These standards are intended to foster the creation of an urban environment that accommodates growth and is compatible with the existing uses in the area.
A. Lighting. On-site lighting, including parking lot lighting and illuminated signs, shall be located, directed, or designed in a manner to prevent glare on adjacent properties and for the benefit of pedestrians. All lighting shall have similar design elements to other structures found in the downtown core.
B. Location of Service Areas. All loading docks and other service activities shall be located away from view of any public street and shall be off of the alley. Exceptions to this requirement may be approved through the site plan review process. If such activities are visible from a public street, a visual screening design approved by the city shall be required.
C. Urban Design. Designs for this area shall focus on the "historic character" of traditional downtowns, relating to the heritage of the early residents of the community. Colors shall be medium to dark earth tones and follow the character of the neighborhood.
1. Architectural Character and Materials.
a. A differentiated base shall be used to provide human scale design through change, contrast, and intricacy in facade form. Scaling elements such as insets and projections shall be used to break up flat or monotonous facades along with color and a change in materials.
b. The climate in the city is such that in the summer months, shade is preferred and in the winter months, protection from the rain and wind is necessary. By providing the pedestrian with a sidewalk that is enjoyable to use year-round, a pedestrian-oriented development is achieved. Therefore, the following will be encouraged:
2. Entrance and Visual Access. The intent in this district is to encourage pedestrian activity between the public street/sidewalk and buildings. Sidewalks shall provide continuous, uninterrupted interest to the pedestrian by providing visual interest or amenities. The environment will benefit with increased pedestrian activity; this activity will only occur if opportunities are provided that make walking to a destination a preferred and an enjoyable pursuit. The use of blank building facade walls is discouraged.
3. Minimum First Floor Glass. The first floor elevation of a building facing a street shall not have less than forty percent glass surfaces. All first floor glass shall be nonreflective. Display windows that are three-dimensional and are at least two feet deep are permitted and may be counted toward the forty percent glass requirement.
4. Provide at least one operable building entrance that faces a public street. Buildings that face multiple streets are only required to have one door on either street if the facades for both streets meet the forty percent glass requirement.
a. The maximum length of any blank wall uninterrupted by windows, doors, art, or architectural detailing at the first floor level shall be forty feet.
b. All building equipment and service areas, including on-grade and roof mechanical equipment and transformers, that are readily visible from the public right-of-way shall be screened from public view.
D. Public Amenities and Public Art. Amenities and works of art enhance quality of life as well as visual interest. Public amenities and art encourage pedestrian activity and contribute to the experience. A cohesive, unified lighting and amenity policy will help give the district its own distinctive identity. Therefore, all projects will be required to have public amenities and art that are subject to the following standards:
1. Sidewalks and street lamps installed in the public right-of-way shall be of the type specified in the city's design and development standards. All parking lot lights shall match the city's standards.
2. Pedestrian amenities such as park benches will be required.
3. Public art (which may include artists' work integrated into the design of the building, and landscaping, sculpture, painting, murals, glass, mixed media, or work by artisans) that is accessible or directly viewable to the general public shall be included in all projects.
4. All residential projects shall have open space.
5. Safe and efficient pedestrian circulation shall be a priority.
E. All buildings that contain dwelling units shall meet the following standards:
1. Natural light and ventilation shall be provided in each individual dwelling unit as well as common areas such as hallways.
2. Each dwelling unit shall contain a bathroom and kitchen area.
3. In existing buildings being converted to residential housing through either an alteration, remodel, or conversion, a minimum of twenty-five percent of the entire building square footage shall be used for commercial purposes or as common space for tenants.
a. The commercial use or common space shall be located along the first floor building frontage.
b. Windows and entrances shall conform to the performance standards found in subsections (C)(2), (C)(3), and (C)(4) of this section.
c. Windows may not in any way be curtained or shuttered on either the interior or exterior. They must allow for observation from the outside.
F. A modification to the urban design provisions of this section may be granted by the site plan review committee after a recommendation from the historic preservation committee (if located in a historic district) and the planning commission.
(Ord. 2209 § 2 (part), 2008; Ord. 2309 § 2, 2013; Ord. 2467 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2539 § 20, 2023)