A. Building Placement: Building placement is integral to the site design and the overall effect any development has on surrounding properties. Building placement shall be carefully considered as part of the overall development review.
1. All buildings shall be located with the main facade and main entrance facing the principal street to which it has frontage.
2. Buildings located on corner lots shall orient main facades to each street and give equal architectural treatment to each.
3. Buildings shall be located as close to the front property line as possible considering site, use, and other constraints or requirements of service providers or of this title.
4. Building placement on a site shall account for the provision of required open space, landscaping, facilities, services, and amenities as specified elsewhere in this title and be situated to take advantage of existing site characteristics that create privacy, and the beneficial exposure of the building interior to natural light and air circulation.
B. Service Areas, Outdoor Storage, and Screening: Screening and separation of service areas, utility equipment, mechanical equipment, outdoor storage areas, and other similar areas within a development is required. To accomplish the necessary screening and separation, the design of these areas shall comply with the following:
1. Loading and service bays:
a. Landscaped areas or walls shall be used to separate loading and service bays from customer parking.
b. Loading and service bays shall be oriented away from adjacent residential areas and major public streets.
c. The design and layout of loading and service bays shall be designed to prevent public access to them.
a. Outdoor storage areas shall comply with the provisions of section
9-27-230 of this title and be screened from view in accordance with the same.
b. The area surrounding an outdoor storage enclosure shall be landscaped in accordance with chapter 9-23 of this title, except in locations necessary for vehicular access to the storage area.
c. Outdoor storage areas shall be designed to restrict public access to them.
3. Trash, refuse and garbage collection:
a. Outdoor containers for trash, refuse and garbage collection are required for all development sites.
b. Containers for recycling collection are recommended, and shall be subject to the same standards as trash, refuse, and garbage collection.
c. Containers for trash, refuse and garbage collection shall be screened from view on all sides by an opaque enclosure, a minimum of six feet (6') in height, built using the same materials and colors as the building, or masonry or concrete fencing.
d. Gates that facilitate access for trash collection trucks shall be required on one side of the enclosure. Gates may be constructed predominantly or exclusively of metal components, but must be designed and painted to be architecturally compatible with the design of the principal building(s) on the site, and the other sides of the enclosure.
e. Gates and openings that facilitate access for trash collection trucks shall not be oriented towards or parallel to major public streets, except where the enclosure is located behind the principal building, or more than one-hundred twenty feet (120') from the street.
f. The gate and enclosure design shall incorporate features capable of fixing the gate in both the closed and open position. Gates shall remain closed, except during active collection and disposal of accumulated wastes.
g. Except for the area in front of a gate, the area immediately surrounding the enclosure shall be landscaped in accordance with chapter 9-23 of this title.
h. The enclosure shall be designed to prevent illegal dumping and restrict access by pests and nuisance animals.
i. Enclosures for trash, refuse, and garbage collection shall not be located closer than ten feet (10') to a property line.
j. As an exception to the conditional use permit requirement of section
9-27-080 of this title, the zoning administrator may approve or require that a taller enclosure be built, up to a maximum of ten feet (10') in height, upon finding that the additional height is needed to mitigate existing or potential negative impacts to neighboring properties, visitors or employees.
4. Shopping cart corrals:
a. Corrals shall be required for all commercial and retail establishments that provide shopping carts for the convenience of customers.
b. Corrals shall be anchored to the ground at fixed locations within the parking area.
c. Corrals may not be located within required landscape planter islands.
5. Utility equipment and meters, generators, mechanical systems, and other similar auxiliary equipment:
a. The location of all utility boxes, meters, generators, large auxiliary equipment, ground mounted building mechanical systems and the like shall be shown on the site plan and on the landscape planting plan.
b. The location and placement of such equipment within a site shall provide mitigation of the negative impacts of noise, appearance, or odors that the equipment may create, particularly for occupants of neighboring properties.
c. Generators, auxiliary equipment, and other ground mounted building mechanical systems, shall rest directly on the ground, or a ground level concrete pad not more than four inches (4") above grade. Where equipment is mounted to supports or anchors, the bottom of the equipment may not be located higher than six inches (6") from the ground or concrete pad surface.
d. Exhaust systems shall not protrude above the equipment.
e. Utility boxes, utility meters, generators, other large auxiliary equipment, ground mounted building mechanical systems and the like shall be screened from public view. A combination of walls, opaque fences, and landscaping may be utilized.
f. As an exception to the conditional use permit requirement of section
9-27-080 of this title, where walls or fences are used to screen the equipment identified in subsection 9-22-050(B)(5), the zoning administrator may approve, or require, a taller screen or enclosure to be built, up to a maximum of ten feet (10') in height, upon finding that the additional height is needed to mitigate existing or potential negative impacts to neighboring properties, visitors, or employees.
g. The proposed location, size, and operational needs of public utilities and utility equipment located on a development site shall be coordinated by the property owner or applicant together with the applicant's architect, civil engineer, landscape architect or designer, and the various public utility providers prior to the submission of a site plan and landscaping plans to the City.
h. Once a site plan and landscape plan have been approved by the city, changes made or proposed to the location, number, or the physical size of above ground utility boxes, meters, generators, and other auxiliary equipment shall require submittal of an updated plan detailing the proposed site screening and landscaping changes. Revised plans must receive city approval in writing prior to installation of the appurtenance(s) and landscaping.
C. Amenities: Amenities shall be used to enhance and beautify the site and provide recreational areas and conveniences for patrons, visitors, residents, and employees.
1. With the exception of developments subject to the Multiple-Family Dwelling Development Standards found in Chapter 32 of this title, outdoor amenities are required for every development on a site with a combined building total floor area of twenty-thousand square feet (20,000 ft²) or greater.
2. Outdoor amenities include:
a. Seating areas, including patios, decks, porches, benches, tables, and pergolas;
c. Garden areas designed for active use;
e. Natural open space; or
f. Other areas designed and designated for recreational use or convenience of those utilizing them.
3. Outdoor amenities shall be integrated into the overall landscape plan design.
4. Property owners and managers shall not permit landscaping to overgrow or impede pedestrian paths or areas.
5. Each development subject to the requirements of this subsection shall provide a minimum of two (2) amenities from the list in 9-22-050(C)(2) above and additional amenities as follows:
a. Public, Civic, Municipal and Institutional uses:
(1) One (1) additional outdoor amenity for each additional twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of floor area.
(1) One (1) additional outdoor amenity for each additional thirty thousand (30,000) square feet of floor area.
c. Industrial/manufacturing uses:
(1) One (1) additional outdoor amenity for each additional forty thousand (40,000) square feet of floor area.
d. Agricultural business, industry, or processing uses:
(1) One (1) additional outdoor amenity for each additional forty thousand (40,000) square feet of floor area.
D. Landscaping: Landscaping shall comply with the site design requirements of this section and the landscaping requirements found in chapter 9-23. All developments subject to this chapter that are required to provide public landscaping improvements or infrastructure improvements, as defined in Utah State Code, shall install such improvements, or post an improvement completion assurance for these items in the manner outlined in
17-4-075 of this code, prior to conducting any other development activity. All other required landscaping, with the exception of street trees, shall be installed no later than September 30th of the following calendar year after an approved use is commenced or a certificate of occupancy is issued, or one year from the date an approved use is commenced or a certificate of occupancy is issued, whichever is sooner.
E. Lighting: Carefully planned lighting schemes shall have the effect of creating safe environments for pedestrians and motorists. Lighting shall also be considered an integral design element which adds to the overall site plan and building design.
1. Lighting schemes should include coordinating parking, wall, and pedestrian scaled fixtures which complement building architecture and site features.
2. Sensitively placed low light landscape lighting that highlights a site's desirable features is encouraged.
F. Parking and Site Circulation: Commercial development creates impacts to the city transportation system, including the mutual inducement of development pressures and impacts between abutting properties. Applicants for development shall design proposed parking areas, drive aisles, access points and streets to have minimal impact on the built environment and provide vehicular and pedestrian connectivity to abutting sites. City staff shall conduct an individualized determination for any exaction required by this subsection according to the procedures outlined in section
9-05-220.
1. Each application shall comply with the traffic impact study guidelines and related requirements in section
11-02-060 of this code.
2. Major internal circulation drive aisles and roadways that provide access from the public right of way or between buildings on the same site or which provide required cross access or connectivity to abutting sites shall be separated from parking areas using curb and gutter and a combination of any of the following methods:
b. Pedestrian walkways; or
c. Lighting. (Ord. 799, 12-4-2007)
3. Pedestrian walkways shall have a minimum five feet (5') wide free travel width. Where wheel stops are not used to keep vehicles off the walkway, the pedestrian walkway shall be a minimum of seven feet (7') wide. Additionally, where other encroachments into the walkway exist, widths of the walkways shall be increased to ensure the minimum five feet (5') wide free travel width.
4. Abutting nonresidential or mixed use developments accessing a street of a major collector or arterial class shall have a shared access point between development sites. When a shared access point is provided between abutting sites, the city may waive cross access requirements between their parking areas.
5. Subject to compliance with applicable engineering standards found in Titles 7, 8, 11, 12, 16, and 18, nonresidential and mixed use developments shall provide perpetual cross access and connectivity for pedestrians, vehicles, and emergency vehicles to abutting properties with existing or planned nonresidential and mixed use developments by;
a. Connecting to existing cross access drives, streets, sidewalks and pedestrian walkways that abut the property; and
b. Stubbing proposed cross access drives, streets, sidewalks and pedestrian walkways to abutting properties to facilitate future cross access and connectivity between properties.
6. Cross access drives, streets, sidewalks and pedestrian walkways between properties subject to this section shall:
a. Accommodate customary pedestrian, vehicular, and emergency vehicle access, the required minimum width of which shall be five feet (5') for sidewalks and walkways, and as determined by the fire marshal based upon the requirements for fire access roadways for cross access drives and streets;
b. Be constructed of asphalt or cement;
c. Include access easements for ingress and egress across the cross access drives, private streets, sidewalks and pedestrian walkways for access by emergency vehicles and the benefit of employees, patrons and visitors of the abutting development; and
d. Be reciprocal between abutting properties.
7. Easements required under this section shall be recorded prior to issuance of a land disturbance permit or building permit.
8. Gates are not allowed across a cross access drive or street providing cross access or connectivity under this section.
G. Pedestrian Considerations: Site layout and design shall consider with equal weight the needs of pedestrians and automobiles. Measures shall be taken to ensure adequate access and safety for pedestrians on the site.
1. Pedestrian access from the public right of way through the site to main entrances shall be provided. These walkways shall be constructed of different materials than the roadway or parking area, and provide for clearly defined crossings where there are points of conflict with automobiles.
2. Similar pedestrian access from public transit stations and stops into the site and to each building entrance shall be provided.
3. Differing roadway materials within parking lots shall be used directly in front of entrances to slow motorists and create a safer environment for pedestrians.
4. Pedestrian drop off locations when incorporated within overall circulation patterns shall be convenient and safe for pedestrians.
5. Benches, pedestrian scaled lighting, bike racks, and other pedestrian amenities shall be placed appropriately throughout the site.
H. Security: Security of the site and CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) principles shall be strongly considered in any site design. Many of the goals of CPTED are supported by and accomplished through following the standards and guidelines already enumerated in this chapter. In addition to these standards and guidelines, other measures should be considered with the following four (4) overlapping CPTED principles in mind:
1. Territoriality is a design concept that plainly demarcates private space from semipublic and public areas. Clear territoriality in the design of a site also creates a sense of ownership wherein people will be more likely to defend and care for such spaces. Following this principle ultimately creates an environment where intruders stand out and are more easily identified.
a. Symbolic barriers, such as landscaping or changes in paving materials or patterns can be effective in creating defined public spaces.
b. Spaces which are designed for active use, such as plazas, outdoor seating and eating areas, benches, fountains, and playgrounds add to the sense of ownership.
2. Natural surveillance is a design concept directed primarily at keeping intruders under observation. Provision of natural surveillance helps create environments where there is sufficient opportunity for people engaged in their normal behavior to observe the space around them. Areas can be designed so they are more easily observed through:
a. Landscape designs and follow up maintenance that allows for clear, unobstructed views of accessible areas;
b. Walkways which are visible, well lit, and overlooked by windows from nearby buildings;
c. Mixed uses that engage a site at all hours;
d. Use of unglazed or tinted windows and doors; and
e. Lighting of alcoves, stairwells, and other areas which may otherwise provide concealment.
3. Access control is a design concept directed primarily at decreasing criminal accessibility. Provision of natural access control limits access and increases natural surveillance to restrict criminal intrusion, especially into areas where they will not be easily observed through:
a. Clearly marking entrances;
b. Restricting access to screened areas such as garbage receptacles, delivery areas, and outdoor storage areas; and
c. Eliminating design elements which allow access to roofs and upper levels.
4. Proper maintenance of landscaping, lighting treatments, and other features can facilitate the principles of CPTED.
I. Signs: The primary purpose of signs is to clearly identify businesses. Signs shall be integrated into the overall design of a commercial development, including materials, and shall add to the quality of the built environment without contributing to visual clutter. While the approval of signs requires a separate review and approval process, their placement should be planned for during initial site planning and provide for required landscaping, lighting, and other related considerations. (Ord. 799, 12-4-2007; amd. Ord. 1535, 5-3-2022; Ord. 1583, 6- 20-2023)