(A) Purpose: To ensure that the McCall area's built environment complements McCall's natural environment, scenic mountain setting, and historic, small town character.
1. To encourage commercial development that incorporates high standards in energy-efficient, durable and environmentally responsible materials, and implements best practices in site design and construction.
2. To promote building design that reflects a pedestrian scale regarding height, proportion, site features, roof shapes and building materials.
3. To enhance commercial areas that lack distinctive character or where the character has faded.
4. To encourage design that supports pedestrian activity by providing safe, comfortable and attractive commercial environments.
(B) Applicability: The design standards apply to any development allowed in the Commercial Districts.
(C) Commercial Design Standards:
1. Pedestrian Scale: The scale of all structures shall be at a pedestrian scale. Pedestrian scale may be accomplished through the following:
a. Variations in wall planes and materials to minimize the apparent scale of buildings.
b. Minimizing the perceived mass of a building by developing a facade of smaller buildings rather than one large, monolithic structure.
c. Utilizing voids and masses, as well as details, textures, and colors on building facades.
d. For buildings over two (2) stories in height, incorporating roof elements, or upper decks, balconies or other design elements where the upper portion of the building is stepped or angled back.
e. Provision of pedestrian-oriented street frontages which include colonnades and covered walkways, overhangs, canopies, landscaping, trees, plazas, storefronts closely spaced, window displays and screening walls.
f. Provision of pedestrian-oriented amenities which include unique and attractive: trash receptacles, benches, bicycle racks, decorative sidewalks, drinking fountains, kiosks or neighborhood directories, lighting, outdoor fountains, plazas, and public art.
2. Pedestrian Oriented Storefronts: Storefronts shall be attractive to pedestrians by keeping and enhancing the small town feel of McCall. Pedestrian oriented storefront can be accomplished through the following:
a. Building frontages that are no wider than twenty-five feet (25'), or fifty feet (50') when individualized storefronts are designed that create the appearance of separate buildings.
b. Storefronts that are predominantly transparent. A series of tall, narrow windows with wood mullions is more historically correct than plate glass windows.
c. Entrances that are the dominant storefront feature and are readily visible from the street and accessible from the sidewalks.
d. Storefronts that align with the height, mass, scale and in relationship with adjacent existing storefronts to create continuity in the pedestrian environment.
e. Building design components that create repetitive patterns and/or alignments that visually link buildings within a block.
3. Building Design: Building designs shall enhance and/or continue the styles found in the McCall area with allowance for new interpretations of historic details. Local natural building materials, roof overhangs, covered entrances, simplicity of design, and segmented windows are elements of the McCall style. Building designs that are in keeping with the McCall style include the following:
a. Materials:
i. Natural exterior materials which include wood siding, shingles and shakes, logs, poles, milled horizontal wood siding, board and batten, natural stone, and brick.
ii. Use of stones that convey the appearance of a structural element rather than a veneer facing.
iii. Minimal use of synthetic materials designed to replicate natural materials, including cultured or faux stone.
iv. Metal when used in combination with natural materials.
v. As determined by the McCall Fire Protection District to have a high risk for wildland fires, natural looking exterior materials looking siding and decking materials that resist heat and flames, including: composite decking, cement, plaster, stucco, masonry (such as stone brick or blocks), and fiber-cement siding, soffit, and trim products.
b. Roofs:
i. Exposed structural expression of wood framing members, timbers and steel detailed elements supporting the roofs, sheds and balconies in scale and proportion to the building.
ii. Extended roof edges, sheds and canopies that reflect the western mountain environment and protect building features, upper balconies, entrances and especially the public walkway from weather and snow accumulation.
iii. Hipped and pitched roofs and minimal use of false western storefronts.
c. Exterior Colors: Wall colors that tend toward earthy warm hues, with accent colors kept to a minimum of two (2) and used to highlight entrances and other pedestrian oriented features of the development.
4. Building Additions: Additions to existing structures shall either: (1) extend primary features of the original building through the roof lines, materials, colors, and/or other architectural features; or (2) alter the original building to appear as an extension of the new addition.
5. Snow Country Design:
a. Roofs and canopies shall be designed to prevent snow or ice from shedding directly onto a pedestrian walkway or access.
b. Decks and balconies shall be designed to handle snow and drift loads including snow shedding from roof overhangs above.
6. Prohibitions:
a. Harshly contrasted color combinations, brilliant, luminescent or day-glow colors are prohibited on exterior finishes.
b. Blank walls on primary street facades are prohibited. (Ord. 998, 1-14-2021)