The purpose of Business District Design Standards is to: encourage planned development that promotes a proactive growth and development strategy to strengthen the long-term economic viability of the community; promote quality building practices; and preserve and enhance the City's visual appeal. Requirements for permitted uses, lot coverage area, setbacks, landscaping, signage and lighting requirements are those set forth in the underlying zoning classification for the property unless otherwise noted.

1.

Except as otherwise specified, the standards outlined herein apply within the following zoning districts and overlays:

a.

B-1A (Limited Business/Institutional Zone).

b.

B-1B (Neighborhood Shopping/Office Zone).

c.

B-2 (Central Business District).

d.

B-2E (Central Business Expansion District).

e.

B-3 (General Business District).

f.

PBD (Planned Business District).

g.

Highway 394 Overlay (see additional requirements in Section Z-404A), the boundaries of which are the parcels adjoining Tennessee State Route 394 (SR 394) from its intersection with U.S. Highway 11E west to the corporate limits of the City of Bristol as of June 1, 2006, as specifically designated along SR 394 and shown on the Official Zoning Map as Highway 394 Overlay.

h.

Volunteer Parkway Overlay, the boundaries of which are the parcels adjoining or within two hundred fifty (250) feet from the nearest right-of-way of the Volunteer Parkway from its intersection with State Street south to the corporate limits of the City of Bristol as of May 1, 2011, as specifically designated along U.S. Highway 11E and shown on the Official Zoning Map as Volunteer Parkway Overlay.

2.

All new construction, excluding single-family and duplex residential, must adhere to the exterior building façade requirements outlined in each respective overlay.

3.

All major additions are subject to the exterior building façade requirements for all building elevations subject to requirements.

4.

The developer or other responsible parties of any project to which the exterior building façade requirements outlined within this chapter apply must submit an elevation drawing displaying their usage of architectural features and building materials as part of the building and construction review process.

1.

Exterior Building Façade Requirements.

a.

Materials. The following materials are prohibited on newly constructed elevations and additions to existing buildings that are visible from any arterial or collector street:

i.

Unpainted unfinished CMU block.

ii.

Single-sheet corrugated or ribbed panel metal siding.

iii.

Within areas zoned B-2 (Central Business District) wood is limited to use as an accent provided it is used for storefront design to include windows, window sashes, trim, doors, bulkheads below display windows, columns, pilasters, and cornices.

b.

Architectural Features. Building elevations shall avoid blank walls through the use of architectural features to reduce the mass and bulk of the structure and provide contrast in design. All buildings shall be designed to incorporate no less than three (3) of the following architectural features on street-facing facades. Buildings fifty thousand (50,000) square feet or greater shall include a minimum of five (5) architectural features on street-facing façades. Façades that are non-street-facing and adjacent to a street-facing façade must incorporate no less than two (2) of the following architectural elements or three (3) for those on buildings fifty thousand (50,000) square feet or greater. To meet the architectural features requirements, architectural features must be of appropriate scale to the applicable façade as determined by staff.

i.

Accent material that differs from the predominant material used for the exposed exterior façade.

ii.

Arches.

iii.

Articulated cornice lines.

iv.

Awnings.

v.

Balconies.

vi.

Brackets.

vii.

Building perimeter landscaping in the area adjacent to the building front façade.

viii.

Columns.

ix.

Dormers.

x.

Horizontal offsets.

xi.

Landscaping trellises.

xii.

Overhangs.

xiii.

Pilasters.

xiv.

Porches.

xv.

Protrusions.

xvi.

Recessed entryways.

xvii.

Street level display windows.

xviii.

Varying roof lines.

All new buildings or major additions, including any part of a new building or major addition that lies outside of the overlay, shall comply with this section.

1.

The requirements of this section apply only to the area within the Highway 394 Overlay.

2.

The purpose and intent of this overlay is to control access and minimize conflict points along SR 394. Proposals for the development of land or the subdivision or combination of lots with adjacent properties shall be required to provide access to these new lots and developments in a manner that minimizes the disruption of traffic and maximizes the safety of this transportation corridor.

3.

Development Review Procedures. The Planning Commission is granted authority to approve site plans in Highway 394 Overlay, and is authorized to require design changes when such changes are determined necessary to reduce the impact of development on adjacent residential areas, or to enhance traffic safety, or to improve the functionality of design. Such changes may include, but are not limited to, the requirement that building or loading and unloading areas are located so that the rear of a building does not face a residential area, or to position parking areas to act as an additional buffer from adjacent uses. Design changes may include the addition of inter-connections between adjacent access ways or parking areas and the attachment of common access easement agreements. The Planning Commission shall have the authority to approve design changes to allow shared or common landscaping or buffering between adjacent uses.

a.

Site Plan Submittal Requirements. The Planning Commission may review a preliminary concept plan for proposals requesting review of a development concept prior to the submission of a site plan as required in Chapter 10.

b.

Plan Review Procedure. All development plans within the Highway 394 Overlay shall be submitted to the city for review and shall be presented to the Planning Commission for approval. If the development plan is disapproved, the reasons for disapproval shall be stated to the applicant. The decision of the Planning Commission shall be final.

1.

The Planning Commission may attach such conditions in the approval of the site plan as are necessary to ensure the continuous conformance to all applicable standards and the integrity of the district.

2.

The Planning Commission may require additional buffering, modifications in the location of parking areas, lighting plans, entrances or access points, or cross-access designs when determined necessary to protect existing residential areas, improve traffic circulation, or enhance traffic safety.

3.

Failure to observe the conditions imposed by the Planning Commission in the approval of a site plan shall be deemed grounds of violation and subject to the revocation of the approval.

4.

Height Regulations. The maximum height of a building shall be the same as the underlying zoning district, except when adjacent to a residential district. When adjacent to a residential district, the maximum height of the adjacent residential district shall apply, unless the building is setback on the side adjacent to the residential district one (1) foot for each additional one (1) foot in height.

5.

The Planning Commission may require the developer/applicant to submit a traffic study for development plans proposing new access roads or driveways to determine the impact of the access point on the traffic movement and safety on SR 394. Those standards will be defined as follows:

a.

No new ingress-egress driveways on SR 394 shall be allowed within five hundred fifty (550) feet of an existing driveway, field entrance, or intersection of a private or public street unless such location is determined acceptable based on a traffic impact study.

Access to major thoroughfares may be required to be made by means of internal service roads or design features with a limited number of curb cuts to minimize conflict points. Additionally, all new curb cuts on developments entering onto a public or private highway shall, whenever possible, align with curb cuts directly across the roadway. Reference shall be made to the study conducted by the City of Bristol, Tennessee and further translated as follows for this section of SR 394:

b.

Any new access point which is permitted, regardless of location, must be situated in a manner to ensure that adequate sight distance for the posted speed limits is maintained.

c.

With the subdivision of land or as part of the site plan approval process:

i.

The use of frontage or service roads off of the SR 394 right-of-way may be required to minimize access points and to control traffic internally from center to center.

ii.

The Planning Commission shall have the authority to require cross connections between parcels when deemed to be in the public interest.

d.

The use of alternative public roads may be required as access points to adjacent parcels.

e.

The intention of the developer to dedicate a proposed access point as a public street shall have no impact on these standards.

f.

All access points identified on the TDOT project plans for this portion of SR 394, as well as those constructed as changes to the roadway plans are considered established access points.

g.

The Planning Commission may approve alternative new ingress-egress driveways or roads intersections on SR 394 with the submission of an approved traffic study and upon recommendation of the city manager or his designee assuring the safety provisions of this Subsection 6 will be complied with.

(Ord. No. 20-10, 8-2020)