17.80.040 Aesthetic character.
A. Facades and Exterior Walls. If a building facade exceeds sixty feet in length, it shall be broken down into smaller elements by jogging the wall in or out a minimum of four feet for at least ten feet in length, or by adding an element such as a porch, recessed entry, bay, window, projecting trellis, or similar substantial architectural feature at intervals so that no continuous wall plane is more than sixty feet in length.
B. Smaller Retail Uses. The standards presented in this section are directed toward those situations where additional, smaller stores, with separate, exterior customer entrances are located in the principal buildings or on the development site.
1. Where principal buildings contain additional, separate uses, which occupy less than thirty thousand square feet of gross floor area, with separate, exterior customer entrances:
a. The street level facade of such stores shall be transparent between the height of three feet and eight feet above the walkway grade for no less than sixty percent of the horizontal length of the building facade of such additional stores; and
b. Windows shall be recessed and should include visually prominent sills, shutters, or other such forms of framing.
C. Detail Features. The elements in the following standard should be integral parts of the building fabric, and not superficially applied trim or graphics, or paint:
1. Building facades shall include a repeating pattern that shall include no less than three of the elements listed below. At least one of these elements shall repeat horizontally. All elements shall repeat at intervals of no more than thirty feet, either horizontally or vertically:
a. Color or hue change;
b. Texture change;
c. Material module change; or
d. Expression of architectural or structural bay through a change in plane no less than twelve inches in width, such as an offset, reveal, or projecting rib.
D. Roof Lines. Variations in roof lines should be used to add interest to, and reduce the massive scale of, large buildings. The following standards shall apply:
1. Roof lines shall be varied with a change in height of not less than three feet for every one hundred linear feet in the building length. Parapets, mansard roofs, gable roofs, hip roofs, or dormers shall be used to conceal flat roofs and roof top equipment from public view. The Planning Commission may approve alternating lengths and designs which may be addressed during the site plan approval process.
E. Materials and Colors. Exterior building materials and colors comprise a significant part of the visual impact of a building. Therefore, they should be aesthetically pleasing and compatible with materials and colors of the surrounding landscape.
1. Predominant exterior building materials shall be high quality materials and include:
a. Stucco;
b. Unpainted or natural colored brick;
c. Wood;
d. Stone;
e. Tinted and textured masonry units; or
f. Other materials approved by the Planning Commission.
2. Facade colors shall be low reflectance, subtle, neutral, or earth tone colors. The use of high intensity colors, metallic colors, black or fluorescent colors is prohibited.
3. Exterior building materials on facades adjacent to public roads shall not include the following:
a. Smooth-faced concrete or masonry block;
b. Tilt-up concrete panels; or
c. Pre-fabricated steel panels.
F. Entryways. Entryway design elements and variations should give orientation and aesthetically pleasing character to the building. The following standards identify entryway design features:
1. Each principal building on a site shall have clearly defined and visible customer entrances featuring no less than three of the following:
a. Canopies or porticos;
b. Overhangs;
c. Recesses/projections;
d. Arcades;
e. Raised corniced parapets over the door;
f. Peaked roof forms;
g. Arches;
h. Outdoor patios;
i. Display windows;
j. Architectural details such as tile work and moldings which are integrated into the building structure and design; or
k. Integral planters or wing walls that incorporate landscaped areas and/or places for sitting.
G. Public Spaces. No less than five percent of the floor area shall be dedicated to interior or exterior public spaces. (Ord. 17-18 (part), 2017: Ord. 08-10 (part), 2008)