West Haven City Zoning Code
DESIGN REVIEW
§ 157.730 PURPOSE.
The purpose and intent of this subchapter is to ensure that the general design, layout and appearance of buildings and structures are compatible with their surroundings and aid the orderly and harmonious development of the city.
(Prior Code, § 54.02) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)
§ 157.731 APPLICATION; REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
(A) All proposals in commercial or manufacturing zones shall be subject to the provisions of this subchapter.
(B) Regardless of the zone underlying the land use, the following uses, including any accessory uses thereto, shall be subject to the provisions of this subchapter:
(1) Multi-family dwellings; and
(2) Public and quasi-public uses.
(C) The following shall be submitted as part of all applications for projects subject to the provisions of this subchapter, further details of which are found in this subchapter:
(1) A preliminary site plan containing the following:
(a) Building locations and elevations. Elevations shall show:
1. Building materials and colors; and
2. Elevation drawings shall also contain a table showing ratio and percentages of each material/color.
(b) Landscaping plans shall contain a table showing types, numbers and percentages of each landscape material, as well as the percentage of total site landscaping;
(c) Parking; and
(d) Signage.
(2) Once the applicant has received approval of their preliminary site plan from the Planning Commission, they shall proceed to prepare civil drawings and shall present those to the Planning Commission to receive approval of the final site plan.
(D) All applications for site plan approval shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission, with the following exceptions:
(1) All buildings or combination of buildings which total over 40,000 square feet on a single parcel. After first being presented to and receiving a recommendation from the Planning Commission, the City Council shall review and may approve, deny or approve with conditions site plans for these buildings.
(2) Any requests for building materials not otherwise considered as a primary or secondary material. After first being presented to and receiving a recommendation from the Planning Commission, the City Council shall review and may approve, deny or approve with conditions any requests for alternate building materials.
(E) The Planning Commission shall determine whether the proposed architectural and site development plans submitted are consistent with this subchapter and with the general objectives of this subchapter and shall give or withhold approval accordingly. Denial may be appealed to the City Council.
(F) No building, occupancy or other land use permit shall be issued until the proposed project has received approval under the terms of this subchapter.
(Prior Code, § 54.04) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)
§ 157.732 EXCEPTIONS.
Projects subject to conditional use and/or planned unit development approval shall have site plan and design review incorporated into such review. Such projects shall be required to meet the requirements of this subchapter.
(Prior Code, § 54.06) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)
§ 157.733 STANDARDS OF REVIEW.
The Planning Commission shall consider the following matters, and others when applicable, in its review of applications and where the plan is found deficient the plan design shall be amended or conditions imposed to mitigate such deficiencies when considering:
(A) Traffic safety and circulation.
(1) Does the site plan comply with the West Haven City Engineering Design Standards and Specifications related to traffic ingress, egress and internal circulation?
(2) A traffic study may be required, if in the opinion of the Planning Commission, with input from the City Engineer, such would be necessary.
(B) Parking. Does the site plan comply with city ordinances regarding design, location and number of parking stalls required?
(C) Signage. Does the proposed signage meet the requirements of the city sign ordinance?
(D) Landscaping.
(1) The following landscaping shall be provided in each project subject to the provisions of this subchapter:
(a) Front yard. Landscaping shall be required along the entire frontage of the lot, except for the frontage required for ingress/egress. Said landscaping shall be a minimum of 15 feet deep, calculated from the property line.
(b) Side/rear yards. There shall be a minimum of five feet of landscaping between parking areas and side or rear property lines (except between commercial uses where said landscaping is not visible from areas of public access) and a minimum of five feet of landscaping between an access driveway and a side or rear property line unless said driveway is to be used for common access by an adjacent lot.
(c) Parking area landscaping. Landscaping within all parking and driveway areas shall comprise a minimum 5% of the total square footage of those areas and shall be placed within those parking areas to break up the mass of asphalt.
(2) Where possible, developers are encouraged to preserve existing, healthy trees.
(3) Developers are encouraged to take current drought and other environmental conditions into account when preparing a landscaping plan.
(4) Landscape plans shall include a minimum of three items from the following list:
(a) Trees;
(b) Decorative rock and boulders (gravel and pea gravel are not permitted);
(c) Shrubs;
(d) Groundcover; and
(e) Grass (artificial or other).
(E) Building/site layout.
(1) All buildings shall be designed with breaks in the facade. This may be accomplished through a change in building materials, actual breaks in the facade, a mix of roofline projections.
(2) All mechanical equipment shall be screened so as to not be seen from any public right-of- way adjacent to the project.
(3) Developers are encouraged to keep in mind visual compatibility with existing development when preparing the site layout and architectural elevations of proposed buildings.
(4) Buildings which are located within 100 feet of the centerline of the following roads shall be designed so it appears the front of the building faces the street, regardless of how the building is actually oriented:
(a) 2550 South;
(b) Midland Drive;
(c) 4000 South;
(d) 3500 West;
(e) 1900 West;
(f) 2100 South/Wilson Lane;
(g) 1800 South; and
(h) Hinckley Drive.
(F) Engineering standards. Does the site plan comply with the West Haven City Engineering Design Standards and Specifications related to utility easements, drainage and other engineering requirements?
(G) Governing documents. Is the site subject to a master development agreement or any conditions or agreements related to the property?
(Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)
§ 157.734 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.
Design approval may include such other conditions consistent with the considerations of this subhapter as the Commission or Planning Director deem reasonable and necessary under the circumstances to carry out the intent of this subchapter.
(A) Building materials. New buildings shall be designed and constructed to meet the following criteria.
(1) Building exteriors shall be designed and constructed with primary and secondary building materials from the list of building materials in division (C) below.
(2) The front elevation, as well as any other elevation which faces the street shall be constructed of a minimum of 60% primary materials, with a maximum of 40% secondary materials.
(3) Windows and doors shall be excluded from the calculation of exterior building material requirements. Non-functioning, decorative only windows may be included in the calculation of building materials.
(4) A maximum of six colors for the primary materials may be permitted.
(5) Secondary materials shall be of a complementary hue and shade to primary building materials. A maximum of four accent colors may be allowed for secondary materials.
(6) A minimum of 15% of the front elevation, as well as any side or rear elevation which faces the street or major corridor, shall consist of upgraded architectural features as defined in division (C) below. See division (B) below for those streets which constitute major corridors.
(7) Non-primary elevations which do not face the street or major corridor shall consist of at least 5% upgraded architectural features as defined in division (C) below. See division (B) below for those streets which constitute major corridors
(B) Major corridor requirements. Projects which are adjacent to, or located within 400 feet of the centerline of 2100 South/Wilson Lane, 1800 South, 1900 West, Midland Drive, 3500 West, 4000 South, Hinckley Drive and 2550 South shall be subject to the following additional requirements. Any building face which can be seen from the above-referenced roads shall be constructed of a minimum of 60% primary materials.
(C) Materials list and architectural features.
(1) Primary materials. Shall include, but are not limited to:
(a) Architectural insulated metal panels;
(b) Brick;
(c) Concrete masonry unit (CMU), if it is textured to have the appearance of a different material;
(d) Glass;
(e) Rock;
(f) Stone (may be natural or manufactured);
(g) Fiber cement siding, if used in a craftsman style of architecture; and
(h) Engineered wood siding, if used in a craftsman style of architecture.
(2) Secondary materials. May include, but shall not be limited to:
(a) Concrete;
(b) Non-insulated corrugated and ribbed metal;
(c) Fiber cement siding, if used in a non-craftsman architectural style;
(d) Engineered wood siding, if used in a non-craftsman architectural style;
(e) Stucco;
(f) Tile; and
(g) Wood.
(3) Upgraded architectural features. May include, but shall not be limited to:
(a) Alternating brick patterns;
(b) Archways;
(c) Awnings;
(d) Bays;
(e) Canopies;
(f) Corbels;
(g) Cornices;
(h) Decorative art (must be permanent);
(i) Donners;
(j) Pillars;
(k) Porte Cocheres;
(l) Porches;
(m) Porticos;
(n) Shutters; and
(o) Timbers.
(4) Minimum. Developers shall have a minimum of three different building materials, not including those which are considered upgraded architectural features.
(5) Alternative materials. Upon recommendation of the Planning Commission, the City Council may approve alternative materials if the Council makes specific findings that the requested material is comparable to or superior to a listed, approved material for the specific development or remodeling project proposed.
(D) Warranty. All exterior materials shall be installed in a professional workmanlike manner and be guaranteed to be maintenance-free for at least ten years. Finishes upon exterior materials shall be guaranteed maintenance-free for a minimum of five years. Materials or finishes without such guarantees shall not be permitted. Guarantees shall be in writing from the manufacturer and a fully executed copy shall be provided to the city.
(Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)
§ 157.735 AGREEMENT FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
Prior to the issuance of any building permit, the developer shall enter into an escrow agreement with the city wherein security shall be provided for any on and off-site public improvements. Occupancy shall not occur until all improvements have either been installed or guaranteed for future installation.
(Prior Code, § 54.14) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)
§ 157.736 TIME LIMITATIONS ON APPROVAL.
If construction of any development for which design approval has been granted has not commenced within 12 months from date of approval, the approval shall be deemed automatically revoked. Upon application, an extension of time may be granted by the Planning Commission, provided such application is made prior to the expiration/revocation of the initial approval.
(Prior Code, § 54.16) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)
§ 157.737 MODIFICATION.
Upon request of the applicant, modifications to the approved plan may be made by the Planning Commission, it is found that the modification will meet requirements of this subchapter. The Planning Commission may revoke or modify a design approval which does not conform to any requirement of the approved permit.
(Prior Code, § 54.22) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 19-2015, passed 10-21-2015; Ord. 06-2022, passed 3-16-2022)