The purpose and intent of the Architectural Guidelines is to provide constructive guidance to architects and designers when developing commercial and industrial projects in the City of Miamisburg. These Guidelines are not intended to limit nor otherwise restrict individual creativity or corporate identity, but rather their intent is to set a minimum expected level of architectural quality in the exterior design of new or remodeled commercial and industrial buildings.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)

   None of the regulations contained herein shall be applicable to all commercial and industrial development in all instances. They should be applied with consideration for the surrounding built environment and the needs of the end user, in addition to any formally adopted plans, requirements, standards, or agreements. Exterior modifications to existing commercial and industrial buildings shall not be subject to these Guidelines except those modifications subject to site plan review. These Guidelines shall be subordinate to any architectural standards required by an individual zoning district or adopted planned development.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)

   All new or modified commercial and industrial buildings should include four-sided architecture, whereby equal consideration is given to all sides of the building. Materials and design elements should be consistently applied to all sides of the structure.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)

   (a)   Exterior architectural treatments should be predominantly composed of durable and timeless materials. Such materials include wood, brick, stone, concrete masonry units, split-face block, engineered stone, non-corrugated metal, tilt-up concrete panel, and fiber-cement siding. The use of materials such as vinyl, T-111 siding, EIFS, dryvit, and other similar materials should be restricted to minor architectural and design elements. These materials should not be the predominant exterior material for any commercial or industrial building.

   (b)   The mixture of exterior colors should be limited to matte, earth tones. The use of bright primary colors, metallic colors, black, and fluorescent colors are strongly discouraged except for use on building trim and accent features. All materials should be integrally colored or patterned throughout their composition.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)

   Window glazing should be liberally applied to the building façade, particularly those façades which face a public street. Reflective or opaque glass should be avoided on the first floor of all buildings. The public entrance of any building should face the public street, or the direction of the predominant parking field. Where appropriate, doors and windows should be offset by headers and sills of a color and material complimentary to the primary building façade material.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)

   The building exterior should be composed of materials and design elements that promote variety and interest. Changes in color, pattern, material, profile, and texture should be liberally applied throughout the building exterior. At least three of these elements should also be included in any transition between the building base and body, and the building body and cap. Long expanses of blank building façade should be avoided wherever possible, particularly when in view from the public street or residential uses, using elements such as recesses, off-sets, arches, colonnades, columns, pilasters, and contrasting courses of material. Complimentary landscaping should be placed at the building base to ground the structure and provide an extra layer of variety and interest. Lighting of certain design elements is also encouraged to accent these features during hours of darkness. However, the use of neon tubing, LED strips, string lights, or other similar lighting should not be used on the building façade.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)

   The primary building entrance should be offset from the remainder of the building to enhance its visibility to customers, visitors, and guests using alternate, but complimentary, design elements, colors, and materials. Accent features complimentary to the architectural design, such as - but not limited to - awnings, canopies, quoining, archways, tile work, moldings, distinctive hardware, and other similar elements are strongly encouraged.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)

   Roof material should complement the predominate building exterior materials. Roof color should be a matte, earth tone where visible. All roof-mounted utility equipment should be screened from view at the property line.

(Ord. 6964. Passed 6-21-22.)