Chapter 17.67 DESIGN STANDARDS--TOD OVERLAY

Chapter 17.67
DESIGN STANDARDS--TOD OVERLAY

Sections:

17.67.010 Purpose.

17.67.020 Area of application.

17.67.030 Conflict with other regulations.

17.67.040 Circulation and access standards.

17.67.050 Site design standards.

17.67.060 Public parks and open space design standards.

17.67.070 Building design standards.

17.67.010 Purpose.

The purpose of the Central Point TOD overlay design standards is to complement and support efficient and sustainable land development, to reduce auto reliance and to increase transit use as required by the Oregon Transportation Planning Rule. (Ord. 2100 § 12, 2023; Ord. 1815 §1(part), Exh. C(part), 2000).

17.67.020 Area of application.

These regulations apply to the Central Point TOD overlay. The boundaries of the TOD overlay are shown on the official city zoning map. (Ord. 2100 § 13, 2023; Ord. 1815 §1(part), Exh. C(part), 2000).

17.67.030 Conflict with other regulations.

When there is a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and other requirements of this title, the provisions of this chapter shall govern. (Ord. 1815 §1(part), Exh. C(part), 2000).

17.67.040 Circulation and access standards.

A. Public Street Standards.

1. Except for specific transportation facilities identified in a TOD overlay master plan, the street dimensional standards set forth in the City of Central Point Department of Public Works Standard Specifications and Uniform Standard Details for Public Works Construction, Section 300, Street Construction shall apply for all development located within the TOD overlay which is approved according to the provisions in Section 17.65.020 and Chapter 17.66.

2. Block perimeters shall not exceed two thousand feet measured along the public street right-of-way.

3. Block lengths for public streets shall not exceed six hundred feet between through streets, measured along street right-of-way.

4. Public alleys or major off-street bike/pedestrian pathways, designed as provided in this chapter, may be used to meet the block length or perimeter standards of this section.

5. The standards for block perimeters and lengths shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary based on findings that strict compliance with the standards is not reasonably practicable or appropriate due to:

a. Topographic constraints;

b. Existing development patterns on abutting property which preclude the logical connection of streets or accessways;

c. Railroads;

d. Traffic safety concerns;

e. Functional and operational needs to create a large building; or

f. Protection of significant natural resources.

6. All utility lines shall be underground but utility vault access lids may be located in the sidewalk area.

7. Connections shall be provided between new streets in a TOD overlay and existing local and minor collector streets.

8. Pedestrian/Bike Accessways Within Public Street Right-of-Way.

a. Except for specific accessway facilities identified in a TOD overlay master plan, the following accessway dimensional standards set forth in the City of Central Point Department of Public Works Standard Specifications and Uniform Standard Details for Public Works Construction, Section 300, Street Construction shall apply for any development located within the TOD overlay which is approved according to the provisions in Section 17.65.020 and Chapter 17.66.

b. In transit station areas, one or more pedestrian-scaled amenities shall be required with every one hundred square feet of the sidewalk area, including but not limited to:

i. Street furniture;

ii. Plantings;

iii. Distinctive paving;

iv. Drinking fountains; and

v. Sculpture.

c. Sidewalks adjacent to undeveloped parcels may be temporary.

d. Public street, driveway, loading area, and surface parking lot crossings shall be clearly marked with textured accent paving or painted stripes.

e. The different zones of a sidewalk should be articulated using special paving or concrete scoring.

9. Public Off-Street Accessways.

a. Pedestrian accessways and greenways should be provided as needed to supplement pedestrian routes along public streets.

b. Major off-street pedestrian accessways shall incorporate all of the following design criteria:

i. The applicable standards in the City of Central Point Department of Public Works Standard Specifications and Uniform Standard Details for Public Works Construction, Section 300, Street Construction;

ii. Minimum ten-foot vertical clearance;

iii. Minimum twenty-foot horizontal barrier clearance for pathway;

iv. Asphalt, concrete, gravel, or wood chip surface as approved by the city, with a compacted subgrade;

v. Nonskid boardwalks if wetland construction is necessary; and

vi. Minimum one hundred square feet of trailhead area at intersections with other pedestrian improvements. A trail map sign shall be provided at this location.

c. Minor off-street trails shall be a minimum of five feet wide, have a minimum vertical clearance of eight feet, a minimum two-foot horizontal clearance from edge of pathway and be constructed of gravel or wood chips, with a compacted subgrade.

B. Parking Lot Driveways.

1. Parking lot driveways that link public streets and/or private streets with parking stalls shall be designed as private streets, unless one of the following is met:

a. The parking lot driveway is less than one hundred feet long;

b. The parking lot driveway serves one or two residential units; or

c. The parking lot driveway provides direct access to angled parking stalls.

2. The number and width of driveways and curb cuts should be minimized and consolidated when possible.

3. Where possible, parking lots for new development shall be designed to provide vehicular and pedestrian connections to adjacent sites.

4. Large driveways should use distinctive paving patterns.

C. On-Site Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation. Attractive access routes for pedestrian travel should be provided by:

1. Reducing distances between destinations or activity areas such as public sidewalks and building entrances. Where appropriate, develop pedestrian routes through sites and buildings to supplement the public right-of-way;

2. Providing an attractive, convenient pedestrian accessway to building entrances;

3. Bridging across barriers and obstacles such as fragmented pathway systems, wide streets, heavy vehicular traffic, and changes in level by connecting pedestrian pathways with clearly marked crossings and inviting sidewalk design;

4. Integrating signage and lighting system which offers interest and safety for pedestrians;

5. Connecting parking areas and destinations with pedestrian paths identified through use of distinctive paving materials, pavement stripings, grade separations, or landscaping. (Ord. 2100 § 14, 2023; Ord. 2034 §12, 2017; Ord. 1971 §4 (Exh. C) (part), 2013; Ord. 1815 §1(part), Exh. C(part), 2000).

17.67.050 Site design standards.

The following standards and criteria shall be addressed in the master plan, land division, and/or site plan review process:

A. Adjacent Off-Site Structures and Uses.

1. All off-site structures, including septic systems, drain fields, and domestic wells (within one hundred feet) shall be identified and addressed in the master plan, land division, or site plan process in a manner that preserves and enhances the livability and future development needs of off-site structures and uses consistent with the purpose of the TOD overlay and as necessary to improve the overall relationship of a development or an individual building to the surrounding context.

2. Specific infrastructure facilities identified on site in the master plan, land division, and/or site plan shall comply with the underground utility standards set forth in the City of Central Point Department of Public Works Standard Specifications and Uniform Standard Details for Public Works Construction, Section 400, Storm Water Sewer System and, more specifically, Section 420.10.02, Ground Water Control Plan, in order to safeguard the water resources of adjacent uses.

B. Natural Features.

1. Buildings should be sited to preserve significant trees.

2. Buildings should be sited to avoid or lessen the impact of development on environmentally critical areas such as steep slopes, wetlands, and stream corridors.

3. Whenever possible, wetlands, groves, and natural areas should be maintained as public preserves and as open space opportunities in neighborhoods.

C. Topography.

1. Buildings and other site improvements should reflect, rather than obscure, natural topography.

2. Buildings and parking lots should be designed to fit into hillsides, for instance, reducing the need for grading and filling.

3. Where neighboring buildings have responded to similar topographic conditions on their sites in a consistent and positive way, similar treatment for the new structure should be considered.

D. Solar Orientation.

1. The building design, massing and orientation should enhance solar exposure for the project, taking advantage of the climate of Central Point for sun-tempered design.

2. Where possible, the main elevation should be facing within twenty-five degrees of due south.

3. In residential developments, the location of rooms should be considered in view of solar exposure, e.g., primary living spaces should be oriented south, but a west facing kitchen should be avoided as it may result in summer overheating.

4. Outdoor spaces should be strategically sited for solar access and the cooling summer winds.

5. Shadow impacts, particularly in winter, on adjacent buildings and outdoor spaces should be avoided.

E. Existing Buildings on the Site.

1. Where a new building shares the site with an admirable existing building or is a major addition to such a building, the design of the new building should be compatible with the original.

2. New buildings proposed for existing neighborhoods with a well-defined and desirable character should be compatible with or complement the architectural character and siting pattern of neighboring buildings.

F. New Prominent Structures. Key public or civic buildings, such as community centers, churches, schools, libraries, post offices, and museums, should be placed in prominent locations, such as fronting on public squares or where pedestrian street vistas terminate, in order to serve as landmarks and to symbolically reinforce their importance.

G. Views. The massing of individual buildings should be adjusted to preserve important views while benefiting new and existing occupants and surrounding neighborhoods.

H. Adjoining Uses and Adjacent Services.

1. When more intensive uses, such as neighborhood commercial or multifamily dwellings, are within or adjacent to existing single-family neighborhoods, care should be taken to minimize the impact of noise, lighting, and traffic on adjacent dwellings.

2. Activity or equipment areas should be strategically located to avoid disturbing adjacent residents.

3. All on-site service areas, loading zones and outdoor storage areas, waste storage, disposal facilities, transformer and utility vaults, and similar activities shall be located in an area not visible from a street or urban space.

4. Screening shall be provided for activities, areas and equipment that will create noise, such as loading and vehicle areas, air conditioning units, heat pumps, exhaust fans, and garbage compactors, to avoid disturbing adjacent residents.

5. Group mailboxes are limited to the number of houses on any given block of development. Only those boxes serving the units may be located on the block. Multiple units of mailboxes may be combined within a centrally located building of four walls that meets the design guidelines for materials, entrance, roof form, windows, etc. The structure must have lighting both inside and out.

I. Transitions in Density.

1. Higher density, attached dwelling developments shall minimize impact on adjacent existing lower density, single-family dwelling neighborhoods by adjusting height, massing and materials and/or by providing adequate buffer strips with vegetative screens.

2. Adequate buffer strips with vegetative screens shall be placed to mitigate the impact of higher density development on adjacent lower density development.

3. New residential buildings within fifty feet of existing low density residential development shall be no higher than thirty-five feet and shall be limited to single-family detached or attached units, duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes.

4. New commercial buildings within fifty feet of existing low density residential development shall be no higher than forty-five feet.

5. Dwelling types in a TOD overlay shall be mixed to encourage interaction among people of varying backgrounds and income levels.

6. Zoning changes should occur mid-block, not at the street centerline, to ensure that compatible building types face along streets and within neighborhoods. When dissimilar building types face each other across the street because the zoning change is at the street centerline or more infill housing is desired (for instance, duplexes across the street from single dwellings), design shall ensure similarity in massing, setback, and character.

7. Density should be increased incrementally, to buffer existing neighborhoods from incompatible building types or densities. Sequence density, generally, as follows: large lot single dwelling, small lot single dwelling, duplex, townhomes, courtyard multifamily apartments, large multifamily apartments, and mixed use buildings.

J. Parking.

1. Parking Lot Location.

a. Off-street surface parking lots shall be located to the side or rear of buildings. Parking at midblock or behind buildings is preferred.

b. Off-street surface parking lots shall not be located between a front facade of a building and a public street.

c. If a building adjoins streets or accessways on two or more sides, off-street parking shall be allowed between the building and the pedestrian route in the following order of priority:

1st. Accessways;

2nd. Streets that are nontransit streets;

3rd. Streets that are transit streets.

d. Parking lots and garages should not be located within twenty feet of a street corner.

2. Design.

a. All perimeter and interior landscaped areas must have protective curbs along the edges. Trees must have adequate protection from car doors and bumpers.

b. A portion of the standard parking space may be landscaped instead of paved. The landscaped area may be up to two feet in front of the space as measured from a line parallel to the direction of the bumper of a vehicle using the space. Landscaping must be ground cover plants. The landscaping does not apply towards any perimeter or interior parking lot landscaping requirements, but does count towards any overall site landscaping requirement.

c. In order to control dust and mud, all vehicle areas must be paved.

d. All parking areas must be striped in conformance with the city of Central Point parking dimension standards.

e. Thoughtful siting of parking and vehicle access should be used to minimize the impact of automobiles on the pedestrian environment, adjacent properties, and pedestrian safety.

f. Large parking lots should be divided into smaller areas, using, for example, landscaping or special parking patterns.

g. Parking should be located in lower or upper building levels or in less visible portions of site.

3. Additional Standards for LMR, MMR, and HMR Zones.

a. When parking must be located to the side of buildings, parking frontage should be limited to approximately fifty percent of total site frontage.

b. Where possible, alleys should be used to bring the vehicle access to the back of the site.

4. For parking structures, see Section 17.67.070(H).

K. Landscaping.

1. Perimeter Screening and Planting.

a. Landscaped buffers should be used to achieve sufficient screening while still preserving views to allow areas to be watched and guarded by neighbors.

b. Landscaping should be used to screen and buffer unsightly uses and to separate such incompatible uses as parking areas and waste storage and pickup areas.

2. Parking Lot Landscaping and Screening.

a. Parking areas shall be screened with landscaping, fences, walls or a combination thereof.

i. Trees shall be planted on the parking area perimeter and shall be spaced at thirty feet on center.

ii. Live shrubs and ground cover plants shall be planted in the landscaped area.

iii. Each tree shall be located in a four-foot by four-foot minimum planting area.

iv. Shrub and ground cover beds shall be three feet wide minimum.

v. Trees and shrubs must be fully protected from potential damage by vehicles.

b. Surface parking areas shall provide perimeter parking lot landscaping adjacent to a street that meets one of the following standards:

i. A five-foot-wide planting strip between the right-of-way and the parking area. The planting strip may be interrupted by pedestrian-accessible and vehicular accessways. Planting strips shall be planted with an evergreen hedge. Hedges shall be no less than thirty-six inches and no more than forty-eight inches in height at maturity. Hedges and other landscaping shall be planted and maintained to afford adequate sight distance for vehicles entering and exiting the parking lot;

ii. A solid decorative wall or fence a minimum of thirty-six inches and a maximum of forty-eight inches in height parallel to and not closer than two feet from the edge of right-of-way. The area between the wall or fence and the pedestrian accessway shall be landscaped. The required wall or screening shall be designed to allow for access to the site and sidewalk by pedestrians and shall be constructed and maintained to afford adequate sight distance as described above for vehicles entering and exiting the parking lot;

iii. A transparent screen or grille forty-eight inches in height parallel to the edge of right-of-way. A two-foot minimum planting strip shall be located either inside the screen or between the screen and the edge of right-of-way. The planting strip shall be planted with a hedge or other landscaping. Hedges shall be a minimum thirty-six inches and a maximum of forty inches in height at maturity.

c. Gaps in a building’s frontage on a pedestrian street that are adjacent to off-street parking areas and which exceed sixty-five feet in length shall be reduced to no more than sixty-five feet in length through use of a minimum eight-foot-high screen wall. The screen wall shall be solid, grille, mesh or lattice that obscures at least thirty percent of the interior view (e.g., at least thirty percent solid material to seventy percent transparency).

d. Parking Area Interior Landscaping.

i. Amount of Landscaping. All surface parking areas with more than ten spaces must provide interior landscaping complying with one or both of the standards stated below.

(A) Standard 1. Interior landscaping must be provided at the rate of twenty square feet per stall. At least one tree must be planted for every two hundred square feet of landscaped area. Ground cover plants must completely cover the remainder of the landscaped area.

(B) Standard 2. One tree must be provided for every four parking spaces. If surrounded by cement, the tree planting area must have a minimum dimension of four feet. If surrounded by asphalt, the tree planting area must have a minimum dimension of three feet.

ii. Development Standards for Parking Area Interior Landscaping.

(A) All landscaping must comply with applicable standards. Trees and shrubs must be fully protected from potential damage by vehicles.

(B) Interior parking area landscaping must be dispersed throughout the parking area. Some trees may be grouped, but the groups must be dispersed.

(C) Perimeter landscaping may not substitute for interior landscaping. However, interior landscaping may join perimeter landscaping as long as it extends four feet or more into the parking area from the perimeter landscape line.

(D) Parking areas that are thirty feet or less in width may locate their interior landscaping around the edges of the parking area. Interior landscaping placed along an edge is in addition to any required perimeter landscaping.

3. Landscaping Near Buildings. Landscaping shall serve as a screen or buffer to soften the appearance of structures or uses such as parking lots or large blank walls, or to increase the attractiveness of common open spaces.

4. Service Areas. Service areas, loading zones, waste disposal or storage areas must be fully screened from public view.

a. Prohibited screening includes chainlink fencing with or without slats.

b. Acceptable screening includes:

i. A six-foot masonry enclosure, decorative metal fence enclosure, a wood enclosure, or other approved materials complementary to adjacent buildings; or

ii. A six-foot solid hedge or other plant material screening as approved.

5. Street Trees. Street trees shall be required along both sides of all public streets with a spacing of twenty feet to forty feet on center depending on the mature width of the tree crown, and planted a minimum of two feet from the back of curb. Trees in the right-of-way or sidewalk easements shall be approved according to size, quality, and tree well design, if applicable, and irrigation shall be required. Tree species shall be chosen from the city of Central Point approved street tree list.

L. Lighting.

1. Minimum Lighting Levels. Minimum lighting levels shall be provided for public safety in all urban spaces open to public circulation.

a. A minimum average light level of one and two-tenths footcandles is required for urban spaces and sidewalks.

b. Metal-halide or lamps with similar color, temperature and efficiency ratings shall be used for general lighting at building exteriors, parking areas, and urban spaces. Sodium-based lamp elements are not allowed.

c. Maximum lighting levels should not exceed six footcandles at intersections or one and one-half footcandles in parking areas.

2. Fixture Design in Public Rights-of-Way.

a. Pedestrian-scale street lighting shall be provided including all pedestrian streets along arterials, major collectors, minor collectors and local streets.

b. Pedestrian street lights shall be no taller than twenty feet along arterials and collectors, and sixteen feet along local streets.

3. On-Site Lighting. Lighting shall be incorporated into the design of a project so that it reinforces the pedestrian environment, provides continuity to an area, and enhances the drama and presence of architectural features. Street lighting should be provided along sidewalks and in medians. Selected street light standards should be appropriately scaled to the pedestrian environment. Adequate illumination should be provided for building entries, corners of buildings, courtyards, plazas and walkways.

a. Accessways through surface parking lots shall be well lighted with fixtures no taller than twenty feet.

b. Locate and design exterior lighting of buildings, signs, walkways, parking lots, and other areas to avoid casting light on nearby properties.

c. Fixture height and lighting levels shall be commensurate with their intended use and function and shall assure compatibility with neighboring land uses. Baffles shall be incorporated to minimize glare and to focus lighting on its intended area.

d. Additional pedestrian-oriented site lighting including step lights, well lights and bollards shall be provided along all courtyard lanes, alleys and off-street bike and pedestrian pathways.

e. In addition to lighting streets, sidewalks, and public spaces, additional project lighting is encouraged to highlight and illuminate building entrances, landscaping, parks, and special features.

M. Signs.

1. The provisions of this section are to be used in conjunction with the city sign regulations in Chapter 15.24. The sign requirements in Chapter 15.24 shall govern in the TOD overlay with the exception of the following:

a. The types of signs permitted shall be limited only to those signs described in this chapter.

b. Decorative exterior murals are allowed and are subject to review and criteria by planning commission or architectural review committee appointed by city council.

c. Signs that use images and icons to identify store uses and products are encouraged.

d. Projecting signs located to address the pedestrian are encouraged.

2. Sign Requirements. Signs within the TOD overlay shall comply with the standards in Table 17.67.050(1).

Table 17.67.050(1) Sign Requirements
Sign Type	LMR and MMR	HMR(a)(b)	C and OS	EC and GC
Freestanding/Monument
Permitted	Yes
Internally Illuminated	Prohibited
Max. Number	1
Max. Height (Measured from Finished Grade)	4 feet		8 feet	20 feet
Sign Area/Building Face	16 square feet		20 feet	50 square feet
Total Sign Area--All Building Faces	32 square feet		48 feet	100 square feet
Location	At entry point to housing complex or subdivision			Outside of public right-of-way
Wall and Projecting
Permitted	Yes
Internally Illuminated	Prohibited
Max. Number	1			No limit
Max. Height	Lowest part at least 8 feet above underlying grade for projecting signs
Sign Area/Building Face	8 square feet			Principal facade; 1.5 square feet for each linear foot of business frontage, not to exceed 2 square feet of frontage if 20-foot r-o-w. Secondary facade; 2 square feet of linear business frontage. Determined by linear distance of building frontage
Sign Area/Building Face	8 square feet
Total Sign Area--All Building Faces	16 square feet
Location	Signs shall not project more than 4 feet from a building wall unless attached to a canopy
Temporary (d) (e)
Permitted	Yes
Internally Illuminated	Prohibited
Max. Number	2			4
Max. Height	3 feet			NA
Sign Area/Building Face	6 square feet			32 square feet
Total Sign Area--All Building Faces	24 square feet			64 square feet
Location	Outside of street right-of-way
Time Limit	120 days
Directional
Permitted	Yes
Internally Illuminated	Prohibited
Max. Number	1 per driveway			2 per driveway
Max. Height	3 feet
Sign Area/Building Face	6 square feet
Total Sign Area--All Building Faces	24 square feet
Location	Adjacent to private driveway or sidewalk
Scoreboard (c)
Permitted	No	No	CUP	No
Internally Illuminated	NA		Yes	NA
Max. Number	NA		Yes	NA
Max. Height	NA		30 feet	NA
Max. Sign Area	NA		525 square feet	NA
Location	NA		Per CUP	NA

Note:

(a) For ground commercial uses in the HMR district.

(b) For residential uses in the HMR district.

(d) Sidewalk A-frame boards (1) within fixed dimensions and not obstructing public right-of-way.

(e) Temporary commercial banners to promote grand openings, 30 to 60 days per year maximum with planning permit.

3. Sign Materials. Unless otherwise exempt, or authorized by the planning commission, all signs must comply with the following design criteria:

a. The base materials for a freestanding sign shall be natural materials including stone, brick, or aggregate.

b. Building/sign proportionality as referenced in Table 17.67.050(1).

c. Sign illumination shall be limited to external illumination to include conventional lighting and neon, if neon is applied to the sign plane area. External illumination is understood to include “back lit” or “halo” lighting. Internally illuminated signs are prohibited except as provided under Table 17.67.050(1) for scoreboards.

4. Prohibited Signs.

a. Internally illuminated signs;

b. Roof signs;

c. Reader boards;

d. Flashing signs;

e. Electronic message/image signs on which copy is created through the use of a pattern of lights in a dot matrix configuration, which may be changed intermittently;

f. Bench signs;

g. Balloons or streamers. (Ord. 2100 § 15, 2023; Ord. 2028 §4, 2016; Ord. 1971 §4 (Exh. C) (part), 2013; Ord. 1815 §1(part), Exh. C(part), 2000).

17.67.060 Public parks and open space design standards.

A. General. Parks and open spaces shall be provided in the TOD overlay and shall be designed to accommodate a variety of activities ranging from active play to passive contemplation for all ages and accessibility.

B. Parks and Open Space Location.

1. Parks and open spaces shall be located within walking distance of all those living, working, and shopping in the TOD overlay.

2. Parks and open spaces shall be easily and safely accessed by pedestrians and bicyclists.

3. For security purposes, parks and open spaces shall be visible from nearby residences, stores or offices.

4. Parks and open space shall be available for both passive and active use by people of all ages.

5. Parks and open space in predominantly residential neighborhoods shall be located so that windows from the living areas (kitchens, family rooms, living rooms but not bedrooms or bathrooms) of a minimum of four residences face onto it.

C. Parks and Open Space Amount and Size.

1. Common open spaces will vary in size depending on their function and location.

2. The total amount of common open space provided in a TOD overlay shall be adequate to meet the needs of those projected (at the time of build out) to live, work, shop, and recreate there.

3. All TOD projects requiring master plans shall be required to reserve, improve and/or establish parks and open space which, excluding schools and civic plazas, meet or exceed the following requirements:

a. For single-family detached and attached residences, including duplex units, townhouses and row houses: four hundred square feet for each dwelling.

b. For multifamily residences, including multistory apartments, garden apartments, and senior housing: six hundred square feet for each dwelling.

c. Nonresidential development: at least ten percent of the development’s site area.

D. Parks and Open Space Design.

1. Parks and open spaces shall include a combination garbage/recycling bin and a drinking fountain at a frequency of one combination garbage/recycling bin and one drinking fountain per site or one combination garbage/recycling bin and one drinking fountain per two acres, whichever is less, and at least two of the following improvements:

a. Benches or a seating wall;

b. Public art such as a statue;

c. Water feature or decorative fountain;

d. Children’s play structure including swing and slide;

e. Gazebo or picnic shelter;

f. Picnic tables with barbecue;

g. Open or covered outdoor sports court for one or more of the following: tennis, skateboard, basketball, volleyball, badminton, racquetball, handball/paddleball;

h. Open or covered outdoor swimming and/or wading pool or play fountain suitable for children to use; or

i. Outdoor athletic fields for one or more of the following: baseball, softball, Little League, soccer.

2. All multifamily buildings that exceed twenty-five units and may house children shall provide at least one children’s play structure on site.

3. For safety and security purposes, parks and open spaces shall be adequately illuminated. (Ord. 2100 § 16, 2023; Ord. 1971 §4 (Exh. C) (part), 2013; Ord. 1815 §1(part), Exh. C(part), 2000).

17.67.070 Building design standards.

A. General Design Requirements.

1. In recognition of the need to use natural resources carefully and with maximum benefit, the use of “sustainable design” practices is strongly encouraged. In consideration of the climate and ecology of the Central Point area, a variety of strategies can be used to effectively conserve energy and resources:

a. Natural ventilation;

b. Passive heating and cooling;

c. Daylighting;

d. Sun-shading devices for solar control;

e. Water conservation;

f. Appropriate use of building mass and materials; and

g. Careful integration of landscape and buildings. It is recommended that an accepted industry standard such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEEDTM program be used to identify the most effective strategies. (Information on the LEEDTM program can be obtained from the U.S. Green Building Council’s website, www.usgbc.org.)

2. All development along pedestrian routes shall be designed to encourage use by pedestrians by providing a safe, comfortable, and interesting walking environment.

3. Convenient, direct and identifiable building access shall be provided to guide pedestrians between pedestrian streets, accessways, transit facilities and adjacent buildings.

4. Adequate operable windows or roof-lights should be provided for ventilation and summer heat dissipation.

B. Architectural Character.

1. General.

a. The architectural characteristics of surrounding buildings, including historic buildings, should be considered, especially if a consistent pattern is already established by similar or complementary building articulation, building scale and proportions, setbacks, architectural style, roof forms, building details and fenestration patterns, or materials. In some cases, the existing context is not well defined, or may be undesirable. In such cases, a well-designed new project can establish a pattern or identity from which future development can take its cues.

b. Certain buildings, because of their size, purpose or location, should be given prominence and distinct architectural character, reflective of their special function or position. Examples of these special buildings include theaters, hotels, cultural centers, and civic buildings.

c. Attention should be paid to the following architectural elements:

i. Building forms and massing;

ii. Building height;

iii. Rooflines and parapet features;

iv. Special building features (e.g., towers, arcades, entries, canopies, signs, and artwork);

v. Window size, orientation and detailing;

vi. Materials and color; and

vii. The building’s relationship to the site, climate, topography and surrounding buildings.

2. Commercial and High Mix Residential.

a. Buildings shall be built to the sidewalk edge for a minimum of seventy-five percent of their site’s primary street frontage along collector and arterial streets in C, EC, GC, and HMR zones unless the use is primarily residential or the activity that constitutes the request for increased setback is intended to increase pedestrian activity, i.e., pedestrian plaza or outdoor seating area.

b. Commercial structures and multi-dwellings should be sited and designed to provide a sensitive transition to adjacent lower density residential structures, with consideration for the scale, bulk, height, setback, and architectural character of adjacent single-family dwellings.

c. In multi-dwelling structures, the plan layout, orientation and window treatment of the building design should not infringe upon the privacy of other adjacent dwellings.

C. Building Entries.

1. General.

a. The orientation of building entries shall:

i. Orient the primary entrance toward the street rather than the parking lot;

ii. Connect the building’s main entrance to the sidewalk with a well-defined pedestrian walkway.

b. Building facades over two hundred feet in length facing a street shall provide two or more public building entrances off the street.

c. All entries fronting a pedestrian accessway shall be sheltered with a minimum four-foot overhang or shelter.

d. An exception to any part of the requirements of this section shall be allowed upon finding that:

i. The slope of the land between the building and the pedestrian street is greater than 1:12 for more than twenty feet and that a more accessible pedestrian route to the building is available from a different side of the building; or

ii. The access is to a courtyard or clustered development and identified pedestrian accessways are provided through a parking lot to directly connect the building complex to the most appropriate major pedestrian route(s).

2. Commercial and High Mix Residential.

a. For nonresidential buildings, or nonresidential portions of mixed-use buildings, main building entrances fronting on pedestrian streets shall remain open during normal business hours for that building.

b. Nonresidential and mixed-use buildings fronting a pedestrian street shall have at least one main building entrance oriented to the pedestrian street.

i. Such an entrance shall not require a pedestrian to first pass through a garage, parking lot, or loading area to gain access to the entrance off or along the pedestrian street, but the entrance may be through a porch, breezeway, arcade, antechamber, portico, outdoor plaza, or similar architectural feature.

ii. If a building has frontage on more than one street, the building shall provide a main building entrance oriented to at least one of the streets, or a single entrance at the street intersection.

iii. A building may have more than one main building entrance oriented to a street, and may have other entrances facing off-street parking and loading areas.

3. Residential.

a. The main entrance of each primary structure should face the street the site fronts on, except on corner lots, where the main entrance may face either of the streets or be oriented to the corner. For attached dwellings, duplexes, and multi-dwellings that have more than one main entrance, only one main entrance needs to meet this guideline. Entrances that face a shared landscaped courtyard are exempt.

b. Residential buildings fronting on a street shall have an entrance to the building opening on to the street.

i. Single-family detached, attached and row house/townhouse residential units fronting on a pedestrian street shall have separate entries to each dwelling unit directly from the street.

ii. Ground floor and upper story dwelling units in a multifamily building fronting a street may share one or more building entries accessible directly from the street, and shall not be accessed through a side yard except for an accessory unit to a single-family detached dwelling.

c. The main entrances to houses and buildings should be prominent, interesting, and pedestrian-accessible. A porch should be provided to shelter the main entrance and create a transition from outdoor to indoor space.

d. Generally, single-dwelling porches should be at least eight feet wide and five feet deep and covered by a roof supported by columns or brackets. If the main entrance is to more than one dwelling unit, the covered area provided by the porch should be at least twelve feet wide and five feet deep.

e. If the front porch projects out from the building, it should have a roof pitch which matches the roof pitch of the house. If the porch roof is a deck or balcony, it may be flat.

f. Building elevation changes are encouraged to make a more prominent entrance. The maximum elevation for the entrance should not be more than one-half story in height, or six feet from grade, whichever is less.

g. The front entrance of a multi-dwelling complex should get architectural emphasis, to create both interest and ease for visual identification.

D. Building Facades.

1. General.

a. All building frontages greater than forty feet in length shall break any flat, monolithic facade by including discernible architectural elements such as, but not limited to: bay windows, recessed entrances and windows, display windows, cornices, bases, pilasters, columns or other architectural details or articulation combined with changes in materials, so as to provide visual interest and a sense of division, in addition to creating community character and pedestrian scale. The overall design shall recognize that the simple relief provided by window cutouts or sills on an otherwise flat facade, in and of itself, does not meet the requirements of this subsection.

b. Building designs that result in a street frontage with a uniform and monotonous design style, roofline or facade treatment should be avoided.

c. Architectural detailing, such as but not limited to, trellis, long overhangs, deep inset windows, should be incorporated to provide sun-shading from the summer sun.

d. To balance horizontal features on longer facades, vertical building elements shall be emphasized.

e. The dominant feature of any building frontage that is visible from a pedestrian street or public open space shall be the habitable area with its accompanying windows and doors. Parking lots, garages, and solid wall facades (e.g., warehouses) shall not dominate a pedestrian street frontage.

f. Developments shall be designed to encourage informal surveillance of streets and other public spaces by maximizing sight lines between the buildings and the street.

g. All buildings, of any type, constructed within any TOD overlay shall be constructed with exterior building materials and finishes that are of high quality to convey permanence and durability.

h. The exterior walls of all building facades along pedestrian routes, including side or return facades, shall be of suitable durable building materials including the following: stucco, stone, brick, terra cotta, tile, cedar shakes and shingles, beveled or ship-lap or other narrow-course horizontal boards or siding, vertical board-and-batten siding, articulated architectural concrete or concrete masonry units (CMU), or similar materials which are low maintenance, weather-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and easy to clean. Prohibited building materials include the following: plain concrete, plain concrete block, corrugated metal, unarticulated board siding (e.g., T1-11 siding, plain plywood, sheet pressboard), Exterior Insulated Finish Systems (EIFS), and similar quality, nondurable materials.

i. All visible building facades along or off a pedestrian route, including side or return facades, are to be treated as part of the main building elevation and articulated in the same manner. Continuity of use of the selected approved materials must be used on these facades.

j. Ground-floor openings in parking structures, except at points of access, must be covered with grilles, mesh or lattice that obscures at least thirty percent of the interior view (e.g., at least thirty percent solid material to seventy percent transparency).

k. Appropriately scaled architectural detailing, such as but not limited to moldings or cornices, is encouraged at the roofline of commercial building facades, and where such detailing is present, should be a minimum of at least eight inches wide.

l. Compatible building designs along a street should be provided through similar massing (building facade, height and width as well as the space between buildings) and frontage setbacks.

2. Commercial and High Mix Residential/Commercial.

a. In areas adjacent to the transit station, sidewalks in front of buildings shall be covered to at least eight feet from building face to provide protection from sun and rain by use of elements such as: canopies, arcades, or pergolas. Supports for these features shall not impede pedestrian traffic.

b. Canopies, overhangs or awnings shall be provided over entrances. Awnings at the ground level of buildings are encouraged.

c. Awnings within the window bays (either above the main glass or the transom light) should not obscure or distract from the appearance of significant architectural features. The color of the awning shall be compatible with its attached building.

d. Ground floor windows shall meet the following criteria:

i. Darkly tinted windows and mirrored windows that block two-way visibility are prohibited as ground floor windows.

ii. On the ground floor, buildings shall incorporate large windows, with multi-pane windows and transom lights above encouraged.

iii. Ground floor building facades must contain unobscured windows for at least fifty percent of the wall area and seventy-five percent of the wall length within the first ten to twelve feet of wall height.

iv. Lower windowsills shall not be more than three feet above grade except where interior floor levels prohibit such placement, in which case the lower windowsill shall not be more than a maximum of four feet above the finished exterior grade.

v. Windows shall have vertical emphasis in proportion. Horizontal windows may be created when a combination of vertical windows is grouped together or when a horizontal window is divided by mullions.

3. Residential.

a. The facades of single-family attached and detached residences (including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and row houses) shall comply with the following standards:

i. No more than forty-five percent of the horizontal length of the ground floor front elevation of a single-family detached or attached dwelling with frontage on a public street, except alleys, shall be an attached garage.

ii. Residential building elevations facing a pedestrian route shall not consist of undifferentiated blank walls, but shall be articulated with architectural details such as windows, dormers, porch details, balconies or bays.

iii. For any exterior wall which is within twenty feet of and facing onto a street or public open space and which has an unobstructed view of that pedestrian street or public open space, at least twenty percent of the ground floor wall area shall be comprised of either display area, windows, or doorways.

iv. Architectural detailing is encouraged to provide variation among attached units. Architectural detailing includes but is not limited to the following: the use of different exterior siding materials or trim, shutters, different window types or sizes, varying roof lines, balconies or porches, and dormers. The overall design shall recognize that color variation, in and of itself, does not meet the requirements of this subsection.

v. Fences or hedges in a front yard shall not exceed three feet in height. Side yard fencing shall not exceed three feet in height between the front building facade and the street. Fences beyond the front facade of the building in a sideyard or back yard and along a street, alley, property line, or bike/pedestrian pathway shall not exceed four feet in height. Fences over four feet in height are not permitted and hedges or vegetative screens in no case shall exceed six feet in height.

b. The facades of multifamily residences shall comply with the following standards:

i. Building elevations, including the upper stories, facing a pedestrian route shall not consist of undifferentiated blank walls, but shall be articulated with architectural detailing such as windows, balconies, and dormers.

ii. For any exterior wall which is within twenty feet of and facing onto a pedestrian street or public open space and which has an unobstructed view of that pedestrian street or public open space, at least twenty percent of the ground floor wall area shall be comprised of either display area, windows, or doorways.

iii. Arcades or awnings should be provided over sidewalks where ground floor retail or commercial exists, to shelter pedestrians from sun and rain.

E. Roofs.

1. Commercial and High Mix Residential/Commercial.

a. Roof shapes, surface materials, colors, mechanical equipment and other penthouse functions should be integrated into the total building design. Roof terraces and gardens are encouraged.

b. When the commercial structure has a flat parapet roof adjacent to pitched roof residential structures, stepped parapets are encouraged so the appearance is a gradual transition of rooflines.

2. Residential.

a. Flat roofs with a parapet and cornice are allowed for multifamily residences in all TOD, LMR, MMR and HMR districts, in which the minimum for sloped roofs is 5:12.

b. Flat roofs with a parapet and cornice are allowed for single-family attached and detached residences (including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and row houses) in all TOD residential districts, except the LMR zone.

c. For all residences with sloped roofs, the roof slope shall be at least 5:12, and no more than 12:12. Eaves shall overhang building walls at a minimum twelve inches deep on all sides (front, back, sides) of a residential structure.

d. Roof shapes, surface materials, colors, mechanical equipment and other penthouse functions should be integrated into the total building design. Roof terraces and gardens are encouraged.

F. Exterior Building Lighting.

1. Commercial and High Mix Residential/Commercial.

a. Lighting of a building facade shall be designed to complement the architectural design. Lighting shall not draw inordinate attention to the building.

i. Primary lights shall address public sidewalks and/or pedestrian plazas adjacent to the building.

b. No exterior lighting shall be permitted above the second floor of buildings for the purpose of highlighting the presence of the building if doing so would impact adjacent residential uses.

2. Residential.

a. Lighting shall not draw inordinate attention to the building facade.

b. Porch and entry lights are encouraged on all dwellings to create a safe and inviting pedestrian environment at night.

c. No exterior lighting exceeding one hundred watts per fixture is permitted in any residential area.

G. Service Zones.

1. Buildings and sites shall be organized to group the utilitarian functions away from the public view.

2. Delivery and loading operations, mechanical equipment (HVAC), trash compacting/collection, and other utility and service functions shall be incorporated into the overall design of the building(s) and the landscaping.

3. The visual and acoustic impacts of these functions, along with all wall- or ground-mounted mechanical, electrical and communications equipment, shall be out of view from adjacent properties and public pedestrian streets.

4. Screening materials and landscape screens shall be architecturally compatible with and not inferior to the principal materials of the building.

a. The visual impact of chimneys and equipment shall be minimized by the use of parapets, architectural screening, rooftop landscaping, or by using other aesthetically pleasing methods of screening and reducing the sound of such equipment.

H. Parking Structures.

1. Parking garage exteriors should be designed to visually respect and integrate with adjacent buildings.

2. Garage doors and entrances to parking areas should be located in a sensitive manner using single curb cuts when possible.

3. Residential parking structures must comply with the facade requirements for residential developments. (Ord. 2100 § 17, 2023; Ord. 2047 §2, 2018; Ord. 2034 §13, 2017; Ord. 1971 §4 (Exh. C) (part), 2013; Ord. 1815 §1(part), Exh. C(part), 2000).