a.

The intent of these regulations is to provide specific design guidelines that achieve the following:

1.

Encourage development and redevelopment that protects and enhances the character of DeWitt and creates a character that reinforces a sense of community identity.

2.

Encourage a form of development that will achieve the physical qualities necessary to maintain and enhance the economic vitality of the business districts, maintain the desired character of the city, prevent the creation of blight, and protect property values.

3.

Implement recommendations of the comprehensive development plan.

a.

Building location and orientation. New buildings shall have at least one (1) principal building entrance oriented toward the front lot line.

b.

Natural features. Buildings shall be sited to protect existing natural areas such as steep natural grades, trees, significant groupings of healthy vegetation (shrubs and trees) and rock outcroppings. These areas are encouraged to be incorporated into the overall site plan and may be calculated as part of the landscaping requirement if healthy and not damaged during construction.

a.

Intent. The intent of these regulations is to provide specific design guidelines to encourage development and redevelopment that protects and enhances the established architectural character of DeWitt, reinforces a sense of community identity, achieves the physical qualities necessary to maintain and enhance the economic vitality of the business districts, prevents the creation of blight, and protects property values.

1.

Applicability. All uses subject to site plan approval, as listed in Table XI-01 Table of Eligible Uses and Required Review Process shall comply with the building design standards in this section.

b.

Exterior building design.

1.

Architecture and composition. Building exterior walls shall be constructed using a combination of architectural features and a variety of building materials and landscaping near the walls to enhance the appearance of the building and the intended character of the surrounding vicinity.

(a)

Walls which can be viewed from public streets shall be designed using architectural features and landscaping, abutting the building, for at least thirty (30) percent of the wall length.

(b)

Other walls shall incorporate architectural features and landscaping for at least twenty (20) percent of the wall length.

(c)

Window area shall cover twenty (20) percent or more of the exterior wall area facing the principal street from which access is gained.

2.

Architectural features.

(a)

Buildings shall possess architectural variety, but enhance the overall cohesive community character. All buildings shall provide architectural features, details, and ornaments such as recesses, projections, wall insets, arcades, window display areas, awnings, balconies, window projections, landscape structures or other features that complement the design intent of the structure and are acceptable to the planning commission.

(b)

In addition, a portion of the on-site landscaping shall abut the walls so that the vegetation combined with the architectural features significantly reduce the visual impact of the building mass as viewed from the street. Additional landscaping requirements of this article must also be satisfied.

(c)

Overhead doors shall not face a public street or residential district. The planning commission may modify this requirement upon a determination that there is no reasonable alternative and the visual impact will be moderated through use of building materials, architectural features and landscaping beyond that required in article XVI, landscaping.

(d)

Additions to existing buildings must complement the current building design with regard to height, proportions, scale, materials, and rhythm of openings.

3.

Building materials.

(a)

Durable building materials which provide an attractive, quality appearance must be utilized.

(b)

The predominant building materials should be quality materials that are characteristic of Michigan such as brick, decorative tilt-up panels, wood, native stone and tinted/textured concrete masonry units and/or glass products.

(c)

Other materials such as smooth-faced concrete block, undecorated tilt-up concrete panels, or prefabricated steel panels should only be used as accents and not dominate the building exterior of the structure.

4.

Roof design.

(a)

Roofs should be designed to reduce the apparent exterior mass of a building, add visual interest and be appropriate to the architectural style of the building.

(b)

Variations within one (1) architectural style are highly encouraged. Visible roof lines and roofs that project over the exterior wall of a building enough to cast a shadow on the ground are highly encouraged, with a minimum overhang of twelve (12) inches.

(c)

Architectural methods shall be used to conceal flat roof tops and mechanical and electrical equipment.

(d)

Overhanging eaves, sloped roofs and multiple roof elements are highly encouraged.

(e)

Metal roofs may be allowed if compatible with the overall architectural design of the building.

5.

Customer entrances. Clearly defined, highly visible customer entrances may be included in the design. Features such as canopies, porticos, arcades, arches, wing walls, and integral planters are highly encouraged to identify such entrances.

6.

Building and sign colors.

(a)

Exterior colors shall be of low reflectance, subtle, neutral or earth tone colors. The use of high intensity colors such as black, neon, metallic or fluorescent for the facade and/or roof of the building are prohibited except as approved by the planning commission for building trim.

(b)

The use of trademark colors not meeting this requirement may be approved by the planning commission.

(c)

Mechanical and service features such as gutters, ductwork, service doors, etc. that cannot be screened must be of a color that blends in with the color of the building.

a.

Access. The following shall apply to any new development proposed for non-residential and multiple-family uses:

1.

A maximum of one (1) driveway per street shall be permitted per principal use, or collective principal use, as defined in Section 78-659, Main Building or Principal Use.

2.

A second driveway may be permitted provided that such drive is constructed and permitted to share access with an adjoining principal use or existing lot within the same zoning district, or such drive is part of a one-way driveway system that permits a single point of ingress and a single point of egress.

3.

The planning commission may permit additional driveways, if justified by a traffic study prepared by a professional traffic engineer provided by the applicant or owner indicating the need for such additional driveways.

4.

Unless otherwise permitted by the planning commission, parking lots and driveways providing access to corner lots shall be required to gain sole access from the lesser traveled of the two (2) intersecting streets.

(a)

For the purposes of this subparagraph, lesser traveled shall mean the street having the lowest peak hour (morning or afternoon) traffic volume, as measured within a two-year period prior to the date of the application.

(b)

The lesser traveled street may be determined by the development official where traffic count information is not available or was counted more than two (2) years prior to the date of the application submission.

5.

The location of new driveways shall be determined by the planning commission which shall take the following factors into consideration:

(a)

The ability to share driveways with adjacent properties and the general compatibility of those adjacent land uses.

(b)

The proximity of the proposed driveways to existing driveways on adjacent properties and properties on the opposite side of the street.

(c)

Any provisions made for front or rear service drives that may eliminate the potential for future driveways on nearby properties.

(d)

The relationship of the proposed driveway location to the internal circulation of the development site.

(e)

The proximity of the proposed driveway to street intersections. Driveways shall be located as far as practicable from any public or private street intersection.

b.

Pedestrian walkways.

1.

Walkways from the sidewalk to building entrances.

(a)

A continuous pedestrian walkway shall be provided from any adjacent street sidewalks for pedestrians to access building entrances.

(b)

Walkways shall be connected to adjacent sites wherever practicable.

2.

Walkways from parking areas to building entrances.

(a)

Internal pedestrian walkways shall be developed for persons who need access to the building(s) from internal parking areas. The walkways shall be located within the parking areas and shall be designed to provide access from these areas to the entrances of the building(s).

(b)

The walkways shall be designed to separate people from moving vehicles.

(c)

These walkways shall have a minimum width of five (5) feet with no car overhang or other obstruction.

(d)

The walkways must be designed in accordance with the Michigan Barrier Free Design Standards.

(e)

The walkways shall be distinguished from the parking and driving areas by use of any of the following materials: Special pavers, bricks, raised elevation or scored concrete. Other materials may be used if they are appropriate to the overall design of the site and building and acceptable to the review authority.

Receptacles, including waste receptacles, waste compactors, and recycling bins shall be designed, constructed, and maintained according to the requirements of this section.

a.

Waste receptacles, including dumpsters or compactors, shall be required for all nonresidential uses unless interior facilities are provided. The requirement to provide a waste receptacle may be waived by the planning commission if the applicant provides documentation that the development will not necessitate a waste receptacle.

b.

All outdoor waste receptacles shall be enclosed on three (3) sides and screened. The enclosure shall be constructed of brick or decorative concrete material, consistent with the building materials of the principal building.

c.

The enclosure shall also include a gate, made of wood or other high quality material, as determined by the planning commission, on the fourth side. If the waste receptacle is a dumpster it must have an enclosing lid or cover.

d.

The enclosure shall have a minimum height of six (6) feet or one (1) foot above the height of the waste receptacle, whichever is greater. The enclosure must be spaced at least three (3) feet from the waste receptacle.

e.

Waste receptacles and enclosures shall be located in the rear yard, not closer than three (3) feet from the rear lot line, or non-required side yard, unless otherwise approved by the planning commission and shall be as far as practical, but in no case be less than twenty (20) feet, from any residential district. If practical, the back side of the waste receptacle enclosure should be placed against the building. In this circumstance the wall may act as one (1) side of the enclosure.

f.

Waste receptacles shall be easily accessed by refuse vehicles without potential to damage automobiles parked in designated parking spaces or interfering with the normal movement of vehicles on or off the site.

g.

The waste receptacle base shall be at least nine (9) feet by six (6) feet in area, constructed of six (6) inches of reinforced concrete pavement. The base shall extend six (6) feet beyond the waste receptacle pad or gate to support the refuse vehicle.

a.

Ground mounted mechanical or electrical equipment, such as blowers, ventilating fans, and air conditioning units are permitted only in non-required side yards or in any non-required rear yard, as determined by the development official.

b.

Mechanical or electrical equipment shall be placed no closer than three (3) feet to any lot line in the central business district.

c.

Any ground, building, or roof mounted mechanical or electrical equipment or utilities, including water and gas meters, utility boxes, transformers, elevator housings, stairways, tanks, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment (HVAC), and other similar equipment, shall comply with the following standards:

1.

All such equipment shall be screened by a solid wall, fence, landscaping, and/or architectural features that are compatible in appearance with the principal building.

2.

Roof mounted equipment shall not exceed a height of ten (10) feet above the surrounding roof surface. All roof mounted mechanical units must be screened so they are not visible from ground level, even if not specifically addressed as part of site plan review.