Town of Boston, NY Article IV Design Standards

§ 97-12 Landscape.

Landscape design standards shall be as follows:

A. Landscape treatment for plazas, roads, walks, service and parking areas shall be designated as an integral part of a coordinated landscape design for the entire development.

B. Primary landscape treatment shall consist of shrubs, ground cover and trees and shall be combined with appropriate walks and street surfaces to provide an attractive development pattern. Landscape materials should be appropriate to the local growing conditions.

C. Whenever appropriate, existing trees and shrubs shall be retained and integrated into the landscape design.

§ 97-13 Circulation system.

Circulation system design standards shall be as follows:

A. Where commercial development abuts or contains an existing or proposed expressway or major arterial street or railroad right-of-way, the Town Board may require separation of local and through traffic. This shall be achieved by one of the following means:

(1) A marginal access street, separate from the arterial street by a planting strip.

(2) Reverse frontage lots, with lot fronts on the interior local street and having a nonaccess reservation along the rear property line.

B. All proposed traffic accessways shall be adequate, but not excessive, in number, adequate in grade, width, alignment and visibility and not located too near street corners, entrances to schools or public assembly and other similar considerations.

C. There shall be an adequate, safe and convenient arrangement of pedestrian circulation facilities, roadways, driveways, off-street parking and loading spaces.

D. Roads, pedestrian walks and open spaces shall be designed as an integral part of the overall site design. They shall be properly related to existing and proposed buildings and appropriately landscaped.

E. There shall be an adequate amount, in suitable locations, of pedestrian walks, malls and landscaped spaces in order to discourage pedestrian use of vehicular ways and parking and loading spaces from general vehicular circulation facilities.

F. Buildings and vehicular circulation open spaces shall be arranged so that pedestrians moving between buildings are not unnecessarily exposed to vehicular traffic.

G. Landscaped, paved and comfortably graded pedestrian walks shall be provided along lines of the most intense use, particularly from building entrances to streets, parking areas and adjacent buildings.

H. Location and design of pedestrian walks should emphasize desirable views of new and existing development in the area.

I. The maximum separation of private automobiles and service vehicles shall be provided through the use of separate service lanes.

J. Materials and design of paving, lighting fixtures, retaining walls, bulkheads, fences, curbs, benches, etc., shall be of good appearance, easily maintained and indicative of their function.

§ 97-14 Parking and loading.

Requirements for parking and loading facilities shall be as follows:

A. Parking and loading facilities shall be landscaped and screened from public view to the extent necessary to eliminate unsightliness and the monotony of parked vehicles.

B. Pedestrian connections between parking areas of buildings shall be via special pedestrian walkways.

C. Parking facilities shall be designed with careful regard to arrangement, topography, landscaping and ease of access and shall be developed as an integral part of the overall site plan.

D. Any above-grade loading facility should be screened from public view to the extent necessary to eliminate unsightliness.

§ 97-15 Perimeter control.

If topographical or other barriers do not provide adequate privacy for existing uses adjacent to the proposed development, the following shall be required:

A. Structures located on the perimeter of the proposed development shall be permanently screened in a manner which is sufficient to protect the privacy and amenity of adjacent existing uses.

§ 97-16 Drainage.

A. Where adequate surface drainage is not possible by grading alone, a supplementary drainage system approved by the Town of Boston shall be required. On-site management of surface drainage shall be planned so that there shall be no greater runoff during and following construction than prior to commencement of construction. Lawn and yard areas shall be adequately drained to permit normal use and maintenance.

B. General standards.

(1) The proposed development shall provide for an effective, unified treatment of the development possibilities and the project site, making appropriate provision for the preservation of scenic features and amenities on the site and the surrounding areas.

(2) The proposed development shall be planned to harmonize with all existing and/or proposed development in the area surrounding the project site.