A. Intent: The intent of these regulations is to create building facades throughout this development that are varied and articulated to provide visual interest. Architectural design for single-family dwellings shall accomplish this by careful attention to exterior building materials and details, use of windows and doors, and change in building mass within the plan and roof design. Materials, fenestration, and trim used on the front facade shall be continued around all sides of the building. However, the level of detail can be reduced on the facades not facing a street. Care should be taken in the design of the building to keep grading and tree removal to a minimum.
B. Exteriors: Exteriors of the dwellings and accessory structures shall incorporate materials such as brick, stone, lap or vertical siding, shakes, decorative trim or similar combination of material which incorporates elements typical of the chosen architectural style. Use of natural materials is encouraged, composite materials such as fiber cement and wood composites are appropriate substitutions. Vinyl siding may be used only with appropriately scaled and detailed trim and not as the primary cladding material. Changes in materials should be aligned with changes in plan or roof form to emphasize these changes in building mass and shall have the appearance of 3-dimensional elements. Trim and structural elements such as posts or columns shall be sized to the scale of the building and detailed appropriately to the style. Masonry shall be incorporated into the building architecture on the front and side facades, and in a proportion that provides a strong visual presence. Fenestration (door and window openings) shall be sized to the scale of the building and be compatible with the chosen architectural style.
C. Symmetry: Detached garages or accessory structures should incorporate architectural details of the primary building with the use of roof forms, materials, fenestration and other facade detailing.
D. Garage Orientation: Garages shall be sited to minimize the visual presence to the street. To facilitate this requirement, acceptable garage orientations include:
1. Street Oriented Garage: Garages that open to the street are strongly encouraged and desired to be recessed behind the front plane of the house a minimum of five feet (5'). In no case shall the garage project more than five feet (5') in front of the plane of the house.
a. In situations where the garage is located less than five feet (5') behind the front plane of the house, the third car garage, if applicable, must be stepped back a minimum of four feet (4') from the front of the two (2) car garage with all garage doors to be individual one (1) car doors.
b. In situations where the garage projects up to five feet (5') in front of the plane of the house, a covered porch shall be constructed that is at least the width equal to twenty five percent (25%) of the total width of the house and at least five (5) unobstructed feet in depth.
2. Side Loaded Garage: Garages that open to a side yard. This garage orientation can be located in front of the house equal to the building setback for the house. Side loaded garages should incorporate architectural details such as windows, doors, and other detailing on the street facade in order to present a house appearance thus disguising the garage function. (Ord. 2197, 2-21-2017)