Lafayette City Zoning Code
§ 13-13E.8
Design Requirements, Standards and Limitations.
[Ord. No. 2012-06 § 13-13.8; Ord. No. 2018-06 § 10]
a.
Building Placement. Buildings shall be located behind and below visual buffers (the area of protection) in the Ridgeline and Hillside Viewshed Protection Area. The Land Use Board may, upon review, approve the location of buildings in areas of the Ridgeline and Hillside Viewshed Protection Area where the trees on the lot exceed 40 feet in height and can be demonstrated to establish an effective area of protection as a buffer or visual screen to prevent the view of development from public areas, the public way or public open space. These areas of protection as required herein shall be maintained or established and placed in conservation easement to remain undisturbed. The area of protection shall include a deed restriction against tree removal.
1.
Buildings shall be designed to be compatible with the natural setting.
2.
All buildings should be oriented in a manner that preserves the view line between any public view, public way or public area and the Ridgeline and Hillside Viewshed Protection Area.
3.
The concentration of home sites and cleared areas within the Ridgeline and Hillside Viewshed Protection Area shall be avoided. Cleared areas on individual lots shall be separated by a distance of at least 250 feet (see limits on clearing and disturbance in Subsection 13-13E.8c).
4.
In the case of development proposed in parcel of land including open field(s), development shall be sited behind and below existing trees in wooded portions of the lot and open fields shall be maintained. Where a parcel of land contains only open field(s), areas of protection shall be established to screen development from the public view. See Figure 1 and Subsection 13-13E.4b.
b.
Architecture. All applicants for site plan, subdivision, variance or building permit shall submit architectural plans for proposed buildings for review of consistency with the architecture requirements set forth in this section. Buildings and structures shall be designed to conform to the requirements this section (see Figures 2, 3 and 4 below), and to be compatible with the natural surroundings of the area using the following techniques:
1.
Varied setbacks, roof lines, building forms and low retaining walls which blend structures into the terrain shall be used.
Figure 2 |
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2.
Rooflines shall be broken into smaller components to reflect the natural ridge patterns and shall be oriented in the same direction of the slope of the contour.
3.
Varied rooflines shall serve to reduce the scale of the building and provide for interesting design.
Figure 3 |
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4.
No rooftop mechanical equipment for heating, cooling or other purposes shall be permitted. Rooftop solar collection panels shall be permitted.
5.
Buildings shall use articulation (i.e., insets, pop-outs, etc.) and roof orientation as a means to avoid the creation of large massing of buildings.
6.
Windows, balconies, and outdoor living areas shall be located to protect the privacy of adjacent homes and yards.
7.
Building materials and colors shall be compatible with the natural setting. Exterior colors shall be limited to earth tones and materials shall be non-reflective. The color, material and texture palette shall be reinforced with compatible landscaping. Building materials shall conform to the requirements of this section. Samples of the color, material and texture palette shall be submitted to the Land Use Board for approval.
8.
Patios, pools and ancillary structures shall be screened from public view.
c.
Site Grading and Disturbance.
1.
All site disturbance on any individual lot shall be limited to 20,000 square feet.
2.
Grading shall be limited to which is necessary to construct buildings, driveways and usable open space. Grading cut/fill volume shall be limited to not more than 100 cubic yards of soil removal or fill.
3.
Grading shall be designed to conserve natural topographic features and appearances by sculpting the land to blend slopes and benches with natural topography and retain major natural topographic features, including natural drainage courses, prominent knolls, ravines, wildlife habitats and existing vegetation.
4.
Excavation is prohibited in environmentally critical areas.
5.
The overall slope, height or grade of any excavation or fill slope shall be developed to appear similar to the natural contours in scale with the natural terrain of the site.
Minimize lowest finished grade height to ensure building follows slope
Figure 4 |
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Minimize lowest finished grade height to ensure building follows slope |
6.
Following all grading and development activity, and prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, all graded and cleared areas shall be restored as closely as possible to its original topography, which restoration shall include the reestablishment of vegetation.
7.
No excavation or other earth disturbance shall be permitted within the Ridgeline and Hillside Viewshed Protection Area.
d.
Landscaping.
2.
Existing vegetation shall be retained wherever possible and shall be used to soften structural mass and help blend buildings into the natural setting and to minimize their visibility. All development shall minimize the removal of native vegetation including the opening up of scenic views and panoramas for the benefit of a private property owner.
3.
The removal of all trees within a section of forest, or thinning of trees on any area located within the Ridgeline and Hillside Viewshed Protection Area is prohibited, except in conjunction with an approved site plan, subdivision, variance or certificate of approval for a development permit.
4.
Subject to Land Use Board approval, tree removal may be permitted for the purpose of constructing pedestrian trails, which shall not exceed a width of six feet.
e.
Lighting.
1.
External lighting shall be of a concealed source type, which directs light to the ground to minimize light pollution and sky glow.
2.
The light source of any exterior lighting, where installed and used, shall be downward directed and shall not be visible from off site. All exterior lighting installations shall be subject to an in-service lighting inspection by the Board Engineer prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, and lighting fixtures shall be fitted with side shielding as may be directed by the Board Engineer.