A.
The purpose of this section is to provide for additional review to encourage the development of multi-family residential buildings that are visually engaging and compatible with one another and with the surrounding district.
B.
Multifamily residential developments shall comply with the requirements of this chapter and the following additional requirements.
1.
Roofs. Roofs shall meet the following additional requirements:
a.
Roofs shall be gabled or hip type roofs (minimum pitch 3:12) with an overhang that is commensurate with the pitch of the roof and using shingles or similar roofing materials. Alternatives may be approved where the developer can demonstrate that abutting structures or the majority of structures within 300 feet have roofs similar to what is proposed.
b.
Modulation of the building mass shall distinguish individual units and break down the scale of the building through one or more of the following between units:
2.
Entries.
a.
Entries shall be sheltered with an overhang, portico or recessed entry or otherwise articulated with an architecturally detailed entry.
b.
Primary dwelling entries shall face a public street or designated pedestrian way and be visible from the street whenever feasible.
c.
Multiple Units. Ground floor units shall face a public street or designated pedestrian way and be visible from the street whenever feasible and shall avoid out-of-direction travel. Upper story units may share entries.
d.
Secondary entries may face parking lots or loading areas.
3.
Building Façades Design.
a.
Detailed Design. Detailed design shall be provided by using at least eight of the following 14 architectural features on all elevations as appropriate for the proposed building type and style (see Figure 16.44.010-4; may vary features on rear/side/front elevations):
i.
Dormers;
ii.
Gables;
iii.
Recessed entries;
iv.
Covered porch entries;
v.
Cupolas or towers;
vi.
Pillars or posts;
vii.
Eaves (minimum of six-inch projection);
viii.
Offsets in building face or roof (minimum of 16 inches);
ix.
Window trim (minimum four inches wide);
x.
Bay windows;
xi.
Balconies;
xii.
Decorative patterns on exterior finish (e.g., scales/shingles, wainscoting, ornamentation or similar features);
xiii.
Decorative cornices and roof lines (e.g., for flat roofs);
xiv.
An alternative feature providing for visual relief, similar to options i through xiii.
b.
Residential Mixed Use Structures. The residential portion of a mixed use structure shall be differentiated through the use of design elements such as decks, balconies, landscaping, chimneys, dormers, gable or hipped roofs or step backs above the second story to provide upper story deck areas. Masonry should be used for chimney construction.
c.
Landscape/Hardscape Design. The following standards apply in addition to the landscaping standards in Chapter 16.42.
i.
Where new or substantially remodeled buildings are set back from property lines and sidewalks, intervening landscaping shall be designed to invite the public in, not to provide separation.
ii.
Where non-pedestrian space is placed between a building and a sidewalk, benches, low sitting walls or other street furniture shall be placed in order to enliven the sidewalk.
iii.
Small areas of landscaping and paving in courtyards, entryways, building nooks and other areas shall use materials and designs similar to adjacent public spaces where such use will make the area appear larger or more inviting. This requirement is intended to minimize the transition from public to private space, but is not intended to restrict changes in material where it is functionally necessary or where it will avoid visual monotony.
iv.
Hardscaping or landscaping shall be located in stopping areas created outside of pedestrian circulation areas. Stopping areas may be created by an enclosure, a change in grade or a change in paving materials.
v.
Decorative iron gates and hangers for signs, flags and hanging baskets may be required as part of the landscape plan.
vi.
Miscellaneous solid wood materials such as fences, decks, balconies, pergolas, etc. that are not painted in conjunction with the greater development color palette shall be uniformly stained any variety of the color brown and be required by the development's Codes, Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) to be maintained over time.
4.
Offsets. Along the vertical face of a structure, when facing a public street, pedestrian way or an abutting residential use, offsets shall occur at a minimum of every 24 feet by providing any two of the following (see Figure 16.44.010-6):
5.
Private Outdoor Areas.
a.
A separate outdoor area of not less than 48 square feet shall be attached to each ground level dwelling unit. These areas shall be separated from common outdoor areas in a manner, which enables the resident to control access from separate to common areas with elements such as walls, fences, or shrubs.
b.
A separate outdoor area of not less than 48 square feet in the form of balconies, terraces, or porches shall be provided for each dwelling unit located above the ground level.
6.
Parking Lots. Parking lots in multifamily developments shall not occupy more than 50% of the frontage of any public street abutting the lot or building.
7.
Individual Storage Areas. Enclosed storage areas shall be required and may be attached to the exterior of the dwelling unit to accommodate garden equipment, patio furniture, barbeques, bicycles, etc. Storage areas may be provided within garages if the required storage area is in addition to the required parking areas required.
8.
Carports and Garages. If carports and garages are provided, the form, materials, color and construction shall be compatible with the complex they serve.
9.
Shared Outdoor Recreation Areas. Multifamily residential development shall provide usable recreation areas for developments containing more than five dwelling units at the rate of 200 square feet per dwelling unit. Such areas shall be counted as part of the required landscaping. Examples include, but are not limited to, playgrounds, exercise trails, swimming pools, etc. Usable recreation area may also include slopes, wetlands, natural resource buffer areas, and other natural site features, however, at least 50% of the recreation area must be located outside the boundaries of such areas and slopes may not exceed 10% in the 50% usable recreation area. Gazebos and other outdoor covered spaces are encouraged and qualify as one and one-fourth square feet for every one square foot of required shared recreation area. The shared outdoor recreation area shall be located and designed in a manner which:
a.
Provides approximately the same accessibility to the maximum number of dwelling units possible;
b.
Windows shall be located to encourage watching over entry areas, shared recreational areas, laundry areas, walkways and parking areas from windows in at least two adjacent dwelling units. These windows must be located in kitchen, living room, dining room, or other activity rooms (bedrooms or bathrooms are not included);
c.
Provides a separation from parking and driveway areas with a landscaped transition area measuring a minimum of 10 feet wide;
d.
Controls access to shared outdoor areas from off-site as well as from on-site parking and entrance areas with features such as fencing, walls and landscaping;
e.
Provides a usable surface materials such as lawn, decks, wood chips, sand and hard surface materials (concrete/asphalt).
10.
Safety and Security.
a.
Provide an outdoor lighting system that facilitates police observation and resident observation through strategic location, orientation and brightness without being obtrusive by shining into residential units or adjacent residential developments.
b.
Establish a directory for apartment complexes of five or more units, which clearly orients visitors and emergency service providers as to the location of residential units. Where possible, this system should be evident from the primary vehicle entryway.
11.
Service, Delivery and Screening.
a.
Locate postal delivery areas in a convenient location efficiently designed for residents and mail delivery personnel and in accordance with U.S. Postal Service requirements.
b.
Provide pedestrian access from unit entries to postal delivery areas, garbage and recycling collection areas, shared activity areas and parking areas. Elements such as, but not limited to, concrete paths, striped walkways or raised walkways through vehicular areas or gravel trails will meet this requirement.
c.
Provide garbage collection and recycling areas in convenient locations for the service provider and residents.
d.
Garbage collection areas shall have a concrete floor surface and shall have a gate on the truckloading side and a separate pedestrian access.
e.
Outdoor storage areas, garbage containers and recycling bins shall be screened from view in one of the following manners:
i.
A solid sight obscuring wall or fence not less than six feet in height and constructed of durable materials compatible with the primary structure(s) shall surround these areas;
ii.
Evergreen plant materials that will retain their screening ability year-round and will reach the height of six feet within three years from time of planting. An overlap of three inches is required of the evergreen plant screening. The material shall completely screen the area from the public view.
f.
Electrical and Mechanical Equipment. On and above-ground electrical and mechanical equipment such as transformers, heat pumps and central air conditioner units shall be completely screened with sight-obscuring fences, walls or landscaping.
12.
The Planning Official or designee may allow exceptions to these standards without the need to obtain a formal variance pursuant to Chapter 16.71 provided at least one of the following circumstances is met:
a.
The applicant demonstrates that the physical characteristics of the site or existing structure make compliance impractical (e.g., they include, but are not limited to, steep slopes, wetlands, other bodies of water, trees or other nature features of the site, buildings or other existing development, utility lines and easements, etc.); or
b.
The applicant demonstrates that the alternative design is exceptional in the quality of detailing, appearance or materials and/or creates a positive unique relationship to other structures, views or open space in a manner that accomplishes the purpose of design review standards for multifamily developments in Section 16.44.010.
13.
A request for exception under this provision may be processed as part of the underlying application or separately as a Design Review II application.
14.
Multifamily dwellings in Village Commercial District (VC) shall comply with the following:
(Ord. 389 § 1(Exh. A), 2009; Ord. 406 § 1, 2010; Ord. 427 § 1, 2012; Ord. 446 § 1, 2014; Ord. 468 § 1, 2014; Ord. 526 § 1, 2017; Ord. 545 § 1, 2019; Ord. 550 § 1, 2020; Ord. 561 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 566 § 1, 2022; Ord. 582, 3/19/2024)








