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4 Multi-Family Design Standards [±] MEMORANDUM CITY OF CHANHASSEN TO: Planning Commission 7700 Market Beurcvar,j POBox.147 Ch,rrilassen Wj 55317 FROM: Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director DATE: September 21, 2004 Administration PilOne 9522271100 952.227.1110 SUBJ: DISCUSSION ITEM - Draft Multi-Family Design Building Inspections 952.2211180 9522271190 Engineering Pr,one 9522271160 Fax. 952.227.1170 Attached for your review and discussion are the revisions to the City's design standards for all multi-family developments. Based on your input, changes will be made to the document. A public hearing is scheduled for October 5, 2004. Finance 9522271140 9522271110 g:\plan\ka\multifamily design standards\9-21-04 pc memo.doc Park & Recreation fJhor:e 952.227 1120 Fax. 952.227.1110 Recreatrcl CCilter 2310 Piwilc 9522271400 Fax. 952 227 H04 Planning & Natural Resources Pil0ne 9522271130 Fax. 952 22l.111O Public Works 1591 ParK Rca,j 952 227.1300 Fax. 952 227.Î310 Senior Center Priem: 952.227 1125 Fax. 952227.1110 Web Site The City of Chanhassen · A growing cormnUility WiU', ail,j Design Standards for Multi-Family 1) Purpose These design standards govern site planning, placement of building masses, use of materials, and enables the City to enhance what otherwise might result in low quality development. These Design Standards will: a) Promote high-quality architectural and site design. b) Create a unified, harmonious and high-quality visual environment throughout the City. c) Protect creek corridors, wetlands, and significant stands of mature trees through the use of careful site design; protective easements; sensitive alignm.ent and design of roadways/access and utilities; incorporation of natural fea.tures; landscaping and massing of trees that enhance existing natural features and views; and the practices delineated in the City's Best Management Practice Handbook. d) Foster a distinctive and positive community image, thereby identifying Chanhassen as a special place with a unique identity in the Twin Cities Region as a whole. 2) Intent The City intends that all multi-family developments within the City should strive toward the highest level of quality in both design and construction. The criteria by which new development in the City shall be judged are as follows: a) Consistency with all of the provisions of the Comprehensive Plan, as amended from time to time; the Surface Water Management Plan; all provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance not specifically overridden by the provision of these Design Standards; and all other applicable land use regulations. b) Preservation of the natural conditions found on each site to the greatest extent possible, through minimized removal of trees and other vegetation and soil, minimized site grading, and application of the practices found in the City's Best Management Practices Handbook. c) Establishment throughout the district of harmonious physical and visual relations among existing, new and proposed buildings, open spaces, natural Multi-Family Design Standards Page 2 terrain, and plant materials and placement with the intent of creating a unique and unified appearance for the entire City. d) Use of appropriate materials, lighting, textures, colors, and architectural and landscape forms to create a unified, high-quality design concept for each site that is compatible with adjacent and neighboring structures and functions, including but not limited to natural area, City-owned property, and vacant land subject to future development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. e) Creation of unified site designs, each with a sense of internal order, that provide desirable environments for site users and visitors and the community as a whole and that consider all site elements including the relationship of buildings to surrounding landform, grading, architectural design, building orientation, entry treatment, use of material including variety, articulation detail roof pitch and lighting, landscaping and site elements. f) Creation of suitable balance between the amount and arrangementof open space, landscaping, and view protection and the design and function of man- made features. Achieving this balance shall take into account screening buffering, size and orientation of open spaces, personal and property security, wind and solar effects and the protection of important public ways. g) Provision of safe and adequate access toandJrom sites giving ample consideration to the location and number of access points from public streets, the safety and convenience of merging and turning movements and traffic management mitigation. h) Provision for on-site vehicular, bicycling, and pedestrian circulation by the way of interiordrives, parking areas, pathways, and walkways adequate to handle anticipated needs to safely buffer pedestrians and cyclists from motor vehicles. Ample consideration shall be given to the width of interior drives, internal traffic movement and flow, separation of pedestrian, cycling, and automotive traffic, and the safe, convenient and practical arrangement of parking spaces. i) Adequate separation and protection of each site from adjacent properties through reasonable provisions of surface water drainage, sound and sight buffer, view protection privacy, and other regulation but are found to have significant effect on any or all of the properties and roadways. 3) District Applications The Design Standards shall apply to multi-family developments. With each zoning district the Design Standards shall be in addition to the underlying requirement. Single-family lots are exempt from the Design Standards. The Design Standards apply with the following exceptions: Multi-Family Design Standards Page 3 a) Internal alterations to a building that affect less than 50 percent of the building's gross floor area and do result in a change to the building height, roof line, or footprint. b) Replacement or repair of existing materials. c) The standards shall apply only to the building or site elements being developed or altered. A proposal for changes to a parking area would be required to meet all the standards for parking, not for buildings. d) The Planning Commission shall apply the Design Standards proportionately to the degree of change proposed. Minor improvements may be made to existing uses without costly upgrades or complete changes to the site. The Planning Commission may make a recommendation to waive specific Design Standards based on the scale of the project. 4) Architectural Style a) Architectural style shall not be restricted. Evaluation of the appearance of a project shall be based on the quality of its design and in relationship to its surroundings, guided by the provisions of this section. Site characteristics to be evaluated for this purpose include buìlding and landscaping, colors, textures, shapes, massing of rhythms of building components and detail, height of roof line, setback and orientation. Designs that are incompatible with their surroundings or intentionally bizarre or exotic are prohibited not acceptable. b) Monotony of design, both within projects and between any project and its surroundings, is prohibited. Variation in detail, form, and siting shall provide visual interest. Site characteristics that may be used for this purpose include building and landscaping, colors, textures, shapes, massing of rhythms of building components and detail, height of roof line, setback and orientation. 5) Land Use All developments shall incorporate the following design elements to create connections adjoining developments and the community: a) Linkffig the physical plan through a unique neighborhood identity. b) Creation of interconnecting neighborhoods in collaboration with adjoining land owners (Street, walkways, preservation of natural features). c) Each neighborhood has a focal point or gathering place including parks, greens, squares, entrance monuments, historic structures (silos/barns) or public furniture (gazeboes, benches, pergolas). Multi-Family Design Standards Page 4 d) Recreation facilities (playgrounds, tot lots, swimming pools and gardens). e) Diversity of age and socio-economics. f) Broad variety of housing choices - twin homes, row houses, town homes, flats above garages, apartments over shops, garden apartments, and senior living opportunities. g) A percentage of units shall be affordable by Current Metropolitan Standards. 6) Curb Appeal All projects shall incorporate the following design elements: a) Orientation to the street or access road i) Setbacks ii) Spacing between buildings Multi-Family Design Standards Page 5 b) Architectural detail/decorative features i) Windows ii) Flower boxes iii) Porches, balconies, private spaces iv) Location and treatment of entryway Multi-Family Design Standards Page 6 v) Surface materials, finish and texture vi) Roof pitch vii)Building height and orientation c) Location of garages d) Landscaping including fencing and berming Multi-Family Design Standards Page 7 e) Street lighting f) Screening of parking, especially in apartment and condominium developments. g) Variations/differentiations in units including, but not limited to, color, material, articulation etc. 7) Transportation Diversity All developments shall be incorporating the following transportation elements: a) Streets with trails incorporated. Multi-Family Design Standards Page 8 b) Provisions for mass transit with bus stops and shelters incorporated into the developments. c) Sidewalk connecting internal developments. i) Undulating sidewalks. ii) Use of pavers. iii) On-street parking and use of roundabouts. Multi-Family Design Standards Page 9 iv) Landscaped boulevards or medians. 8) Integration of Parks, Open Space, Natural Historic or Cultural Resources a) Integrate nature and wildlife with urban environment. i) Trails and Sidewalks. ii) Vistas. iii) Historic Features. Multi-Family Design Standards Page 10 b) Preservation of natural features that support wildlife and native plants (slopes, trees, wetlands).