Sec. 63.110. - Building design standards.
(a) A primary entrance of principal structures must:
(1) Be located within the front third of the structure unless a pedestrian-oriented courtyard is provided in that area that leads directly to a primary entrance;
(2) Be delineated with elements such as porches, roof overhangs, pent roofs, hooded front doors, recessed entries, landscaping, or similar design features that relate to the human scale; and
(3) Have a direct pedestrian connection to the sidewalk along the abutting street. The connection must not require pedestrians to cross drives or other vehicular movements unless the structure is for an industrial use or its closest wall is located more than three hundred (300) feet from the sidewalk.
(b) One-family, two-family, and multiple-family dwellings with up to six (6) units are also subject to the following standards:
(1) A primary entrance must either face an improved abutting street or be located off of a front porch, foyer, courtyard, or similar architectural feature, and set back at least eight (8) feet from the side lot line.
(2) Remodeling, additions or other alterations to the front facade of existing buildings must be done in a manner that is compatible with the original scale, massing, detailing and materials of the original building.
(3) Front yard areas located between the principal building and the street must be landscaped.
(c) For principal buildings, above grade window and door openings must comprise at least fifteen (15) percent of the total area of exterior walls facing a public street or sidewalk. In addition, for new principal residential buildings, above grade window and door openings must comprise at least ten (10) percent of the total area of all exterior walls. For principal residential building additions of more than one hundred twenty (120) square feet in floor area, above grade window and door openings must comprise at least ten (10) percent of the wall area, or above grade window and door openings must comprise at least ten (10) percent of the total area of all exterior walls of the building. Windows in garage doors count as openings; otherwise, the area of garage doors do not count as openings. For residential buildings, windows must be clear or translucent. For nonresidential buildings, windows must be clear, translucent, or tinted and allow views into and out of the building interior on the first floor. Industrial, production, processing, storage, public service, and utility buildings are exempt from these requirements.
(d) Where at least fifty (50) percent of the frontage of any block or corner is built up with existing buildings within fifteen (15) feet of the public sidewalk, a primary entrance must face the primary abutting public street, and on corner lots, buildings must "hold the corner," that is, have facades, frontages, and/or projections within fifteen (15) feet of the lot line along both streets to establish a relationship between the building and the public sidewalk.
(e) Building materials and architectural treatments used on sides of buildings facing an abutting public street must be similar to those used on principal facades.
(f) The visual impact of rooftop equipment must be reduced through such means as location, screening, or integration into the roof design. Screening must be of durable, permanent materials that are compatible with the primary building materials. Exterior mechanical equipment such as ductwork must not be located on primary building facades.
(g) For property with local heritage preservation site or district designation, compliance with applicable historic guidelines is sufficient to meet the requirements of this section.
(C.F. No. 09-1286, § 3, 12-23-09; Ord. No. 11-101, § 1, 10-26-11; Ord 15-33, § 2, 7-22-15; Ord 23-43, § 4, 10-18-23; Ord. No. 25-59, § 2, 11-12-25)
