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7.0. HRSR 06-30-2003 Item #7 City of Elk liver MEMORANDUM TO: Housing and Redevelopment Authority FROM: Chris Leeseberg, Planner�'C DATE: June 30, 2003 SUBJECT: Request by the City of Elk River for an Ordinance Amendment, Amending Chapter 30, "Land Development Regulations", to Establish a Downtown Development District and Standards Request The Housing and Redevelopment Authority is asked to review a proposed amendment to Chapter 30 "Land Development Regulation",to establish a Downtown Development District and Standards/Guidelines. Attachments • Area of Proposed District • Proposed Definitions • Proposed Ordinance Language Overview In May of 2002, staff traveled through central Minnesota to gather images of downtowns. These downtowns included St.Cloud,Rice,Royalton,Little Falls,Long Prairie, Sauk Centre, Glenwood,Brooten,Melrose,Albany,Monticello and Anoka. Then in June of 2002,the Planning Commission viewed images of these downtowns and provided staff with information on what they liked and disliked for downtown Elk River. Staff then composed a rough draft of guidelines and brought them before the Planning Commission twice for review and then for a third time in a joint meeting with the Heritage Preservation Commission(E PC). The guidelines were also presented to the Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association and shared with MetroPlains (the developer selected for the downtown project) and JLG Architects (the architect MetroPlains selected). They were also presented to the HRA on March 24, 2003. It was then asked to be brought back before the HRA,as there was low attendance of members that evening. • Housing and Redevelopment Authority/OA 03-01 June 30,2003 Page 2 After reviewing the comments, staff composed the final draft to reflect the comments of the reviewing bodies. Recommendation Staff is again looking for input from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority pertaining to the design standards and guidelines for the Downtown Development District and the area which is to be included in the Downtown Development District. • • S:\PLANNING\Case Files\2003\OA 03-01 Downtown District\063003 HRA.doc Definitions Downtown Building Height means the dimension taken from the sidewalk on Main Street to uppermost portion of the Cornice. Canopy means a fixed or operable horizontal projection or hood over a door,window,niche, etc. Comice means any horizontal projecting ornamental molding that finishes or crowns the top of a building,wall,arch,etc. Display Area means the area from the top of the Kickplate to the head of the entrance door. Kickplate means the area from the sidewalk surface to the bottom of the Display Area. Lower Facade means the portion of the facade that indudes the Storefront,the Transom and the Stringcourse. Medallion means a decorative element that is typically inlaid into the facade of a building often bearing a figure in relief,a portrait,or as an ornament with a change in material. Parapet Panel means the area from the head of the uppermost windows to the bottom of the articulated Cornice. Primary Façade means any building façade directly fronting a public street,park or the river. Corner Units shall have at least two Primary Facades. • Secondary Façade means any building façade that does not directly front a public street,park or the river. Walls that extend above the roofline of an adjoining building shall be treated as Secondary Façades. Storefront means that portion of the facade from the sidewalk to the head of the entrance door. Stringcourse means an area/band that is located at the second floor line separating the Lower Facade from the Upper Façade. It shall be created with a reveal and/or change in the brick pattern(i.e.a Soldier Course). Transom Area means the area between the head of the entrance door and the bottom of the Stringcourse. Unit or Unit Width means the measurement of an implied façade. Units directly facing Main Street and Jackson Avenue shall be between 20-30 feet in width and may be increased to 90- feet on corner units. On all other street and park frontages,there shall be no limit to the Unit Width. Unit widths shall be clearly defined. Unit Area means the area defined as the Unit Width times the Downtown Building Height. Upper Facade means the portion of facade from the Stringcourse to the bottom of the articulated Cornice. • 1 Sec.30-1026. DD Downtown Development District. • (a) Purpo e. As Downtown Elk River changes,future preservation as well as any new construction should reinforce the general character and-quality of the existing downtown. The design of new construction should take into consideraton the location of the proposed buildings) as well as incorporate traditional design elements and techniques that are currently represented in existing structures. "r i r t 1 ' l 1 ) ft rf, `/' %.'/ iii f;r ,./0 . The intent of the Downtown Design Guidelines is to create this character with the appearance that there are multiple buildings that are distinctly different from one another yet will allow a uniform mass of building with the appearance of vertical separation. These standards and guidelines shall be the framework for any new development and designs shall strive for creative traditional architectural character,while clearly being an expression of the architecture of its own time. (b) Process. Processes for permitted and conditional uses are as follows: 0 (1) Permitted Uses. Upon receipt of an application of a permitted use, city staff shall determine if the application complies with the standards set forth in this section. For applications that are considered to be non-compliant with these standards,the applicant may appeal the determination as specified in Section 30-634, (Appeals). (2) Conditional uses. Conditional uses shall be in accordance with Section 30 651, (Application),and shall comply with the standards set forth in this section. (c) Permitted Uses. Permitted uses in the DD district are as follows: (1) Governmental,business and professional offices (2) Financial institutions (3) Retail stores and shops (4) Personal service establishments (5) Outpatient health care facilities (6) Multiple family dwellings provided that business /commercial uses at street level occupy the floor (7) Hotels (8) Restaurants, (Class 1) (9) Public parks (d) Accessory Uses. Accessory uses in the DD district are as follows: (1) Off street parking facilities (2) Off-street loading facilities (3) Telephone booths 411 (4) Private recreational facilities 2 • (5) Public shelters and essential services (6) Sale of firearms (7) Temporary signs as permitted in Section 30-851 et seq. (8) Permanent signs. Signs should be designed to fit with the character,proportions and scale of the individual building and should complement,rather than compete with,the character of downtown. a. Prior to installing any signs,a sign permit must be obtained from the planning department. b. Prohibited signs: back-lit signs,molded plastic canister signs,smooth/flat plastic signs and signs with strobe lights,flashing elements or distracting actions. c. One (1)wall mounted sign and one (1)projecting sign shall be allowed on each Primary Façade and on one (1) Secondary Façade,which does not extend above the roofline of an adjoining building. d. Each Unit Width shall be allowed a total of one (1) square foot of wall mounted signage per one (1)linear foot of Unit Width,not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. e. Wall mounted signs shall not exceed twenty-four(24)inches in height nor project out more than six(6)inches from facade. f. Wall mounted signs shall not be higher than the bottom of the Stringcourse. g. Projecting sign(s) shall not exceed six(6) square feet in area,shall not project more than four(4) feet from facade and shall not be thicker than six(6)inches. h. A projecting sign shall project out perpendicular from façade. i. Projecting sign and structural elements shall not be lower than seven(7) feet four(4) inches from the sidewalk nor shall be higher than the bottom of the sill of the • second floor windows. j. Signage shall be constructed of metal,wood,stone,and/or cloth. k. The brackets and structure for projecting signs shall be ornamentally designed. 1. Only externally illuminated signs and letters are allowed. m.Monument signs shall not be allowed. Existing monument signs erected prior to the date of the adoption of this ordinance can be rebuilt to the same size in the same location. n. Aside from a date and name stone not exceeding three (3) square feet,no signage shall be placed within the Parapet Panel area. o. Window signs and temporary on-site signs attached to or painted on a window may not cover more than fifty(50%)percent of the window surface area. p. Portable signs shall be limited to unlit A-frame signs with a maximum height of three (3) feet and a total area of six(6) square feet.Such signs shall not obstruct pedestrian traffic nor impede vehicular traffic. q. No more than one (1) portable sign may be displayed directly in front of a premise at any given time and shall be displayed only during business hours. r. Street numbers must be prominently displayed at the main entrance to every building and be visible from the street. (e) Conditional Uses. Conditional uses in the DD district are as follows: (1) Nonprofit clubs,lodges or halls (2) Licensed daycare facilities (3) Institutional uses (4) Commercial parking lots and ramps (5) Multiple family dwellings without commercial on first floor (6) On-Sale liquor establishments 3 (7) Commercial recreational facilities (8) Convenience store (9) Funeral parlor (10) Restaurants, (Class II) (11) Governmental buildings and facilities (12) Produce markets (13) Therapeutic massage and sauna establishments (f) Exterior Building Finishes (1) Primary Facades. a. In the Downtown District,the following are acceptable building materials for Primary Facades: i. Modular brick-with earth tone colors only. Jumbo brick shall not be allowed. ii. Cut stone such as granite,marble and limestone iii. Architectural stone iv. Acid etched architectural precast concrete panels v. Architectural metal,not to exceed twenty-five (25%) percent of the Unit Area b. In the Downtown District,the following are acceptable accent materials for Primary Facades: i. EIFS,stucco and other cementitious coating • ii. Wood(in the Storefront area only) iii. Integrally colored split face (rock face)Concrete Masonry Units (CMU)that have a dimensional characteristic of brick(not to exceed sixteen(16)inches in length nor four(4)inches in height) iv. Ceramic,porcelain,hand crafted or fired tile v. Treated brick(such as glazed,dyed or painted) vi. Wood shakes vii. Architectural precast concrete c. Accent material are required on both Primary and Secondary Facades and shall comply with the following requirements: i. Ten(10%)to twenty(20%)percent of the total Unit Area(Unit Width x Downtown Building Height) shall be of an accent material,different than that of the main body of material,with no more than ten(10%) percent of one single material. ii. Accent materials shall not be concentrated in any one location. (2) Secondary Facades. a. In the Downtown District,the following are acceptable building materials for Secondary Facades: i. Stucco,EIFS and other cementitious coating ii. Integrally colored split face (rock face),burnished or glazed CMU(excluding • plain or painted) iii. Jumbo brick 4 • iv. Any material that is acceptable for Primary Facades (g) Architectural standards and guidelines It is the intent of the City of Elk River to promote and encourage high standards of creative,traditionally based,architectural design in the Downtown District. (1) The Building. Standards: a. The building shall not be setback more than six(6) feet from a front property line. Side yards shall maintain a zero lot line setback. b. Unit Widths directly facing Main Street and Jackson Avenue shall be between twenty (20) and thirty(30) feet and may be increased to ninety(90) feet on corner units. c. Downtown building height,as measured from the Main Street sidewalk,shall be at least two (2) stories but not less than twenty-four(24) feet and shall not exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet. However,forty-five to fifty(45-50%) percent of a development area may be increased to four(4) stories not to exceed forty-five (45) feet. d. A Stringcourse,located at the second floor line,shall be provided to separate the Lower Façade and the Upper Façade. e. A Stringcourse is not required for residential Units that have direct access to Main Street (i.e.row house type unit). f. Heating,Ventilation or Air Conditioning(HVAC)equipment shall not be visible in a Primary Facade. g. HVAC equipment shall be screened with a material that is the same as the Primary • Facade material. Guidelines: a. The setback of buildings at the intersection of two streets will be subject to review for adequate pedestrian and vehicular visibility. b. All Unit widths are encouraged to be proportioned to those on Main Street and Jackson. c. Unit Widths adjacent to one another are encouraged to vary by at least forty-eight (48)inches in width. d. Primary Façade building elevations parallel to the street are favored. e. Different Primary Façade's colors are preferred with adjacent Units. (2) Storefront. Standards: a. Shall be fifty(50%)to seventy(70%)percent glazing. b. Lower Facade architectural detail elements,such as pediments,shall not extend above the bottom of the Stringcourse line. c. Unit Medallion treatments shall not be the same as medallion treatments on the two adjacent Units to each side. Guidelines: a. Storefront treatments should not extend across multiple Units in attempts to unify them into a single unit. b. No more than two (2)medallions are recommended in the Lower Facade. • c. Maintain a regular pattern or rhythm with other facades along the street. 5 • d. Masonry columns,piers and/or pilasters should compliment and/or match the material used on the Upper Facade to help define the storefront patterns or rhythm. (3) Kickplates. Standards: a. Shall be eighteen(18)to twenty-four(24)inches in height. b. Excluding wood shakes,kickplates may be of an acceptable accent building material. c. Color shall be neutral,blend and compliment with the major building materials. (4) Display Area. Standards: a. Sills shall be elevated above the sidewalk eighteen(18)to twenty-four(24)inches. b. Only clear transparent glass that meets all applicable energy codes shall be allowed. c. Wood and/or metal framing shall be finished a color to coordinate with the building's overall color scheme. (5) Transom Area. Standards: a. Shall be the same as the Primary Facade building material. b. The Transom Area,if it has no awnings,shall have at least forty(40%)to fifty(50%) percent of the area devoted to a change in brick pattern that is unique,but similar to adjacent Units. • c. If glazed,only clear transparent glass that meets all applicable energy codes,glass block and/or Stained Glass will be allowed. Guidelines: a. Transoms may be illuminated from the inside. b. Incorporation of signage into the Transom Area is a desirable element. (6) Entrances. Guidelines: a. Entrance doors shall have a minimum forty-five (45%)percent glass,unless it is the entrance door to a residential Unit at Street level(i.e.a row house type unit). b. Framing materials shall be the same as the overall Storefront design. c. Entrance shall reflect the character and scale of space it accesses. (7) Upper Façade. Standards: a. An articulated Cornice at least twenty four(24)inches in height shall be required for each building Unit Width. Cornice detailing shall be achieved through,but not limited to,corbelling,varied ornamental moldings and reliefs. b. The same Cornice detail shall not be the same as the two adjacent Units to each side. c. Cornice design shall be integrated as an overall part of the design and shall be of a Primary Façade building material or architectural precast concrete. d. Unit Medallion treatments shall not be the same as medallion treatments on the two • adjacent Units to each side. 6 e. The Parapet Panel,if greater in height than four feet,shall have at least thirty-five • (35%)to forty(40%)percent of the area devoted to a change in brick pattern or as a relief from the main façade of one half(1/2)inch to four(4)inches. Guidelines: a. The cornice projection should be proportionate to the scale of the building and to the detail of the cornice. b. Cornice heights are encouraged to vary in height from Unit to Unit by at least twenty-four(24)inches. c. No more than four(4)medallions are recommended in the Upper Facade. d. Upper Facade treatments should not extend across multiple Units in attempts to unify them into a single unit. (8) Upper Floor Windows. Standards: a. A minimum of three (3)windows per floor shall be provided in the Upper Façade. b. Only single-hung,double-hung and fixed windows shall be allowed. c. Window widths in the Upper Primary Facade shall not be greater than thirty-two (32) inches. d. The grouping of windows shall not exceed eight(8) feet in width. e. Windowsills are required on all widows and shall be articulated with an acceptable Primary Facade building material or architectural precast concrete. f. Only clear transparent glass that meets all applicable energy codes shall be allowed. g. Wood and/or metal framing shall be finished in a color to coordinate with the • building's overall color scheme. h. Window air conditioners shall not be allowed in Primary Facades. i. Bay windows and balconies shall be allowed only on facades that face the river and on Secondary Facades. Guidelines: a. On Primary Upper Facades,the sum of window widths per floor should equal forty (40%)to forty-five (45%) percent of the total Unit Width. b. Upper Facade Windows are encouraged to align directly above one another from floor to floor. c. All Upper Primary Facade windowsills,on a given floor in a given Unit,are preferred to be at the same height. d. Lintels should be of an acceptable Primary Façade building material or architectural precast concrete. (9) Awnings. Standards: a. Awnings shall be of a weather treated canvas/fabric material in either a solid or striped pattern. b. Awnings may be either fixed or operable. c. Awnings,if desired,shall be placed at a minimum over all Storefront windows of a Unit. d. Awnings for Upper Facade windows shall be individual to each opening. e. With the exception of dome awnings,the end of awnings shall project out • perpendicular from building. 7 . f. Awnings shall extend between a distance of three (3)to four(4) feet from face of building. g. Awnings shall not extend the entire width of a Unit. h. The same style and color of awning shall not extend beyond one Unit Width. i. The bottom of the fringe shall not be lower than seven(7) feet four(4)inches or higher than eight(8) feet from the sidewalk. j. Lower Façade awnings shall not extend above the bottom of the Stringcourse line. k. No signage shall be placed on the Field or the Ends of the awing. 1. Lettering,not to exceed four(4)inches in height,shall be allowed on the awning fringe. m.Canopies shall not be allowed. Guidelines: a. Awnings for Upper Façade windows are encouraged to be the same style and color as the awnings,if present,in the Lower Facade. b. Awning colors should be muted,and should coordinate with building facade color scheme,adjoining buildings and the streetscape. c. Simple pitched awning profiles are preferred and box awnings (enclosed from below) are discouraged. d. All awnings should be designed to fit the opening that is intended to cover. (10)Lighting. Standards: a. Fixtures that are not allowed in the Downtown District are:visible fluorescent bulbs, • neon lighting on building exteriors,colored bulbs (except for temporary seasonal decoration) and internally illuminated awnings. b. Strobe lights and flashing elements shall not be allowed. Guidelines: a. Historically accurate fixtures and appropriately scaled contemporary fixtures,such as but not limited to,gooseneck,wall mounted lantern and shielded fluorescents are preferred. b. Exposed or painted metal finishes are most appropriate for lighting fixtures in the downtown. Fixture color(s) should be muted,and should coordinate with façade and signage color scheme. c. Lighting at building facades should serve only to illuminate entries,adjacent pedestrian areas and displays,or to highlight significant architectural features. d. Lighting may be placed at doorways,below awnings,in display widows and as needed to illuminate signage or architectural features. (11)Fences and Railings. Standards: a. Fencing shall be metal and finished in a dark,solid color. b. Fences used to screen parking areas shall be within a height range of 4'-0" and 6'-0". c. Plain or painted concrete masonry units shall not be allowed for fences,walls or enclosures. d. Chain link fencing shall not be allowed. • Guidelines: 8 a. Masonry walls,in conjunction with a wrought iron fence,should be installed to no • more than two (2) feet above public side walk. b. Balconies and/or patios should utilize decorative metal railings which coordinate with the design and color scheme of the building. (12)Enclosures. Standards: a. Enclosures must be at least six(6) feet in height and provide full screening of equipment and dumpsters. b. Dumpsters shall be within enclosures constructed of the same material and colors as those used in the building. (13) Parking Standards: a. Parking shall be provided underground,behind a building,within a building,or within a parking structure. b. Surface parking shall be at fifty(50%)percent the rate set forth per Section 30-894. c. Off street parking shall be shielded from view of major streets using dense landscaping,open fencing with landscaping,and/or a masonry wall with open fencing. (h) Preserzution and irstoration • (1) The Building. a. Any exterior renovation should,to the best of its ability,bring the façade back to the appearance it had when it was originally constructed. • 9 • CORNICE itLe'.(4-4.itriii.staaiviiie.AlA:,w,01* x;d4i le 4r4mi'4J 1 NW \ i I' 4 * PARAPET PANEL. 0 20 ii 1 a i , w * UPPER FLOOR WINDOWS 1 0 z Sin Ill 1tli iill iii iii iiiniininglniiitfifillitlifilli ISM S iR1NGC0U'RSE C m u 1111 III TRANSOM AREA 0 I P moms .wmamm..w srw«m ennag ti rw / "5F • w z 0 DISPLAY AREA � •' F I 111 111 f in KICKPLATE • UNIT OR UNIT WIDTH Jr` (20-30 FEET © MAIN Sc. JACKSON) / il,„...#7, i /' A FIELD � , er �t END FRINGE #' ! it -Riorwrippr. DOME AWNING AWNING ELEMENTS • 10