boyn09 Chapter 9
COMMUNITY DESIGN PLAN
Sec. 1. Title
Sec. 2. Purpose
Sec. 3. Definitions
Sec. 4. Applicability
Sec. 5. Community Design Review and Approval
Sec. 6. Exemptions
Sec. 7. Administration and Interpretation of Regulations and Provisions
Sec. 8. Reserved
Sec. 9. General Intent
Sec. 10. Site Criteria
Sec. 11. Exterior Building Design
Sec. 1. Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Boynton Beach Community Design Plan".
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 2. Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote harmony with nature and a pleasant and comprehensible cohesiveness among development within the City of Boynton Beach. Through enforcement
of this Community Design Plan, the local elected officials shall determine the basic aesthetic character to be achieved in the development of the community.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 3. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meaning ascribed thereto:
Addition - An expansion, extension, or increase in the usable space within a building or facility.
Alteration - Any change or modification in construction.
Substantial, Substantial Improvement - Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure or site,
the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty (50) per cent of the value of the structure as established by the most recent Palm Beach County ad valorem tax bill, either (1) before the improvement
or repair is started, or (2) if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition, "substantial improvement" is considered
to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the
structure.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 4. Applicability.
A. New Construction. This chapter shall apply concurrently and in direct relation with the requirements of Chapter 4, Site Plan Review of these regulations.
B. Existing Construction. This chapter shall be applicable under any of the following conditions:
1. When an existing building is proposed to be enlarged.
2. When exterior alteration or reconstruction of an existing building is changed and/or alters the effect of the architectural design of the building.
3. When an existing building and/or site is substantially improved.
4. When the occupancy classification of the building changes as defined by the Standard Building Code.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 5. Community design review and approval.
Community design review and approval shall be regulated by Chapter 4, Site Plan Review, Part III, Land Development Regulations. However, in addition to the submittal requirements
set forth in
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Chapter 4, all projects subject to compliance with the community design plan shall submit elevation drawings of all sides of each building proposed to be developed on the site. Colored
elevations will only be required for the front elevation of a structure when all sides of a building are consistent in color and materials. Each colored elevation drawing shall identify
the type of each exterior finish material and state the color by name, manufacturer and model or style number. A color sample shall be submitted as an example along with the color or
product identified on the plans. The sample will be used for the final site inspection to ensure that the product and color represented at time of site plan approval. For projects
which require site plan approval, all colored elevation drawings and/or samples shall be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Department by the site plan approval deadline date.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 6. Exemptions.
Single-family and duplex dwelling units on individually platted lots shall be exempt from this chapter.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 7. Administration and interpretation of regulations and provisions.
A. The interpretation and application of this chapter by the Planning and Zoning Department shall be reasonable and uniformly applied to all property, except those exempt in Section
6 above, within the City of Boynton Beach.
B. The regulations and provisions of this chapter shall be held to the minimum requirements adopted for the protection and promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience,
order, appearance, prosperity or general welfare.
C. Whenever the regulations and requirements of this chapter are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully enacted and adopted rules, regulations, ordinances or laws,
the most restrictive shall apply.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 8. Reserved.
Sec. 9. General Intent.
A. Buildings, structures and site elements are not required to match surrounding existing developments, but shall be in visual harmony with surrounding developments.
B. Buildings or structures located on separate parcels and buildings or structures part of a present or future multi-building complex, shall achieve visual unity of character and design
concepts through the relationship of building style, texture, color, materials, form, scale, proportion and location.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95)
Sec. 10. Site Criteria.
A. Building Location.
1. Outbuildings, either located on the same parcel or an adjacent parcel as the principal building, shall not be located so as to totally block from the street, the visibility of any
tenant space within the principal building on the site. Blocking shall be considered to occur if at the street frontage, the head-on view of a tenant space within the principal building
is not partially visible.
2. Buildings shall be designed and sited to fully utilize the site and avoid unusable or inaccessible open space or parking spaces.
3. Siting and orientation of buildings must respond to the pedestrian and/or vehicular nature of the street on which it is located.
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B. Vehicular and Pedestrian Circulation.
1. Separate vehicular and pedestrian circulation systems on a site are encouraged.
2. Vehicular and pedestrian circulation systems on adjacent properties shall be linked to encourage cross-access.
3. Parking lots and other vehicular use areas shall be integrated with surrounding structures and with the building, or group of buildings, that they serve.
4. Design emphasis shall be given to the entrances and exits to parking areas, through use of landscaping.
C. Service Areas.
1. Unloading and loading areas shall be screened from streets and public view by a buffer wall or continuous vegetative buffer. Vegetative buffers shall be comprised of shrub and
tree species having dense foliage and of a size and spacing to form a continuous screen of plant material as required by the Landscape Code.
2. All dumpsters and recycling receptacles shall be located on site so that they are easily accessible for pickup. No trash receptacles shall be located in a parking space.
3. All dumpsters, recycling receptacles and lift stations shall be screened from public view with a six foot high, concrete block stuccoed wall. Such enclosure openings shall have
gates.
4. Exterior utility boxes, meters, transformers, etc. shall be screened from public view by a buffer wall or continuous vegetative buffer as required by the Landscape Code.
E. Walls, fences, enclosures, and similar incidental site structures shall resemble, with respect to color and materials, the design of the principal buildings and shall be integrated
with other site elements.
F. Exterior Lighting.
1. Lighting fixture height, style, design and illumination level shall be compatible with the building design and height and shall consider safety, function and aesthetic value.
2. Lighting shall not be of an intensity that produces glare on adjacent properties.
3. Feature lighting emphasizing plants, trees, barriers, entrances, and exits is encouraged.
4. Lighting may be used to illuminate a building and its grounds for safety purposes and to enhance its beauty. However, the visual effect shall be subtle.
5. Lighting shall not be used as a form of advertising in a manner that draws more attention to the building or grounds at night than in the day.
6. Lighting attached to the form of the exterior of the building or part of the building exterior or visible from the exterior of the building shall not be permitted if it is contrary
to the architectural style of the building.
H. Sculptures, fountains, gardens, pools, trellises and benches shall be encouraged within the site design.
I. Signs.
1. Signs shall be designed and treated as part of the architecture of a building and shall be reviewed at time of site plan review.
2. A single sign style (such as cabinet, channel, reverse channel) shall be used for wall signage on all buildings on a site.
3. Sign colors shall be complementary to the colors of the structure on which it is located. The number of colors used for tenant signage for multiple tenant buildings and their outbuildings
and outparcels shall be limited to two, in addition to white and black. Colors of nationally registered copy of tenants within the building shall be included in this limitation.
4. Non-word depictions on signs shall be limited to 20% of the area of the sign erected. Color
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limitations shall not apply to non-word depictions on signs.
5. Freestanding directory signs, internally located within the site are encouraged rather than multiple tenant listings on freestanding identification signs.
6. Sign lettering shall be easy to read and in scale with the building or tenant space on which it is located.
7. Small lettering on freestanding identification signs located close to entrances shall not be allowed. Lettering size shall take into consideration the traveling speed of the adjacent
street.
8. The number of different lettering styles on tenant signage on multiple tenant buildings and their outbuildings and outparcels shall be limited to one in addition to the lettering
styles of the nationally registered copy of all tenants located within the building and its outbuildings and outparcels.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95; Ord. No. 96-59, § 2, 1-21-97)
Sec. 11. Exterior Building Design.
A. Building design approval shall be based on the use of the structure, its relationship to the site, and its compatibility with the surrounding natural and built environment.
B. When a distinct development or architectural pattern exists within a surrounding two block area, consistency with that pattern shall be required, unless the pattern of development
is in a dilapidated condition. This provision shall not require buildings to be exact copies of each other.
C. Buildings or structures which are perceived as part of a present or future group of buildings shall exhibit similar, unifying design elements.
D. When the area involved forms an integral part of, or is immediately adjacent to, or otherwise clearly affects the future of any established section of
the city, the design, scale and location on the site shall enhance rather than detract from the character, value, and attractiveness of that section of the city.
E. Rooftops will be treated as part of the building elevation. All rooftop equipment must be completely screened from view at a minimum distance of 600 feet.
F. All building designs shall achieve a sense of human scale through use of insets, balconies, window projections and other building elements in the design of a structure.
G. Buildings, which are of symbolic design for reasons of advertising, unless otherwise consistent with the criteria herein, shall not be allowed. Symbols attached to buildings shall
not be allowed, unless they are secondary in appearance to the building and landscape and are an aesthetic asset to the building.
H. Drive-up or walk-up windows for commercial uses shall not be located on a building facade that faces a public or private street, unless the following requirements are met:
1. The building facade shall have windows that occupy no less than 25% of the facade and that are located at the pedestrian level. A maximum of 10% of this 25% may be simulated windows.
2. The building facade shall be modulated and divided into smaller identifiable pieces to articulate the plane of the facade.
3. The building facade shall have at least one offset having a pitched roof.
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(artwork)
4. A minimum ten (10) foot wide buffer strip shall be installed between the street right-of-way and the drive-through lane, along the entire length of the drive-through lane facing
the street, and shall be provided in lieu of any landscaping required by the landscape code for vehicular use areas adjacent to a public right-of-way. The width of the buffer strip
shall exclude utility easements.
5. The landscape buffer strip referenced above shall contain a minimum two (2) foot tall earth berm along the entire length of the drive-through lane facing the street and shall have
a slope not to exceed a ratio of three-to-one (3:1).
6. The landscape buffer strip referenced above shall be planted with a minimum of one (1) tree, a minimum of twelve (12) feet tall, for each thirty (30) linear feet, or fraction thereof,
of drive-through laneage facing the street. In addition, there shall be planted within this buffer strip a continuous solid visual screen at least three (3) feet in height within one
year of installation. This screen shall be comprised of at least two different species of shrubs planted in groupings or undulating rows. The shrubs
shall be a minimum of three (3) gallons in size with an 18-24 inch spread, full to base, at time of planting. Ground cover shall be planted within 25% of the required area of the landscape
buffer strip.
7. The landscape buffer strip referenced above shall use plant materials that meet the quality requirements of the city's landscape code.
I. All building facades of a building that face or are visible from public or private streets shall be designed to be as attractive in appearance as the front of the building.
J. Due to the high degree of visibility of buildings located on Hypoluxo Road, Miner Road, Congress Avenue, Lawrence Road, Gateway Boulevard, Quantum Lakes Drive, Old Boynton Road,
Knuth Road, Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach Boulevard, Winchester Boulevard, High Ridge Road, Seacrest Boulevard, Golf Road, Ocean Avenue, Federal Highway, Old Dixie Highway, N.E. 10th
Avenue and S.E. 36th Avenue; most of which are considered entrances to the City, the following additional exterior design requirements apply:
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1. Overhead doors shall not be located on a building facade(s) that faces any of the above public or private street.
2. Industrial buildings located on any of the above streets shall be designed in such a manner so as to disguise their typical warehouse appearance.
L. See also "Signs", Section 10.I. above.
(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1, 3-21-95; Ord. No. 95-37, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 96-31, § 1, 5-21-96)
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