21.60.030 Community Space.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish criteria for development-wide design and improvements relative to natural features, critical areas, open space and recreation, safety, lighting, service areas, and stormwater facilities.
B. Pedestrian Plazas.
1. Intent.
a. To provide plazas that attract shoppers to commercial areas. In heavily used pedestrian areas or in areas where increased pedestrian activity is desired, the area shall be designed as a pedestrian plaza.
b. Where appropriate in the business park and industrial areas as well as residential projects within the moderate- and high-density residential zones, plazas shall be provided to enhance the employees’ and public’s use of the space for passive activities, such as resting, reading, and eating lunch.
c. In Neighborhood Commercial zones (NC-1 and NC-2), plazas and landscaping shall be provided to enhance customer, employee, and public use of the space for passive activities.
2. Design Criteria.
a. A pedestrian plaza should provide pedestrian-oriented amenities and landscaping to enhance the public’s use of the space for passive activities.
i. Use trees and other landscaping to provide some shaded areas and a visual amenity.
ii. To qualify as a “pedestrian plaza” an area must have:
A. Pedestrian access (including handicapped access) into the plaza from the public right-of-way.
B. Paved walking surfaces, such as concrete, brick pavers, or other type of paver.
C. Security lighting on-site or building-mounted.
iii. A pedestrian plaza is encouraged to have:
A. Site Furniture. The design may use planters, rails, benches, retaining walls and other raised surfaces for seating. Cluster some seating for informal gathering and outside eating areas. Wherever possible, locate a majority of the seating for sun exposure, where views can be taken advantage of, and near to activity centers of a site, such as at building entrances and at the intersection of walkways. Site furniture is required in Neighborhood Commercial zones (NC-1 and NC-2).
B. Artwork, or amenities, such as fountains, kiosks, etc.
C. Fountain.
D. Multi-seasonal amenities, such as overhead cover in the form of awnings, extended rooflines or similar architectural elements, and a source of heat.
iv. A Pedestrian Plaza shall not have:
A. Adjacent unscreened parking lots.
B. Adjacent unscreened chain link fences.
C. Adjacent “blank walls” without “blank wall treatment,” such as landscaping, windows, or murals.
C. Pedestrian Facilities and Amenities.
1. Intent.
a. To enhance the visual character of buildings and to improve the pedestrian environment.
b. To provide a network of pedestrian connections, the level of facilities provided to support pedestrian activities can greatly encourage the use of the pedestrian network. These criteria outline the sufficient levels of pedestrian facilities and amenities to achieve safe, comfortable pedestrian circulation.
c. To enhance the visual character of buildings and to improve the pedestrian environment by using the architectural elements of a building and landscaping to highlight and define the entrance.
d. To encourage and facilitate the use of alternative modes of transportation.
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Figure 21.60.030A |
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Figure 21.60.030B |
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2. Design Criteria.
a. Except on exclusively multifamily, manufacturing, or industrial use buildings, portions of buildings that are adjacent to a pedestrian walkway or sidewalk shall provide overhead weather protection as follows:
i. The protection should be at least 48 inches wide along at least 80 percent of the building’s front face. The weather protection may be in the form of awnings, marquees, canopies, or building overhangs.
ii. Canopies or awnings shall have a minimum clearance of eight feet above sidewalks and should not be more than 15 feet above the sidewalk at its highest point.
iii. The color, material, and configuration of the pedestrian coverings shall carry forward the architectural theme of the building. All lettering and graphics on pedestrian coverings must conform to RZC 21.44, Signs.
b. Street-facing, ground floor facades of mixed-use and retail structures shall include one or more of the following characteristics:
i. Transparent window area or window displays along at least 60 percent of the length of the ground floor facade.
ii. Sculptural, mosaic, or bas-relief artwork over 50 percent of the length of the ground floor facade.
iii. Other similar building design or landscaping feature approved by the City.
c. Enhance the primary public entries of all buildings by two or more of the following means:
i. Providing weather protection, such as an awning, canopy, marquee, or other building element, to create a covered pedestrian open space.
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Figure 21.60.030C |
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ii. Providing at least 100 square feet of landscaping at or near the entry.
iii. Providing pedestrian facilities, such as benches, kiosks, special paving, bicycle racks, etc.
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Figure 21.60.030D |
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iv. Providing a trellis, canopy, porch, or other building element that incorporates landscaping.
v. Providing site-designed, pedestrian-scaled lighting.
vi. Providing artwork or site-designed, pedestrian-scaled signs.
d. Site design should avoid creating potential entrapment areas.
e. Buildings should be arranged on the site to overlook pedestrian routes and parking areas to allow for informal surveillance of these areas.
f. Housing units, offices, or other uses that allow for informal surveillance should surround courtyards and open spaces.
g. Arrange a mixture of uses to minimize isolated areas that may be unsafe.
D. Bicycle Facilities. (Reserved)