The requirements, guidelines, and standards set forth in this article shall apply to any development or redevelopment of property within the zoning districts listed and within the village.

(Code 2007, § 150.300; Ord. No. 2008-2009-17, § 1(150.300), 10-20-2008)

The intent of this article is to:

(1)

Promote architectural and site design treatments which enhance the visual appearance of nonresidential development within the village.

(2)

Ensure compatibility and appropriate visual and physical screening in association with commercial, office and industrial uses.

(3)

Maintain and enhance the attractiveness of the streetscape within the community.

(4)

Create and maintain a strong community image and identity by providing for architectural and landscaping treatments that enhance the visual impact and contribution of commercial, office and industrial development in the village.

(5)

Require articulation that reduces the mass, scale and/or potentially uniform monolithic appearance of large commercial, office and industrial buildings, and ensure that such projects incorporate architectural and landscaping features that provide visual interest while allowing design flexibility.

(6)

Encourage pedestrian uses of nonresidential zones.

(Code 2007, § 150.301; Ord. No. 2008-2009-17, § 1(150.301), 10-20-2008)

Architectural plans for buildings shall be submitted simultaneously with an application for site plan review as required in chapter 111. Documents to be submitted shall include building elevations showing the building's design and exterior materials and any other information as deemed necessary to make a recommendation or approval. The architectural design shall be in accordance with the standards as contained in this article and shall be in compliance with the general provisions of this article.

(Code 2007, § 150.302; Ord. No. 2008-2009-17, § 1(150.302), 10-20-2008)

(a)

Architectural consistency with adjacent structures. Primary facades will be architecturally compatible and consistent in character with the facades in the surrounding area. A primary facade is that side of a building that is generally considered to be the front of the building or contains the main entrance to the building. A secondary facade is any side of the building not the primary facade that fronts a public right-of-way.

(b)

Architectural consistency among adjacent facades (same building). Secondary facades on the same building shall be designed with an architectural style, detail, trim features, and roof treatments which are consistent with that of the other primary/secondary facades on the same structure.

(c)

Consistent level of detail among facades (same building). All primary/secondary facades on the same building shall be designed with a similar level of treatment, detail and visual interest as other primary/secondary facades on said structure.

(d)

Visibility from adjacent residential area. Any side of an office, commercial or industrial use structure not otherwise meeting the definition of a primary or secondary facade, but which is visible from and adjacent to residential areas, shall be deemed a secondary facade and shall meet the architectural requirements for same.

(e)

Exceptions to secondary facade applicability. Secondary facade standards may be deemed not applicable or only partially applicable by the plan commission if it is determined that the narrowness and/or lack of visibility of the subject space or facade renders a strict enforcement of the architectural standards to be unfeasible or unnecessary. Any such determination may only be made where the subject space between structures is less than ten feet wide. Regardless of any such determinations of inapplicability, when the space between buildings is over ten feet wide, all tree and landscape provisions shall apply.

(Code 2007, § 150.303; Ord. No. 2008-2009-17, § 1(150.303), 10-20-2008)

(a)

Architectural design requirements must be included in all site plans submitted in the following zones or uses:

(1)

Neighborhood shopping (VB-1);

(2)

Community shopping (VB-2);

(3)

Highway commercial (VB-3);

(4)

Apartments (VO-1);

(5)

Nonresidential components of planned developments;

(6)

Offices (VO-2);

(7)

Industrial (VM-1);

(8)

Free-standing ancillary or secondary uses including kiosks, ticket booths, car washes and gas station canopies.

(b)

These standards are applicable to redevelopment or renovation of existing buildings when more than 50 percent of a primary or secondary facade is involved. This 50 percent standard only applies to the facade undergoing renovation or redevelopment. New developments or building expansions involving more than a 50 percent increase in gross floor area require full compliance.

(Code 2007, § 150.304; Ord. No. 2008-2009-17, § 1(150.304), 10-20-2008)

(a)

Structures on lots of one-half acre or larger shall incorporate at least one of the optional design features (ODF) listed in subsection (b) of this section.

(b)

Optional design features (ODF) shall include:

(1)

Parapets;

(2)

Canopies or porticos;

(3)

Peaked roof forms;

(4)

Over-handing eaves;

(5)

Arcades;

(6)

Arches or arched forms;

(7)

Display windows; or

(8)

Ornamental details.

(c)

Single- and multiple-tenant buildings in nonresidential zones of 10,000 square feet in area shall have a minimum of three building ornamentations (ODF).

(d)

The use of certain materials, colors and lighting techniques are restricted on primary and secondary facades. The following are specific, non-optional design limitations:

(1)

Corrugated metal panels, used as a finish material are permitted on not more than 30 percent of primary facades.

(2)

Corrugated metal panels, used as a finish material, shall not cover more than 50 percent of a secondary facade.

(e)

Ancillary structures. Ancillary structures, like car washes, cashier booths and canopies over gas pumps will incorporate the same architectural detailing, design elements, materials, colors and roof design as the principal structure, including a comparable peaked-roof pitch and parapet or cornice treatments.

(f)

Screening of ground level equipment. A wall of sufficient height should surround any exterior ground-level mechanical equipment. The wall should completely screen the equipment from view. This includes any equipment like food freezers, air handling units and the like which may be located between any structure and an adjacent residential area or right-of-way. The screening wall should appear as an architectural extension of the principle building and will incorporate cap and architectural trim and features consistent with the adjacent facade. When such equipment is visible only from adjacent commercial or industrial uses and not a right-of-way, the screen wall may instead be painted to match the color of the building.

(g)

Exterior rooftop equipment, including any HVAC roof refrigeration or other mechanical fixtures, shall be concealed from eye-level view from any public right-of-way and from any adjacent properties by incorporating a parapet wall extension and capped cornice treatments.

(h)

Required customer service treatments. Single-tenant buildings with a gross floor area of more than 10,000 square feet shall have a highly visible primary customer entrance. Multiple-tenant buildings and projects that have more than 20,000 square feet of gross floor area shall have a highly visible primary customer entrance.

(i)

Facade treatments; optional design features.

(1)

Primary and secondary facades of buildings with a gross floor area of 20,000 square feet or more shall be required to incorporate at least three of the treatments listed below. At least one of these treatments shall repeat horizontally and all such design elements shall repeat at intervals of no more than 30 feet, either horizontally or vertically.

(2)

Primary and secondary facades of buildings with a gross floor area of less than 20,000 square feet shall be required to incorporate at least two of the treatments listed below and again, at least one of these treatments shall repeat horizontally.

(3)

All such design elements shall repeat at intervals of no more than 25 feet, either horizontally or vertically.

(4)

Optional facade treatments.

a.

Expression of a vertical architectural treatment with a minimum width of 12 inches.

b.

Building step-backs, offsets or projections involving a minimum of three feet in depth.

c.

Color change.

d.

Texture and/or material change.

e.

Architectural banding.

f.

Pattern change.

g.

Any other treatment that meets the spirit and intent of the article.

(j)

Dumpster screening; specific design requirements.

(1)

Dumpsters are prohibited from locations adjacent to any roadway unless they are enclosed on all sides. All sides of the enclosure must replicate the architectural detailing, materials, finish material and landscaping of the principal structure's primary facade.

(2)

Dumpsters shall be visually screened from public view by a masonry wall constructed to a minimum height of six feet above finished grade.

(3)

Dumpster areas shall be directed away from any adjacent residential developments.

(4)

No parts of a dumpster or the materials stored within a service area are to extend above the required masonry wall.

(5)

The masonry wall shall be constructed of decoratively finished concrete block, brick, stucco or other decorative material. The wall shall be detailed so as to replicate the architectural style of the principal structure.

(6)

No chain link, unfinished concrete block (painted or otherwise), barbed wire or wood will be permitted materials as part of a wall.

(7)

Each enclosure shall include a decorative, opaque gate equal in height to the masonry wall.

(8)

Each dumpster requiring fencing shall further comply with the landscape requirements in chapter 26, article III.

(k)

Design requirements of walkways, curb stops, and building perimeter crosswalks. Sidewalks five foot wide are required in all street rights-of-way in nonresidential zones. Sidewalks may be enlarged to ten feet wide if designated as a trail route in the village comprehensive plan. Straight stretches of walkway over 100 feet in length should be avoided and should include landscaping features.

(1)

Curb stops are required wherever a parking stall abuts a pedestrian walkway.

(2)

Pedestrian walkways shall be a minimum of five feet wide and curbed wherever possible. If, however, a lack of available space creates a parking design challenge, walkways should be seven feet wide to address any potential vehicular overhang encroachment.

(3)

Pedestrian crossings are to be identified and highlighted with signage and constructed of special paving materials (not simply with paint) in order to identify them as such. Concrete/colored brick pavers, stamped concrete or other paving materials are all acceptable.

(Code 2007, § 150.305; Ord. No. 2008-2009-17, § 1(150.305), 10-20-2008)