4.   Boards showing samples of exterior building material samples, building colors, finishes and materials may be provided to better illustrate proposed design concepts.

1.   Architectural treatments (e.g., materials, colors, façade design, roof lines) and the use of screening devices (walls, fences, berms, landscaping) should be consistent and compatible on all sides when visible from a public right-of-way.

2.   Building materials used on a primary façade should continue for a distance of no less that two feet on the adjoining side or rear elevation.

3.   Building faces not visible from a public street or right-of-way may utilize materials other than those used on the primary façade. However, the material selection and overall design should be durable and maintain a unified appearance with the primary façade.

4.   Service elevations should utilize landscape buffering and screening to shield views from public right-of-way and adjacent properties.

5.   All buildings located on a parcel fronting a street should be oriented toward the street and contain an identifiable entrance.

6.    Building setbacks should reflect the existing setbacks of neighboring buildings. To best reflect the setbacks of existing development the average setback of the neighboring buildings should be used.

7.   In undeveloped areas buildings should maintain a zero setback from the street, except portions of the façade may be notched, recessed or extruded to accentuate entrances, dining areas, window displays and outdoor display area, when permitted.

8.   All electrical and mechanical equipment on or near a building should be screened from view or isolated so as not to be visible from any public right of way. Such screens and enclosures should be treated as integral elements of the building’s appearance.

9.   Loading docks, trash enclosures, outdoor storage and other accessory structures and uses should be incorporated into the overall design of the building to maintain a unified appearance.

1.   The path of entry should be perpendicular to the front property line.

2.   Main building entries should be parallel to the front property line and include a well defined entryway such as a recessed entrance, protruding entrance, truncated corner entryway or other design that creates a well-defined entry.

3.   Building faces fronting a street or public right-of-way should incorporate a combination of awnings, building-mounted lighting, pedestrian level display windows, storefronts and entrances.

4.   Each floor of any building façade facing a street should contain transparent windows that allow views of indoor nonresidential space or product display areas. Windows should cover at least 20% of the wall area, but no more than 70%.

5.   Upper story windows should be vertically aligned with the location of windows and doors on the ground level, including storefront or display windows.

6.   Decorative lintels, sills, glazing, door design, moldings or framing details should be used on windows and entryways located on façades facing public streets to create architectural interest and enhance the pedestrian realm. Window treatment should be as follows:

   A.   Windows should be surrounded by trim, molding and/or sill at least four inches wide. Stone or masonry lintels and sills should be incorporated in masonry and stucco clad buildings. Wood trim should be incorporated into wood clad buildings.   

   B.   Commercial buildings with no trim or molding should have window frames at least two inches wide.    

   C.   Multiple-paned windows should be used to help create visual interest.   

7.   The following approaches should be considered for all large-scale retail development to break up the architectural massing of large unadorned walls and enhance the visual appearance of building frontages.

   A.   Line the primary façades of anchor tenants with smaller tenants, each having their own entrance and at least one window.

   B.   Provide minor storefronts for each department of a big box user. Each storefront should physically express internal functions/departments (i.e. food court, bank, pharmacy, florist, etc.) and have its own entrance and at least one window.

1.   Canopies should be of a color and texture that compliments the architectural design of the façade.

2.   Canopies should be open to light and air and provide a transition from outdoor space to indoor space.

3.   Canopies should be constructed of durable, low maintenance materials that provide weather and sun protection. Fabric, plastic or other non-durable materials should be maintained in “like-new” condition.

1.   A minimum of 50% of all building surfaces should consist of one or more of the following materials:

   A.   Stone material consisting of granite, sandstone, slate, limestone or other durable all-weather stone.

   B.   Brick material composed of hard red (kiln red) all-weather brick or other durable all-weather facing brick.

   C.   Stucco or approved gypsum concrete or plaster materials.

   D.   Wood lap siding or fiber-cement lap siding that offers an architectural appearance that is equivalent to the quality and durability of the materials listed above.

2.   The use of external insulating furnishing system (EIFS), corrugated metal, coated metal siding, aluminum siding, and vinyl siding should be limited to accent features only. EIFS and vinyl siding should not be used on the base of the building façade or other areas where it could be easily damaged by yard equipment or constant contact by vegetation or pedestrians.

3.   The use of highly reflective or glossy materials or coatings should be limited to building accents only.

4.   Site lighting, security lighting and architectural/landscape lighting that provides the user with illumination levels appropriate for the designed use is encouraged as follows;

   A.   Illumination levels should be uniform throughout the site, minimize glare and avoid light that is projected on adjacent properties.    

   B.   Up-lighting and down-lighting should be used to highlight architectural features and compliment other site features and pedestrian use areas.

   C.   All lighting should include shields to more efficiently utilize the light source by controlling the direction and glare.

   D.   Excessive lighting that restricts star gazing, contributes to light pollution, unnatural sky glow and wastes energy is discouraged.    

5.   Black coated, decorative or period lighting is recommended. “Cobra-head” lighting fixtures are not appropriate for on-site lighting.

6.   All exterior building materials and lighting should be complimentary and selected from a consistent palette used throughout the development, except on service façades that do not face a public right-of-way.

7.   When there is a change in the building plane, consider a change in the building materials, colors, or patterns to create visual interest and break up the massing.

1.   Building rooftops should have the following features:

   A.   Parapets concealing flat roofs and rooftop equipment and/or;

   B.   Overhanging eaves.

2.   Roofline offsets should be provided to lend architectural interest and variety to the massing of a building and to relieve the effect of a single, long roof. The use of alternating dormers, stepped roofs, gables or other roof elements should be used to add visual relief and physically break up the massing of the overall façade.

3.    Flat-roofed designs should include architectural details such as cornices and decorative eaves to provide interest to the roofline. (See also Section 2.8 Cornices and Parapets.)

4.   Excessive slopes or changes in the horizontal or vertical roof plane are discouraged.