Waterloo Jefferson County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
§ 385-25
Architectural design review.
[Added by Ord. No. 97-8]
A.
Developments requiring design review:
(1)
Site and structural development of residential projects having four or more dwelling units.
(2)
Site and structural development in business districts.
(3)
Site and structural development in industrial districts.
(4)
Site and structural development in planned development districts.
(5)
Utility and governmental facilities.
(6)
Those variance cases deemed by the Board of Zoning Appeals to justify design review. Design review shall be advisory to the Board.
(7)
Any parking area, even if not accompanying an otherwise included development, if it has 50 or more parking spaces.
(8)
In addition, design review districts may be designated by ordinance adopted by the Council. Once adopted, design review standards shall apply to such districts within the terms of such designation ordinance.
B.
Administration of design review.
(1)
The Clerk-Treasurer shall advise applicants when they apply for zoning permits or other approvals whether design review applies. If design review applies, the applicant shall be given checklists, application forms and timetables. These documents shall have prior Plan Commission approval as to format and content. This application form shall note that a fee as stated in the City of Waterloo Fee Schedule must accompany the application.[1] Applicants may request and have preapplication conferences with staff.
[Amended 11-17-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-4]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Fee Schedule is on file at the office of the City Clerk-Treasurer.
(2)
Completed applications and supporting materials shall be reviewed by staff prior to placement on the Plan Commission agenda. Staff must be satisfied that a complete packet of information will be available to the Plan Commission prior to the commencement of the Commission meeting at which the item is set for decision review.
(3)
The Plan Commission shall review applications set for design review. Following such review, discussions with applicants and agents, and discussion within the Plan Commission and with staff, the Commission shall render a decision of approval, conditional approval or rejection. Decisions shall be in writing and shall identify those elements of the approved design which the Commission intends to be mandatory. The Clerk-Treasurer shall have applicants sign acknowledgments of receipt of the written Plan Commission design review decision prior to issuance of a zoning/building permit.
(4)
A project that has had design review and that has a zoning/building permit is approved for execution only in accordance with the directives included in the design approval. Construction or execution that deviates from directives may not occur within the terms of this section without prior City approval. The Clerk-Treasurer is responsible for determining whether to give staff approval to such deviations on a finding that they are minor variations as to the Plan Commission's decision or whether full Plan Commission review and approval are needed upon a finding that the deviations are major.
C.
Design review standards.
(1)
Jurisdictions. Design review applies to exterior structural and design features, landscaping and site planning.
(2)
Directives. The following specific design standards are established and are intended to be applied in the informed judgment of the Plan Commission:
(a)
The land forms and landscape shall be preserved in their natural state, insofar as practicable, by minimizing soil and tree removal that is not essential to project development and by retaining grades and contours in keeping with the general appearance of neighboring developed areas.
(b)
Building masses and long, straight building fronts and sides (relative to the overall length of the building) that are visually accessible shall be broken up and made more variegated with staggerings and offsets, with landscaping or surficial features or with accumulation of mass in the form of smaller related units. This is a directive standard as to residential and commercial structures and those industrial structures that are visually accessible to larger volumes of traffic and a recommendatory standard to industrial buildings within the center core of industrial districts.
(c)
Within residential properties, parking areas that are located in front of street-side yards shall have landscape screening and/or screening by fencing having decorative character to soften views of parked vehicles. All design reviewed parking lots shall have decorative landscape treatment at the perimeter of the lot and, for larger lots, in island areas within the lot, to provide breakup of the expanse of paving.
(d)
Rooftop mechanical equipment that will be readily visible when viewed from ground level from other properties or from major public ways should be softened by screening or covered in a manner that forms an integral part of the building design.
(e)
External garbage or refuse containers shall be screened by walls, fences, berms or effective landscaping, or combinations thereof.
(f)
Landscaping. Each project subject to design review shall provide landscaping of sufficient height and density to accomplish positive visual impact within three years from the time of planting.
(g)
All developments and occupancies subject to design review shall plan and construct so that surface drainage positively drains from structures and so that compliance is achieved with the erosion control and stormwater drainage requirements of this Code.
(h)
The following principles of landscape design are stated as guides to be applied with discretion by the Plan Commission, taking into account how visible the site is to public view, sensitivity of neighboring properties and the cost considerations. Parks Commission preferences on species shall be made available in writing to project applicants.
[1]
Overhead canopy trees contribute to a pattern within the neighborhood and streetscape focus plants (trees or shrubs) accomplish screening of less attractive elements, afford privacy, noise control and windbreak, soften transitions from vertical to horizontal features and create visual focal points.
[2]
Ground plane plants (lawn, ground cover, etc.) provide lower level continuity and retard soil erosion.
[3]
Terraces, trellises, walks, drives, garden walls and berms and related elements increase variety.
(i)
Storage of materials, fuel, scrap, inoperative vehicles and similar objects in places that are readily visible from major public rights-of-way or parts of neighboring properties where a significant amount of viewing is expected shall be minimized and, where necessary, shall be reasonably screened. Where other portions of this section establish more stringent standards, the other portions shall govern.
(j)
Exterior lighting, when used, shall be established, directed and maintained so as not to be cast directly on public rights-of-way or occupied structures or neighboring properties or be lighted in intensity or colors seriously disturbing to neighboring properties.
D.
Recommendations. Other features of site design and construction, building and structural design and construction and landscaping that are not listed under directives may also be addressed by Plan Commission advisory suggestions within the design review process upon a finding that the suggestion would be desirable to make the development a positive asset to the visual appearance of the community and positive contribution to the growth and stability of the community tax base.