Coxsackie Village City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Design and Landscaping Standards
§ 155-47 Design standards.
Intent. These design standards are intended to promote a pedestrian-friendly environment and ensure that new buildings, additions and alterations are consistent with the Village's vision as described in the Town and Village of Coxsackie's Comprehensive Plan.
Applicability. This section shall apply to all commercial, mixed-use and multifamily new construction, including additions and alterations, and shall not apply to single-family and two-family dwellings.
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
New construction added to an existing building or structure.
Construction or other modification that changes one or more of the exterior features of a structure or building, including, but not limited to, the erection, construction, reconstruction, addition, sand blasting, water blasting, chemical cleaning or removal of any structure, but not including changes to the color of exterior paint.
A roof with a beveled edge, especially to a beam.
The projection at the top of a wall or the top course or molding of a wall when it serves as a crowning member.
A generic product name standing for "exterior insulation finish systems," which consists of an acrylic finish applied to a foam base anchored to a building facade. Brand names include Dryvit®.
The exterior walls of a building facing a frontage line.
A unit of illumination produced on a surface, all points of which are one foot from a uniform point source equivalent to one candle in brightness of illumination.
The three-dimensional shape of a building's height, width and depth.
The portion of a wall which extends above the roofline.
A projecting base of an external wall, or the base of courses of a building collectively, if so treated as to give the appearance of a platform.
A covered walk or porch that is supported by columns or pillars; also known as "colonnade."
Materials. Any new buildings, additions or alterations must be constructed of natural materials typically found in the vicinity. Natural materials include such materials as stone, brick, wood siding, shingles, slate, etc. Industrial or artificial materials such as raw concrete finish, EFIS, anodized or galvanized metal, tinted glass, plastics, vinyls, etc., are prohibited on the exterior face with the following exceptions:
Roofs may be constructed of metal.
EFIS is permitted above the first floor of projects involving facade rehabilitation.
Plastics and vinyls are not permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial District, Community Commercial District, Industrial District and Community Services and Recreation District.
Building design standards.
Building orientation and entrances.
The front facade of buildings shall be oriented towards the street of address of record, with an everyday public entrance in this front facade.
When buildings are located on corners, the entrance may be located on the corner with an appropriate building articulation, such as a chamfered corner, turret, canopy or other similar building feature.
All primary building entrances shall be accentuated. Entrances permitted include; recessed, protruding, canopy, portico or overhang.
Where rear parking is provided, the provision of a secondary rear entrance is encouraged. The design of the rear entrance and facade should not compete with the main entrance but be appropriately signed and marked to indicate a rear entrance.
Walls.
Blank walls shall not be permitted along any exterior wall facing a street, parking area or walking area.
Walls or portions of walls, where windows are not provided, shall have architectural treatments that are similar to the front facade, including materials, colors and details.
At least four of the following architectural treatments shall be provided into these walls:
Masonry (but not flat concrete block).
Concrete or masonry plinth at the base of the wall.
Belt courses of a different texture or color.
Projecting cornice.
Projecting metal canopy.
Decorative tilework.
Trellis containing planting.
Medallions.
Translucent glass.
Vertical/horizontal articulation.
Lighting fixtures.
An architectural element not listed above, as approved by the Planning Board, that meets the intent.
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Windows.
Ground floor front and side (on corner lot) facades of buildings shall consist of a minimum of 60% window and transparent door area, with views provided through these windows into the business.
Ground floor windows shall be a maximum of 24 inches above the sidewalk.
Upper-story windows of front facades shall not be boarded or covered and shall comprise a minimum of 35% window area in the facade above the ground floor.
Smoked, reflective or black glass in windows is prohibited.
When necessary repair or replacement of windows is required, replacement windows shall match the original window in style, configurations and size.
Roofs. Roofs shall be proportional to the rest of the building and be in keeping with the character of adjacent buildings. Where flat roofs are used, they shall have a parapet. False mansard-style roofs shall not be used.
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Examples of roof types. |
Building character. New infill development, additions and alterations shall generally employ building types and architectural detailing that are compatible with the architecture of the area in their massing and external treatment as appropriate.
Historic building alterations and renovations.
Where possible, at the discretion of the Planning Board, uncover, retain and restore significant original architectural elements that exist.
Where buildings have a mix of architectural styles, renovations should be generally in keeping with the significant character of the older architectural style. However, in the instance of a storefront that was added onto a building, consider retaining and enhancing the storefront if it is well designed and constructed, regardless if it is of a different architectural style.
Building alterations that are not significant in their own right shall be removed.
Renovations shall follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.
Architectural rhythm.
New infill development, additions and alterations shall also retain the architectural rhythm of building openings (including windows and entrances) of the same block.
New infill development, additions and alterations shall also attempt to maintain the horizontal rhythm of the block by using a similar alignment of windows, floor spacing, cornices and awnings, as well as other elements. This rhythm shall be achieved by aligning the top, middle and base floors. Buildings shall have a distinct base at ground level using articulation or materials such as stone, masonry or decorative concrete. The top level should be treated with a distinct outline with elements such as projecting parapet, cornice or other projection.
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Visually differentiate the top, middle, and base floors and use a similar alignment to adjacent buildings. |
Massing.
Buildings shall be similar in height and size or articulated and subdivided into massing that is more or less proportional to adjacent structures and maintains the existing architectural rhythm.
The massing of any facade should generally not exceed a maximum of 50 feet (horizontal dimension). Shop fronts may be broken down even further; 30 feet or less is preferred.
Nonresidential buildings must have at least a three-foot to five-foot break in depth in all street facades for every 50 feet of continuous facade, although 30 feet or less is preferred. Such breaks may be met through the use of bay windows, porches, porticos, building extensions, towers, recessed doorways and other architectural treatments.
Surface parking.
Vehicular access to surface parking shall be from an alley or side street, where practicable.
Pedestrian access. Pedestrian access to and through a parking lot shall be clearly defined with a pedestrian walkway and sufficient lighting.
Location of off-street parking.
For all new building construction, off-street parking shall be located to the side or rear of the principal building; parking to the rear is preferred. Corner lots shall only provide parking to the rear of the principal building.
Parking shall be set back 10 feet from the legal right-of-way.
Off-street surface parking shall not extend more than 70 feet in width along any pedestrian street frontage without an outdoor cafe, village garden, plaza, square, courtyard or landscaping feature with seating.
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Parking lots shall be located to the side or rear of the building – parking to the rear is preferred. |
Interconnected parking areas. Access driveways shall interconnect parking areas on abutting nonresidential lots.
Pedestrian design standards.
Sidewalks are required along all street frontages with a minimum width of eight feet.
Sidewalks are required to connect the street frontage to all front building entrances, parking areas, central open space and any other destination that generates pedestrian traffic.
Sidewalks shall connect to existing sidewalks on abutting parcels and other nearby pedestrian destinations.
The sidewalk pattern shall continue across driveways.
Exterior lighting. All exterior lighting shall meet the requirements of § 155-49 of this chapter.
Refuse areas. The storage of refuse shall be provided inside the building(s) or within an outdoor area enclosed by either walls or opaque fencing. Any refuse area outside of the building shall be sited in the following manner:
Refuse areas, including dumpsters and garbage cans, shall be located behind and adjacent to the principal building.
Refuse areas shall be entirely screened by a fence or enclosure at least six feet high on all four sides. At least a minimum of 25% of the enclosure shall be screened by landscaping.
Refuse areas shall be designed to be architecturally compatible with the principal building and made of cinder blocks, stockade fence or chainlink fence with vinyl slats. Enclosures must remain locked and closed.
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Refuse areas shall be screened by a fence or enclosure. |
§ 155-48 Landscaping and buffering.
Purpose. These landscaping regulations are intended to establish minimum requirements and standards for landscaping attached and semidetached single-family, and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial sites in order to maintain and protect property values, enhance the general appearance of the Village and provide the residents of the Village with a sense of place. In general, these provisions ensure landscaping criteria that will curtail soil erosion, absorb carbon dioxide and supply oxygen; reduce the effects of noise, glare, dust, heat and other objectionable activities generated by some land uses; buffer and screen adjacent properties; provide shade; and promote the pleasant appearance and character of the Village.
General requirements.
Proposed developments meeting the following conditions must prepare a landscaping plan describing how the requirements of this article will be met:
Any proposed commercial or industrial development.
Any proposed attached and semidetached single-family or multi-family residential development.
The plan shall be prepared by a licensed New York landscape architect, New York licensed engineer or an experienced nursery or landscape professional. The Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer shall review a proposed plan for compliance with the requirements of this article. The Village review shall be limited to compliance with Village standards. If the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer believes a proposed plan does not meet the requirements of this article, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer's findings.
Landscaping required pursuant to an approved site plan shall be installed or bonded for under an agreement approved by the Village Attorney prior to temporary occupancy and installed before the issuance of final certificate of occupancy.
Natural vegetation or stands of trees existing prior to site development may be used toward meeting all or part of the landscaping requirements. Incorporation of native species which have food or habitat value is encouraged.
Required landscaping shall not incorporate trees which have the potential of interfering with overhead power lines.
Landscaping plan requirements. The following elements shall be included on the landscaping plan:
Plan scale, date, north arrow and location map with zoning district designations for the site and adjacent properties.
Plan sheets should be 24 inches by 36 inches. Upon final approval, two sets of landscaping plans in a format of 24 inches by 36 inches and five sets in a format of 11 inches by 17 inches shall be provided.
Topographic grades for slopes greater than 3:1 and any berms or basins.
Demarcation of existing vegetation as "to remain" or "to be removed," and the means of protecting existing vegetation during construction, as well as size and species of existing vegetation.
Existing features. The location and character of existing buildings, roads, utilities, parking areas and other site features; mature trees standing alone; outer limits of tree masses and other existing vegetation; and the location of floodplains, wetlands, and other natural features that may affect the location of proposed streets, buildings and landscape plantings. These features should be differentiated by different line weights on the plan or be on a separate sheet.
The location of proposed landscaping. The mature size of all plantings shall be graphically indicated.
The location of proposed buildings, paving, utilities or other improvements, proposed roads, parking, service areas and other paved areas, outside storage and trash receptacle areas, sidewalks, berms, fences, walls, freestanding signs and site lighting.
A planting schedule listing the scientific and common name, size, quantity and root condition of all proposed plant material. The schedule shall indicate mature height and width for each plant, for shrubs at five years and trees at 10 years. Planting details shall include the method of protecting existing vegetation, landscape planting methods and supporting calculations. Information in the form of notes or specifications concerning seed mix, seeding methods, sodding, ground cover, mulching, etc. shall be provided.
Minimum planting requirements.
To provide a proper planting area, the minimum dimension of any required planting area is recommended to be at least five feet in width. For constrained sites, the size of the planting area may be adjusted at the discretion of the Village Planning Board.
At the time of planting, deciduous trees must be at least three inches in diameter measured six inches above the base, and coniferous trees must be at least six feet in height.
Shrubs must be at least 24 inches in height at time of planting. Shrubs and ground cover should be planted so that they attain coverage of at least 75% of the planting area within four years.
Any planting of grass or sod shall be established by using a turf grass developed for conditions of the northeast.
Maintenance.
Any plant material used in the landscaping project shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition. The property owner shall bear responsibility for maintenance of required landscaping. The Village Planning Board will work with a property owner in establishing a realistic replanting plan when landscaping required by this article is lost due to situations beyond the control of the property owner, such as drought or other related circumstances.
Any tree or shrub area that dies within six months of planting shall be replaced by the current landowner or developer. Any tree or shrub that, within six months of planting or replanting, is deemed, in the opinion of the Village of Coxsackie Planning Board, not to have survived or not to have grown in a manner characteristic of its type shall be replaced. Substitutions for certain species of plants may be made only when approved by the Village of Coxsackie Planning Board.
The applicant shall submit a maintenance agreement describing methods of compliance with the requirements of this article.
Species choice. The applicant shall utilize plants which are adaptable to local climatic conditions. The use of drought-tolerant species is recommended to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. It is also recommended that any vegetation retained or planted consist of noninvasive plant species to reduce future maintenance requirements and encroachment on other property. An invasive plant species is a non-native plant species that escapes into the wild and displaces native vegetation.
The following evergreen and buffer trees have been specifically approved for use in perimeter plantings as described in Subsection G:
Common Name | Scientific Name | |
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American Arborvitae | Thuja occidentalis | |
Austrian Pine | Pinus nigra | |
White Pine | Pinus strobus | |
Canadian Hemlock | Tsuga canadensis | |
Colorado Spruce | Picea pungens | |
Eastern Red Cedar | Juniperus virginiana | |
Norway Spruce | Picea abies | |
White Fir | Abies concolor |
Other species may be used, as recommended by the Planning Board. |
The following tree types are approved for use in parking lots as described in Subsection I:
Under utility wires and in small parking lots:
Common Name | Scientific Name | |
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Serviceberry | Amelanchier spp. | |
Japanese Tree Lilac | Syringa reticulata | |
Flowering Crabapple | Malus spp. | |
Ohio Pioneer Hawthorn | Crataegus punctata | |
Cockspur Hawthorn | Crataegus crus-gali inermis | |
Washington Hawthorn | Crataegus phaenopyrum | |
Canada Red Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | |
Hedge Maple | Acer campestre | |
Amur Maple | Acer ginnala | |
Cleveland Select Pear | Pyrus calleryana |
In large parking lots, and along street frontage in areas free of utility wires:
Common Name | Scientific Name | |
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Honeylocust varieties | Gleditsia triacanthos inermis | |
Northern Red Oak | Quercus rubra | |
Scarlet Oak | Quercus coccinea | |
Pin Oak | Quercus palustris | |
White Ash | Fraxinus americana | |
Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | |
Gingko | Gingko biloba: male only | |
Black Locust "purple robe" or "frisia" | Robina pseudoacacia | |
Northern Catalpa | Catalpa speciosa |
Other species may be used, as specifically approved by the Planning Board. |
Perimeter landscaping.
Purpose: to provide a very dense sight and physical barrier to significantly separate abutting incompatible zones.
Applicability. The developer must provide landscaping on the perimeter of the site as follows: All uses must provide perimeter landscaping along site boundaries that abut lots zoned WR, RRA, MDR-1, MDR-2 and MR, except that no perimeter landscaping is required where a WR, RRA, MDR-1, MDR-2 or MR District abuts a WR, RRA, MDR-1, MDR-2 or MR District.
Requirements.
Each planting area is recommended to be a minimum of 10 feet in width in industrial districts and five feet in commercial districts. For constrained sites, the size of the planting area may be adjusted at the discretion of the Village Planning Board.
A screen of at least six feet in height at time of planting that results in a noise- and sight-obscuring buffer that is any one, or a combination of, the following methods:
A solid row of evergreen trees or shrubs.
A solid row of evergreen trees and shrubs planted on an earthen berm an average of three feet high along its midline.
A combination of trees or shrubs and fencing (metal or wood) or wall (brick, masonry or textured concrete). Where fencing or walls are used in combination with landscaping, plantings shall cover at least 25% of the fence or wall.
Trees and shrubs should be spaced to grow together within four years from planting, and groundcover should be provided to attain coverage of 75% within four years.
Breaks in perimeter landscaping for pedestrian access may be required as determined by the Planning Board during site plan review.
Perimeter landscaping shall be required in an amount which, when combined with other on-site landscaping requirements, does not exceed 15% of the total site area.
Interior landscaping.
Landscaping between parking lots and public rights-of-way:
Purpose: to provide visual relief and separation of parking areas from public rights-of way.
Applicability. The requirements in this section apply to all parking lots located adjacent to a public right-of-way, except those provided for, and on the same lots with, single-family dwellings and except for those land requiring perimeter landscaping as specified in Subsection G of this section.
Requirements. A landscape strip as described below shall be provided on the property between the parking lot and the right-of-way. The landscaped strip may not include any paved area except pedestrian sidewalks or trails which cross the landscaped strip. Shrubs must be maintained at a maximum height of 36 inches. Any of the following landscaped strip treatments may be used singly or in combination:
Provide a minimum five-foot-wide landscape strip between the right-of-way and the parking lot to be planted with minimum of one shade tree and 10 shrubs per 35 linear feet of frontage, excluding driveway openings.
Provide a berm, the top of which is at least 2.5 feet higher than the elevation of the adjacent parking lot pavement. The slope of the berm shall not exceed 33% for lawn areas. Berms planted with ground covers and shrubs may be steeper. However, no slope shall exceed 50%. Berms should be graded to appear as smooth, rounded, naturalistic forms. Avoid narrow bumps which result from creating too much height for width of the space. Plant with a minimum of one shade tree and five shrubs per 35 linear feet of frontage, excluding driveway openings. Providing a berm does not reduce the minimum plant height requirements.
Provide a minimum six-foot-wide landscaped strip and a minimum three-foot grade drop from the right-of-way line to the adjacent parking lot pavement. Plant the resulting embankment with a minimum of one shade tree and five shrubs per 35 linear feet of frontage, excluding driveway openings. Ground cover or low shrubs shall be planted to attain 75% coverage within four years.
Provide a minimum five-foot-wide landscaped strip between the right-of-way line and the parking lot, with a minimum three-foot-high brick, stone or finished concrete wall to screen the parking lot. The wall shall be located adjacent to but entirely outside the five-foot landscaped strip. Plant with a minimum of one shade tree per 35 linear feet of frontage, excluding driveway openings.
Parking area interior landscaping.
Purpose: to provide visual relief and shade in parking areas.
Applicability. The requirements in this section apply to all parking areas with more than 15 parking spaces.
Requirements.
Parking lots shall be planted with a low overhead canopy of trees.
Landscaped areas covering a minimum of 15% of the total paved area of the lot shall be provided.
The landscaped area must be provided via curbed islands wholly contained within the paved areas. Each parking island shall by a minimum of 10 feet by 40 feet in size and shall be planted with at least one deciduous tree approved by the Planning Board. The use of a single tree species throughout the parking area is encouraged.
Outdoor storage landscaping.
Purpose: to provide visual relief surrounding storage areas.
Applicability. Any storage yard in connection with a permitted commercial or industrial use shall require visual screening.
Requirements. Visual screening shall consist of a continuous fence, wall, evergreen hedge or landscape planting, or combination thereof, so as to effectively screen the storage yard which it encloses, and shall be maintained in good condition. A minimum of 25% of the enclosure shall be screened by landscaping. In cases where the physical characteristics of the parcel or surrounding parcels make screening from adjacent properties impossible or unreasonable, this requirement may be completely or partially waived by the Zoning Board of Appeals after public hearing and review as required under Article XII, Board of Zoning Appeals.
Alternative landscaping plan. Alternative landscaping plans may be proposed where strict application of the requirements in this chapter would prohibit reasonable development of a property. The Planning Board may consider the topography, shape, size or other natural features of the property or design features of the development when considering the suitability of a proposed alternative landscaping plan. Examples of situations where alternative landscaping plans are more likely to receive favorable consideration are mixed-use buildings and developments that qualify for reduced parking under Article V, Off-Street Parking and Loading. Another technique that can be used in alternative landscaping plans is the enhancement of landscaping in a nearby area to soften the overall effect of the development such as improvement of a nearby existing public right of way.
Village review. The Village of Coxsackie Planning Board shall have the authority to invoke a technical independent review of the applicant's plan, at the applicant's expense, by a licensed landscape architect or other appropriate agency or organization.
§ 155-49 Lighting standards.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to require and set minimum standards for outdoor lighting that are appropriate for safety, security and visibility for pedestrians and motorists, while minimizing glare and light pollution.
Applicability. The lighting standards of this section shall apply to all properties in the Village of Coxsackie.
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A unit of illumination produced on a surface, all points of which are one foot from a uniform point source equivalent to one candle in brightness of illumination. Footcandle measurements shall be made with a photometric light meter and with a specified horizontal orientation.
An outdoor lighting fixture that is shielded or constructed so that all light emitted is projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest light-emitting part of the fixture.
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Example of full cutoff lighting fixture. |
Direct light that causes annoyance, discomfort or loss in visual performance and visibility.
The assembly that holds a lamp and may include an assembly housing, a mounting bracket or pole socket, a lamp holder, a ballast, a reflector or mirror, and a refractor or lens. A light fixture also includes the assembly for luminous tube and fluorescent lighting.
Artificial light which causes a detrimental effect on the environment, enjoyment of the night sky or causes undesirable glare or unnecessary illumination of adjacent properties.
A diagram depicting the location of all light poles and building-mounted lighting fixtures in a specified area and a numerical grid of the maintained lighting levels that the fixtures will produce in that specified area.
An outdoor lighting fixture recessed into a canopy ceiling so that the bottom of the fixture is flush with the ceiling.
Lighting plan. A lighting plan is required for all uses that require site plan approval pursuant to Article X of this chapter. The lighting plan shall demonstrate compliance with this section and shall include the following items:
A site plan showing the location of all exterior lighting fixtures and a numerical grid of lighting levels (in footcandles) that the fixtures will produce on the ground (photometric diagram).
Property boundaries, building location(s), parking lot layout, pedestrian paths, adjacent rights-of-way, north arrow and scale.
Lamp type and wattage.
Specifications for all proposed exterior light fixtures and poles showing the design and finishes and designation as Illuminating Engineer Society of North America (IESNA) cut-off fixtures.
Any other information and data that is necessary to evaluate the required lighting plan.
General requirements.
The number of light fixtures and the intensity of lighting shall be appropriate to illuminate the location for safety, without glare to adjoining properties.
Lighting fixtures shall be aimed and shielded in a manner that shall not direct illumination on adjacent residential properties. Full cutoff fixtures shall be installed and maintained.
To minimize the excessive use of illumination, it is recommended that outdoor lighting, except as required for security, be extinguished during nonoperating hours.
Installation for lighting shall be placed underground.
Automobile-oriented uses such as gasoline stations, service stations and drive-through facilities shall install recessed ceiling fixtures in any canopy.
Signs that are wholly illuminated with an exposed incandescent lamp not exceeding 25 watts shall not require shielding.
The maximum total height of exterior lighting fixtures for nonresidential uses, including the base, shall be a maximum of 20 feet and 14 feet for pedestrian walkways and parking lots adjacent to residential uses.
The intensity of light on a site shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles at any property line that abuts a residential property or more than 0.5 footcandles for any other zoned property.
Design.
Exterior lighting shall enhance the building design and adjoining landscape.
Decorative-style lighting is preferred which utilizes wood, stone, natural materials or materials that simulate natural materials. Shoebox-style light fixtures are not permitted.
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Decorative lighting is preferred. | Shoebox lighting is not permitted. | |