Purposes and review process
(a) Purposes. The purpose of this section is to:
(1) Allow a mixture of complimentary land uses that may include housing, retail, offices, commercial services, and civic uses, to create economic and social vitality;
(2) Develop commercial and mixed-use areas that are safe, comfortable and attractive to pedestrians;
(3) Provide flexibility in the siting and design of new developments and redevelopment;
(4) Reinforce streets as public places that encourage pedestrian and bicycle travel;
(5) Provide roadway and pedestrian connections to residential areas;
(6) Encourage efficient land use by facilitating compact, high-density development and minimizing the amount of land that is needed for surface parking; and
(7) Facilitate development (land use mix, density and design) that utilizes public transit, where applicable;
(b) Review process. The planning board shall review and approve proposals within the Riverside Square Mixed Use/Downtown Overlay District following the process for development plan review identified in section 19-453 and the city's land development and subdivision review regulations. The permitting authority may apply such special conditions, restrictions or stipulations as it may deem necessary to maintain consistency with the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, and subdivision and land development regulations to maintain harmony with neighboring uses.
(c) Design intention and functioning.
(1) [Reserved.]
(2) Maximize the building floor area on each lot.
(3) Locate parking off the street frontage to the rear of parcels so that businesses can move close to the sidewalk and more readily attract pedestrians.
(4) Place buildings at a minimal front setback line, close behind a sidewalk of adequate width.
(5) Encourage construction of at least two-story buildings.
(6) Locate retail uses on the ground-floor street frontage, preferably adjacent to other retail uses.
(7) Develop sidewalks and building features (e.g. entrances, weather protection) so as to maximize safety, comfort, ease of movement, and convenience for pedestrians.
(8) Encourage building heights of two and one-half stories (maximum height of 35 feet), with first floor commercial use and second floor residential use. Residential use may also be provided on the first floor but the main entrance of such first floor residential use shall be limited to the rear or side of the structure.
(9) Floors above ground level shall have independent, separate access to the street.
(10) Driveway and parking lot surfaces are encouraged to be permeable, using such materials as brick, concrete pavers, "grass-crete" and other similar permeable materials, but not gravel. Vegetative buffers shall be planted to treat runoff as it percolates into the soil. Use of low impact development (LID) techniques is encouraged.
(11) Walk-up windows to retail uses may be permitted provided that such windows shall be located on the front lot line facing a street, with no curb cut or allowance of any motorized vehicular access.
(Ch. 453, § XXIII, 7-15-08; Ch. 914, § I(Att.), 12-19-23)