1. Building design standards. Nonresidential buildings and apartment buildings shall meet the following requirements:
A. Building footprint. The maximum building footprint of nonresidential buildings shall not exceed 10,000 square feet.
B. Building orientation and entrances.
(1) The front facade of buildings shall be oriented towards commercial/main streets with an everyday public entrance in this front facade.
(2) When buildings are located on corners, the entrance shall be located on the corner with an appropriate building articulation, such as a chamfered corner, turret, canopy or other similar building feature. The Board of Supervisors may allow front facades to face existing side streets when these facades will extend an existing commercial district along this existing side street.
(3) All primary building entrances shall be accentuated. Entrances permitted include recessed, protruding, canopy, portico or overhang.
C. Walls and windows:
(1) Blank walls shall not be permitted along any exterior wall facing a street, parking area or walking area. Walls or portions of walls where windows are not provided shall have architectural treatments that are similar to the front facade, including materials, colors and details. At least four of the following architectural treatments shall be provided:
(a) Masonry (but not flat concrete block).
(b) Concrete or masonry plinth at the base of the wall.
(c) Belt courses of a different texture or color.
(d) Projecting cornice.
(e) Projecting metal canopy.
(f) Decorative tilework.
(g) Trellis containing planting.
(h) Medallions.
(i) Opaque or translucent glass.
(j) Artwork.
(k) Vertical/horizontal articulation.
(l) Lighting fixtures.
(m) An architectural element not listed above, as approved by the Board of Supervisors, that meets the intent.
(2) Windows.
(a) The ground-floor front facades of buildings visible from the pedestrian view shall consist of a minimum of 60% window area and a maximum of 75%, with views provided through these windows into the business. Ground-floor windows shall be a maximum of 12 to 20 inches above the sidewalk.
(b) Upper-story windows of front facades shall not be boarded or covered and shall comprise a minimum of 35% window area in the facade above the ground floor and a maximum of 75%.
(c) Smoked, reflective or black glass in windows is prohibited.
D. Roofs. Roofs shall be in keeping with the character of adjacent buildings or shall have pitched roofs. Pitched roofs shall have a minimum slope of 4:12 and a maximum slope of 12:12.
E. Building character. New infill development shall generally employ building types that are compatible to the historic architecture of the area in their massing and external treatment.
F. Architectural rhythm.
(1) New infill development shall also retain the architectural rhythm of building openings (including windows and entries) of the same block.
(2) New infill development shall also attempt to maintain the horizontal rhythm of main street facades by using a similar alignment of windows, floor spacing, cornices, awnings as well as other elements. This rhythm shall be achieved by aligning the top, middle and base floors. Buildings shall have a distinct base at ground level using articulation or materials such as stone, masonry or decorative concrete. The top level should be treated with a distinct outline with elements such as projecting parapet, cornice or other projection.
G. Massing.
(1) Buildings shall be similar in height and size or articulated and subdivided into massing that is more or less proportional to adjacent structures and maintains the existing architectural rhythm.
(2) The massing of any facade should generally not exceed 50 feet maximum (horizontal dimension). Shop fronts may be broken down even further. Massing variations every 30 feet or less is preferred.
(3) Nonresidential buildings must have at least a three-to-five-foot break in depth in all street facades for every 50 feet of continuous facade. Such breaks may be met through the use of bay windows, porches, porticos, building extensions, towers, recessed doorways, and other architectural treatments.