1. Purpose: The regulations set forth in this chapter are intended to serve the aesthetic needs and requirements of the Village; promote greater interest in the appearance, development, and redevelopment of all properties as it relates to each specific project, its surroundings and the community by giving encouragement, guidance and direction; to protect property owners, residents and tenants against improper development as it relates to appearance; to encourage and promote attractiveness, cohesiveness and compatibility of buildings and sites in order to achieve harmonious appearance and function; to provide open areas and parking areas which are aesthetically designed and landscaped; to identify and preserve significant natural features, all of which will serve to guide the future development of our Village in a manner that will protect our natural resources and facilitate the integration of development projects into our existing environment. These regulations are intended to protect the high quality of life existing within the Village, protect property values, and promote the public health, safety, and welfare of residents, tenants and owners of buildings and sites.
2. Applicability Of Regulations: The regulations herein apply to all properties designated below:
   1. Multiple dwelling developments in excess of two (2) units.
   2. Business and commercial unit developments.
   3. Industrial units and developments.
   4. All planned unit developments and special uses.
   5. All common, single-family subdivision developments, including streets, rights of way, public areas and other general development features and models to be offered for sale.
   6. Municipal and other public facilities and lands.
   7. One- and two-family residential dwellings, not in a subdivision but which require a building permit for exterior modification, are exempt from the regulations in this chapter, but are required to complete a design workbook which demonstrates how the project is compatible with the existing neighborhood. Any project which is deemed not to be compatible by the building commissioner and/or his/her designee shall be sent to the appearance review commission for review.
3. Review Required:
   1. All site, landscape and building plans are to be reviewed by the appearance review commission, and an appearance certificate by the commission granted, prior to the issuance of a building permit.
   2. Prior to changing the exterior color of any building located in a commercial district, a design workbook shall be submitted which demonstrates how the project is compatible with the existing neighborhood. Any project which is deemed not to be compatible by the building commissioner and/or his/her designee shall be sent to the appearance review commission for review.
4. Criteria And Evaluation Elements: The following factors and characteristics relating to a unit or development and which affect appearance, will govern the appearance review commission's evaluation of a design submission:
   1. Evaluation Standards:
      1. Property Values: Where a substantial likelihood exists that a building will depreciate property values of adjacent properties or throughout the community, construction of that building should be barred.
      2. Inappropriateness: A building that is obviously incongruous with its surroundings or unsightly and grotesque can be inappropriate in light of the comprehensive plan goal of preserving the character of the municipality.
      3. Similarity/Dissimilarity: A builder should avoid excessively similar or excessively dissimilar adjacent buildings.
      4. Safety: A building whose design or color might, because of the building's location, be distracting to vehicular traffic may be deemed a safety hazard.
   2. Design Criteria:
      1. Standards: Appearance standards as set forth in this chapter.
      2. Logic Of Design: Generally accepted principles, parameters and criteria of validity in the solution of design problems.
      3. Architectural Character: The composite or aggregate of the components of structure, form, materials and functions of a building or group of buildings and other architectural and site composing elements.
      4. Attractiveness: The relationship of compositional qualities of commonly accepted design parameters such as scale, mass, volume, texture, color and line, which are pleasing and interesting to the reasonable observer.
      5. Compatibility: The characteristics of different uses of activities that permit them to be located near each other in harmony and without conflict. Some elements affecting compatibility include intensity of occupancy as measured by dwelling units per acre; floor area ratio; pedestrian or vehicular traffic generated; parking required; volume of goods handled; and such environmental effects as noise, vibration, glare, air pollution, erosion, or radiation.
      6. Harmony: A quality which produces an aesthetically pleasing whole as in an arrangement of varied architectural and landscape elements.
      7. Material Selection: Material selection as it relates to the evaluation standards and ease and feasibility of future maintenance.
      8. Landscaping: All requirements set forth in chapter 11, "Landscaping And Trees", of this title.
         

1. Building/Site Relationships: In relating buildings to their sites, the following criteria shall be used:
   1. The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition with the streetscape, and to provide for adequate, functional and harmonious plantings, exterior lighting, integral pedestrian movement, unobtrusive parking areas and continuity of a total design concept, all from an appearance standpoint.
   2. Parking areas shall be treated with decorative elements, building wall extensions, screen walls, plantings, berms or other innovative means so as to largely screen parking areas/vehicles from view from public ways.
   3. Industrial or other material storage shall be screened by decorative elements, building wall extensions, screen walls, or fences with approved landscaping so as to screen materials from public view.
   4. The heights and scale of each building shall be within the standards set forth in chapter 4, "Zoning Districts", of this title, and other relevant codes of the Village of Morton Grove and shall be compatible with its site and adjoining buildings. Spacing between buildings and heights of buildings shall be of a good transitional nature.
      1. Adjacent buildings of different architectural styles shall be made compatible by such means as landscape screens, site breaks and use of materials.
      2. Attractive landscape transition to adjoining properties shall be provided.
      3. Harmony in texture, line and mass is required.
   5. Colors shall be harmonious with existing neighborhood development.
   6. Exterior building lighting and signage shall be a part of the architectural concept. Fixtures, standards and all exposed accessories shall be harmonious with building design.
2. Building Design:
   1. The external design of all buildings and structures shall address itself to the consistent and thoughtful design development of all surfaces of the structure and volumetric relationships, to include, but not limited to:
      1. General shape;
      2. Form;
      3. Materials;
      4. Colors;
      5. Appearance.
   2. Buildings shall have a good scale and be in harmonious conformance with permanent neighboring development and/or natural surroundings.
   3. Monotony of design shall be avoided. Variation of detail, form and siting shall be used to provide visual interest. Consistency of design is, however, encouraged.
   4. Inappropriate and incompatible designs shall be avoided.
   5. Building components such as windows, doors, eaves, and parapets shall have good proportions and relationship to one another. The design of all porches, balconies, patios and similar spaces, shall be integral to the building design and not appear as appendages.
   6. Mechanical equipment, towers and other utility hardware on the roof of buildings shall be screened from view with materials designed harmonious with the building.
   7. Harmony in material, texture, line, color and mass is required.
   8. Design Standards for the C/R Zoning Districts in accordance with the Lehigh Ferris Framework Plan study area.
      1. Pitched roofs are desirable for all buildings, but are not required. Flat roofs with parapets may be utilized; however, parapets should not be greater than four (4) feet in height.
   9. Security shutters, gates, grills, or other similar security features, as deemed applicable by the Zoning Administrator, shall not be fully opaque and shall not be affixed to the exterior of any building facade. Interior security features shall not be visible from the exterior during business hours of operation. The installation of any such security feature requires a permit to ensure that all applicable Building and Fire Codes requirements are met.
      
3. Architectural Style: Architectural style is not restricted and no architectural style shall be specifically prohibited under this chapter; evaluation of project appearance shall be based on quality of design and the above criteria.

(Ord. 07-07, 3-26-2007; Ord. 18-20, 12-11-2018)

1. General Requirements: Exterior lighting, as required, shall enhance the building design, the adjoining landscape and be part of the architectural concept. Lighting standards and fixtures shall be restrained in design and excessive brightness and brilliant colors avoided. All lighting shall be done in conformance with the standards published by Village of Morton Grove public works department.
2. Types Of Required Lighting:
   1. Off Street Parking: Lighting of off street parking areas is required. Lighting used to illuminate vehicular trafficways, buildings and sites shall be directed away from adjoining and adjacent property, streets and other public rights of way. All lighting units shall be of full cutoff type. Pole heights shall be approved by the appearance review commission, but in no case shall exceed twenty five feet (25') in height above grade including any supporting structure. Luminaire, light source and pole design shall create a continuity and relationship to surroundings and other freestanding luminaire poles. Poles and luminaires selected shall be vandal resistant.
   2. Pedestrian Lighting: Pedestrian lighting shall be in accordance with the lighting levels established by the Village of Morton Grove public works department. Maximum pole height shall be twelve feet (12'). Luminaire, light source and pole design shall create a continuity and relationship to surroundings and other freestanding luminaire poles. Poles and luminaires selected shall be vandal resistant.
   3. Landscape Ground Lighting: Landscape or ground lighting shall be designed to harmonize with the overall landscape and lighting design. Fixtures used shall be vandal resistant and securely anchored to the ground.
   4. Lighting Of Miscellaneous Structures: Lighting in connection with miscellaneous structures and street furniture shall meet the criteria applicable to site, landscape, building and signs.
   5. Sign Lighting: Sign illumination, if used, shall be by white (and not colored) light and shall not be blinking, fluctuating or moving. Light rays shall shine directly upon the sign or upon the property within the premises and shall not spill over the property line in any direction, except by indirect reflection which shall be kept to a minimum. (Ord. 07-07, 3-26-2007)
      

1. Applicability: Miscellaneous structures include any structures, other than buildings, which are visible in any direction. Street furniture includes all objects not commonly referred to as structures and located on public rights of way and outside of buildings including, but not limited to, benches, bollards, tree grates, kiosks, pavilions, phone booths, newsstands, bus shelters, directories, etc.
2. Private Property: Miscellaneous structures and street furniture located on private property shall be designed to be part of the architectural concept of design and landscape materials, scale, mass and colors shall be compatible to, and enhance the continuity and relationship to, buildings, sites and surroundings.
3. Public Property: Miscellaneous structures and street furniture located on public rights of way and other public property shall be harmonious with design and adjacent buildings and other structures and Village landscape. (Ord. 07-07, 3-26-2007)
   

1. Character:
   1. Materials shall have good architectural character and shall be selected for harmony of the building with adjoining structures.
   2. Materials shall be selected for suitability to the type of buildings and the design in which they are used. Buildings shall have the same materials, or those which are architecturally harmonious, used for all building walls and other exterior building components.
   3. Inappropriate materials and those which will produce inconsistency with the structure of the building shall be avoided. Arbitrary composition or change of building materials on exterior surfaces will not be allowed.
2. Quality:
   1. Materials should be of durable quality with consideration given for maintenance.
   2. In any design in which the structural frame is exposed to view, the structural materials shall meet the other criteria for materials.
3. Design Standards for the C-1 and C/R Zoning Districts in accordance with the Lehigh Ferris Framework Plan study area.
   1. Buildings should include finished surfaces on all sides facing a public street and / or a residential use.
   2. Surface materials shall be high quality, durable, natural materials, such as brick, stone, or similar materials. Unnatural, synthetic materials intended to replicate a natural material, such as false stucco or EIFS (exterior insulated finish system), vinyl, plastic or metal siding, or false brick is discouraged.
   3. Oversized masonry, typically taller than four (4) inches in height, such as concrete block, split face concrete masonry units, and jumbo brick will not be considered as finish materials on any façade facing a public street, and is discouraged for use on facades facing railroad right-of-way.
4. Substitution Of Materials: When by reason of nonavailability of materials, it becomes necessary to vary any of the provisions under which an appearance certificate has been granted and, in the written opinion of the building commissioner and with written concurrence of at least three (3) appearance review commission members and the chairperson, such variation will be aesthetically equal to or be better than the original provisions and will not conflict with the intent of this chapter, the building commissioner shall have the authority to grant the aforementioned variance, and he shall submit a written report of the circumstances at the next appearance review commission meeting. The burden of proving nonavailability of materials shall be upon the applicant and material supplier in writing.

(Ord. 07-07, 3-26-2007; Ord. 18-20, 12-11-2018)

1. Materials: Continued good appearance depends upon the extent and quality of maintenance. The choice of materials and their use, together with the types of finishes and other protective measures, shall be conducive to easy maintenance and upkeep.
2. Upkeep: Provision for washing and cleaning of buildings, fenestration and structures shall be included in the design. Configurations that tend to catch and accumulate debris, leaves, trash, dirt and rubbish shall be avoided.
3. Construction Process: During construction and until the entire area is developed, proper measures and devices must be incorporated into each developer's program to control, screen and dispose of all construction refuse associated with the construction process. (Ord. 07-07, 3-26-2007)