Architectural details, including materials, colors, and textures should be treated so as to make a landmark, building or structure compatible with its original architectural style and character or with a historically valid style and character which may not reflect the original character of the building, and to preserve and enhance the architectural style and character of a landmark or district. Exterior of all buildings located within designated historic preservation districts shall conform to the following design criteria:
A. Height Of Structure Shall Meet The Following Standards: Measurements for height shall be from the finished floor elevation to the highest point on the main facade, excluding flagpoles.
1. The height of one-story structures shall be a minimum of fifteen feet six inches (15'6") and a maximum of twenty feet (20'). The preferred one-story height shall be eighteen feet (18').
2. Two-story structures shall be a minimum of twenty feet (20') and a maximum of thirty eight feet (38'). The preferred two-story height shall be thirty feet (30').
3. Three (3) or more story structure shall not be allowed unless they conform to historically documented precedent.
4. Alterations or additions to a designated historic structure that are higher than the tallest comparable feature of the existing structure should be compatible with the existing architectural style, material and proportion. New construction may be no higher than otherwise allowed under the zoning regulations.
5. Alterations to the size, scale and mass of a designated historic structure shall reflect the proportions of the existing structure. The size, scale, and mass of new structures and additions shall have a proportional relationship compatible with existing historic structures in the district.
B. Width: The width of buildings shall reflect singly, or in combination with other structures, the regular pattern of thirty foot (30') lot widths.
C. Setbacks: Building setbacks shall be as follows:
1. Commercial buildings shall be built up to the property lines formed by street rights of way. Buildings shall form a continuous street frontage. Residential structures may be developed with continuous frontage and zero setbacks, or may have up to a fifteen foot (15') yard setback and equally sized side yards.
2. Alterations to a designated historic structure or new construction should be sensitive to the original front setback of the existing structure (preferred option), or the prevailing setback of a majority of structures on the block within the district or neighborhood. Setbacks must otherwise conform to zoning and landscaping regulations.
D. Facade Rhythm: All structures shall show strong patterns of alternating solid and void in the building facade. A thirty foot (30') bay should be divided into three (3) or four (4) segments, each containing either a window or a pair of doors. Openings or segments are to be bound by a pair of columns.
E. Facade Proportions: All building facades shall show the geometric proportions between vertical and horizontal lines of one to one (1:1), two to three (2:3) and three to five (3:5) (height to width).
F. Directional Expression: The thrust of individual facade elements shall be predominantly vertical. The pattern of repeated bays, detail lines, and structural shape shall give a definite horizontal thrust to the overall building elevation.
G. Building Materials: The predominant building material used for walls should have the appearance of adobe. Where historic precedent can be shown, wood frame, red brick, plastered block may also be used. Exposed roof systems shall be of wood with sheet metal covering, or shall have the appearance of wood shingles. Surface materials include both structural and nonstructural elements and features covering a building or structure, including, but not limited to, walls, exposed foundations, roofing materials, paving, decking, and architectural details. Alterations, restorations, and reconstructions involving surface materials should, if possible, be compatible in terms of type, color, size and texture of surface materials found on the existing structure where such material is representative of the historic period and style of the structure, especially if visible from a public street or alley. Alterations and new construction within historic preservation districts should utilize surface materials compatible with adjacent historic landmarks or of landmarks found within the district and representative of a historic period and style found in the district.
H. Roofs: Roof type shall be typical in shape to roofs of similar historic structures in the area. Roof alterations to existing structures should be compatible in configuration, mass, and materials with the existing roof. New roof construction should, if possible, be compatible with the predominate historic period of adjacent structures or of other historic structures in the district.
I. Porches And Boardwalks: Where historic precedent can be shown, buildings may have porches and/or boardwalks. Porches shall be either ten (10) or twelve feet (12') deep, according to established local historic precedent. Post height shall be a minimum of eleven feet six inches (11'6") and a maximum of thirteen feet six inches (13'6"), with twelve feet (12') being the optimum. Post rhythm may vary with porch length, but usually occurs at eight (8), ten (10), or twelve foot (12') intervals. The slope of the porch roof shall be a minimum of two inches (2") in twelve inches (12") (height to width), and a maximum two and one-half inches (21/2") in ten inches (10"), with the optimum slope being two inches (2") in ten inches (10").
J. Doors: All commercial buildings shall have access from street through paired doors opening outward. Paired doors are optional on residential structures. Commercial door heights shall be a minimum of eight feet six inches (8'6") and a maximum of ten feet (10'), with nine feet (9') as the desired standard. Doors shall have the appearance of being constructed of wood, painted or unpainted, and shall reflect the overall design influence of the entire structure.
K. Windows: Windows are to be constructed of several glass panes set in pairs or triplicate above and/or below each other. Combinations two by two (2 x 2), two by three (2 x 3), three by three (3 x 3), and three by four (3 x 4) may be used.
Glass panes are not to exceed six (6) square feet in area. The maximum horizontal and vertical dimension of a pane is not to exceed three feet (3').
A ventilation window shall be located over all commercial building entries.
L. Awnings: All awnings shall be of canvas or of canvas appearing material only. Rigid window shades shall be constructed of simple lumber materials, with roofing if applicable, as in subsection G of this section; alternatively, rigid shades may be constructed of appropriate materials indigenous to the Sonoran high desert, such as ocotillo stalks, saguaro ribs, yucca stems, etc.
M. Ramadas, Gazebos And Summerhouses: Ramada frames shall be constructed of simple lumber materials, left unpainted, or creosoted, or whitewashed. Ramada roofs shall be constructed of appropriate materials indigenous to the Sonoran high desert, such as ocotillo stalks, saguaro ribs, yucca stems, etc.
N. Detailing: Details shall be made principally of wood. Details shall reflect both Greek revival and early Victorian influences, with the Greek revival more pronounced. Interpretations of detailing shall be simple.
O. Boardwalks: Public boardwalks will be of solid wooden planks, consistent with applicable building codes.
P. Fences: Fences on public or private property shall be constructed either of wooden pickets or planks, or of wrought iron, or of ocotillo stalks, unless documented historic precedent of the individual property clearly indicated otherwise. Freestanding walls shall be constructed of stuccoed adobe block, rock, concrete, or native stone. Such walls may also be constructed of slump block if they are adequately plastered or stuccoed over to appear like adobe. Any fence within the Historic Preservation District which does not conform to the above must be hidden from view.
Q. Landscaping: Open lots and yards may be left in their natural earthen state, or enhanced with decomposed granite or gravel, or planted (plants and ornamental features shall reflect the historic period of the subject structures). Where possible, planting and other ornamental landscape features shall reflect the historical period of the subject structure and surrounding structures in historic preservation districts, and should not obscure or cover significant architectural details or features.
R. Streetscape: The style, location, and character of sidewalks, benches, bicycle racks, waste receptacles, newspaper boxes, landscape planting areas, and other similar features should be compatible with the character and style of the landmark or surrounding Historic Preservation District.
S. Colors: Unless clearly documented historic precedent can show conditions to be otherwise, walls should be preferably a natural earthen color indigenous to the area, or if plastered should be white. Major woodwork and details should be left natural or painted white. Accent colors may be used as trim, but are not to visually detract from the building's overall simplicity. If colors are applied to walls, they shall be compatible with the color chart approved by the HPC tints, as below, and shall in any case represent a blend achievable with the paints that would have been readily available during the period of historic significance.
In addition to white and black, painted color shall represent as closely as is practicable.
Representative sets of color chips shall be in the possession of the commission, the commission inspector and/or the City building inspector, and at City Hall.
T. Hitching Rails: Hitching rails for horses must be of appropriate size. (Ord. 2015-01, 7-14-2015)
U. Special Events Banners, Posters, Booths, And Decorations: During special events sponsored by not-for-profit civic organizations, and recognized by Mayor and Council, temporary banners, posters, bunting, booths or other decorations may be erected on private or public property within a Historic Preservation District for purposes of ad hoc publicity, only if approved in advance by the Historic Preservation Commission on a standard application form prior to being erected. Any such temporary banner, poster, bunting, booth or other decoration must be made of materials having the appearance of materials used during the period of historic significance. Lettering, pictures, sketches, logos, or other representations, as well as the shape or form of the decorations themselves, must not be utterly inappropriate to the period of historic significance of the relevant Historic Preservation District. The sponsoring not-for- profit organization shall be held directly accountable for the compliance of such banners, posters, booths, bunting, or other decorations with these guidelines.
V. Special Holiday Decorations: During generally recognized extended holiday seasons such as, but not limited to, Christmas and New Year's holidays, temporary decorations may be erected on public or private property within a Historic Preservation District, without submission of a standard application form. Any such temporary celebration decoration must be appropriate to the period of historic significance of the relevant Historic Preservation District, and must be removed at the end of the celebration. The specified time to be one week prior and one week after holiday and/or celebration. Lettering, pictures, sketches, logos, or other representations, as well as the shape or form of the decorations themselves, must not be utterly inappropriate to the period of historic significance of the relevant Historic Preservation District. (Ord. 2018-02, 9-11-2018)
W. Utility Services: Utility services within a Historic Preservation District shall be entirely buried underground, or completely hidden or camouflaged from view, unless the service is one which would have been available during the period of historic significance, in which case it may be visible, if it is visible in the same manner as it would have been during the period of historic significance. There shall be no electric, neon signs or wiring to be visible within the Historic Preservation District. Telephone, gas and electric boxes located in the Historic Preservation District must be camouflaged.
X. Routine, Minor, Or Emergency Maintenance Or Repair: Routine, periodic, minor, or emergency maintenance or repair work to the exterior of a building within a Historic Preservation District, other than signage, may be done concurrently with the submission of a standard application form, rather than waiting for prior approval of the form, where the total cost of the completed work is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or in those cases where delay would endanger the public or entail imminent damage to the building, and where the following criteria are met:
1. The work would otherwise meet all other applicable standards and criteria in this chapter.
2. A standard application form is submitted as soon as possible and in any event no later than the completion of the work. (Ord. 2015-01, 7-14-2015)
SCHIEFFELIN HISTORIC PRESERVATION DISTRICT BUILDING DESIGN GUIDELINES
The characteristics of a typical Tombstone building during the designated Period of Significance (POS), 1878-1912, are as follows:
1. Building Height: One-story buildings are from 15'6" to 20'0" in height; optimum one story building height is 18'0". Two story buildings are from 29'0" to 38'0" in height; optimum height is 30'0".
2. Facade Rhythm: The main building face has an alternating pattern of solids (structural mass) and voids (openings which permit freedom of view or passage). A 30-foot bay can be divided into 3 or 4 segments, each containing a window or pair of doors. Pairs of columns bound openings or segments.
3. Facade Proportions: All building facades can be divided along outstanding horizontal and vertical lines into rectangular shapes. The shapes have height to width relationships of 1:1, 2:3, and 3:5.
4. Building Materials: The predominant building material is adobe. Although interior walls may be plastered, exterior surfaces are either unfinished or given a dagga coating. Dagga is produced from the same earth used to make the adobe blocks. Wood frame and fired bricks are also used as building materials in a few instances. Exposed roof systems are of wood with sheet metal covering.
5. Directional Expression: The appearance of individual facade elements in one-story buildings is predominantly vertical. The pattern of repeated bays, detail lines, and structural shape give a definite horizontal thrust to the overall building elevation.
6. Doors: Doors are from 8'6" to 10'0" in height; 9'0" is the optimum height. On commercial buildings they are usually paired and open inward from the street.
7. Porches: Porches are not a part of all buildings. However, when they are present, the porches are either 10 or 12 feet deep. Post heights are a minimum of 11'6" and a maximum of 13'6", 12'0" is the optimum height. Post rhythm may vary with porch length but usually occurs at 8, 10, or 12-foot intervals. The slope of the porch roof is a minimum of 2 inches in 12 inches and a maximum of 2-1/2 inches in 10 inches with the optimum slope being 2 inches in 10 inches.
8. Windows: Windows are constructed of several glass panes set in pairs or triplicate above and/or below each other. Combinations of two by two, two by three, three by three, and three by four are common. The total area of each pane does not exceed 6 square feet in area. Maximum horizontal or vertical dimensions of a pane do not exceed 3 feet. Ventilation windows are located over all commercial building entries.
9. Details: Details are principally made of wood. Details reflect both Greek revival and early Victorian influences, with Greek revival more pronounced. Interpretations of detailing are simple.
10. Setbacks: Commercial buildings are built up to the property lines formed by street rights of way. Residential structures are developed with either continuous frontage or set back up to 15 feet from the property lines.
11. Building Rhythm: The widths of buildings, either singly or in combination with other structures, creates a recurring pattern every 30 feet.
12. Building Color: Buildings are either the color of natural materials (adobe, wood, sheet metal) or take the color of the applied covering (plaster, paint). The most commonly applied color is white; accent colors are limited in use. At City Hall, ask for approved Schieffelin Historic Preservation District color palette guides for further information regarding paint colors.
a. Signs shall conform to all requirements outlined in the City Zoning Ordinance. Building permits for signs visible within the Schieffelin Historic Preservation District shall be subject to review and approval by the Historic Preservation Commission according to provisions set forth elsewhere in the City Code. No sign shall be erected within Schieffelin Historic Preservation District boundaries which has not received an approved Standard Application Form from the City through the Historic Preservation Commission.
b. All signs within the Schieffelin Historic Preservation District shall conform either to verifiable historic precedent for a specific property (sign content, color, wording, lettering, size, and location), consistent with the purposes and character of the Schieffelin Historic Preservation District, with the burden of proof of such historic precedent to rest upon the owner of the historic property or his or her representative, or the following requirements:
1. Free-standing, portable, off-site signs, A-Frames, shall be permitted within the Historic Preservation District. This includes signs on or in vehicles except commercial delivery or public conveyances.
2. Sign area sizes:
a. Hanging signs. Maximum area of any sign hanging over boardwalk shall be eight (8) square feet. No hanging sign shall be more than two (2) feet high. Projecting signs located above porches or where no porches exist may extend to no more than four (4) feet from the building front. No more than three (3) hanging signs may be displayed per business or residence, except that a third sign may be hung from a building overhang (but not from the boardwalk ceiling) or porch, if applicable. If the building is on a street corner, an additional one (1) or two (2) hanging signs may be allowed. Variance on the number of signs per business or residence may be sought under extraordinary circumstances, by special application to the Board.
b. Eaves signs. Maximum area of any sign affixed to the eaves of the boardwalk, facing the street, shall be eight (8) square feet. No eaves- attached sign shall be more than 2 feet high. No more than two (2) eaves signs may be displayed per business or residence. If the building is on a street corner, an additional one (1) or two (2) eaves signs may be allowed. Variance on the number of signs per business or residence may be sought under extraordinary circumstances, by special application to the Board.
c. Parapet signs. There is no limit to the maximum area of `parapet signs' - those up on the building facade above the boardwalk - except that at least two (2) feet of blank space must remain empty, on both the left and right sides of the parapet area.
d. Window signs. Maximum area of window signs, painted either on the inside or outside of the glass, or on panels affixed to the glass, shall be no more than 50% of the area of any glass pane.
3. No sign may extend above the top of the nearest facade, eaves, or fire wall of a building or structure. Neither will signs cover windows, doors, or building details.
4. No sign that flashes, blinks, revolves, or is otherwise in motion, or that employs neon, LED, or similar non-historic glowing technology, shall be permitted as part of any sign.
5. Signs hung from porches (maximum area of eight [8] square feet) may face either the street or the boardwalk, but must not extend past the front of the porch. A clearance of eight (8) feet must be provided between the bottom edge of the sign and the level of the walkway beneath the sign.
6. All signs will be prepared of materials commonly used in the period of historic significance, or of reasonable facsimiles thereof, as long as the substitute material is nearly or fully indistinguishable from material used in the period of historic significance, when in use.
7. All signs will be prepared of materials commonly used in the period of historic significance, or of reasonable facsimiles thereof, as long as the substitute material is nearly or fully indistinguishable from material used in the period of historic significance, when in use.
8. Lettering on signs will be lettering commonly in use in the period of historic significance, specified by the Design Guidelines, or verified in reference manuals suggested by the Commission's Consulting Historian(s), if necessary. Logos, pictures, sketches or characters shall be consistent with nineteenth century signage, style, and taste, as delineated by the Design Guidelines, or as suggested by the Commission's Consulting Historian(s), if necessary. The burden or proof as to appropriateness or applicability of such logos, pictures, sketches or characters shall be upon the applicant to be produced and presented to the Historic Preservation Commission.
9. Colors used in signs will be those colors used in the period of historic significance, as verified on paint chip cards provided by companies which manufactured paints during the period in question, and/or by the Design Guidelines, or by other reference materials suggested by the Commission's Consulting Historian(s).
c. Removal of Nonconforming Signs; Future Erection: No sign within the scope of this Chapter or its revision shall be erected in the City after the effective date thereof, unless it complies with the requirements of this Chapter. Any sign erected before the effective date of this Chapter and not complying with its requirements shall be removed when the use or ownership of the premises changes, and in any case not later than six (6) months from the effective date of this Chapter, and after that time, no sign shall be erected, maintained, or used that does not comply with all provisions of this Chapter. (Design & Signage Guidelines, 1-17-94)
TYPICAL ELEVATIONS SHOWING POS CHARACTERISTICS
Elevation Type "A"
Elevation Type "B"
Elevation Type "C"
Elevation Type "D"
(Ord. 2015-01, 7-14-2015; amd. Ord. 2018-02, 9-11-2018)
Y. Commission Review: All future plans submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission shall be reviewed by the commission, which shall approve those in general conformity with the design guidelines or sign guidelines, or in conformity with documented original historic precedent of a specific building owned or managed by the applicant, if dating from the period of historical significance, with the burden of proof of such historic precedent being upon the applicant. (Acceptable exterior building colors shall be chosen from color chips supplied by a paint manufacturer, representing paints sold by that company or predecessor company during the period of historic significance, or which are acceptable in the professional opinion of the commission's consulting historian.)
All devices, machines or apparatus not appropriate to the period of historic significance shall be screened, hidden, or camouflaged as to not be visible to the public. For the purposes of this chapter, any vending or dispensing machines shall be considered an advertising device, subject to appropriate controls listed elsewhere in this Code. Signs or displays may be lit by electric lighting, but such lighting shall be indirect, with the light source hidden from public view.
Z. Interim Period: In the interim period following the official adoption of this chapter by the Mayor and Common Council but before the acceptance of the design guidelines and sign guidelines by the Historic Preservation Commission, the board shall be guided by the design guidelines and sign guidelines in this chapter in effect immediately prior to the adoption of this chapter.
AA. Completion Of Proposed Action Outlined In Approved Application: All approved construction, building, rehabilitation, renovation, restoration, repair, new construction, etc., involving any change to the exterior of any structure or building, or other structural appurtenance, or to any open space or yard, or sign erection, now in existence or to be built hereafter within the Historic Preservation District or within the surrounding buffer zone, shall be completed according to the following:
1. Signs, paint touch up, lighting, repainting, nonstructural repair, minor rehabilitation, etc., shall be completed within ninety (90) days of approval by the Historic Preservation Commission.
2. All approved major construction, building, rehabilitation, renovation, restoration, repair, new construction, etc., shall be completed within one hundred eighty (180) days of approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. All approved construction, building, rehabilitation, renovation, restoration, repair, new construction, etc., not completed within these guidelines must be resubmitted to the Historic Preservation Commission for explanation, rereview, and reapproval. The parameters of this section are considered applicable and governing all existing and outstanding applications approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. (Ord. 2015-01, 7-14-2015)