Village character design guidelines
The following design guidelines are intended for use by those developing and those reviewing development located within village areas and within areas so delineated by the town's comprehensive plan:
(1) Purpose and intent. The purpose of these design guidelines is to guide the applicant in the development of site and building design and the reviewing authority in its review of proposed actions. These guidelines shall not be regarded as inflexible requirements. Each guideline could, in fact, generate numerous solutions; creative, imaginative and innovative designs are encouraged. It is the intent that these guidelines will serve in the review of all proposed development plan projects in the neighborhood/village zoning district, and developers and the developers' architects in the design of projects by providing development criteria consistent with the comprehensive plan.
(2) Administration. Building elevations and renderings addressing the stated guidelines shall be submitted as part of an application for a proposed development plan.
(3) Guidelines. Guidelines shall be as follows:
a. Scale. The scale of a building shall be compatible with its architectural design style and character and that of the surroundings. The scale of ground level design elements such as building entryways, windows, porches, plazas, parks, pedestrian furniture, signs, plantings and other street and site elements should be directed toward the use, comprehension and enjoyment of pedestrians.
b. Continuation of treatment. As a general rule, buildings shall reflect a continuation of treatment found in surrounding buildings by maintaining front yard setbacks at the build-to line, maintaining cornice lines in buildings of the same height, and extending horizontal lines of windows and doors.
c. Proportions. The proportion, height to width relationship, between windows, doors, signs and other architectural elements shall be compatible with the architectural style and character of the building and that of the surroundings.
d. Shape. The shape of windows, doors and other design elements shall be compatible with the architectural style and character of the building and that of its surroundings.
e. Roof types. A flat roof should be avoided on one-story buildings, but may be used on buildings with a minimum of two stories, provided that all visibly exposed walls have an articulated cornice that projects horizontally from the vertical building wall plane. Gable and other roof types are permitted as appropriate to the building's architectural design style. Architectural embellishments that add visual interest and that are compatible with the surroundings such as dormers, belvederes, masonry chimneys, cupolas and other similar elements are encouraged. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems should be enclosed with an architectural feature consistent with the building design.
f. Offsets. Building wall offsets including projections, recesses, changes in materials, colors or textures or changes in floor level shall be used to avoid long, monotonous, uninterrupted ground level walls. Similarly, roofline offsets shall be provided in order to relieve the visual effect of a single, long roof.
g. Continuation of building façade. The architectural treatment of the front façade shall be continued, in its major features, around all visible sides of a building. Where construction of a blank wall is necessitated by the building code, the wall should be articulated by the provision of blank window openings trimmed with frames, sills and lintels or, if the building is occupied by a commercial use, by using recessed or projecting display window cases.
h. Mixed-use buildings. In mixed-use buildings, the difference between ground floor commercial uses and entrances for upper level commercial or residential uses shall be reflected by distinct but compatible differences in façade treatment. Storefronts are a necessary part of a mixed-use building and shall be integrated in design with the upper floors to be compatible with the building's overall façade character.
i. Relation of structures and spaces. The relation of a building to the open space between it and adjoining structures should be compatible with such relations in the surroundings.
j. Architectural and site details. Architectural styles, design themes and site details including signs, lighting, pedestrian furniture, planting and paving, along with building materials, colors, textures and grade, shall be compatible within the overall site design and shall preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area. In the neighborhood/village district, these details should blend with the details' own surroundings to create a diverse, yet unified, street composition.
(4) Guideline examples. Guideline examples are shown in the figures that follow.
(Ord. No. 98-7, 5-11-1998)
Horizontal Continuation of Elements
Buildings that Relate to People
Buildings that Relate to Each Other
Wrap Architectural Features Around, Avoiding Blank Walls
Relate Windows and Doors to Building Style
Good Mixed Use Building Design