1. Purpose. The Archer Avenue Overlay District is established to provide specific development standards and guidelines for commercial, multi-family residential and mixed land uses within its boundaries. The Archer Avenue corridor is one of the primary ways through which individuals enter and traverse Willow Springs. Specific land uses and design controls should adhere to the principles and guidelines described in the "Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the Archer Avenue Zoning Study." The procedures and standards that govern the Archer Avenue Overlay are set forth in 9A-1-9. Site Plan Review. Consistent with 9A-1-9, properties classified as R-1 are excluded from the regulations of the Archer Avenue Overlay District. The Archer Avenue Overlay District is established to:
   1. Maintain and create an environment that is distinct from the village center and other vicinities within the Village;
   2. Create an environment that is appealing, economically viable, pedestrian friendly, and generously landscaped;
   3. Improve the quality of both existing and future uses;
   4. To promote safe and efficient travel for all modes of transportation within the District; and
   5. To promote innovative development and redevelopment projects and set high standards for landscaping, public space, and open space.
2. Boundaries. The Archer Avenue Overlay District shall be established on the Official Zoning Map of the Village of Willow Springs and are illustrated in Illustration I below:
3. General Requirements. All uses shall be subject to the use limitation set forth in the underlying zoning districts.
4. Uses. Permitted and special uses within the Archer Avenue Overlay District shall be the same as the underlying zoning.
5. The following standards for the Archer Avenue Overlay District shall be applicable to all new structures, all major remodeling, and the use of all land within the Archer Avenue Overlay District as described in 9A-1-9: Site Plan Review, in lieu of comparable or similar standards set forth elsewhere in this Chapter. The use of the word "shall" or "must" in the standards indicates required compliance with the standard. The use of the word "should" indicates that the incorporation of the standard is desired, but compliance is not required.
   1. General Design and Architectural Guidelines are applicable to all uses and are described in Table 1 on the following page.
6. Additional Guidance. Additional design and architectural guidelines that the Village may adopt from time to time shall provide further guidance for and clarification of issues pertaining to the development and redevelopment of land within the Archer Avenue Overlay
7. Parking, Vehicle and Pedestrian Circulation Standards. Parking requirements, vehicle and pedestrian circulation shall be in accordance with the provisions of §9A-1-9 and 9A-9 of the Village Zoning Regulations. Within the Archer Avenue Overlay District the following additional standards shall apply:
   1. Off-street parking in between the building and the street is discouraged; where necessary, it shall be limited to two parallel rows of parking spaces. The preferred locations for off-street parking are behind or to the sides of the building.
   2. When appropriate cross-access easements and the use of shared curb cuts are required between development sites.
   3. Pedestrian circulation systems, such as sidewalks, paths, marked crosswalks, or other connecting outdoor spaces such as plazas, courtyards, squares or gardens, shall be provided within parking lots. These systems shall connect all portions of the site to each of the establishments.
   4. The on-site pedestrian circulation system shall connect with, or make provisions for future pedestrian connection with adjacent properties.
   5. When possible, it is preferable that sidewalks and other pedestrian paved open areas located in front of or adjacent to principal building facades incorporate decorative brick or stone paving.
   6. Landscaped areas, including landscaped parking islands, shall be separated from vehicular and, pedestrian encroachment by curbs, and raised planting surfaces.
   7. The use of permeable paving systems or other innovative storm water management systems is encouraged.
      
      Table 1 - Building Standards for the Archer Avenue Corridor Overlay District
      
      

      Building Orientation and Setbacks
      Building Orientation	Buildings shall be oriented so that their primary facade faces Archer Avenue.
      Setbacks	Setbacks Setbacks shall be in accordance with the provisions for the underlying zoning district. 1. Rear Yard Setback in the B-1 District shall not be less than 10 feet. 2. For properties with parking located adjacent to Archer Avenue and between the street and the principal building, a 30' landscape buffer shall be required. For properties with no parking located between Archer Avenue and the principal building, a 10' landscape buffer shall be required.
      Maximum Impervious Coverage	60%
      Maximum Building Coverage	50%
      Building, Bulk and Appearance
      Building Height	Building height shall be in accordance with the provisions for the underlying zoning district. Building height shall not exceed 35' in the B-1 classification and 35' in the R-2 classification. The building height of new construction should relate to surrounding structures.
      Building and Site Details	Pedestrian-scale elements should be included in the facade or any building elevation fronting a public right-of-way. Examples of such pedestrian-scale elements include decorative lighting, planters, benches, front porches, and awnings.
      Building Mechanicals	Building mechanicals shall be screened from public view. This screening can be achieved by a parapet, when the equipment is on the roof, or by landscaping or decorative walls or fencing when the items are on the ground or mounted on the elevations. Where possible, building mechanicals shall be located at the rear of the building.
      Elevations	Blank, uninterrupted facades or street-facing elevations of more than 100 feet are prohibited. Building facades and elevations facing, a public street shall articulate the line between the ground and upper levels with a cornice, balcony, arcade, or other feature. Facades and street-facing elevations shall incorporate such elements as projections, recesses, and offsets in order to divide flat expanses of buildings.
      Roofs	Uninterrupted roof lines of more than 50 feet are prohibited. Roof lines shall provide visual interest such as clerestories, gables, or other variation.
      Shutters	Shutters, if used, shall be sized and mounted appropriately for the window, and shall be operable.
      Windows	For commercial and office buildings, the front elevation shall provide a minimum of 60 percent window transparency at the ground level. One side elevation shall provide at least 30% transparency. Transparency on other elevations is optional. Transparency is measured in a lineal manner; for example a 100 foot long building shall have at least 60 feet in length of windows.
      Main Entrances	Main entrances shall be located on the façade fronting the main thoroughfare and accessed from the front sidewalk. Secondary entrances may be accessed from a rear parking area.
      Rear Entrance	Secondary entrances shall provide adequate lighting for security, pedestrian safety and decorative purposes. Planters, awnings, and landscaping should be used to identify rear entrances.
      Building Materials	A minimum of seventy percent of each elevation (not including windows) shall be brick, limestone, wood, or other native stone.

8. Utilities. Where feasible, all utilities shall be located underground or in the alley behind a building. If not feasible, the developer shall pay a fee in lieu of locating utilities below ground or in rear alleys.
9. Landscaping Standards. Landscaping and the submission of landscape plans shall be in accordance with the provisions of 8-10-1 through 8-10-10 and 9A-1-9 of Title 9A. Within the Archer Avenue Overlay District the following additional standards shall apply:
   1. Required landscape buffers along Archer Avenue shall be densely planted with a mix of shade trees, evergreens, and ornamental trees. The following standards shall apply to 30' landscape buffers, as required in Table 1 (i.) Setbacks:
10. Sign Standards. The purpose of sign regulations for the Archer Avenue Overlay District is to: Facilitate visual communication, reaching both vehicle passengers and pedestrians, while avoiding visual clutter that is potentially detrimental to the Corridor’s aesthetic and dangerous to circulation; and Promote continuity between signs and building design;
    
    Signs within the Archer Avenue Overlay District shall comply with the specific provisions of Chapter 9A-8 – Sign Regulations and the following standards:
    1. Prohibited Signs in the Archer Avenue Overlay District
       1. All signs prohibited by 9A-8-1 of this chapter; and
       2. Freestanding Pole Signs
    2. Permitted signs in the Archer Avenue Overlay District. Permitted signs shall be in accordance with Chapter 9A-8 and are summarized in accordance with Chapter 9A-8 and are summarized in Table 2 below.
       
       Table 2 – Permitted Signs and Sign Standards in the Archer Avenue Overlay District 
       
       

       Type of Sign	Number	Maximum Area	Maximum Height	Location
       Wall Sign	One wall sign per establishment	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B.1	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B.1	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B.1
       Free-standing Monument Sign	One wall sign per establishment	45 square feet (single-sided); 90 square feet (double-sided)	Shall not exceed 8 feet	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B.2
       Project Sign	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B.4
       Temporary Sign	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B.6
       Canopy or Marquee Sign	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B.5
       Window Sign	In accordance with 9A-8-4 B

    
    
    1. Shopping centers or multi-tenant buildings. For shopping centers or multi-tenant buildings, one freestanding sign per street frontage shall be permitted. Such signs shall accommodate all individual tenants and the maximum display area shall be ninety square feet (single-sided) or one hundred eighty (double-sided). The maximum height may be twelve feet.
       1. Master Sign Plan. A. master sign plan shall be required for the development of shopping centers or multi-tenant buildings. The purpose of a master sign plan is to develop a design theme and unity with the overall character of the shopping center or multi-tenant building.
       2. Contents. The master sign plan shall include plans detailing the size, color, location, illumination, lettering, and landscape design. Signs shall have good scale and proportion and be compatible with the architecture of the shopping center or buildings.
11. Nonconforming Signs. Signs within the Archer Avenue Overlay District that are made nonconforming by this Section shall be allowed to exist for a maximum period of seven years from December 20, 2005. If during that time, a nonconforming sign is removed or replaced, it must conform to the Archer Avenue Overlay Standards. At the conclusion of the seven-year period, nonconforming signs must be replaced or removed. The Village may adopt incentives to encourage the removal of nonconforming signs.
    
    A special use permit may be granted for signs that do not meet the required standards of this Section, but are not necessarily out of character with the intent of the district. The Village may choose to grant a special use permit to allow the continuation of such signs. The Plan Commission must first find that the Nonconforming Sign meets the following requirements: (1) the sign is considered historic and important to the character of the district; (2) it has been adequately maintained and is not in disrepair; (3) it does not create a traffic hazard or problem with visibility; (4) it meets setback requirements of the zoning ordinance; (5) the sign compliments the architecture of the associated building.

(Ord. 2006-O-04)