(1.1) Development should minimize the removal of existing healthy Sonoran Desert vegetation (trees over 4" caliper in diameter) and cacti over 3' in accordance with City Native Plant Preservation Standards (Table 1). If removal is necessary, mature trees and cacti should be salvaged and utilized on site. (P)

Rationale: Sonoran desert vegetation is a slow growing, scarce, valuable resource which provides a unique character and sense of place to this region which should be preserved.

PROTECTED NATIVE PLANTS shall mean cacti, which are three (3) feet, or greater in height and trees which are four (4) inches or greater in caliper of the following species:

(1.2) Natural washes and vegetation should be maintained in a natural state to avoid impeding drainage flows to the extent practicable for public safety and preservation of the natural ecology. (P)

Rationale: Natural wash corridors and associated vegetation should be preserved as open space amenities and wildlife habitat corridors.

(1.3) Where appropriate, the landscape plan should reflect the establishment of an on-site wash (arroyo) system for surface drainage. (C)

Rationale: On-site wash systems can prove to be more economical as well as being more appropriate for a desert environment.

(2.1) Where they exist in their natural state, significant washes which have one or more of the following characteristics:

- Flows greater than 250 cfs. for the 100 year storm.

- Average widths greater than 50 feet.

- Depths greater than two (2) feet.

- Wash connectivity to established watersheds (in contrast to isolated wash segments) and/or

- Significant vegetation or riparian habitats should be preserved. (P)

Rationale: Natural washes can provide a significant landscape open space amenity and ecological infrastructure.

(2.2) Surface, site drainage and retention should be designed to avoid hard lined channels. (P)

Rationale: A more natural approach to drainage and retention can reduce the amount of required grading and result in a quality open space amenity for the development.

(2.3) Surface site drainage and retention should be integrated with the overall landscape design. (P)

Rationale: Integrating drainage with the landscape design can provide for efficient use of water.

(2.4) Retention areas should be integrated into usable open space. (P)

Rationale: More efficient use of land can be made if it serves multiple purposes.

(2.5) Required landscape setbacks adjacent to perimeter streets may utilize the required setback for retention provided:

- A maximum 50% of the required landscape setback is devoted to retention.

- The maximum depth of retention within 20 feet of right-of-way is 24-inches.

- Side slopes are a maximum 4:1 (P)

Rationale: The primary purpose of landscaped setbacks on perimeter streets is to improve the image of the public streetscape. Retention should not have a detrimental impact on the pedestrian environment or aesthetic quality of the public streetscape.

(2.6) Sites shall be designed to minimize erosion. Steep slopes shall be stabilized with vegetation, rock or other measures. (R)

Rationale: Slopes require means of stabilization unless composed of solid rock or material determined as stable by a geotechnical report.

(2.7) Grading plans in non-hillside areas adjacent to residential development should be designed with grades that are lower than or closely match existing grades to mitigate potential impacts on residential privacy. (P)

Rationale: Development with substantially higher grades adversely impacts the privacy of adjacent residential land use, creates barriers and may disrupt drainage patterns.

(2.8) Within areas identified as permanent undisturbed open space, no grading or other disturbance shall occur except grading for trails, roadways, utility easements, and fire protection. Restoration of the disturbed area is mandatory and shall follow plans reviewed and approved by the City. (R)

Rationale: Disturbance should be kept to the minimum necessary in areas designated as undisturbed open space.

(3.1) Plant Materials.

(3.2) Maintenance of Landscape Areas.

(3.3) Hardscape.

(3.4) Art/Water Elements.

(4.1) Improved open spaces, plazas and courtyards should be shaded a minimum 50 percent and functional in terms of area, dimensions, location and amenities to promote safe human interaction. (P)

Rationale: Shaded pedestrian amenities help to encourage the use of public spaces. With respect to open space, bigger is not necessarily better. A series of small areas, each provided with amenities may foster more human interrelationship than a large monolithic space.

(4.2) Usable public space should incorporate a minimum of 50 percent shading through the use of trees or structures that provide shading, or a combination of the two unless otherwise prohibited by site visibility triangles or other technical constraints. (P)

Rationale: Shade is necessary for people to use and enjoy public areas during large portions of the year in Phoenix for their health, safety, and welfare.

(4.3) If a developer builds a public park, dedicated to the City, the public park shall be constructed as adopted by the City Council in accordance with the Parks and Recreation Department’s approved standards. (R)

Rationale: Public parks built by developers shall meet the same standard used by the Parks and Recreation Department. A Citywide standard insures service, quality, and equity throughout community.

(5.1) Public Multi-Use Trails (MUTs) shall be located outside retention areas and wash bottoms unless approved by the Parks and Recreation Department. (R)

Rationale: The public trail system is designed for use by a variety of users. Trails outside of washes and retention are accessible by equestrians, bicyclist, joggers, and the physically challenged. Maintenance is also important. The decomposed granite that comprises the MUT can not be maintained in washes or retention areas that are subject to periodic flooding.

(5.2) Public MUTs may be located in public rights-of-ways, landscape setbacks or private properties with an appropriate public trail easement. (P)

Rationale: Placing trails within public rights-of-way or easements insures public andmaintenance crews access.

(5.3) Vehicular access (not exceeding 1/2 of a mile) from public collector and arterial streets to off-street parking shall be provided to all designated City primary or secondary trailheads. (R)

Rationale: The Mountain Preserve and associated trails are public amenities. Providing vehicular access to trailheads via public collectors and arterial streets will ensure visual and physical access to open space and minimize potential neighborhood conflicts.

(5.4) Vehicular access with on street parking should be provided to all designated City neighborhood trailheads. (P)

Rationale: City neighborhood trails need to be accessible to the public without creating encroachment on private property.

(6.1) Surface Parking Design.

(6.2) Parking Structure Design.

(6.3) Access/Circulation.

(7.1) Walls adjacent to arterial and collector streets should have a finished appearance. Untextured, unfinished block and reinforced, mortar-free concrete walls should be avoided. (P)

(7.2) Wall lengths exceeding 50 feet adjacent to arterial and collector streets should be articulated or contain substantial landscaping to break the continuous wall surface and create varying shading patterns. (P)

(7.3) Subject to the provisions of Section 703.C, temporary fencing must be removed or replaced with permanent fencing within one year of installation, in compliance with Section 703.A, unless extended pursuant to Section 703.C. (R)

Rationale: Temporary fencing does not have the same durability in construction or installation as permanent fencing, and deteriorates more rapidly. This creates a negative aesthetic and image impact when viewed from the street.

(8.1) All on-site lighting is to be shielded to prevent direct visibility of the light source from adjacent property. (P)

(8.2) Lighting should be shielded with cut-off fixtures and deflectors to direct light downward and limit on-site lighting levels to a maximum of one (1) foot candle at the property line. (P)

(8.3) Parking lot and security lighting shall not exceed a maximum of fifteen (15) feet in height including lamp, pole, and base within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a residential district. (R)

(8.4) Parking lot and security lighting should not exceed a maximum of twenty-five (25) feet in height adjacent to nonresidential districts.(P)

(8.5) Service areas and other screened areas should have proper security lighting. (C)

Rationale: Well lighted areas discourage criminals from loitering and endangering passing pedestrians.

(8.6) Lighting fixtures and illumination should be of similar design and character as the project’s building components. (P)

Rationale: Compatible lighting fixtures and other appurtenances help to reinforce the design theme or a project.

(8.7) Site lighting should be provided to ensure personal safety at building entrance/exits, and in public assembly and parking areas. (P)

Rationale: Site lighting should provide pedestrians with a sense of security on site.

(8.8) Recommended lighting levels and uniformity ratios established by the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), as may be modified by the City of Phoenix, should be incorporated in lighting design for on-site non-residential and multi-family development. (P)

Rationale: Lighting should be designed in conformance with nationally accepted standards to provide:

- minimum standards for adequate lighting and safety

- maximum standard to minimize glare and lighting trespass on adjacent uses.

(8.9) Illuminative gases, LED lights and fiber optics should not be placed on structures which are adjacent to or across an alley from adjacent residential property. (P)

Rationale: Visible neon/fiber optics represents a commercial intrusion into adjoining residential character.

(9.1) Panhandle lots may be considered in hillside areas when they promote the following:

Rationale: Preservation of the natural features and vegetation in hillside areas warrants the utilization of unusual lot configurations.

(9.2) A minimum of five feet beyond a building wall or permanent fence should be considered as disturbed area and contribute to hillside grading area calculations unless it can be demonstrated that the wall can be constructed from one side. (P)

Rationale: Establishing a standard that must be attributed to the hillside grading area calculation standardizes the amount of land that would be considered disturbed during the construction phase.

(9.3) Driveways in hillside areas should provide safe access while minimizing grading, visible cut/fills and retaining walls. Generally driveways in hillside areas should not exceed 12 feet in width. Additional width may be considered for curves, short driveway lengths, shared access, or joint vehicular/pedestrian access. (P)

Rationale: Establishing maximum grading standards aids in reducing the amount of visual scarring and soil erosion possible from hillside development.

(9.4) Disturbed hillside areas should be revegetated with irrigation to prevent erosion and establish plant material of similar type, size, coloration and amount as the context area when mature. (P)

Rationale: Providing irrigation to revegetated soils ensures the establishment of plant materials which prevents erosion and minimizes the visual impact of hillside development.

(9.5) The grading of a hillside lot should minimize visible cut and fill to encourage gradual topographical transitions that blend with the natural grade and reduces visual scarring. (P)

Rationale: Minimizing grading and topographical alterations help to preserve the hillside terrain.

(9.6) Buildings in hillside areas should be sensitive to and blend with the site through the use of techniques which consider appropriate proportion and scale to minimize the size, massing, bulk and height of visible portions of the structure. (P)

Rationale: Buildings need to be designed to minimize the visual impact they have on hillside areas.

(9.7) Exterior building, roofing, fencing colors, materials, and retaining walls that are visible from adjacent property or adjacent streets should convey color, form, textures, and material that blend with natural conditions within the context area. (P)

Rationale: Buildings should be designed to enhance the hillside environment and to not detract from the scenic landscape.

(9.8) Hillside development shall preserve ridgeline views and visible significant natural features such as mountain peaks. (R)

Rationale: Ridgelines, peaks and significant rock outcroppings are natural features that provide visual amenities and aid in preserving the ecological infrastructure.

(1.1) Building additions and alterations should not eliminate an existing developed pedestrian path or public area. (P)

Rationale: Existing developed pedestrian paths should be respected.

(1.2) The proposed building orientation should respect the orientation of surrounding buildings and surrounding streets by maintaining continuity of pedestrian routes and promoting opportunities for pedestrian interaction at the street level. (P)

Rationale: Placement of the building in relation to the surrounding elements is as important as the building design. Site design should encourage the continuity of pedestrian movement and enhance pedestrian interaction at the street level.

(1.3) The orientation of buildings, windows and balcony features should not significantly reduce or infringe on the existing privacy of adjacent single-family residential uses. (P)

Rationale: If windows are provided adjacent to occupied, residential areas, mitigation efforts should be implemented to limit the adverse impacts on existing privacy. Examples may include louvers, screening, providing minimum heights of windows at least six (6) feet above the respective finished floor, frosted, tinted window treatment, etc.

(1.4) The proposed building orientation should respect climatic conditions by minimizing heat gain and considering the impact of shade on adjacent land uses and areas. (P)

Rationale: Energy efficiency and comfort of its inhabitants are essential to the successful design of a building. Examples are to minimize the east/west exposures, use high performance technological solutions and/or shade control.

(1.5) Natural surveillance should be maximized in project design to encourage easy observation of people and property near entryways, pathways, public spaces and parking lots. (P)

Rationale: The incorporation of visible public spaces in project design discourages criminal behavior and enhances public safety through increased public awareness and user activity.

(1.6) Projects or portions of projects in public view (adjacent to streets and residential areas) should demonstrate a greater level of design sensitivity and detail to visual image than other development. (P)

Rationale: The level of design continuity and detailing varies by structure and contextual setting. Phoenix encompasses over 500 square miles with various land uses in diverse settings with urban, suburban and rural characteristics. Boundaries between residential and non-residential uses and the interface of development with the public right-of-way are given priority to encourage compatible land use relationships, improve the appearance of development in the public view and protect residential areas.

(2.1) The proposed building should respect the scale of those buildings located on adjacent properties and, where desirable, serve as an orderly transition to a different scale. Building heights with a vastly different scale than those on adjacent parcels should have a transition in scale to reduce and mitigate potential impacts. This guideline shall not further restrict development intensity and/or density from what is allowed in the Zoning Ordinance. (P)

Rationale: An orderly transition created by such means as stair-stepping building height, breaking up the mass of the building, and shifting building placement results in a coherent streetscape and mitigates the impact of differing building scales and intensities. In areas undergoing change, long-range plans should be consulted for guidance as to appropriate densities and intensities.

(2.2) Parapet walls should not extend beyond the building height more than five feet (5') for a building that is twenty feet (20') or less in height or seven feet (7') for a building above twenty feet in height unless greater height is needed to screen mechanical equipment. (P)

Rationale: Parapet walls should be in proportion to the height of the building in order to be of a complementary scale.

(3.1) Architecture and applied treatments that express corporate identity should be tempered to provide unique structures that compliment and blend with their immediate context. (P)

Rationale: Corporate identity may be utilized to create a unique identity that can be recognized. However the overall architectural theme should be the predominant feature of the building.

(3.2) Parking shade and canopy structures should reflect the architecture of the primary buildings and have minimal visual impact to the public streetscape and adjacent residential areas. (P)

Rationale: Parking shade structures should be an integral design element of the project.

(3.3) Architectural design should take into account the solar consequences of building height, bulk and area. (C)

Rationale: Buildings should maximize public comfort by providing shaded public outdoor areas, minimizing glare (especially from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and facilitating breezes.

(3.4) Building exposures subject to solar intensity, should minimize the use of glass and provide landscaping and architectural surface relief to reduce heat gain on the building itself. (C)

Rationale: Buildings should be designed in a climate responsive manner to conserve energy.

(4.1) Building facades visible from public streets and adjacent to residential property that exceed 100-feet should contain architectural embellishments and detailing such as textural changes, pilasters, offsets, recesses, window fenestration, shadow boxes and overhead/canopies. (P)

Rationale: Facade embellishments create detail at a pedestrian scale and provide transitional elements to the public streetscape. Large horizontal or vertical building facades without varied architecture features should be avoided. Architectural features should break up the exterior massing and impact of large building facades.

(4.2) The building facade should be designed to provide a sense of human scale at ground level by providing a clear architectural distinction between ground floor levels and all additional levels. (P)

Rationale: A building should reflect a human scale and be inviting to the public.

(4.3) Building entrances should be identifiable and directly accessible from a public sidewalk. (P)

Rationale: Buildings should be accessible for pedestrian and public transit users, not just for people driving private automobiles.

(5.1) All sides of a structure should exhibit design continuity and contain multiple exterior accent materials that exhibit quality and durability. Examples include materials such as brick, stone, colored textured concrete or stucco. Roof materials may include treated metal, concrete, and clay tiles, decorative wood, or similar materials. (P)

Rationale: Monotonous building elevations should be avoided, building accents should be expressed through differing quality materials and/or architectural detailing rather than applied finishes such as paint, graphics, or forms of plastic or metal panels.

(5.2) Multiple buildings on the same site should borrow and incorporate (not duplicate) architectural styles, materials, forms, features, colors and compatible elements from the same site. These should include: continuation of distinctive rooflines, covered walkway alignments, consistent detailing of finish, accent features on all visible sides of structures, compatible shapes, material, wall and landscaping treatment. (P)

Rationale: Multiple buildings on the same site should be compatible and unified through incorporation of similar design elements within the project.

(5.3) The extensive use of the following architectural treatments and details are strongly discouraged and should be limited in their proposed application:

- Colored plastic or fiberglass

- Shiny metal details or reflective materials

- Untextured concrete, unfinished block, steel panels, or asphalt shingles as a predominant exterior material. (P)

Rationale: Distinctive architectural treatment, detailing and lighting elements should be designed with durable materials that exhibit quality and portray an attractive compatible image with their surroundings.

(5.4) Corporate colors, associated graphics, and highly contrasting bands of vibrant colors on buildings and on accessory structures (excluding signage) should be used as an accent feature with restraint as a minor element of the building’s exterior. (P)

Rationale: Business and corporate identity should not be a dominant architectural feature or theme.

(5.5) Pre-engineered metal building visible from public streets or residential areas should have at least 30% of exterior elevations composed of alternative building materials such as glass, brick, masonry, stone and stucco. (P)

Rationale: Metal buildings should be finished with materials that are compatible with the contextual setting of the surrounding area. Exterior materials should not have an adverse impact on the public streetscape or adjacent land uses.

(6.1) Public and private pedestrian walkways and gathering areas should be shaded (minimum 50 percent at maturity) for the health, safety, and welfare of pedestrians and to encourage use. (P)

Rationale: The design of pedestrian routes and gathering areas, such as walkways, courtyards and plazas, should be designed with appropriate shading for the health, safety, and welfare of pedestrians and to mitigate the heat island effect to enhance the pedestrian environment.

(6.2) Overhangs and canopies should be integrated in the building design along all pedestrian thoroughfares. For planned commercial shopping centers with exterior pedestrian circulation, continuous shade protected walkways should be provided. (P)

Rationale: Overhangs and canopies can provide a shaded walking area which encourages pedestrian interaction and reduces the number of separate automobile trips.

(6.3) There should be convenient accessible pedestrian walkways between bus stop/shelter and the building entry and/or activity area(s). (P)

Rationale: Incorporating bus shelters into the site design helps to maximize their function and promotes greater usage.

(6.4) Where provided, bus shelters should be incorporated in the building design and in accordance with the "transit stop guidelines for developers" published by the Public Transit Department. (C)

Rationale: Bus shelters should be integrated with the building design.

(7.1) Service areas should be located away from public view. (P)

Rationale: Service areas such as loading docks, refuse and recycling collection areas and similar facilities which could be sources of odor, noise and smoke, or could be visually objectionable should not be located in highly traveled areas.

(7.2) All rooftop equipment and satellite dishes must be screened to the height of the highest equipment and/or integrated with the building design. (R)

(7.3) All screening should be architecturally compatible with the primary structure. (P)

(7.4) All service areas must be screened to conceal trash containers, recycling containers, loading docks, transformers, backflow preventers and other mechanical and or electrical equipment from eye level adjacent to all public streets. (R)

Rationale: Although service areas and utility services are necessary to building operations, screening devices and landscaping should be used to mitigate their general negative visual appearance.

(7.5) All new or relocated electric lines 12 kv and smaller, communications and cable television and all on premise wiring should be placed underground in all developments where visible from streets or adjoining properties. (P)

Rationale: Utility Services should not have an adverse visual impact on adjacent development or visibility from the public streetscape.

(1.1) Local streets exceeding 600 feet in length should incorporate traffic calming measures. (P)

Rationale: By incorporating traffic calming measures, vehicle speeds will be reduced and the occurrence of cut-through traffic should be minimized.

(1.2) Intersections of major arterials, arterials, and collectors should be aligned. Where two minor collectors intersect, they may be offset but no closer than 125'. (P)

Rationale: Off-sets create confusion in major traffic flows. However, for minor residential collectors, off-sets are permissible and may even be desirable to discourage cut-through traffic.

(1.3) "Dog-leg" culs-de-sac are discouraged. (P)

Rationale: Dog-leg culs-de-sac create "blind" spots in the road which hinder emergency and protective services. Because the end of the cul-de-sac is not visible, a driver is not able to see that there is no outlet.

(1.4) Local streets adjacent to schools and parks shall install vertical curbing, 5' sidewalks and paving for the half street. (R)

Rationale: Vertical curbing will ensure that the sidewalks are kept free of vehicular obstructions. Further, the slightly wider street better accommodates on-street parking.

(1.5) Subdivision design should provide convenient pedestrian access via sidewalks to transit stops along arterial or collector streets. (P)

Rationale: Sidewalk access makes walking to transit convenient and safe.

(1.6) If meandering sidewalks have been constructed adjacent to the site within the context area, then meandering sidewalks should be extended along the perimeter of the proposed subdivision. (P)

Rationale: All aspects of development should fit with surrounding development.

(1.7) Where transit stops are required or exist adjacent to a subdivision, pedestrian connections should be provided from the transit pad to the interior of the subdivision at reasonable intervals - approximately every 800'. Where street or cul-de-sac extension are not provided a landscaped pedestrian path should be established in a 15' wide corridor dedicated as a tract or easement as appropriate. (P)

Rationale: In an effort to promote the use of public transit, new developments should offer convenient access to planned stops.

(1.8) Residential and non-residential projects should consider upgraded or custom street lights and street signs as approved by the Street Transportation Department and consistent with the adopted Street Lighting Policy. (C)

Rationale: Upgraded street lights and street signs improve appearance and give projects a sense of identity.

(1.9) Public and private sidewalks adjacent to arterial and collector streets and located within and connecting all common open space tracts and amenities should be shaded a minimum of 50 percent. (P)

Rationale: Shaded sidewalks and pedestrian walkways should be designed with appropriate shading for the health, safety, and welfare of pedestrians that mitigates the extreme summer temperatures, as well as the heat island effect and enhances the pedestrian environment.

(2.1) Avoid isolating individual lots have no relationship to the majority of the subdivision. (P)

Rationale: Providing lots that clearly relate to the lots around them, creates a better sense of neighborhood

(2.2) Where a "T-type" street intersection exists within a subdivision, houses should be off-set to avoid the placement of the livable portion of a residence from being directly in line with the end of the street. (P)

Rationale: Residences located at the end of a street should not be impacted at night by headlights from on-coming vehicles.

(2.3) Where culs-de-sac are proposed adjacent to perimeter lot lines or arterial perimeter streets, lots should be configured to back onto the adjacent lots/parcel. (P)

Rationale: The negative impacts of a street should be mitigated by additional separation created by the rear yards of the houses.

(2.4) Residential lots abutting existing non-residential uses, or arterial streets or freeway corridors should be designed with special impact-mitigating features, as needed (e.g. extra width, single story units, added depth or landscape buffering). (P)

Rationale: Dissimilar land uses typically require additional separation or mitigative measures to achieve compatibility.

(3.1) Where subdivisions back up to streets a minimum twelve foot landscaped easement between the subdivision wall and the back of the curb (exclusive of sidewalk) should be provided. (P)

Rationale: Landscape buffers clearly separate subdivisions from streets where backup treatment is permitted.

(3.2) Where landscape tracts are located next to freeway or arterial street right-of-way, minimum 2-inch caliper trees should be used to screenviews. (P)

Rationale: Mature trees with dense canopies have been identified as an effective visual screening tool.

(4.1) Large open space and retention areas (generally greater than 10,000 square feet) should be improved to include active and passive amenities (e.g., tot lot, ramada, tennis court, barbecues, large seating areas, landscaping, etc.) and a minimum 50 percent vegetation. Seating areas should be shaded by structures or vegetation (50 percent at maturity). (P)

Rationale: Different types of improvements will appeal to different segments of the resident population. To ensure long-term maintenance and use of open space areas, it is important to provide year-round amenities for the health, safety, and welfare of all residents to mitigate the extreme summer temperatures, as well as the heat island effect, in which the homeowners association will maintain interest.

(4.2) Open space and retention tracts/easements should be landscaped, accessible, safe and secure. Common retention may qualify for required common open space if it has a minimum area of 1,000 square feet of level bottom with maximum side slopes of 4:1 and is properly landscaped as usable open space (minimum 50 percent vegetation). Any proposed seating areas should be shaded by structures or vegetation (50 percent at maturity). Streets (public and/or private) and required perimeter landscape setbacks will not count towards common open space. (P)

Rationale: Open space and retention areas that are accessible, functional, and provide year-round shaded amenities for the health, safety, and welfare of all residents to mitigate the extreme summer temperatures, as well as the heat island effect, are an amenity to the neighborhood. If feasible, open space should be centrally located in order to be accessible to as many residents as possible.

(4.3) Natural features such as washes, canals, significant topography and existing vegetation should be integrated into the design of the subdivision. (P)

Rationale: The natural topography and vegetation of the desert is important in providing character to the subdivision. By preserving these amenities, more interesting developments will occur, which will increase the long-term viability and desirability of the neighborhood.

(4.4) Where a subdivision is adjacent to a natural amenity such as a wash or mountain preserve, a minimum of 15% of the frontage along this amenity should remain open. (P)

Rationale: By providing "windows" to the open space and single-loading streets adjacent to the open space, the neighborhood will be able to enjoy and access the amenity.

(4.5) Permanent entry features should use colors, materials, and/or textures which complement or provide an accent to those used in structures on the site. (P)

Rationale: Entry features which incorporate similar colors, materials, and/or textures provide greater identity for a development.

(5.1) If a multi-use trail (MUT) is planned for a non-arterial street, lots should be oriented so they side or back onto the trail. (P)

Rationale: If units are oriented so that the MUT is in the front yard of homes, the trail will be interrupted by driveways and the possibility of vehicular conflicts exists.

(5.2) If residential areas are divided by a wash or open-space corridor, pedestrian access at reasonable intervals (approximately every 800 feet) should be provided. (P)

Rationale: Neighborhoods need to be connected to other neighborhoods, schools, and neighborhood uses by means other than public streets.

(5.3) Where a trail exists parallel to a subdivision edge, pedestrian connections to the trail should occur at a maximum distance of 800'. Where street or cul-de-sac access is not provided, access to trails should be made in landscaped tracts or easements at least 15' wide. (P)

Rationale: Providing convenient access to recreational facilities improves the quality of the neighborhood. Sufficiently wide connections offer visual surveillance which promotes safety and security.

(6.1) Lots that back up or side on to dedicated public or private open space areas, City parks, natural and/or improved drainage ways or recreational areas should incorporate the use of view walls. (P)

Rationale: Open fencing creates a spacious feeling, encourages surveillance and discourages graffiti and vandalism to the wall and adjacent property.

(6.2) Subdivision walls adjacent to perimeter streets, should have a decorative finished appearance. (P)

Rationale: Back up walls define the boundaries of a streetscape. Particularly where walls over six (6) feet in height are used, it is necessary to have decorative elements incorporated in order to create a positive image to the boundaries of the street scape.

(7.1) Cluster subdivisions should be limited to a maximum of six dwelling units with only one point of access in each cluster. (P)

Rationale: The interior space of clusters is intended for private use for multiple purposes by residents of the cluster. More than six units may increase traffic, need for parking and number of residents using this space as well as potentially creating a situation where the scale of the cluster will increase multiple social conflicts between residents of the cluster.

(7.2) Cluster subdivisions may use public streets or private accessways to provide vehicular access to each cluster. The private accessways shall meet the minimum City of Phoenix standards. Private accessways will be maintained by a homeowners association. (P)

Rationale: Private accessways can be used if gates are desired, and they provide some flexibility in regard to street lighting standards, pavement treatment and other considerations which are not permitted in a public right-of-way.

(7.3) Cluster subdivisions may use shared driveways to provide access to each unit in the cluster. Shared driveways shall have a minimum width of 24 feet at the intersection with public streets or private accessways and may transition to a minimum width of 20 feet within each cluster, and be maintained by a homeowners association. (P)

Rationale: The common interior area of clusters functions as a private space used primarily to benefit residents and their guests. As such, this area should be maintained by a homeowners association.

(7.4) Shared driveways within individual clusters should be differentiated from adjacent public streets or private accessways by a strip of decorative paves, stamped or colored concrete or materials other than those used to pave adjoining streets. (P)

Rationale: Paving in the common interior area of a cluster should be different from adjoining streets. A change in material indicates that the area is semi-private and may be used for purposes other than automobile traffic.

(7.5) Shared driveways within individual clusters should be a maximum of 150 feet in length, measured from curb line at the intersection with the public street or private accessway to termination of the shared drive. (P)

Rationale: The length of a cluster driveway must be limited to accommodate safe ingress and egress requirements of emergency vehicle apparatus, provide reasonable distance for utility connections and to provide reasonable walking distances to the dwelling units at the rear of the cluster.

(7.6) Cluster subdivisions should provide a minimum of three parking spaces for each unit in the cluster, with at least one space per unit being non-exclusive and located within 150 feet of the cluster as measured from curbline at the intersection with the public street or private accessway to termination of the shared drive. (P)

Rationale: Cluster subdivisions, because of their configuration, cannot typically furnish parking as provided in traditional single-family homes fronting on local streets. Sufficient parking for residents and guests should be provided inside and outside the cluster. Parking provided outside the cluster should be close enough to the cluster so that guests are within reasonable walking distance.

(7.7) If additional parking is provided internal to the cluster, driveways to accommodate such parking should be a minimum of 18 feet long and a minimum 8 feet wide/per garage bay. If the garage door of any unit faces on a private accessway or public street serving other clusters in the subdivision, then a minimum of 18 feet must be provided between the back of sidewalk (or curb, if no sidewalk) to the face of the garage door. (P)

Rationale: A length of 18 feet is sufficient to park a typical vehicle without encroaching into a sidewalk or maneuvering area internal to a cluster. This provides more safety for pedestrians and motorists in the cluster subdivision.

(7.8) Each dwelling unit driveway in the cluster should be designed such that each driver backing a mid-size passenger vehicle out of the driveway can maneuver with one turning movement in order to exit the cluster and vehicles entering a garage can drive into the garage without having to back up. Driveways for 60% of the units in each cluster should be design such that a large-size vehicle may back out with one turning movement in order to exit the cluster without backing into the public street or private accessway. (P)

Rationale: Residents of each unit in a cluster expect convenience (as in a traditional single family home) when entering or exiting their garages. Additional turning movements can increase the chance of accidents internal to the cluster.

(7.9) Trash and recycle container locations (storage and collection) in each cluster are to be clearly illustrated on the site plan. (P)

Rationale: Residents of units in a duster will be required to wheel trash and recycle containers to the public street or private accessway for collection, if City collection is provided. A reasonable distance to wheel the containers is desired for the convenience of residents.

(7.10) Street lighting on public streets or private accessways serving each cluster in the subdivision is required. Such lighting should provide a sufficient level of light to provide safety and security for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists in the subdivision. (P)

Rationale: Streets serving cluster subdivisions are used in the same way as any local public or private street. Sufficient levels of lighting provide additional safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists using these streets and to meet crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) goals.

(7.11) Security lighting internal to the cluster should also be provided at a level sufficient to provide a safe environment for residents of the cluster. (P)

Rationale: Lighting internal to the cluster is necessary to illuminate common areas, define driveway locations and provide a level of safety for residents in the cluster.

(7.12) Surface water drainage should not be allowed to pass from one cluster to another over the shared driveway of another cluster. Surface water drainage from individual clusters, however, may pass over the driveway for that respective cluster. (P)

Rationale: The interior space of a cluster is perceived as private space for the residents of the cluster.

(7.13) Provide exterior detailing on elevations visible from internal public streets or private accessways, such as stucco recesses, pop outs, accent materials or corbels. (P)

Rationale: Houses at the entry to individual clusters typically present a side elevation to the internal circulation streets. Without exterior detailing, this elevation can appear blank and massive and result in a negative impact on the pedestrian environment.

(8.1) Subdivision Design. Provide subdivision designs which address the goal of diversity by incorporating these or substantially equivalent design characteristics: (1) Vary the building’s relationship to the street, (2) Vary the driveway orientation or location, (3) Vary the relationship between buildings, and (4) Vary street orientation.

Design Guidelines: All are required (R*), unless otherwise noted.

(8.2) Housing Design. Provide house designs with sufficient variation in elevations and detailing which address the goal of diversity, while maintaining an identifiable image for the subdivision.

Design Guidelines: All are required (R*), unless otherwise noted.

(8.3) Garage Treatment. The goal of garage treatment is to encourage an improved streetscape appearance which is not dominated by garage doors by minimizing the impact of the garage as the predominant architectural feature.

Design Guidelines: All are required (R*), unless otherwise noted.

(8.4) Community Safety. The goal of the community identity is to encourage an enhanced sense of safety and community by creating a visual relationship between the front of the home and the public street.

Design Guidelines: All are required (R*), unless otherwise noted.

(9.1) All dwelling units on a lot shall exhibit a design scale, form, and character of a single-family home. (P)

Rationale: New construction should respect the design and character of existing established neighborhoods, regardless of the number of units provided on a lot. Building materials should match or complement the materials used on existing homes in the vicinity.

(9.2) The front yard, excluding areas approved for vehicle access, should be landscaped with the following elements: (P)

Rationale: Landscaping contributes to an attractive environment, provides shade, and contributes to neighborhood identity.

(9.3) A minimum of one primary entrance shall be provided which faces and is visible from the street. (R*)

(9.4) For two-story buildings, windows, balconies (with doors for access), or decks shall be provided on the front façade for a minimum of one-quarter of the building width. (R*)

(9.5) Each dwelling unit shall have at least one covered parking space. (R*)

(9.6) Front-facing garage doors and carports shall be no wider than 50 percent of width of the building envelope as measured at the minimum required front setback. (R*)

(9.7) Garages and carports shall not be located more than ten feet closer to the front property line than the closest primary entrance. (R*)

(9.8) Walls, fences, and enclosure materials shall not include chain link fencing with, or without, plastic or metal slats, sheeting, nondecorative corrugated metal and fencing made or topped with razor, concertina, or barbed wire. (R*)

(9.9)  Manufactured homes shall provide the following additional architectural design elements:

(1.1) Building Materials.

(1.2) Compatibility.

(1.3) Building Massing and Articulation.

(1.4) Building Accents.

(1.5) Public Amenities/Environmental Protection.

Rationale (1.1.1-1.5.1): Requiring variety in the construction materials and colors used on the exterior of commercial buildings, as well as the massing of buildings, encourages more attention to architectural detail and creates more visual interest in buildings. Architectural details such as multiple entries, space for outdoor displays, articulated roof elements and roof overhangs help avoid sterile building facades and also make the complex more user friendly.

(2.1) Service station canopies should have the following characteristics:

Rationale: Service station canopies should be integrated into project design and constructed to minimize visual impact to the public streetscape and nearby residential areas.

(3.1) When expanding their capacity, existing communication towers accessory buildings and equipment in or within five hundred (500) feet of a hillside development area as defined in Section 710 should minimize the added visual impact (and preferably reduce the overall visual impact) through the application of appropriate mitigation measures. (P)

Rationale: Maximizing the capacity of existing facilities reduces the need for new towers and provides an opportunity to apply design standards commensurate with the proposed change that will visually minimize the change and preferably reduce the overall visual impact of the facility.

(3.2) Communication towers in or within five hundred (500) feet of a hillside development area as defined in Section 710 should be designed and constructed for minimal visual impact by: maintaining the minimum height and size necessary, including the number and configuration of booms, to meet the need; using antennae of minimal cross sectional area; placing antennae as low as possible; using low contrast colors on all towers and tower mounted equipment unless otherwise regulated by the FAA or FCC; preserving hillside development areas as defined in Section 710 in a natural state to the greatest extent possible; and chemically color treating and otherwise minimizing the visual scarring of all disturbed areas.(P)

Rationale: Providing neutrally colored towers with minimum height and bulk will decrease the visual impact on surrounding areas.

(3.3) Buildings, fencing, and auxiliary equipment for communication towers in or within five hundred (500) feet of a hillside development area as defined in Section 710 should be sized, positioned, and color treated for minimal visual impact by using low contrast colors; using indigenous material or acceptable materials or similar coloration for building walls; berming or depressing facilities below grade where feasible; preserving hillside development areas as defined in Section 710 in a natural state to the greatest extent possible; chemically color treating and otherwise minimizing the visual scarring of all disturbed areas; and screening with native vegetation or acceptable alternative plants depending on the site area and water availability. (P)

Rationale: The most effective means for screening communication towers and related equipment occurs near the ground level. Ground level facilities, when properly screened, should not be visible from lower base elevations. This will in turn offset the overall visual impact created by the higher portion of the tower.

(3.4) Communication towers, microwave dishes, and/or antennae should be incorporated into the design of the new or existing building when possible. (P)

Rationale: Incorporation into building design will reduce the visual impact of tower or antennae clutter.

(4.1) Character.

(4.2) Location.

(4.3) Function.

(5.1) Setbacks. All mechanical equipment, including but not limited to electrical transformers and generators, shall be set back a minimum of 150 feet from abutting right-of-way or residentially zoned property; in addition to the following: (R*)

Rationale: Ground equipment should be enclosed and set back to provide visual screening and reduce noise levels.

(5.2) Landscape Setback. A minimum 30-foot-wide perimeter landscape setback shall be provided, subject to the following:

Rationale: An enhanced landscape setback with a dense number of trees and shrubs helps to mitigate negative visual impacts.

(5.3) Architecture.

Rationale: Data center buildings should include enhanced architectural design features in order to provide visual interest, to break up the mass of the building/structure and to provide an enhanced design interface where visible from a right-of-way and/or residentially zoned property.

(5.4) Streetscape. For each street frontage, a minimum six-foot-wide detached sidewalk separated from the curb by a minimum eight-foot-wide landscape strip, subject to the following:

Rationale: An enhanced streetscape helps to soften the edge of the development of a larger nonresidential use.

(5.5) Shade.

Rationale: Enhanced pedestrian comfort should be prioritized adjacent to and within data center developments across the City.

(1.1) Where noise is, or may be, a detriment to a residence, the following construction techniques should be incorporated:

Rationale: Noise studies conducted by HUD have concluded that the listed building techniques will reduce the level of noise that reaches the living space.

(1.2) Where lots are to be platted adjacent to an undesigned section of freeway, perimeter walls should be designed to accommodate 12' high walls and constructed to 8' high so that the wall may later be increased in height by a public agency. Need for the additional 4' will be determined after freeway is designed. However, if a council-adopted freeway specific plan calls for a different height, or the developer conducts a noise study, the site-specific data and walls heights will take precedent. (P)

Rationale: Until the freeway design is complete, it is difficult to determine the appropriate height for perimeter walls. However, it has been determined 8' will be adequate for most configurations.

(1.3) The number of lots that abut a freeway right-of-way should be minimized. (P)

Rationale: By exposing fewer homes to the negative impacts of the freeway, the neighborhood will be less impacted.

(2.1) Physical Access.

(2.1.a) Public Accessibility.

(2.1.b) Private Accessibility - For Property Residents/Owners/Tenants.

(2.2) Visual Accessibility.

Rationale (3.2.1-3.2.6): Views of the canal system should be enhanced and preserved as part of the public realm. Significant historical features of the canals, such as the Pueblo Grande Museum, Park of the Four Waters, and Arizona Falls should be visually integrated into the adjacent canal system. Canals should be placed underground only in cases of property hardship to further the public good; this is consistent with SRP’s policy that canals remain open unless there is a higher public need and the continuity of the system is maintained.

(2.3) Landscaping Features within Canal Rights-of-Way.

Rationale (3.3.1 - 3.3.4): The overall landscape character of canal development should be appropriate to the Sonoran Desert and/or should reflect significant natural areas adjacent to the canals.

(2.4) Safety.

2.4.2. The developer shall participate in the installation of one or more of the following safety measures, or an acceptable alternative, based on the determination of the developer’s proportionate share of the cost due to the level of impact of the project on canal bank usage: (R)

(A) Pedestrian activated traffic signal(s) if such a signal meets national standards;

(B) A pedestrian/cyclist safety island within the middle of the road right-of-way,

(C) Clearly marked crosswalk with motorist warning signs,

(D) Vehicular rumble strips to warn oncoming traffic that they are approaching a pedestrian crossing;

(E) Curb ramps;

(F) Street identification and safe crossing method signage;

These alternatives require approval of the Street Transportation Department

Rationale (3.4.1-3.4.7): Every use of the canal right-of-way should strive to maximize public safety. All potential designs must be analyzed to ensure that the general publics activities are directed either to areas separated from the open channel and overhead electrical system or to areas where safety features are incorporated.

(2.5) Power Easements.

Rationale (3.5.1-3.5.5): Of primary importance to the function of the canal system is the ability for SRP to maintain and operate its water delivery service and adjacent power system.

(2.6) Adjacent Land Uses.

Rationale (3.6.1-3.6.9): Canals should be treated as an asset to be integrated with adjacent land use.

(2.7) Urban Area/Canalscape Treatment - Design Continuity. For purposes of this section, an urban area shall be defined as one in which commercial, office, resort/hotel, or public assembly development of four (4) or more stories or a floor area ratio greater than or equal to 1.0, or residential development of twenty-five (25) or more dwelling units per acre abuts a canal bank.

Rationale (3.7.1-3.7.6): An urban area is an area which generates high levels of activity and has a strong pedestrian emphasis. Urban area land uses along the canal banks would include retail, restaurants, offices, resort/hotel, cultural facilities, and high density residential. The canal right-of-way should take on the characteristics of a highly developed urban paseo. Building design should help accommodate outdoor spaces for the pedestrian adjacent to the canals in an urban area. One of the goals in urban areas is to line the canal with activities that are of interest to the canal bunk users.

(2.8) Suburban Area/Canalscape Treatment - Design Continuity. For purposes of this section, a suburban area shall be defined as one in which commercial, office, industrial, resort/hotel or public assembly development of less than four (4) stories or a floor area ratio less than 1.0, or residential development of less than twenty-five (25) dwelling units per acre abuts a canal bank.

Rationale: A suburban area is an area which generates low levels of activity and which is sensitive to primarily adjacent residential land uses. A suburban area would include single family housing, parks, golf courses, and neighborhood retail uses.

(3.1) Plan Submittal.

(3.2) Signage.

(3.3) Grading/Drainage.