The Planning Commission should, to the extent possible, ensure that an application meets or exceeds the following standards:
(a) Site Standards. Building placement and lot layout shall be designed to provide a functional relationship to the site’s existing topography, vegetation, and other pertinent features. The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition between the street and the site and to provide for generous planting, safe pedestrian movement, and adequate parking areas.
(1) In nonresidential areas, buildings shall be located as close to the setback lines as possible and adjacent buildings shall have similar front setbacks to maintain visual continuity of the streetscape.
(2) Buildings and construction shall be discouraged on steep slopes, grading on steep slopes shall be minimized to minimize erosion, and building heights shall preserve views from surrounding properties.
(3) Measures shall be taken to reduce the rate of the flow of water and increase absorption into the ground. This can be achieved through use of rain gardens, bio-swales, water retention basins, green roofs, pervious concrete, and other similar practices which reduce run-off on a site.
(b) Building Standards. Building design and architecture shall relate to and be harmonious with the surrounding neighborhood with regard to texture, scale, mass proportion, materials, and color. Buildings shall be designed in a manner that complements existing, adjacent properties and provides architectural variety and detail on all sides of the buildings.
(1) A mix of up to three natural materials, including wood, brick or stone, shall be preferred for the exterior of buildings. Aluminum, dry-vit, metal siding, tile, vinyl, and rough or split face cement masonry units may be used only for accent purposes. T-111 plywood and plain or smooth face cement masonry units shall be prohibited.
(2) A mix of up to four natural colors and hues shall be preferred for the exterior of buildings. Bright, strong or brilliant colors may be used only for accent purposes. Use of either a single color or a mix of more than four colors shall be highly discouraged.
(3) Buildings shall have three distinct vertical components: base, middle, and top. Building design shall unify various site components through the use of similar design, materials, colors, and accent finishes.
(4) Building fronts shall have a transparent area measuring not less than 40 percent and not greater than 90 percent of the façade area. When a building is located on a corner, this standard shall apply to both facades facing the rights-of-way, unless one of the rights-of-way is for a residential street.
(5) The bottom sill of windows on the front façade shall be located not higher than four feet above grade.
(6) Not more than 20 percent of any window area shall be covered with signage.
(7) Every building shall have a main entry facing the street that is defined by landscaping and other decorative features unless an alternate design is approved by the Planning Commission.
(8) Any equipment located on the roof of a building shall be fully screened on all four sides by parapets and roof screens that are integrated architecturally into the building design.
(9) “Corporate architecture” and generic designs shall be discouraged. Building design shall relate specifically to its surrounding environment, as may be approved by the Planning Commission.
(10) Decorative building elements shall be included in the design of all buildings through incorporation of changes in wall plane and height, arcades, porticos, trellises, porches, balconies, dormers, windows, and other applicable architectural details.
(c) Parking and Circulation. The site shall be designed to be safe and accessible to pedestrians, bicycles, and motorized vehicles.
(1) Drives, streets, parking, site access, and other vehicle-related elements shall be designed to minimize traffic conflicts on adjacent streets and promote safe circulation within the site.
(2) Surface parking shall be clustered into small parking areas, and dispersed around the site, to avoid large areas of pavement, as may be approved by the Planning Commission.
(3) Pedestrian and automobile traffic paths shall be separate, to minimize conflict areas.
(4) Walkways shall be provided to connect parking areas and sidewalks to building entrances. Walkways shall be defined by landscaping, lighting, and paving.
(5) Visually appealing bicycle racks shall be provided to accommodate non- vehicular modes of transportation.
(6) Alternative paving materials, such as pervious concrete, shall be considered for parking areas and walkways.
(d) Lighting. All exterior lighting fixtures shall be designed and arranged to balance the need to minimize glare and light trespass with the need to provide adequate site and building security.
(1) Parking areas located adjacent to residential properties shall use a lower footcandle in the evening hours to minimize light trespass.
(2) Decorative lighting fixtures shall be used and incorporated into the overall site and design plan for the site and buildings.
(3) Low-wattage lighting shall be used to illuminate the street address and highlight architectural details.
(e) Landscaping, Screening, and Buffering. Landscaping that combines trees, shrubs, and groundcover shall be used in a manner that enhances the site and building, controls noise, buffers surrounding uses, unifies the site, and defines separate site functions and activities.
(1) Existing natural features, particularly trees, shall be preserved and incorporated into the landscape design.
(2) Landscaping shall always consist of live plant material. The use of colored rock, wood bark or gravel in place of landscaping is not acceptable.
(3) Fences shall be constructed of maintenance-free and durable materials, such as vinyl. The use of wood for fencing materials is not acceptable.
(4) The use of outdoor amenities such as planters, tree grates, site furniture, and water features shall be encouraged, and such amenities shall coordinate with the design concept for the site and building.
(f) Signage. Wall and ground sign design, material, and color shall be architecturally compatible with, and integrated into, the site and building design. Signage shall be appropriate for the residential nature of the City.
(1) The use of strong, bright colors shall be for ornament and accent only.
(2) Awnings may be used if they are functional, compatible with the architecture of the building, opaque (i.e., not translucent), and contain no lettering or signage other than the street address in numerals not exceeding seven inches in height.
(3) On multi-tenant buildings wall signs shall be compatible with the building facade and other signs thereon in terms of size, color, lighting, materials, style, and quality. The depth of wall signs on any one multi-tenant building shall be consistent.
(Ord. 82-2007. Passed 8-7-07.)