A.
Location of parking lot. The intent is to maintain
a contiguous, active pedestrian area along street fronts by locating
parking lots behind buildings. Where there is one building on a parcel,
the intention of the standard is to require the parking relating to
that building to be located primarily behind the building. When one
or more larger primary buildings are located in the interior of a
parcel and multiple satellite pads are located adjacent to the street
frontages, the intent is to locate the individual building pads in
close proximity to the street frontage in a manner which visually
breaks the appearance of a bulk parking area from the viewpoint of
the adjacent street frontages. When buildings and the open space adjacent
to them are located near the property frontage rather than being separated
from the street frontage by parking areas, the need for common space
near the interior of the property is considered less essential.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Commercial parking lots shall be located to
the rear of and behind the commercial buildings. Commercial parking
lots may only be permitted in front of or beside buildings upon determination
by the Planning Commission that the rear areas are unsuitable.
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(b)
Parking lots shall be located behind buildings
in new mixed-use developments or relocated behind buildings in redevelopment.
(c)
Parking lots shall provide a minimum ten-foot
wide planting area between the parking lot and street right-of-way
to include:
[1]
A year-round sight barrier;
[2]
Ten evergreen shrubs per 35 linear feet of frontage;
[3]
One shade or evergreen tree per 35 linear feet
of frontage;
[4]
Evergreen ground cover;
[5]
Shrub material maintained at maximum height
of three feet for visibility and maintain year-round color and interest.
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(d)
Parking lots located along U.S. Route 113 shall
provide a minimum twenty-five-foot wide planting area between the
parking lot and street right-of-way to include:
[1]
A year-round sight barrier;
[2]
Thirty evergreen shrubs per 50 linear feet of
frontage;
[3]
Two shade or evergreen tree per 50 linear feet
of frontage;
[4]
Evergreen ground cover;
[5]
Shrub material maintained at maximum height
of three feet for visibility and maintain year-round color and interest.
B.
Drive-through businesses. The intent is to reduce
the impact of vehicular traffic on pedestrian activity.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Drive-through windows shall not be located between
the front facade of the building and major roadways.
(b)
Drive-through lanes and travel lanes must be
separated from parking areas with appropriate barriers. Safe access
to building entrances must be provided for pedestrians across the
travel lanes.
C.
Parking lot circulation. The intent is to provide
safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian circulation within parking
lots.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Parking lots shall provide clear, logical, and
well-defined vehicular circulation within and through the lot.
(b)
Planting islands and curbing shall be used to
clearly define and separate travel lanes and parking areas.
(c)
On primary vehicular travel lanes serving parking
lots of 30 or more spaces, only parallel parking is permitted.
(d)
Parking spaces are prohibited within 15 feet
of the driveway entrance or exit intersections.
(e)
Cross-access easements shall be provided between
adjacent commercial parcels to allow for interconnection of parking
areas.
(f)
Provisions shall be made to connect to future
development and planned or existing adjacent parking lots by dedication
of easements for future connections. Said connections shall be shown
on the site development plan and are required for Record Plan approval.
(g)
Accommodation for loading and unloading shall
be designed to provide adequate space for efficient maneuvering into
and out of loading position at properly constructed docks located
either within a building or in the yard on the same lot.
D.
Parking lot landscaping. The intent is to reduce the
visual impact of parking lots through landscaped areas and/or architectural
features that compliment the overall design and character of the commercial
development. (Also applicable to a storage lot, gas station aprons,
and drive-through areas.)
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
In addition to the requirements in Chapter 285
of the Town Code, the number of trees required in the internal planting
areas within the parking lots shall be dependent upon the location
of the parking lot in relation to the building and public right-of-way:
[1]
Where the parking lot is located between the
building and the public right-of-way, one tree for every five spaces
shall be provided (1:5).
[2]
Where the parking lot is located to the side
of the building and partially abuts the public right-of-way, one tree
for every seven spaces shall be provided (1:7).
[3]
Where the parking lot is located behind the
building and is not visible from the public right-of-way, one tree
for every 10 spaces shall be provided (1:10).
[4]
Internal planting areas shall be provided to
break up long rows of parking, to aid and facilitate vehicular circulation
throughout the parking lot and provide shading.
[5]
The Planning Commission may allow extensively
landscaped stormwater facilities to be counted as a percentage of
the required landscaping.
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E.
Parking lot screening. The intent is to provide visually
attractive screening of parking lots in commercial development visible
from the public right-of-way while providing visibility for surveillance.
(Also applicable to a storage lot, gas station aprons, and drive-through
areas.)
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Parking lots that abut the public right-of-way
shall be screened with one or a combination of the following treatments:
[1]
Low walls made of masonry, or other similar
permanently affixed materials, and not exceeding a maximum height
of three feet.
[2]
Raised planter walls planted with a minimum
80% evergreen shrubs not to exceed a total height of three feet, including
planter wall and landscape planting.
[3]
Landscape plantings consisting of trees of which
at least 80% are deciduous. Shrubs and ground cover materials of which
at least 80% are evergreen.
(b)
Walls, fencing, and architectural details shall
complement the materials used in adjacent architectural styles.
(c)
Walls and raised planters shall not exceed a
maximum height of three feet, unless a screen treatment is provided
that does not create a safety hazard.
(d)
Where walls are provided, landscape planting
areas shall be a minimum width of five feet and shall be located adjacent
to the public right-of-way.
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(e)
Fencing around parking lots shall be in conformance
with the existing Town Code.
(f)
All plant material used for parking lot screening
shall be managed and/or selected to provide clear views between three
and eight feet above the ground surface, for surveillance purposes.
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F.
Pedestrian walkways through parking lots. The intent
is to provide safe, convenient, and attractive walkways for pedestrians
through parking lots.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
For parking lots that contain greater than 30
parking spaces, pedestrian connections shall be clearly defined in
a combination of two or more of the following ways:
[1]
Special paving, such as colored concrete, pavers,
etc. in an asphalt area.
[2]
A continuous landscape area minimum three feet
wide on at least one side of the walkway (where walkways abut a public
right-of-way and/or driving aisles, the landscape area shall be provided
between the walkway and the public right-of-way or driving aisle).
[3]
Surfacing materials must be safe and conducive
for navigation by strollers, wheel chairs, walkers and carts.
(b)
ADA-compliant connections shall be provided
from ADA parking stalls to the main pedestrian walking routes and
building entrances.
(c)
Pedestrian walkways within parking areas shall
be a minimum five-foot width of clear, unobstructed passage.
(d)
Pedestrian walkways shall provide a distinct
linkage between a main entrance to the building and a concentration
of vehicle parking spaces in order to encourage its use by pedestrians.
(e)
Where buildings are not located directly adjacent
to the sidewalk, pedestrian walkways shall connect the public sidewalk
in the right-of-way to the main building entrance in a clear and direct
manner, regardless of the number of parking spaces.
(f)
Where transit stops or pedestrian dropoff sites
occur in the public right-of-way (if applicable), pedestrian walkways
shall provide a direct and clear connection from the building's main
entrance to the transit stop/pedestrian dropoff site.
(g)
Night lighting shall be provided where stairs,
curbs, ramps, abrupt changes in walk direction, and crossing vehicle
lanes occur. Lighting must be ground-affixed, lighting only the area
of concern.
(h)
Pedestrian dropoff areas shall be designated
by signage or markings and shall not be located near high-volume travel
lanes or within fire lanes.
G.
Mass transit bus dropoff/pickup areas. The intent
is to provide a safe and sheltered area for mass transit bus services.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Location of the bus service area shall be centrally
located. A designated parking pull-off area from the existing roadways
to allow traffic to continue to move in a safe manner shall be provided.
(b)
The centrally located parking pull-off area
shall be next to a weather-protected shelter/facility located in a
safe and well-lit area.
(c)
The proposed facility shall also be built so
individuals awaiting pickup can sit and see the bus arriving.
(d)
The shelter/facility shall be designed according
to the character of the commercial development and neighborhood.
(e)
The roadway network shall be designed so that
buses can maneuver easily and have clear view of bus stops and pedestrian
walkways.
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A.
Connections. The intent is to improve the pedestrian
environment by creating a network of safe, convenient, and attractive
internal linkages for pedestrians to the street sidewalks, to transit
stops, to adjacent properties and between the retail and mixed-use
developments by providing sidewalks and general connections while
maintaining consistent street frontage and character for street rights-of-way.
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(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Sidewalks shall be provided along all street
frontages with appropriate connections to adjacent parcels and development
provided.
(b)
All sidewalks must be installed using the requirements
and specifications as determined by DELDot.
(c)
Any site work planned within state roadways
must obtain approvals from DELDot.
(d)
Any new development or redevelopment shall provide
for pedestrian connections between all internal commercial and residential
uses.
(e)
Provisions shall be made to connect to future
development. Planned or existing sidewalks or pedestrian trails shall
be provided by dedication of easements for future connections.
(f)
Crosswalks shall be required to create a visual
and direct connection between barrier free access curb ramps for the
purpose of demarcation of appropriate pedestrian street-crossing locations
in the following instances:
[1]
At points of intersection between sidewalk and
collector streets and at all corners along a collector street or where
local residential streets intersect the collector street.
[2]
At all signalized intersections adjoining the
development site.
[3]
At key locations to provide safe street crossing
access to active or passive parkland and open space areas, schools,
playgrounds, neighborhood shopping centers and similar pedestrian
destinations within and adjoining the development.
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[4]
The locations and criteria for curb ramps must
meet DELDot design and construction standards and the ADA Accessibility
Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG) which gives requirements
under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
(g)
Sidewalks and trails should be integrated with
overall landscaping design.
(h)
Pedestrian trails and connections shall be provided
to adjacent pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks and trails and
provide linkages to destinations within Town such as public buildings,
parks, commercial centers and other residential areas. These connections
shall be five feet to six feet wide or as determined by the Planning
Commission.
(i)
Pedestrian trails shall be constructed of durable
pervious materials including soil cement, pavers, grass pavers, or
paved with asphalt or other materials approved by the Planning Commission.
These connections shall be five feet to six feet wide or as determined
by the Planning Commission.
(j)
Trails must meet ADA recommendations for trail
construction.
(k)
Pedestrian connections shall be clearly defined
in a combination of two or more of the following ways:
[1]
A trellis, special railing, bollards, and/or
other architectural features to accent the walkway at key points.
[2]
A continuous landscape area should be a minimum
of three feet wide on at least one side of the walkway, except as
walkways cross vehicular travel lanes. Where walkways abut a public
right of-way and/or driving aisles, the landscape area shall be provided
between the walkway and the public right-of way and/or driving aisle.
(l)
Pedestrian connections shall be illuminated
with pedestrian-scale lighting, bollard lighting, accent lighting
or a combination thereof to aid in pedestrian travel.
(m)
Pedestrian walkways shall include clear sight
lines to building entrances and shall not be less than five feet wide.
(2)
Encouraged guidelines.
(a)
Existing informal paths or trails should be
recognized and improved to ensure connection to and through sites,
and access to parks and open spaces.
(b)
Plant materials in pedestrian landscape areas
should consist of a mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.
A minimum of 20% of plant varieties should provide year-round color,
texture and/or other special interest. Shrubs should be maintained
at a maximum three-foot height for visibility. Ground covers should
be evergreen varieties.
A.
Prominent entrance. The intent is to ensure that building
entrances are welcoming and easily identifiable from streets and sidewalks.
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(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Visual prominence. The principal entry to the
building shall be marked by at least one element from each of the
following groups or any other combination of elements as approved
by the Planning Commission:
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Group A
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Group B
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Group C
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(a)
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Recess
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(a)
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Clerestory
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(a)
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Stone, masonry or tile paving in entry
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(b)
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Overhang
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(b)
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Ornamental lighting fixtures
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(b)
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Ornamental building name or address
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(c)
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Canopy
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(c)
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Large entry door(s)
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(c)
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Pots or planters with flowers
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(d)
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Portico
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(d)
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Seating
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(e)
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Porch
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(b)
No permanent or nonpermanent element that is
attached to the principal building shall project or extend over the
walkway with the exception of standards for inclement weather protection.
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B.
Massing. The intent is to reduce the apparent bulk
of multistory buildings and single-story buildings 15 feet or more
in height, and to maintain Town scale by providing a sense of "base,"
"middle," and "top."
C.
Ground-level details. The intent is to reinforce the
character of the streetscape by encouraging the greatest amount of
visual interest along the ground level of buildings facing pedestrian
streets.
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(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Ground-floor, street-facing facades of commercial
and mixed use buildings shall incorporate at least five of the following
elements:
[1]
Medallions.
[2]
Belt courses.
[3]
Plinths or columns.
[4]
Kickplate for storefront window.
[5]
Projecting sills.
[6]
Tilework.
[7]
Pedestrian-scale sign(s) or sign(s) professionally
painted on windows.
[8]
Planter box.
[9]
Front porches or stoops.
[10]
An architecture feature not listed here that
meets the intent, as approved by the Planning Commission.
(b)
Building facades not facing a street shall incorporate
at least three of the above-mentioned items.
D.
Screening blank walls. The intent is to ensure that
buildings do not display blank, unattractive walls visible from the
street or public areas, including parking lots.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Walls 30 or more feet in length facing streets
or visible from residential areas where windows are not provided shall
have architectural treatment. At least four of the following elements
shall be incorporated into any ground floor, street-facing facade:
[1]
Masonry (but not flat concrete block).
[2]
Concrete or masonry plinth at the base of the
wall.
[3]
Belt courses of a different texture and color.
[4]
Projecting cornice.
[5]
Projecting canopy.
[6]
Medallions.
[7]
Trellis containing planting.
[8]
Decorative woodwork or tile work.
[9]
Opaque or translucent glass.
[10]
Artwork.
[11]
Vertical articulation.
[12]
Lighting fixtures.
[13]
Recesses.
[14]
An architectural element not listed above, as
approved, that meets the intent.
(b)
Entire walls enclosed by glass or windows are
not permitted.
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E.
Plazas, courtyards, and seating areas. The intent
is to reinforce and encourage the pedestrian accessibility of Dagsboro
by providing usable passive open space.
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(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Pedestrian spaces shall be visible and accessible
to the public.
(b)
Plazas, courtyards and other pedestrian spaces
shall include at least three of the following:
[1]
Special interest planting with a wide range
of plant materials including perennials and flowering shrubs. Approximately
65% plant material used shall provide seasonal flower and/or foliage
color.
[2]
Pedestrian-scale bollard lighting, or other
accent lighting.
[3]
Special paving, such as colored/stained concrete,
brick or other unit pavers. The use of low impact development materials,
if appropriate to the site conditions, is encouraged.
[4]
Seating, such as benches, tables, or low seating
walls.
[5]
Water feature, such as a fountain, etc.
F.
Site furnishings. The intent is to create a more pedestrian-friendly
street frontage through the use of permanent site furnishings at main
pedestrian walkways, building entrances and other pedestrian areas.
G.
Orientation to streets. The intent is to ensure that
buildings add to the liveliness of streets and the overall community
character.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Buildings, along with trees and landscaping,
shall be the predominant feature rather than parking lots and freestanding
signs.
(b)
Pedestrian access to the building shall be visually
and functionally clear, to provide a safe and hazard-free access and
should offer a convenient alternative to walking through driveway
entrances and exits.
H.
Setbacks. The intent is to ensure the visibility of
retail businesses and establish active, lively uses within close proximity
to the sidewalk.
(1)
Encouraged guidelines.
(a)
Commercial buildings should be set as close
as possible to all adjacent sidewalks and minimum required setback
lines.
(b)
The major portion of single building should
abut the sidewalk. In multibuilding developments, one or more buildings
should be set to the sidewalk.
(c)
The requirement for common space may be waived
in the instance where a development locates its parking area behind
the building and locates the building as close as is practical to
the sidewalk and street frontage.
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I.
Weather protection. The intent is to provide weather
protection for pedestrians.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Overhead protection providing shelter from inclement
weather at the main building entrance is required. Any method used
to provide said protection shall be combined with the method used
to achieve visual prominence.
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(b)
Where buildings are adjacent to a sidewalk,
canopies or awnings shall be provided. The minimum depth of any canopy
or awning must be five feet unless limited by the building code. The
vertical dimension between the underside of a canopy or awning and
the sidewalk must be at least eight feet and no more than 12 feet.
J.
Roofline expression. The intent is to ensure that
rooflines present a distinct profile and appearance for the building
and express the neighborhood character.
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(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Commercial buildings shall be designed to maintain
the existing scale of residential and commercial buildings presently
located along roadways. To attain the continuation of residential
scale, the use of sloping rooflines shall be required. Any alternative
roofline not utilizing sloping elements must be approved by the Planning
Commission.
(b)
The minimum allowable roof pitch shall be a
6/12 pitch.
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K.
Concealing rooftop equipment. The intent is to screen
view of rooftop mechanical and communications equipment where visible
from the street level.
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(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Mechanical equipment shall be screened from
public areas by extended parapet walls or other roof forms that are
integrated with the architecture of the building.
(b)
Painting or fencing the mechanical equipment
are not acceptable methods of screening.
(c)
Communication equipment shall be incorporated
within the design of the roofs, rather than being merely attached
to the roof deck.
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(d)
Due to the nature and need for exposure of solar
panels, it may be difficult to conceal solar panel equipment. Should
it not be possible to conceal the panel equipment, the location and
placement of such equipment must be approved by the Planning Commission.
L.
Expression at entrances to large developments. The
intent is to provide a reference point at the end of a block of facades
or to mark intersections or entrances to developments larger than
five acres by providing visual interest at their entrance to the street.
These expressions should be consistent with the character of the Town
and not appear as a "gated community" separate from the Town.
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All lighting shall follow the guidelines as
amended by the IESNA - Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America.
A.
Height. The intent is to maintain a safe, secure,
and attractive environment using adequate and attractive lighting.
Exterior lighting shall serve as a security measure and increase general
visibility. The lighting of buildings, landscaping, driveways, signs
and other exterior uses of lighting shall be designed to minimize
the light and glare on adjacent neighborhoods and roadways. Lighting
along the main roadways should be geared to pedestrians, to encourage
main street activity into the evening hours.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Pole-mounted fixtures in vehicular use or pedestrian
areas shall not exceed a mounting height of 12 feet, and such poles
shall be located so as not to be a hazard in the path of travel for
pedestrian or vehicular access.
(b)
Wall-mounted lighting fixtures shall not exceed
the height limits set for the pole-mounted fixtures in their respective
use areas, and shall be provided in a manner that will minimize glare
to vehicular traffic.
(c)
Outdoor lighting may exceed 12 feet in height
if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
B.
Illumination. The intent is to maintain a safe, secure,
and attractive environment using adequate and attractive, and functional
lighting.
(1)
Required standards.
(b)
In addition, outdoor lighting shall be designed
so that any overspill be minimized, but if necessary and approved
by the Planning Commission, lighting onto adjacent properties shall
not exceed one-half footcandle vertical and one-half footcandle horizontal
illumination to the adjacent properties or structures.
(c)
All lighting shall be glare-free and shielded
from the sky and adjacent residential properties and structures, either
through exterior shields or through optics within the fixture.
(d)
Lighting shall not be used to attract attention
to a business, but to provide reasonable levels of lighting for safety
and identification.
(e)
Lighting levels shall comply with Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America's Recommended Practices and Design
Guidelines, latest edition.
(f)
Safety lighting shall be provided at building
entrance and doors sufficient to illuminate the doorway.
C.
Design and compatibility. The design of exterior lighting
fixtures shall enhance and complement the character of a specific
building or space, and must reflect the traditional elements of Dagsboro.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
Lighting styles of both poles and fixtures must
be of a style compatible with the design and architectural style of
the buildings and facilities illuminated. Lighting fixtures must be
appropriate for the type of development proposed.
(b)
Pedestrian scale lighting may also be accomplished
with fixtures that are mounted on buildings or located to accent architectural
or landscape features. Such fixtures should be designed to enhance
the overall architecture of the building, provide lighting for pedestrians
and not damage historic materials.
D.
Discouraged lighting.
(1)
The use of uplighting should be avoided to minimize
light pollution of the night sky and to prevent light trespassing
onto adjacent properties. However, uplighting to wash or accent a
sculpture or art work may be approved by the Planning Commission.
E.
Prohibited lighting.
(1)
Flashing lights: Any lights that flash, move, revolve,
rotate, scintillate, blink, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent
electrical pulsation.
(2)
Outdoor string of lights, including but not limited
to those outlining lot lines, or outdoor display or sales lots.
(3)
Luminous colored-tube lighting.
(5)
Colored lighting unless specifically approved by the
Planning Commission.
A.
Screening of trash and service areas. The intent is
to provide a safe and clearly marked area for deliveries as well as
trash service pickup. This area should be clear of vehicular traffic
and high pedestrian volume to enable delivery vehicles an area without
any obstructions to perform such services. Reduce the impact of service,
loading and trash storage areas.
(1)
Required standards.
(a)
All service, loading and trash dumpsters areas
shall be screened by a combination of masonry, wood, or vinyl walls
and planting areas.
(b)
Dumpsters shall be screened by walls, fences,
gates and plantings and placed on concrete pad.
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(c)
Loading and service areas shall not face any
residential district, unless no other location is possible as deemed
by the Planning Commission.
(d)
Loading areas shall be connected to the building
or immediately adjacent to the building which the loading area services.
(e)
Shoulders or right-of-way areas shall not be
used or designated as loading areas.
