A. 
It is the goal of the Town of North Reading to preserve the rural, small-town character of our community. The following design and development standards have been adopted for the purpose of assisting applicants for building, zoning or planning approval to understand our goals.
B. 
We wish to preserve the blossom of springtime, the green landscape of summer, the changing colors of fall, the snowy cover of wintertime, and the celestial display of nighttime. We also want to retain the distinctive quality of regional New England design, the natural form of the land, our habitat, and the ability to travel by auto, bike or foot.
C. 
The architecture of New England is defined by steep gable rooflines and natural building materials. Each new building should have a clearly articulated heritage which builds on the historic forms. This does not mean that all buildings must be in a historic style. Innovative design is encouraged when it is developed in a manner which is compatible with the design goals.
D. 
All construction activity within any Main Street Overlay District shall be subject to site plan review and approval by the Community Planning Commission.
A. 
Primary articulated facade to face Main Street.
B. 
At least one primary entry visible from Main Street.
C. 
Unglazed concrete block, plywood, plywood siding, plastic siding and other industrial materials are not to be used on structures or construction which is visible from the road or adjacent properties. Vinyl and aluminum siding should only be used in applications which replicate historic building materials including use of window trim, corner boards and cornices. Asphalt shingles should be of architectural design.
D. 
Designs should not include long stretches of unrelieved roof or wall.
E. 
Follow the requirements of each design district.
A. 
Site design.
(1) 
At least 25% of street frontage is to be faced by a building or a green space (which is a minimum of 25 feet in depth) beyond which paving is not visible.
(2) 
Plan for snow removal.
(3) 
Provide appropriate areas for special events and holiday decorating.
(4) 
Site buildings to take advantage of existing topography. No change of grade at property line is allowed. Retaining walls are not to exceed three feet in height; retaining walls to be separated by a minimum of 20 feet. All retaining walls over 18 inches in height must have a stone facing.
B. 
Pedestrian and bicycle access.
(1) 
A walkway from the existing or future public sidewalk to each business's public entrance is to be provided.
(2) 
Properties with multiple entries are to include a sidewalk within 25 feet of the front of the building to connect each entry with other property entrances and with the public walk.
(3) 
Parking for bikes, one for every 20 auto parking spaces, is to be provided.
(4) 
Provide bike access to the site by providing connections to existing or future paths and secondary (or service) roads.
C. 
Lighting standards.
(1) 
Require shielding of all fixtures over 50 watts incandescent or four watts of other light source to limit light pollution.
(2) 
Restrict intensity of parking area lighting to a maximum of two to four footcandles at grade.
(3) 
Limit height of light fixtures to 12 feet.
A. 
Trees.
(1) 
Provide a preservation plan for trees with six inches or greater trunk diameter. Plan must show all such trees. Where there is a compelling reason for removing large trees, mitigation must be proposed.
(2) 
Shade trees of the type described in the overlay district guidelines are to be planted at an average of 30 feet on center along streets.
B. 
Green space.
(1) 
Provide a minimum five-foot planting area around 60% of the perimeter of the building.
(2) 
Five percent of the site is to be landscaped green space at the roadway (in front of any building and parking).
(3) 
A minimum of 50% of the site is to be landscaped green space. Green space can be reduced to 20% of site if a permanent easement across the property has been provided for a pedestrian/bikeway and the site plan provides for automobile access and bike/pedestrian access to adjacent properties.
(4) 
Retain undisturbed habitat or restore native plants on at least 10% of all sites. This will facilitate retention of songbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife as well as native plants which are considered part of the amenity of living in a rural area.
(5) 
Fencing or a stone wall with landscape conforming to the overlay district's standard is to be provided between any parking and the street.
C. 
Fencing and walls.
(1) 
Chain link fence and concrete block walls are not allowed.
(2) 
Buffers between residential and commercial uses are required. A stone or brick wall six feet in height with gates is to be provided whenever there is construction or parking within 50 feet of the property line. All buffers are to include evergreen trees planted at a minimum of 15 feet on center and staggered deciduous trees at the same spacing. Buffers which do not include a wall or fence are to include plantings which will block a minimum of 80% of the view between grade and eight feet in height.
D. 
Signs.
(1) 
The maximum height of freestanding signs is 25 feet.
(2) 
Street addresses are to be included on all freestanding signs.
(3) 
Wall signs are required to follow building design.
(4) 
A Master Signage Plan is to be provided for all multi-tenant buildings.
(5) 
Bright or primary colors, are limited to one per property, to be used as part of a comprehensive color scheme which includes subdued tones and which complements surrounding architecture; use of day-glow colors is prohibited.
A. 
Lowell Corner. The design goal of this district is to preserve the suburban/rural character of the historic residential and public buildings of the community. Buildings should be of a residential scale and include proportions, materials, colors and forms of traditional architecture in the area. Landscaping should be prominent and include lawns, specimen trees, shrubs and flowering plants. Paving should be minimized and heavily screened.
(1) 
Building form: sloped roof (minimum 1:2 rises), maximum forty-foot-by-eighty-foot building segments, double-hung windows and porches are appropriate; as are cupolas, arbors, and weather vanes.
(2) 
Preferred materials: clapboard, shingle, or brick siding with slate or architectural shingles.
(3) 
Colors: white siding with dark green, red or other appropriate accents.
(4) 
Fencing: stone wall or picket fencing
B. 
North Crossing. The design goal of this district is to reflect the traditional small town centers of the region. Buildings should be retail in character and include prominent display windows on all primary facades. The proportions, materials, colors and forms of traditional downtown architecture in the region should be utilized. Landscape should include street trees and planters.
(1) 
Building form: sloped roof (minimum 1:2 rises) or an articulated cornice on buildings of two or more stories, maximum sixty-foot-by-one-hundred-foot building segments.
(2) 
Preferred materials: brick, stone, steel, and glass, or plaster.
(3) 
Colors: earth tones and deep colonial colors with contrasting accents.
(4) 
Fencing: stone walls or cast iron.
C. 
Park and Trail Crossing. The design goal of this district is to reflect the historic character of North Reading established in the commercial areas surrounding the Town Common. Buildings should be institutional or retail in character with prominent first-floor display windows.
(1) 
Building form: sloped roof (minimum 1:2) or an articulated cornice on buildings of over two stories. Storefronts to include 70% glass on primary elevations. Maximum sixty-foot-by-one-hundred-foot building segments.
(2) 
Preferred materials: clapboard, shingles, brick and stone siding. Roofs of slate, architectural shingles or standing seam painted metal.
(3) 
Colors: white or light-colored siding with dark green, red or other appropriate accents.
(4) 
Fencing: detailed white picket or finished stone walls.
D. 
Country Road. The design goal of this district is to preserve the rural character of the community. Buildings should be of a residential/agricultural scale and include proportions, materials, color and forms of traditional rural architecture in the area. Landscape should be natural or agricultural in appearance consisting predominantly of undisturbed vegetation, native plants, and/or large-scale naturalized plantings. Paving should be minimized and heavily screened.
(1) 
Building form: sloped roof (minimum 1:2 rises), maximum forty-foot-by-eighty-foot building segment, double-hung windows and porches are appropriate; as are cupolas and weather vanes. The extended New England farm house is a possible visual image as is a roadside inn or barn.
(2) 
Preferred materials: clapboard, shingle, brick, barn siding with slate or architectural shingles.
(3) 
Color: barn red, forest green, and similar deep colonial colors with contrasting accents.
(4) 
Fencing: split rail, board and post, or field stone.