HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-28_cityofsanrafael_7da7be44f94dfc0841658c31ebafd1a6Exhibit 4August 28, 2014 PC Meeting Exhibit 4 (Design Criteria)San Rafael Design Guidelines t'NONRESIDENTIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES As modifications are made to San Rafael, whether through public improvements or as private development affects neighborhoods or the Downtown, the design quality of these changes should improve the quality of life in San Rafael. These guidelines provide a framework of design principles that builds on the strength of the existing character of an area and that strives to improve the visual unity of the area. Parking Lots .:. A logical sequence of entry and arrival as part of the site's design should be provided . • :. Where pOSSible, design entrances from the street to direct views towards the building entry . • :. Parking should be distributed to provide easy access to building entrances . • :. Where possible, parking should be located to the rear or side of a building in order to reduce the visual impact of parking areas . • :. Design for adequate vehicle maneuverability in parking areas. Vehicles should not back out from a parking space onto the street. .:. Parking areas should be screened from the street with hedges, walls, fences or berms, subject to security considerations . • :. On major arterials, where possible and appropriate, consolidate curb cuts and reduce entry and exit conflicts . • :. Auto and pedestrian entrances into the development should be easy to find. For example, special entry treatments, such as colored concrete, special planting and signage should be located at the entries to the site . • :. Shade trees should be provided in parking lots per the zoning ordinance. Landscaping .:. Landscaped areas should be planned as integral parts of the development and to create a strongly landscaped character for the site . • :. Unsightly uses should be screened . • :. Commercial signage or displays should not be hidden with landscaping . • :. Trees should be planted in a variety of locations, such as along the side property lines, clustered in planting areas, or distributed throughout the parking lot, consistent with the zoning ordinance. 5
Exhibit 4August 28, 2014 PC Meeting Exhibit 4 (Design Criteria)San Rafael Design Guidelines .:. Pedestrian areas should be made visually attractive with special planting and flowering trees . • :. Where feasible, landscape the area between the building and the property line even when a building is located at the minimum required side or rear yard setback . • :. Retain and maintain existing public street trees and add additional street trees where practical. Lighting .:. Limit the intensity of lighting to provide for adequate site security and for pedestrian and vehicular safety . • :. Shield light sources to prevent glare and illumination beyond the boundaries of the property . • :. Lighting fixtures should complement the architecture of the project. Pedestrian Circulation .:. Consider pedestrian orientation when designing building entries, windows, signage and doors . • :. Include a well-defined pedestrian walkway between the street and building entries . • :. Clearly define pedestrian movement through the parking lot. For example, provide changes in pavement or separate landscaped walkways . • :. Where appropriate, pedestrian walkways should be provided between adjacent lots . • :. Special design elements should be included, such as bollards, pots, benches, trash cans, unique paving, tree grates, tree guards and pedestrian lighting to add visual richness to areas designed for pedestrian access . • :. Where appropriate, include outdoor gathering places and seating for the public. .:. Adequate facilities should be provided for bicycle parking, consistent with zoning requirements. Building Form .:. Where appropriate, locate the building, or a substantial portion of the building along the front yard setback or street edge to create spatial enclosure in relation to the street. .:. Consider the pedestrian experience when designing the ground floor of buildings . • :. A continuity of deSign, materials, color, form and architectural details is encouraged for all portions of a building and between all the buildings on the site . • :. Consider the development's visual and spatial relationship to adjacent buildings and other structures in the area. 6
Exhibit 4August 28, 2014 PC Meeting Exhibit 4 (Design Criteria)San Rafael Design Guidelines Entryways .:. A defined sense of entry with pedestrian orientation should be provided . • :. Building entrances should be defined with architectural elements such as roof form changes, awnings or other architectural elements. Towers .:. If a tower is included in the design, it should perform a definite on-site function, such as delineating an entrance to a site or a building entry, or emphasizing a display window . • :. The tower should provide an attractive distinctive silhouette against the sky . • :. Where appropriate, the visual bulk of the upper portion of the tower should be reduced to reduce its apparent bulk, for example with openings through it or with open latticework. Arcades .:. Arcades may be used in shopping areas to provide weather protection for shoppers, add a sense of unity to a larger project and/or provide depth to the building . • :. Arcades may be topped with a simple broad band for tenant signing . • :. Internal illumination may be used to emphasize arcade forms at night. Awnings .:. Where appropriate, provide well-designed awnings to enhance the design of the building, provide weather protection, and add liveliness, interest and a sense of human scale . • :. Provide a uniform treatment of awnings on multi-tenant buildings . • :. Awning colors may be varied and should be compatible with the colors of the building and of adjacent buildings . • :. Signs may be provided on an awning, consistent with the zoning ordinance . • :. Translucent, internally illuminated awnings are not encouraged . • :. The following building code standards are included for reference: Minimum height above grade: 8 feet; 14 feet at alleys, parking lots or other areas with vehicular traffic Maximum horizontal projection (from face of building): 7 feet, or 66% of the distance between the building and curb, whichever is less Minimum distance to curb: 2 feet between the awning and curb Materials and Colors .:. Use articulation, texturing and detailing on all concrete exposed to exterior view . • :. Exterior materials should minimize reflectivity . • :. Use color to provide appropriate accents on a building. 7
Exhibit 4August 28, 2014 PC Meeting Exhibit 4 (Design Criteria)San Rafael Design Guidelines Active Pedestrian and Commercial Streets Fourth Street and portions of cross streets close to Fourth are active, pedestrian friendly shopping and mixed use areas. The intents here are to enliven these commercial and mixed use areas by encouraging window shopping; by orienting buildings to the street to increase street activity; by including usable, active public plazas, by minimizing parking lots and driveways which interrupt the pedestrian flow, and by encouraging appropriate sign age. Street Edge Pattern .:. Buildings should be located to reinforce the street edge . • :. Much of the front or street side facades of the ground floor should extend to the property line, with exceptions for public plazas, outdoor gathering places, courtyards or landscape setbacks. Driveways and Parking Areas .:. Driveway cuts and widths should be minimized, and ground level or structured parking should be placed behind buildings. Building Entrances .:. The primary ground floor entrances should be oriented towards the street or, if appropriate, public plazas or courtyards, and not to parking lots . • :. Ground floor entries should be frequent. .:. Entries should be well-defined and well lit for pedestrian safety. Windows .:. Large storefront window display areas should be provided at the street level on buildings (i.e., approximately 75% clear glass on the primary street level frontage). Building Design· .:. Building design should provide interest and variety at the street level through awnings, marquees, entries and display windows . • :. Long, monotonous, uninterrupted walls should be avoided . • :. Provide differences in fac;ade treatment between ground level and upper levels to add visual interest to the building and the pedestrian experience. 9
Exhibit 4August 28, 2014 PC Meeting Exhibit 4 (Design Criteria)San Rafael Design Guidelines Public Spaces and Courtyards .:. Public spaces are an integral part of the pedestrian circulation system, and should not be separated from the sidewalk with walls or stairs . • :. Other sides of the public space should provide a sense of enclosure, for example, define edges with buildings, landscaping, street furniture, railings or fencing . • :. Public spaces should be adequately landscaped and should include street furniture . • :. Public spaces should be located to take advantage of sunlight and shield wind exposure . • :. Shopping or eating opportunities are encouraged within or adjacent to public spaces. Landscaping .:. Colorful, small scale plants, including hanging plants, are encouraged in small areas along the street front for variety and interest or to define building entries . • :. Artificial plants are discouraged. Height .:. Multi-story buildings on the south side of Fourth Street should include step backs or other design techniques to retain sunny sidewalk areas on the north side of the street. .:. Height should be minimized through methods such as building colors, upper-story step-backs, and placing units under eaves. ~ __ ~~IFifth/Mission-Dlstrict and Environ;;;s;--------------/-In his area of Downtown, providing a pleasant walking environment comfpFtatJle for people at the ground evel is important. These streets are less active, and attractive tfeets to stroll along. Building Design .:. To provide visual intere t long, monotonous wall s ould be avoided . • :. Where retaining walls are nee ed, they sh Idle be low, or terraced and landscaped . • :. Entries should be well defined a~ie t to the street rather than to a parking lot. Setbacks /' ,/ .:. Where setbacks are ~rOvided, they should be landscapes /' .:. Street trees re an important element and should be retained and enhanced. Residential Design .:. ~idential building types that are oriented to and bring vitality to the street al'e.,. encouraged. Building types include townhouse and podium apartments with gara es no more than 112 level above grade. 10