Unless otherwise specified herein, the provisions of this article apply to all construction, expansion or renovation of principal buildings in the R, VR, VMU, and VC Districts, and to the construction of new linear buildings in the CMU District. This article does not apply to routine maintenance or repair of a structure required by normal wear and tear that does not involve a change in design, size, building materials, or outward architectural appearance of the structure.

For districts that are exempt from these standards, the provisions of this article should be used as design guidelines for new construction since they outline building practices that are traditional to the Village.

New buildings shall be compatible with the siting pattern of neighboring buildings as seen from the street. Maintaining a uniform setback of buildings along the street provides a sense of enclosure which enables the street to function as a pedestrian-scaled outdoor room, a fundamental component for a vibrant pedestrian life. To maintain a harmonious street front, the front yard setback and, in the case of corner lots, the side street setback, of the principal building from the street shall be consistent with the prevailing setback on the block face as follows:

In the VC District, a minimum of 80% frontage build-out is required along a primary street and, in the case of a corner lot, a minimum of 30% frontage build-out is required along a side street.

Up to 50% of the width of the primary or secondary facade may be counted as meeting the frontage percentage requirement even though it may be set back up to 10 feet further from the front lot line than that facade's principal plane. The location of the facade's principal plane is not changed by facade extensions such as bay windows, awnings, porches, balconies, stoops, or galleries, or by upper stories that are closer to or farther from the lot line.

For parcels that may contain multiple buildings in different phases in the VC District, an overall illustrative sketch, showing proposed building locations and site circulation, shall be prepared to ensure that the frontage build-out is being met as closely as possible. These buildings will not be required to be built out all at once, and may be phased over time. The illustrative sketch is subject to future modifications as long as the intent of this standard continues to be met; this will be evaluated by the Planning Board as each individual project phase is designed.

Each building shall incorporate a similar level of architectural detailing on all sides that are visible from a public street. Blank walls void of architectural details or other variation are prohibited.

With the exception of theaters, all commercial and mixed-use buildings with a primary facade greater than 40 feet in width in the VMU and VC Districts, and all linear buildings in the CMU District, shall be designed to appear as a group of attached buildings with a change of architectural expression as follows:

Maximum building width in the VR District shall be as specified in Table 6.[1]

In the VR and VMU Districts, and the portion of the R District that is located in the H-O District, the major roof ridge of the principal building shall be either parallel or perpendicular to the street, consistent with the predominant pattern of 80% of other principal buildings on the same block face.

In the VC District, new principal buildings shall have flat roofs, mansard roofs, or roofs with a slope of less than 15% from horizontal, consistent with the predominant pattern of existing buildings in the district. In the case of flat roofs and roofs with a slope of less than 15%, a parapet shall be constructed along each facade facing a public street.

On existing buildings, original roof forms, profiles, and cornices shall be maintained to the maximum extent practicable.

False mansard-style roofs shall be prohibited.

Every principal building shall feature a visually prominent main building entrance on the primary facade. The main building entrance shall include one or more operating pedestrian entry doors.

The main building entrance shall directly face and be clearly visible from a street. The Planning Board may approve a main building entrance facing a public space that includes a central garden or courtyard, when that public space opens directly onto the street.

In the case of corner lots, buildings shall use design elements to emphasize the importance of both streets, but shall be designed and oriented with an emphasis on the primary street.

The location of the main building entrance on the building facade shall be emphasized with at least two or more of the following techniques: awning, portico, archway, or similar projection that provides architectural interest and protection from the weather for pedestrians; projecting or recessed entry; outdoor features such as seat walls or landscaping; other comparable techniques.

The main building entrance shall be prominently located, easily identifiable, related to the human scale, and contribute to the overall design intent.

There shall be a pedestrian connection (sidewalk or path) between all main building entrances and the closest sidewalk (or street if there is no sidewalk).

To the maximum extent practicable, the main building entrance on mixed-use and nonresidential buildings shall be at grade or shall seamlessly integrate accessibility for persons with disabilities into the design of the building.

Building entrances for mixed-use buildings shall differentiate entrances for residential and commercial uses, with the entrances for the commercial uses given greater prominence.

With the exception of transom windows and attic windows, all windows shall be vertically proportioned (taller than they are wide). Vertically proportioned window openings appear to be structurally supported, and they help to exaggerate the height of a building and more evenly distribute light to the interior of the structure.

To maximum extent practicable, upper story windows shall be vertically aligned with windows and doors on the ground floor, including shopfront windows, as illustrated in Figure V-3. Windows on any given floor facing a primary street shall be symmetrically placed, and all windows except shopfront windows shall be the same size.

For building reconstruction or renovation, original window and door arrangements shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable.

Window replacements shall match, to the maximum extent practicable, existing window size, style and configuration.

Windows and doors shall not be boarded up, unless required by the Code Enforcement Officer.

Facade transparency is the minimum percent of a street-facing facade that must be comprised of transparent windows and doors. The percentage of transparency shall be calculated per story within the area between finished floor and finished ceiling of the story, and shall be a total percentage of transparent windows and doors along that portion of the facade, as illustrated in Figure V-3. Facade transparency shall be maintained without interior or exterior obstructions that limit visibility, including, but not limited to, temporary window signs comprising more than 10% of the glass, interior shelving, or window coverings (excluding window shades or blinds) during hours of business operation.

In the VC District and for linear buildings in the CMU District, all front building facades that face a state road shall meet the minimum facade transparency requirements listed below and as illustrated in Figure V-3A, unless the structure was originally designed and constructed for residential use, in which case the existing window pattern shall be retained:

In the VC District, all front building facades that face any street other than a state road shall meet the minimum facade transparency requirements listed below and as illustrated in Figures V-3A and B, unless the structure was originally designed and constructed for residential use, in which case the existing window pattern shall be retained:

Awnings shall be continuous above openings below. Breaks in awnings shall coincide with breaks in facade openings below.

Awnings shall be self-supporting. No support poles may be located in the right-of-way.

Awnings may extend into a required setback.

Awnings may encroach over the public right-of-way, provided they extend no closer than two feet to the street edge or curb. Awnings that encroach over the public right-of-way require approval of the public entity that has control over the right-of-way.

Awnings over shopfronts shall be a minimum of three feet in depth as measured from the front building facade, and shall have a minimum underside vertical clearance of eight feet measured from the sidewalk, as illustrated in Figure V-4.

Awnings on multi-story buildings shall not extend in height above the window sill of the next story above. Awnings on single-story buildings shall not extend in height above the cornice of the building.

Awnings shall not be internally illuminated or backlit.

Awnings may be retractable (or have the appearance of a traditional retractable awning), in which case they shall be made of traditional (canvas-like) materials, or they may be a structured cantilevered shed roof made of solid materials. In either case, awnings shall have a traditional design and color. High-gloss or plasticized fabrics are prohibited.

Rounded and hooped awnings are prohibited.

Original architectural trimwork and detailing shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable.

All new siding shall be installed in a manner that preserves original trimwork, such as window crowns, corner boards, dentils, modillions, brackets, ornamental cornices, or other design features of distinction.

In the VMU and VC Districts, building elevations fronting or visible from public streets shall be clad with stone, brick, cementitious siding, and/or wood.

New buildings shall include trimwork such as window crowns, corner boards, dentils, modillions, brackets, ornamental cornices, or other design features appropriate to the architectural style of the building.

Linear buildings in the CMU District shall meet the following additional standards:

This section establishes the allowed frontage types for each zoning district. Frontage types are building elements located on the front facade of the principal building and in the area between the front facade and the front or side street lot line. Frontage types create the transition between the public street and the private realm, as illustrated in Figure V-6. They establish the physical and functional relationship between the street and the private lot, and support an active pedestrian environment.

Frontage types set forth in this section include: porch, stoop, shopfront, officefront, and gallery. Required frontage types for all principal building facades that face a street are listed below and summarized in Table 12. Specific standards for each frontage type are provided in the attached Tables 13 to 17;[1] all buildings and sites where frontage types are required shall be designed, built and maintained per the applicable requirements of these tables.