Section 22-182 Architectural standards for commercial buildings

Prior to the adoption of 2005 (22-182] on 05/12/2005, Section 22-182 read as follows.

 Architectural styles should be consistent with the character of architectural styles found within the  City of Thomasville as listed in the  City of Thomasville  Commercial Design Guidelines, to the extent deemed applicable by the  Zoning Board of Appeals Architectural Review Board . The following architectural standards shall be applied to all new commercial buildings within the City of Thomasville, excluding designated industrial  parks areas , and shall be applied to development and redevelopment:

     (a) Exterior finish material on every facade facing a public right of way and  30 percent on the remaining facades shall be limited to stone, brick, stucco, synthetic stucco, pre-cast concrete,  clapboard siding, split-faced textured  block, and wood shingles.  

     (b) No blank facades are permitted for all facades facing a public right-of-way.  All building  facades facing a public right of way shall have glazed glazed   areas  or areas of glazed appearance   and openings of at least 20 percent and no more than 75 percent of the facade area .  The Planning  Department is authorized to allow a variance up to 5% of the required glazed, glazed appearing, and opening façade area. , and T the glazed and glazed appearance areas, and openings shall meet the following requirements:

         (1) Storefronts shall be directly accessible from the sidewalk and shall have clear glazed areas  no more than ten feet from the ground, equal to a maximum of 75 percent of its primary facade area.

         (2) Windows shall be recessed a minimum of two inches from the exterior face of the facade façade except when clapboard siding is used on the facade .

         (3) Multiple windows in the same rough opening shall  be separated by a minimum of a two  inch wide post and sit on one continuous sill.

         (4) All visible building facades shall have a Typical Window.   It is recommended that the typical window be rectangular and vertically oriented vertical or square in proportion, but may include side or fan lights.  Once a Typical Window is designated, any window ,  which is not typical  shall be considered an "Accent Window."  The primary facade shall have no more than three  (3) Accent Windows.  All other visible facades may have up to five (5) Accent Windows.  An Accent Window may not be larger in area than four times a Typical Window.  Sidelights and fanlights  abutting a door shall not be considered as separate windows.

         (5) If shutters are used, they shall be sized to match  the opening, and be provided for all  windows on a given wall.

         (6) If security bars are used, they shall be located  on the interior of the structure and designed in such a manner so they appear as muntins in a divided light window.  Mesh and chain link are  not permitted to cover openings.

     (c)     Mechanical systems, backflow preventers, television antennae, satellite dishes and communication devices shall be screened from view by landscaping or built elements designed as an integral part of the building architecture.

     (d) Any building constructed as new Development or Redevelopment as defined in Section Section 22-6 is required to have a symmetrical pitched roof with a slope of no less than  5:12.  Any building constructed as new Development or Redevelopment as defined in  Section Section  22-6, which utilizes a barrel tile roof shall have a symmetrical pitch of no less than  3:12.  Any flat roofed building  with a roof pitch of less than 5:12 , whether new Development or  Redevelopment, shall utilize a parapet or false mansard of no less height than necessary to obscure  the roof line from view of the public right of way and no more than six (6) feet in height as  measured from the bottom of the parapet or mansard or no more than the maximum height as permitted under Section Section  22-181 for the zone in which the building is constructed.

     ( e )    Architectural details such as texture, pattern, color, and building form used  on the front  facade should be incorporated on all visible building facades, but does not apply to any facade facing service courts or other areas generally not visible to the public.

     (f)    In order to avoid “cookie cutter” style  buildings and in recognition of the fact that corporations have available a minimum of two design options, individual “corporate image”  architectural design elements and colors shall be incorporated only as secondary elements to the buildings and not as the dominant element.

     ( g )    Chain link fencing must be vinyl coated and will only be permitted in the rear  setbacks for  all zoning excluding areas zoned residential and agricultural. Chain link fencing shall be permitted  in all setbacks in areas zoned agricultural or residential. A list of approved fencing materials is maintained in the Planning Department.  No fencing in any commercial and manufacturing zones  shall exceed seven (7) feet in height.  A list of approved fencing materials is maintained in the  Planning Department. Chain link f enc ing will only be permitted in the rear setbacks and must be  coated.    

     (h)    All awnings shall be consistent with the architecture  of the building.  Signs displayed on  awnings shall comply with the City of Thomasville Commercial Design Guidelines.

     (i)    To the fullest extent possible, all utility connections  including, but not limited to, electric and phone shall be placed underground.