(A)

Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish minimum standards for exterior architecture of commercial, office, institutional, religious, industrial and warehouse buildings to ensure a high quality of development, redevelopment and compatibility with evolving architectural or planning themes that contribute to a community image of quality, visual aesthetics, permanence and stability, which are in the best interest of the citizens of the city. These standards are intended to prevent use of building materials that are unsightly and contribute to depreciation of area property values or cause urban blight.

These standards are further intended to enhance the appearance of building exteriors, additions and accessory structures in order to prevent visual disharmony, to minimize adverse impacts on adjacent properties from buildings which are or may become unsightly, and to discourage buildings that detract from the character and appearance of the area. It is not the intent of this section to unduly restrict design freedom when reviewing and approving project architecture in relationship to the proposed land use or site characteristics.

(B)

Scope of regulations. The provisions of this section are applicable to all properties within the City of Florence and its extra-territorial zoning jurisdiction that are located within R-3, R-B, B-1, B-1 H, B-2, H-1, SD, F-A-R, I-1 and I-2 zones; Further, this section applies to all uses within R-1, R-2, and R-3 zones that require approval by the board of zoning adjustment.

The provisions of this section are applicable only to new development, and redevelopment of existing structures that will alter the existing facade by fifty (50) percent or greater for the above referenced zones.

All proposed development or redevelopment within the B-3, central business district shall conform to the historic character of downtown Florence and the provisions of Section V(E), of these regulations shall apply.

Developments located within a conditional overlay district or a planned unit development shall be subject to specific site plan controls and all aspects of the proposed construction including architecture, signage, buffering, ingress/egress, and other considerations that merit inclusion in the approval process. A planned unit development and a conditional overlay development must be approved by the planning commission and city council as outlined under Sections XIV and XV of these regulations.

The Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park shall be exempt from these provisions.

(C)

Architectural design standards. In R-3, R-B, B-1, B-1 H, B-2, H-1, SD and FAR zones, where the exterior wall of a structure is facing a street or thoroughfare, rib-faced, lap seam, pre-finished metal wall panels, with or without exposed fasteners, are not permitted as exterior wall finish materials. Further, the structure shall be required to meet the exterior wall finish requirements on all sides where the site abuts an R-1, R-2 or R-3 zone where buffer screen planting is not provided.

All proposed development or redevelopment within the B-3 central business district shall conform to the historic character of downtown Florence and the provisions of Section V(E), of these regulations shall apply.

On proposed structures within R-1, R-2, and R-3 zones that require approval by the board of zoning adjustment, where the exterior wall of a structure will face a street or thoroughfare, rib-faced, lap seam, pre-finished metal wall panels, with or without exposed fasteners, are not permitted as exterior wall finish materials. Further, the structure shall be required to meet the exterior wall finish requirements on all sides where the site abuts an R-1, R-2 or R-3 zone or buffer screen planting will be required.

All new structures and buildings, and all existing structures and buildings proposed to have facade changes of fifty (50) percent or greater, and located within an R-1, R-2, R-3, R-B, B-1, B-1H, B-2, H-1, SD or FAR zoning district shall be erected and constructed so that one hundred (100) percent of exterior walls facing streets or thoroughfares shall be constructed with any combination of the following approved materials: brick; exterior insulated finish system; stucco; glass; masonite; wood (painted or stained); decorative masonry products (split faced, textured, glazed); stone (natural, synthetic); aluminum or vinyl lap siding; ornamental metal; or any other comparable or superior materials as approved by the building official.

All structures and buildings erected and constructed within I-1 and I-2 zones shall be erected and constructed so that forty (40) percent of the non-glazed area of exterior walls of structures facing streets or thoroughfares shall consist of any combination of the following approved materials: brick; exterior insulated finish system; stucco; wood (painted or stained); decorative masonry products (split faced, textured, glazed); stone (natural, synthetic); and/or decorative metal.