Beard's Architecture Blog: Downtown Mixed Use Zoning Requirements

Downtown Mixed Use Zoning Requirements

Size and setbacks:

           No setbacks
           Allow for 100% of lot to be built
           No height restriction

Materials:

           "All walls visible from the street shall be finished with architectural materials such as brick, glass, stone, ceramic, stucco, precast panels, exterior insulation finish systems (e.g. dryvit), or curtain walls."
           "The following materials shall not be used on walls that are visible from the street: metal panels; non-residential grade metal siding; non-residential grade wood-based materials; asphalt; concrete blocks or cinder blocks; provided, that use of architectural metal panels and metal panels for enclosure of mechanical equipment shall be permitted, and use of wood-based materials for architectural treatment shall be permitted. Concrete block may be used only if it is burnished, standing flute or sculptured. Mirrored glass or one-way glass with a reflectance of greater than 40 percent shall be prohibited from covering more than 40 percent of the exterior walls. Residential grade metal siding and wood based materials are prohibited on all DMU development with the exception of attached/detached single family residential development and small scale multi-dwelling residential development."

          "At least 35 percent of the ground-floor facade of buildings along sidewalks shall be comprised of windows, doors and other transparent elements (e.g. glass block) that allow views into buildings, plazas or arcades. Calculations shall be based on the linear footage of the ground floor, and said transparent elements shall be a minimum of four feet in height."
           "The Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to allow less than 35 percent ground floor transparency adjacent to sidewalks, provided that the subject wall of the structure includes architectural features which offer visual relief from a blank wall through the use of texture, recessed patterns, or other design features that add visual relief. The decision of the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment."