The following requirements are intended to provide for attractive, compatible, and aesthetic commercial and industrial area development. The city has determined that aesthetic development encourages the safeguarding of property values, the protection of public and private investments and the promotion of high-quality development.
(A) Commercial zoning designations. All commercial buildings shall be constructed according to the following minimum requirements:
(1) All walls shall contain a façade with 80% of wall area, excluding doors and windows, being masonry materials that includes brick, slump-faced or decorative concrete masonry unit, rock, stone or stucco or like material, concrete (poured in place, pre-cast or tilt-wall) with aggregate, sandblasted or textured coating finish, or other structural material of equal durability and architectural effect. Smooth faced concrete masonry unit (CMU), except as accent to approved finish material, shall not be installed on any façade. Other materials such as exposed exterior metal walls, untreated concrete block, painted concrete block, or unfinished, untreated concrete panels are not permitted and shall not be installed on any façade of any building. See division (A)(2) below for procedure for variation or approval of other finish materials.
(2) Requests for exceptions or variations to the building material requirements of this division (A) may be presented to and considered by the Planning Commission, which will then make recommendations to the City Council. The City Council, upon the advice from the Planning Commission, shall consider, approve, or deny the request. Factors to be considered and evaluated shall not be limited to, but shall include, the specific provisions of the request, the effect of the exception or variation on the overall and local community appearance, the potential impact on the community quality of life, the applicability of the exceptions or variation to the specific structure (for example public auditorium or school gymnasiums of the type being constructed during the 2004 calendar year by the city’s public school system), the economic impact on the community as a whole, adjacent zoning districts, present adjoining uses, and potential future uses of surrounding property.
(B) Industrial zoning designations. All industrial buildings shall be constructed according to the following requirements:
(1) Any wall(s) facing a street shall contain a façade with at least 80% of the wall area, excluding doors and windows, being masonry materials that includes brick, slump-faced or decorative concrete masonry unit, rock, stone or stucco or like material, concrete (poured in place, pre-cast or tilt-wall) with aggregate, sandblasted or textured coating finish, or other structural material of equal durability and architectural effect. Smooth faced concrete masonry unit (CMU), except as accent to approved finish material, shall not be installed on any façade. Other materials such as exposed exterior metal walls, untreated concrete block, painted concrete block, or unfinished, untreated concrete panels are not permitted and shall not be installed on any façade of any building.
(2) In the case of an industrial building that is directly abutting a residentially zoned area, the walls adjacent or viewable to the residentially zoned area or to a residentially zoned vacant lot viewable from such residentially zoned area shall meet requirements of (B)(1) above.
(3) Requests for exceptions or variations to the façade requirements of this division (B) or determinations of whether a wall section is viewable from applicable residential property may be presented to and considered by the Planning Commission. The City Council, upon referral from the Planning Commission, shall consider, approve, or deny the request. Factors to be considered and evaluated shall not be limited to, but shall include, the specific provisions of the request, the effect of the exception or variation on the overall and local community appearance, the potential impact on the community quality of life, the applicability of the exception or variation to the specific structure (for example public auditorium, or school gymnasium, of the type constructed during the 2004 calendar year by the city’s public school system), the economic impact on the community as a whole, adjacent zoning districts, present adjoining uses, and potential future uses of surrounding property.
(2002 Code, § 154.081) (Ord. 504, passed 3-8-2004; Ord. 512, passed 3-8-2004; Ord. 532, passed 11-14-2005; Ord. 907, passed 4-11-2022)