These guidelines are established under the Village of Medina Planning Board's duties as listed in § 254-94 of the Zoning Regulations of the Village of Medina.

All principal, accessory, and special uses shall:

Municipal interest in regulating the design of individual nonresidential buildings and sites is determined in part by the extent to which they affect the public realm and the high-quality character desired by the community.

The municipality therefore has a responsibility to maintain a high-quality public realm and character. These Commercial Design Standards were prepared and adopted in pursuit of those goals.

The intent of these commercial design standards is to protect the municipality's historic character and to preserve a high-quality built environment.

Therefore, all design aspects of any new and existing construction and/or development shall be consistent with and appropriate to the historic character of this nineteenth-century Erie Canal community. Design cues shall be drawn from the many examples of historic nineteenth-century architecture throughout the community.

The intent of these design standards is to:

Facades, roof lines and exterior walls shall have three-dimensional variation to provide interest and character. Building design techniques should include organizing larger building masses into a series of smaller masses or design components that feature offsets in exterior walls, providing accent forms, and variations in roof lines or heights that create shadows and providing offsets that enhance the overall building design.

The areas and patterns of glazing used in facades shall be compatible with the three-dimensional design character of the building.

Designs for large, unarticulated box buildings and buildings with monotonous, visually unattractive facades shall be avoided. Exterior walls above grade that are attached to buildings shall appear to be integral to the design of the building, i.e., walls attached to brick building surfaces should be brick.

Other above-grade screening walls, such as dumpster enclosures or transformer screen walls, shall match materials and colors used in the building facade.

One-story buildings of less than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area shall have a pitched roof to be of dimensional shingles, slate, simulated slate; or other appropriate material subject to the approval of the Planning Board.

The roof line of multistory buildings, regardless of size, shall be designed to screen all rooftop equipment, such as mechanical equipment and satellite antennas, from view at all property lines on which the building is located. If two or more multistory buildings are located on the same property, rooftop equipment shall not be visible from the road.

Building entrances shall be obvious, in scale with the building facade, and have weather cover. For larger commercial buildings, the Board may request that individual commercial tenants have separate entrances.

Standard commercial prototype building designs will be considered if they are consistent in design, scale, material, color and detail with the design intent of these guidelines. The Board reserves the right, however, to require substantial design alterations to standard corporate or commercial prototype building designs that it deems to be inconsistent with the design guidelines or is otherwise inappropriate to the general aesthetic character of the neighborhood and the historic character of this nineteenth-century Erie Canal community.

Modifications to any building and/or to the existing site, such as but not limited to parking layout, number of spaces and design, landscaping, require design standard review and approval by the Village Planning Board.

Existing curb cuts shall be aligned in a manner which promotes access management and safety in accessing roadways. New curb cuts shall be limited and/or cross-access agreements shall be required as part of access management for any commercial development.

Parking layout, number of spaces and design, landscaping, etc., will be reevaluated and reviewed with any proposed site change and will be subject to approval by the Planning Board.

Additions to existing construction must comply with new construction requirements to the greatest extent practical.

Design cues shall be drawn from the many examples of historic nineteenth-century architecture throughout the community to the extent that they are practical.

The facade of a building is often the most important from a design standpoint, as it sets the tone for the rest of the building and adjacent areas. Design cues shall be drawn from the many examples of historic nineteenth-century architecture throughout the community.

The Village of Medina and the Townships of Orleans County are internationally known for the quarrying of Medina sandstone. The use of Medina sandstone or sandstone as a facade material is both encouraged and preferred.

Facade material colors shall reflect the historic character of the community. Brightly colored, high-contrast, attention-getting accent features used in typical corporate facades shall be avoided.

All building materials and colors shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Board.

The use of clear glass is preferred. The use of colored or tinted glass shall be subject to approval by the Planning Board.

Wide use of split-face concrete masonry units is discouraged. The use of cedar, engineered wood, or Hardi-Plank siding is both strongly encouraged and preferred over vinyl siding. Metal siding is prohibited, with the exception of rear facades and/or those facades that do not face a public way or are in general view of the public.

The use of brick and/or stone as primary facade materials is preferred and shall also be incorporated into the building's exterior design. All exterior walls shall be comprised of eighty-percent natural material with brick and/or stone as the predominant material.

The coursing of stonework shall be uniform, rather than random, and shall pull design cues from the many examples of cut sandstone structures in the surrounding community.

Stucco, drivit and like materials may be used as accents, provided the total square footage of accent material does not exceed 20% of the gross exterior building wall square footage.

The streetscape is the exterior public space located between the buildings and street edge of pavement. It includes any items that contribute to the unique character of the municipality. The streetscape projects a first impression upon those who pass it.

It is expected that the design of buildings and sites be undertaken by design professionals who are knowledgeable of, and sensitive to, surrounding neighborhoods, surrounding landscape, views and other positive aesthetic characteristics of the community.

Site and building designs are expected to have cohesive, appealing, stand-alone design qualities as well as having design scale and design continuity that allows them to complement and enhance the better design traditions of surrounding neighborhood communities.

The Planning Board has identified terms such as "inviting," "pedestrian-scale" and "pedestrian-friendly" design characteristics as positive project design attributes that it expects will foster aesthetic compatibility with area neighborhoods.

These attributes shall be taken into account by design professionals when creating the character of building forms, rooflines, features, materials, articulation of building forms, building details, coordination of building materials, site materials, landscaping, topography, colors, textures, lighting and signage. Design cues shall be drawn from the many examples of historic nineteenth-century architecture throughout the community.

Most commercial development requires parking to support patrons and employees. However, a more creative approach to design can have far-reaching benefits. Building layout that shields parking areas from street view and reduces visual impact (see Landscaping requirements for parking lots); provide defined pedestrian walkways using textured or colored pavement; use a variety of materials to create an area of interest.

Setbacks shall be subject to applicable zoning laws.

All external mechanical equipment, including satellite antennas, shall be screened from view at all property lines on which the building is located. Screening materials shall be similar to or the same as used on the majority of the building. Screening materials and design shall be compatible with the building and overall landscape designs. All utility services shall be underground.

For ground-mounted equipment, landscaping is the preferred method. If two or more buildings are located on the same property, rooftop equipment shall not be visible at ground level within 50 feet from the building.

Permanent outside storage or sales areas shall be screened or buffered so as to be in harmony with the building design and the appearance of the development.

When a site is located in a neighborhood or surrounding area that is by its nature pedestrian oriented, site layout shall reflect a pedestrian-friendly environment. Buildings shall be flush with or set back just far enough to allow for a modest landscaped yard and allow for street trees. Main entries shall face the street, and windows shall be at street level. Surface parking shall be at the side or preferably to the rear of the building. Parked cars should not dominate the landscape by projecting beyond adjacent building fronts.

Clearly delineated pedestrian walkways are required in parking lots with 10 or more parking spaces. Examples of clearly delineated walkways would be changes in texture such as stamped concrete, pavers, and/or changes in color, etc. Pedestrian connections to neighboring streets and paths shall be required where possible.

All requirements providing for handicapped parking shall be met.

Service areas and loading docks servicing buildings shall not be oriented towards any public street or area. All refuse storage areas shall be completely surrounded by wooden, brick or masonry fences at least eight feet high.

Landscape design is the art of arranging or modifying the features (living or built) that are immediately visible for aesthetic or practical purposes. Exterior space design is an integral component of good site design. Well designed exterior spaces shall soften the impact of a building on a site and help it appear to belong there.

Special attention should be taken in the design and coordination of landscape treatments of exterior spaces around and between buildings to allow them to be inviting and attractive to pedestrian users. Landscape planting, pedestrian paving treatments and landscape accessories shall be coordinated along primary building facades visible from public rights-of-way.

The Board expects that the leaf color and texture and deciduous or evergreen nature of plants chosen shall be taken into account by the landscape designer to achieve the best overall design results, including the need to have all-season benefit from plants used as visual screening devices.

Diverse plant populations, created through mixing species and varieties (or cultivars) of the same species, can withstand insects, disease, and environmental problems better than a single type of plant can. Planned properly, diverse plantings are also much more attractive to view.

The Municipal Tree Board shall provide advice, counsel, and recommendations to the Planning Board with regard to any site plan and/or site plan review of which tree plantings are a part, including but not limited to the review of proposed tree plantings and landscaping; and recommendations for appropriate tree size, placement, and species in accordance with all applicable sections of this article.

The landscape, hardscape, site accessories, and associated finished grading design for the development shall be prepared by a landscape professional. Landscape treatments shall be designed as an integral part of the entire development. A minimum ground area of not less than 10% of the total area to be developed shall be the landscaped area required.

The primary emphasis of the landscape treatment shall be on trees. Shrubbery, hedges, grass and other vegetation may be used to complement the use of trees but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscape treatment.

Existing natural features and vegetation shall be preserved and incorporated in the landscaped area. The primary emphasis shall be on preserving and integrating into the site design existing trees to the extent feasible. The preservation of existing trees shall be encouraged. Any site plan shall illustrate existing vegitation on the site.

Any tree to be considered for preservation shall be:

A landscaped area with a minimum average width of five feet shall be provided between the proposed principal use building and any off-street parking or internal access road with the exception of building entrances and exits. A minimum of 50% of the landscaped area shall be planted with small trees, shrubs, perennials, or combinations thereof. The balance of the landscaped area not planted with trees, shrubs, or perennials shall be lawn or ground cover.

The use of plastic or other types of artificial plantings or vegetation is prohibited.

Trees shall be planted throughout the developed area at a ratio of one tree per every 10 parking spaces, with a minimum of six trees for any site.

The variety and location of landscaping shall be appropriate for the environmental conditions, use, purpose and care that it shall be subjected to. Landscape designers should refer to Recommended Urban Trees: Site Assessment and Tree Selection for Stress Tolerance, Dr. Nina Bassuk, Urban Horticulture Institute Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY when determining what trees are suitable for given site conditions. Moreover, plants that are particularly prone to pest problems shall not be chosen. Information on regionally important pests may be found from local Cooperative Extension offices or through Cornell University's Urban Horticulture Institute. Popular plants can be over planted in the landscape. Multiple plantings of one specific plant not only gets monotonous, but also it can lead to problems. Monoculture plantings consisting of mostly or all of one species shall be avoided, especially among trees, primarily to avert a major pest or problem that may decimate all plantings.

All landscape plant material shall meet the American Standard for nursery stock quality, must be No. 1 or heavy specimen quality grade, and shall be obtained from a reputable nursery. Spring planting is recommended and preferable. Attention shall be paid to deciduous tree plantings that are a fall planting risk.

The following shall apply:

The Board may require larger plant sizes, such as twelve-to-fourteen-foot-high conifers and deciduous trees, to mitigate expected visual conditions that, in its view, may be inherent in the proposed location, design or use of the site.

The Planning Board reserves the right to reject any plant material that is not in compliance with the above specifications and criteria.

No less than 5% of the interior of a parking lot area designated for 10 cars or more shall be devoted to the required landscape area.

Each interior landscaped area shall be at least 100 square feet in area. Each interior landscaped area shall contain at least one approved tree.

The minimum size of a parking space shall be 10 feet by 20 feet. Minimum interior landscaped area shall be provided in accordance with the following table:

An interior landscaped island shall be provided for every 15 spaces. Each island shall have a minimum width of 10 feet inside the curb and a minimum length of 16 feet for a single row and 32 feet for a double row.

All rows of parking spaces shall terminate in a landscaped island. Each island shall conform to the specifications described above.

Divider medians may be substituted for landscaped islands described above. Divider medians are landscaped areas located between rows of parking spaces, between parking spaces and driveways or between areas of parking. Divider medians shall have a minimum width of eight feet.

A minimum of one large deciduous tree shall be provided for each landscaped island that exceeds 128 square feet. One additional large deciduous shade tree shall be provided within landscaped islands for each 100 square feet in excess of 128 square feet. Upon review, the Planning Board may permit the substitution of smaller ornamental trees within landscaped islands. A minimum of two smaller ornamental trees shall be provided for each landscaped island that exceeds 128 square feet. One additional small ornamental tree shall be provided for every 90 square feet in excess of 128 square feet.

A minimum of one large deciduous shade tree shall be planted for every 200 square feet of landscaped area within any divider median, planted individually or in groups separated by a maximum of 40 feet. Upon review, the Planning Board may permit the substitution of smaller ornamental trees within divider medians. A minimum of one smaller ornamental tree shall be provided for every 90 square feet of landscaped area within any divider median.

Parking lot pedestrian medians shall have a minimum dimension of 16 feet and have a concrete walkway with a minimum width of six feet. Planting areas with a minimum width of five feet shall be provided on both sides of the walkway. At each point the walkway crosses a parking lot or internal driveway, the walkway shall be clearly defined through a change in the texture, color, or height of the paving materials.

In addition to trees, all landscaped islands and divider medians shall be landscaped with grass, ground cover, shrubs or other landscape material acceptable to the Planning Board.

All interior landscaped areas shall have a minimum planting soil depth of three feet or more to allow trees to achieve their envisaged design size. All interior landscaped areas shall be free from all forms of construction debris and foreign material within the planting area.

Adequate soil area and depth shall be specified to allow trees to achieve their envisaged design size. At least 600 cubic feet (for example, 10 feet by 20 feet by three feet) shall be specified for each large shade tree. If trees are grouped in a contiguous soil area, 400 cubic feet of soil per tree may be used instead.

Where an open area of soil is insufficient to allow for these soil volumes, a combination of structural soil under pavement and open soil in a planting bed may be used to achieve this. Information regarding proper use of structural soil will be found at: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/uhi/outreach/csc/index.html.

Installation of all islands and medians shall have six-inch-high concrete curbing as a minimum to protect plant materials from damage.

The dimensions of all islands and medians shall be measured from the landscaped side of the curb.

Vehicle use areas located adjacent to a public street shall be screened from the street with tree and shrub plantings, earthen berms, walls or a combination of these methods so as to establish an effective visual screen which is not less than 42 inches above the highest surrounding grade. A minimum of one large deciduous tree, two small deciduous/ornamental trees or any combination thereof shall be planted within the required yard area for each 40 linear feet of frontage along a street.

Developments shall provide sufficient buffering and screening located in the required minimum rear and side yards for the vehicle use areas. Buffering and screening may consist of trees and shrubs existing on the site prior to development. Supplemental plantings may be required in addition to existing vegetation as determined by the Planning Board to improve the screening properties of the buffer.

Buffering and screening may also consist of tree and shrub plantings, earthen berms, fences, walls, or any combination of these methods so as to establish an effective visual screen. When fences or walls are used for screening, trees and other plant materials (shrubs, vines, ground covers, perennials) shall also be used.

All planting, including lawns, shall be watered regularly during the initial period of establishment and thereafter to maintain them in healthy condition.

Lawns shall be well maintained, cut and trimmed.

Planting beds/tree sites shall be appropriately mulched with two to three inches of organic mulch. Mulch shall not be mounded against tree trunks.

Trees and shrubs shall be pruned as necessary by competent personnel to remove dead branches and keep the plants in neat and vigorous condition.

Each parcel owner shall be responsible for maintenance of all landscape and buildings within the parcel boundaries.

All landscaped areas required and/or permitted by these regulations shall be maintained and preserved according to the approved landscape plan. Landscaped areas shall be kept free of trash, litter, weeds, and other such materials. Leaves shall be removed from walks, parking lots, plant beds and lawn areas during the fall season.

All plant materials provided for a development in accordance with an approved landscape plan shall be in healthy and vigorous condition and exhibit good form in order to be considered acceptable for the purposes of compliance with the site plan at the time of inspection for certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance.

All materials which are considered to be unacceptable for the purposes of compliance with these regulations shall be replaced with acceptable plant material prior to the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance.

After the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance, plant materials which die or are not maintained in a healthy and growing condition shall be replaced within the next growing season with the same approved species/cultivars and appropriate required grade and size.

In no case shall dead plant material be allowed to remain more than one growing season.

All trees shall be planted in accordance with the methods illustrated by the planting details required to be shown on the approved landscape plan. Trees not planted in accordance with these methods shall be replanted in accordance with the methods illustrated in the details, or the method of planting otherwise corrected so as to be acceptable to the municipality prior to the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance.

Where tree stakes and guy wires are used, they shall be removed from newly planted trees 12 months after planting.

Lighting styles and their application are integral in creating a pleasing, inviting, and safe feeling. Lighting styles shall be compatible with the architectural style and features of the building and shall present a uniform appearance in terms of color temperature with surrounding developed properties.

Where practical, design cues for lighting shall be drawn from traditional fixtures and reflect the nineteenth-century character of the community.

Pedestrian walkway lighting shall be appropriate in style with the design character of the space. The bottom of pedestrian walkway fixture lenses is expected to be 14 feet above surrounding grade. Raised concrete pole bases should be adjusted in height based on the style of pole base.

Traditional-style light poles that are not located in an area that exposes the fixtures to potential vehicular impact shall not have a raised base. They shall be set at the surrounding walk elevation. It is expected that special attention will be taken to select and coordinate a pole and fixture color that matches site furniture and accessory colors.

Pack lights, wall pack lights and similar lights that primarily shine perpendicular to (away from) a building's elevation shall not be permitted on any building elevation. The use of cutoff and full cutoff wall packs shall be permitted where appropriate. Decorative wall lights that shine parallel to (up or down) a building's elevation are subject to review and approval by the Planning Board.

All outdoor lighting shall be directed, reflected or shielded so as not to be of excessive brightness or cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or drivers, create a nuisance or unreasonably interfere with a neighboring property. Light spillage shall not exceed 0.2 fc when adjacent to a commercial district or 0.1 fc when adjacent to a residential district or existing residential use. Photometrical illustrations of proposed lighting shall be provided and are subject to review and approval of the Planning Board.

Pole heights shall correspond in scale to the parcel, building and parking lot size as well as the surrounding area. On smaller parcels pole height should be limited in height to correspond to the human scale of the site. A guideline of a twenty-five-foot maximum within parking lots and a fifteen-foot maximum within nonvehicular pedestrian areas shall be observed.

In large commercial centers with large building footprints, parcels and parking lots, the pole heights can be higher to reduce the number of poles needed to adequately light the site. However, the Board may require lower light pole heights in larger parking areas where it deems the character of the project's design or the character of the neighborhood would be adversely affected by higher pole heights.

The following shall be prohibited:

Sign design is the art of informing visitors while not overwhelming them; additionally it respects the streetscape and does not detract from the place being created. Signage shall contribute to and enhance the unique character of the municipality and shall reflect the goals of its architectural styles.

Design cues shall be drawn from the many examples of historic nineteenth-century signage throughout the community, as well as from the Downtown Historic District.

The use of monument signs is preferred and strongly encouraged. Monument-type signs shall not exceed six feet above surrounding grade, and shall have a base consistent with the primary building material and a minimum of 50 square feet of year-round landscaping around all sides of the monument sign (see Landscaping).

Sign graphics and lighting shall be designed to allow for clear communication but shall otherwise not be over lighted. Signs with exterior illumination shall not glare into vehicular or pedestrian traffic areas, and shall not glare to off-site locations.

Signs with interior illumination shall have only sign letters and logos lighted, not sign backgrounds. This concept applies to all site and building signage, including traffic entrance and exit signs, if lighted.

Exterior signage lighting is subject to review and approval of the Planning Board.

Building-mounted signs with interior illumination shall not have exposed "cabinets" or transformer raceways, but shall, for example, have channel-style letters with transformers and raceways concealed behind building facades.

Building design shall not serve to communicate or reflect the corporate identity or product marketed. Corporate identity and the product marketed shall be communicated by signage, not by building color or architecture. Use of neon is prohibited as exterior building ornamentation or as part of signage.

Corporate branding, including corporate text, symbols, graphics and other attention-getting devices, which are located on buildings and structures is strongly discouraged. Equipment that extends beyond the legal limits of sign areas permitted by zoning all as follows:

The Board reserves the right to require substantial design alterations to corporate branding designs that it deems to be inconsistent with the design guidelines or is otherwise inappropriate to the general aesthetic character of the neighborhood and the historic character of these nineteenth-century Erie Canal communities.

All signs shall comply with all requirements of the Village of Medina Zoning Regulations.

The following materials may not be used in the visible construction of fences or walls:

Chain link fencing may be permitted in areas where aesthetics are not a concern, or where it will not be generally visible to the public visiting the site. Coated galvanized chain link fence shall be used. Coloring of such fencing shall be unobtrusive, preferably dark.

Plain concrete block, cinder block, poured or formed concrete shall not be used. Manufactured masonry block may be used, provided it exhibits a decorative surface, with the Planning Board determining its acceptability.

Pressure-treated wood shall be appearance grade.

Pipe and metal tubing may be used only as vertical posts and then only if capped with a decorative finial. The Planning Board shall determine the suitability of any proposed finial. Plain pipe railing and fencing is specifically not permitted.

The use of manufactured wood lattice with a diagonal element shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Board.

The use of vinyl fencing products shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Board.

All fences shall have a finished appearance facing any public right-of-way or adjacent property.

Fences and walls shall be maintained in a good state of repair and in a safe condition. Fences or walls that are painted or stained shall be maintained. Paint or stain shall be applied to said fences and/or walls as necessary to maintain acceptable appearance, functionality, and condition. No fence or wall shall be permitted to become unsightly or in a state of disrepair. Fencing and/or walls that are cracked, broken, or in any way dilapitated shall be repaired and, if necessary, replaced. Additionally, vinyl fencing that is excessively faded or yellowed shall be replaced.