Property frontage

Property frontage areas include the area on private property between the primary building façade and the right-of-way (private frontage) and the edge of the right-of-way to the edge of street pavement (public frontage). Depending on the type of district, the relationship between the public and private areas will differ, but in every case, the design of these areas has a significant effect on how one experiences the district. The design of both frontage areas is therefore important to achieving the goals of village district development.

• • A. General.

    • 1) Property frontage areas shall be designed and maintained to create a vibrant public realm in which pedestrians feel safe and comfortable walking along the street, crossing the street, and, where appropriate, entering into private property from the street.

    • 2) In residential districts, the division between the private and public realm should be clearly established through the use of landscape features including, but not limited to, vegetation and decorative walls or fencing that create a clear divide between public and private property.

    • 3) In commercial or mixed-use districts, the interface between the public and private way shall be designed to connect pedestrians from the sidewalk to the entranceways of primary buildings. Landscaped features such as decorative walls and fencing shall be used to separate pedestrians from travel lanes, parking lots or other areas where conflicts can occur with motorists.

    • 4) When located within any property frontage area, parking spaces for automobiles and travel lanes shall not be located in front of primary building façades.

  • B. Frontage trees.

    • 1) On streets in residential districts, the town shall provide street trees to the extent that the design of the public right-of-way can accommodate trees. Where trees cannot be accommodated in the public right-of way, trees in the first layer are highly encouraged and should be selected from the list provided by the tree preservation and protection committee as updated periodically.

    • 2) On streets in commercial or mixed-use districts, the town shall provide frontage trees to the extent that the design of the public right-of-way can accommodate trees. The town may also approve the installation of frontage trees as part of development proposals for adjacent private property.

    • 3) Trees planted in or along the public right-of-way shall be planted in a linear fashion and spaced approximately 40 feet from each other.

    • 4) Trees planted in high traffic pedestrian areas shall be protected by permanent decorative barriers or tree grates.

    • 5) Where feasible, trees along the right-of-way should be installed as linear tree trenches or individual tree box filters specifically designed to treat stormwater runoff. Trees may also be planted as part of linear bioretention facilities along the frontage area.

    • 6) Trees planted in pedestrian areas shall be selected and maintained to have ten feet of vertical clearance from grade.

  • C. Frontage - R-8, R-20, CW, CL, CD and P Districts.

    • 1) Buildings on corner lots shall have two private frontages as shown in Table 11-1.a.

    • 2) For waterfront lots, the applicant shall propose whether the street frontage, the waterfront, or both should serve as the primary frontage for the purposes of designating layers.

  • D. Frontage - R-8 and R-20 Districts.

    • 1) Open covered porches may encroach upon the first layer up to 50 percent of the depth of the first layer. (Table 11-1.c)

    • 2) Balconies and bay windows may encroach upon the first layer up to 25 percent of the depth of the first layer.

  • E. Frontage - CL District.

    • 1) Balconies, open covered porches and bay windows may encroach upon the first layer up to 50 percent of the depth of the first layer. (Table 11-1.c)

  • F. Frontage - CW, CD, and P Districts.

    • 1) Awnings may encroach upon the sidewalk to within two feet of the curb but must clear the sidewalk vertically by at least eight feet.

    • 2) Stoops, lightwells, balconies, bay windows, and terraces may encroach upon the first layer up to 100 percent of the depth of the first layer.

    • 3) Loading docks and service areas shall not be permitted in frontage areas.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))