Consideration for approval or disapproval of a development shall be based on and interpreted in light of the effect of the development on the comprehensive plan of the City and in light of the effect of the development on the use of the property adjacent to and in the areas close to the development.

This article shall not be construed to mean the developer can, by right, merely meet the standards set herein. These standards and requirements are minimums only. The Board may require more stringent standards, based on the specific and unique nature of the site and the surrounding areas, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City. In cases where additional standards are necessary for a specific site, this article and the City subdivision and land development standards shall apply toward the site until the proposed development plan has been filed, approved and recorded, having met these additional standards. In all instances, the Pinelands area environmental standards contained in Articles V and VI of Chapter 170 shall continue to apply to all development in the City.

The Board may permit the modification of the provisions of this article. Any modification of the requirements of this article shall be subject to the following standards:

If the Board determines that the landowner has met his burden, it may grant a modification of the requirements of this article. In granting modifications, the Board may impose such conditions as will, in its judgment, secure the objectives and purposes of this article.

The development standards contained in this article shall be used by any applicant in preparing a development plan and by the Board in reviewing the same. In the exercise of its powers of review, the Board may approve, deny, conditionally approve or request modifications to a development plan that is deemed to be inconsistent with the development standards and guidelines or the purposes of this article in accordance with the provisions of § 170-100 herein.

This article contains both development standards, which are normative and set forth specific requirements, and development guidelines, which define a framework and are only indicative. However, both standards and guidelines shall be interpreted with flexibility. The Board shall view such standards and guidelines as tools, since exceptional situations, requiring unique interpretations, can be expected. When applying such standards and guidelines, the Board shall weigh the specific circumstances surrounding each application and strive for development solutions that best promote the spirit, intent and purposes of this article.

The developmental standards and guidelines contained in this article shall be used as the City's minimum requirements. However, such standards and guidelines are not intended to restrict creativity, and an applicant may request a modification or exception from any development standard or guideline. Modifications to the design guidelines and standards contained in this section shall be approved by the Board in accordance with § 170-100 herein.

This article shall not apply to single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings or minor subdivision applications. The developmental standards and guidelines contained in this article shall not apply to R-20F and PA Zones in the Pinelands Forest Area and Preservation Area, respectively.

Not less than 15% of the neighborhood shall be allocated to and shall remain in common open space in perpetuity. Common open space shall be deed restricted to prohibit future subdivision or development, except for recreational and cemetery uses which may be permitted with the approval of the Board. Common open space shall be used for social, recreational and/or natural environment preservation purposes. The uses authorized must be appropriate to the character of the common open space, including its topography, size and vegetation, as well as to the character of the development, including its size and density, the characteristics of the expected population, and the number and type of dwellings to be provided. The common open space shall be provided in the form of internal open space and peripheral open space.

Internal open spaces shall contain a minimum of 500 square feet and shall be of a distinct geometric shape, generally rectilinear or square, bounded by streets with curbside parking on a minimum of 50% of its perimeter. Internal open spaces shall be landscaped such that a minimum of 75% of the area is covered with trees, shrubs, lawn and groundcover. The type of trees and shrubs shall be such that vistas through the internal open space are largely unobstructed. Internal open spaces shall be landscaped according to Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan vegetation regulations, N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.21 and § 170-73A, and shall use elements such as formal gardens, walkways, monuments, statues, gazebos, fountains, park benches and pedestrian-scale lampposts. Internal open spaces shall be landscaped using elements such as formal gardens, walkways, monuments, statues, gazebos, fountains, park benches, and pedestrian-scale lampposts. Internal open spaces shall be designed as village commons, town squares or urban parks, and shall be designed as an active gathering place for all residents of the development in both day and evening and shall include places for strolling, sitting, social interaction and informal recreation.

Each community shall be designed to have one primary internal open space which shall be considered as part of the dedicated common open space requirement and shall be referred to as the community green. The community green shall have a minimum area of 10,000 square feet and the size, shape and design of the community green shall provide adequate space for concerts, outdoor exhibits and community gatherings based on the number of residents expected in the development. Public restrooms, public telephones and police/fire call boxes shall be provided in each community green. A bus stop shall be provided in or adjacent to the community green. The community green shall be surrounded by a concentration of high-density development, which may include commercial, residential and public and semipublic uses, community clubs and community facilities. If the development includes a main street commercial area, the community green shall either front upon a main street, main street shall terminate at the community green or main street and the community green shall otherwise be incorporated into a combined community focus for the development. Nothing herein shall preclude a large tract from containing two separate developments with two separate community greens.

The community green shall be centrally located to be within 1,500 feet of 90% of all dwelling units in the development. This is determined by a radius of 1,500 feet from the outermost boundary of the community green. In developments where the community green is combined with a main street commercial area, the radius of 1,500 feet shall also be measured from the outermost boundary of the lots fronting on the main street commercial area.

Peripheral open space shall be required where certain conditions exist adjacent to the tracts, as specified below:

Common open space, particularly peripheral open space areas, containing existing attractive or unique natural features, such as streams, creeks, ponds, woodlands, specimen trees and other areas of mature vegetation worthy of preservation, may be left unimproved and in a natural state. As a general principle, the preservation of undeveloped open space in its natural state is encouraged. A developer may make certain improvements such as the cutting of trails for walking or jogging and the provision of picnic areas. In addition, the Board may require a developer to make other improvements, such as removal of dead or diseased trees, thinning of trees or other vegetation, to encourage more desirable growth and grading and seeding. To the greatest extent possible, common open space shall include all environmentally sensitive areas, including areas with slopes greater than 20%, one-hundred-year floodplains, wetlands, areas of seasonally high water and other such critical areas, as may be determined by the Board. Existing man-made features may be preserved through incorporation in common open space.

Peripheral open space areas may be used for public and semipublic recreation purposes with the approval of the Board. Recreational facilities shall be required to serve the anticipated needs of the developments, taking into account the anticipated characteristics and demographic profile of the development's population, the recreational facilities available in neighboring developments and the relevant provisions regarding recreational facilities contained in the comprehensive plan. Recreational facilities may include soccer, baseball, football and other field sports that require open, unlit fields. This requirement may be satisfied by a public green space in the downtown redevelopment area.

Cemeteries may be permitted in both internal and peripheral open space areas with the approval of the Board.

The buildings, structures and improvements permitted in the common open space shall be appropriate to the authorized uses and shall conserve and enhance the amenities of the common open space with regard to its topography and unimproved condition.

The construction schedule of the development shall coordinate the improvement of the common open space with the construction of residential dwellings. At no time in the development of various phases of the community may the total area of common open space in the developed phases be less than 50% of the gross area of the required open space unless additional areas to produce the required percentage are permanently reserved as common open space on the remaining land of the total development. The location or size of this reserved common open space on remaining land may be altered or changed upon the approval and recording of the development plan of an additional phase of development.

The method utilized for ownership, administration and maintenance of common open space shall be approved by the Board and Council of the municipality. The ownership, administration and maintenance of common open space shall be arranged to be in accordance with one or more of the following:

In the event that the organization established to own and maintain common open space, or any successor organization, shall at any time after the establishment of the community fail to maintain the common open space in reasonable order and condition in accordance with the development plan, the Board and/or Council may serve written notice upon such organization or upon the residents of the community setting forth the manner in which the organization has failed to maintain the common open space in reasonable condition, and said notice shall include a demand that such deficiencies of maintenance be corrected within 30 days thereof and shall state the date and place of a hearing thereon which shall be held within 14 days of the notice. At such hearing the Board and/or Council may modify the terms of the original notice as to the deficiencies and may give an extension of time within which they shall be corrected. If the deficiencies set forth in the original notice or in the modifications thereof shall not be corrected within said 30 days or any extension thereof, the City Council, in order to preserve the taxable values of the property within the community and to prevent the common open space from becoming a public nuisance, may enter upon the common open space and maintain the same for a period of one year. Said maintenance by the City, as directed by the Board and/or Council, shall not constitute a taking of said common open space, nor vest in the public any rights to use the same. Before the expiration of said year, the Board and/or Council shall, upon its initiative or upon the request of the organization theretofore responsible for the maintenance of the common open space, call a public hearing upon notice to such organization, or the residents of the community, to be held by the Board and/or Council or its designated agency, at which hearing such organization or the residents of the community shall show cause why such maintenance by the City shall not, at the option of the City, continue for a succeeding year. If the Board and/or Council or its designated agency shall determine that such organization is not ready and able to maintain said common open space in a reasonable condition, the City may, in its discretion, continue to maintain said common open space during the next succeeding year and, subject to a similar hearing and determination, in each year thereafter. The decision of the Board and/or Council shall be subject to appeal to court in such manner and within the same time limitation as is provided for appeals by the State of New Jersey. The cost of maintenance of such common open space by the City shall be assessed ratable against the properties within the community that have a right of enjoyment of the common open space and shall become a lien on said properties. The City, at the time of entering upon said common open space for the purpose of maintenance, shall file a notice of lien in the Office of the Atlantic County Clerk upon the properties affected by the lien within the community.

The street shall be designed to create blocks that are generally rectilinear in shape, a modified rectilinear shape or another distinct geometric shape. Amorphously shaped blocks are generally discouraged, except where topographic or other conditions necessitate such a configuration. To the greatest extent possible, blocks shall be designed to have a maximum length of 600 feet. Terraces shall be permitted to bisect blocks.

Lot areas and lot widths shall vary at random to the greatest extent possible, in order to eliminate the appearance of a standardized subdivision. To the extent possible, no more than two lots in a row shall have the same width. Lots shall vary by a minimum of five-foot increments.

Insofar as is practical, side lot lines shall be at right angles to straight streets and radial to curved streets.

Lots with reverse frontage shall provide a twenty-five-foot natural landscaped buffer along the street line in addition to the required rear yard setback. The rear yard setback line shall begin at the interior limit of the buffer. If the buffer requires additional supplemental planting to enhance the natural appearance, the reviewing Board shall determine the acceptable planting, berming and/or fencing with the advice and support of reviewing professionals.

The street layout shall be a modified grid street pattern adapted to the topography, unique natural features, environmental constraints of the tract and peripheral open space areas. The street layout shall take into consideration the location of the community focus, other internal open space areas, gateways and vistas. A minimum of two interconnections with the existing public street system rated as an arterial or collector shall be provided where possible. Linkages to adjacent developments and neighborhoods with pedestrian and bicycle paths are recommended where possible.

The street layout shall form an interconnected system of streets primarily in a rectilinear grid pattern, however, modified to avoid a monotonous repetition of the basic street/block pattern. The use of culs-de-sac and other roadways with a single point of access shall be minimized. To the greatest extent possible, streets shall be designed to have a maximum length of 600 feet, from intersection to intersection and, to the greatest extent possible, shall either continue through an intersection or terminate in a "T" intersection directly opposite the center of a building, an internal open space area or a view into a peripheral open space area.

A minimum of 20% of the total units are set aside for households of moderate and low income. To the extent possible, these units should be slated for ownership with the conditional provision of only the cost-of-living increment assigned upon selling to another low- or moderate-income family. Half of the units shall be for low-income families, and half shall be for moderate-income families. This provision may be modified to satisfy the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) requirements.

Buildings containing dwelling units shall be designed in conformance to the selected design vocabulary. See § 170-118 of this article. Building designs shall vary in terms of footprint, architectural elevations, fenestration, type of roof, height, front entrance, and porch locations. Colors, materials and architectural details should be limited in number, compatibility and repetition throughout the neighborhood.

Apartment dwellings located on upper floors above commercial uses shall have elevator access provided for eight or more interconnected units.

All residential units shall be raised above the level of the adjacent sidewalk by a minimum of two feet to provide security and privacy.

A minimum of 50% of all dwelling units, excluding apartment dwellings located on upper floors, shall have a clearly defined front yard using landscaping, hedging, fencing or a brick or stone wall, none of which shall exceed three feet in height. Front yards of attached duplexes or townhouses may be unified into one common yard treated as a single front yard for the entire building.

A minimum of 50% of dwelling units, except apartments, shall have a front entrance articulated with a covered front entry porch. Front porches shall be located on the front of the dwelling facing the sidewalk. The size of front-entry porches shall be a minimum of five feet deep, from the front wall of the dwelling to the enclosing porch rail, and 10 feet long.

All dwelling units, except apartments located on upper floors, shall have a private yard or patio a minimum of 400 square feet in area and enclosed by a masonry wall, wooden fence, trellis or lattice, evergreen hedge, vines or some combination thereof. The height of such yard or patio enclosure shall not exceed six feet and shall be suitable to provide privacy and screen views of neighboring uses. Each upper-floor apartment dwelling shall be provided with a terrace consisting of a minimum of 64 square feet, recessed inside the exterior building wall of the dwelling, or a balcony of 72 square feet projecting to the outside of the building wall. If a terrace or balcony is not provided for upper floor apartments, each dwelling shall be provided with access to a conveniently located common space, park or green with an additional 100 square feet of area above the required internal open space. Such additional space shall be designed as outdoor rooms with hard surfaces and places for movable chairs and tables.

Commercial uses shall be contained in multistory, mixed-use structures with commercial/retail uses on the ground level and apartment dwellings or offices on the upper levels. Such buildings shall vary in terms of footprint and architectural elevations. The maximum ground-level footprint of a commercial unit in a building shall be 5,000 square feet. In a three-story building, the second floor may contain either apartment dwellings or commercial uses.

Corner stores may be located in residential areas of the small community away from the core. Corner-store buildings shall be designed to appear as a residential building and shall be limited to one ground-level commercial use not to exceed 1,000 square feet in gross floor area with apartment dwellings on the upper level(s). The commercial use in a corner store shall be primarily oriented to serve the residents of the immediately surrounding neighborhood. A corner-store building shall be set back a maximum of 10 feet from the right-of-way line.

Restaurants shall be permitted to operate outdoor cafes on sidewalks, including areas within the public right-of-way and in courtyards, provided that pedestrian circulation and access to store entrances shall not be impaired. The following standards and guidelines are applicable:

Commercial uses shall be permitted to have sidewalk displays of retail merchandise. The following standards and guidelines are applicable:

Not less than 2% of the gross tract or 450 square feet per dwelling shall be dedicated as sites for public and semipublic uses, community clubs or community facilities.

Sites for such uses shall be dedicated to appropriate users, as determined by the Board. Such uses can include churches and religious institutions, day care and other institutional uses.

Such uses shall occupy prominent buildings. Buildings shall employ additional mass and height, civic architectural design or other distinguishing features.

Parking for such uses shall utilize on-street parking to the extent possible. If additional off-street parking is required, it shall be located in the rear of the building or structure and screened from the viewshed of the street.

A sidewalk network shall be provided throughout the development that interconnects all dwelling units with other units, nonresidential uses and common open space. Sidewalks shall promote pedestrian activity within each site and throughout the development; they shall be separate and distinct from motor vehicle circulation to the greatest extent possible, provide a pleasant route for users, promote enjoyment of the development and encourage incidental social interaction among pedestrians. Sidewalks shall be of barrier-free design to the greatest extent possible. The pedestrian circulation system shall include gathering/sitting areas and provide benches, landscaping and other street furniture where appropriate.

Sidewalks shall be a minimum of four feet in width, expanding to five feet and six feet along major pedestrian routes; sidewalks in commercial areas shall be 10 to 15 feet in width. Sidewalks shall be constructed of brick, slate, colored/textured concrete pavers, concrete containing accents of brick or some combination thereof that is compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the surrounding buildings. The functional, visual and tactile properties of the paving materials shall be appropriate to the proposed functions of pedestrian circulation.

Walkways shall be raised and curbed along buildings and within parking lots, where suitable. Pedestrian street crossings shall be clearly delineated by a change in pavement color and/or texture. All sidewalks and other pedestrian walkways shall have appropriate lighting, using poles and fixtures consistent with the overall design theme for the development.

Bikeways shall be provided, where possible, to link internal open space areas with peripheral open space areas and continuing on routes through peripheral open space areas. Bikeways do not have to be marked on local residential streets with low average daily traffic. Bikeways are required on access and entry roads and on boulevards with high average daily traffic. Bikeways shall be a minimum of six feet wide and may use asphalt paving. Bike racks shall be provided in internal open space areas and recreation areas in the peripheral open space.

The ratio of parking spaces required is found in § 170-62 of the Egg Harbor City Developmental Ordinance.

Off-street parking for commercial uses shall be sufficient to provide parking for the employees of all proposed uses as well as long-term customer parking. Spaces reserved for employees shall be designated as such by means of striping and signage. Off-street parking lots shall be prohibited in any front yard setback area, shall be located at the rear of buildings on the interior of lots and shall be accessed by means of common driveways, preferably from side streets or lanes. Such lots shall be small-sized (less than 25 parking spaces), where possible, and interconnected with commercial parking lots on adjacent properties. Cross-access easements for adjacent lots with interconnected parking lots shall be required in language acceptable to the City solicitor. Common, shared parking facilities are encouraged, where possible.

Parking for all dwelling units shall be prohibited in front yard setback areas. Driveways shall be prohibited in any front yard area. For other dwelling types, driveway access shall be provided from terraces. Driveways and parking areas shall be set back a minimum of three feet from the side of dwelling units and 20 feet from the rear of dwelling units. Driveways shall be set back a minimum of three feet from any side property line, unless such driveway is shared by dwellings on two adjacent lots, in which case the driveway may be located with the driveway center line on the common side lot line. Parking for townhouses shall be provided in a common off-street parking area, garages or parking spaces with access from a rear terrace. Private driveways for townhouses shall connect to lanes only and not to a street. However, a common driveway serving a minimum of eight units may be permitted from a street. Parking for apartments may be located in common parking lots located on a lot other than that containing the apartment building, but within 400 feet of the apartment building entrances. If access to a garage is provided from a street, the front entrance of such a garage shall be set back 15 feet further than the front wall of the dwelling unit. The location of a garage shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the side or rear property line.

Parking lot landscaping, buffering and screening.

When required, loading docks, solid waste facilities, recycling facilities and other service areas shall be placed to the rear or side of buildings in visually unobtrusive locations.

Screening and landscaping shall prevent direct views of the loading areas and their driveways from adjacent properties or from the public right-of-way. Screening and landscaping shall also prevent spillover glare, noise or exhaust fumes. Screening and buffering shall be achieved through fire-resistant walls, fences and landscaping, shall be a minimum of five feet tall and shall be visually impervious. Recesses in the building or depressed access ramps may be used. See § 170-114M.

Buildings located at gateways entering the development shall mark the transition into and out of the neighborhood in a distinct fashion using massing, additional height, contrasting materials and/or architectural embellishments to obtain this effect. Buildings located at gateways to a community green area or a main street commercial area shall mark the transition to such areas in a distinct fashion using massing, additional height, contrasting materials and/or architectural embellishments to obtain this effect.

Focal points or points of visual termination shall generally be occupied by more prominent, monumental buildings and structures that employ enhanced height, massing, distinctive architectural treatments or other distinguishing features.

Buildings shall define the streetscape through the use of uniform setbacks for each block. The streetscape shall also be reinforced by lines of closely planted shade trees and may be further reinforced by walls, hedges or fences which define front yards.

Exterior public and semipublic spaces, such as courtyards or plazas, shall be designed to function, to enhance surrounding buildings and to provide amenities for users in the form of textured paving, landscaping, lighting, street trees, benches, trash receptacles and other items of street furniture, as appropriate. Courtyards shall have recognizable edges defined on at least three sides by buildings, walls, elements of landscaping and elements of street furniture in order to create a strong sense of enclosure.

Buildings shall be considered in terms of their relationship to the height and massing of adjacent buildings, as well as in relation to the human scale.

Buildings shall be located to front towards and relate to public streets, both functionally and visually, to the greatest extent possible. Buildings shall not be oriented to front toward a parking lot.

Spatial relationships between buildings and other structures shall be geometrically logical and/or architecturally formal. On a lot with multiple buildings, those located on the interior of the site shall front towards and relate to one another, both functionally and visually. A lot with multiple buildings may be organized around features such as courtyards, greens or quadrangles which encourage pedestrian activity and incidental social interaction among users. Smaller, individualized groupings of buildings are encouraged. Buildings shall be located to allow for adequate fire and emergency access.

The acoustic, thermal, visual and tactile properties of the proposed paving materials shall be appropriate to the proposed functions of pedestrian circulation. Modular masonry materials, such as brick, slate and concrete pavers, or grid, cast-in-place materials, such as exposed aggregate concrete slabs, shall be used, whenever possible, on sidewalks, pedestrian walkways and pathways and public or semipublic plazas, courtyards or open spaces. Asphalt and nonaggregate exposed concrete slabs should be avoided.

Walls and fences shall be architecturally compatible with the style, materials and colors of the principal building on the same lot. Stone walls or brick walls with a stone or cast stone cap are encouraged. Wood fences, decorative metal or cast iron fences, masonry or stucco walls and stone piers shall be encouraged. Solid wooden fences are permitted in rear and side yards only. Highway-style guard rail, stockade or contemporary security fencing such as barbed wire or razor wire is prohibited.

Extensive landscaping shall be required in accordance with a landscape plan conceived for the community as a whole. All areas of a site not occupied by buildings, parking lots, other improvements or textured paving shall be intensively planted with trees, shrubs, hedges, ground covers and/or grasses, unless such area consists of attractive existing vegetation to be retained. Perennials and annuals are encouraged.

Landscaping shall be integrated with other functional and ornamental site design elements, where appropriate, such as recreational facilities, ground paving materials, paths and walkways, fountains or other water features, trellises, pergolas, gazebos, fences, walls, street furniture, art and sculpture.

Plant suitability, maintenance and compatibility with site and construction features are critical factors which shall be considered. Plantings shall be designed with repetition, structured patterns and complementary textures and colors and shall reinforce the overall character of the area.

Landscaping plans shall be prepared by a certified professional in the field of landscape architecture.

Removal of debris. All stumps and other tree parts, litter, brush, weeds, excess or scrap building materials or other debris shall be removed from the area of the site to be constructed and disposed of in accordance with the law. No tree stumps, portions of tree trunks or limbs shall be buried anywhere in the development. All dead or dying trees, standing or fallen, shall be removed from the site. If trees and limbs are reduced to chips, they may, subject to approval of the municipal engineer, be used as mulch in landscaped areas. Areas which are to remain as open space and undeveloped shall be cleaned of all debris and shall remain in their natural state.

Protection of existing plantings. Maximum effort should be made to save fine or mature specimens because of size or relative rarity. These should be protected and preserved. No material or temporary soil deposits shall be placed within four feet of shrubs or within two feet of the drip line of trees designated to be retained. Protective barriers or tree wells shall be installed around each plant and/or group of plants at the drip line, that are to be retained. Barriers shall not be supported by the plants they are protecting, but shall be self-supporting. Barriers, such as snow fences, shall be a minimum of four feet high and constructed of a durable material that will last until construction is completed.

Slope plantings. Landscaping of the area of all cuts, fills and/or terraces shall be sufficient to prevent erosion, and all roadway slopes steeper than one foot vertically to three horizontally shall be planted with ground covers appropriate for the purpose, soil conditions, water availability and environment.

Additional landscaping. In addition to the required screening and street trees, additional plantings or landscaping elements shall be required throughout, where necessary, for climate control, privacy or for aesthetic reasons.

Planting specifications. Deciduous trees shall have at least a three-inch caliper at the time of planting. Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of five to six feet high at the time of planting. Shrubs shall be two feet in height at the time of planting. Only nursery-grown plant materials shall be acceptable, and all trees, shrubs and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards.

Within two years from the time of planting, all dead or dying plants installed new, transplanted or designated as existing trees to be retained on the plan shall be replaced by the developer. With required maintenance and watering, it shall be as appropriate for the plant type. Trees or other vegetation which dies after the second year shall be replaced and maintained by the property owners' association.

Plant species. Selected plant species shall be consistent with N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.25. The plant species selected should be hardy for the particular climatic zone in which the development is located and appropriate in terms of function and size. Trees shall have a caliper of three inches, shall be nursery grown, shall be of substantially uniform size and shape and shall have straight trunks. Trees shall be properly planted and staked and provisions made by the applicant for regular watering and maintenance until they are established. Dead or dying trees shall be replaced by the applicant during the next planting season.

Other landscape improvements. Landscaping and site treatment plans shall consider seasonal flowers in planters, planting beds and hanging baskets.

Garbage and recycling. Garbage collection, recycling areas and other utility areas shall be screened around their perimeter by fire-resistant enclosures with a roof or by masonry walls, with a minimum height of five feet. Such a wall shall be capped on the top. A landscaped planting strip a minimum of three feet wide shall be located on three sides of such a facility. Planting material shall be separated from the parking lots by Belgian block curbing, but such facility shall have ramp access for vehicles and carts. A mixture of hardy flowering and/or decorative evergreen and deciduous trees may be planted; the area between trees shall be planted with shrubs, ground cover or covered with mulch. Garbage and recycling shall not be placed in the front yard. See § 170-111B.

Energy conservation. To conserve energy, landscaping shall include the planting of evergreen windbreaks to block northwest winds in the winter, thereby reducing heating energy costs in the winter. Deciduous shade trees shall be planted near the southern facades of buildings to block summer sun, thereby reducing solar heat gain during the summer months.

Shade trees shall be provided along each side of all streets, public or private, existing or proposed. Shade trees shall also be massed at critical points, such as at focal points along a curve in the roadway. In locations where healthy and mature shade trees currently exist, the requirements for new trees may be waived or modified.

Shade trees shall have a minimum caliper of three to 3 1/2 inches and/or a minimum height of 12 feet at time of planting and a maximum spacing of 30 feet on center, with exact spacing to be evaluated on a site-specific basis.

The particular species of shade trees shall be determined upon specific locational requirements, soil types, geology, climate and indigenous species. The following urban-tolerant street trees are recommended for streets and elsewhere in a community, and other species may be considered:

Street lights shall be decorative and blend with the architectural style of the small community.

Streets and sites shall provide adequate lighting while minimizing adverse impacts, such as glare and overhead sky glow, on adjacent properties and the public right-of-way. House side shields shall be provided where abutting a residential use.

Along all commercial or mixed use streets, parking areas, sidewalks, walkways, courtyards, community greens and interior open spaces in a community, twelve-foot-high decorative lampposts shall be provided at regular intervals. Posts shall be spaced at no greater than 80 feet on center on both sides of a commercial or main street. Lighting on residential streets should be confined to the intersections and corners. Lighting standards shall be consistent throughout the small community.

In residential parking zones, post heights may be a maximum of 16 feet. In nonresidential zones, post heights may be 25 feet.

Use of minimum-wattage metal halide or color-corrected sodium light sources is encouraged. Non-color-corrected, low-pressure sodium and mercury vapor light sources are prohibited.

Porch light and yard post lighting shall be incorporated into the street lighting design.

Buildings shall generally relate in scale and design features to the surrounding buildings, showing respect for the local context. As a general rule, buildings shall reflect a continuity of treatment obtained by maintaining the building scale or by subtle graduating changes; by maintaining front yard setbacks; by maintaining base courses; by continuous use of front porches on residential buildings; by maintaining cornice lines in buildings of the same height; by extending horizontal lines of fenestration; and by echoing architectural styles and details, design themes, building materials and colors used in surrounding buildings.

Buildings on corner lots shall be considered significant structures since they have at least two front facades visibly exposed to the street. If deemed appropriate by the Land Use Board, such buildings may be designed with additional height and architectural embellishments, such as corner towers, to emphasize their location.

Buildings shall avoid long, monotonous, uninterrupted walls or roof planes. Building wall offsets, including projections, recesses and changes in floor level shall be used in order to add architectural interest and variety and to relieve the visual effect of a simple, long wall. Similarly, roofline offsets shall be provided in order to provide architectural interest and variety to the massing of a building and to relieve the effect of a single, long roof. The exterior of townhouses or apartments may be designed to appear as a single building, such as a large single-family detached dwelling.

The brick buildings facing a public street or internal open space shall be architecturally emphasized through fenestration, entrance treatment and details. Buildings with more than one facade facing a public street or internal open space shall be required to provide several front facade treatments.

The architectural treatment of the front facade shall be continued, in its major features, around all visibly exposed sides of a building. All sides of a building shall be architecturally designed to be consistent with regard to style, materials, colors and details. Blank wall or service area treatment of side and/or rear elevations visible from the public viewshed is discouraged.

All visibly exposed sides of a building shall have an articulated base course and cornice. The base course shall align with either the kick plate or sill level of the first story. The cornice shall terminate or cap the top of a building wall, may project horizontally from the vertical building wall plane and may be ornamented with moldings, brackets and other details. The middle section of a building may be horizontally divided at the floor, lintel or sill levels with belt or string courses.

Gable roofs with minimum pitch of 9/12 should be used to the greatest extent possible. Where hipped roofs are used, it is recommended that the minimum pitch be 6/12. Both gable and hipped roofs should provide overhanging eaves on all sides that extend a minimum of one foot beyond the building wall. Flat roofs should be avoided on one-story buildings and are recommended on buildings with a minimum of two stories, provided that all visibly exposed walls have an articulated cornice that project horizontally from the vertical building wall plane. Other roof types should be appropriate to the building's architecture. Mansard roofs are generally discouraged, particularly on buildings less then three stories in height. Architectural embellishments that add visual interest to roofs, such as dormers, masonry chimneys, cupolas, clock towers and other similar elements, are encouraged.

Fenestration shall be architecturally compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the building. Windows shall be vertically proportioned wherever possible. To the extent possible, upper-story windows shall be vertically aligned with the location of windows and doors on the ground level, including storefront or display windows.

Blank, windowless walls are discouraged. Where the construction of a blank wall is necessitated by local building codes, the wall should be articulated by the provision of blank window openings trimmed with frames, sills and lintels or, if the building is occupied by a commercial use, by using recessed or projecting display window cases. Intensive landscaping may also be appropriate in certain cases.

All entrances to a building shall be defined and articulated by architectural elements such as lintels, pediments, pilasters, columns, porticoes, porches, overhangs, railings, balustrades and others, where appropriate. Any such element utilized shall be architecturally compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the building as a whole, as shall the doors.

In mixed-use buildings, the difference between ground-floor commercial uses and entrances for upper-level commercial or apartment uses shall be reflected by differences in facade treatment. Storefronts and other ground-floor entrances shall be accentuated through cornice lines. Further differentiation can be achieved through distinct but compatible exterior materials, signs, awnings and exterior lighting.

Storefronts are an integral part of a building and shall be integrally designed with the upper floors to be compatible with the overall facade character. Ground-floor retail, service and restaurant uses shall have large pane display windows. Such windows shall be framed by the surrounding wall and shall not exceed 75% of the total ground-level facade area. Buildings with multiple storefronts shall be unified through the use of architecturally compatible materials, colors, details, awnings, signage and lighting fixtures.

Fixed or retractable awnings are permitted at ground-floor level and on upper levels, where appropriate, if they complement a building's architectural style, materials, colors and details; do not conceal architectural features, such as cornices columns, pilasters or decorative details; do not impair facade composition; and are designed as an integral part of the facade. Canvas is the preferred material, although other waterproofed fabrics may be used; metal or aluminum awnings are prohibited. In buildings with multiple storefronts, compatible awnings should be used as a means of unifying the structure. A license may be required from City Council prior to installation.

Light fixtures attached to the exterior of a building shall be architecturally compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the building and shall comply with local building codes. The type of light source used on the exterior of buildings, signs, parking areas, pedestrian walkways and other areas of a site, and the light quality produced, shall be the same or compatible. Facades shall be lit from the exterior and, as a general rule, lights should be concealed through shielding or recessed behind architectural features. The use of low-pressure sodium, fluorescent or mercury vapor lighting, either attached to buildings or to light the exterior of buildings, shall be prohibited. Mounting brackets and associated hardware should be inconspicuous.

All air-conditioning units, HVAC systems, exhaust pipes or stacks, elevator housing and satellite dishes and other telecommunications receiving devices shall be thoroughly screened from view from the public right-of-way and from adjacent properties by using walls, fencing, roof elements, penthouse-type screening devices or landscaping.

Fire escapes shall not be permitted on a building's front facade. In buildings requiring a second means of egress pursuant to the local building codes, internal stairs or other routes of egress shall be used.

Solid metal security gates or solid roll-down metal window coverings shall not be permitted. Link or grill-type security devices shall be permitted only if installed from the inside, within the window or door frames. If installed on the outside, the coil box shall be recessed and concealed behind the building wall. Security grills shall be recessed and concealed during normal business hours. Models which provide a sense of transparency, in light colors, are encouraged. Other types of security devices fastened to the exterior walls are not permitted.

All materials, colors and architectural details used on the exterior of a building shall be compatible with the building's style, and with each other. A building designed of an architectural style that normally includes certain integral materials, colors, and/or details shall incorporate such into its design. Where appropriate to the architectural style of a building, shutters shall be provided on all windows fronting a street or visible from the public right-of-way. Shutters shall be proportioned to cover 1/2 the width of the window.

A design vocabulary shall be established for each community and shall include the general design qualities as well as the specific architectural standards to be used. The design vocabulary shall respond to the general and specific design standards as specified in this ordinance and relate to the proposed development plan. These must be presented at concept, preliminary and final plan phases. There must be a style or styles selected and used throughout the small community. A variation on the existing historical vernacular architectural style in the region or the City is recommended. The use of materials, colors, and massing incompatible with the selected design vocabulary shall be avoided.

A listing of significant compatible features that will be incorporated into the design of the buildings and streetscape of a small community shall be prepared in matrix form. Photographic colored images, drawings or a combination can be used. The horizontal axis of the matrix shall include all the categories of residential, commercial, parks and open space, and industrial, if used. The vertical axis of the matrix shall include the following:

Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicles by requiring the safe and efficient installation of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces through municipal parking regulations and other standards. EVSE and make-ready parking spaces will support the state's transition to an electric transportation sector, reducing automobile air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and stormwater runoff contaminants. The goals are to:

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Approvals and permits.

Requirements for new installation of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces.

Minimum parking requirements.

Reasonable standards for all new EVSE and make-ready parking spaces.