A.

These design guidelines are intended as objectives for building a diverse and lasting community with a strong identity and high quality development. It is envisioned that development will be designed in such a manner as to create attractive design through implementation of Site Planning, architectural, landscaping, and sign elements that promotes "excellence of urban design" as required by General Plan Land Use Element Goal 2-5.

B.

These guidelines are intended to complement the commercial, industrial, and institutional development standards, Site Planning, and design regulations contained elsewhere in this Development Code. They provide design solutions and design interpretations of the City's various regulations in effect for commercial, industrial, and institutional development in the City of Chino Hills.

C.

The guidelines are to be used during the City's design review process to ensure that the highest level of design quality is achieved while at the same time providing the flexibility necessary to encourage creativity and innovation.

D.

The overall intent of the guidelines shall be followed and every attempt shall be made to comply with the guidelines. The City is open to design features that are equal to, or better than, those stated - as long as the intent is satisfied.

E.

All actions and decisions made relative to these guidelines may be appealed pursuant to the provisions specified in Chapter 16.58.060 of the Chino Hills Development Code.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

A.

The provisions of this section shall apply to any development in the following districts requiring a Site Plan approval pursuant to Chapter 16.76 or a Site Development Permit pursuant to Chapter 16.78 of the Chino Hills Development Code:

Freeway Commercial (C-F), General Commercial (C-G), Neighborhood Commercial (C-N), Office Commercial (C-0), Commercial Recreation (C-R), Business Park (BP), Light Industrial (LI), I-1 (Institutional Private, I-2 (Institutional Public), and Planned Development (PD) where non-residential land uses are permitted.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

The Community Development Department - Planning Division shall maintain a photographic data base of examples of commercial, industrial, and institutional projects which exemplify the guidelines contained herein.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

A.

Relationship to Surrounding Properties.

1.

Relate the location of site uses with adjoining properties to avoid possible conflicts and ensure compatibility.

2.

Consider sharing access with adjoining properties where feasible.

3.

Provide a buffer where a site adjoins residential development such as increased setbacks, limiting the height of buildings, or providing dense landscaping.

B.

Building Placement.

1.

Plot buildings to create plazas and logical pedestrian connections.

2.

For multiple buildings, vary placement to avoid parking areas that dominate the streetscape.

3.

Avoid a "strip commercial" appearance where buildings are plotted in a straight row with parking along the entire street frontage.

C.

Access and Circulation.

1.

Align access with existing driveways, intersections, or median openings whenever reasonably possible.

2.

Locate driveways as far from intersections as possible (a recommended minimum distance is three hundred (300) feet).

3.

Provide a minimum two points of vehicle ingress and egress.

4.

Design the circulation system to address the needs of both motorists and pedestrians. Avoid a design that creates vehicle (including emergency vehicle)/pedestrian conflicts.

5.

Create a distinct entry statement with enhanced pavement or other enhancements at project entrances. The enhanced pavement shall be designed to support the weight of the fire department apparatus (minimum sixty-seven thousand (67,000) pounds). Additionally, circulation shall take into consideration the fire department apparatus turning radii.

6.

Provide proper vehicle stacking distance at driveway entrances.

7.

Maintain adequate sight lines for motorists at intersections and driveways through careful placement of signs and landscaping.

D.

Parking Lots.

1.

Clearly delineate onsite pedestrian walkways with enhanced pavement, landscaping, or lighting.

2.

Screen parking areas along the street frontage with berms, landscaping, low walls, grade differentials, and building orientation.

3.

Distribute parking areas evenly throughout a project. Avoid creating isolated parking areas that are not easily accessible to buildings.

4.

Avoid dead-end parking aisles.

5.

Wherever traffic requirements allow it, install pervious surfaces that allow storm water infiltration. Use impervious pavement (concrete and asphalt) only where regular car, bus or truck traffic is expected. Match the surface to the need:

•

Porous asphalt, paver blocks or large aggregate concrete for parking and highly used bicycle and pedestrian areas (excluding drive aisle/fire lane).

•

Lattice blocks that permit grass growth for fire lanes subject to approval by the Chino Valley Independent Fire District and overflow parking.

•

Crushed stone, decomposed granite or brick for lightly used pedestrian paths.

6.

Provide shade trees in parking areas with a minimum of five foot square of planting wells. Shade trees shall be of sufficient size and be distributed throughout the entire parking area.

E.

Loading Areas.

1.

Orient loading areas and truck bays away from the street. Where it is necessary for loading areas and truck bays to face a street, screen them with buildings, walls, enclosures, or landscaping materials that matures quickly, or is of larger specimen sizes.

2.

Where loading areas or truck bays are adjacent to residential areas, consider increasing building setbacks, providing wider planter areas for dense landscaping, plant landscaping materials that matures quickly, or is of larger specimen sizes.

3.

Location of loading areas shall not impede the fire department access.

F.

Location of On-Site Ancillary Structures (above ground utilities, trash enclosures, vapor recovery systems, etc.).

1.

Design trash enclosures to be compatible with the architectural style of the project.

2.

Include a trellis on all trash enclosures visible to the public (i.e. from public streets, areas in the front and sides of buildings).

3.

Trash enclosures are to be designed to allow walk in access without having to open the main enclosure service gates.

4.

Screen ground mounted equipment and utilities to the maximum extent feasible.

5.

Use decorative bollards to protect ancillary structures.

6.

Try to avoid locating above ground utilities in front yard setback areas or adjacent to major streets. Any above ground utilities that are required to be installed in the required front yard setback areas or adjacent to major streets shall be screened with landscaping provided that there is adequate clearance around the fire department backflow prevention devices or fire department connection per the Chino Valley Independent Fire District standards.

7.

Shopping cart storage area that is required as part of the building exterior or within the parking lot shall be designed in a manner that would complement the architecture of the building or the shopping center.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

A.

Elevations.

1.

Provide architectural treatment to all elevations (i.e., three hundred sixty-degree architecture).

2.

Design rear elevations to be visually attractive by providing articulation to the building plane, and vertical variation of the roofline. Should the rear doors of the buildings are visible from a public right(s)-of-way, the doors must be screened with a combination of trellis and landscaping or other design elements to minimized view impacts.

3.

Avoid expanses of blank wall, devoid of any articulation or embellishment.

4.

For "in-line shops", complement the architectural style by providing interest and variation. Design elements to be considered are providing offsets or bays, strong base material (e.g. stone, brick, tile etc.), variation of storefront treatment, and use of multi-pane windows.

5.

Architectural details can introduce accent colors; however, avoid too many bright colors which overpower the building.

6.

Paint roll-up doors and service doors to blend-in with main building colors.

7.

Articulate building entrances to create a formal entry statement.

8.

Provide focal points in the architectural theme to create strong entry statements and provide a sense of place. Towers, domes, massing, color, trellises, fountains, public art, and plazas are encouraged.

9.

Vary the roof through the use of vertical separations, varying roof structure, varying the parapet line or ridge line. Depending upon the parapet height, fire department access may be required for emergency personnel.

10.

Provide a covered structure (i.e. Porte-cochere) over the pick-up/drop-off window area for drive-through businesses. The structure is to be an integral part of the main building architectural design. If the building is to be equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system, the covered structure shall also be protected.

11.

Enclose downspouts, roof drains, roof ladders and other similar features within the building.

12.

Provide window treatment such as awnings or hard canopies that extend a sufficient distance from the face of the storefront or building façade so that they function as an architectural feature.

B.

Massing and Scale.

1.

Make buildings that are at the maximum allowed height to be less imposing by physically stepping them back from the street level.

2.

Give special attention to creating pedestrian scale and an inviting place for pedestrians to shop.

C.

Comprehensive Design.

1.

Consider site amenities, such as walls, hardscape, site furniture, trash enclosures, lighting, and monument signs, as part of the total architectural package for the project.

D.

Screening.

1.

Integrate screening for roof mounted equipment into the building design (i.e., extend the height of parapet walls and/or painting the equipment to match the roof color) to screen the equipment from public view.

2.

Screen drive-thru lanes from public view to the maximum extent feasible through building orientation and/or the use of a combination of landscaping, berming, and low screen walls.

3.

Completely screen long-term shopping cart storage areas as part of the building design.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

1.

Locate plants in conjunction with architectural design and Site Planning. Plants can be used to keynote entries, contrast with or reinforce building lines and volumes, and soften hard lines or blank wall expanses.

2.

Provide shade trees in parking areas with a minimum of five foot square of planting wells. Shade tress shall be of sufficient size and be distributed throughout the entire parking area.

3.

Provide special landscaping treatment, such as intensifying the density (size and/or number) of trees, accent trees, and special paving, at all project entries and building entrances. Do not place landscaping in such a manner that current or future visibility or ingress/egress is blocked.

4.

Use generous landscaping to define outdoor spaces such as the street edge, outdoor plazas, or movement paths between parking and building entrances.

5.

Provide dense landscaping to screen unattractive views and features, such as parking lots, loading and storage areas, trash enclosures, utility equipment (i.e., transformers, meters, backflow valves), and air conditioning units. Note: Above ground pressure detector assemblies, backflow prevention assemblies, and private fire service assemblies that INCLUDE a fire department connection shall NOT BE screened.

6.

Provide a landscape area against buildings and walls where practical to avoid "hard edges" (i.e. where paving meets buildings or walls).

7.

Do not place landscaping in such a manner that current and future visibility of building signage or ingress/egress is blocked.

8.

Tree placement and type shall be strategically placed to avoid conflict with parking lot lighting and on-site utilities.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

1.

Parking lot lighting poles and fixtures should complement the overall site architecture and design in terms of scale, color, and style.

2.

Parking lot light shall be shielded when the project is located adjacent to residential development or zone(s).

3.

Use decorative light sconces for all exterior building lights. Wall Packs are not permitted.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

1.

The building itself can serve to identify the business through use of a logo and color schemes. In such cases, additional signs on the facade should be limited.

2.

Use signs as a means of business identification rather than as a form of advertising.

3.

Select colors and materials which complement the architecture, including monument signs. Monument signs shall have the same architectural theme as the primary architecture of the development.

4.

Size of signs must be proportional to the scale of the building and the surface they are affixed to.

5.

Visually balance the sign area with the building mass and height rather than designing to the maximum standard.

6.

Consider the layout and shape of the architectural features of the building. Design elements such as window patterns (vertical and horizontal rectangles, arches, squares, etc.) will help determine the sign shape that will suit the building.

7.

A Comprehensive Sign Program for all multi-tenant projects is required to create a coordinated project theme of uniform design elements, such as color, lettering style, and placement.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

1.

Encourage green buildings and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards within the project.

(Ord. No. 226, § 4, 7-14-2009)

A.

The hours of operation for the outdoor patio shall be between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. everyday or as modified by the Planning Commission based on compatibility of the neighboring residential uses and the results of the acoustical analysis findings.

B.

The noise levels of the outdoor patio shall be in compliance with the City's noise standards.

C.

If the outdoor patio is located adjacent to a residential use, an acoustical analysis shall be required to demonstrate the proposed outdoor patio will comply with the City's noise standards (CHMC 16.48.020).

D.

The outdoor patio shall be encompassed by a decorative wall or fence, not exceeding three feet in height unless a taller height is required by the approved acoustical analysis. The style of the wall/fence shall complement the architecture of the building.

E.

Outdoor lighting shall be provided for the patio area, and comply with CHMC Section 16.48.040.

F.

The outdoor patio shall be kept clean at all times.

G.

Construction and operation of the outdoor patio shall comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

H.

The applicant shall not convert required on-site parking spaces into an outdoor patio area. The outdoor patio shall be required to comply with Chapter 16.34, Parking and Loading and a shared parking analysis may be required by the Community Development Director to demonstrate sufficient parking spaces during peak hours.

(Ord. No. 238, § 3(b), 7-13-2010)