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These residential design guidelines are proposed as suggestions for ways to ensure that new single-family detached, duplex, triplex, and quadraplex housing is high quality, aesthetically pleasing, and provides a wide variety of living options for Town residents. More specifically, these guidelines are intended to:
A. Ensure single-family detached, duplex, triplex, and quadraplex homes maintain consistent exterior materials and architectural treatments on the front and sides of buildings;
B. Establish guidance regarding changes of exterior finishes and materials on individual facades;
C. Avoid garage-dominated street fronts in residential neighborhoods;
D. Encourage duplex, triplex, and quadraplex structures to appear as single-family homes; and
E. Ensure an adequate level of variability in single-family home design so as to avoid monotonous streetscapes where every dwelling appears identical or very similar to its neighboring dwellings.
(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019; Ord. 2025-11, passed 10-7-2024)
A. Single-family detached, single-family attached, duplex, triplex, and quadraplex dwellings shall comply with these guidelines in the following instances:
1. When proposed development is subject to a signed statement of consent in accordance with Section 5.2.3, Statement of Consent; and
2. When compliance with these guidelines is included as a condition of approval associated with a conditional rezoning (see Section 2.2.6, Conditional Rezoning).
B. Single-family detached, attached, duplex, triplex, and quadraplex dwellings not subject to a statement of consent are not required to comply with these guidelines, though conformance is strongly encouraged.
(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019; Ord. 2025-11, passed 10-7-2024)
A. Compliance with the design guidelines in this section is voluntary and at the discretion of the applicant. In cases where an applicant chooses to comply with the guidelines in this section, the applicant shall sign the following statement of consent and include it with the application for a preliminary plat, special use permit, site plan, or building permit, as appropriate.
The single-family detached, attached, duplex, triplex, and quadraplex dwellings depicted on the attached site plan, subdivision plat, or other development approval is subject to the Town of Zebulon's Single-Family Residential Design Guidelines in place at the time the application for this development was determined to be complete. I hereby voluntarily consent to the application of these design guidelines, this acceptance of which shall run with the land regardless of changes in ownership, and recognize that failure to comply with the applicable guidelines following approval is a violation of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Landowner Signature Date
B. The signed statement of consent and the development approval shall be recorded in the office of the Wake County Register of Deeds prior to issuance of a building permit.
C. Applicants seeking to establish single-family attached development may consent to complying with the multi-family design standard as an alternative to these provisions.
(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019; Ord. No. 2025-11, passed 10-7-2024)
A. Side and Rear Facades.
1. Although the front facade of a principal building is expected to be the primary focal point in terms of architectural character and features, all sides of a building shall incorporate architectural detailing and windows that complement the front facade and provide visual interest.
2. Blank walls void of windows or architectural detailing are prohibited when adjacent to a street.
B. Foundation Materials.
1. Poured concrete foundations, concrete block foundations, or smooth-faced concrete masonry unit foundations shall be covered by decks, porches, or be clad in face brick, stone, stucco, or some other masonry material accurately imitating these materials. In no instance shall poured concrete, concrete block, or smooth-faced concrete masonry unit foundations be visible on a front or street-facing facade.
2. In cases where a dwelling includes a finished or unfinished basement, the exterior basement walls on the rear or on sides not visible from streets are exempted from these standards.
C. Material Changes.
1. Exterior materials on the front facade shall not change at outside corners, but shall continue along side facades for a minimum distance of at least five feet. Wherever possible, materials shall continue to a logical termination point such as a change in roof line or where a separate wing meets the main body of the dwelling (see Figure 5.2.4.C: Exterior Material Changes).
2. Exterior material changes shall take place along a horizontal line where two forms meet, such as the wall and the foundation, the first and second stories, or the wall and roof. It is acceptable for material changes to be configured as
architectural accents in areas around windows, doors, cornices, at corners, or in a repeating pattern across a facade.
3. Where two or more exterior materials meet or are combined, the heavier or more massive material shall be located below the lighter element(s). For example, brick below wood siding, stone below brick, wood siding below stucco, etc.
4. It is acceptable for heavier materials to be used as accents around doors, windows, and corners.
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D. Prohibited Materials.
1. The use of corrugated metal siding, unpainted plywood, or smooth-face concrete block is prohibited.
2. Synthetic stucco or EIFS shall be prohibited within two feet of the finished grade.
3. Vinyl siding is prohibited as an exterior material though vinyl trim, windows, and soffit are acceptable.
E. Street-Facing Garages.
1. Maximum Door Width. Street-facing garage doors configured in accordance with these guidelines shall not exceed a maximum width of 18 feet per garage door.
2. Location. The placement of the primary entrance closer to the street than a street-facing garage door is strongly encouraged, but in no instance shall a primary entrance be more than nine feet farther from the street than a street-facing garage door.
3. Design Features. Street-facing garages configured in accordance with these guidelines shall incorporate at least three of the following design features on the building wall containing the garage doors (see Figure 5.2.4.E.3: Garage Door Design Features):
a. Each garage door shall include transparent or opaque windows;
b. Garage doors shall incorporate decorative hinges or hardware that may be functional or aesthetic;
c. Garage doors shall include an overhang, eave, trellis, arbor, awning, or other similar architectural feature that projects at least 16 inches beyond the facade directly above the garage door(s);
d. Garage doors shall be flanked on either side by vertical design elements like columns, pilasters, posts, or similar vertical feature; or
e. The garage door(s) are located at least two or more feet behind a front porch or the primary entrance to the dwelling.
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F. Side-Loaded Garages. Side-loaded garages configured in accordance with these guidelines may be closer to the street than the primary entrance to the dwelling, provided the garage facade facing the street includes compatible design features found on other building facades, including but not limited to:
1. Windows;
2. Eaves;
3. Overhangs;
4. Decorative trim;
5. Material changes; or
6. Other architectural features included for the sake of compatibility with the building's other facades.
G. Duplex Entrances.
1. A duplex structure shall be organized so as to give the appearance of being a large single-family detached home.
2. A single shared main entry door is strongly encouraged.
3. In no instance shall two entry doors be located on the same side of the house.
H. Architectural Variability.
1. A continuous row of identical buildings along a block shall be prohibited. Each building shall include "distinctly different" front facade elevations within any single phase of the development such that:
a. No three structures that are side-by-side may have the same front facade elevation; and
b. No structures directly across the street from one another shall have the same front facade elevation (see Figure 5.2.4.H.1: Distinctly Different).
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2. For the purposes of this section, "distinctly different" shall mean that a dwelling must differ from other adjacent and opposing dwellings in at least six of the following ways (see Figure 5.2.4.H.2: Distinction Options):
a. A discernable color variation, not a slight variation of a similar hue, such as beige or pastel;
b. Variation in exterior materials;
c. Use of two or more distinct variations in roof forms (e.g. gable, hip, shed, mansard, gambrel, flat, or other);
d. Variations in the number of building stories of at least one story;
e. Variation in the amount of habitable space by 400 square feet or more;
f. A change in the depth of the setback from the street which gives the dwelling its street address by 15 feet or more;
g. Changes in the type and color of roofing material on structures with pitched roofs;
h. The orientation of the longest building axis to the street the dwelling faces, whether parallel, perpendicular, or at an angle; or
i. The orientation of primary roof ridgeline to the street the dwelling faces, whether parallel, perpendicular, or at an angle.
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(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019)
A. Purpose and Intent. These commercial design standards supplement the applicable zoning district and use-specific standards of this Ordinance by providing minimum requirements for design and configuration of commercial development within the Town's planning jurisdiction. They are proposed to provide clarity on the Town's expectations for the quality and appearance of new commercial development. More specifically, the purposes of these standards are to:
1. Foster high-quality, attractive commercial development consistent with Town's adopted policy guidance;
2. Assure a fair and consistent application of the commercial design standards to new development and redevelopment;
3. Foster creativity in commercial design and greater compatibility between commercial development and its local surroundings; and
4. Promote property values and protect existing public and private investment.
B. Applicability.
1. These commercial design standards shall apply to new construction of any principal structures from all use types listed in the Commercial and Institutional Use Classification section of Table 4.2.3, Principal Use Table.
C. Exemptions. The standards in this section shall not apply to the following forms of development:
1. Mixed-uses, which shall instead comply with the standards in Section 5.3.2, Mixed-Use Design Standards;
2. Development located within the LHO district;
3. Industrial use types identified in Table 4.2.3, Principal Use Table;
4. Conversion of an existing noncommercial structure to a commercial use where no additional floor area is being added; and
5. Routine maintenance and repairs to existing commercial buildings.
D. Timing of Review. Review for compliance with these standards shall take place during review of an associated rezoning, site plan, or special use permit, as appropriate.
E. Building Walls Distinguished.
1. Exterior building walls on principal buildings subject to these standards shall be distinguished as primary, secondary, and tertiary in accordance with the following standards (see Figure 5.3.1.E: Commercial Building Walls Distinguished):
a. Primary walls are the architectural front facade of the building that faces the street from which the building is addressed.
b. Secondary building walls are exterior building walls that correspond to the side or rear of a building that are visible from public recreation lands or streets other than the street that the building is addressed from.
c. Tertiary walls are all other exterior building walls.
2. Different standards apply to building walls based on their designation as a primary, secondary, or tertiary building wall.
3. In cases where site conditions result in a situation where a building wall could be designated as either a primary or secondary wall by the Planning Director, the wall shall be treated as a primary wall. Nothing in these standards shall limit the number of primary walls on any particular building.
4. In cases where site conditions result in a situation where a building wall could be designated as either a secondary or tertiary wall by the Planning Director, the wall shall be treated as a secondary wall.
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F. Design Requirements. Development subject to these standards shall be designed in accordance with the following:
1. Street Network.
a. On sites including new streets, an interconnected network of streets shall be provided, to the maximum extent practicable, and streets shall connect to adjacent existing streets outside of the development.
b. Circulation patterns for drive-through facilities shall be designed to accommodate the stacking of vehicles without interfering with the movement of vehicles or pedestrians.
c. Development shall comply with all applicable provisions in Section 5.1, Access and Circulation.
2. Customer Entrances.
a. Building entrances shall be designated as a primary or a secondary entrance by the applicant, but each principal building shall have at least one primary entrance. Nothing shall limit a building from having multiple primary entrances.
b. Primary building entrances shall be visually prominent and shall include at least three of the following features (see Figure 5.3.1.F.2.b: Primary Building Entrances):
i. Changes in building material or color;
ii. Changes in paving or walking surface materials;
iii. A significant architectural feature that extends above the primary roof height;
iv. A projection or recess of at least five feet beyond the adjacent wall plane;
v. Outdoor pedestrian gathering or seating areas capable of serving at least five people at the same time;
vi. A canopy, awning, portico, archway, arcade, or other covering that extends outwards from the building wall by at least five feet;
vii. Glazing that extends upwards for at least 75 percent of the building's height proximate to the entrance door(s);
viii. Architectural detailing around the entryway such as tilework, entablature, or integrated moldings; or
ix. Fountains, artwork, or landscaping plantings in raised planters immediately adjacent to the entrance door(s).
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3. Building Address Numbers.
a. Every principal building subject to these standards shall include the building's street address above or adjacent to the primary building entrance in accordance with applicable requirements in the Town Code of Ordinances.
b. Address numbers shall be provided in numeric form rather than spelled out, and shall be provided in an easily discernable typeface.
4. Building Articulation. Building walls subject to these standards shall include articulation features in accordance with the following standards (see Figure 5.3.1.F.4: Commercial Building Articulation).
a. Number of Articulation Types Required. The minimum number of articulation features to be provided on any single building wall depends upon whether the wall is a primary, secondary, or a tertiary wall.
i. Primary Building Walls. Primary building walls shall be configured to provide at least two types of building articulation listed in Section 5.3.1.F.4.b, Types of Building Articulation.
ii. Secondary Building Walls. Secondary building walls shall provide at least one of the building articulation types identified in Section 5.3.1.F.4.b, Types of Building Articulation.
iii. Tertiary Building Walls. Tertiary building walls shall not be required to provide any building articulation features.
b. Types of Building Articulation. Each of the following seven features shall qualify as one type of building articulation for the purposes of Section 5.3.1.F.4.a, Number of Articulation Types Required:
i. Horizontal Facade Modulation.
1. Horizontal facade modulation is the projection or recesses of building floor area either forward of primary wall plane or inwards from the primary wall plane.
2. Each individual projection or recess shall have a minimum depth of ten feet either beyond or inwards from the primary wall plane.
3. Each individual projection or recess shall have a minimum span of at least to 20 percent of the facade's total length.
4. At least 40 percent of the facade's total length shall be occupied by a projection or recess.
5. Individual projections or recesses along a wall shall be separated from one another by at least two linear feet.
6. In the case of multi-story buildings, horizontal facade modulation shall be required only on the first floor for two-story buildings and on the first and second floors for three- or more-story buildings.
ii. Vertical Facade Modulation. Vertical facade modulation consists of architectural building elements such as columns, pilasters, posts, bays, fins, ribs, moldings, pediments, arcades, or similar features that extend outwards or recess inwards from the primary wall plan for a minimum distance of two feet. Vertical facade modulation shall extend from the grade to the top of the facade and shall maintain regular spacing across at least 50 percent of the facade.
iii. Bow or Curvilinear Feature.
1. Inclusion of a convex or concave bow or other curvilinear wall feature with a minimum depth or projection of at least ten feet relative to the primary facade plane.
2. Bows or curvilinear features shall occupy at least 50 percent of the total facade length.
3. In the case of multi-story buildings, a bow or curvilinear feature shall be required only on the first floor for two-story buildings and on the first and second floors for three- or more-story buildings.
iv. Green Wall. Wall-mounted panels affixed to an exterior building wall configured in accordance with the following:
1. Each panel shall include living plants in a growing medium spaced so that no portion of the growing medium or the exterior wall beneath the panel is visible from a distance of five feet;
2. Panels shall be self-watering and comprised of cold-hardy plants acclimatized to central North Carolina;
3. Invasive plants are prohibited;
4. Panels shall be configured so that at least 40 percent of the exterior facade is beneath a panel; and
5. Plants shall be maintained and replaced as needed to ensure compliance with subsection (1) above.
v. Roof Modulation. Inclusion of differing roof planes, roof pitches, roof forms, roof heights, or roof materials that are visually distinct from one another.
vi. Primary Building Entrance. Inclusion of a primary building entrance configured in accordance with Section 5.3.1.F.2. Customer Entrances.
vii. Outdoor Seating. Inclusion of an outdoor seating or outdoor dining area adjacent to the facade with all the following features:
1. A direct means of entry into the building;
2. Seating capable of accommodating at least five people at the same time;
3. Protection from automobiles and bicycles circulating on the site or on an adjacent street;
4. Exterior lighting, if the establishment is open before sunrise or after dark;
5. Shading from the sun or rain; and
6. Wifi access, if wifi is provided to members of the public indoors.
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5. Materials and Colors.
a. Material Configuration.
i. Where two or more materials are proposed on a building facade, the heavier or more massive material (like stone) shall be located below the lighter or less massive material (stucco).
ii. Heavier details may be permitted as details on corners or around doors and windows.
iii. Material changes shall take place at locations such as the intersection of building wings, the intersection of differing storefronts or leaseholds, interior corners, or other logical locations.
iv. Material changes shall not take place at outside corners and material returns shall be included to a logical termination point past an exterior building corner such as a bump-out, building wing, or change in wall direction (see Figure 5.3.1.F.5: Commercial Building Materials).
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b. Prohibited Materials. The following materials shall be prohibited on any primary or secondary building facade walls:
i. Untextured tilt-up concrete panels;
ii. Pre-fabricated steel panels;
iii. Corrugated sheet metal;
iv. Smooth-face concrete blocks;
v. Vinyl siding, soffit, or fascia;
vi. Synthetic stucco within two feet of the grade;
vii. Asphalt shingles or siding; or
viii. Mirrored glass.
c. Color.
i. Primary Colors. Overly bright neon, or "day-glow" colors shall not be used as primary exterior building colors. Nothing shall limit pastel or traditional community material colors.
ii. Accent Colors. Building trim and accent areas may feature brighter colors, including primary colors, but these colors may not comprise more than 15 percent of any building facade.
6. Roof Form.
a. Roof pitches less than 3:12 and flat roofs shall require a parapet wall on all sides visible from the street. Parapet walls shall fully screen all roof-fop mechanical equipment from the street in accordance with Section 5.10, Screening.
b. Parapet walls shall have decorative cornices or caps.
c. A pitched roof shall have eaves that extend a minimum of 12 inches beyond the building face.
d. Gable roofs shall incorporate roof rakes that project outwards a minimum of six inches from the building face.
7. Fenestration. Building walls shall incorporate fenestration features in accordance with the following standards (see Figure 5.3.1.F.7: Commercial Building Fenestrations:
a. Primary Building Walls. Primary building walls shall be configured so that:
i. At least 40 percent of the first floor portion of the primary wail is occupied by visually transparent windows or doors;
ii. At least 30 percent of a second floor portion of the primary wall (if provided) is occupied by visually transparent windows or doors;
iii. A window or functional general access doorway is located at least every 20 feet along the facade; and
iv. No more than 50 percent of any single window or door is obstructed by a window sign or other opaque display.
b. Secondary Building Walls. Secondary building walls shall be configured so that at least 30 percent of the ground floor facade and at least 20 percent of any second floor facade is occupied by:
i. Visually transparent windows or doors with regular spacing;
ii. False or opaque windows with regular spacing;
iii. Articulated wall forms designed to mimic window openings that also include an overhang or awning.
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8. Awnings.
a. No awning shall extend outwards from the building wall more than the width of the sidewalk or ten feet, whichever is less.
b. Awnings must be self-supporting from the building wall.
c. No supports shall rest on or interfere with the use of pedestrian walkways or streets.
d. In no case shall any awning extend beyond the street curb or interfere with street trees or public utilities.
9. Outparcels. Development on outparcels or pad sites associated with a commercial development shall comply with the following requirements (see Figure 5.3.1.F.9: Outparcel Development):
a. Buildings on outparcels or pad sites shall incorporate materials that are similar to and compatible with those used on the primary buildings in the development. Corporate or prototypical architecture shall be reconfigured as necessary in order to comply with this standard.
b. Building walls associated with development on an outparcel or pad site shall be configured solely in accordance with the articulation and fenestration provisions for primary or secondary walls, as appropriate for the main buildings in the development.
c. Spaces between buildings on outparcels or pad sites shall include pedestrian amenities such as plazas, seating areas, and gathering places in addition to off-street parking spaces.
d. Outparcel buildings on lots at street corners shall be located and configured to define the corner through a combination of:
i. Locating the building as close to the rights-of-way as is practicable;
ii. Limiting surface parking between the building and the streets;
iii. Providing a public gathering space adjacent to the corner; and
iv. Distinctive roof form or other pedestrian features such as porches, canopies, or arcades.
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10. Multi-Building Development. Development composed of multiple buildings totaling 30,000 gross square feet or more shall be configured in one or more of the following ways (see Figure 5.3.1.F.10: Multi-Building Development):
a. Break up the site into a series of smaller "blocks" defined by on-site streets, pedestrian walkways, or other circulation routes;
b. Locate the buildings around the corner of an adjacent street intersection or entry point to the development;
c. Enclose parking areas, public spaces, or other site amenities on at least three sides through the placement of buildings; or
d. Enclose outdoor dining or gathering places between buildings.
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11. Site Features.
a. Off-Street Parking Location.
i. Sites comprised of commercial buildings subject to these design standards shall be configured such that no more than 50 percent of the provided off-street parking shall be located between a building's primary building facade and the street it faces.
ii. Off-street parking serving development located within a Gateway Corridor Overlay (GCO) district shall be configured in accordance with the applicable requirements in Section 3.8.3, Gateway Corridor Overlay (GCO) District.
b. Service, Loading, and Delivery Areas. Ground mounted mechanical equipment, solid waste collection, recycling collection, and loading spaces shall be located to the rear or side yard and screened in accordance with Section 5.10, Screening.
c. Canopies. Except for canopies associated with fuel sales, overhead canopies intended to cover the vehicles of patrons shall be configured in accordance with the following standards:
i. The total number of canopies shall be limited to one per building;
ii. The canopy shall be physically connected to the principal structure;
iii. The canopy shall be located to the side or rear of the structure, or configured so that it has the appearance of being enclosed by building walls on at least two sides;
iv. The canopy shall be configured of consistent or complimentary materials and colors as the primary exterior materials, including canopy supports;
v. The canopy shall be subject to maximum height standards for buildings in the zoning district where located; and
vi. The canopy shall comply with the standards in Section 5.4, Exterior Lighting.
G. Standards for Large Format Retail Uses. The following standards shall apply to large format retail uses.
1. Large Format Retail Uses Distinguished. Large format retail uses are commercial use types (see Table 4.2.3, Principal Use Table) in buildings that are:
a. More than 50,000 square feet gross floor area on the ground floor for a single tenant;
b. More than 150,000 square feet on the ground floor serving multiple tenants, including outparcels.
2. Compliance with Commercial Design Requirements. Large format retail uses shall comply with the following commercial design standards:
a. Section 5.3.1.F.1, Street Network;
b. Section 5.3.1.F.3, Building Address Numbers;
c. Section 5.3.1.F.4, Building Articulation;
d. Section 5.3.1.F.5, Materials and Colors;
e. Section 5.3.1.F.6, Roof Form;
f. Section 5.3.1.F.8, Awnings;
g. Section 5.3.1.F.9, Outparcels;
h. Section 5.3.1.F.10, Multi-Building Development; and
i. Section 5.3.1.F.11, Site Features, except off-street parking location.
3. Additional Standards for Large Format Retail Uses.
a. Customer Entrances. Large format retail establishments shall comply with the standards in Section 5.3.1.F.2, Customer Entrances, except that primary entrances shall include four of the listed options instead of three.
b. Fenestration. Building walls on large format retail uses shall incorporate fenestration features in accordance with the following standards (see Figure 5.3.1.G.3.b: Large Retail Building Fenestration):
i. Primary Building Walls. Primary building walls shall be configured so that:
1. At least 10 percent of the first floor portion of the primary wall is occupied by visually transparent windows or doors; and
2. No more than 50 percent of any single window or door is obstructed by a window sign or other opaque display.
ii. Secondary Building Walls. Secondary building walls shall be configured so that at least 5 percent of the ground floor facade is occupied by:
1. Visually transparent windows or doors;
2. False or opaque windows;
3. Articulated wall forms designed to mimic window openings that also include an overhang or awning.
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c. Off-Street Parking Location.
i. Sites comprised of large format retail buildings subject to these design standards shall be configured such that no more than 75 percent of the provided off-street parking shall be located between a building's primary building facade and the street it faces.
ii. Off-street parking serving large format retail development located within a Gateway Corridor Overlay (GCO) district shall be configured in accordance with the applicable requirements in Section 3.8.3, Gateway Corridor Overlay (GCO) District.
(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019; Ord. 2022-19, passed 10-4-2021)
A. Purpose and Intent. The purpose for these standards is to create vibrant, pedestrian-oriented areas of residential and non-residential use that are located in the same building or in close proximity to one another on the same site. More specifically, these standards are intended to:
1. Create well-designed, desirable places for Town residents and visitors to shop, dine, recreate, and live;
2. Ensure development within mixed use areas is compact and walkable;
3. Shorten travel times and support alternative modes of transportation by reducing the need for automobile travel within urban portions of the Town;
4. Encourage human-scaled development that is pedestrian-oriented;
5. Reduce development costs by facilitating the most dense forms of development in areas easily served by public infrastructure; and
6. Accommodate both vertically mixed-use development within an individual building as well as horizontally mixed-use development on a single site.
B. Applicability. The standards in this section shall apply to all the following:
1. New development within the OI district;
2. New multi-story development within the DTP district;
3. Live/work dwellings;
4. Upper story residential; and
5. Any development that includes principal use types from the residential and commercial or institutional use classifications in Table 4.2.3, Principal Use Table, within the same building or within the same development site.
C. Exemptions. These standards shall not be applied to the following forms of development:
1. Agriculture-related uses;
2. Renovation or redevelopment of existing structures; and
3. Mixed-use development established prior to January 1, 2020.
D. Timing of Review. Review for compliance with these standards shall take place during review of an associated rezoning, site plan, special use permit, or planned development master plan, as appropriate.
E. Design Requirements. Development subject to these standards shall be designed in accordance with the following:
1. Street Network. In cases where mixed-use development involves the construction of new streets or alleys, the new streets shall be configured in accordance with the following standards:
a. Streets shall be organized into a grid pattern with block lengths that do not exceed 500 feet.
b. Streets shall be configured to a design speed of 25 miles per hour.
c. Streets shall include traffic-calming features such as roundabouts, raised pedestrian crossings, bulb-outs, speed tables, raised medians, and chicanes, but excluding speed bumps, which shall not be included.
d. Streets shall include well-defined ADA-compliant crosswalks and small turning radii at intersections.
e. Streets shall include bicycle lanes in accordance with NCDOT standards.
f. Streets shall include sidewalks configured in accordance with Section 6.4, Sidewalks.
g. Mid-block alleys shall be included to facilitate off-street parking and to accommodate service functions.
h. Cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets are prohibited, except where topography or natural features make them necessary.
2. Building Orientation.
a. Single Building Development. New development consisting of a single building shall be oriented such that the long axis of the building is either parallel or perpendicular to the street right-of-way it faces.
b. Multiple Building Development. Development comprised of multiple buildings shall be configured with two or more of the following design elements (see Figure 5.3.2.E.2.b: Multiple Building Development):
i. Site configuration os a series of smaller "blocks" defined by buildings fronting on-site streets and internal vehicle accessways, utilizing pedestrian oriented design such as walkways, or other circulation routes and multi-modal transportation access/waiting areas when appropriate;
ii. Corner buildings designed to front both sides of an adjacent street intersection or entry point to the development in an "L" configuration;
iii. Buildings facing each other across a relatively narrow vehicular access area with pedestrian amenities in a "main street" character;
iv. Buildings enclosing at least three sides of parking areas, public spaces, or other site amenities; or
v. Buildings enclosing outdoor dining or gathering spaces for pedestrians between buildings.
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3. Building Location.
a. Buildings on lots bounding streets shall be built to the edge of the sidewalk. In the case of double or reverse frontage lots, the building shall be located adjacent to the street providing the street address for the building.
b. When development is proposed on a corner lot, the building shall be configured to occupy the lot corner at the street intersection.
c. Nothing shall prevent a mixed-use building from exceeding a maximum front or corner side setback being setback, provided the area between the building and the street is occupied by a public gathering space, open space set-aside, or an area used for outdoor dining.
4. Lot Frontage to be Occupied by Building Wall.
a. In order to ensure an inviting and desirable streetscape for pedestrians, mixed use development shall be configured so that at least 70 percent of the lot frontage is occupied by building wall (see Figure 5.3.2.E.4: Occupied Frontage).
b. Areas occupied by gathering areas (like plazas), urban open space set-aside, or outdoor dining areas shall be credited towards the lot frontage requirements.
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5. Ground Floor Configuration. The ground floor of vertically-integrated mixed-use buildings and buildings located in the OI district shall be configured to meet the North Carolina Building Code requirements for commercial development. Nothing shall require the ground floor to be occupied by a non-residential use.
6. Off-Street Parking Location.
a. Off-street parking areas shall be located to the side or rear of buildings subject to these standards.
b. Mixed-use buildings located outside the NC district and with two or more habitable stories may be configured to allow up to one row of off-street parking spaces between the building and the street it fronts (see Figure 5.3.2.E.6: Off-Street Parking Location). All other off-street parking shall be located to the side or the rear of a mixed-use building.
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7. Building Articulation. Buildings subject to these standards shall be configured so that no single facade fronting a public street shall extend for longer than 35 linear feet without inclusion of one or more of the following features (see Figure 5.3.2.E.7: Mixed-Use Building Articulation):
a. The use of projections or recesses in the building facade wall with a depth of between 18 inches and 36 inches from the primary facade plane and a minimum span of eight feet;
b. The use of columns, pilasters, or other architectural detail harmonious with the general design of the structure with a minimum width of eight inches and spaced no less than every ten feet on-center;
c. Distinct changes in building material that are vertically aligned with variations in roof form and parapet heights; or
d. A single vertical accent or focal point such as a tower feature located on a prominent building corner.
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8. Fenestration.
a. Blank, windowless walls facing sidewalks, streets, and other public places shall be prohibited.
b. At least 40 percent of the first floor facade facing a street shall be transparent, whether through the use of glass windows, doors, or both (see Figure 5.3.2.E.8: Mixed-use Building Fenestration).
c. At least 25 percent of each upper story facade facing a street shall be transparent.
d. Ventilation grates or emergency exit doors located at the first floor level oriented toward a street shall be decorative.
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9. Building Entrances.
a. Primary structures must be oriented with their main entrance facing the street upon which the project fronts.
b. If the site is on a corner, it may have its main entrance oriented to either street or at the corner.
c. Entrances serving mixed-use buildings shall include at least two of the following features fronts (see Figure 5.3.2.E.9: Mixed-Use Building Entrances):
i. Canopies or porticos;
ii. Overhangs;
iii. Recesses/projections;
iv. Soldier courses or story lines;
v. Galleries or arcades;
vi. Raised corniced parapets over the door;
vii. Peaked roof forms;
viii. Arches;
ix. Architectural detail such as tile work and moldings integrated into the building structure and design; or
x. Integral planters that incorporate landscaped areas and places for sitting.
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10. Roof Form.
a. Roof pitches less than 3:12 and flat roofs shall require a parapet wall on all sides visible from the street. Parapet walls shall fully screen all roof-top mechanical equipment from the street.
b. Parapet walls shall have decorative cornices or caps.
c. A pitched roof shall have eaves that extend a minimum of 12 inches from the building face.
d. Roof-mounted mechanical equipment on a pitched roof shall be screened or otherwise camouflaged from view from the street.
11. Weather Protection. Weather protection for pedestrians, such as awnings, canopies, galleries, and arcades, shall be provided along building frontages abutting a public sidewalk or a hard-surfaced expansion of a sidewalk, and along building frontages between a building entrance and a public street or accessway.
12. Drive-Up/Drive Through Prohibited. No building within a mixed-use development or downtown district shall include drive-up or drive through facilities.
13. Signage. Pole signs shall be prohibited on lots with mixed-use development.
F. Dumpster Enclosure Design. The following standards shall apply to dumpster and refuse collection areas for commercial uses.
1. The sides and back of enclosures shall be constructed of the same materials as the primary building and the following materials are prohibited.
a. Natural wood fence panels.
b. Synthetic Stucco or EFIS.
c. Chain-Link.
d. Reflective Corrugated Metal.
2. Gates shall be constructed of a metal panel system and painted or coated black, grey, or similar neutral color.
3. Enclosures shall meet the requirements of Table 5.10.5 Screening Methods.
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(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019; Ord. 2022-19, passed 10-4-2021; Ord. 2022-40, passed 5-2-2022)
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