[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The following performance standards shall apply to any and all nonresidential uses that request a use permit for the Office Park District under terms of this chapter, subdivision approval under terms of the subdivision ordinance, or a site plan permit under terms of chapter
90. If there is a conflict between the standards identified in the subdivision ordinance, chapter
90, or chapter
98, and these standards, the standards identified in this division shall prevail.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
(a)
Any nonresidential use or structure in the Office Park District
that is constructed on or after August 21, 2001, that has a structure
that abuts a property located in any zoning district other than the
Route 3 Commercial District or the Office Park District shall satisfy
the following minimum buffer yard requirements:
|
Size of Structure
(in square feet)
|
Front Buffer Yard
(in feet)
|
Side Buffer Yard
(in feet)
|
Rear Buffer Yard
(in feet)
|
---|
|
Less than 5,000
|
30
|
35
|
35
|
|
5,001—15,000
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
|
15,001—30,000
|
40
|
40
|
40
|
|
30,001—50,000
|
60
|
60
|
60
|
|
50,001—75,000
|
80
|
80
|
80
|
|
Greater than 75,000
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
(b)
Any new nonresidential use or structure in the Office Park District
that is constructed on or after August 21, 2001, that has a structure
that abuts properties only in the Route 3 Commercial District or the
Office Park District shall satisfy the following minimum buffer yard
requirements:
|
Size of Structure
(in square feet)
|
Front Buffer Yard
(in feet)
|
Side Buffer Yard
(in feet)
|
Rear Buffer Yard
(in feet)
|
---|
|
Less than 5,000
|
25
|
15
|
15
|
|
5,001—15,000
|
25
|
15
|
15
|
|
15,001—30,000
|
40
|
20
|
20
|
|
30,001—50,000
|
605
|
25
|
25
|
|
50,001—75,000
|
80
|
30
|
30
|
|
Greater than 75,000
|
100
|
40
|
40
|
(c)
Any expansion of a structure or use that existed on the date of adoption of the Ordinance from which this division derives (June 7, 2001), shall comply with the minimum buffer yard requirements established in subsections
(a) and
(b) above to the greatest extent practical, as determined by the code enforcement officer or planning board.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
(a)
The amount of the buffer yard must be located on property owned
or controlled by the owner, and shall not include any of the land
area located within an established right-of-way for determining the
amount of buffer yard. The only structures permitted in the buffer
yard, when there is no practical alternative as determined by the
code enforcement officer or planning board, are utilities and essential
services.
(b)
Any new nonresidential structure or use or expansion of an existing
nonresidential structure or use that is built or established on or
after August 21, 2001, and that directly abuts a property or properties
located in any zoning district other than the Route 3 Commercial District
or the Office Park District shall comply with the following minimum
planting requirements for the buffer yard area. The applicant shall
provide the minimum amount of plant units per 100 lineal feet or fraction
thereof (as measured in ten foot increments) for the buffer yards
identified in this subsection. For the purposes of implementing this
section, the number to the left in the following chart is the amount
of plant units that an applicant must provide, and the number to the
right is the guideline that the applicant and planning board or code
enforcement officer should use for the amount of such plant units
that should be canopy trees. The City, however, recognizes that all
sites are not the same, and that a landscape plan and plantings may
be unique to a respective site. The City encourages flexibility to
ensure all plantings enhance site appearance and are harmonious with
all structures and uses on the site and with abutting sites and uses,
and grants the code enforcement officer or planning board, when it
deems appropriate, the authority to alter the amount of specific types
of plant units identified in the guidelines (the right side column).
|
|
Amount of Planting
|
---|
|
Structure Size
(in square feet)
|
Front Buffer Yard
|
Side Buffer Yard
|
Rear Buffer Yard
|
---|
|
Less than 5,000
|
50 pts—30 pts
|
30 pts—20 pts
|
30 pts—20 pts
|
|
5,001—15,000
|
60—30
|
30—20
|
30—20
|
|
15,001—30,000
|
70—40
|
50—35
|
50—35
|
|
30,001—50,000
|
80—45
|
75—60
|
75—60
|
|
50,001—75,000
|
100—50
|
100—80
|
100—80
|
|
Greater than 75,000
|
125—60
|
125—90
|
125—90
|
|
Notwithstanding the above requirements, the code enforcement
officer or planning board may require a greater amount of planting
in the side or rear buffer yard if the structure or use abuts a property
or properties that were used for as a residence prior to the date
of adoption of the ordinance from which this division derives.
|
(c)
Any new nonresidential structure or use expansion of an existing nonresidential structure or use that is built or established on or after August 21, 2001, and that abuts only other properties located in the Office Park District or the Route 3 Commercial District shall comply with the following minimum planting requirements for the buffer yard. The applicant shall provide the minimum amount of plant units per 100 lineal feet or fraction thereof (as measured in ten foot increments) for the buffer yards identified in this section
102-1303. For the purposes of implementing this section, the number to the left in the following chart is the amount of plant units that an applicant must provide, and the number to the right is the guideline that the applicant and planning board or code enforcement officer should use for the amount of such plant units that should be canopy trees. The City, however, recognizes that all sites are not the same, and that a landscape plan and plantings may be unique to a respective site. The City encourages flexibility to ensure all plantings enhance site appearance and are harmonious with all structures and uses on the site and with abutting sites and uses, and grants the code enforcement officer or planning board, when it deems appropriate, the authority to alter the amount of specific types of plant units identified in the guidelines (the right side column).
|
|
Amount of Planting
|
---|
|
Structure Size
(in square feet)
|
Front Buffer Yard
|
Side Buffer Yard
|
Rear Buffer Yard
|
---|
|
Less than 5,000
|
50—30
|
30—20
|
30—20
|
|
5,001—15,000
|
60—30
|
30—20
|
30—20
|
|
15,001—30,000
|
70—40
|
30—20
|
40—30
|
|
30,001—50,000
|
80—45
|
30—30
|
45—30
|
|
50,001—75,000
|
100—50
|
30—20
|
50—30
|
|
Greater than 75,000
|
125—60
|
30—20
|
60—40
|
(d)
A nonresidential use that obtained a use permit before August 21, 2001, or that occupies a structure constructed before August 21, 2001, that proposes to expand the use or structure or change the use, or a nonresidential use that obtained a use permit on or after August 21, 2001, and that occupies a structure constructed before August 21, 2001, that proposes to expand the use or structure or change the use, that cannot fully satisfy the above landscaping requirements for buffer yards (reference subsections
(b) and
(c)) shall satisfy these landscaping of buffer yard requirements to the greatest extent practical. The code enforcement officer or planning board shall determine if an existing use or structure cannot satisfy these landscaping requirements and what constitutes greatest extent practical. The code enforcement officer or planning board may require additional plantings, fencing, larger buffer yards, or similar measures to compensate for the applicant providing less than the amount of landscaping required.
(e)
A new use or nonresidential structure, particularly an industrial structure, that does not fully comply with the structure design guidelines identified in section
102-1305, shall provide a minimum of 1.5 times the amount of front and side buffer yard plantings as required in this subsection, subsections
(b) and
(c).
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
(a)
The required buffer yards shall be landscaped to present an
attractive appearance to the site, particularly the front buffer yard
and the entrance, and to provide a vegetative screen for the site
from abutting uses, particularly residential uses.
All side and rear buffer yards shall be preserved in their natural
states, insofar as practical and appropriate, by minimizing tree removal,
and by controlling any grade changes so that they are compatible with
the general appearance of neighboring developed areas. The applicant
shall submit a landscape plan for all buffer yards, preferably prepared
by a landscape architect licensed in the State of Maine. The code
enforcement officer or planning board may require the submittal of
alternative landscape plans if it determines that site conditions
warrant consideration of landscaping alternatives.
(b)
For purposes of this subsection, a "canopy tree" is a deciduous
tree that reaches at least 35 feet in height at maturity and at time
of planting has a minimum 2.5 inch caliper as measured six inches
above the ground and a height of at least eight feet. An "evergreen
tree" reaches 10 feet to 35 feet in height at maturity and at time
of planting has a minimum of 2.5 inch caliper as measured six inches
above the ground and a minimum height of at least six feet. A "small
flowering tree" is a decorative or ornamental tree (example, flowering
crab) that reaches a height of greater than eight feet at maturity
and at time of planting has a minimum 1.5 inch caliper as measured
six inches above ground and a height of a least six feet. A "shrub"
reaches two to 10 feet in height at maturity and at planting shall
be at least 18 inches in height. A "flower garden" is a label attached
to an area that measures at least 50 square feet in size and that
contains a variety of annual or perennial flowers and/or ground cover
plantings.
(c)
The species of vegetation identified in subsection
(b) above, shall have the following values for the purposes of determining compliance with the planting requirements for the buffer yards:
(1)
One canopy tree shall be equal to 10 plants units.
(2)
One evergreen tree shall be equal to ten plant units in the
rear buffer yard and five plant units in the front or side buffer
yard.
(3)
One small flowering tree shall be equal to five plant units
in the front or side buffer yard and one plant unit in the rear buffer
yard.
(4)
One shrub shall be equal to one plant unit.
(5)
One flower garden shall be equal to five plant units in the
front buffer yard, two plant units in the side buffer yard, and no
plant units in the rear buffer yard.
(6)
Further, each canopy, evergreen or small flowering tree that
exceeds the minimum standard by 1.5 times or greater, shall be equal
to 1.5 times the number of points assigned to a tree or shrub that
satisfies only the minimum standard.
(7)
Further, each mature canopy of [or] evergreen tree existing
in a buffer yard prior to development and that is retained in good
condition shall be awarded double the plants units assigned to a newly
planted tree.
(8)
All tree and other vegetation proposed for the buffer yard shall
be of a species appropriate to environmental conditions which exist
on the site and in the City and shall be appropriately positioned
on the property.
(d)
All landscaping materials planted in the buffer yard shall be
well maintained and any plants which die shall be replaced within
one growing season. Any mature tree which was used to satisfy the
required number of plant units which dies within five years of the
issuance of a permit shall be replaced with two canopy or evergreen
trees within one growing season of the time the mature tree dies.
The code enforcement officer or planning board shall have the authority,
as a condition of permit approval, to require the applicant to provide
a schedule and program to maintain all site landscaping.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The structure design standards are intended to ensure that new
nonresidential developments positively contribute to the character
of the greater Route 3 area and the City. Route 3 is a gateway to
the City and new development shall use building styles, building materials,
and site layouts that help create a vibrant, well-functioning and
attractive area in which to eat, shop, obtain services, and work.
These standards are not rigid guidelines, and applicants are encouraged
to use creativity in proposing imaginative and attractive new development.
Similarly, the City planning board or code enforcement officer should
use flexibility in its review of proposed development and the application
of these standards to help achieve the City's goal.
(1)
Structure orientation. New structures must be well oriented
to site characteristics and preferably should present their "best
face" toward the main access road (Route 3, Route 52 or Crocker Road)
on which the structure fronts. Further, if the site uses an interior
access drive for its main access, and the structure is oriented to
this access drive, the applicant shall present "attractive faces"
on both the main access road and the interior access drive. This approach
routinely includes the construction of an entrance and accompanying
sidewalk on the side of the best face, and on any side that faces
a public street or service road. No blank facades, service doors or
loading areas (potential exceptions for auto service and repair facilities)
shall be located on the side facing the main access road or an interior
access drive.
(2)
Facades and exterior walls. Facades and exterior walls shall
comply with the following requirements:
a.
The facade and exterior walls shall complement the building
style proposed by the applicant and shall present an attractive appearance.
Further, the relationship of the width to the height of the principal
elevations shall be visually compatible with structures, public ways,
and open spaces to which it is visually related.
b.
Facades greater than 100 feet in length measured horizontally,
should incorporate wall plane projections or recesses that have a
depth of at least 3% of the length of the facade and extending at
least 20% of the length of the facade. No uninterrupted length of
any facade shall exceed 100 horizontal feet.
c.
Ground floor facades that face public streets or interior access
drives should use building features such as arcades, display windows,
entry areas, awnings and other such features along a significant portion
of their horizontal length to present an attractive facade.
d.
Building facades should include a repeating pattern that includes
no less than three of the following elements:
3.
Material module change; or
4.
An expression of architectural or structural bays through a
change in plane, such as an offset, reveal or projecting rib that
is no less than 12 inches in width.
|
At least one of elements 1., 2., or 3., should repeat horizontally.
All elements should repeat at intervals of no more than 30 feet, either
horizontally or vertically.
|
(3)
Roof design. The shape of the roof shall complement the building
style proposed by the applicant and shall present an attractive appearance.
The shape of the roof shall also consider the shape of roofs on structures
to which it is visually related. The City requires that all roofs
have no less than two of the following features, and expressly prohibits
any long run of a flat roof design:
a.
Parapets concealing flat roofs and rooftop equipment, such as
HVAC units from public view. The average height of such parapets should
not exceed 15% of the supporting wall and such parapets should not
at any point exceed one-third of the height of the supporting wall.
The parapets should also include three dimensional cornice treatments
or other architectural details to break up the roof line and to provide
more character to the exterior face.
b.
Overhanging eaves that extend no less than three feet past the
surrounding walls.
c.
Sloping roofs that do not exceed the average height of the supporting
walls, with an average slope greater than or equal to a pitch of 3
in 12.
d.
Three or more roof slope planes.
(4)
Building materials and colors. The type and color of materials
used shall complement the building style proposed by the applicant
and shall present an attractive appearance. The color and texture
of materials used shall consider the colors and texture of materials
used on structures to which it is visually related.
a.
Predominant exterior building materials shall be high quality
materials, including but not limited to, brick, stone, tinted/textured
concrete masonry units, wooden clapboards and wood shingles. Clapboards
also may be vinyl, provided the vinyl is a high quality material and
the applicant uses accents to finish the installation.
b.
Facade colors shall routinely be low reflectance, subtle and
harmonious with the structure. The use of high-intensity colors, metallic
colors, black or fluorescent colors should generally be avoided.
c.
Building trim and accent areas may feature brighter colors,
including colors that are compatible with the main facade colors,
and should be used in good proportion to the main facade colors. Neon
tubing shall be discouraged as an acceptable feature for building
trim or accent areas, unless it is low-stated and it is compatible
with the appearance of the building and the area.
d.
Exterior building materials generally shall not include smooth-faced
concrete block, concrete panels or prefabricated steel panels. These
materials, however, may be found to be acceptable for structures that
do not front directly on a public street and that are located to the
rear of the primary structure located on the same parcel. Further,
structures that use such materials shall use appropriate amounts of
landscaping to break up the appearance of the structure.
e.
Applicants are encouraged to incorporate the use of windows
in the structure design, particularly for any facade that the public
uses to enter a structure. Window scale and the treatment of the window
shall be compatible with the building design. The City discourages
any building facade to include greater than 50% of the building as
glass.
(5)
Entryways. The entryways to the building shall complement the
building style proposed by the applicant, the relationship of the
building to the site access, and shall present an attractive appearance,
and a functional entrance.
Each structure or use on a site shall have clearly defined,
highly visible customer entrances featuring no less than three of
the following: canopies or porticos, overhangs, recesses/projections,
arcades, raised corniced parapets over the doors, peaked roof forms,
arches, outdoor patios, display windows, architectural details that
are integrated into the building structure and design, or integral
planters or wing walls that incorporate landscaped areas and/or places
for sitting.
(6)
Buildings of special merit. The City recognizes that an applicant
may choose to propose a building design that satisfies the intent
of the City requirement for an attractive building design, but that
does not satisfy one or more of the criteria identified in this section.
The code enforcement officer or planning board shall have the authority
to allow an alternative building design for a building of "special
merit" that satisfies the intent of this standard, and, in the findings
of the code enforcement officer or planning board, positively contributes
to the character of the Route 3 area and the City.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
A nonresidential use shall provide an adequate amount of parking for the proposed use; reference chapter
98, article
VIII, to determine the minimum amount of parking required. The design and layout of the parking area shall be harmonious to the use, structures and site and, if practical, to abutting uses, structures and sites. The City encourages creativity in the design of all parking areas to enhance how the site functions, to reduce the total amount of area devoted to parking, to reduce the scale and bulk of parking areas, to encourage joint use parking between adjacent sites, and to enhance the appearance of the site, particularly the view of the site from the respective main public road corridor. The design and layout of the parking area shall conform to the following standards:
(1)
A use that requires 40 or less parking spaces may locate a maximum
of 10 spaces to the front of the building, provided that the following
standards are met:
a.
The 10 (or less) parking spaces are well oriented in relation
to the site;
b.
There is a pedestrian walkway that connects these parking spaces
to the structure; and
c.
There is an appropriately landscaped green strip of no less
than four feet located between this parking area and the structure.
|
All other parking shall be located to the side or rear of the
structure. If applicable, this standard also is subject to the requirements
of subsection (2).
|
(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection
(1), a use that has frontage on any of the following, Route 3, Route 52 or Crocker Road, and that requires 40 or less parking spaces, may locate a maximum of 10 spaces in the area between the structure and any one of the above roads/streets, regardless of the street or interior access road to which the structure is oriented. All other parking spaces shall be located in an area that is not located between the structure and any of the following, Route 3, Crocker Road and Route 52.
(3)
A use that requires 41 or more parking spaces may locate a maximum
of 20% of the parking spaces in the areas located directly in front
of the structure (corners of the main facade) in the area between
the street/access drive on which the structure fronts and the structure,
and in the area located between the street/access drive and the structure
(beyond the corners of the main facade) and to the side of the structure
in the an area that would be considered the front yard. A parking
layout that locates parking in either of these two areas must satisfy
the following standards:
a.
The parking spaces shall be well oriented to the site;
b.
There shall be a pedestrian access way between the structure
and the parking areas;
c.
There shall be an appropriately landscaped green strip that
is preferably 10 feet but no less than four feet in width located
between the structure and the parking area;
d.
The use of parking cells to break up the parking areas; and
e.
The use of berms, landscaping or similarly acceptable amenities
to effectively screen the parking in the area between the structure
and either Route 3, Route 52 or Crocker Road, regardless of the orientation
of the building.
|
All other parking, a minimum of 80% of the total parking required
for the use, shall be located to the side or rear of the structure.
If applicable, this standard also is subject to the requirements of
subsection (4).
|
(4)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection
(5), a use that has frontage on any of the following, Route 3, Route 52, or Crocker Road, and that requires 40 or more parking spaces, may locate a maximum of 20% of the parking spaces in the area between the structure and any one of the above roads, regardless of the street or interior access road to which the structure is oriented. All other parking spaces shall be located in an area that is not located between the structure and any of the following, Route 3, Route 52, and Crocker Road.
(5)
Uses that require a significant amount of parking, more than
75 vehicles, shall use parking cells to assist in managing the visual
impact and scale of the parking areas. The code enforcement officer
or planning board shall use the following guidelines to implement
this provision:
a.
Each parking cell should contain no more than 70-100 parking
spaces;
b.
The maximum length of any parking row should not exceed 225
feet;
c.
Landscaping of the parking cells shall comply with requirements of section
102-1307, Landscaping requirements for parking areas; and
d.
The layout of the parking cells shall be served by well defined
internal circulation routes for vehicles and pedestrians.
(6)
All parking spaces shall be paved, unless the code enforcement
officer or planning board authorizes the use of a gravel parking lot
for environmental considerations.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
Parking lots shall be effectively landscaped with trees and
shrubs to reduce the visual impact of glare, headlights, and parking
lot lights from the public right-of-way and from adjoining properties,
and to present an attractive appearance to the site. The landscaping
of all parking lots for a nonresidential use shall satisfy the following
standards:
(1)
The applicant shall provide an eight-foot wide landscaped strip planted with canopy trees and low shrubs around the perimeter of all parking areas located to the side or rear of a structure. A minimum of one canopy tree that is equal to ten plant units shall be provided per every 40 feet of parking lot perimeter. A minimum of two plant units of shrubs shall be provided for every 10 feet of parking lot perimeter. The vegetated buffer yards required in the front, side or rear setback area may be used to satisfy the landscape requirements for parking lots when the respective parking lot abuts the buffer yards on one or more sides. The guideline for determining plant units is defined in section
102-1304(b) and
(c).
(2)
The applicant shall provide a continuous landscape strip that
is a minimum of eight feet in width between every four rows of parking
which contain five or more cars per row. A minimum of one canopy tree
equal to ten plant units shall be provided for each 40 feet of length
or fraction thereof of the landscape strip. A minimum of two plant
units of shrubs shall be provided for each 10 feet of length of the
landscape strip.
(3)
The applicant shall provide the following planting islands if
the size of the parking area warrants such islands:
a.
A planting island that is a minimum of 200 square feet in size
shall be provided at each end of all parking rows that contain 12
or more parking spaces.
b.
A planting island that is a minimum of 100 square feet in size
shall be provided in the interior of any parking row that is greater
than 100 feet in length, and for each 100 lineal feet or fraction
thereof of length of the parking row.
All planting islands shall include one canopy tree equal to
ten plant units, and other appropriate landscaping material that accentuates
the appearance of the planting island.
(4)
The code enforcement officer or planning board shall encourage
and may require the use of a vegetated landscape berm to lessen the
visual impact of parking areas that are located to the front or side
of a structure. A landscape berm that is 30 inches or more in height
shall be equal to 20 plant units per 100 lineal feet or fraction thereof
of berm. A landscape berm that is 15 inches or more in height shall
be equal to ten plant units per 100 lineal feet or fraction thereof
of berm.
(5)
Notwithstanding the above provisions, the applicant may submit
and the code enforcement officer or planning board may consider an
alternative landscape plan for the siting of landscape areas that
provides an equal or greater amount of landscaping required by this
division.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The purpose of these standards is to allow the minimum number
of curb cuts (points of site access) on a site to enable its safe
and efficient use, and to assist in retaining safe and efficient traffic
patterns on the City's main road corridors, particularly Route 3 and
Route 52. The code enforcement officer or planning board shall consult
with the department of public safety, department of public works,
City engineer (if City engineer is involved with review of the project),
and MDOT (if required by state standards) in making a decision regarding
the location and number of curb cuts.
(1)
Safe unobstructed access to and from the site shall occur by
providing an adequate number, design and location of access points
with respect to sight distances, intersections, traffic generators,
all types of vehicles having occasion to enter the site and adjoining
properties.
(2)
All properties in existence on or before August 21, 2001, that
have no existing curb cuts or only one existing curb cut shall be
restricted to one main (two-way) curb cut onto Route 3, Route 52 or
Crocker Road. The code enforcement officer or planning board, however,
may allow a property with 500 feet or more of road frontage to have
more than one curb cut. The code enforcement officer or the planning
board also may allow a property that has frontage on more than one
road corridor or significant other road to have a curb cut on one
or more of these roads.
(3)
All properties that were developed on or before August 21, 2001,
that have two or more existing curb cuts may retain the existing curb
cuts to serve the existing development, an expanded development or
a change of use, if the code enforcement officer or planning board
finds the following:
a.
That the existing curb cuts are critical to allow the safe and
efficient use of the site;
b.
That the applicant has fully examined alternatives that could
result in the elimination of one or more of the existing curb cuts,
and the code enforcement officer or planning board finds that there
is no reasonable alternative to retaining the present curb cuts;
c.
That the applicant has fully examined alternatives regarding
the redesign or relocation of existing curb cuts that do not comply
with City dimensional requirements for the design or location of curb
cuts, and the code enforcement officer or the board finds that there
is no practical alternative to retaining the current design and location
of said nonconforming curb cuts; and
d.
That the applicant has fully examined and implemented, when
deemed practical by the code enforcement officer or planning board,
alternatives that allow the joint use of one or more of the access
drives, or that the applicant has provided a means to connect the
existing site to one or more of the adjacent sites.
|
If the code enforcement officer or the planning board does not
make a positive finding that the above requirements are met, the applicant
shall be required to eliminate one or more of the existing curb cuts,
or to redesign or relocate the existing curb cuts to bring the existing
nonconforming property (with regard to the number, location or design
of curb cuts) into greater conformance with City requirements.
|
(4)
The code enforcement officer or planning board may allow the
use of one or more restricted access right-turn entrance or exit only
lanes, provided that the code enforcement officer or planning board
makes the following findings:
a.
The restricted lane will benefit traffic circulation and safety
on the main road, Route 3, Route 52, Crocker Road or an internal access
drive;
b.
The restricted lane will benefit internal traffic circulation;
c.
The site has 250 feet or more of frontage; and
d.
There is adequate separation between the restricted lane and
other curb cuts on the site and on other sites (both sides of the
road) in the project area.
(5)
The applicant shall provide adequate separation between all
curb cuts. The code enforcement officer or planning board shall use
the following guidelines to identify the amount of separation required
between curb cuts:
a.
A minimum of 75 feet of separation between the curb cut proposed
by the applicant and curb cuts located on the same side of the road,
unless there is no practical alternative to provide at least 75 feet
of separation;
b.
A preferred separation of 150 feet or more between the curb
cut proposed by the applicant and curb cuts located on the same side
of the road;
c.
The amount of separation between the curb cut proposed by the
applicant and the location of curb cuts located on the opposite side
of the road;
d.
The size of the lot proposed to be developed by the applicant
and the amount of lot frontage, as well as the size and amount of
frontage of other lots in the surrounding area;
e.
Present and future traffic patterns that occur in the area.
(6)
All means of ingress/egress (site access points) onto a public
road shall be designed according to the following standards of safe
sight distance. The code enforcement officer or planning board, however,
shall not use this section as the sole criterion for rejecting an
application unless all possible ingresses/egresses are deemed to be
unsafe due to poor sight distances. Sight distances shall be measured
both from the perspective of a vehicle sitting in the entrance viewing
vehicles traveling on the road and from the perspective of a vehicle
traveling on the road viewing a vehicle in the entrance.
|
Sight Distances
|
---|
|
Posted Speed Limits
(miles per hour)
|
Minimum
(in feet)
|
Recommended
(in feet)
|
---|
|
25
|
175
|
250
|
|
30
|
210
|
300
|
|
35
|
245
|
350
|
|
40
|
280
|
400
|
|
45
|
315
|
450
|
|
50
|
350
|
500
|
|
55
|
385
|
550
|
|
All means of ingress/egress (site access points) onto a private
access drive shall satisfy the above standards to the greatest extent
practical. The code enforcement officer or planning board shall be
responsible for determining what constitutes to the greatest extent
practical.
|
(7)
The applicant shall provide direct connections and safe street
crossings to adjacent land uses and properties, and allow the shared
use of these connections, unless the code enforcement officer or planning
board deems that one or more of the potential connections are not
appropriate. The direct connection(s) shall involve the construction
of the needed access way or the reservation of the right-of-way to
an adjacent parcel. If the project involves the reservation of a right-of-way,
the code enforcement officer or planning board may require the applicant
to escrow funds to construct the connection at a future date.
(8)
An applicant shall identify how bicycle and pedestrian access
to the site can occur, and shall examine the amount of bicycle and
pedestrian use of the site that may occur. This analysis shall consider
the extent of bicycle and pedestrian facilities that exist in the
area at the time of application, the potential need for such facilities
in the area, City or state plans to construct or designate bicycle
and pedestrian facilities in the area, and how bicycle and pedestrian
use of the area can be achieved. The code enforcement officer or planning
board shall review this analysis and determine if the applicant must
construct improvements to facilitate bicycle or pedestrian access
to the site.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
An applicant shall provide safe internal circulation within
the site for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. The applicant shall
comply with the following standards to help satisfy this requirement:
(1)
To the maximum extent practical, pedestrians and vehicles shall
be separated through the provision of a sidewalk or walkway. Where
complete separation of pedestrians and vehicles is not feasible, potential
hazards shall be minimized by using landscaping, special paving, striping,
signage, and other means to clearly delineate pedestrian areas.
(2)
The applicant shall provide unobstructed vehicular access to
and from a public street for all off-street parking spaces, and shall
provide well-defined circulation routes for vehicles, pedestrians
and bicycles. Further, all entrances and exits to the site and any
parking area shall be located an adequate distance from the public
way to eliminate queueing of motor vehicles into the public way.
(3)
Standard traffic control signs and devices shall be used to
direct traffic where necessary throughout the site and the parking
areas.
(4)
The site layout and design shall anticipate the needs of users
and provide continuity between vehicular circulation, parking, pedestrians,
and bicycle circulation. Pedestrian drop-off areas shall be provided
where needed, particularly for uses that serve children or the elderly.
(5)
The site layout and design shall consider how truck circulation
will occur throughout the site, and shall ensure that such circulation
does not adversely impact vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle safety.
All loading and off-loading areas shall occur in locations or at times
that do not affect public safety.
(6)
The applicant, if deemed appropriate by the code enforcement
officer or planning board, shall provide amenities, such as bicycle
racks, to encourage bicycle use.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
A nonresidential use shall provide adequate utilities and services
that comply with requirements of this section.
(1)
Water supply. The use shall have a water supply of adequate
quality and quantity. A water supply may be a private well, a central
water supply approved by the state department of human services, or
a public water supply. An applicant shall be required to connect to
the public water supply unless the code enforcement officer or planning
board, after consultation with the City water district, determines
that the location of the nonresidential use, and the volume of water
that the nonresidential use would use, does not allow for a financially
reasonable connection to a public water system, and that a good quality
and quantity private source of water can be provided.
(2)
Fire protection. A use that connects to the public water system
shall install all needed infrastructure, including fire hydrants,
as determined by the code enforcement officer or planning board in
consultation with the fire chief, to provide an adequate source of
water for fire fighting purposes. If the nonresidential use does not
connect to the public water supply, the applicant shall identify how
fire protection services may be provided. The code enforcement officer
or planning board may require an applicant to construct ponds and
dry hydrants to provide for adequate water storage for fire-fighting
purposes, or may require an applicant to use construction practices
that reduce the risk of a fire.
(3)
Sewage disposal. The use shall have an approved method of sewerage
disposal. Private sewage disposal may be used provided the system
satisfies City subsurface wastewater disposal ordinance and state
requirements. No permanent use may use portable toilets for sewage.
Public sewage disposal may be used subject to approval of the City.
A nonresidential use located within 750 feet of a public sewer system
shall connect to the system unless the code enforcement officer or
planning board determines the cost of the extension is prohibitive
for the use proposed and a good quality method of private sewage disposal
can be provided.
(4)
Utility services. All electric, telephone, television, and similar
service shall be located underground, unless the code enforcement
officer or planning board determines the underground service is cost
prohibitive, that it may adversely impact natural resource features
on the site, and there are well located existing overhead services
to this site and to adjacent properties and that the use of overhead
service to this site would not adversely affect the character of the
area.
(5)
Miscellaneous telecommunication equipment. All satellite dishes,
microwaves, and similar structures used for transmission or reception
purposes shall be located to minimize adverse visual impacts. The
code enforcement officer or planning board shall consider the functional
requirements for this equipment in rendering a decision regarding
the location of such equipment.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
(a)
Excessive noise at unreasonable hours shall be required to be
muffled so as not to be objectionable due to intermittence, beat,
frequency, shrillness or volume (refer to table below). The maximum
permissible sound pressure level of any continuous, regular or frequent
source of sound produced by any commercial or industrial activity
regulated by this division shall be established by the time period
and type of land use listed below. Sound pressure levels shall be
measured on a sound level meter at all major lot lines of the proposed
site, at a height of at least four feet above the ground surface.
|
Sound Pressure Level Limit
|
---|
|
|
7:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m.
|
9:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m.
|
---|
|
Commercial activities
|
60 db(A)
|
55dB(A)
|
---|
|
Industrial activities
|
70 db(A)
|
55db(A)
|
|
The levels specified above may be exceeded by 10 dbA for a single
period, not longer than 15 minutes, in any one day.
|
|
Noise shall be measured with a sound level meter meeting the
standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI SI 4-1961)
"American Standard Specification for General Purpose Sound Level Meters:.
The instrument shall be set to A-weighted response scale and at the
meter to the slow response. Measures shall be conducted in accordance
with ANSI SI 2-1962 "American Standard Method for the Physical Measurements
of Sound", or such standard as may be amended from time to time. The
City code enforcement officer, however, may use a portable sound meter
available to the City to establish potential noise levels. If the
code enforcement officer registers a noise level that is either near
to or greater than the above standards, the officer may use these
results to require the property owner to conduct a sound level analysis
from a licensed engineer that fully complies with the above standards
and to present these results to the code enforcement officer for analysis.
Further, the code enforcement officer or planning board may require
a noise level study for any use which requests a permit from the City.
|
(b)
No person shall engage in, cause, or permit any person to be
engaged in very loud construction activities on a site (active construction
area) located within 750 feet of any residential use between the hours
of 8:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day. Construction
activities shall be subject to the maximum permissible sound level
specified for industrial districts for the periods within which construction
is to be completed pursuant to any applicable building permit. The
following uses and activities shall be exempt from the sound pressure
level regulations:
(1)
Noises created by construction and maintenance between 7:00
a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
(2)
The noises of safety signals, warning devices and emergency
pressure relief valves and any other emergency activity.
(3)
Traffic noise on existing pubic streets, railways or airports.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The emission of dust, dirt, fly ash, fumes, vapors and gases
which could endanger human health, animals, vegetation, or property,
or which could soil or stain persons or property, at any point beyond
the lot line of the nonresidential establishment creating that emission
shall be prohibited. All such activities also shall comply with applicable
federal and state regulations.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
No land use or establishment shall be permitted to produce offensive
or harmful odors perceptible beyond their lot lines, whether at ground
or habitable elevation.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The purpose of this standard is to focus on the physical effects
of lighting, as well as the effect that lighting may have on a surrounding
area. Exterior lighting shall be evaluated to ensure that the functional
and security needs of the project are met in a way that does not adversely
affect the adjacent properties and surrounding area. No nonresidential
use shall be permitted to produce a strong, dazzling light or reflection
of that light beyond its lot lines onto neighboring properties so
as to diminish a person's enjoyment of their property, or onto any
City way so as to impair the vision of the driver of any vehicle upon
that City way.
The following chart identifies minimum lighting levels for outdoor
facilities used at night (Illuminating Engineering Society Lighting
Handbook).
Area/Activity
|
Footcandle
|
---|
Around the building
|
1.0
|
Walkways along roadside
|
0.9
|
Pedestrian stairways
|
0.3
|
Loading and unloading platforms
|
5.0
|
(Provided there is a barrier that separates this platform from
an abutting residential use)
|
Parking areas
|
1.0
|
Lighting of a nonresidential site shall comply with the following
standards:
|
(1)
Background spaces like parking shall be illuminated as unobtrusively
as possible to meet the functional needs of safe circulation and/or
protecting people and property. Foreground spaces, such as building
entrances and plaza seating areas, shall use local lighting that defines
the space without glare.
(2)
Light sources shall be concealed and fully shielded and shall
feature sharp cut-off capability so as to minimize up-light, spill-light,
glare and unnecessary diffusion on adjacent property.
(3)
The style of light standards and fixtures shall be consistent
with the style and character of architecture proposed on the site.
Poles shall be anodized or otherwise painted to minimize glare from
the light source.
(4)
Light sources must minimize contrast with the light produced
by surrounding uses, and must produce an unobtrusive degree of brightness
in both illumination levels and color rendition. Incandescent and
high pressure sodium light sources all can provide adequate illumination
with low contrast and brightness and are permitted light sources if
the light source is consistent with the other standards.
(5)
Light levels measured 20 feet beyond the property line of the
development site shall not exceed 0.1 footcandle as a direct result
of the on-site lighting.
(6)
Outdoor display lots for vehicle sales and leasing shall comply
with the requirements of this section. In addition, display illumination
shall be reduced within 30 minutes after closing so that the remaining
illumination levels are sufficient for security purposes only.
(7)
Upon request of the applicant, the code enforcement officer or planning board may approve an alternative lighting plan that may be substituted in whole or in part for a plan that satisfies the specific standards of this section, provided that the alternative lighting plan is found to be consistent with the purposes of this section
102-1314.
(8)
The code enforcement officer may use the above standards to
determine if a use existing on August 21, 2001, complies with these
lighting requirements. If the code enforcement officer finds that
such a use does not comply, the code enforcement officer and the property
owner shall examine feasible alternatives to achieve greater compliance
with the requirements of this section. This may include the code enforcement
officer preparing a compliance plan that requires the existing use
to change existing lighting within a three-year time period of the
issuance of a compliance order.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall be responsible for controlling surface water run-off and detaining it on-site to the greatest extent practical. Further, the applicant shall maintain the natural state of watercourses, swales, floodways or right-of-ways to the greatest extent practical in constructing site improvements. The applicant shall comply with the standards identified in chapter
98 in managing stormwater.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall be responsible for identifying all on-site wetlands and avoiding or minimizing adverse impacts, to the greatest extent practical, on both on-site wetland bodies and wetland bodies located on adjacent parcels. At a minimum, the applicant must demonstrate compliance with all provisions of the state Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) and chapter
82. The code enforcement officer or planning board, however, shall not use adverse impacts on wetland resources that are not subject to NRPA or shoreland review as the sole reason to deny a project. The code enforcement officer or planning board also has the authority to require an applicant to prepare an analysis that identifies the functional values of on-site wetlands and how a proposed project may affect such wetland values. This analysis also must identify potential methods to avoid, minimize or mitigate the wetland impact.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall comply with all requirements of chapter
78, article
II, and shall avoid, to the greatest extent practical, creating any adverse impacts on a floodplain resource.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The soils on the site shall be adequate to support the intended
purpose. The code enforcement officer or planning board may require
the applicant to provide a high intensity soil survey to assist the
code enforcement officer or planning board in analyzing soil quality.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall minimize the erosion of soil and the sedimentation of watercourses and waterbodies to the greatest extent practical by instituting the best management practices identified in chapter
98. Further, the applicant, during project construction, shall maintain all soil erosion and sedimentation control measures that are constructed in good working condition.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall provide an acceptable method to collect
and dispose of all solid wastes and recyclables generated on the site
in a timely manner and in an environmentally friendly way. The applicant
also must demonstrate that the method of collecting and disposing
of these wastes will not cause an unreasonable burden on the City's
ability to process such wastes. Further, the applicant shall screen
all refuse and recycling facilities from public view, and the facilities
shall be located to avoid potential adverse impacts on any adjacent
residences. Screening shall occur by the construction of a four-sided
solid enclosure (fence/wall) that is a minimum of six feet in height,
or an alternative enclosure or screening that provides the equivalent
screening provided by this enclosure.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall construct storage facilities for highly
flammable or explosive liquids, solids or gases, fuel, chemicals,
chemical or industrial wastes, or potentially harmful raw materials
that comply with all applicable state and federal requirements. Further,
all such facilities shall be located away from residences to the greatest
extent practical.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
(a)
The applicant shall properly collect, store and dispose of any
hazardous wastes that may be generated by use of the site. The applicant
shall comply with all applicable state and federal requirements in
the collection, storage and disposal of such wastes and shall inform
the City code enforcement officer and City fire chief of the approved
method to handle such wastes and any orders that may be issued regarding
the handling of such wastes.
(b)
The applicant shall identify if there are any known hazardous
wastes located on the site that is proposed to be developed. If hazardous
wastes are identified, the applicant shall prepare a plan that complies
with all state and federal requirements regarding the management of
such wastes during the construction and operation of the site. The
code enforcement officer or planning board must approve this plan
to allow development of the site.
Further, if any development of the site results in the discovery
of any unanticipated hazardous materials, the applicant shall immediately
alert the City code enforcement officer and state department of environmental
protection of the presence of hazardous materials, and shall immediately
cease construction activities in the affected area until a course
of action to correct the problem is identified.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The code enforcement officer or planning board shall require the applicant to construct off-site improvements if the code enforcement officer or planning board determines such improvements are specifically required to address a public health, safety or welfare concern caused by the proposed project. Off-site improvements may include but are not limited to improvements to public or private roads, pedestrian and bicycle amenities (e.g. sidewalks) and stormwater facilities. The need and extent of required improvements shall be identified through the code enforcement officer's or planning board's analysis of the following: information included on the applicant's site plan; an impact statement that may be required of an applicant (reference subsection
102-1324); direction provided in City or state plans; or other pertinent sources that provide information regarding the project.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
(a)
The code enforcement office or planning board may require the
applicant to participate in municipal infrastructure and/or service
system improvements when it is demonstrated the applicant's proposed
development will result in an adverse impact or decline in the level
of service of any existing municipal or state infrastructure system
or service. The code enforcement officer or planning board is authorized
to perform the following actions:
(1)
Require an applicant to prepare an assessment of the amount
of impact a proposed project would have on municipal and state infrastructure
or service systems, including but not limited to roads, pedestrian
and bicycle facilities, stormwater management, parks and recreation,
school facilities, public buildings, sewer treatment and collection
system, and the water supply and water distribution system.
(2)
Conduct an analysis of the applicant's assessment, including the use of professional services paid for by the applicant to evaluate the applicant's assessment (subsection
(1) above).
(3)
Establish infrastructure or service system improvements that
the applicant shall be required to construct or to pay for, all or
part, to effectively mitigate the amount of adverse impact or decline
in the level of service.
(b)
The code enforcement officer or planning board shall use the
following guidelines in making this decision:
(1)
Conducting the assessment. The applicant shall address the following
factors in conducting the impact assessment, and the code enforcement
officer or planning board shall consider the following factors in
rendering its decision:
a.
The status of the system and service identified in the adopted
comprehensive plan and capital improvement program relative to any
planned improvements and scheduling.
b.
The net effect of the proposed development on the capacity of
the infrastructure or service system, indicating the percentage share
used by the development.
c.
A cost estimate for improvement of this infrastructure or service
system so as to meet the increased demand, and a breakdown of the
applicant's share of that cost.
d.
An assessment of public water and sewer system improvements
provided or planned by the appropriate agencies.
(2)
Improvement responsibilities. When an applicant's share of infrastructure
and or service system impact has been established by the code enforcement
officer or planning board, the code enforcement officer or the board
shall select the method in which the applicant must participate in
the infrastructure and/or service system improvement. The following
two alternatives are available:
a.
The applicant must make the necessary infrastructure and/or
service system improvements in accordance with a construction or service
delivery schedule approved by the City, and must post a performance
guarantee to cover all associated costs. The City may adopt measures
to allow the applicant to recover representative amounts of the improvement
costs within 10 years after improvements are made. For the applicant
to recover these costs, subsequent developments must realize a benefit
by using the infrastructure and/or service system improvement financed
by the applicant. Cost reimbursement for the applicant shall be established
as subsequent developments go through the City use permit, site plan
or subdivision review process. The code enforcement officer or planning
board shall use the same process in arriving at the appropriate cost
share for subsequent development.
b.
The City must agree to complete the improvements. The applicant
shall pay the required share of the cost to the City at the time of
issuance of a building permit for the project. The City shall retain
this fee in a reserve fund until the improvement is completed in accordance
with the scheduled capital improvement of the City. If the improvement
is not completed within 10 years, the fee plus the accrued interest
must be returned to the applicant.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall post an acceptable performance guarantee
with the City to ensure all improvements required as conditions of
issuing an office park use permit are constructed to the required
standards. The code enforcement officer or planning board shall determine
the type and amount of performance guarantee that is required. A performance
guarantee shall consist of one or more of the following:
(1)
Site restabilization. An applicant that is disturbing 20,000
square feet of land in any area of the City, or any amount of land
in a sensitive area, such as a Shoreland Zone, shall post an escrow
account or irrevocable letter of credit with the City to pay the estimated
cost equal to City expenses to regrade, stabilize, reseed, or revegetate
a site disturbed by construction activities if the project is not
completed. Escrow funds shall be deposited in an account established
specifically for this project. The guarantee is subject to release
by the City upon a written finding from the code enforcement officer
or City engineer that all plan requirements have been satisfied and
an occupancy permit issued. The City may expend funds from the guarantee
upon a written determination from the code enforcement office or City
engineer that the project activities, such as site clearing and grading
have been started, but no further construction activity has occurred.
A City decision to expend funds will only be made sooner than one
year after issuance of the building permit if the code enforcement
officer or City engineer determines the applicant's failure to restabilize
the site will result in significant adverse impacts on the site or
surrounding properties.
(2)
Public improvements. An applicant that is required to make improvements
to public facilities and infrastructure as a condition of project
approval shall post a performance guarantee that consists of one of
the following:
a.
The applicant enters a binding agreement with the City such
that a building permit shall not be obtained until all public improvements
are constructed to the requirements on the approved plan. The code
enforcement officer or City engineer shall submit a statement in writing
to the City manager certifying that all improvements have been completed.
The City manager, upon receipt of such certification, may determine
that terms of the binding agreement have been satisfied, and that
the guarantee should be released, and that a building permit may be
granted by the code enforcement officer.
b.
The applicant shall post an escrow account, performance bond,
or irrevocable letter of credit with the City equal to 125% of the
cost of all required public improvements. This guarantee shall be
posted prior to any construction activities occurring on the site.
This guarantee shall not be released and no occupancy permit shall
be issued until the code enforcement officer or City engineer submits
a statement to the City manager certifying that all improvements have
been completed. The City manager, upon receipt of such certification,
may determine that the terms of the performance guarantee have been
satisfied, and that the guarantee should be released, and that an
occupancy permit may be granted by the code enforcement officer. The
City may expend funds from the escrow account, performance bond, or
irrevocable letter of credit upon a written declaration from the code
enforcement officer or City engineer that the required improvements
have not been satisfactorily completed. The City shall provide the
applicant a minimum of 15 days of advance notice in writing prior
to any City expenditure of the performance guarantee.
(3)
Nonpublic improvements. An applicant that is required to make
on-site nonpublic improvements as a condition of approval on a use
permit shall not be issued an occupancy permit by the code enforcement
officer until all nonpublic improvements are constructed to the standards
identified on the approved plan. The code enforcement officer may
require an applicant to provide a certificate from a civil engineer
or to pay the cost of City engineer to certify that all improvements
have been constructed to the standards identified on the approved
plan.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall identify the owner and developer of the
project and who will assume responsibility for the construction, operation
and maintenance of all required improvements. The code enforcement
officer or planning board shall ensure the proposed ownership has
the technical and financial resources to successfully complete and
maintain all required project improvements. All proposals to establish
a condominium form of ownership to manage the project shall require
code enforcement officer or planning board review and approval of
the condominium documents.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
The applicant shall provide site improvements, such as but not
limited to adequately sized and located parking and curbing, to ensure
handicap accessibility. The applicant shall be responsible for identifying
and obtaining needed permits and constructing all facilities needed
to satisfy state and federal requirements regarding handicap accessibility.
[Ord. No. 80-2001, 6-7-2001]
All loading and off-loading areas and operations shall be located
and conducted in such a manner as to protect public safety and to
minimize potential adverse impacts on neighboring residences. The
following standards shall apply:
(1)
The loading facility and area shall be located to the side or
rear of the main structure and shall not be visible from a main public
access road. Further, the applicant shall discourage public/customer
use of the area that is devoted to loading facility operations.
(2)
The loading facility shall be screened from any abutting residential
uses and the operation of such facilities shall not cause noise, odors,
light, or similar adverse impacts on abutting residential uses. The
applicant shall install fencing, landscaping, berming or similar improvements,
and shall locate the facility an adequate distance from the abutting
property line to minimize the amount of potential adverse impacts.
Further, the owner shall control the noise and odors generated by
trucks that are using the loading facility.
(3)
The applicant shall not use any containerized van that is not
incorporated into the structure as a method of storing any materials.
Further, such vans shall not be kept on a site for a period longer
than is necessary to load or unload the containerized van.