(a) Development standards such as density, intensity, setback, height, parking, etc., shall be according to the City’s zoning codes for commercial uses. Additional standards are described below that will take precedence in the case of a conflict with the City’s zoning codes for commercial uses.

(a) Buildings shall be located close to the street to enhance streetscape character.

(b) Commercial buildings abutting mixed residential and commercial land use and/or located within the community centers and corridors shall be within 10 feet inward of the property line except for when buildings are set back to create plazas, open space and public amenities.

(c) Parking shall not be allowed between buildings and the street within community centers and corridors. Corners of such community centers and corridors shall be treated with plazas, wider sidewalks, landscaping, artwork, and street furniture such as seating, benches, bike racks, etc.

(d) Both pedestrian and vehicular access to the site shall be clearly visible and safe.

(e) Buildings should be oriented to face public streets, open space, or plazas.

(f) Blank facades should not face public streets. In cases when such facades are unavoidable, blank facades shall be treated according to the standards in subsection (3) of this section.

(g) Buildings are encouraged to be oriented to reduce exposure to strongest summer sunlight and glare from reflecting surfaces.

(h) Service areas shall be located away from public streets.

(a) Building designs should appropriately address building scale, mass, and form, and the use of materials, architectural elements, and details to ensure a compatible and aesthetic built environment.

(b) Entrance to the building must be prominent with entry doors, porches, protruded or recessed entrances and shall be easily accessible from the adjacent public street and parking lots.

(c) Primary pedestrian entrances must face public streets, open spaces, or plazas, whichever is available.

(d) The street-facing facade shall be designed to break down the bulk and mass into pedestrian scale by using at least two of the modulation and articulation techniques as follows:

(e) Blank facades shall be treated with trellises, modulation of the facade, display windows, artwork, lighting, etc.

(f) Commercial buildings with facades facing public streets, public open spaces, or plazas shall have at least 25 percent of the facade area composed of clear vision glass unless a specific alternative design provides a better facade treatment and is approved by the Director of Community and Economic Development.

(g) For ground floor retail, at least 40 percent of the ground floor facade shall be oriented towards or face public streets or public open spaces or plazas, unless a specific alternative design provides a better facade treatment and is approved by the Director of Community and Economic Development in conformance with subsection (3) of this section.

(h) Service areas such as utilities, dumpsters, loading docks, etc., shall be located in the less visible side of the site to avoid negative visual impacts on the street environment. They shall not face a major public street. In cases where there are no other options, backside facing public streets must be screened from public view with landscaping and/or fencing consistent with the overall building design.

(i) Roof-mounted mechanical equipment must be located and screened so the equipment is not visible from the ground level of adjacent streets or properties. Color of roof-mounted equipment should be matched with the exposed color of the roof to minimize visual impacts whenever possible. [Ord. 4659 § 2, 2023.]