(A)   Landscaping required in parking areas for proposed commercial, professional, office, institutional and multi-family residential development.

      (1)   Parking areas shall be planted with trees, a minimum of four inches in caliper measured six inches above ground level, so that there is at least one tree per ten parking spaces within the parking lot. The trees must be staked with two three-inch diameter stakes and protected by curbing against damage by vehicles. A minimum planting area, equivalent to 18 square feet per tree shall be provided.

      (2)   Parking areas shall have a landscaped island at each end of each row of vehicle spaces and an intermediate island for every 15 vehicle spaces. The planting islands shall be not less than nine feet wide in the direction parallel to the row and not less than 20 feet long in the direction perpendicular to the row. Each island shall have a suitable curb of stone or poured-in-place concrete and shall be planted with grass or ground cover. All hydrants shall be located in the islands.

   (B)   Landscaped buffer between residential and nonresidential uses. Nonresidential vehicular areas shall be set back at least 25 feet from any property line abutting land used for residential purposes or located in a residential zone. The setback areas shall be provided with screening along each side of the property line abutting the residential zone or use. The screening shall be in the form of evergreen trees, a minimum of eight feet high planted not more than ten feet apart, along the extent of the vehicular area facing a residential zone or use.

   (C)   Protection of existing trees. Significant trees shall be clearly marked for preservation, on the site plan and in the field. The trees shall be protected during construction by cribbing. CRIBBING shall consist of a six-foot high snow fence which shall surround the tree trunk at a distance not closer than three feet from it, and which shall be braced and held in position by four-by-four-inch wood posts set into the ground. Damaged trees shall be repaired by a reputable tree surgeon. Any tree marked for preservation which is removed or damaged beyond satisfactory repair shall be replaced with the same or similar species, six inches in caliper as measured at six inches above ground level, which shall be balled, burlapped and platformed.

   (D)   Screening of security fences. When the proposed site plan includes the installation of security fences necessary for the operation and maintenance of permissible uses, the Planning Commission may require that the fences be adequately screened from public view.

   (E)   Lighting standards. The maximum allowable height of any light fixture shall be 14 feet from the ground to the highest point of the fixture.

   (F)   Sidewalks and walkpaths. To provide safe pedestrian access, sidewalks and walkpaths shall be constructed in locations as may be required by the Planning Board. When required, sidewalks shall be four feet wide and walkpaths shall be three feet wide.

   (G)   Additional screening, landscaping, buffering. The Planning Commission shall retain the right to require additional screening, landscaping or buffering as deemed necessary to protect adjacent land uses from glare.

   (H)   Administration. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, a developer shall present to the Planning Commission a plan demonstrating significant trees and the plan for protection of the trees and installation of proper landscaping measures as required by this chapter. Failure to present adequate information or the presentation of knowingly false information shall be grounds for denial of a building permit.

(Ord. 97-04, passed 12-19-1996)

   (A)   Purpose. Commercial development appearance review shall be required for all proposed commercial or office development in all zoning districts. Compliance with the requirements for commercial development appearance review shall be required in addition to the requirements of the underlying zoning district. The purpose of commercial development appearance review is:

      (1)   To promote the town’s economic viability by encouraging commercial development that enhances the character of the community;

      (2)   To enhance and protect property values by encouraging excellent design; and

      (3)   To encourage architectural freedom, imagination and variety and to encourage creative design solutions that will enhance the town’s visual appearance.

   (B)   Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

      APPEARANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE. The Committee responsible for ensuring that proposed commercial development complies with the appearance review standards for proposed commercial development.

      PROPOSED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. All new exterior construction or addition which adds square footage associated with commercial uses except for maintenance, minor repairs, restoration and temporary structures. Commercial uses includes all retail, business and office uses.

   (C)   Site plan.

      (1)   A site plan prepared by a registered engineer or architect shall be submitted for all proposed commercial development.

      (2)   The site plans shall be drawn to scale and shall be accompanied by a narrative, as appropriate, showing and outlining the following:

         (a)   Name and address of applicant and site;

         (b)   Scale and north point;

         (c)   Total land area of site in square feet;

         (d)   Property boundaries;

         (e)   Location and dimensions of parking areas;

         (f)   Number of off-street and on-street parking spaces required by regulations and proposed;

         (g)   Location, use, elevations and dimensions of proposed buildings and buildings within 50 feet of the site boundaries;

         (h)   Location and dimensions of proposed easements, conduits and rights-of-way;

         (i)   Existing and proposed materials, including the type of plants, landscaping and plant size, number and spacing;

         (j)   Type, height and location of night lighting;

         (k)   Location and height of proposed signs; proposed setbacks of signs, elevation of each face of the proposed sign; size of letters and graphics; colors and frame materials and details;

         (l)   Loading areas and facilities;

         (m)   Pedestrian access;

         (n)   Location, height and details of walls and fences;

         (o)   Curb cuts; and

         (p)   Designation of the kind, color and texture of all exterior materials.

   (D)   Appearance review.

      (1)   Commercial development appearance review by the Appearance Review Committee shall be required for all zoning permits and special exceptions for proposed commercial development to ensure conformity with the appearance standards.

      (2)   Appearance Review Committee.

         (a)   Purpose. The Appearance Review Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations on zoning and special exception permit applications for proposed commercial development.

         (b)   Membership. The Appearance Review Committee shall consist of the members of the Planning Commission.

         (c)   Organization.

            1.   The Chairperson of the Planning Commission shall serve as the Chairperson of the Appearance Review Committee.

            2.   The Appearance Review Committee shall operate under the procedures and rules that govern the actions of the Planning Commission.

   (E)   Appearance standards.

      (1)   Relationship of building site.

         (a)   The proposed commercial development shall be designed and sited to accomplish a desirable view as observed from adjacent streets.

         (b)   Parking areas shall be enhanced with decorative elements, building wall extensions, plantings, berms or other innovative means to screen parking areas from view from the streets.

         (c)   Utility services shall be underground.

      (2)   Relationship to adjoining areas.

         (a)   Adjacent buildings of different architectural styles shall be made compatible by use of screens, sight breaks, materials and other methods.

         (b)   Landscaping shall provide a transition to adjoining property.

         (c)   Texture, building lines and mass shall be harmonious with adjoining property. Monotonous texture, lines and mass shall be avoided.

      (3)   Landscaping. Landscaping shall conform to § 151.075 and other sections of this chapter.

   (F)   Building design.

      (1)   Architectural style is not restricted. Quality of design and compatibility with surrounding uses shall provide the basis of the evaluation of the appearance of a proposed commercial development.

      (2)   Materials shall be of good architectural character and shall be harmonious with adjoining buildings.

      (3)   Materials shall be suitable for the type and design of the building. Materials which are architecturally harmonious shall be used for all exterior building walls and other exterior building components.

      (4)   Materials and finishes shall be of durable quality.

      (5)   Building components, such as windows, doors, eaves and parapets, shall have appropriate proportion and relationships to one another.

      (6)   Colors shall be harmonious and shall use compatible accents.

      (7)   Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on roof, ground or buildings shall be screened from view with materials harmonious with the building.

      (8)   Monotony of design shall be avoided. Variation in vegetation, detail, form and siting shall be used to provide visual interest.

   (G)   Signs.

      (1)   Signs shall conform to the provisions of §§ 151.090 through 151.107.

      (2)   Every sign shall be of appropriate scale and proportion in relation to the surrounding buildings.

      (3)   Every sign shall be designed as an integral architectural element of the building and site to which it relates.

      (4)   The colors, materials and lighting of every sign shall be harmonious with the building and site to which it relates.

      (5)   The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign’s principal message and shall be in proportion to the area of the sign.

      (6)   Each sign shall be compatible with signs on adjoining plots or buildings.

      (7)   Corporation logos shall conform to the criteria for all other signs.

   (H)   Miscellaneous structures. Miscellaneous structures and hardware shall be part of the architectural concept of the project. Materials, scale and colors shall be compatible with the building and surrounding uses.

(Ord. 97-04, passed 12-19-1996)