(A) Statement of intent. The Reading Design Review Districts are intended to provide supplemental regulations or design standards pertaining to specific areas, wherever these are located, in order to provide for clean, visually appealing and cohesive design elements along the primary roadways in the city.
(B) Definition of districts. The Reading Design Review Districts are defined as geographic areas exhibiting or planned to contain special and distinctive characteristics that are of significant value or importance to the public. These characteristics include:
(1) Areas exhibiting substantial historical architectural significance and character;
(2) Areas exhibiting physical development features such as substantial public investment in public improvements or community plans that coordinate public and private investment along primary gateways and corridors in the city.
(C) Purposes.
(1) The purposes of the Reading Design Review District regulations are intended to:
(a) Assist the development of land and structures to be compatible with a larger planning area beyond the immediate vicinity of individual sites;
(b) Protect or improve the quality of the built environment;
(c) Promote the general health, safety and welfare of the public in those locations where the characteristics of the environment or the amount of public investment are of significant public interest and are vulnerable to damage or loss of public opportunity by the cumulative effect of development in such planning areas permitted under conventional zoning regulations.
(2) Based on the purposes established above, the Reading Design District regulations are required to protect the public investment and property owners' investment in the District:
(a) From blighting influences that might be incrementally caused, extended or worsened by the application of conventional land use regulations to properties and areas of sensitive and special public interest;
(b) From significant damage to the economic value and efficiency of operation of existing properties and/or new developments due to the interdependence of their visual and functional relationships;
(c) From the detrimental cumulative effects of incremental development decisions in urban centers and commercial corridors on:
1. Conservation and correction of the character, integrity, safety, access and circulation.
2. Preservation and enhancement of pedestrian safety and views from the public right- of-way.
3. Balance of convenience and compatibility between residential and nonresidential areas.
4. Coordination of useful and attractive signage and streetscape elements.
5. Minimization of traffic congestion and coordination of land use intensity with local capacities and goals.
(D) Identification. The location of the Reading Design Review Districts shall be shown on the Zoning Map as individual free-standing districts relating to the design regulations of this chapter.
(E) Applicability. All regulations of the Reading Design Review Districts shall apply to and control property as identified on the Official Zoning Map. However, in the case of conflict between the provisions of a specific Reading Design Review District and other regulations established in this Zoning Code, the provisions of the Reading Design Review District shall prevail. The adoption of the Reading Design Review District shall not have any affect on a previously approved zoning certificate or PUD Plan during the period of validity of such approval.
(F) Creation. City Council may, from time to time, create additional districts within the Reading Design Review District as defined and containing the characteristics, as set forth in this chapter.
(G) Supplemental Reading Design Review District Regulations.
(1) Reading Design Review District standards adopted by City Council may relax or further restrict previously applied zoning district regulations for land use, lot area, coverage, density, floor area, setback, parking, height, fencing, landscaping or other specific development standards for the Reading Design Review District upon finding that conditions peculiar to such district and the achievement of adopted community plans require supplemental design regulations. Any such supplemental regulations shaft be set forth in the resolution establishing such Reading Design Review District or in an amendment thereto.
(2) For the purposes of this chapter, the term SUBSTANTIAL EXPANSION shall be any extension, reconstruction or improvement of a structure or building that equals or exceeds 50% of the gross floor area of the existing building or structure prior to expansion.
(H) Zoning Certificate.
(1) No minor building improvements or major building improvements, as identified below, may be made to any property within a Reading Design Review District until a Zoning Certificate has been issued by the Zoning Administrator.
(a) Minor building improvement.
1. Minor demolition of non-significant parts of principal structures;
2. Roof, cornice, window, door, step and wall repair or replacement; unless work matches the original;
3. Painting, if there is a change in the colors from the original;
4. Curb cuts and driveways.
(b) Major building improvement.
1. New construction;
2. Excavation or fill;
3. Demolition, except where it qualifies as a minor building improvement;
4. Signs, awnings and hardware;
5. Modifications to any facade that is visible from any public right-of-way;
6. Substantial expansion of existing principal structures (50% or more of the gross floor area);
7. All other improvements not determined to be minor building improvements by the Zoning Administrator.
(2) No building permit shall be issued for any improvements to properties within a Reading Design District unless a Zoning Certificate has been issued by the Zoning Administrator.
(Ord. 2010-58, passed 8-10-10)