East Troy City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXII
Mixed Business/Light Industrial Design Overlay District
§ 510-223 Purpose.
The Mixed Business/Light Industrial Design Overlay District is intended to promote high-quality development given the potential mix of businesses and light industrial uses in the overlay district. The standards in this article are intended to supplement other standards set forth in other parts of the Zoning Code. If a standard in this article is more restrictive than another standard, the standard in this article shall control to the extent of the conflict.
§ 510-224 District location.
The location(s) of the Mixed Business/Light Industrial Design Overlay District is depicted on the adopted Zoning Map, which may be amended with the procedures set forth in § 510-155. A map amendment may 1) establish the location of a new overlay district that encompasses a minimum area of 20 acres, 2) remove an existing district in its entirety, or 3) modify the extent of an existing overly district by adding contiguous parcels or removing parcels on the perimeter provided the district is at least 20 acres in area.
§ 510-225 Minimum floor area.
The initial construction on a parcel shall equal or exceed the minimums for the following types of uses, if otherwise allowed in the base zoning district:
Type of Use | Minimum Square Feet per Buildable Acre |
|---|---|
Retail | 3,000 |
Office | 4,000 |
Manufacturing | 4,000 |
Warehousing | 5,000 |
§ 510-226 Land uses.
[Amended 12-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-11]
B.
Special standards for outdoor storage and wholesaling. Outdoor storage and wholesaling, if otherwise allowed in the base district, is allowed provided the storage of items in the outdoor area is limited to those products manufactured on-site and small batches of raw materials used in the on-site manufacturing process.
§ 510-227 Architectural standards.
A.
Four-sided architecture. All new construction must have four-sided architecture (i.e., having the same level of detail and materials used on all four sides of the building). In unique situations, the Plan Commission may waive this requirement as a special exception if 1) the side or rear of the building, or portion thereof, is totally screened from view or the subject property abuts a lot not located in the overlay district that is classified as Light Industrial (LI) or General Industrial (GI), or 2) the side or rear of the building is designed to be expanded in the near future (i.e., within five to seven years).
B.
Exterior walls. Principal buildings with a front elevation of more than 6,000 square feet in area shall be divided into distinct planes of 3,000 square feet or less. The following design features can be used to meet this provision:
(1)
Sunshades, canopies or awnings;
(2)
Arcades;
(3)
Porches;
(4)
Vertical wall offsets having a minimum depth of eight inches and a minimum width of 10 feet;
(5)
Horizontal offsets having a minimum depth of two feet;
(6)
Pilasters (structural or nonstructural) having a minimum depth of eight inches, a minimum width of 12 inches, and a minimum height of 80% of the wall height;
(7)
Recessed areas for entryways and the like having a minimum depth of eight inches; and
(8)
Other multidimensional design features as determined by the Plan Commission.
C.
Building entrances. Building entrances must be clearly recognizable from parking lots and pedestrian circulation routes.
D.
Rooftop mechanical equipment. If mechanical equipment is placed on the roof of the building, it must be positioned so it is not readily visible from a public street or an abutting property in a residential zoning district or in a planned development district that allows residential uses. Rooftop mechanical equipment may be placed in an enclosure or screened from view provided such enclosure or screening is used as an element of the building's architecture.
E.
Accessory buildings. The exterior building materials of an accessory building that is readily visible from a public street, as determined by the Plan Commission, shall be the same as or similar to those used on the principal building. The exterior wall colors of an accessory building must match those of the principal building.
[Amended 12-5-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-14]
F.
Overhead doors. Overhead doors shall not face a public street. The Plan Commission may approve a special exception to allow an overhead door to face a public street when there is no feasible alternative.
G.
Fencing. Fencing shall complement the appearance of buildings onsite.
H.
Exterior building materials. Exterior building materials shall convey an impression of durability. Materials such as precast wall panels (smooth or aggregate); decorative masonry, stone, brick; and glass are permitted. Stucco, EFIS (Exterior Insulating Finish System), and metal panel systems may be used, provided such materials do not exceed 25% of the wall area. An accessory building that is not readily visible from a public street, as determined by the Plan Commission, may use metal panels for the entire building. Additions to existing buildings that are presently made of the prohibited building materials must comply with the provisions this part the addition. The applicant may request a special exception to use a prohibited material on an addition if the existing building has the same prohibited material. If such special exception is granted, the Plan Commission may as a condition of approval require enhancements to the facade, additional landscaping, or other means to improve the aesthetics of the building.
[Amended 12-5-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-14]
I.
Exterior building colors. Exterior building colors shall be nonreflective, subtle, neutral, or earth tone. The use of high-intensity colors, metallic colors, black, or fluorescent colors is prohibited. Building trim and architectural accent elements may feature brighter colors, but such colors shall be muted, not metallic, not fluorescent, and not specific to particular uses or tenants. Standard corporate and trademark colors shall be permitted only on signs.
§ 510-228 Dumpster enclosure.
Trash dumpsters must be screened from public rights-of-way and adjacent property by an enclosure with walls a minimum of six feet in height. The walls must be constructed of masonry compatible with materials used on the street side of the principal building. Access gates must be constructed of woven wire fencing with opaque screening material. It is preferred that a screened pedestrian entrance be provided such that waste may be deposited without opening the large access gates.
§ 510-229 Outdoor storage.
[Amended 12-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-11; 3-18-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-06]
If allowed by the base zoning district, outdoor storage of materials and equipment is limited to 35% of the floor area of the principal building, except when products are manufactured on site. All such outdoor storage areas must be screened with either a fence (at least six feet in height but not more than 12 feet) built to serve as a vision screen or a planting screen that will visually block the storage. Upon petition, the Plan Commission may, with good cause, waive this screening requirement, in whole or in part, or defer the requirement to a later date based on a determination that screening is not needed given the nature of the adjoining properties. Stacking of materials and equipment shall not exceed eight feet above the surrounding grade. An outdoor storage area shall not be located between the front of the building and the public street. If the storage area is located on a side of the building, such area must be intentionally designed to look like it is part of the principal building (e.g., the screening is attached to the principal building and made of the same exterior materials).
§ 510-230 Nonconforming situations.
Nonconforming situations (lot, use, structure and/or site) shall adhere to the provisions of Article IX.