§ 16.20.070.7. Building design.

The following design criteria allow the property owner and design professional to choose their preferred architectural style, building form, scale and massing, while creating a framework for good urban design practices which create a positive experience for the pedestrian.

Site layout and orientation. The City is committed to creating and preserving a network of linkages for pedestrians. Consequently, pedestrian and vehicle connections between public rights-of-way and private property are subject to a hierarchy of transportation, which begins with the pedestrian.

Building and parking layout and orientation.

1.

New multi-building development shall relate to the development of the surrounding properties. This means there shall be no internally oriented buildings which cause rear yards or rear facades to face toward abutting properties.

2.

Buildings shall create a presence on the street. This means that a minimum of 60 percent of the principal structure's linear frontage, per street face, shall be on the building setback line.

3.

All service areas and loading docks shall be located behind the front facade line of the principal structure.

4.

All principal structures shall be oriented toward the primary street. A principal structure on a corner property may be oriented to the secondary street so long as all street facades are articulated as primary facades. Buildings at the corner of two intersecting streets are encouraged to highlight and articulate the corner of the building.

5.

All mechanical equipment and utility functions (e.g. electrical conduits, meters, HVAC equipment) shall be located behind the front façade line of the principal structure. Mechanical equipment that is visible from the primary street shall be screened with a material that is compatible with the architecture of the principal structure.

6.

Parking, detention and retention ponds, drainage ditches, and accessory structures shall be located behind the principal building to the rear of the property. Detention and retention ponds and drainage ditches shall comply with the design standards set forth in the drainage and surface water management section.

Vehicle connections.

1.

Access to parking shall be from the street. If the primary street is utilized for vehicular access, the driveway shall serve the entire complex, not individual units, and shall not exceed one lane in each direction.

Pedestrian connections.

1.

Principal entries to a structure shall be connected to the public sidewalk and the curb of the primary street with a sidewalk.

2.

Each ground floor multifamily dwelling unit or commercial unit that faces a primary street shall contain a primary entry, which faces the primary street. The primary entry shall include decorative door surrounds, porches, porticos and/or stoops.

3.

Where a single building includes separate commercial and residential entrances, the residential entrances shall be raised at least 16 inches above ground level or recessed within the facade to reinforce a privacy zone and distinguish it from the commercial entrances.

Building and architectural design standards. All buildings should present an inviting, human scale facade to the streets, internal drives, parking areas and surrounding neighborhoods. The architectural elements of a building should give it character, richness and visual interest.

Building style.

1.

New construction shall utilize an identifiable architectural style which is recognized by design professionals as having a basis in academic architectural design philosophies.

2.

Renovations, additions and accessory structures shall utilize the architectural style of the existing structure, or the entire existing structure shall be modified to utilize an identifiable architectural style which is recognized by design professionals as having a basis in academic architectural design philosophies.

3.

All accessory structures, including, but not limited to, drive-throughs, canopies, storage buildings, and solid waste container enclosures shall be compatible with the architectural design of the principal structure. Compatibility shall be determined by reviewing building materials, finishes and other significant features.

Building form. Buildings should create a width to height ratio of no more than 1:1. Buildings that exceed the width to height ratio of 1:1 shall feature architectural fenestration creating a bay system that divides the building design into a maximum ratio of 1:1. This may be done through pilasters, arcades, building line and roof line off-sets, materials and other appropriate architectural features.

Wall composition. Wall composition standards ensure that ground-level storefronts, and multifamily and single-family residential buildings, offer attractive features to the pedestrian. Wall composition also mitigates blank walls and ensures that all sides of a building have visual interest.

1.

At least 50 percent of street facades shall have fenestration. At least 30 percent of the interior side and rear facades shall have fenestration. Entry doors shall count as fenestration if side panels or decorative windows are provided. Garage doors are not fenestration on street facing facades.

2.

A zero lot line building, abutting another zero lot line building, is exempt from providing fenestration on any portion of the facade concealed by the abutting building. Portions of facades which are not concealed by another zero lot line building shall meet fenestration requirements, but do not need to provide transparency.

3.

Where fire or Florida Building Codes prohibit the use of transparency along interior side or rear facades, total fenestration percentages must still be met, but without the transparency percentage.

4.

Structures which are situated on corner lots, through lots, or by the nature of the site layout are clearly visible from rights-of-way shall be designed with full architectural treatment on all sides visible from public rights-of-way. Full architectural treatment shall include roof design, wall materials, and architectural trim, and door and window openings. While it is recognized that buildings have primary and secondary facades, the construction materials and detailing should be similar throughout.

Transparency. The provision of transparency enhances visual connections between activities inside and outside buildings, thereby improving pedestrian safety.

1.

At least two-thirds of the fenestration on each facade shall be transparent (i.e., window glass).

2.

Windows on the street side facades shall be evenly distributed in a consistent pattern.

3.

Windows shall not be flush mounted. Windows recessed less than three inches shall feature architectural trim including a header, sill and side trim or decorative shutters. Windows recessed three inches or more shall feature a window sill.

Roofs. Rooflines add visual interest to the streetscape and establish a sense of continuity between adjacent buildings. When used properly, rooflines can help distinguish between residential and commercial land uses, reduce the mass of large structures, emphasize entrances, and provide shade and shelter for pedestrians.

1.

Buildings shall provide a pitched roof or a flat roof with a decorative parapet wall compatible with the architectural style of the building.

Garages. Garage standards maintain and enhance the attractiveness of the streetscape and are influenced by a hierarchy of transportation which begins with the pedestrian.

1.

Garage doors should face the rear or side of the property. Garage doors facing the primary roadway shall be set back at least 20 feet behind the facade line.

Building materials. Building material standards protect neighboring properties by holding the building's value longer, thereby creating a greater resale value and stabilizing the value of neighboring properties.

1.

Building materials shall be appropriate to the selected architectural style and shall be consistent throughout the project.

(Code 1992, § 16.20.070.7; Ord. No. 1029-G, § 20, 9-8-2011; Ord. No. 287-H, § 41, 7-20-2017)