Standards

Sec. 12.8. Standards.

Density density as well as by the dimensional standards set forth herein.

The Dimensional Regulations, shall not apply to new uses in the MU homes lawfully existing on the date of adoption of this ordinance dimensional standards of the RU-20 zoning district. Density shall be of land within the area proposed in a master plan.

• (1) shall be no minimum lot area. However, no lot shall be that is not developable unless it is set aside as conservation a Land Development Project may be subdivided into lots of other requirements of this article are met, or development may or any combination thereof. Condominium ownership may place of individual lots.

• (2) –Residential density shall be determined by the number of total dwelling units, and the bedroom configuration of such units, within the overall project area, including land dedicated for open space. Rooming units shall include Hotel, Motel and other Transient Residential use units, as well as Residential Care and Assisted Living Facility units. Residential density shall not exceed the following:

bathroom, and one living room and one bedroom, whether or not such room has a

• (4) MU district, for any recreational use (such as a motion picture theatre or driving range) that is not explicitly restricted to use by only the residents of the project, or any other use not classified herein, allowable density shall be determined by the Planning Board, based primarily on the traffic impact of such use. The Planning Board shall consider such factors as the number of vehicle trips per day set forth in the most recent edition of the ITE Trip Generation Guidelines, the concentration of such trips in peak hour periods, and the coordination of traffic impacts with other existing and proposed uses in the MU districts.

• (5) The maximum footprint per building shall be as set forth as follows: No single use (defined as within the same building or within 20 feet of another such use) within any MU Zone shall exceed the following limits of Gross Floor Area (GFA):

• Use Maximum GFA (sq. ft)

District:

be fifty (50) feet. (right of way/ Property line) the minimum side or rear MU-2 Zone. pattern in the MU-1 Disindividual structure or encouraged. New buildings of smaller attached or (a) Orientation. The principal building shall be oriented on the lot parallel with the front setback line to establish and preserve a consistent building line, with primary entrances oriented toward the street. Where appropriate, a building may be oriented around a courtyard or respond in design to a prominent feature, such as a corner location.

• (b) Materials.

• • (1) A building’s front façade shall be faced with materials used in traditional New England architecture, such as brick, granite, wood clapboard and shingles and traditional detailing such as substantial cornerboards, window trim, etc.

• • (2) The main elements of the architectural treatment of the building’s front façade, including the materials used, shall be continued around all sides of the building that are visible from a street or a pedestrian plaza.

• • (3) All buildings must be constructed of masonry materials and/or architectural quality steel panels. EFS wall systems are prohibited.

• (c) Vertical Design. Buildings shall have a vertical orientation, to be achieved in one of the following ways: (1) the building has a greater height than width, or (2) the façades and roof lines of the building are designed to reduce massing and bulk so that it appears as a group of smaller masses with a vertical orientation. Wherever possible, the height of the first floor of a commercial building should be taller than the upper floors and expressed through façade treatments that convey the functional diversity within the building. (1). Maximum building height will be 50 feet. This maximum building height does not include roof mounted heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment or telecommunication equipment. All equipment that exceeds the 50 feet limitation and/or can be seen from the street or an abutter must be visually hidden using roof mounted architectural screens.

• (d) Massing. Buildings more than 45 feet in width along the street frontage shall be divided into increments not more than 45 feet wide through articulation of the façade, such as variations in building setbacks, roof lines or materials; window bays; and multiple entrances.

• (e) Rooflines. Roofs shall be pitched with a minimum slope of 6:12 and a maximum slope of 9:12. The Planning Board may permit a flat roof, provided that the flat roof structure is capped by an articulated parapet design that acts as a structural expression of the building façade and its materials, visible from all sides of the building, or the flat roof structure is a green roof system with green roof plants suited for the local climate. A roof shall, at a minimum, have articulated parapets concealing flat roofs and rooftop equipment (such as HVAC units) which are visible from adjoining streets or properties.

• (f) Windows and Transparency.

• • (1) For commercial or mixed-use buildings, at least forty (40) percent of any ground floor façade that is visible from, fronting on, and located within sixty (60) feet of an arterial street shall be comprised of windows with clear glass allowing views into the interior. Display windows may be used to meet up to one-half of this requirement.

• • (2) In a commercial or mixed-use building, at least 15 percent of a side or rear façade facing a public right of way, parking area, or open space shall be transparent.

• • (3) Reflective glass, glass tinted more than 40%, and highly reflective surfaces shall not be used on building fronts.

• • (4) Windows on the upper floors of the street façade shall be at least 4 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide, and shall have a ratio of height to width between 1.5:1 and 2:1.

• (g) Location of Garage Doors. Garage doors or loading docks are prohibited in the front façade of any building facing the street. No detached garage shall be located closer to the front lot line than the front of the principal building or structure on the lot.

• (h) In the MU districts, for any new construction: • A minimum of 10% of the land area (other than the building footprint) must remain landscaped or natural, designed by a landscape professional.

• • (2) Parking – Generally, parking shall be regulated by the provisions of Sections 6.3 and 6.4 Off Street Parking and Loading Requirements. In the MU-1 Zone, to facilitate the desired village-style development, shared parking and on-street parking may be permitted. Shared parking arrangements may be permitted by the Planning Board for different uses which have different hours, days, and/or seasons of peak parking demand. Onstreet parking may be permitted by the Planning Board for any development within the District. In permitting on-street parking, the Board may require roadway construction standards, including pavement width, which may be reasonably necessary to accommodate on-street parking. If permitted, the number of on-street spaces may be added to the number of off-street spaces for the purpose of calculating minimum parking requirements. The Board may impose conditions required in order to guarantee that on-street parking spaces remain available for parking in the future.

• • (3) Circulation – The design of proposed access, street layouts, and impacts on adjacent public roads, traffic control, existing traffic conditions, and projected traffic generation shall be reviewed by the Planning Board for any application for development within any MU District. Common driveways and shared access that serves more than one property are encouraged. Roads within the MU Districts shall be constructed to the standards for roads established by the Article 5-7 “Standards for the Construction of Public Improvements” in the Regulations. An application may be denied by the Board if the proposal is demonstrated to create a hazardous condition when the traffic to be generated together with existing traffic conditions will adversely impact the safety and/or mobility of the general public.

• • (4) Site Coverage - No more than sixty percent (60%) of the surface area of any lot shall be improved with structures and a minimum of 10% shall be grassed or landscaped.

• • A structure shall include all buildings, outbuildings, or structures or other improvements having a self-supported roof and/or sidewalks.

• • (5) Access – To the extent possible, all new uses as part a master plan shall be provided with vehicular access to an internal network of streets which shall intersect with arterial roads at locations approved by the Planning Board. Subject to the approval of the Board, new uses may also have vehicular access from an existing local road. The number of curb cuts to access the master plan area shall be minimized.

• • (6) Pedestrian Circulation. As part of its review of development within the District, the Planning Board shall require that adequate, safe and attractive pedestrian and/or bicycle circulation be provided. A sidewalk network shall be provided throughout the District that interconnects all dwelling units with other dwelling units, non-residential uses, common open spaces, and with major activity centers adjacent to the District. The Board may require construction of on-site or off-site sidewalks, footpaths or bicycle paths. In particular, pedestrian access shall be provided in residential and retail commercial areas, but pedestrian access for light industrial and institutional development shall be required only if the Planning Board finds that such access is reasonable and necessary for reasons of public safety. Access to off-site areas is required, particularly to permit pedestrian and/or bicycle access to the existing retail areas on arterial roads.

• • (7) Lighting. External light must be directed downwards and be designed to eliminate illumination of adjoining parcels. Wall-pack mounted lighting is prohibited.

• • (8) Signs – Signs shall be governed by Section 6.7, with the following additional

requirements:

• i. The Planning Board shall require the submission of a comprehenplan for all uses, individual buildings or complex of buildings and its review. The signage plan shall include conceptual drawings and information describing the proposed signage for all major buildings including entrance signs, directional signs, etc. The Board may approve, conditions or deny such plan as required to achieve consistency with of this Ordinance and the Development Plan Review Guidelines.

• ii. for any individual buildings and/or uses shall be located and integrated into the building design or traditionally styled hanging signs, and not be located within any required setback, except for permanent signs at major entrances to the development. The Planning Board shall limit the number of such major entrance signs to roads or driveways which provide access to major complexes of uses and buildings within the District, and not to individual uses or buildings. No such major entrance sign shall be permitted for individual uses or buildings. If a multi building development is large enough to warrant a sign, it should be a very low, very horizontal sign integrated into the landscape.

• iii. No self illuminating signs (Signs to be either gold leaf or individually cut letters).

• Gooseneck-style lighting is preferred.