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9.4.1 Applicability. The following shall comply with the requirements of this Article:
A. Where compliance with these standards is explicitly required in other portions of this ordinance;
B. All uses except for one- or two-family residences; and
C. Expansion or modification of an existing commercial or office use that increases the total enclosed floor area by at least 50% or 5,000 square feet, whichever is greater.
9.4.2 Standards.
A. The primary facade shall be constructed of one or a combination of the following materials: concrete, aggregate, stucco, brick, stone, glass, natural decay-resistant quality exterior wood siding, or faced concrete block. Artificial materials that closely resemble these materials shall also be allowed. Facade colors shall be neutral or earth tone colors. Building trim and accent areas may feature brighter colors, including primary colors, but these colors may not comprise more than 15% of the building facade.
B. The remaining sides of the building shall be treated with the same materials of construction of the primary facade. As an alternative, for the principal use building(s), powder coated painted metal panels may be used on the non-primary facade walls under the following conditions. (The goal is to use architectural detail to provide visual interest).
1. Metal panels can only be used on buildings in the CI District.
2. Metal panels can be used for roofing material.
3. The (wall) metal panels will have deep, embolden ribs (or equivalent) to bring definition to the wall (e.g., MBCI ShadowRib™) with colors complementing or matching the primary facade. Other approaches to achieve the desired appearance will be considered at the pre-application conference.
4. Long continuous building walls are prohibited. No single metal wall shall extend unbroken more than 15% of the total wall length or 15 feet (whichever is greater) in a horizontal plane. Primary facade material should be used to trim out and/or break up the metal walls in both the horizontal and vertical planes.
C. No building facade facing the public street right-of-way shall be devoid of architectural enhancements or interest. For street corner buildings, both street elevations shall be architecturally enhanced as a front facade.
D. Long continuous building walls are prohibited and no single facade extending unbroken more than 35 feet in a horizontal plane may be visible from a public roadway. Compliance may be obtained through one of the following:
1. The use of projections or recesses (articulation). When used, each projection or recess shall have a projection (depth) dimension of no less than 18 inches and a width of no less than 36 inches; or
2. The use of columns or other architectural detail to provide visual interest. Where used, columns should be harmonious with the general design of the structure.
E. At least 25% of the first floor of the street facade shall be transparent.
F. Roofs shall be simple forms such as hip, flat, shed, mansard, gable to front, or gable to side, and shall avoid excessive articulation. Recommended roofing materials include slate shingles, asphalt and fiberglass shingles, and metal standing seam or tiles.
G. As an alternative, powder coated painted metal panels may be used on all the walls of an accessory structure in the CLD or CI District under the following conditions. (The goal is to use architectural detail to provide visual interest and/or landscaping buffers to screen the structure).
1. The accessory structure shall be no closer than 200 feet from the primary structure.
2. The accessory structure shall be no closer than 35 feet from the nearest lot line for buildings under 12 feet in height; for every foot higher than this, the required distance to the lot line shall be increased by four feet.
3. Colors shall be neutral or earth tone complementing the primary structure.
4. Where possible, architectural enhancements shall be used to break up long continuous walls.
5. With architectural enhancements, a screening of 0.4 opacity shall be required on all sides; without enhancements, a screening of 0.8 opacity shall be required.
6. All access points (e.g., driveways) shall not eliminate the need for continuous landscaping on the access point side.
7. Metal panels can be used for roofing material.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021)
9.6.1 Applicability. Outdoor display shall be permitted only in nonresidential districts. A binding site plan illustrating the extent of the permitted area for outdoor display shall be required.
9.6.2 Exempt. The following activities and uses shall be exempt from the requirements of this Article:
A. Vehicles and boats for sale, lease, or rent as part of a properly permitted use; and
B. Plant material and landscaping material at a retail garden center or retail nursery.
9.6.3 Outdoor display.
A. The outdoor location of soft drink or similar vending machines shall be considered outdoor display where the location is visible from neighboring residential development.
B. Menu boards associated with a drive-through that are visible from a public roadway or neighboring residential development shall be considered outdoor display.
9.6.4 Outdoor storage. Outdoor storage shall be permitted only in nonresidential zoning districts meeting the conditions set forth in Article 8.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021)
9.7.1 Height.
A. The maximum height (in feet) of a fence or wall shall be as shown in the table below, unless a higher fence or wall is required by other provisions of this ordinance.
B. Fences or walls within required yards fronting on a public street shall comply with the front yard height standard.
District | Front Yard | All Other |
District | Front Yard | All Other |
Residential | ||
R-20, R-15, R-10 | 4 | 6 |
MR, EPUD, SBR-6000 | 4 | 6 |
Commercial | ||
C-N | 4 | 8 |
CLD, C-1 | 6 | 8 |
Note: Fences and walls over 50 feet from the right-of-way are subject to the “all other yards” standards. | ||
C. The minimum height of a security fence shall be at least eight feet above ground level and shall comply with all applicable local, state, and/or federal government requirements.
9.7.2 General.
A. No fence or wall shall impede the visual locating of 911 emergency street addresses.
B. No fence or wall shall block access from doors or windows. Fences must have a clearance of at least four feet from building walls, except where fences project from or to a building wall.
C. Fences or walls shall not alter or impede the natural flow of water in any stream, creek, drainage swale, or ditch.
D. A finished side shall face off site.
E. No portion of a wall or fence constructed after the effective date of this ordinance may encroach on an adjacent property line.
F. Pedestrian connections through fences and walls that connect to adjacent neighborhoods or other uses are encouraged.
G. Additional wall or fence requirements applicable to a particular activity or use may be specified elsewhere in this ordinance.
9.7.3 Fence placement.
A. Fences or walls may not be located within the required sight triangle (see Article 9.2.4).
B. When located between the structure and a street, the fence or wall may be placed anywhere between the edge of the structure and the street right-of-way or easement line.
C. Along all other boundaries, the fence may be placed anywhere between the edge of the structure and the property line.
D. Fences may be located within a required easement, subject to any additional restrictions imposed by the easement agreement. However, the property owner shall remain solely liable for any repair or replacement if any portion of the fence is damaged during maintenance or construction activities within the easement by the easement owner or their agent.
E. Walls may not be placed within a required easement unless specifically allowed by the easement agreement.
9.7.4. Fence material.
A. The following types of fence material are permitted in all zoning districts:
1. Ornamental iron;
2. Vinyl or similar material;
3. Wood or similar material; and
4. Chain link or similar security material when approved by the UDO Administrator.
B. The following types of fences are prohibited in all zoning districts:
1. Fences constructed primarily of barbed or razor wire;
2. Fences carrying electrical current;
3. Fences constructed in whole or in part of readily flammable material such as paper, cloth, or canvas; and
4. Fences topped with barbed wire or metal spikes except those serving a use requiring a security fence for public safety purposes.
9.7.5 Walls.
A. Walls shall be constructed of one or a combination of the following materials: stucco over concrete block, exposed aggregate concrete, brick, stone, or architectural block in a structurally safe and attractive condition.
B. Alternative walls may be permitted with the approval of the UDO Administrator if such alternative walls are in keeping with the architecture of the surrounding development. No walls of exposed, painted-only, plain concrete cinder block shall be permitted.
C. No wall shall be located within any required drainage, utility, or similar easement.
9.7.6 Retaining walls. Retaining walls may be located within required yards.
9.7.7 Maintenance. Any fence or wall which, through neglect, lack of repair, type or manner of construction, method of placement, or otherwise, diverges from its original appearance, form, or function or constitutes a hazard or endangers any person, animal, or property is hereby deemed a nuisance. If such conditions exist, the UDO Administrator shall require the owner or occupant of the property upon which the fence or wall is located to repair, replace, or demolish the fence causing the nuisance.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021)
9.8.1 Applicability. This Article shall apply to all nonresidential and multi-family development.
9.8.2 Location. All utilities (including heating or air conditioning units and other mechanical equipment), dumpsters, and trash handling facilities shall be located on the same lot as the use served. No such facilities shall be located in a required front yard.
A. Mechanical equipment at ground level shall be placed on the side of buildings away from streets and away from buildings on adjacent sites.
B. All utility equipment (including, but not limited to, meters, boxes, valves) shall be designed and located to be as inconspicuous as possible and shall not be located on the street side of a principal structure.
9.8.3 Screening. All utilities (including heating or air conditioning units and other mechanical equipment), dumpsters, and trash handling facilities shall be screened in conformance with Article 9.9.
9.8.4 Access. All required dumpster, recycling, and trash handling facilities shall be designed with appropriate means of access to a street or alley in a manner that will least interfere with traffic movement and will most facilitate the service of the facilities.
9.8.5 Utilization. Space allocated to any off-street dumpster and/or trash handling facilities shall not be used to satisfy the space requirements for off-street parking or loading facilities, nor shall any parking or loading spaces be used to satisfy the space requirements for any dumpster or trash handling facility.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021)
9.9.1 Applicability. The following uses in multi-family and nonresidential development shall be screened as required by this Article:
A. Outdoor storage and loading areas;
B. Self-storage warehouses;
C. Air handlers and similar mechanical equipment; and
D. Trash handling facilities, including dumpsters and recycling bins.
9.9.2 Standards. Features and uses specified above shall provide a visual obstruction from neighboring properties in conformance with the following standards.
A. Rooftop equipment. Mechanical, HVAC, or other equipment located on the roof of a building or structure shall be screened by a permanent wall to the height of the equipment plus six inches. This may be accomplished by a parapet wall or other enclosure to obscure view of the equipment.
B. All other uses.
1. When visible from an adjoining residential use of residentially zoned property (including across a street), the screen shall be composed of view-obscuring vegetation (used individually or in combination with) a wall, semi-opaque fence, or berm designed to obscure views to a height of six feet from the ground, except for mechanical equipment which shall be screened to the height of the equipment plus six inches.
2. One upright shrub shall be installed per four linear feet of any screen wall or fence that faces off site. These plantings shall be placed such that they obscure the screen wall or fence and may be credited toward any plantings required elsewhere in this ordinance.
3. Plants must be a least two feet tall at the time of installation and reach the desired height within three to five years of planting. All berms, when provided, must be covered with plant materials within one to three years.
4. All landscaping shall be maintained in accordance with Article 10.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021)
9.10.1 General provisions. The following provisions shall apply to all development where noted.
A. With the exception of single-family and two-family dwellings, structures exceeding 30 feet or three stories in height shall provide at least three means of fire apparatus access.
B. Structures or portions of structures exceeding 30 feet in height above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access shall be provided with approved fire apparatus access roads capable of accommodating Fire Department aerial apparatus. Overhead utility and power lines shall not be located within the aerial fire apparatus access roadway.
C. Structures having a gross enclosed floor area of over 62,000 square feet shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
D. Fire apparatus access roads shall have a minimum unobstructed width of 26 feet in the immediate vicinity of any building or portion of building more than 30 feet in height.
E. At least one of the required access routes shall be located at least 15 feet, but no more than 30 feet from the structure and shall be parallel to one entire side of the building.
F. Fire hydrants must be maintained for easy accessibility and visibility for fire protection in accordance with the National Fire Protection Agency requirements. No construction or landscaping is permitted that may impede the fire protection requirements.
9.10.2 Applicability. The following codes relating to emergency management services shall be adopted and made applicable to all development activities:
A. North Carolina State Fire Code, 2002 Edition, “Table B105.1 Minimum Required Fire Flow and Flow Duration for Buildings” as amended;
B. North Carolina State Fire Code, 2002 Edition, “Table C105.1 Number and Distribution of Fire Hydrants” as amended; and
C. North Carolina State Fire Code, 2002 Edition, “Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads” as amended.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021)
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