Design standards for commercial development established in this article are intended to visually indicate proximity to downtown by implementing design criteria that are related to the historic commercial and industrial styles present in town, to maintain the character of the rural highway experience with informal architecture, to require building setbacks and landscaping while allowing for flexibility in design, and to re-establish, promote, and preserve important elements of the rural landscape.

The design standards for commercial development shall be applicable to commercial zones C-1 and C-2.

At the time of submission of building plans for plan review for building permit approval, the applicant shall submit detailed architectural drawings demonstrating compliance with these design standards. No plans shall be accepted without drawings in sufficient detail to allow community development and planning staff to assess compliance. Within ten business days, the planning and development director, or his/her designee shall review the architectural drawings and determine if the proposed design complies with the standards of this section and section 16.05.

If the proposed design does not meet the standards set forth herein, the planning and development director or designee shall submit to the applicant in writing via certified mail with return receipt the standards with which the proposed design does not comply. The applicant shall have ten business days from receipt of the notification to resubmit architectural drawings demonstrating compliance with the standards. Failure to resubmit architectural drawings within the specified time period will result in denial of the application for a building permit. The applicant shall have the right to appeal the decision of the planning and development director, or his/her designee, to the planning commission only after the applicant has resubmitted architectural drawings in accordance with the process above and the planning and development director, or his/her designee, has determined the revised drawings do not comply with the design standards.

All permitted and conditional uses in the C-1 and C-2 districts are subject to the standards of this article and shall be permitted in compliance with the standards of this article.

The goals of the design standards are to encourage an informal character of the rural highway experience in corridors of the City of Leesburg, to preserve the context and character of the city, and to encourage creativity and high-quality design and construction. The following standards shall apply to new construction on all properties within the geography of the City of Leesburg. Standards outlined for new construction shall be incorporated as mandatory standards unless the applicant can make a convincing case that such standards are impractical and shall be approved by the City of Leesburg Architectural Review Board:

(a)

Building orientation.

1.

New development shall be consistent with the lot configuration as concerns such factors as placement of the building on the lot, location of on-site parking, setbacks, courtyards or other open space, landscaping and pedestrian access found on existing properties.

(b)

Primary entrance.

1.

A primary entrance door shall be provided on the sidewalk entrance level of the sidewalk or street. Street address numbers, a minimum of six inches in height located above the primary pedestrian entrance.

(c)

Rhythm.

1.

Openings, such as windows and doors, materials and textures, and architectural features shall be used to visually "break up" the walls.

2.

No blank façades are permitted for façades facing a public right-of-way. Buildings shall be designed such that similar façade materials and detailing is used on all façades visible from a public right-of way. All building façades facing a public right of way shall have glazed areas or areas of glazed appearance and openings constituting at least 20 percent and no more than 75 percent of the façade area. The architectural review board is authorized to allow a variance up to five percent of the required glazed, glazed appearing, and opening.

(d)

Materials.

1.

New construction shall be consistent with the exterior finishes and siding materials used on buildings within the Downtown Overlay District. Exterior finish materials shall consist of full-sized brick, natural wood, natural stone, cement composite stone, true hard-coat stucco, architectural metal panels, and fiber cement siding (Hardie board). Other materials similar in appearance and composition to the above materials may be used, subject to approval by the architectural review board. Vinyl siding, concrete block, synthetic stucco, plywood, T1—11 wood siding, Masonite, particle board, noncement composite board and any siding materials found to lack durable characteristics shall be prohibited. New construction shall select colors reflective of the historic color schemes used in the City of Leesburg when possible.

2.

Metal buildings are not authorized unless all sides facing the public right-of-way are covered in a masonry type veneer. Buildings shall be designed such that similar façade materials and detailing is used on all façades visible from the public right-of-way.

(e)

Other architectural features.

1.

The incorporation of other architectural features to ensure compatibility and to maintain the character of the city shall be required. Building elements such as cornices, transoms, bulkheads, canopies and fenestration, among other elements, shall be incorporated into building design. Large display window areas shall be encouraged.

(Res. of 2-4-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))