustrative Application of Building Design Standards for illustrative examples.)
(G) Stairs. Stairs that provide primary access to units on upper floors shall be covered.
(H) Garage design. Attached street-facing garages shall meet one of the following standards.
(1) The garage doors shall not comprise more than 40% of the total length of the building’s facade; or
(2) Garages shall be arranged in sets of two single-bay doors that are offset by at least five feet from the front plane of an adjacent garage door.
Figure 156.D.005-1 Illustrative Application of Building Design Standards |
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Figure Note: The sample images above are shown only for illustrative purposes and are not meant to prescribe that these forms must be used. |
(Ord. 15039, passed 4-11-2022)