North Hempstead City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXC
Port Washington Business Overlay District
§ 70-195.20 Legislative intent.
The North Hempstead Town Board finds that the establishment of an overlay zoning district for its central business area would further the goals and objectives of the adopted Shared Vision Plan for the Port Washington Peninsula.
§ 70-195.21 Objectives.
§ 70-195.22 Applicability.
A.
Development proposals within the overlay district conforming to the minimum lot area and width standards of the applicable underlying district may exceed certain other restrictions of the underlying district if they conform to the guidelines established within this article.
B.
The determination that a property owner may qualify for such incentives shall be made by the Town Board after a public hearing and in accordance with the evaluation system established in § 70-195.25.
C.
Inclusion within this overlay district shall neither change the underlying zoning district designation of any property nor eliminate any of the requirements of the underlying zoning district.
§ 70-195.23 Recommended design standards.
The following guidelines are recommended, but not mandatory, design elements for properties within the Overly District:
A.
Storefronts.
(1)
Designs should emphasize the role of the storefront as the focus of the building facade. A storefront should act as the unifying element within the block by creating strong horizontal elements such as continuous display windows, a consistent design frieze and use of colorful awnings.
(2)
Main entrances should be recessed and inviting, allowing for views into commercial areas.
(3)
Storefront designs should maximize window exposure and include at least one display window. At least 60% of the ground floor facade should be transparent.
(4)
Architectural features and details such as projecting storefront cornices, decorative below-window panels, prominent display windows, etc., are encouraged.
(5)
Landscape treatment to establish an attractive link between rear building entrances and parking areas.
B.
Building facades.
(1)
Upper floor windows should be vertically oriented to reflect the prominent facade treatment found in many buildings on Main Street.
(2)
Varied roof forms involving use of gables, dormers and decorative cornices are encouraged.
(3)
Building materials are to be compatible with nearby structures. Use of brick, stucco, stone and clapboard is appropriate in this regard.
(4)
Facade articulation using bay windows, setbacks, pilasters and other features are encouraged to create architectural interest and to maintain a human scale along the street.
(5)
Improved rear building entrances that should consider recessed doorways and installation of protective canopies and awnings.
C.
Roofs and rooflines.
(1)
Peaked roofs are encouraged as a means to promote architectural variety and streetscape quality.
(2)
To reduce stormwater runoff, reduce heat sinks, and to promote energy efficiency, the use of green roofs and rooftop gardens is encouraged.
(3)
All mechanical equipment, television antennas, satellite dishes, or other communications antennas shall be screened from view from the street or adjoining properties.
D.
Signs.
(1)
The design of wall signs should be consistent in terms of materials and colors with the architectural character of the associated building.
(2)
The use of natural materials such as wood is encouraged.
(3)
Signs should have a minimum of information in order to avoid clutter and confusion. The use of bold, easily recognized symbols, logos and simple illustrations that identify a business or activity is encouraged.
(4)
Signs should have dark background colors with light-colored letters since this minimizes the apparent size of signs within the streetscape. The number of colors used in a sign should be limited to three unless used in an illustration.
(5)
Wall signs should not obscure or cover architectural features of the building facade.
(6)
Lettering styles should complement the style and period of the building on which they appear. Traditional block and curvilinear styles which are easy to read are preferred. No more than two different type styles or fonts should be used on the same sign to avoid a cluttered appearance.
(7)
The use of pedestrian-scale hanging signs is encouraged and should be designed to illustrate the use of the building or products/services offered. Hanging signs should be limited to a maximum of six square feet in area and should be located at least seven feet six inches above the sidewalk level.
(8)
Window signs, painted or attached to the inside surface of a window, should be limited to 25% of the total glass area. Temporary window advertising signs should be limited as much as possible.
E.
Awnings.
(1)
Awnings and canopies should complement the scale and proportion of buildings with colors or patterns that enhance the materials used on facades.
(2)
Awnings should be of traditional form; curvilinear ("waterfall") forms are not permitted.
(3)
Awnings should be made of nonglossy, weather-resistant fabric (such as canvas).
(4)
Lettering should be focused on awning aprons. Any signage on awning fronts should be limited to the store name or to a logo/symbol that identifies the business or activity.
F.
Loading and service areas.
(1)
Any loading and maneuvering of service vehicles and all other related service activities necessary for the construction or operation of the development shall be accommodated entirely within lot lines and shall not impede traffic on adjacent streets.
(2)
All service areas shall be adequately screened from view from adjacent streets and from neighboring residential units.
(3)
There shall be no outdoor storage of materials, refuse, garbage, or unlicensed vehicles. Garbage dumpsters, where approved, shall be screened from public view at all times.
G.
Outdoor lighting.
(1)
Lighting should be of a height and intensity to ensure a pleasant and safe sidewalk for pedestrians.
(2)
The use of light-emitting diodes or other alternative to high-pressure sodium or metal halide is preferred.
(3)
Lighting should be shielded to ensure a minimum amount of light is directed towards the sky or creates off-site glare.
H.
Landscaping and pedestrian walkways.
§ 70-195.24 Parking requirements.
A.
Covered parking permitted. For mixed-use buildings conforming to the standards of this section, up to 50% of the lot area may contain surface or on-grade parking spaces that are covered by a building. Covered parking areas shall not have more than 50% of their perimeter shielded by structural walls and must be set back at least 25 feet from Main Street.
B.
Credits for off-site parking established. Off-street parking requirements, as established in § 70-103, for a commercial building or the commercial portion of a mixed-use building may be reduced in accordance with the following standards. In no case shall the parking provided for the residential portion of a mixed-use building be less than one parking space per dwelling unit.
(1)
On-street parking. One space for every 20 linear feet of frontage along a public street exclusive of driveways, fire hydrants, bus stops or other curb segments for which parking is prohibited.
(2)
Municipal parking. One space for every three spaces located within a municipally operated parking field within 500 feet of subject property and available to the general public.
(3)
Shared parking. Where a permanent or long-term lease or agreement has been executed between two or more adjoining property owners to share, aggregate or pool their parking spaces, the required off-street parking requirement for each participating lot may be reduced by 30%. For purposes of this section, "long term" shall mean a minimum effective period of 25 years.
§ 70-195.25 Eligibility for incentives.
To qualify for mixed-use occupancy as authorized in § 70-140B, development plans must include a minimum of 65% of the following elements:
A.
Storefront.
(1)
Contains strong horizontal elements.
(2)
Contains continuous display windows.
(3)
Main entrance is recessed.
(4)
Main entrance allows for views into the interior.
(5)
Contains at least one display window.
(6)
At least 60% of the ground floor facade is transparent.
(7)
Projecting cornices at the storefront.
(8)
Decorative below-window panels.
(9)
Display window(s) are prominent.
(10)
Other architectural features that enhance window design.
E.
Signs.
(1)
Wall signs.
(a)
Materials and colors consistent with architectural character.
(b)
Use of natural materials.
(c)
Use of easily recognized symbols, logos or illustrations.
(d)
Use of dark background colors with light lettering.
(e)
No more than three colors.
(f)
Sign does not obscure architectural features.
(g)
Use of easy-to-read block and curvilinear styles.
(h)
No more than two different styles or fonts.
§ 70-195.26 Severability.
In the event that any section or provision of this article is declared to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the article as a whole or any part thereof shall not be affected thereby.