ARTICLE 17. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STANDARDS
17.1 Purpose and Intent
17.2 Design Standards
17.1 Purpose and Intent – To provide for harmonious and compatible development of the built environment with the rural character of Gilford as expressed in its indigenous architecture, by regulating the design and aesthetic quality of structures built to contain land uses allowed by this ordinance and the land on which such uses are sited.
17.2 Design Standards – All structures intended for housing a principal land use in the Community Character Protection District shall be constructed in accordance with this section. The Planning Board, in reviewing and acting upon site plan applications, shall give consideration to relevant visual features and prevailing land uses of the immediate neighborhood and such other visual elements as are consistent with the purpose and intent of this section.
17.2.1 Building Scale – Scale is the proportional relationship between buildings, landscaping and other vertical elements of site development. Building elevations shall be designed to provide and maintain traditional scale in commercial structures that relate to pedestrian scale, existing structures and the site. Building scale relationships must be considered, abrupt changes of scale should be avoided and appropriate transitions should be provided between large visual changes. Stepping building heights, breaking large horizontal planes, applying linear surface patterns and colors are some of the methods of mitigating the effects of incompatible scales. Development should respect and relate to residential buildings in the neighborhood and should provide for an
orderly transition to commercial development. Whenever possible, new development should maintain traditional residential forms and scale, based on relevant patterns of community centers as examples.
17.2.2 Architectural Design – The architectural design of structures, consisting of the composite effects of building shapes, materials, finish, decorative elements, site grading and landscaping shall be compatible with historically established community centers and the neighborhood in which the proposed development is to be located. In particular, the following standards shall be applied:
17.2.2.1 Roofs – The top of exterior walls should terminate, whenever possible, in a junction with an angled roof, having a pitch of not less than 5:12. In the case of very large building volumes designed with a flat roof system, a perimeter of pitched roof, having a vertical projection of not less than twelve (12) feet shall be applied. Such a pitched roof perimeter may be interrupted by vertical wall surfaces without a pitched roof cap, having a horizontal length of not more than forty (40) feet, at intervals of not less than fifty (50) feet. In addition, such pitched roof perimeters may be intersected or articulated by angled projections of any dimension or interval.
17.2.2.2 Windows – Window glazing should be sized in proportion to the building. Large plate glass windows should be interrupted with mullions and/or muntins, whenever functionally possible. Frame material and color shall be compatible with the wall.
17.2.2.3 Entrance – All public entries of buildings shall be clearly defined, employing at least three of the following design details:
(a) Porticos
(b) Canopies
(c) Overhangs
(d) Arcades
(e) Recesses and/or projections
(f) Raised cornices/parapets over door
(g) Arches
(h) Display windows
(i) Integrated planters
(j) Wing walls
(k) Seating
17.2.2.4 Pedestrian Connections – Walls facing streets and pedestrian approaches should be designed with a combination of display windows, recessed windows, detailed entry areas, awnings or prominent sills. Rear entrances to buildings shall be designed to the same standards as front entries. Buildings and windows should be designed to maximize occupant surveillance of entries, parking lots and public spaces.
17.2.3 Building Materials – Exterior siding shall be clapboard, vertical siding, brick, stone or other architectural masonry, cast in place or pre cast monolithic detailing, wood shingles or shakes. Sheer walls of concrete masonry units will not be allowed, except when the visible surface is treated to be compatible with the overall architecture of the building.
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