Design Standards for MU 2
Sec. 12.11. Design Standards for MU 2.
The following development standards shall apply to new development in the MU 2 District:
(1) Maximum Height. The maximum height of any building in the MU 2 Zone shall be 75 ft.
(2) Setback. The minimum front yard setback from public or private road (right of way / property line) shall be 50 ft and minimum side and rear setback shall be 40 ft. The maximum front, side or rear setback shall be 70ft.
(3) Exceptions to Setback. The following improvements or parts of improvements are specifically excluded from the setback requirements set forth in section 12.11 (2):
a. Steps and walkways,
b. Access or service roads,
c. Fences, subject to the requirements set forth in Section 12.11 (19).
d. Landscaping and irrigation systems,
e. Planters,
f. Lighting fixtures,
g. Underground utilities and sewers, and
h. Parking areas.
(4) Site Coverage. No more than forty percent (40%) of the surface area of any lot shall be improved with structures. A structure shall include all buildings, outbuildings, or structures or other improvements having a self-supported roof and/or sidewalks.
(5) Site Disturbance. The area of site disturbance shall be limited to the extent feasible for the purpose of minimizing damage to tree growth. Disturbance of tree growth should be limited to areas for proposed roadways, parking, building footprint and drainage areas/basins.
(6) Landscaping. The area of each lot between any street and any minimum setback line shall be landscaped with a combination of trees, shrubs and other ground cover. All portions of a lot not fronting a street and not used for parking, storage, or buildings shall be landscaped in a complementary and similar manner. No less than twenty percent (20%) of the surface area of any lot shall be devoted to landscaping in keeping with indigenous plant materials. Plantings and grassed areas should be designed to minimize the need for irrigation and to maximize the capacity to withstand drought.
(7) Ground Cover. No mulch shall be used unless it is in a bed. Mulch shall not be used as a design element. No gravel or crushed stone shall be used as a ground cover.
(8) Irrigation Systems. The use of underground irrigation systems is encouraged. Such irrigation systems should utilize advanced electronic controls to efficiently manage water usage based on environmental conditions such as rainfall, humidity and wind. The collection of stormwater runoff from roofs for landscape irrigation purposes is strongly encouraged.
(9) Berms. Use of contoured earth berms are required to buffer parking lots and loading areas that are above grade of the roadway. Parking lots and loading areas that are below grade of the roadway must be buffered using large deciduous trees.
(10) Meadow Grass. Use of meadow grass between a building and roadway is prohibited except for areas of severe slope. In areas of severe slope, natural soil erosion and vegetation establishment technologies are highly preferred as alternatives to riprap boulders.
(11) Curbs. Use of asphalt berm is prohibited. Cape Cod asphalt berm, concrete or granite curbing shall be required. If Cape Cod berm is used, it must be installed prior to the final course of pavement. Entrance drives must use either concrete or granite curb.
(12) Sidewalks. All newly constructed streets in an MU 2 Zone shall include a minimum four (4) ft. wide sidewalk on at least one side of the street. All sidewalks shall include a two (2) ft. minimum tree lawn between the curb and the sidewalk and include deciduous trees planted at fifteen (15) ft. minimum intervals.
(13) Parking. Generally, parking shall be regulated by the provisions of Section 6.3 and 6.4 (Off-street Parking and Loading Requirements). Off-street parking adequate to accommodate the parking needs of the owner or occupant and employees and visitors thereof shall be provided by the owner or occupant of each lot. The intent of this provision is to prohibit any on-street parking in the MU 2 Zone. If parking requirements change as the result of a change in the use of a lot or in the number of persons employed by the owner or occupant, additional off-street parking shall be provided so as to satisfy the intent of this section. All parking areas shall conform to the following standards:
a. In cases where definition between parking areas are required, heavy timber guard rails are encouraged and tire bumpers are discouraged. Dedicated parking adjacent to the building shall be provided for hybrid and/or electric vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles.
b. Lighting of parking lots shall be with fixtures where light is directed down (cut-off fixtures). Use of energy efficient light fixtures as an alternative to HID lights is strongly preferred. Building mounted wall lights (wall packs) are prohibited.
c. The perimeter of parking areas shall be landscaped with solid green evergreen plant material so as to screen said areas from view from adjacent streets. Such screening shall extend at least forty-eight (48) inches above the high point of the finished pavement in said parking area.
d. If a parking lot contains fifteen (15) or more parking spaces, not less than six percent (6%) of the interior of such parking lot shall be landscaped. The use of landscaped earth berms to accomplish such landscaping is encouraged. Strips between parking bays shall also be landscaped with deciduous trees and ground cover.
(14) Storage and Loading Areas. The location of any outside storage, maintenance, and loading areas must be constructed, maintained and used in accordance with the following conditions:
a. Outside storage of materials, supplies, or equipment, including trucks or other motor vehicles, shall be permitted only if:
i. The material, equipment or objects stored outside are incidental to the activities regularly conducted on the premises.
ii. The area devoted to outside storage does not exceed five percent of the gross floor area of the principle structure on the site.
iii. The area is screened, and
iv. The area is located upon the rear portions of a lot.
b. Provisions shall be made on each site for any necessary vehicle loading, and no onstreet vehicle loading shall be permitted.
c. Loading dock areas shall be set back, recessed, or screened so as not to be visible from neighboring property or streets, and in no event shall a loading dock be closer than seventy-five (75) feet from a property line fronting upon the street.
(15) Refuse Collection Area. All outdoor refuse collection areas shall be enclosed and solidly screened so as not to be visible from neighboring property or streets. No refuse collection area will be permitted between a street and a building.
(16) Exterior Building Material. Use of masonry brick for all exterior walls visible from the street(s) is strongly encouraged. All masonry block used must be either scored or accent block. Metal panels on exterior walls are allowed, however, on rear walls and expansion walls. Full metal panel walls are not allowed. Wood on building exterior is prohibited. Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS) such as Dryvit or Synergy or other EIFS systems shall not be used as the basic building siding material but may be used as accents or soffits under roof overhangs or as the ceiling of canopies only if such EIFS systems are at least six feet above the finished grade.
(17) Signage. Signs in the MU 2 Zone shall generally be governed by Section 6-7 with the following additional requirements. No sign shall be allowed other than business park identification signs, information and vehicular control signs, signs identifying the building or the business of the owner or occupant of a lot, signs offering the lot for sale or lease, and temporary development signs. Prohibited signs include billboards, roof signs, A-frame and portable signs, light bulb strings, pennant strings, banners, streamers, spinners, and devices similar in nature, and all moving, flashing, rotating or blinking signs and flags, other than flags of the United States, State of Rhode Island, flag of the owner or occupant, or the countries in which the occupant does business. Wall signs shall not exceed an aggregate of one (1) square foot per linear foot of front wall length, not to exceed sixty (60) square feet. One free-standing sign structure per business identifying the principal use shall be permitted provided that the total area is not greater than forty-three (43) square feet.
(18) Exterior Utilities. Placement of all exterior utilities (poles, air conditioning units, transformers) must be located in a manner not to conflict with the main landscape features and must be concealed from view by landscaping or masonry screens.
(19) Fencing. No security fencing is allowed on front or side of a building. Fencing may be used for security purposes in back of the building and only if buffered from the street.
(20) LEED Certification. All new construction projects are encouraged to be designed in a manner to achieve at least base core and shell LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification or other recognized rating system. Applying for LEED Certification is not required.
(21) Renewable Energy. Use of renewal energy sources such as solar hot water, solar electricity and geothermal heating and air conditioning systems are strongly encouraged.
(22) HVAC Equipment and Controls. HVAC designers are strongly encouraged to include comparative enthalpy economizer, demand controlled ventilation, condensing boiler/furnaces, advanced technology burners, Energy Star rated appliances, premium efficient motors, and electronically commutated magnet (ECM) motors in their designs. Utility energy efficiency incentive programs shall be used as a guideline during the design process.