Ordinance 3269-12 - Laserfiche WebLink

A. Building Design—Character. The intent of this provision is to provide building design that has a high level of design quality and creates comfortable human environments, incorporate design treatments that add interest and reduce the scale of large buildings, encourage building design that is authentic and responsive to site conditions, and encourage functional, durable, and environmentally responsible buildings. 1. While a variety of architectural elements and characteristics are desirable to avoid monotonous development, new buildings should not exhibit specifically historical styles and themes such as "Bavarian" or"Colonial" architecture. Traditional building elements, forms and materials may be appropriate, as are contemporary architectural styles and features. Buildings within a multi-building development should generally be designed as a composition so that the buildings' characters complement one another through the use of similar forms, materials, proportions or other characteristics. Buildings must not include corporate signature building elements (such as McDonald's light ribs or KFC's red pyramid roof). B. Human Scale Elements. The intent of this provision is to encourage the use of building components that relate to the size of the human body and add visual interest to buildings. 1. "Human scale" addresses the relationship between a building and the human body. Generally, buildings attain a good human scale when they feature elements or characteristics that are sized to fit human activities, such as doors, porches, and balconies. New buildings must incorporate a minimum of three of the following human scale building elements. a. Balconies or decks in upper stories, at least one balcony or deck per upper floor on the façades facing streets, provided they are integrated into the architecture of the building. (See Figure 31B.080-1.) b. Bay windows or other window treatments that extend out from or are inset in the building face. c. At least 100 square feet of pedestrian-oriented space, as described in Section 31B.060.C, for each 100 lineal feet of building façade. d. Individual windows, generally less than 32 square feet per pane and separated from the windows by at least a 6" molding. e. A porch or covered entry. f. Spatially defining building elements, such as a trellis, alcove, overhang, canopy, or other element,that defines space that can be occupied by people. g. Upper story setbacks,provided one or more of the upper stories are set back from the face of the building at least 6 feet. h. Placement of smaller building elements near the entry of pedestrian-oriented street fronts of large buildings. (See Figure 31B.080-4.) 49