Colfax Municipal Code Ch. 17.116 Design Guidelines

The purpose and intent of design guidelines is to establish a set of standard regulations to maintain and enhance the city's character and visual appearance in order to create a quality future community; and to continue to maintain and enhance the historic resources, qualities and character of the city. The city council finds establishment of design guidelines necessary to achieve the cited mitigation of the community design element and implementation of the Colfax General Plan 2020 with the following findings:

A. The design guidelines will maintain the small town character that makes Colfax a desirable place to live;

B. The design guidelines will maintain and enhance the city's character and visual appearance in order to create a quality fixture community; and

C. The design guidelines will maintain and enhance the historic resources, qualities and character of the city.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

This chapter incorporates the Colfax design guidelines previously adopted and as thereafter amended.

These guidelines are applicable to all zones within the city limits of Colfax, excepting therefrom single-family residential zones R-l-5, R-l-1O, R-1-15, R-1-20 and R-1-40. The official zone map is available at city hall. The purpose of the design guidelines is to enhance the visual quality of the city by using the basic design elements in the existing environment: building materials, architectural styles, sign letter type fonts, colors, landscaping, physical elements and space for people; capitalizing on the area's unique assets.

Most of the downtown core area architecture preserves the history of the community. A few buildings have strayed from the past tradition. However, most of the buildings embody quality in construction, craft, and a style the community wants to maintain and replicate. All projects undertaken should reflect the existing community style to reinforce and extend the qualities and special characteristics of the Colfax community, unless clearly infeasible.

A. General Considerations.

• Research and/or a visual inventory of the surrounding community building architecture, colors, landscaping and signage is recommended.

• Respect the design of the existing structures as products of the design philosophy and reflection of a specific time.

• Retain and restore the distinctive stylistic features of existing structures.

• Replace or repair lot features (i.e. fencing) when possible.

• Restore historical elements of the original building design to create the visual appearance of the original structure.

• Minimize alterations to historic structures. Facade changes should reflect and conform to the appearance of the surrounding area.

• All new or remodeled structures should reflect the early railroad and/or a mountain/western style of architecture.

• Traditional building materials such as simulated wood shingles, lap siding, board and batten, brick, and indigenous rock should be used.

• Utilize varied materials, textures, or colors to create horizontal and vertical articulation. A range of selected colors is available for viewing at city hall.

B. Considerations for Residential Uses.

• Porches or covered entries are encouraged.

• Residences should be located toward the front lot line setback. Roofs should be pitched.

• Detached and rear access garages are encouraged.

• Garage doors should not be the focal point of a residence.

• Front doors and porches should be the most prominent aspect of residential design.

• Residential housing or land use conversion to commercial should reflect characteristics and architectural features common during 1875 to the early 1940s.

C. Considerations for Commercial/Business Uses.

• Commercial/business design characteristics should reflect architectural features common during 1875 to the early 1930s.

• Storefronts should be treated as focal point(s).

• Utilize established historic design features i.e. cornices, window types and sizes, recessed double doorways, etc.

• Maintain the existing building/pedestrian scale.

• Differentiate building facades through the use of color, facade elements, or a change in materials.

• Use appropriate window and awning styles, sizes, and spacing.

• Height and building mass should be in proportion to the surrounding buildings, trees, and terrain.

• Two stories or stepped hillside/split level construction is preferred, rather than long ware house buildings with no articulation.

• Avoid a lack of architectural detail, which creates a plain appearance.

• Stucco, concrete slab, and metal exteriors generally detract from the community character and are discouraged.

D. Considerations for Equipment/Utilities.

• Refuse areas should be recessed, enclosed, or screened from view and located in accordance with the servicing disposal company.

• Enclosures should be constructed and finished in a manner consistent with the design elements of the main structure.

• On-site utility service should be installed underground in accordance with the public works department, city engineer and applicable city codes and policies.

• Adjacent off-site utility services should be installed underground in accordance with the public works department, city engineer and applicable city codes and policies.

• All heating/cooling or other equipment and appurtenances should be recessed and/or screened from view.

E. Considerations for lighting.

• No lighting should constitute a safety hazard.

• All lighting should be downcast.

• Lighting standards should be mounted on reinforced pedestals or otherwise protected.

• Under canopy lighting should be recessed or concealed so as not to be directly visible from a public street.

• Neon lighting is discouraged in the historic (H) district.

• Exterior lighting should be compatible with the architecture, landscaping, and consistent with surrounding fixtures and styles.

F. Considerations for Landscaping.

a. Landscaping should enhance the aesthetic appearance of the project. Innovative techniques or uses of alternative plants and planting schemes will be considered; a minimum of five percent of the gross area of the total parcel or lot should be landscaped; a minimum of two percent in conjunction with parking lot landscaping.

• Hillside development should preserve native trees when feasible, and be planted immediately and landscaped to prevent erosion and should channel run-off to designated retention areas.

• Landscaping should consider conservation of water resources through the efficient use of irrigation, appropriate plant materials (i.e. appropriate plant zones), and regular maintenance of landscaped areas.

• A recommended list of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers is in Appendix 3 of this title. A mix of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and surfacing materials is preferred, rather than planting the same species throughout the project in public areas.

• Recommended surfacing materials: rocks, gravel, ornamental mulch materials, chips, or any other materials acceptable to the planning director. Not more than thirty (30) percent of the landscape area should be covered by surface materials.

• Minimum tree size should be fifteen (15) gallons.

• Minimum shrub size one gallon, five gallon is preferred.

• Rooted cutting groundcover plants should be placed for uniform coverage within twelve (12) months.

• Retain old/new native conifers, oaks, and maples when possible. Replace and replant any dead or removed plants or trees. All landscaping must be irrigated in conformance with Chapter 17.122 ("California State-Mandated Water Efficient Landscape Regulations") and maintained in a live state, or replaced within a reasonable time (three to six months) of discovery; The use of native vegetation is intended to eliminate the need for permanent irrigation, however, temporary irrigation should be provided for three years or until the vegetation is permanently established.

• Landscaping and irrigation shall be installed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the chief building official.

• All landscaping and irrigation shall be maintained by any and all subsequent owners for a minimum period of three years after installation, the developer shall comply with either (i) or (ii) of the following provisions and shall comply with (iii):

(i) Deposit with the city a maintenance bond, cash, letter of credit, or its equivalent, in an amount equal to one-half the market value of landscaping and irrigation guaranteeing the proper care, treatment and maintenance of landscaping for a period of three years or;

(ii) Execute an agreement and equitable lien in an amount equal to the full market value of the landscaping and irrigation with the city, guaranteeing the maintenance thereof during a three-year period. Default of such agreement or lien shall cause written letter of notification by the city, to the owner of said real property within ten (10) days that the city will perform or have performed by a reputable landscaper any and all maintenance work it deems necessary and bring legal action against the owner for the full cost of such maintenance work, or foreclose such equitable lien as provided by law;

(iii) Prior to the expiration of the three year maintenance guarantee period and return of the security, the property owner shall maintain, replace or restore all deficient landscaping.

G. Considerations for parking lots.

• One shade tree for every eight to ten (10) parking spaces is requested, in no case shall there be more than sixteen (16) stalls without a landscape break.

• Perimeter landscaping is required for screening purposes:

• Adjacent to residential uses;

• Street frontage buffers;

• Along property lines, berms, hedges, or other features may be requested to differentiate boundaries of land uses.

• Landscape strips constructed adjacent to the street should be a minimum of four feet wide, except that portion of the frontage within two feet of driveways or alleys.

• Screening hedge should not exceed three feet in height consisting of compact evergreen plants a minimum height of eighteen inches within eighteen (18) months, some situations may substitute a decorative masonry wall.

• Earth berms will be a height of three to four feet, may be substituted provided the landscaped strip is widened appropriately to provide ease of maintenance and slopes not to exceed two feet horizontally to one foot vertically.

• Landscaping, berms, or masonry walls shall not inhibit line of sight distance of driveways, alleys, or street intersections.

• Not less than two percent of the interior parking lot shall be landscaped. Perimeter building landscaping shall not be considered a part of the two percent.

• All unused space resulting from the design of the parking spaces shall be used for planting purposes.

• Planted areas shall be separated from vehicular areas and street rights-of-way by a concrete curb at least six inches high.

• Planted areas should average three feet wide, more when feasible.

• Existing mature trees retained may be given credit for parking stalls.

• Provide safe clearly designated pedestrian pathways when feasible.

H. Considerations for Sidewalk Treatment.

• Curb cuts shall conform to adopted city codes and standards.

• Street furniture such as benches, trash enclosures, bicycle racks, planter boxes and landscape vegetation is encouraged.

I. Considerations for signs.

• Sign standards are set forth in Chapter 17.112.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

Projects requiring a design review permit are as set forth in subsection 17.32.010C.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

The approval authority for a design review permit is as set forth in subsection 17.32.010C.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

The approval authority shall make the findings set forth in subsection 17.40.070B. to approve a design review permit.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

Decisions on design review permits may be appealed pursuant to Chapter 17.44.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

Fees for design review shall be established by resolution and incorporated in the official city fee schedule.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)