This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in Sections 62.23 and 66.1027 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

(Ord. 2002-02 (part))

The purpose of this district is to allow for development of fully integrated, mixed use pedestrian oriented neighborhoods. The intent is to minimize traffic congestion, suburban sprawl, infrastructure cost and environmental degradation. Its provision adapted urban conventions, which were normally in the United States and the city of River Falls until the 1940's and historically were based on the following design principals:

A.

Neighborhoods have identifiable centers and edges.

B.

Edge lots are readily accessible to retail and recreation by non-vehicular means (a distance not greater than one half mile).

C.

Use and housing types are mixed and in close proximity to one another.

D.

Street networks are interconnected and blocks are small.

E.

Civic buildings are given prominent sites throughout the neighborhood.

(Ord. 2002-02 (part))

A.

The traditional neighborhood development (TND) ordinance is an alternative set of standards for land annexed into the city for development consisting of forty (40) acres or more.

B.

The TND shall be required for those properties located within the neighborhood centers proposed on the future land use map of the sewer service area water quality management plan (October 2000).

C.

All TND developments shall follow the preliminary and final plat procedures listed in this code.

D.

If there is a conflict between standard and design ordinances, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.

(Ord. 2002-02 (part))

The following definitions shall be observed and applied:

"Boulevard" means the portion of the street right-of-way between the back of curb line and sidewalk or property line. The right-of-way shall be a minimum of seven feet for all residential areas.

"Gateway" means a principal point or entrance into a district or neighborhood.

"Gateway building" means a building located at a gateway and that marks the entrance or transition through massing, extended height, use of arches or colonnades, or other distinguishing features.

"Modified grid street pattern" means an interconnected system of streets that is primarily a rectilinear grid and pattern, however, modified in a street layout and block shape as to avoid a monotonous repetition of the basic street/block grid pattern. Street layouts for blocks are generally in the range of two to four hundred (200—400) feet deep by four to eight hundred (400—800) feet long.

"Neighborhood center" means a street containing a mix of uses, including the planned small community's greatest concentration of commercial development. The neighborhood center together with the community park shall form the focus of the traditional neighborhood.

"Parkway" means a landscape median commonly located in the center of a public right-of-way. Parkways vary in width from four to fifteen (15) feet, depending on the street type and intensity of adjacent uses.

"Traditional neighborhood" means a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood, with variable lot widths and sizes, a mix of dwelling unit types, and non-residential uses generally located along a neighborhood center or fronting on a community park. A minimum of two percent and a maximum of ten (10) percent of the gross area of the TND shall be designated for commercial and civic or institution use lots. At least fifty (50) percent of the minimum two percent lots shall be designated for civic or institution use lots. No part of the neighborhood should be more than a fifteen (15) minute walk from the neighborhood center (core).

(Ord. 2002-02 (part))

A.

Neighborhood Uses. In order to make a neighborhood walkable, it is important to mix land uses. Therefore a TND shall consist of three types of land uses: a mix of residential uses, a mixed-use area, and open space. A TND shall have approximately thirty (30) percent of the residential units designated for attached houses (multifamily) and small lot (fifty (50) feet or less in width) detached houses. These land uses types are provided below:

1.

A mix of residential, uses of the following types can occur anywhere in the TND. For infill development, the mix of residential uses may be satisfied by existing residential uses within the TND.

a.

Single-family detached dwellings;

b.

Single-family attached dwellings, including duplexes, twin homes, townhouses, row houses;

c.

Multifamily dwellings, including senior housing;

d.

"Special needs" housing, such as community living arrangements and assisted living facilities.

2.

Mixed-use area, of commercial, residential, civic or institutional, and open space uses as some are identified below. Residents should be within approximately one-half mile or a fifteen (15) minute walk from existing or proposed commercial, civic, and open space areas. Individual commercial businesses shall not exceed six thousand (6,000) square feet in building size. Commercial and civic or institution use lots shall be within or adjacent to a square or park.

a.

Commercial uses:

i.

Food services (such as: neighborhood grocery stores; butcher shops; bakeries; restaurants, not including drive-through; cafes, coffee shops, neighborhood bars or pubs);

ii.

Retail uses (such as: florists or nurseries; hardware stores; stationery stores; book stores; studios and shops of artists and artisans);

iii.

Services (such as: day care centers; music, dance studios; offices, professional and medical; banks; barber; salon; dry cleaning; (gas station(s) and their uses shall be approved by the plan commission and city council at the time of platting and subject to further plan review.);

iv.

Accommodations (such as: bed and breakfast establishments, small hotels or inns).

b.

Residential uses:

i.

Single-family attached dwellings, including duplexes, townhouses, row houses;

ii.

Multifamily dwellings, including senior housing;

iii.

Residential units located on upper floors above commercial uses or to the rear of storefronts;

iv.

"Live/work" (home occupation) units that combine a residence and the resident's workplace;

v.

Residential rental uses.

vi.

"Special needs" housing, such as community living arrangements and assisted living facilities.

c.

Civic or institutional uses:

i.

Municipal offices, police, fire stations, libraries, museums, community meeting facilities, and post offices (these may be substations);

ii.

Transit shelters;

iii.

Places of worship;

iv.

Educational facilities (if required by school district).

d.

Open space uses:

i.

Central square;

ii.

Neighborhood park;

iii

Playground.

3.

Open Space, uses identified below should be incorporated in the traditional neighborhood development as appropriate. Large outdoor recreation areas should be located at the periphery of neighborhoods rather than central locations.

a.

Environmental and scenic corridors;

b.

Protected natural areas—conservancy parks;

c.

Community parks;

d.

Streams, ponds, and other water bodies;

e.

Storm water detention/retention facilities.

B.

Development Units. The number of residential dwelling units and the amount of nonresidential development (excluding open spaces) shall be determined as follows:

1.

Mixed residential uses:

a.

The number of single-family attached and detached units permitted shall be three to six dwelling units per net acre;

b.

The number of multifamily units shall be medium six to nine and high nine to twelve dwelling units per net acre;

2.

Mixed-use areas.

a.

The number of single-family and multifamily dwelling units permitted shall be calculated the same as above.

b.

All dwelling units constructed above commercial uses shall be permissible in addition to the number of dwelling units authorized under this section. However, the total number of dwelling units shall not be increased by more than ten (10) percent, whichever is greater.

C.

Parkland. Parkland shall be dedicated in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 16.20. Ninety (90) percent of the lots within the areas devoted to mixed residential use shall be within a one-half mile or a fifteen (15) minute walk from common open space dedicated for park purposes.

D.

Lot and Block Standards.

1.

Block and Lot Size Diversity. Street layouts should provide for perimeter blocks that are generally in the range of two to four hundred (200—400) feet deep by four eight hundred (400—800) feet long. A variety of lot sizes throughout the TND shall be provided to facilitate housing diversity and choice and meet the projected requirements of people with different housing needs. No block face shall have a length greater than five hundred (500) feet without a dedicated alley or pathway providing through access.

2.

Lot Widths. Lot widths should create a relatively symmetrical street cross section that reinforces the public space of the street as a simple, unified public space.

3.

Building Setback, Front-Mixed Use Area. Structures in mixed use area have no minimum setback. Commercial and civic or institutional buildings should abut the sidewalks in mixed-use area.

4.

Building, Setback, Front-Mixed Residential Uses. Single-family and multifamily residences shall have a building setback in the front between zero and twenty-five (25) feet.

5.

Building Setback, Rear-Mixed Residential Uses. The principal building on lots devoted to single-family detached residences shall be setback no less than thirty (30) feet from the rear lot line. All other building shall be setback minimum of five feet.

6.

Side Setbacks. Provision for zero lot-line single-family dwellings should be made, provided that a reciprocal access easement is recorded for both lots and townhouses or other attached dwellings, provided that all dwellings have pedestrian access to the rear yard through means other than the principal structure. A corner lot shall comply with this code.

E.

Circulation Standards. The circulation system shall allow for different modes of transportation. The circulation system shall provide functional and visual links within the residential areas, mixed use area, and open space of TND and shall be connected to existing and proposed external development. The circulation system shall provide adequate traffic capacity, provide connected pedestrian and bicycle routes (especially offstreet bicycle or multi-use paths or bicycle lanes on the streets), control through traffic, limit lot access to streets of lower traffic volumes and promote safe and efficient mobility through the TND. The applicant shall show compliance with this section, this code, and city plans (bicycle and pedestrian plan, park and recreation plan and sewer service plan and city master plan) by submitting a circulation plan. The following provisions also apply:

1.

Pedestrian Circulation. Convenient pedestrian circulation systems that minimize pedestrian-motor vehicle conflicts shall be provided continuously throughout the TND. Where feasible, any existing pedestrian routes through the site shall be preserved and enhanced. A minimum of a five foot-wide sidewalk shall be provided on both sides of all streets.

2.

Bicycle Circulation. Bicycle circulation shall be accommodated on streets and/or on dedicated bicycle paths.

3.

Public Transit Access. Where public transit service is available or planned, convenient access to transit stops shall be provided. Where transit shelters are provided, they shall be placed in highly visible locations that promote security through surveillance, and shall be well lighted.

4.

Motor Vehicle Circulation. Motor vehicle circulation shall be designed to minimize conflicts with pedestrians and bicycles. Traffic calming features such as "queuing streets," curb extensions, traffic circles, center turn lanes, and medians may be used to encourage slow traffic speeds.

F.

Parking Requirements. Parking areas for shared or community use should be encouraged. In addition:

1.

Mixed-use area. In a mixed-use area any parking lot shall be located at the rear or side of a building. If located at the side, screening shall be provided. [Refer to landscaping and screening standards below]

2.

Parking lot or garage. A parking lot or garage located adjacent to or opposite a street intersection shall be landscaped and screened.

3.

Parking plan, A parking plan shall be submitted by the applicant showing compliance with this code.

4.

Service access. Access for service vehicles should provide a direct route to serve and loading dock areas, while avoiding movement through parking areas. Alleyways may be provided in commercial and residential area for service vehicles, utilities, and other uses.

5.

Paving. Reduction of impervious surfaces through the use of interlocking pavers is strongly encouraged for areas such as remote parking lots and parking areas for periodic uses.

G.

Architectural Standards. Due to the mixed-use nature of the development, architectural compatibility is necessary in order to visually integrate development and allow for proximity of varied uses. The design style of the TND shall be conveyed with drawing or computer simulations of typical proposed building elevations (including dimensions of building height and width, and facade treatment).

1.

Guidelines for Existing Structures. Existing structures, if determined to be historic or architecturally significant, shall be protected from demolition or encroachment by incompatible structures or landscape development. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties shall be used as the criteria for renovating historic or architecturally significant structures.

2.

Guidelines for New Structures.

a.

Entries and Facades.

i.

For commercial buildings the architectural features, materials, and the articulation of a building shall be continued on all sides visible from a public street.

ii.

The front facade of the principal building on any lot in a TND shall face onto a public street.

iii.

The front facade shall not be oriented to face directly toward a parking lot.

iv.

Porches, pent roofs, roof overhangs, hooded front doors or other similar architectural elements shall define the front entrance to all residences.

v.

For commercial buildings, a minimum of fifty (50) percent of the front facade on the ground floor shall be transparent, consisting of window or door openings allowing views into and out of the interior.

vi.

For commercial structures on opposite sides of the same street should follow similar design guidelines. This provision shall not apply to buildings bordering civic uses.

3.

Guidelines for Exterior Signage. A comprehensive sign program is required for the entire TND that establishes a uniform sign theme. Signs shall share a common style (e.g., size, shape, material). Signs for commercial uses shall be wall signs or cantilever signs. Cantilever signs shall be mounted perpendicular to the building face and shall not exceed eight square feet.

4.

Guidelines for Lighting. Street lighting shall be provided along all streets. Generally more, smaller lights, as opposed to fewer, high-intensity lights, should be used. Street lights shall be installed on both sides of the street at intervals of not greater than seventy-five (75) feet. Street lighting design shall meetthe minimum standards developed by the Illumination Engineering Society. Lighting structures shall be architecturally compatible with the surrounding area. Lighting shall be shielded and directed downward in order to reduce glare onto adjacent properties.

H.

Landscaping and Screening Standards. Overall composition and location of landscaping shall complement the scale of the development and its surroundings. In general, larger, well-placed contiguous planting areas shall be preferred to smaller, disconnected areas. Where screening is required by this ordinance, it shall be at least three feet in height, unless otherwise specified. Required screening shall be at least fifty (50) percent opaque throughout the year. Required screening shall be satisfied by one or some combination of a decorative fence not less than fifty (50) percent opaque behind a continuous landscaped area, a masonry wall, or a hedge.

1.

Street Trees. Street Trees shall be planted in accordance to the requirement of this code.

2.

Parking Area Landscaping and Screening. All parking and loading areas fronting public streets or sidewalks, and all paving and loading areas abutting residential district or uses, shall be in conformance with the parking standards and landscape requirements contained in this code.

(Ord. 2002-02 (part))

(Ord. No. 2022-08, § 3, 8-23-2022)