Firebaugh City Zoning Code
§ 25-29.9
Design Guidelines.
New development in the Industrial zones shall be designed consistent with the following guidelines.
a.
Site design.
1.
Industrial development should be designed in a way that fits in with the surrounding development pattern. This refers to:
(a)
The size and form of new structures in relationship to existing development. For example, where new buildings and uses are similar to those on adjoining sites, the design should reflect similar setbacks, building heights and form, scale and mass, materials, compatible colors and landscape treatments. The intent is not uniformity, but compatibility;
(b)
The spatial relationship between structures and street right-of-way;
(c)
Circulation patterns;
(d)
Architectural elements in surrounding development.
2.
New buildings should be oriented toward the adjoining public streets, so that public entrances are a focal point on the building and site layout.
Exhibit 37-2  The front of this industrial site has the appearance of an office and has generous landscaping. Equipment storage and industrial activities are primarily on the back side of the building. |
3.
The main public entrance to buildings should feature heightened architectural treatment. For example, if the bulk of an industrial structure is a metal warehouse, the main entrance/office area should feature special architectural design consideration, such as:
b.
Landscaping and buffers.
1.
Care shall be taken to design industrial sites with adequate landscaping and screening, as well as buffering from sensitive nearby/adjacent uses. Methods to buffer projects should include a combination of increased setbacks, walls, landscaping, berms, etc.
2.
Projects should present an attractive landscaped frontage along public streets, with significant landscaped setback areas that include attractive combinations of turf, groundcovers, shrubs and trees.
3.
Landscaping should include an appropriate combination of turf, shrubs and shade trees, with an emphasis on low-water-use vegetation. Shade trees should be emphasized in paved areas where shading can reduce heat buildup.
4.
For beauty as well as graffiti prevention, climbing vines should be used to screen masonry walls, including perimeter walls of trash encloures and other appropriate locations.
c.
Screening.
1.
Buildings, walls and landscaping should be arranged to screen loading and service bays, equipment storage areas, trash enclosures and mechanical equipment.
2.
Stored materials may not be stacked or be visible above the height of screening walls.
3.
Long expanses of fences or walls should be broken up with periodic columns, insets, landscape pockets or changes in materials. Toward this end, fence or wall runs greater than 50 linear feet shall be articulated with architectural offsets and incorporate landscape pockets.
4.
Concrete walls are permitted if faced with masonry or stone, or if the surface is scored or textured.
Exhibit 37-3  Long expanses of screening walls (particularly along public streets) should feature varied setbacks and textures. |
d.
Parking.
1.
Parking areas should not be the dominant visual element of a site. It is generally preferable to locate parking lots along the side or to the rear of buildings. Where this is not possible, parking should be buffered with significant landscaping areas.
e.
Service, delivery and storage areas.
1.
Locate loading docks, outside storage, and service areas in areas of low visibility such as at the side or at the rear (non-street side) of buildings. The features must be screened from view from public streets, by walls, landscaping, or a combination thereof.
2.
With the exception of outside storage areas, when it is not possible to locate loading facilities and service areas on a non-street side of a building, loading docks and doors shall not dominate the building frontage and must be screened from all adjoining public streets.
3.
In no case may outside storage areas be located in the front of a building.
f.
Signs. Sign regulations found in the sign ordinance must be observed; however, the following general design guidelines should be utilized.
1.
Signs should be compatible with the design of the building(s) and its architectural style. The design of freestanding signs should feature architectural elements that relate the sign to the buildings they advertise.
2.
Stark color contrasts in signs should be avoided. Sign colors should be muted - use of significant quantities of primary colors should be avoided.
3.
Freestanding signs shall be monument-style signs as opposed to pole signs.
4.
For multitenant buildings or complexes, a coordinated sign design scheme is required.