§ 30-14.6. Special regulations for the design of parking structures.

Parking structures shall be designed as follows:

(a)

In the VC district, where parking structures are allowed along pedestrian frontages, at least sixty percent (60%) of the ground floor frontage shall be developed with non-residential uses. No more than one (1) curb cut is allowed along the pedestrian street frontage to accommodate vehicular access to the parking structure. (See Figure 14-2: Commercial Frontage on Parking Garage Ground Floor.)

FIGURE 14-2: COMMERCIAL FRONTAGE ON PARKING GARAGE GROUND FLOOR

(b)

On facades that front on public streets, the exterior articulation of interior vertical circulation, such as ramped portions of the structure used for access to higher levels of parking, shall be prohibited. In such a case where interior ramps front on public streets, facade design and screening shall be used to mask the interior ramps and create the illusion of horizontality. The design of the primary facade shall include horizontal design elements, such as knee walls and cornices, which reflect the design of other structures in the district. (See Figure 14-3 and Figure 14-4: Non-conforming Facade Design and Conforming Facade Design.)

FIGURE 14.3: NON-CONFORMING FACADE DESIGN (TOP) AND CONFORMING FACADE DESIGN (BOTTOM)

FIGURE 14-4: NON-CONFORMING FACADE DESIGN (LEFT) AND CONFORMING FACADE DESIGN (RIGHT)

Non-Conforming Conforming

(c)

Parking structures in the Village Center district shall conform to the facade articulation regulations of Section 30-10.7.

(d)

A parking structure shall be constructed with materials and design elements that reflect the principal building that it serves. In the Village Center district, if the parking structure itself is the principal building, it shall conform to the building material regulations for the Village Center District.

(e)

On portions of the ground floor facade where parking spaces are visible, a decorative screen shall be provided atop the knee wall to screen traffic and pedestrians in the public right-of-way from headlight glare. The total height of the knee wall and decorative screen shall be a minimum of four (4) feet. (See Figure 14-5: Parking Structure Ground Floor Decorative Screening.)

FIGURE 14-5: PARKING STRUCTURE GROUND FLOOR DECORATIVE SCREENING

(f)

For parking structures with rooftop open-air parking, the parapet of the facade shall be extended such that a seven (7)-foot tall vehicle is not visible from the curb of the public sidewalk across the street from the facade along which parking is designated. (See Figure 14-6: Extended Parapet Vehicular Screen.)

FIGURE 14-6: EXTENDED PARAPET VEHICULAR SCREEN

(g)

A vehicular clear sight zone shall be included at vehicular exit areas that includes a triangular sight area on each side of the exit defined by the following requirements (See Figure 14-7: Plan and 3-Dimensional Diagram of the Vehicular Clear Sight Zone.):

(1)

The facade of vehicular exit areas shall be setback from the public sidewalk a minimum of eight (8) feet setback for the portion of the facade that includes the vehicle exit area and eight (8) linear feet on each side of the exit opening.

(2)

A sight triangle shall be defined by drawing a line from the edge of the vehicular exit area to a point on the property line abutting the public sidewalk eight (8) feet to the side of the exit lane.

(3)

In the sight triangle (bound by the parking structure wall, public sidewalk and vehicular exit lane), ground cover, landscaping, or decorative wall shall be used to act as a buffer between the exit aisle and the public sidewalk. Landscaping or a decorative wall shall not exceed three (3) feet in height in order to maintain driver peripheral sightlines to the public sidewalk.

FIGURE 14-7: PLAN AND 3-DIMENSIONAL DIAGRAM OF THE VEHICULAR CLEAR SIGHT ZONE

(4)

The upper story facade(s) of the parking structure may be built to the property line.

(Code 1993, § 20-14.6)