South Bound Brook City Zoning Code
§ 34-29.4
Character Consistency Assessments.
[Ord. No. 2005-03]
The character of a streetscape shall be determined by assessment of the neighborhood context and its valued traits. Visible objects shall be judged in terms of their fit within the visual context of the neighborhood and their contribution to legibility of the streetscape as a whole. Context is to be judged in terms of:
a.
The type of space (This may include public, semi-public, or private spaces. Semi-public spaces surround streets, street intersections or other plaza types and usually extend from the building set-back line to the street line);
b.
The functions of the space (Functions in semi-public areas may include vehicular or pedestrian travel, passive seating, active play, vehicular parking or decorative features);
c.
The stratification of the space (Visual boundaries may be multi-level, comprised of building facades, tree lines, or distant horizons. Partial or full enclosures may occur at various levels including the pedestrian streetscape level, roofscape level, an intermediate fascia level and a horizon/overhead enclosure. There may also be horizontal levels such as pedestrian level surface or vehicular level surface);
d.
Informational aspects within the space (Functional focal points such as major and minor portals, landmarks, activity areas, and way-finding, cultural or informational features which require contrasting rather than harmonizing treatment to provide salience and reinforce cultural significance);
e.
Needed buffering of interfering activity (The disparate needs of utilitarian areas, private areas, dangerous activity areas and disruptive activity areas which should be buffered, screened or removed);
f.
The uniqueness and diversity of the space (along with the sequential nature of adjoining spaces and the possible need for interesting or exciting transitions).
g.
The range of traits is several key areas as follows:
1.
Cultural character includes visual information that reinforces a sense of space such as function, geography and ethnicity. The presence of various advertising, and regulatory, celebratory, or behavioral messages is to be considered in terms of the economy through icons, logos, and minimization of content and ordering of importance.
2.
Dimensional character relates to the openness of a space on a continuum of size from intimate to grand. Considerations should include scale, proportion and dimensioning of both the horizontal space and of the vertical enclosure elements at the pedestrian streetscape level and higher levels.
3.
Compositional Character is largely defined by the degree of formality/informality of a space. Considerations should include symmetry and balance for both plan and elevation. Contributing aspects include form treatment to including shape, proportion, rhythm, and balance surface treatment including color palette, texture, sheen, and pattern and transparent opening treatment such as glass windows, interior/exterior closures, exposed interior features, transparency and obstructions.
4.
Spatial character relates to physical orientation and way-finding cues within the space including movement cues of repetitive or linear features such as tree lines, hedgegrows or railings.
5.
Temporal character establishes an orientation in time such as period cues for historic coherency such as style, materials and technology, seasonal cues such as plants with variations or holiday decorations, or business hour cues such as illumination levels, gates, or window closures.