1. General.
A. Building design projects shall be compatible with adjacent development where appropriate. The layout of principal buildings, accessory structures, and parking areas along a street is an example of a repeated site pattern that creates a cohesive visual identity and attractive pedestrian street scene for an area. Creating a strongly defined street edge will improve the pattern of development. A sense of visual unity is created within a neighborhood when similar building features are repeated.
B. Building orientation strongly influences a development site’s focus of activity. A building oriented at least in part to an adjoining public street can create a strong presence in the public realm, and can contribute significantly to a pedestrian-friendly built environment. Building design that creates or adds to the visual interest of a streetscape and a pedestrian scale is an essential element of development projects. Building height, scale, and massing can be used to emphasize important corners, designate points of entry, and promote compatibility with surrounding uses. Planting shall be sited, massed, and scaled to maintain visibility of doors and first floor windows from the street and from within the development.
2. General Arrangement.
A. Buildings and open space shall be compatible with, or complement the established proportion and building mass of adjacent developments and maintain a pedestrian scale and character when appropriate. In order to maintain or create a sense of place and “arrival”, all developments at the intersection of 2 arterial and/or collector streets shall comply with the following site layout and building orientation standards:
(1) Parking areas and drive-through facilities shall not be located within a 150 foot radius measured from the intersection of the centerline of the 2 streets;
(2) Land development located within a 150-foot radius from the intersection of the centerline of the 2 streets shall include 1 or more of the following focal point features which shall be visible from the intersecting streets:
(a) A distinctive architectural or building design that does not represent standard franchise architecture;
(b) Fountains or other water feature;
(c) Public plazas or other open space;
(d) Natural, historic or cultural feature (See § 22-522); or
(e) Significant landscape feature. (See § 22-523)
B. Entry facades shall orient to create an inviting image, consistent front, and street edge definition.
C. To the maximum extent practicable, the orientation of new lots created shall repeat the predominant relationship of buildings to buildings and buildings to street along the same and facing block faces.
(Ord. 614, 5/11/2015)