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15 C H A P T E R 3 D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S S I T E P L A N N I N G Buildings clustered to create courtyards and landscaped areas with pedestrian walkways throughout. Street Chapter 3.1. Site Planning The site planning guidelines are designed to create a positive visual relationship between buildings, public streets, landscaped areas, parking lots, storage and service areas, and uses on adjacent properties. 3.1.1. Building Placement Buildings should have a strong relationship with the street and sidewalk. To maximize this relationship, buildings should: Be sited within close proximity to the sidewalk and street wih adequate landscaping where appropriate. Have main entrances on facades that face the street. Buildings on corner lots are encouraged to have the main entrance at the corner. Be oriented parallel to the street. Multiple buildings on the same site should have a strong relationship with each other. To maximize this relationship, buildings should: Be connected with pedestrian walkways. Be sited to create or define a common courtyard or landscaped space. 3.1.2. Parking Lot Locations Parking lots should be located behind or to the side of buildings wherever possible. Buildings, landscaping treatments, and/or fencing/walls should screen views of parking lots from streets, and sidewalks. Dead-end parking aisles should be minimized, where possible. Parking to side of building Pedestrian walkway connecting buildings Parking to rear of building Dead-End Parking Lot (Discouraged). Through Parking Lot (Encouraged). Street ---PAGE BREAK--- 16 Parking to display automobiles that are for sale or rent may be located in front of the building. These auto-display areas should have no more than one to two rows of parked display vehicles. The remaining vehicles displayed for sale or rent should be placed along the side or to the rear of buildings. 3.1.3. Storage Areas Outdoor storage areas should be located behind or to the side of buildings. Views of storage areas from local streets, Interstate 580, and the Iron Horse Trail should be screened by a combination of walls/fences and landscaping. Refer to Section 3.5.1 for guidelines that address the design and height of walls. 3.1.4. Loading/Unloading Areas Loading and unloading areas should be located behind buildings and should generally be screened from views from local streets, Interstate 580, and the Iron Horse Trail. A combination of walls/fences and landscaping, which is compatible with the building, should be used to screen these areas. Refer to Section 3.5.1 for additional guidelines that address the design and height of walls. Vehicles for sale or rent may be parked in front of the building Screen walls that block views of loading and storage areas from the street (Encouraged). Screen wall ---PAGE BREAK--- 17 C H A P T E R 3 D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S S I T E P L A N N I N G Appropriate shared entrances minimize curb cuts. Loading and unloading areas should be located to minimize circulation conflicts with employee and guest parking areas, and should be designed with an adequate turning radius for large trucks. Adequate provisions for emergency vehicles should be incorporated into the design of parking lots and/or loading and unloading areas. 3.1.5. Trash Disposal Areas Trash disposal areas shall be located behind buildings and shall be screened from views from local streets, Interstate 580 and the Iron Horse Trail. A combination of walls, enclosures, and landscaping should be used to screen these areas. Height of walls shall be at least 6 feet and shall completely conceal the disposal areas. The trash enclosure shall be designed with materials and colors that are compatible with the main structures on the site. A solid roof is required over trash disposal areas in order to comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements. 3.1.6. Driveway Locations Driveways should be located as far away as possible from street intersections to minimize congestion and potential interference with the flow of street traffic. The number of driveways should be minimized, especially along Dublin Boulevard, to reduce the potential for conflicts between automobiles entering and exiting the properties and automobiles traveling along the street. Trash enclosures hide visibility of receptacles. ---PAGE BREAK--- 18 Shared parking and access (Encouraged). Adjacent property owners and businesses are strongly encouraged to share driveway access to parking lots to minimize curb cuts and to maximize connectivity and access points. Parallel parking should be discouraged along driveways. Painting the curb red and minimizing the driveway width are appropriate measures to discourage parking along driveways. 3.1.7. Pedestrian Circulation A continuous sidewalk shall be constructed along property lines that are adjacent to streets. The sidewalk must be a minimum of five feet wide and shall be designed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In locations with right-of-way limitations, the sidewalk should be constructed on private property. Street trees are required along the sidewalks (see Section 3.5.6 for additional guidelines related to street trees). Pedestrian access should be provided between sidewalks, on-site parking, and building entrances. Pedestrian access points should include landscaping, walkways, and decorative pavement. As required by the Zoning Ordinance, landscaped spaces are encouraged between sidewalks and buildings. (See Section 3.5 – Landscape Guidelines for related guidelines). ---PAGE BREAK--- 19 C H A P T E R 3 D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S S I T E P L A N N I N G Appropriate. Inappropriate. 3.1.8. Bicycle Circulation Bicycle racks and storage lockers are encouraged on all properties. At least one bicycle rack shall be required for properties with parking lots with more than 40 parking stalls. Bicycle racks should be placed between the sidewalk and building entrance (adjacent to a pedestrian walkway) or within a designated area of a parking lot. Bicycle racks should meet the following criteria: Support the bicycle upright by its frame in two places. Prevent the wheel of the bicycle from tipping over. U-lock should be able to lock the front wheel and the down tube of an upright bicycle, or lock the rear wheel and seat tube of the bicycle. Appropriate bicycle racks include: Inverted frame bicycle rack. frame bicycle rack. Post and loop bicycle rack. Other style that meets the above requirements. Inappropriate bicycle racks include: Comb bicycle racks. Toast bicycle racks. Wave bicycle racks. Bicycle racks should be placed in visible locations to discourage theft. Landscaping should not block views of the bicycle rack and should generally consist of low-lying shrubs. Bicycle racks should be anchored so that they cannot be stolen with the bikes attached. Adequate spacing should be provided between multiple bicycle racks to ensure that bicycles can be easily placed and removed from the racks. Bicycle rack meeting the appropriate criteria. ---PAGE BREAK--- 20 3.1.9. Electronic and Mechanical Equipment The following shall not be located within sidewalks and shall be screened from public views from streets and sidewalks: Electric and water utility meters. Heating/ventilation/cooling equipment. Satellite dishes greater than 18” in diameter. Antennas. Mechanical equipment. Generators. Fire sprinkler risers and detector check valves. Appropriate methods of screening include fencing, landscaping, roof parapets, and equipment enclosures. The design of screening devices should be compatible with the main structures on the site and should conform to other appropriate guidelines. Noise levels of mechanical equipment shall be minimized by using appropriate noise-attenuating enclosures. All utility and communication lines serving the site must be placed underground to improve the visual appearance of the site. Cellular facilities shall be designed to blend in with the environment. There design shall be visually compatible with the uses, buildings, and facilities on the site. 3.1.10. Land Use Buffers A combination of plant material, trees, and fencing screens may be necessary to screen views of non-compatible uses on adjacent properties. Screening of equipment and utility meters (Required).