All development requiring site plan review shall comply with the following minimum standards:
(A) All electrical and mechanical equipment located adjacent to the building and visible from any adjacent public thoroughfare or a residentially zoned area shall be screened from view (100% opacity). Such screens and enclosures shall be treated as integral elements of the building’s appearance. Gas and electric meters located near vehicular use areas shall be protected by bollards or other means as approved by the city;
(B) All telephone and cable television lines, electrical services and distribution lines shall be placed underground, except that this provision shall not include meters, electric and telephone service pedestals, transformers, three-phase feeder lines, sub-transmission and transmission lines, electrical substations and such other facilities as the utility may deem necessary to install utilizing “overhead” type construction;
(C) Pedestrian access shall be an integral part of the overall design of each multi-family, commercial, office/institutional and industrial development. The pedestrian access should provide not only safe and convenient access to and from off-street parking areas but should also connect with abutting properties and developments so as to create an alternative means of transportation for residents of the city:
(1) Sidewalks at least five feet in width shall be provided along all sides of a lot that abut a dedicated public or private street;
(2) Sidewalks shall be provided along the full length of the building along any facade featuring a customer entrance and along any facade abutting a public parking area. Such sidewalks shall be located at least five feet away from the building facade. This area between the building and sidewalk shall contain landscaping and other site amenities complementary to the building and site design; and
(3) The form and proportion of buildings shall be consistent or compatible with the scale, form and proportion of existing development in the immediate area;
(D) Architectural design should create visual interest through the use of different textures, complementary colors, shadow lines and contrasting shapes. The use of walls in a single color, with little detailing or completely blank, is discouraged;
(E) Building facades that are 100 feet or greater in length shall incorporate recesses and projections along at least 20% of the length of the building facade;
(F) Shared access, parking and/or cross access agreements are encouraged and shall be in place with neighboring uses or properties prior to authorization of any occupancy permits;
(G) Loading docks, trash enclosures, outdoor storage and similar facilities and functions shall be incorporated into the overall design of the building and the landscaping so that the visual and acoustic impacts of these functions are reduced to as great an extent as possible and are out of view from adjacent properties and public street;
(H) All buildings which lie in whole or in part, within 150 feet of a major road or highway, including but not limited to Interstate 24, US Highway 45, and State Route 145, shall comply with the “Standards for Buildings on Major Roads” found in § 156.363; and
(Ord. 2013-22, passed 11-25-2013)