Attachment 6 - Section 3.3, Commercial Design GuidelinesCommercial Design Guidelines
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3.3 BUILDING DESIGN (C-2A SUBDISTRICT)
3.3.1 Maintain a building front module that is
consistent with the remaining block front
streetscape
a) Pilasters and columns along with wall beams and
cornices which are in front of the building wall and
display windows should be used to provide a layering
and hierarchy of structure. Storefront widths should
be similar to those of other adjacent stores. This is of
special importance for buildings with street frontages
which are wider than the norm along a street front.
b) In general, pilasters and columns should occur at
intervals of no more than approximately ten (10) feet.
3.3.2 Design buildings along North Santa Cruz Avenue
and Main Street to be compatible with traditional
architectural styles
a) Characteristics of traditional Main Street Contempo-
rary architecture include the following:
• Shaped parapets or projecting cornices at street
wall tops
• Large display windows framed by high quality
materials
• Projecting columns and pilasters
• Column/pilaster bases and bulkheads below dis-
play windows
• Projecting belt courses and other moldings
• Decorative details
b) Provide architectural details to enhance the visual
interest of facades. Elements that are encouraged in-
clude the following:
• Projecting cornices with
decorative moldings and/
or brackets
• Shaped parapets
• Planter boxes
• Projecting molding
• Inset medallions
Desirable storefront components
Contemporary storefront compatible with
traditional design
ATTACHMENT 6
Commercial Design Guidelines
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• Bay windows
• Moldings around windows
• Pilaster and column capitals
c) Size and height of all detail elements shall be sym-
pathetic to the major elements of adjacent structures.
3.3.3 Emphasize display windows and storefront
entries
a) Provide interesting storefronts with prominent dis-
play windows.
b) Traditional storefronts with bulkheads below the
windows and glass on both the street front and the
sides of vestibules are desirable. However, larger and
more contemporary display windows are also accept-
able, but should have some solid base at least 12 inches
high between the bottom of the window and the pav-
ing below.
c) Use bulkhead materials that are consistent with the
building’s materials and traditional to Mainstreet-style
storefronts (e.g., stucco, tile, stone, wood panels.) The
decorative treatment of bulkheads is encouraged (e.g.,
wood moldings over a wood base panel, decorative
tile patterns.)
d) Window box planters below display windows are
encouraged to add color and visual interest.
3.3.4 Maintain transparent storefronts and public right-
of-way walls
a) Maintain a minimum of sixty percent (60%) trans-
parent glazing along primary store frontages up to eight
feet above grade.
b) In the example to the left, A+B+C+D must equal
at least 60% of E.
c) Avoid blank walls over ten (10) feet long on pri-
mary frontages, and from the first fifty (50) feet from
Santa Cruz Avenue or Main Street. Break up larger
blank walls with pilasters and landscaping.
d) Display window proportions should generally re-
flect traditional storefront windows with proportions
that are horizontal or approximately square. Strong ver-
tical window proportions should be avoided.
e) Display window lighting to enhance the CBD night-
time vibrancy is strongly encouraged. Methods may
include shielded or recessed spotlights to highlight dis-
play merchandise or pin lights used to define the out-
line of windows.
Storefronts with attractive display windows,
friendly entries, landscaping and well designeddetailing enhance both the character of the
business and the Town
Commercial Design Guidelines
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3.3.5 Provide vestibules at building entries
a) Recess entry doors three to six feet from the front
facade.
b) Pave vestibule floors with tile, brick, stone, or a
similar high quality hard surface to set the vestibule
apart from the sidewalk.
3.3.6 Utilize high quality storefront materials
a) Use wall materials primarily composed of stone,
brick or stucco for facades. Avoid nontraditional ma-
terials such as wood, shingles, cultured stone, small tiles,
rough finished materials, and metal.
b) Wood window frames are common in this area and
are strongly encouraged.
c) Alternatively, vinyl covered or dark anodized alu-
minum metal storefront window and door frames are
suggested.
d) Anodized aluminum frames are not generally de-
sired, but may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
e) Entry doors should be selected to compliment the
design of the storefront. High quality entry doors are
encouraged, while standard storefront doors are dis-
couraged, consistent with the attention paid in the past
to doors in this area of the CBD. Dutch doors should
also be considered to open up businesses to passing
pedestrian traffic, and provide a welcoming small town
feeling to storefronts.
3.3.7 Operable windows and french doors are
encouraged for restaurants and coffee cafes
a) Window types and proportions should be comple-
mentary to the architecture and design of the facade.
b) Two examples of operable restaurant facade win-
dows are shown below and to the right.
Provide vestibule entries
Restaurant operable window example Restaurant operable window example
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3.3.8 Install awnings when weather and sun
exposure protection are desired
a) Fabric awnings are the preferred material. Metal
awnings may be used if they are of contemporary de-
sign, are composed of sloping awning faces only, and
are compatible with the building style.
b) Fabric awnings should be installed on painted tu-
bular metal frames. End panels returning to the build-
ing face are optional.
c) Avoid shiny fabrics.
d) Backlit awnings that visually appear as large light
sources will not be permitted.
e) Relate awning placement to the major architec-
tural elements of the facade.
• Avoid covering any transom windows or architec-
tural elements such as belt courses, decorative
trim and similar features
• Use separate awnings over individual storefront
bays defined by the columns or pilasters rather
than placing a continuous awning across the build-
ing frontage
•Patterned and stiped awnings are discouraged. If
patterned awnings are proposed, the burden will
be on the applicant to demonstrate that the col-
ors and pattern are appropriate for the design and
color of the building
•Operable awnings are encouraged when appro-
priate for the style of the building.
Awnings are used here to provide color and a
sense of intimacy between the window
shopper and the clothing displayed
Awnings can call attention to building entries
and soften the forms of a rectangular building