The following planning criteria are established to guide and control the planning, development and use of land in a PUD District and are in addition to all other applicable regulations in the Zoning Ordinance.
(a) Relationship of buildings to each other.
(1) Evaluation of appearance of a project shall be based on quality of its overall design and relationship to surroundings. Architectural style is not restricted; however, extremes of style not indigenous to the city are not encouraged.
(2) Buildings shall be in scale and harmonious with permanent neighboring developments.
(3) Materials shall be in harmony with adjoining structures.
(4) Materials shall be selected for suitability to the type of building and design in which they are used.
(5) Materials shall be of durable quality.
(6) There should be definite transitions between changes of material and plane while maintaining an overall simple geometry for the building mass.
(7) In any design in which the structural frame is exposed to view, the structural materials shall be compatible within themselves and harmonious to their surroundings.
(8) Exterior building components such as windows, doors, eaves and parapets shall have balanced proportions.
(9) All sides of a structure should receive design consideration. A facade unrelated to the rest of the building is not in keeping with acceptable design.
(10) Colors shall be harmonious and accents, if used, shall be compatible.
(11) All projections and mechanical details such as louvers, exposed flashing, flues, vents, gutters and downspouts are to be recognized as architectural features and are to be treated to match the color of the adjacent surface or an approved complementary color.
(12) Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on the roof, ground or elevations shall, wherever possible, be located so as not to be visible from any public ways or adjacent residential areas. Where the limitation on location is not possible, the facilities shall be screened from public view with landscaping and/or materials harmonious with building.
(13) Refuse and waste removal areas, service yards, storage yards and exterior work areas shall be screened from view from public ways with landscaping and/or materials harmonious with the building.
(14) Monotony of design in single or multiple building projects shall be avoided. Variation of exterior wall material, detail, form and siting shall be used to provide visual interest. In multiple building projects, variable siting of individual buildings may be used to help prevent a monotonous appearance.
(b) Relationship of buildings to site.
(1) Projects shall reflect the character of the site upon which they are located. Compatibility to grade conditions, degree of exposure from passers-by, the context of adjacent structures, exceptional views, tree masses and size of the lot are some of the factors to be considered.
(2) The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition with the streetscape, and to provide for adequate planting, safe pedestrian movement and parking areas.
(3) Consideration of the appropriateness of providing setbacks and yards in excess of zoning restrictions is encouraged to enhance compatible relationships between buildings, and between buildings and adjacent streets.
(4) Plans should demonstrate a concern for the conservation of energy by their sensitivity to factors such as the orientation of a building, the use and location of glass, and the use of landscape materials on the site.
(5) Parking areas shall be treated with decorative elements, building wall extensions, plantings, beams or other means so as to minimize the impact of parked vehicles on the view from public ways and adjacent residential areas.
(6) Fencing plans must be a part of the submittal at the earliest stages and should be consistent with the general plan for the site.
(7) The design of fences and screening walls shall give specific consideration to the relief of monotony, such as breaking up major lengths by complementary landscaping.
(8) Newly installed utility services, and service revisions necessitated by exterior alterations, shall be underground.
(9) Grades of walks, parking spaces, terraces and other paved areas shall provide an inviting and stable appearance for walking and, if seating is provided, for sitting.
(10) Residential units shall have access to or directly abut public or common open space areas.
(c) Relationship of project to adjoining area.
(1) Designs shall demonstrate a harmony in texture, lines and masses between all adjacent buildings. Monotony shall be avoided.
(2) The height and scale of each building shall be compatible with its site and existing (or anticipated) adjoining buildings.
(3) Adjacent buildings of different architectural styles shall be made compatible by means such as screens, sight breaks and materials.
(4) Attractive landscape transition or compatible use characteristics to adjoining properties shall be provided.
(5) Project features that may have negative impacts upon adjacent properties, such as parking lots, service entrances, loading zones, mechanical equipment and the like, shall be buffered from the adjacent properties.
(d) Landscape and site treatment.
(1) Where natural or existing topographic patterns contribute to the appearance of a development, they shall be preserved and enhanced. Modification to topography will be permitted where it contributes to good appearance.
(2) Each landscape plan shall address the functional aspects of landscaping such as drainage, erosion prevention, wind barriers, provisions for shade, energy conservation, sound absorption, dust abatement and reduction of glare.
(3) Landscape treatment shall be provided to enhance architectural features, strengthen vistas and important axes, and to provide shade.
(4) Unity of design shall be achieved by repetition of certain plant varieties and other materials, and by correlation with adjacent developments.
(5) Plant material shall be selected for interest in its structure, texture, color and for its ultimate growth. Plants that are indigenous to the area and others that will be hardy, harmonious to the design, and of attractive appearance shall be used.
(6) Parking areas and related trafficways shall be enhanced with landscaped areas, including trees or tree groupings.
(7) In locations where plants will be susceptible to injury by pedestrian or motor traffic, they shall be protected by appropriate curbs, tree guards or other devices.
(8) Where building sites limit planting, the placement of approved trees in parkways is encouraged.
(9) Where landscaping is used as screening, it shall be equally effective in winter and summer.
(10) In areas where general planting will not prosper, other materials shall be used, such as fences, walls and pavings of wood, brick, stone, gravel and cobbles. Suitable plants shall be combined with the materials where possible.
(11) Landscape screening shall be of a height and density so that it provides the full desired effect within three years growing time.
(e) Signs.
(1) Every sign shall have appropriate scale in its design and in its visual relationship to buildings and surroundings.
(2) Every sign shall be designed as an integral architectural element of the building and site to which it principally relates.
(3) The height of a sign shall not exceed the predominant height of the principal building to which it relates, or the maximum height permitted by the city’s sign regulations, whichever is lower.
(4) The colors, materials and lighting of every sign shall be restrained and harmonious with the building and site to which it principally relates.
(5) The number of colors and graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign’s major message, and shall be composed in proportion to the area of the sign face. The listing of individual services rendered or items offered for sale, and the use of telephone numbers, arrows and multiple logos on a sign are generally unacceptable.
(6) Identification signs of a prototype design and corporation logos shall conform to the criteria for all other signs.
(7) Each sign shall be compatible with signs on adjoining premises, and shall not compete for attention.
(f) Lighting.
(1) All exterior lighting should balance the need for energy conservation with needs for safety, security and decoration.
(2) Where decorative exterior floodlighting is used, it shall consist of an appropriate composition of brightness relationships, textures and restrained colors to dramatize a setting and extend the hours of the setting’s usefulness. Floodlighting fixtures shall be located or shielded so that their presence is minimized.
(3) All exterior lighting shall be part of the architectural and landscape design concept. Fixtures, standards and all exposed accessories shall be concealed or harmonious with other project design materials.
(4) In general, the height of exterior lighting fixtures shall not exceed the predominant height of the principal building to which it relates.
(5) Exterior lighting shall not be designed to permit an adverse effect upon neighboring properties. Designs shall specify appropriate light cut-off angles for all sources of strong illumination.
(6) If high pressure sodium vapor luminaries are used for free-standing parking lot and internal access route lighting, they should be color corrected for compatibility.
(g) Miscellaneous structures and street hardware.
(1) Miscellaneous structures and street hardware (i.e., seating, lighting, mailboxes and the like) shall be designed to be a part of the architectural and landscape design concept.
(2) The materials shall be compatible, the scale shall be appropriate, and the colors shall be in harmony with buildings and surroundings.
(h) Maintenance design factors.
(1) Continued quality of appearance depends upon the extent of quality of maintenance. The choice of materials and their use, together with the types of finishes and other protective measures, must be conducive to easy maintenance and upkeep.
(2) Materials and finishes shall be selected for their durability and wear as well as for their beauty. Proper measures and devices shall be incorporated for protection against the elements, neglect, damage and abuse.
(3) Provisions for washing and cleaning of buildings and structures and control of dirt and refuse shall be included in the design. Configurations that tend to catch and accumulate debris, leaves, trash, dirt and rubbish shall be avoided.
(Ord. 98-104, passed 9-14-1998)