The Planning Commission shall consider the following matters, and others when applicable, in its review of applications and where the plan is found deficient the plan design shall be amended or conditions imposed to mitigate such deficiencies when considering:
(A) Traffic safety and circulation.
(1) Does the site plan comply with the West Haven City Engineering Design Standards and Specifications related to traffic ingress, egress and internal circulation?
(2) A traffic study may be required, if in the opinion of the Planning Commission, with input from the City Engineer, such would be necessary.
(B) Parking. Does the site plan comply with city ordinances regarding design, location and number of parking stalls required?
(C) Signage. Does the proposed signage meet the requirements of the city sign ordinance?
(D) Landscaping.
(1) The following landscaping shall be provided in each project subject to the provisions of this subchapter:
(a) Front yard. Landscaping shall be required along the entire frontage of the lot, except for the frontage required for ingress/egress. Said landscaping shall be a minimum of 15 feet deep, calculated from the property line.
(b) Side/rear yards. There shall be a minimum of five feet of landscaping between parking areas and side or rear property lines (except between commercial uses where said landscaping is not visible from areas of public access) and a minimum of five feet of landscaping between an access driveway and a side or rear property line unless said driveway is to be used for common access by an adjacent lot.
(c) Parking area landscaping. Landscaping within all parking and driveway areas shall comprise a minimum 5% of the total square footage of those areas and shall be placed within those parking areas to break up the mass of asphalt.
(2) Where possible, developers are encouraged to preserve existing, healthy trees.
(3) Developers are encouraged to take current drought and other environmental conditions into account when preparing a landscaping plan.
(4) Landscape plans shall include a minimum of three items from the following list:
(a) Trees;
(b) Decorative rock and boulders (gravel and pea gravel are not permitted);
(c) Shrubs;
(d) Groundcover; and
(e) Grass (artificial or other).
(E) Building/site layout.
(1) All buildings shall be designed with breaks in the facade. This may be accomplished through a change in building materials, actual breaks in the facade, a mix of roofline projections.
(2) All mechanical equipment shall be screened so as to not be seen from any public right-of- way adjacent to the project.
(3) Developers are encouraged to keep in mind visual compatibility with existing development when preparing the site layout and architectural elevations of proposed buildings.
(4) Buildings which are located within 100 feet of the centerline of the following roads shall be designed so it appears the front of the building faces the street, regardless of how the building is actually oriented:
(a) 2550 South;
(b) Midland Drive;
(c) 4000 South;
(d) 3500 West;
(e) 1900 West;
(f) 2100 South/Wilson Lane;
(g) 1800 South; and
(h) Hinckley Drive.
(F) Engineering standards. Does the site plan comply with the West Haven City Engineering Design Standards and Specifications related to utility easements, drainage and other engineering requirements?
(G) Governing documents. Is the site subject to a master development agreement or any conditions or agreements related to the property?
(Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)