A.

The design guidelines are intended to promote a desired level of future development quality in the city of Rialto that will:

1.

Contribute to a positive visual image;

2.

Promote high quality development;

3.

Provide matters of design and aesthetics within the zoning code; and

4.

Implement the goals and policies of the general plan.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

The provisions of this section are applicable to all development within the city of Rialto.

B.

Any new development, exterior alterations, additions, or landscaping and any modification to an approved project including landscaping shall adhere to these design guidelines. However, these design guidelines do not affect the following:

1.

Existing buildings which are not proposed for new construction;

2.

Interior remodeling;

3.

Routine maintenance of building and landscaping which does not alter the appearance or function of the building and landscaping;

4.

Temporary uses and structures as defined by the zoning code; and

5.

Roof Maintenance and Repair. Roof reconstruction or use of different materials is subject to these design guidelines as determined by the director of development services.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Building placement which creates opportunities for plazas, courts, patio areas, or gardens are encouraged.

B.

Focal points and public site entrances shall receive special landscape or architectural treatment to enhance the streetscape.

C.

Specialty decorative paving materials shall be used to:

1.

Enhance and identify building entries, plazas, seating/patio areas, and the likes; and

2.

Identify transition from streets used by the public to drives.

D.

Multiple buildings shall be clustered on-site to achieve a "village" scale. This creates opportunities for plazas and pedestrian areas while preventing long rows of buildings. When clustering is impractical, a visual link shall be established between buildings.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.030 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to residential uses.

A.

Dwellings shall be arranged in a manner that creates a harmonious, varied appearance of building heights and setbacks. Dwellings shall be placed at varying distances from the front property line. Front yard setbacks shall be varied by ten percent. The average median front yard setback shall be twenty-five feet.

B.

A majority of the primary living spaces within a residential building shall receive direct sunlight for the daylight hours. Residential buildings shall be positioned to minimize the impact of shadows on adjacent properties. Landscaping and building architecture shall be designed to provide shade in the summer and sunlight in the winter.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.030 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to commercial and industrial uses.

A.

When a commercial use is adjacent to residential or other sensitive (e.g. schools, offices, and etc.) uses, appropriate design techniques shall be provided to mitigate any negative effects of the commercial use. Such design techniques include but not limited to:

1.

Loading areas and circulation driveways, trash and storage areas, and roofmounted equipment be located as far as feasible and practical from adjacent residences;

2.

Noise, traffic, or odor generating activities and hazardous activities be located adjacent to similar activities on adjacent properties, whenever possible. The location of these activities within close proximity to residential or other sensitive uses shall always be avoided;

3.

Commercial buildings adjacent to or across a street or alley from residentially zoned property or property development with a residential use provide a minimum fifteen-foot setback along all common property line boundaries;

4.

Adjacent residential and nonresidential uses be segregated as is necessary to maintain a livable residential environment by design elements such as masonry walls, landscape berms, building orientation and activity limitation; and

5.

Trees be planted to screen parking areas and large commercial building walls in order to provide a visual barrier between commercial and residential uses.

B.

Where an industrial use is adjacent to a nonindustrial use, appropriate buffering techniques such as additional setbacks, walls, screening and landscaping shall be provided to mitigate any negative effects of the industrial use. Such buffering techniques include but not limited to:

1.

Industrial buildings adjacent to or across a street or alley from nonindustrial zoned property or property developed with a residential use provide a minimum twenty-five-foot setback along all common property line boundaries; and

2.

Industrial uses adjacent to or across a street or alley from nonindustrial zoned property or property developed with a residential use provide a minimum six foot high masonry wall along all common property line boundaries, which blends in with the site's architecture. In addition, fifteen gallon trees shall be installed and maintained along the inside of the wall in a minimum five-foot wide planter. The trees shall be located a maximum of twenty feet apart for the length of the common lot line.

C.

"L" shaped retail centers shall be avoided. Retail centers shall incorporate either a clustered type development or utilize pads at the street edge for visual interest.

D.

Buildings shall be oriented parallel to streets used by the public and shall be placed as close to those streets as established setbacks permit to allow buildings rather than parking areas to define the street edge. Other such design techniques, to define the street edge, include but not limited to:

1.

Building be placed at their front setback lines;

2.

On larger project sites, such as retail centers, thirty percent of the total building frontage be located at the front setback line. Such siting, together with substantial landscape treatment, reinforces and strengthens the streetscape, and screens the parking area; and

3.

Only building entrances shall be oriented to face streets used by the public, never blank walls or loading areas, shall face streets used by the public.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Desirable colors on building exteriors shall include but not limited to:

1.

Muted natural colors;

2.

Earth tone colors;

3.

Pastel colors; and

4.

Natural stains.

B.

Undesirable colors on building exteriors shall include but not limited to:

1.

Fluorescent colors;

2.

Neon colors;

3.

Bright colors as the primary wall color; and

4.

Primary colors (red, yellow and blue) as the primary wall color.

C.

Wall and ground sign design, material, and color shall be compatible with the building design on-site.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.060 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to residential uses.

A.

Building design shall complement surrounding residential development and shall be compatible with the character of the surrounding residential areas, including harmonious building style, form, size, color, material and roofline.

B.

In areas that possess strong existing development character, the building design shall respect the predominant characteristics of neighborhood development, such as height, massing, setbacks, materials and architectural style.

C.

Unless appropriate to an architectural style, windows shall not be flushed with walls. Glass shall be inset a minimum of three inches from the exterior wall and/or frame surface to add relief to the wall surface.

D.

Within multi-story buildings, stepping back upper floors shall be considered in order to diminish building mass.

E.

All residential subdivisions shall be required to provide:

1.

Three different floor plans for fifty or less dwelling;

2.

Four different floor plans for fifty-one to ninety-nine dwellings; and

3.

Five different floor plans for one hundred or more dwellings.

Reverse floor plans are not included as different floor plans. For development projects that are to be constructed in phases, a phasing plan shall be submitted to assure that the requirements for the number of floor plans is being met.

F.

Each floor plan shall have a minimum of three distinct elevations. One elevation shall not be repeated more than the fourth dwelling. Adding or deleting false shutters or similar types of minimal elevation changes will not suffice as one of the required distinct elevations.

G.

Front porches are encouraged to facilitate activity in front yards and to provide a semipublic transition zone between the dwelling and the street used by the public.

H.

Each vertical module of units shall incorporate architectural features that help to individually distinguish them, such as a wall break, projections, distinct color schemes, and individual roof treatments.

I.

Doors shall vary from unit to unit, where possible, to further distinguish the individual identity of each attached unit.

J.

Upper-story units shall provide balconies or decks and lower-story unit shall provide patios and shall be a minimum of two hundred square feet in size for outdoor living activities.

K.

Facades of long buildings shall be architecturally subdivided into shorter segments of fifty feet maximum by incorporating facade protrusions, varying roof forms, varying setback of the building footprint. Architectural design treatments such as building offsets, recessed windows, offset roof plans, trellis, overhangs, columns, or other features shall be used to create both vertical and horizontal articulations on the building elevations. These design elements shall also be included on the rear and side facades of buildings which are adjacent to or visible from streets used by the public or open space areas.

L.

Each private enclosed garage shall be equipped with an automatic garage door opener with roll-up (i.e. on tracks) garage doors. At least twenty-five percent of the garage door shall have window panels incorporated into the door design. The doors shall be constructed of solid wood or steel. Plywood constructed doors shall not be permitted.

M.

Building heights shall be varied by a combination of single-level and two-story units.

N.

Each residential structure shall be equipped with laundry hook-ups and a central air conditioning or cooling system. A central air conditioning or cooling system shall not include portable cooling units, absorption units or evaporative coolers.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.060 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to commercial and industrial uses.

A.

Main building entrances shall be well defined. The entrances shall be visually and functionally distinct, pedestrian-oriented and visible from the adjacent street system. This may be achieved by, but not limited to:

1.

Recessing the entry;

2.

Creating an arcade by the use of bollards and accent materials;

3.

Provision of seating areas, by providing lush landscaping in combination with enhanced hardscape materials; and

4.

Addition of a compatible entry structure.

B.

Manager residences, when provided, shall be located in the front of the site.

C.

In order to avoid long, monotonous building facades and to create diversity, building facades greater than one hundred feet in length, measured horizontally, shall incorporate wall plane projections or recesses having a depth of at least three feet to break up the expansiveness of the exterior.

D.

The building design shall provide architectural and visual interest. Such design elements shall include but not limited to:

1.

Wall articulations such as pop-outs, inserts and etc.;

2.

Roof treatments;

3.

Roof overhangs;

4.

Arcades;

5.

Articulated mass and bulk;

6.

Courtyards and patios;

7.

Towers element; and

8.

Recessed doors and window openings. Undesirable design elements shall include but not limited to:

a.

Large blank, flat walls,

b.

Flat roofs,

c.

Square "box-like" buildings,

d.

Highly reflective surfaces such as metal,

e.

Exposed pip columns,

f.

Plywood siding, and

g.

T-11 plywood siding.

E.

In order to achieve design harmony and continuity with all buildings on-site, the exterior building design shall be consistent amongst all buildings on-site.

F.

Facades shall be articulated to reduce the massive scale and the one-dimensional appearance of large buildings and provide visual interest. The overall intent is to encourage a more human scale.

G.

Facades, exterior walls and entryways shall provide consistent architectural treatment.

H.

Facades that face streets used by the public or are visible to residential properties shall have a variety of windows, entry areas, awnings or other such features along no less than fifty percent of their horizontal length unless the structural integrity of the building is at stake.

I.

Facades that do not face a street used by the public shall incorporate a repeating pattern that includes, but not limited to, color change, texture change and material change, each of which shall be integral parts of the building.

J.

Buildings shall be designed to be viewed from all sides.

K.

Blank walls and facades shall not be permitted except as required for the structure integrity of the building.

L.

Buildings shall provide protection for pedestrians from adverse weather conditions and not limited to utilizing overhangs, marquees, and awnings at entrances, along pedestrian pathways, and at transportation waiting areas.

M.

A decorative trellis, canopy, or other overhang shall be constructed over a drive-thru window and extend across the entire width of the drive-thru aisle. Landscaping shall also be provided.

N.

Entries shall portray an office image which is integrated into the building design. Building entries accessible to the general public shall be pronounced and easily recognizable.

O.

Office portion of any industrial building shall be located in the front portion of buildings.

P.

Service doors shall be recessed and integrated into the overall design of the building.

Q.

Smaller buildings located within a regional center as a separate building pad shall incorporate into their design structural enhancements similar to the principal building. This would provide visual consistency and a greater sense of place within the center.

R.

Industrial building shall be constructed of concrete tilt-up or masonry block. Metal buildings shall not be permitted except for heavy industrial users and building additions.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Roof-mounted equipment shall not be located on the roof of the structure unless the equipment can be hidden by building elements that are designed for that purpose as an integral part of the building design. Such building designs include but not limited to:

1.

Roof-mounted equipment fully screened by parapets, roof screens or equipment wells;

2.

Roof-mounted equipment screened from public view by materials similar to those used in the overall structure and designed to minimize noise; and

3.

Roof-mounted equipment be clustered and included in one screen.

B.

Roof style in new buildings or additions shall be compatible with the existing roof designs on the site. Flat roofs shall not be permitted unless part of the distinct architectural style.

C.

To add interest and reduce the massive scale of large buildings, variations in roof lines shall be used through the use of overhanging eaves, parapets, pop-outs, height variations, and entrance features. In addition, roofline variations shall be used to demarcate primary building entrances.

D.

Roof form and masses shall be consistent with the overall architectural character and scale of the building.

E.

Roof materials and colors shall be consistent with the desired architectural building character.

F.

Roof flashings, rain gutters and downspouts, vents and other roof protrusions shall be finished to match adjacent finish materials and/or colors. Unfinished galvanized metal is not acceptable.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Color and finishes on building exteriors of all elevations of a building shall be coordinated to provide a total continuity of design. Alteration of colors and materials shall be used to produce diversity and provide visual and architectural interest. Such materials include but not limited to:

1.

Concrete texturing;

2.

Cement or plaster to produce the effects of texture;

3.

Wood;

4.

Brick;

5.

Tile;

6.

Stone; and

7.

Stucco.

B.

Undesirable materials shall include but not limited to:

1.

Metal;

2.

Plywood siding;

3.

T-11 plywood siding; and

4.

Plywood garage doors.

C.

Exterior material and paint shall be durable and high quality to prevent degradation and for ease of maintenance.

D.

No more than three colors shall be used on any given facade, including "natural" colors such as unpainted brick or stone. These three colors are referred to as:

1.

Base color;

2.

Trim color; and

3.

Accent color.

E.

The base color is the color of the facade. This color shall be subtle, neutral or earth tone colors. Such colors tones include but not limited to:

1.

Cream;

2.

Off-white;

3.

Light pastels;

4.

Gray;

5.

Brown; and

6.

Taupe.

Finish materials with "natural" colors such as brick, stone, tile and etc. shall be used where practical.

When the base color is natural brick, the major trim color shall relate to the brick color. When the base color is painted, the trim and accent colors shall complement the base color.

F.

The trim color is used primarily as an accent to highlight the architectural details of the facade. Design elements include but not limited to:

1.

Window trims;

2.

Door trim; and

3.

Trim elements within the facade openings.

G.

The accent color is used on the decorative elements of the construction, which serve to define the building facade. Design elements which define the facade include but not limited to:

1.

Upper and lower cornices;

2.

Shutters;

3.

Doors;

4.

Decks; and

5.

Storefront columns.

H.

The trim and accent colors may feature brighter colors, including primary colors. Such colors tones include but not limited to:

1.

Blue;

2.

Red;

3.

Yellow;

4.

Bluegreen;

5.

Charcoal gray; and

6.

Burgundy.

I.

Fluorescent and neon colors shall be prohibited.

J.

All building facades shall be architecturally treated. Special consideration shall be given to those elevations that may be viewed from streets viewed by the public.

K.

The combination of materials on a building facade shall be appropriate to its style and design.

L.

All building colors shall be subtle and compatible with the neighborhood.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.100 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to residential uses.

A.

The colors and materials on adjacent residential dwellings shall be varied to establish a separate identity for the dwellings. A variety of colors and textures of building materials is encouraged, while maintaining overall design continuity in the neighborhood.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.100 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to commercial and industrial uses.

A.

Light, neutral colors shall be used on industrial buildings to help reduce their perceived size. Contrasting trim and horizontal color bands may feature brighter colors complementing to the primary color.

B.

The exterior building materials may include smooth-faced concrete block, tilt-up concrete panels, or pre-fabricated steel panels only when these materials have been incorporated into the overall design of the development in an architecturally pleasing fashion and reflect an overall appearance of a high-quality development.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Entryway design elements and variations shall give orientation and aesthetically pleasing character to the building. The building shall have a clearly defined highly visible pedestrian entrance such as:

1.

Canopies;

2.

Overhangs;

3.

Recesses/projections;

4.

Peaked roof forms;

5.

Arches;

6.

Outdoor patios;

7.

Display windows;

8.

Architectural details such as tile work and moldings which are integrated into the building structure and design; and

9.

Integral landscape areas and/or places for sitting.

B.

A clear and well-designed entry into the project site shall be created using walls, signage, paving, and planting to visually link the site entry to the building(s). Such project entries include but not limited to:

1.

Landscape enhancements;

2.

Medians;

3.

Walkways; and

4.

Special paving.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Lighting shall be designed as an integral part of the overall site and building design.

B.

The design of the light fixtures and their structural supports shall be architecturally compatible with on-site buildings and be architecturally integrated into the design of a building.

C.

All exterior lighting shall be coordinated as to style, material, and color and designed to avoid spillover glare beyond the site boundaries, particularly where incompatible uses are located in close proximity. Neutral and carthtone color lighting fixtures with other appropriate measures to conceal the light source from adjoining properties and adjacent street used by the public shall be required.

D.

Exterior lighting shall provide illumination for the security and safety of on-site areas such as entrances, exits, parking, loading, shipping and receiving, pathways, and other work areas.

E.

All building facade recesses shall be well lit to encourage a safe environment.

F.

Night lighting shall be provided for all pedestrian movement paths such as walkways and where stairs, curbs, ramps, and crosswalks occur.

G.

The location of light fixtures shall correspond to anticipated use. Lighting of pedestrian movement paths shall illuminate changes in grade, path intersections, seating areas and any other uses along movement path which if left unlighted would create an unsafe condition.

H.

The level of lighting shall not exceed one-half footcandle at any residential property line or one footcandle at any nonresidential property line.

I.

Illuminated street address lighting fixtures shall be installed on the front yard side of each dwelling and each commercial and industrial building to facilitate location of the street address numbers for safety and public convenience.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

The design of secondary dwellings and accessory structures, such as carports, detached garages and sheds shall be architecturally compatible with the main structure with regard to roof and building wall finish materials and shall match the colors and materials of the residential development on-site.

B.

The design of the mailboxes and mailbox enclosures shall be consistent with the architectural style of the development and shall match the colors and materials of residential buildings on-site. Each mailbox installation shall conform to current United States Postal Service standards.

C.

Trash bins shall be located within trash enclosure. The enclosure shall be finished using materials compatible with surrounding architecture and shall be soften with landscaping.

D.

Trash and storage areas shall be screened and gated from view. Dumpster shall be enclosed and covered.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Buildings shall be designed so that loading and storage areas do not face onto streets used by the public, wherever possible. When these features must face a street used by the public due to site constraints, they shall be screened with a solid decorative wall, berm, and/or landscaping. Where oblique views of these features are possible from streets used by the public, these features shall be screened through the use of walls, trellises, tall landscaping, or equivalent features. Height of screening shall be sufficient to screen dock doors, loading areas, and any outdoor storage.

B.

Loading facilities shall be located out of sight of streets used by the public, to the extent possible. Loading docks are most appropriately located at the rear of the buildings and screened from view by masonry wall and landscaping.

C.

Service facilities such as loading areas shall be incorporated into the design of the building. Loading door design shall be integrated into the design of the building. High quality material and nonbright colors shall be used for loading doors.

D.

Loading facilities shall be located so that vehicles are not required to use streets used by the public for backing into loading docks. Adequate room shall be provided for trucks maneuvering or waiting to unload.

E.

Loading and service areas shall be separated from pedestrian and automobile traffic. The areas shall be easily accessible for service vehicles and tenants and be located so as to minimize interaction between service vehicles and automobiles.

F.

When service areas such as loading, trash enclosures, outside storage, and ground-mounted equipment are located adjacent to residential uses or in parking areas, a minimum ten-foot wide landscape strip with a minimum eight-foot high masonry wall shall be required. The landscaping shall be maintained at all times in good condition and must not be trimmed to a height lower than the equipment they screen.

G.

Service areas such as loading, trash enclosures, outside storage, and ground-mounted equipment such as mechanical and HVAC equipments shall not be installed at ground level along any portion of a building facing a street used by the public unless such location is necessitated by the nature and design of the building it serves. A minimum ten-foot wide landscape strip with a minimum eight-foot high masonry wall shall screen such equipment. The landscaping shall be maintained at all times in good condition and must not be trimmed to a height lower than the equipment they screen.

H.

A combination of fences, walls, gates and landscaping shall be used to screen service facility areas. Screening fences shall be compatible with overall site design.

I.

In multi-building complexes, service areas shall be combined or located next to each other to minimize the visual and noise impact on the surrounding uses.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

If walls are not required for a specific screening or security purpose, they shall not be utilized.

B.

Walls shall be designed to blend with the architectural character of the site. Landscaping should be used in combination with walls.

C.

When security fencing is required, it shall be a combination of solid pillars, or short solid walls segments and wrought iron grille work.

D.

Long expanses of fence or wall surfaces shall be offset and architecturally designed to prevent monotony. A minimum twelve feet wide by three feet deep landscaping pockets shall be provided at seventy-foot minimum intervals along the walls.

E.

All fences shall be made of attractive durable and weather resistant materials.

F.

Fences and walls used for noise control shall be made of material most suited for noise reduction, and which minimize reflective sound.

G.

Walls shall be designed to blend with the overall architectural character of the site, including material, color and texture. Wherever possible, landscaping shall be used to soften the appearance of walls.

H.

Where visible from streets used by the public, walls shall not be blank, long surfaces, but rather shall be articulated with intervening pillars, alternating heights, offsetting sections and materials that provide variety, including material texturing.

I.

Gates, viewed from the streets used by the public or parking areas, shall be designed to blend with the site's architecture through the use of similar materials and colors.

J.

Landscaping shall be used in combination with walls to soften the otherwise blank surfaces. Vines planted on walls are strongly encouraged to hide flat wall surfaces and to help reduce graffiti.

K.

Barbed wire, razor wire or similar wire or security fences shall not be permitted.

L.

Chain link and wood fencing and barb wire shall not be permitted.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.170 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to residential uses.

A.

All new dwellings shall include rear, side, and street side yard lot walls or fencing.

B.

Front, side, and rear yard walls and fencing shall be constructed of decorative block, stucco, masonry block, slump stone or other attractive and durable material. A block wall shall be required along all street frontages.

C.

Gates shall be constructed of wrought iron.

D.

Community perimeter or theme walls shall be solid walls located where view opportunities are not available. Plain block walls are not permitted along frontage areas. Brick, slump stone, tile, textured concrete, stucco, on masonry or other material walls which require little or no maintenance are required. Use of ivy or other vegetative material to soften and punctuate the appearance of walls and reduce the likelihood of graffiti is stronger encouraged. The use of capping in conjunction with other vertical design elements to temper the top line of the wall is also encouraged.

E.

When privacy of views is not an issue, wrought iron sections may be constructed in perimeter walls in order to take advantage of casual view opportunities. A combination of a two- to three-foot high solid wall base with wrought iron fence section between solid pilasters is a recommended design alternative.

F.

Subdivisions with fifty lots or greater shall have entry statements that create a distinctive image of a particular residential development. This entry feature should be designed to assist passing motorists to easily identify the development, and should complement the overall appearance of the greater community of which it is a part. All intersections shall have tract entrance designations. A tract entrance designation shall consist of a neighborhood identification sign on a decorative wall or monument with at least twelve-foot depth of landscaping surrounding the wall or monument. No element of the tract entrance designation shall be placed within the public right-of-way. The developer shall create private party maintenance arrangements for these elements at the time the project is built.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Parking areas and vehicular traffic shall not be the dominant visual element of the project site.

B.

Ingress and egress to and from parking areas and loading facilities shall be provided and shall be clearly marked with appropriate directional signage and pavement markings.

C.

Parking areas adjacent to and visible from streets used by the public shall be screened through the use of landscaping, landscape berms, screen walls or combination thereof.

D.

Site access and internal circulation shall be designed in a straight forward manner which emphasizes safety and efficiency. The circulation pattern shall be designed to reduce conflicts between vehicular and pedestrian traffic, provide adequate maneuvering and stacking areas, and consideration for emergency vehicle access.

E.

Parking areas shall be designed in a manner that links the building to the street sidewalk system as an extension of the pedestrian environment. This can be accomplished by using design features such as enhanced pavement treatments on walkways, trellis structures or special landscape treatments.

F.

A minimum of ten percent of the automobile parking areas shall be landscaped, receiving interior as well as perimeter treatment.

G.

Parking areas shall be designed so that pedestrians walk parallel to moving cars to minimize the need for the pedestrian to cross parking aisles and landscape areas.

H.

Reciprocal ingress and egress, circulation, and parking arrangements shall be required where possible and feasible to facilitate ease of vehicular movement between adjoining properties and to limit unnecessary driveways.

I.

Parking areas shall be designed to minimize visual impact. Parking areas shall provide safe and efficient ingress and egress for vehicles and public transit and be designed to reduce the overall mass of paved surfaces.

J.

Parking areas shall provide direct pedestrian access to the building on-site.

K.

Parking areas with street frontage shall be attractively landscaped with a minimum ten-foot wide planting strip of trees and shrubs in order to screen parked vehicles.

L.

All parking areas shall incorporate screening of parked vehicles. Such screening techniques include but not limited to:

1.

Minimum thirty-six-inch earth berm;

2.

Minimum three-foot high masonry wall;

3.

Solid landscape hedge;

4.

Lower the grade of the parking area in relation to the adjacent street used by the public; and

5.

Variety of twenty-four-inch and thirty-six-inch boxed trees.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.190 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to residential uses.

A.

Garages shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the primary front facade of the dwelling.

B.

Carports shall not be permitted.

C.

Whenever possible, parking areas located within a residential development shall be located behind residential structures to minimize visual impact to the street used by the public.

D.

Where individual garages are incorporated into the design of the project, common driveways or private streets shall be required.

E.

The parking area shall be designed in a manner which links it to the building and street sidewalk system as an extension of the pedestrian environment. This can be accomplished by using design features such as walkways with enhanced paving, trellis structures and/or landscape treatment.

F.

Nonmotorized transportation shall be accommodated by providing bicycle storage, seating areas, and a transit stop, if required. Vehicular traffic shall be adequately separated from bicycle and pedestrian circulation.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.190 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to commercial and industrial uses.

A.

Parking areas shall be designed to accommodate all parking needs generated by the use. Streets used by the public for parking and staging of trucks is not permitted.

B.

Parking areas shall be designed to accommodate solid waste pick-up service without excessive backing-up of service trucks.

C.

Site access and internal circulation shall be designed in a manner which emphasizes safety and efficiency. Consideration shall be given to the separation of employee/customer parking and commercial vehicle operation (trucking, delivery and etc.).

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

On-site pedestrian circulation systems shall be provided to meet the movement needs of the on-site users. Such systems shall provide safe, all-weathered surfaces and aesthetically pleasing means of on-site foot travel. Pedestrian walkways shall be an integrated part of the overall architecture and site design concept.

B.

Continuous internal pedestrian walkways no less than eight feet in width shall be provided from the sidewalk and/or street used by the public to the pedestrian entrance of all buildings on the site.

C.

The walkways shall feature adjoining landscaped areas to enhance the appearance of the walkway areas and must have adequate lighting.

D.

To the maximum extent feasible, pedestrian and vehicles shall be separated through provisions of a walkway. Where complete separations of pedestrian and vehicles are not feasible, hazards shall be minimized by using landscaping, bollards, special paving, lighting and other means to clearly delineate pedestrian areas.

E.

All internal pedestrian walkways shall be distinguished by the use of durable, low maintenance surface materials such as pavers, bricks stamped asphalt, scored concrete, or similar architectural treatments to enhance pedestrian safety and comfort as well as the attractiveness of the walkways.

F.

Walkways shall connect focal points of pedestrian activity.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

Plazas are encouraged as a site amenity and design detail. Buildings shall be arranged to include opportunities for plazas and outdoor eating areas for pedestrians with such amenities as outdoor seating, landscaping, shade structures, arbors, and special lighting, whenever possible.

B.

Outdoor employee break areas shall be located away from loading areas or other high vehicular traffic areas.

C.

Specialty decorative paving materials shall be used to enhance and identify building entries, plazas, seating areas and the like.

D.

Activity-generating uses such as retail shops, restaurants shall be located at the edges of plazas.

E.

Physical access shall be provided from the sidewalk used by the public to plazas.

F.

Visual features, such as public art, a fountain, and etc., shall be incorporated in plazas to attract pedestrians.

G.

Shade trees or other elements providing relief from the sun shall be incorporated within plazas, in a manner that does not impair pedestrian movement.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

The provisions of this section are applicable to residential uses.

A.

Open space areas shall be used to visually unify a development, link development clusters and provide enhanced pedestrian circulation within the development.

B.

Neighborhood open space areas shall tie into citywide open space systems such as public parks, trails and etc.

C.

The location of all open space areas shall take into account climatic factors such as sun orientation and prevailing winds.

D.

Common open space areas shall be readily accessible from all buildings with the maximum number of units possible sited adjacent to the common open space areas.

E.

Common open space shall be convenient to the majority of units.

F.

Each unit shall provide usable private open space areas. These private spaces shall be directly accessible from the unit, screen from public view for privacy, and shall be a minimum of two hundred square feet in size for outdoor living activities.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

A.

The scale and nature of landscape materials shall be appropriate to the site and structure. Native plant materials and other plant species which are well adapted to local climatic conditions are preferable. Drought tolerant landscape materials shall be used as much as possible.

B.

Elements such as mature trees, tree grouping, and etc. shall be considered in the design of the project. Where feasible, significant existing landscape elements shall be preserved and incorporated into development and landscape plans.

C.

Landscaping of parking areas shall include a combination of trees, shrubs and groundcovers. All parking areas shall provide interior landscaping for shade purposes and aesthetic enhancement.

D.

To soften the edge between the parking lot areas and the building, landscaping shall be provided at building perimeters visible by streets used by the public. A minimum ten-foot wide landscape strip shall be provided around the entire base of buildings to soften the edge between the parking areas and the structure.

E.

A perimeter landscape buffer planting area shall be provided along all sides of the property boundaries. A minimum ten-foot wide landscape strip from the edge of the property lines, along all sides of the property shall be required. Property boundaries adjacent to residentially zoned parcels shall provide a fifteen-foot wide landscape strip. Planting area shall consist of a combination of medium to large scale trees, shrubs and groundcover.

F.

Views of parking areas from streets used by the public shall be buffered by a minimum fifteen-foot wide landscape strip in order to reduce the visual impact of large parking areas.

G.

Parking areas shall be enhanced with clustered landscaped areas such as finger planting islands, and curbed planting areas equal to the width and depth of one parking stall along with additional landscaping throughout the parking area. Planting areas shall be placed at each end of a parking row and shall contain a maximum of ten contiguous parking spaces without curbed parking planting areas.

H.

Wheel stops shall be used adjacent to tree wells and planter areas to protect landscaping from vehicular overhangs. A planter curb may be used for car overhangs provided the five-foot minimum clear planting area is maintained.

I.

Landscaping shall be protected from vehicular and pedestrian encroachment by raised planting surfaces and the use of curbs.

J.

Street parkways and common lots, such as detention/retention basins, shall be provided with landscaping consisting of decorative gravels, living groundcovers, shrubs and trees.

K.

For security reasons, openings shall be incorporated into the landscaping in order to permit clear views into the site.

L.

Any landscape element that dies, or is otherwise removed, shall be promptly replaced with the same, if not similar, to height or texture element as originally intended.

M.

All landscaped areas within a development shall be required to have a permanent installed automatic irrigation system to ensure plant survival.

N.

Parking areas shall include landscaping that accents the importance of driveways from the street, frames the major circulation aisles, and highlights pedestrian pathways.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.250 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to residential uses.

A.

The vehicular site entry shall be treated with special landscape elements to soften hard edges and screen views, generate visual interest, and give individual identity to the project such as special paving, graphic signage, specialty lighting, specimen trees, flowering plants, walls, shrubs and etc. This entry feature shall be designed to assist passing motorists to easily identify the development, and create a distinctive image of a particular residential development.

B.

A landscaped entry median shall be installed at all designated residential development entrances.

C.

Landscaping shall be installed with the initial construction of each dwelling. A minimum of sod, one twenty-four-inch box tree and one fifteen-gallon tree shall be provided in the front yard of each dwelling along with an automatic irrigation system.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

In addition to Section 18.61.250 of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to commercial and industrial uses.

A.

Landscaping for commercial and industrial uses shall be used to define specific areas such as entrances to buildings and parking lot areas, define the edges of various land uses, provide transition between neighboring properties (buffering), and provide screening for loading and equipment areas.

B.

When industrial buildings and/or loading dock areas are located adjacent to residential uses, a minimum ten-foot wide landscape strip with a minimum eight-foot high masonry wall shall be required.

C.

When indoor and outdoor storage facilities are located adjacent to or across a street or intersection from any residentially zoned land or any existing public school, private school, public park, or public open space intended for public park and recreational use, the provisions of Chapter 18.112 shall be followed.

(Ord. 1382 § 1 (part), 2006)

(Ord. No. 1653, § 3[4], 1-26-21)