The purpose of the following architectural and site design standards is to evaluate proposed buildings and site improvements during development plan review to ensure that certain design and appearance standards are maintained. These standards provide a means of evaluating whether the proposed building design and site layout meet the overall intent of development plan review and this ordinance. These standards shall be used to ensure all proposed buildings and site improvements meet the intent of this ordinance.

These standards also are intended to protect the general health, safety, welfare and harmony of the city by ensuring that the city's appearance, character, history, and natural resources are preserved and respected by: achieving high quality design; reducing the visual and physical dominance of the automobile; providing for pedestrian access and orientation; providing public open spaces; providing landscaping and seasonal color; and adding distinctive architectural features and rooflines to the viewscapes of the city.

A.

Building form. Building mass, height, bulk and width-to-height ratio must be similar in scale and in proportion to buildings within 500 feet, for buildings in the multiple-family residential district (MFRD), professional office district (POD), waterfront marina district (WMD), general commercial district (GCD), regional commercial/industrial district (RC/ID), planned industrial district (PID), and community service district (CSD), unless existing buildings do not meet the standards of this article as determined by the planning commission.

1.

Walls and facades. A single uninterrupted length of a building facade should not exceed 100 feet. Recesses, offsets, angular forms, curved or stepped walls, projecting vestibules from the plane of the wall, or other features should be used to provide a changing and visually interesting shape. Vertical elements such as towers, cupolas, and chimneys are recommended.

2.

Windows. The approximate size, orientation and spacing of windows should match that of buildings within 500 feet, unless existing buildings do not meet the standards of this article as determined by the planning commission. Window shapes shall be rectangular, square or palladian (most rectangular with a semicircular top). Windows are permitted with a recommended width-to-height ratio of between one to one and four to one. Vertical windows are permitted with a recommended maximum width-to-height ratio of one to two.

Windows should be recessed and include visually obvious sills. Spaces between windows should be formed by columns, mullions, or material found elsewhere on the facade. Clear window glass is recommended; green, blue, bronze, or smoke tints are also permitted.

The first floor of front facades of nonresidential buildings should be at least one-third windows, and remaining floors of front facades should be at least one-quarter windows.

3.

Rooflines. Rooflines should be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood character as determined by the planning commission. Pitched roof forms (gable, hip, shed) with overhanging eaves should be used within the MFRD, POD, WMD, GCD, RC/ID, and CSD, with between six inches of vertical rise to 12 inches of horizontal run, and 12 inches of vertical rise to 12 inches of horizontal run. Standing seam metal roofs may also be permitted within the MFRD, POD, WMD, GCD, RC/ID, and CSD. Mansard, mock mansard, or barrel roofs are discouraged.

Dormer windows are recommended. Distinctively shaped roof forms, detailed parapets, and exaggerated cornice lines should be incorporated into rooflines along building facades greater than 100 feet. Rooftop mechanical equipment must be screened by the roof form.

4.

Main entrances. Main entrances should be emphasized with larger doors and framing devices such as deep overhangs, recesses, peaked roof forms, porches, or arches.

B.

Building content. Buildings in the MFRD, POD, WMD, GCD, RC/ID, and CSD should possess architectural variety, but must enhance the overall cohesiveness of the neighborhood's character and appearance as determined by the planning commission.

1.

Architectural features. Building facades greater than 100 feet should contain architectural features, details and ornaments that are consistent with predominating architectural styles found within the neighborhood such as: arches; roof cornices; contrasting bases; contrasting masonry courses, water tables, or molding; pilasters or columns; corbeling; contrasting bands or color; stone or ceramic accent tiles; colonnades; or porches. All sides of a building should be similar in design, details, and materials to present a cohesive appearance to neighboring properties.

Elements such as wall clocks, decorative light fixtures, and door or window canopies are also recommended. Canopies should be of metal or canvas; vinyl canopies are not recommended. All nonresidential buildings must have interior downspout and gutter systems; exterior downspouts and gutters are not permitted for nonresidential buildings, except for those originally constructed for single-family residential purposes.

2.

Entrance details. Main entrances to buildings should incorporate devices such as canopies, overhangs, raised parapets over the door, larger door openings and display windows, accent colors, and architectural details such as tile work, moldings, and distinctive door pulls. Canopies should be of metal or canvas; vinyl canopies are not recommended.

3.

Building materials. Building materials must be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood character, as determined by the planning commission. Building materials on the front facade or any facade visible from a public right-of-way must be primarily of natural materials conveying permanence, as determined by the planning commission. Each front facade, any facade visible from a public right-of-way, and any facade with a dedicated public entrance into the building should contain at least two-thirds of the recommended materials listed below, excluding window areas.

a.

Recommended materials. Brick masonry; stone; concrete slab (poured-in-place, tilt-up construction).

b.

Acceptable materials. Split face, scored, or ground face block; beveled wood siding (lap, board and batter, shake); exterior finish insulation systems (EIFS).

c.

Discouraged materials. Smooth face block; vinyl siding found inconsistent with the design of the building; metal siding (standing seam panels, aluminum siding); clear and reflective glass; T-111 and other wood panel siding.

Acceptable or discouraged materials, or similar synthetic or highly reflective materials should not be used except for decorative or accent features only. Exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS) may be used for decorative or accent features, and may also be a primary facade material; provided it is placed at a height of 12 feet or greater, measured from grade, and provided it is no more than one-quarter of the total facade area.

4.

Colors. The following natural colors should be used for the main portions of building facades and roof forms: neutral earth tones (sand to brown); shades of gray; traditional colors (e.g., brick red, forest green, navy blue); light, subdued hues (e.g., salmon); or white. Contrasting, accent colors which are compatible with the primary colors listed above are encouraged for trim, accent, and other decorative architectural features. The use of bright or fluorescent colors (e.g., purple, orange, pink, lime, yellow) is discouraged. Colors should be natural to the material or pigmented, and not painted on the material whenever possible.

C.

Historic district buildings. New buildings and building renovations within a MFRD, POD, WMD, GCD, RC/ID, or CSD that are located within a historic district must have architectural features, details and ornaments such as arches, colonnades, cornices or porches that are consistent with predominating architectural styles found within that district. The planning commission may require that development plans for new buildings and building renovations within a historic district be reviewed by any historic district commission established for such districts.

A.

Building materials. Building materials for an attached office/main entrance portion of a building within an planned industrial district (PID) must be primarily of natural materials conveying permanence, as determined by the planning commission, such as: brick masonry; stone; concrete slab (poured-in-place, tilt-up construction); split face, scored, or ground face block; or clear or reflective glass. Exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS) may also be a primary facade material provided it is placed at a height of 12 feet or greater. If a building within an [a] PID does not have an attached office/main entrance portion, the above standards should apply to the front facade of the building to a height of 12 feet.

The following materials, along with those listed above, may be used for all other facades of a building within an PID: smooth face block; and metal siding (standing seam panels, aluminum siding). The following materials should not be used: beveled wood siding (lap, board and batter, shake); vinyl siding; and T-111 and other wood panel siding.

B.

Colors. Buildings within an PID should comply with the standards of section 22.20(B)(4) regarding color.

A.

Building form and content. The following architectural and building material standards are recommended for new dwellings within the rural estate district (RED), traditional residential district (TRD), and waterfront residential district (WRD).

1.

Building materials. Building materials should be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood character, and primarily be composed of brick masonry; stone, or beveled wood siding (lap, board and batter, shake).

2.

Windows. The approximate size, orientation and spacing of windows should be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood character, and shapes should be rectangular, square, or palladian (mostly rectangular with semicircular top). Circular, octagonal, or diamond shaped windows are discouraged other than for decorative gable windows. Horizontal windows are recommended with a width-to-height ratio of between one to one and four to one. Vertical windows are recommended with a maximum width-to-height ratio of one to two. Windows should be recessed and include visually obvious sills.

3.

Rooflines. Rooflines should be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood character. Pitched roof forms (gable, hip, shed) with overhanging eaves are recommended with between five inches of vertical rise to 12 inches of horizontal run, and 12 inches of vertical rise to 12 inches of horizontal run.

B.

Garages. At least 75 percent of individual garages attached to dwellings within new residential subdivisions or planned unit developments should be side entry or recessed at least ten feet behind the front building line (living area). Side entry garages or recessed garages of at least ten feet behind the front building line (living area) are encouraged for new dwellings within the RED, TRD, and WRD.

C.

Porches and awnings. The location, size and types of architectural projections such as porches or awnings should be compatible with buildings within 500 feet, as determined by the planning commission, for new dwellings in the RED and TRD. The use of open, unenclosed front porches of at least ten feet of depth is encouraged for new residential dwellings within the RED, TRD, and WRD.

A.

Site design should provide a pedestrian circulation system separate from that provided for vehicles and should ensure pedestrian safety.

B.

The location and design of landscaping and pedestrian areas should be compatible with and enhance the pedestrian and open space network in the area. Whenever possible, the location and design of open spaces should form a continuation of open space areas within the immediate vicinity so that open spaces are linked together in a connected system.

C.

The location, size and use of yards should maintain the unobstructed view of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams for adjacent properties and from nearby public rights-of-way and public parks or open spaces. The placement of accessory structures in yard areas which block the view of waterways, lakes, wetlands, woodlands, and scenic vistas from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way should be avoided.

D.

Sidewalks at least five feet wide and at least seven feet wide where abutting parking should be provided along all public and private streets. Multiple-purpose pathways for pedestrian and bicycle use meeting the design standards of the American Society of Transportation Officials may be required along major arterial roads. Multiple-purpose pathways are intended to connect with existing or planned multiple-purpose pathways and to link residential areas to recreational facilities and commercial and institutional destinations.

E.

All developments should provide pedestrian walkways between public sidewalks and building entrances.

F.

A consistent type of ornamental lighting designed to illuminate pedestrian areas may be provided along all sidewalks.

A.

Parking lots visible from the public right-of-way should be screened from view by a landscaped barrier at least three feet in height.

B.

Loading and unloading from secondary streets may be permitted by the planning commission rather than the required on-site loading, upon demonstration by the applicant that through traffic flow and access to neighboring uses will not be disrupted.

C.

Parking lot lighting should not be greater than 20 feet in height.

A.

The street system should be designed to balance the distribution of internal traffic so that no one street or access point is overburdened and relied on as the only path for a large number of vehicles. This objective should be accomplished by providing a collector street system in addition to local streets that is connected at frequent intervals to the arterial road network by the city's traditional grid pattern.

B.

Shared access or connections between adjacent uses as a means to limit conflict points and preserve capacity on adjacent roads may be required.

C.

In designing the street system, the objective should be to limit blocks to a maximum length of 600 feet.