The purpose of this chapter is to indicate the standards and
minimum requirements for group and large developments, vehicle access,
bicycle and pedestrian access, visibility, off-street parking and
traffic circulation, off-street loading, exterior lighting, exterior
storage, fencing, and outdoor recreational space within the jurisdiction
of this Title 5.
These standards apply to all multifamily buildings and structures
constructed after the effective date of chapter. These standards also
apply to apartments with limited commercial land uses.
(1) Exterior materials. Multifamily buildings shall be clad in Class
I, II or III materials. Class IV materials are prohibited.
(a)
Materials of comparable quality may be substituted for any class
of material or be used as a decorative element if the material can
be removed or replaced with a permitted exterior material, as determined
by the Zoning Administrator.
(b)
Standing seam metal roofs shall be coated.
(2) Building entrance.
(a)
The primary entrance shall be on the front facade facing the
street.
(b)
The primary entrance shall be covered a minimum of three feet
from the door. Recessed entries shall be deemed to meet this requirement.
(c)
Exterior entry doors for individual units shall be residential
in style and shall include frame and panel (real or decorative).
(d)
Exterior entry doors for multiple units may be residential (as
described above) or commercial in style (glass).
(3) Facade articulation.
(a)
Facade lengths shall not be greater than 40 feet without articulation
such as:
1.
Recesses or projections that step back or project a portion
of the main facade plane.
2.
Recesses or projections of upper floors from the ground floor
facade plane.
3.
Vertical division using different textures or materials.
4.
Division of the facade into individual units through the use
of windows, entrances, arcades, porches, decks, balconies, lighting,
etc.
5.
Roof form variation such as the inclusion of dormers, change
in roof lines, or change in roof type.
(b)
On facades facing the street, windows and/or doors shall be
required in order to promote a visual connection to the street.
1.
The total area of windows and doors, including trim, shall comprise
a minimum of 20% of the total facade area, excluding gables.
(4) Wall details, trim, and windows.
(a)
Exterior windows shall be appropriate to the architectural character
of the building.
(b)
All facade openings shall be articulated or appropriately trimmed
through the use of materials such as lintels, sills, surrounds, shutters,
etc.
(c)
Natural wood shall be painted or stained unless it is cedar,
redwood or other naturally weather-resistant species intended to be
exposed.
(d)
Pressure-treated lumber shall be painted or stained after a
curing period of no greater than 18 months.
(5) Patios, decks, and balconies.
(a)
Ground-level patios and decks facing the street shall be bordered
with landscape treatments. Covered porches are exempt from this requirement.
(b)
Exterior stairs leading to a deck or balcony are not permitted
on the front or street side of a building. On corner lots, exterior
stairs shall be permitted on the interior side facade.
(c)
Exterior corridors shall be covered by the building roof, shall
be located within the footprint of the building foundation, and shall
not be visible from the street.
(d)
Upper-story decks and balconies shall be cantilevered, supported
by vertical columns, or supported from above.
(6) Mechanical and exterior building systems.
(a)
Drainage pipes on exterior walls shall match or be complementary
to the color of the roof and wall onto which they are mounted.
(b)
Air intakes and exhaust vents for high-energy gas appliances
and meters shall not be permitted on any facade that faces a public
street, unless they are screened or match the color of the facade
on which they are located.
(c)
Building-mounted equipment.
1.
Window-mounted air conditioning units shall not be permitted
in any window that faces a public street.
a.
When no alternative is available, units shall be masked (painted,
encased, etc.) in order to blend into the building's exterior finish
and shall be flush-mounted so as not to project beyond the main plane
of the facade more than necessary.
2.
Building-mounted equipment installed on the facade visible from
an adjacent public right-of-way or residential district must be disguised
with screening that is:
a.
Architecturally compatible with the primary structure to which
the equipment is attached. Screening materials shall be identical
to or substantially similar to the materials used on the building
facade to which the equipment is attached.
b.
Incorporated as part of the building wall and/or flush-mounted
so as not to project beyond the main plane of the facade.
c.
Consistent with the color of the structure to which the equipment
is attached.
(d)
Roof-mounted equipment. Roof-mounted equipment shall be screened,
preferably by parapet walls. Other acceptable screen types shall be:
1.
Architecturally compatible with the primary structure to which
the equipment is attached. Screening materials shall be identical
to or substantially similar to the materials used on the building
facade to which the equipment is attached.
2.
Consistent with the color of the structure to which the equipment
is attached.
3.
Designed to be an integral part of the building's architectural
design and give the impression that it is something other than a mechanical
screen.
(e)
See §
5-7-26(6) for screening requirements for ground-mounted mechanical systems.
(7) Wall- or roof-mounted lighting.
(a)
Full cutoff light fixtures are required.
(b)
The design, color, height, location, and light quality of all
on-building light fixtures shall be consistent throughout the entire
site, unless the building is divided into individual components; in
such case, all on-building light fixtures shall be consistent within
each individual component.
(c)
All entrances shall be lit after sunset. The minimum illumination
at each entrance shall be 1.0 footcandles.
These standards apply to all commercial and structures constructed
after the effective date of chapter. These standards also apply to
mixed-use buildings and live/work units.
(1) Orientation.
(a)
Buildings are encouraged to be oriented so that the front facade
faces the road with the highest traffic volumes.
(b)
Facades facing the road with the highest traffic volumes shall
be designed to have the appearance of a front facade and shall include
windows, doors and/or other architectural components typically associated
with front facades, as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(c)
Service or loading areas shall not be permitted between the
building and the public street.
(d)
Drive-through windows shall not be located between the building
and the public street.
(2) Facade articulation.
(a)
Facade lengths shall not be greater than 70 feet without articulation
such as:
1.
Division of the facade into individual components (i.e., storefronts,
distinct uses) through the use of architectural elements such as porches,
balconies, windows, covered entrances, arcades, awnings, marquees,
lighting, signage, etc.
2.
Recesses or projections that step back or project a portion
of the main facade plane.
3.
Recesses or projections of upper floors from the ground floor
facade plane.
4.
Vertical division using different textures or materials.
5.
Roof form variation such as the inclusion of dormers, change
in roof lines, or change in roof type.
(b)
Buildings shall be designed to provide interest and variety.
Flat, unadorned walls shall be avoided. Each facade of a building
shall include at least one design element to break up the flatness
of blank walls and shall at a minimum include varied materials or
colors, change in texture, expressed joints and details, or surface
relief.
1.
Additional elements used to break up the facade may include
balconies, lintels, sills, headers, belt courses, reveals, pilasters,
windows, chimneys, and other ornamental features as deemed appropriate
by the Zoning Administrator.
(3) Exterior materials. Commercial buildings shall be predominately clad
in Class I materials. Class II and Class III materials may be used
as accents and trim not to exceed 50% of the total building facade.
Class IV materials are prohibited.
(a)
Rear building elevations not facing a public street or public
parking lot shall be exempt from this requirement.
(b)
Materials of comparable quality may be substituted for any class
of material or be used as a decorative element if the material can
be removed or replaced with a permitted exterior material, as determined
by the Zoning Administrator.
(4) Building entrance.
(a)
The main entrance shall be clearly defined and accentuated through
the use of detailing, distinctive materials, and/or colors, projections
or recesses, porticos, covered entrances, stoops, or other features
as deemed appropriate by the Zoning Administrator.
(5) Mechanical and exterior building systems.
(a)
Drainage pipes on exterior walls shall match or be complementary
to the color of the roof and wall onto which they are mounted.
(b)
Air intakes and exhaust vents for high-energy gas appliances
and meters shall not be permitted on any facade that faces a public
street.
(c)
Building-mounted equipment.
1.
Window-mounted air conditioning units shall not be permitted
in any window that faces a public street.
a.
When no alternative is available, units shall be masked (painted,
encased, etc.) in order to blend into the building's exterior finish
and shall be flush-mounted so as not to project beyond the main plane
of the facade.
2.
Building-mounted equipment installed on the facade visible from
an adjacent public right-of-way or residential district must be disguised
with screening that is:
a.
Architecturally compatible with the primary structure to which
the equipment is attached. Screening materials shall be identical
to or substantially similar to the materials used on the building
facade to which the equipment is attached.
b.
Incorporated as part of the building wall and/or flush-mounted
so as not to project beyond the main plane of the facade.
c.
Consistent with the color of the structure to which the equipment
is attached.
(d)
Roof-mounted equipment. Roof-mounted equipment shall be screened,
preferably by parapet walls.
1.
Screening shall be architecturally compatible with the primary
structure to which the equipment is attached. Screening materials
shall be identical to or substantially similar to the materials used
on the building facade to which the equipment is attached.
2.
Equipment shall be consistent with the color of the structure
to which the equipment is attached.
3.
Screening shall be designed to be an integral part of the building's
architectural design and give the impression that it is something
other than a mechanical screen.
(e)
See §
5-7-26(6) for screening requirements for ground-mounted mechanical systems.
(6) Wall- or roof-mounted lighting.
(a)
Full cutoff light fixtures are required at each entrance.
(b)
The design, color, height, location, and light quality of all
on-building light fixtures shall be consistent throughout the entire
site, unless the building is divided into individual components; in
such case, all on-building light fixtures shall be consistent within
each individual component.
(c)
All entrances shall be lit after sunset during business hours.
The minimum illumination at each entrance shall be 1.0 footcandles.
Determinations necessary for administration and enforcement
of performance standards set forth in this article range from those
which can be made with satisfactory accuracy by a reasonable person
using normal senses and no mechanical equipment, to those requiring
great technical competence and complex equipment for precise measurement.
It is the intent of this chapter that:
(1) Where determinations can be made by the Zoning Administrator using
equipment normally available to the City or obtainable without extraordinary
expense, such determinations shall be so made before notice of violations
is issued.
(2) Where technical complexity or extraordinary expense makes it unreasonable
for the City to maintain the personnel or equipment necessary for
making difficult or unusual determinations, procedures shall be available
for causing corrections or apparent violations of performance standards,
for protecting individuals from arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable
administration and enforcement of performance standard regulations,
and for protecting the general public from unnecessary costs for administration
and enforcement.
(a)
The Zoning Administrator shall give written notice, by certified
mail or other means, ensuring a signed receipt for such notice to
the person or persons responsible for the alleged violations. The
notice shall describe the particulars of the alleged violation and
the reasons why the Zoning Administrator believes there is a violation
in fact and shall require an answer or correction of the alleged violation
to the satisfaction of the Zoning Administrator.
(b)
The notice shall state, and it is hereby declared, that failure
to reply or to correct the alleged violation to the satisfaction of
the Zoning Administrator within the time limit set constitutes admission
of violation of the terms of this chapter. The notice shall further
state that upon request of those to whom it is directed, technical
determination as described in this chapter will be made, and that
if violations as alleged are found, costs of such determinations shall
be charged against those responsible for the violation, in addition
to such other penalties as may be appropriate, but that if it is determined
that no violation exists, the cost of the determination will be paid
by the City.