[Adopted as Ch. 12, Art. I, of the 1964 Code]
[Amended 3-1-1982 by FMC-171]
This article shall be known as the "Flossmoor Appearance Code."
This Appearance Code applies to the exterior design features,
landscaping, and site plans of all uses in all zoning districts except
single-family residences.
[Amended 2-19-2007 by FMC-414]
Whenever a word or term hereinafter defined appear as in the
text of this article, its meaning shall be construed as set forth
in the definition thereof. Words or terms, not hereinafter defined,
shall be as defined in Webster's Dictionary, latest edition.
The external architectural and aesthetic aspects of a site
and its improvements.
The visible, functional or decorative objects accessory to
and part of buildings.
The composite of the characteristics of structure, form,
materials, and function of a building or group of buildings.
The basic aesthetic idea of a building, or group of building
or structures, including the site and landscape development, which
produces the architectural character.
A prominent or significant part or element of a building,
structure, or site.
The characteristic form and detail, such as that associated
with buildings of a particular historic period.
Having qualities that demonstrate a harmonious relationship
among architectural style, concept, and character.
A raised form of earth to provide screening or to improve
the aesthetic character.
The Village of Flossmoor Appearance Code.
Unity of composition between design elements of a building,
or a group of buildings, and the landscape development.
Harmony in the appearance of two or more buildings, structures,
and landscape developments in the same vicinity.
The protection and care that prevent destruction or deterioration
of historical or otherwise significant structures, buildings, or natural
resources.
A wall, fence, or landscaping intended to partially or entirely
cut off visibility to the area behind it.
The underlying aesthetic standards shaping the features of
a building or site development program.
An essential and visible part of the exterior of a building.
The architectural style and general arrangement of such portion
of a building or structure, including the kind, color, and texture
of the building material of such portion and the type of windows,
doors, and lights attached, or signs and other fixtures appurtenant
to such portion.
A letter, illustration, symbol, figure, insignia, or other
device employed to express and illustrate a message or part thereof.
A unity of design that produces an aesthetically pleasing
whole as in an arrangement of varied architectural and landscape elements.
Elements of nature, topography, buildings and man-made objects
combined in relation to one another.
The use of accepted design principles and valid criteria
in the solution of the design problem.
Equipment, devices, and accessories, the use of which relates
to water supply, drainage, heating, ventilating, air conditioning,
and similar purposes.
Structures, other than buildings. Examples are: memorials,
stagings, antennas, water tanks and towers, sheds, shelters, fences,
walls, kennels, transformers, drive-up facilities.
Trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, grass, perennials, annuals,
and bulbs.
A balanced relationship of parts of a building, landscape,
structures, or buildings to each other and to the whole.
Regulations adopted by the responsible commission or designated
staff for the administration of duties delegated by the legislative
authority.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
Harmonious relationship of the size of parts to one another
and to the human figure.
A structural or landscape device to interrupt long vistas
and create visual interest in a site development.
Man-made objects, other than buildings, which are part of
the streetscape. Examples are: lamp posts, utility poles, benches,
litter containers, planting containers, letter boxes, and flag poles.
The scene as may be observed along a public-street or way
composed of natural and man-made components, including buildings,
paving planting, street furniture, and miscellaneous structures.
A structure or enclosure relating to mechanical or electrical
services to a building or development.
Devices such as poles, crossarms, transformers and vaults,
gas pressure regulating assemblies, hydrants, and buffalo boxes that
are used for water, gas, oil, sewer and electrical services to a building
or a project.
Any device, including wire, pipe, and conduit which carries
gas, water, electricity, oil and communications into a building or
development.
The Village of Flossmoor, Illinois.
The purpose of these criteria is to establish a checklist of
those items that affect the physical aspect of Flossmoor's environment.
Pertinent to appearance is the design of the site, building and structures,
planting, signs, street furniture, and miscellaneous other objects.
These criteria are not intended to restrict imagination, innovation,
or variety, but rather to assist in focusing on design principles
that can result in creative solutions that will develop a satisfactory
visual appearance within the Village, preserve taxable values, and
promote the public health, safety, and welfare.
A.
Relationship of buildings to site.
(1)
The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition
with the streetscape, and to provide for adequate planting, safe pedestrian
movement, and parking areas.
(2)
Site planning in which setbacks and yards are in excess of zoning
restrictions may be encouraged to provide an interesting relationship
between buildings.
(3)
Without restricting the permissible limits of the applicable
zoning district, the height and scale of each building shall be compatible
with its site and existing (or proposed) adjoining buildings.
(4)
Newly installed utility, telephone and cable services, and service
revisions necessitated by exterior alterations, shall be underground
as required by the applicable codes and/or regulations of the Village.
B.
Relationship of buildings and site to adjoining area.
C.
Landscape and site treatment.
(1)
Where natural or existing topographic patterns contribute to
beauty and do not detract from the utility of a development, they
shall be preserved and developed. Modification to topography in areas
defined by the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance will be permitted
only in accordance with the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and
requires a permit by the Director of Public Works/Village Engineer.
(2)
Parking spaces, terraces, grades of walks, and other paved areas
shall provide an inviting and attractive appearance for walking and,
if seating is provided, for sitting.
(3)
Landscape treatment shall be provided to enhance architectural
features, strengthen vistas and important axes, and to provide shade.
(4)
Unity of design shall be achieved by repetition of certain plant
varieties and other materials, and by correlation with adjacent developments.
(5)
Plant material shall be selected for interest in its structure,
texture, and color and for its ultimate growth. Plants that are indigenous
to the area and others that will be hardy, harmonious to the design,
and of good appearance shall be used.
(6)
In locations where plants will be susceptible to injury by pedestrian
or motor traffic, they shall be protected by appropriate curbs, tree
guards, or other devices.
(7)
Parking areas and traffic ways shall be enhanced with landscaped
spaces containing trees or tree groupings.
(8)
Planting in parking lot islands is required to break up long
and monotonous expanses of cars. (See Zoning Ordinance, Article 23-102.10.4.)
(9)
Parking areas shall be treated with decorative elements, building
wall extensions, plantings, berms or other innovative means so as
to screen parking area.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
(10)
Screening of service yards, and other places which tend to be
unsightly, shall be accomplished by use of walls, fencing, planting,
or combinations of these. Screening shall be equally effective in
winter and summer.
(11)
In areas where general planting will not prosper, other materials,
such as fences, walls, and pavings of wood, brick, stone, gravel,
and cobbles, shall be used. Carefully selected plants shall be combined
with such materials where possible.
(12)
Exterior lighting, when used, shall enhance the building design
and the adjoining landscape. Lighting standards and building fixtures
shall be of a design and size compatible with the building and adjacent
areas. Lighting shall be restrained in design, excessive brightness
avoided, and lighting shall be so arranged as to reflect the light
away from adjoining properties.
D.
Building design.
(1)
Architectural style is not restricted. Evaluation of appearance
of a project shall be based on quality of its design and relationship
to surroundings.
(2)
Buildings shall have compatible scale and be in harmonious conformance
with permanent neighboring development.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
(3)
Buildings shall not adversely affect the market values of property
in the Village.
(4)
Materials.
(a)
Materials shall have compatible architectural character and
shall be selected for harmony with the building and adjoining buildings.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
(b)
Materials shall be selected for suitability to the type of buildings
and the design in which they are used. Buildings shall have the same
materials, or those which are architecturally harmonious, used for
all building walls and other exterior building components.
(c)
Materials shall be of durable quality.
(d)
In any design in which the structural frame is exposed to view,
the structural materials shall be compatible with each other and harmonious
to their surroundings.
(5)
Building components, such as windows, doors, eaves, and parapets,
shall have compatible/harmonious proportions and relationships to
one another.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
(6)
Colors shall be harmonious and shall use only compatible accents.
(7)
Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on roof, ground,
or buildings shall be screened with materials harmonious with the
building.
(8)
Exterior lighting shall be part of the architectural concept.
Fixtures, standards, and all exposed accessories shall be harmonious
with building design.
(9)
Refuse and waste removal areas, service yards, storage yards, and exterior work areas shall be screened, using materials as stated in criteria for equipment screening. [See Subsection C(10).]
(10)
Variation of detail, form, and siting shall be used to provide
for visual interest. In multiple building projects, variable siting
of individual buildings may be used to prevent monotonous appearance.
E.
Signs. (Note: See Article
22 of the Zoning Ordinance)
(1)
Every sign shall have compatible/harmonious scale and proportion
in its design and in its visual relationship to buildings and surroundings.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
(2)
Every sign shall be designed as an integral architectural element
of the building and site to which it principally relates.
(3)
The colors, materials, and lighting of every sign shall be restrained
and harmonious with the building and site to which it principally
relates.
(4)
The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the
minimum needed to convey the sign's major message, and shall be composed
in proportion to the area of the sign face.
(5)
Each sign shall be compatible with signs on adjoining premises,
and shall not compete for attention.
(6)
Developers of projects, such as shopping centers or business
buildings, in which individual signs for separate occupancies are
permitted by ordinance shall submit a comprehensive set or list of
specifications that shall provide design review guidelines that would
be administered by the commission for future signs in the project.
(7)
Identification signs of a prototype design and corporation logos
shall conform to the criteria for all other signs.
F.
Miscellaneous structures and street furniture.
(1)
Miscellaneous structures and street furniture shall be designed
to be part of the architectural concept of design and landscape. Materials
shall be compatible with buildings, scale shall be compatible/harmonious,
colors shall be in harmony with buildings and surroundings, and proportions
shall be attractive.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
(2)
Lighting in connection with miscellaneous structures and street
furniture shall be part of the architectural concept. Fixtures, standards
and all exposed accessories shall be harmonious with building design.
G.
Maintenance, planning and design factors.
(1)
Continued well-maintained appearance depends upon the extent
and quality of maintenance. Easy maintenance and upkeep should be
considered in the choice of materials and their use, together with
the types of finishes and other protective measures.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
(2)
Materials and finishes shall be selected for their durability
and wear as well as for their beauty. Proper measures and devices
shall be incorporated for protection against the elements, neglect,
damage, and abuse.
(3)
Provision for washing and cleaning of buildings and structures,
and control of dirt and refuse, shall be included in the design. Configurations
that tend to catch and accumulate debris, leaves, trash, dirt, and
rubbish shall be avoided.
[Amended 2-19-2007 by FMC-414]
The following factors and characteristics which affect the appearance
of a development will govern the evaluation of design submission:
[Amended 2-19-2007 by FMC-414]
A.
In general, maintenance and upkeep are required for all the parts
and objects which compose the Village's image. Lawns and planting
require considerably more periodic attention than do buildings; nonetheless,
both require maintenance in order to retain a good appearance. Improper
and inadequate maintenance results in a bad appearance and decreases
value. Therefore, it is necessary that maintenance be a concern of
the responsible commission or designated staff.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-1783]
B.
Particular considerations.
(1)
Site.
(a)
Landscape materials, other than plantings, which have deteriorated
or have been damaged or defaced, shall be properly repaired or replaced.
(b)
Plant materials which have deteriorated or died shall be replaced
with healthy plantings of appropriate size to be harmonious with original
design, or the area redesigned with other treatment to provide an
attractive appearance.
(c)
Plantings shall be kept watered, fed, cultivated, and pruned
as required to give a healthy and well-groomed appearance during all
seasons.
(d)
Parking areas shall be kept in good repair, properly marked,
and clear of litter and debris.
(e)
Vacant property shall be kept free of refuse and debris, and
shall have the vegetation cut periodically during the growing season.
(2)
Buildings and appurtenances.
(a)
Buildings and appurtenances, including signs, shall be cleaned
and painted in a color harmonious with the original design or repaired
as required to present a neat appearance.
(b)
Deteriorated, worn, or damaged portions shall be rebuilt or
replaced.
(c)
Illumination elements of buildings and signs shall be kept in
good repair so as to maintain the effect for which they were designed.
(3)
Public areas in or adjoining the development.
(a)
Property owners or tenants are encouraged to maintain parkway
planting areas adjacent to their property in order to add to the aesthetic
enhancement of the private property and the overall attractiveness
of the streetscape. (Note: Village approval is required before planting
is permitted within the public right-of-way. Also, county and/or state
approval may be required.)
(b)
Refuse containers of an aesthetically satisfactory design and
color shall be placed in locations which will encourage their use,
to avoid littering of waste materials.
(c)
Street furniture shall be erected and secured properly, and
shall be cleaned or painted regularly to present an orderly appearance.
Signs shall be treated similarly.
A.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed or construed to modify or
alter the provisions of any other chapter of the Municipal Code. In
the event of a conflict between the requirements of this chapter and
those of any other chapter of the Municipal Code, the latter shall
prevail and control.
B.
Relevant other ordinances, existing, amended, or subsequently passed,
shall be deemed as important supplements to the Appearance Code. Such
ordinances include, but are not limited to any section of the following:
the Municipal Code, the Subdivision Regulations, the Zoning Ordinance,
the Building Code, the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, and the
Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance. Nothing in the Appearance
Code shall conflict with, modify, or alter any provisions of said
ordinances as passed or amended.
