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.
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.
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).
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.
(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019)