The Board of Commissioners of Fulton County, Georgia hereby declares it to be the purpose and intent of this Resolution to establish a uniform procedure for providing for the protection, enhancement, preservation, unity of design, and use of places, sites, buildings, structures, streets, neighborhoods, and landscape features in the Cascade Corridor District in accordance with the provisions herein.

This Resolution is adopted as part of a strategy designed to promote the health, safety, order, prosperity, and general welfare of the citizens of Fulton County through the regulation of design, aesthetics, location, bulk, size of buildings and structures, and the density and distribution of population.

This Resolution also seeks to reduce congestion on the streets; to provide safety from fire, flood and other dangers; provide adequate light and open space; protect the natural environment and address other public requirements, in order to provide sustainable development that involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental protection and social quality.

This Resolution also seeks, among other things, to promote accepted design principles in areas of new development and redevelopment, to raise the level of community understanding and expectation for quality in the built environment, to protect and enhance local aesthetic and functional qualities, and to stimulate business and promote economic development.

In consideration of the character of the Cascade Corridor District, these regulations are to monitor the suitability for certain uses, construction and design, prevent functional and visual disunity, promote desirable conditions for community and commerce and protect property against blight and depreciation.

The Cascade Corridor Overlay District applies to all properties zoned or developed for nonresidential and residential uses (except single family detached dwelling units) within 3,500 feet of the center line of Cascade Road in unincorporated Fulton County between the Atlanta City limits and Danforth Road (see attached map).

Within the Cascade Corridor Overlay District, land and structures shall be used in accordance with the standards of the underlying district.

Whenever provisions of this Article conflict with any other Article in the Zoning Resolution of Fulton County or any other Fulton County ordinances, regulations, or resolutions, these standards shall prevail.

12C.3.A. Landscaping.

1.

15-foot wide landscape strip along any public street when Article 4 of the Zoning Resolution otherwise specifies a smaller landscape strip.

(a)

The landscape strip may be as specified by the Fulton County Tree Preservation Ordinance, or may be a combination of hardscape elements (plazas, planters, benches, fountains and tables, etc.), ground cover, shrubs, and the required number of hardwood trees as specified by the Tree Preservation Ordinance.

(b)

Shrubs shall be a minimum height of 3 feet at time of planting.

(c)

A minimum of one 3" caliper hardwood shade tree is required for every thirty (30) linear feet of landscape strip.

2.

10-foot wide landscape strip along any interior property line adjacent to a nonresidential zoning and/or use.

12C.3.B. Screening.

1.

Refuse areas and receptacles shall be placed in the least visible location from public streets and shall be enclosed on 3 sides with opaque walls. The 4 ^th side shall be a self-closing gate made from noncombustible materials. Opaque walls shall be a minimum of 12 inches higher than the receptacle. Wall materials shall be noncombustible brick. Refuse receptacles shall not be placed within 50 feet of an existing residential or AG-1 (Agricultural) zoning district.

2.

Accessory site features are prohibited in the front yard of any property.

3.

Accessory site features located on the ground shall be screened from view from any public right-of-way, any residential use, or any residential or AG-1 zoning category by one of the following: placement behind the building, 100 percent opaque fencing, berm or vegetative screen planted to buffer standards.

4.

Accessory site features on a roof shall be screened by a parapet or other architectural feature or as approved by the Director of Environment and Community Development.

5.

Chain link fencing may be used along golf courses, play fields, and other recreational areas. All chain link fencing shall be black or hunter green vinyl coated.

6.

When required, fencing material around detention/retention facilities shall be black or hunter green vinyl coated chain link fence.

7.

Retaining walls shall be faced with or constructed of stone, brick, or decorative concrete modular block only.

12C.3.C. Pedestrian Paths.

1.

Sidewalks are required along all public and private road frontages.

2.

Internal walkways (paths) are required from the public sidewalk to the main entrance of the principle use of the property and shall meet applicable Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards for slope, width, texture, level differences, and ramps.

3.

Pedestrian paths may be constructed of either colored/textured materials or conventional sidewalk materials and shall be clearly identified.

4.

Pedestrian paths shall be illustrated on the site plan submitted at the time of application for a Land Disturbance Permit

5.

Paths shall be designed to minimize direct auto-pedestrian interaction.

6.

Paths shall be connected to signalized crosswalks where applicable.

7.

Paths shall be direct and convenient routes between points of origin (such as a bus stop) and destination (such as a shop, bank, etc).

8.

Street furniture shall be located outside the specified width of any pedestrian path.

9.

If a business is open after dark, the path shall be well-lit by a minimum of 0.9 foot-candles with an average to minimum uniformity ratio of 4:1. The lighting plan for pedestrian paths shall be included on the site plan submitted at the time of application for a Land Disturbance Permit.

12C.3.D. Building Materials and Architectural Treatments.

1.

Developments shall include architecture elements such as columns, arcades, covered entry-walkways, arches, facade offsets, windows, balconies, offset walls, clock towers, cupolas and/or courtyards.

2.

The exterior finish of all buildings shall be at least 51 percent brick (or an equivalent alternative treatment approved by the Director of Environment and Community Development) per vertical wall plane. (Amended 07/02/03)

3.

Accent building materials of nonreflective glass, natural stone, precast concrete, stucco, stucco-like material, glass block, Hardi-plank and tile (or an equivalent alternative treatment approved by the Director of Environment and Community Development) shall not exceed 49 percent per vertical wall plane.

4.

The principle entry area of a building shall be articulated and express greater architectural detail than other portions of the building.

5.

To the extent any rear or side of any building is visible from any public street or single family residence, architectural treatment shall continue through the rear or side.

6.

Exterior finishes for accessory structures shall be consistent with the principle structure.

7.

Permitted colors for exterior walls, building components, sign structures, accent and decorative elements shall be as specified by Table 12C or as approved by the Director of Environment and Community Development.

Table 12C
Acceptable Color for Architectural
Treatment Elements
Pantone Matching System (PMS)
U denotes dull finish

8.

Roof colors shall be black, gray, brown, or green. Reflective and metallic colors are prohibited.

9.

Exposed concrete masonry unit (CMU) block, corrugated steel, aluminum siding, vinyl siding, wood siding, prefabricated metal, exposed plywood, and exposed pressboard are prohibited as exterior finishes.

10.

Burglar bars, steel gates, metal awnings and steel-roll down curtains are prohibited on the exterior of a structure except at the structure's rear. Burglar bars are prohibited on the rear if visible from a public street. Burglar bars are also prohibited on the rear of an outparcel building if visible from the main structure. Roll-down security devices that allow visibility into the store when they are deployed, such as security shutters, are allowed if installed interior to the structure. Said interior security devices shall give the overall appearance of a uniform horizontal pattern, and shall be placed so that the pattern is at a uniform height across the entire business front, and shall match or compliment the color of the surrounding window frame. Said interior security device shall be rolled up (out of sight) during business operating hours and if business has vacated. Extraneous items shall not be attached to the security device. Preferred security device is QMI, Vision Profile Security Shutters, Style 51.

Prior to the installation of all security devices the owner/leasee shall obtain a Letter of Appropriateness from the Director of Planning and Community Services Department.

a.

Owner/Leasee shall provide the following in order to obtain the Letter of Appropriateness:

A signed and notarized letter with attachments describing:

1.

Building address where devices are to be installed.

2.

Detailed information including site plan and elevation drawing showing location of security device in relation to building façade, windows, doors, etc.

3.

Name of security product (provide manufacturer information).

4.

Detailed information on the security product (color, material etc.).

5.

Other information as may be requested to assure compliance with the security device standard.

6.

Notarized letter from installer certifying that product shall be installed to manufacturer's specifications.

b.

Planning and Zoning Staff will review the information for compliance with the security device standard and upon determination of compliance will provide a Letter of Appropriateness.

11.

Neon lights outlining and/or detailing building features are prohibited.

12.

Flat roofs and roof-mounted equipment shall be screened from the view of public and private streets by a parapet. No parapet shall be required to be greater than 4 feet above roof.

13.

Vending machines, paper stands, and other similar devices must be located interior to the building structure.

12C.3.E. Architectural Review Process.

1.

Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall submit plans which include details of exterior materials, colors, design and architectural elements of proposed building(s) as specified by this Article.

2.

Fulton County staff will review all requests for land disturbance, building (excluding interior renovations), and sign permits for compliance with this Article. Upon determination of compliance, a Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) will be provided in the form of signing the formally submitted plans and drawings.

3.

Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the community will be allowed ten working days to review and comment. In no event shall a proposal which otherwise conforms to applicable codes and regulations be delayed issuance of a building permit for more than 10 working days due to this review and comment process.

12C.3.F. Miscellaneous Provisions. (Amended 03/03/04)

1.

Except as provided for in Article 19, the storage and/or sale of goods is prohibited in parking lots and other areas outside of the interior or permanently sheltered portions of a building.

2.

Storage of shopping carts is allowed without a permit.

(Amd. No. 11-0478, 6-1-11; Res. No. 12-0555, 8-1-12)

12C.4.A. Standards:

1.

Base and framework of monument signs shall be made of the same brick as the principal structure.

2.

The architecture color standards of the district apply only to the sign structure not to the sign face.

12C.4.B. Prohibited Sign Types:

1.

Window signs along the corridor are prohibited.

12C.4.C. Sign Lighting:

1.

Wall signs shall be internally illuminated.

(Res. No. 08-0493, 6-4-08)

In the event that any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Article shall be declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall in no manner affect the other sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases of this Article, which shall remain in full force and effect, as if the section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional were not originally a part thereof.

Any persons aggrieved by a final decision of the Department of Environment and Community Development relating to this article may appeal such final decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals by filing in writing setting forth plainly, fully and distinctly why the final decision is contrary to law per the Fulton County Zoning Resolution. Such appeal shall be filed within 30 days after the final decision of the department is rendered.

Now, therefore be it resolved, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners does hereby ordain, resolve and enact the foregoing Article XIIC to the Zoning Resolution of Fulton County, Georgia.

Cascade Road Overlay District