(3)   Development Standards.
(a)   Height.
(.1)   Unless additional height is earned pursuant to § 14-702(7) (Mixed Income Housing), buildings in a RM-1 or CMX-2 zoning district may not contain more than three stories.
(.2)   Buildings in a CMX-2.5 zoning district may not exceed 45 ft. in height and may not contain more than four stories, but are eligible to earn an additional 7 ft. in height and may contain five stories if the lot meets the conditions necessary to earn a height bonus under the provisions of § 14-702(7) (Mixed Income Housing), as though it were located in a RM-1, CMX-1, or CMX-2 zoning district.
(.3)   Bonus height or floors earned pursuant to § 14-702(7) (Mixed Income Housing) shall be setback 5 feet from the front facade.
(.4)   First floor entrances along primary frontages shall not be lowered below grade to comply with height requirements.
(b)   Bonuses.
(.1)   The bonuses offered in § 14-702(7) (Mixed-Income Housing) may only be earned by including affordable units on-site in a quantity that satisfies § 14-702(7)(b)(.1); and
(.2)   No other Floor Area, Height, and Dwelling Unit Density bonuses may be earned.
(.3)   CMX-2.5 Lots in the Ridge Avenue Neighborhoods Overlay /RAN Overlay District are eligible for the height bonus permitted in § 14-702(7).
(c)   The required first floor commercial space in the CMX-2 and CMX-2.5 districts shall have a minimum 14 foot floor to floor height. Projects are exempt where there is an existing structure and the proposed development increases by twenty-five percent (25%) or less the number of dwelling units or the gross floor area.
(d)   All utility equipment shall be screened with landscaping, fences, or walls. Screening fencing shall be constructed of wood or ornamental metal; chain-link and barbed wire are prohibited as a material for any fences used to meet the requirements of this section.
(e)   Where a property is bounded by two or more streets, Ridge Avenue shall be considered as the primary frontage, and opposite Ridge Avenue shall be considered the rear for rear yard determinations.
(f)   For lots over 5,000 square feet:
(.1)   Portions of a development that are within 20 feet of a residential single family zoning district shall not exceed 38 feet in height or 3 stories.
(.2)   For development projects with multiple street frontages:
(.a)   Facades on streets other than Ridge Avenue shall be no less than the distance between the front facade and the front lot line of the principal building on the immediately adjacent lot. If there is no principal building on an immediately adjacent lot, then the distance between the front facade and the front lot line shall match the distance between the front facade and the front lot line on the closest building to the subject property that is on the same blockface. If there is no such building, the minimum distance between the front facade and the front lot line shall be zero.
(.b)   When the Planning Commission designates a primary frontage in addition to Ridge Avenue, the first 65 feet of ground floor frontage, as measured from Ridge Avenue shall be subject to the following:
(i)   It shall contain a use other than residential and other than parking within the first 30 ft. of building depth, measured from the front building line.
(ii)   The front building line may be built to the property line.
The remaining ground floor frontage, past the first 65 feet measured from Ridge Ave, shall meet the contextual setback requirements of § 14-541(3)(f)(.2)(.a) above.
(.3)   Side yards are required when a side lot line abuts a single-family residential zoning district.
(.4)   Properties zoned RM-1 located between Domino Lane and Fountain Street shall provide a 10-foot front yard setback from Ridge Avenue. Landscape and plant materials shall be provided in the front yard setback as follows:
(.a)   Plants and landscape materials shall be installed in conformance with § 14-705(1)(c);
(.b)   The required number of plantings shall be consistent with the requirements set forth in § 14-705(1)(d)(.2)(.a)(ii);
(.c)   This area is shall not be counted towards any yard tree obligations as required by § 14-705(1)(e); and
(.d)   The required landscape will be reviewed for conformance with these standards by the Planning Commission and will require the submission of a landscape and tree preservation plan prepared by a licensed architect, licensed landscape architect, licensed professional civil engineer, or a certified arborist that demonstrates compliance with these provisions.
(g)   Facade Review.
(.1)   L&I shall not issue a building permit for the erection of a building or the alteration of facade until the Planning Commission has reviewed the plans of all proposed facades and determined that the proposed facades, in the opinion of the Commission, are in harmony with the surrounding commercial and residential area and pedestrian-oriented environment. The Commission shall have 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed.