Intent:
The main entrance should be the primary focal point of the building. Entryways and windows should be used to provide views of merchandise and business operations, provide casual surveillance and take advantage of the sun’s passive solar energy and natural light.
Guidelines:
1. The path of entry should be perpendicular to the front property line.
2. Main building entries should be parallel to the front property line and include a well defined entryway such as a recessed entrance, protruding entrance, truncated corner entryway or other design that creates a well-defined entry.
3. Building faces fronting a street or public right-of-way should incorporate a combination of awnings, building-mounted lighting, pedestrian level display windows, storefronts and entrances.
4. Each floor of any building façade facing a street should contain transparent windows that allow views of indoor nonresidential space or product display areas. Windows should cover at least 20% of the wall area, but no more than 70%.
5. Upper story windows should be vertically aligned with the location of windows and doors on the ground level, including storefront or display windows.
6. Decorative lintels, sills, glazing, door design, moldings or framing details should be used on windows and entryways located on façades facing public streets to create architectural interest and enhance the pedestrian realm. Window treatment should be as follows:
A. Windows should be surrounded by trim, molding and/or sill at least four inches wide. Stone or masonry lintels and sills should be incorporated in masonry and stucco clad buildings. Wood trim should be incorporated into wood clad buildings.
B. Commercial buildings with no trim or molding should have window frames at least two inches wide.
C. Multiple-paned windows should be used to help create visual interest.
7. The following approaches should be considered for all large-scale retail development to break up the architectural massing of large unadorned walls and enhance the visual appearance of building frontages.
A. Line the primary façades of anchor tenants with smaller tenants, each having their own entrance and at least one window.
B. Provide minor storefronts for each department of a big box user. Each storefront should physically express internal functions/departments (i.e. food court, bank, pharmacy, florist, etc.) and have its own entrance and at least one window.
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