Surface parking lots in many cases represent real estate in transition. Parking lot design should address the appearance from the surroundings, from both street level, and elevated vantage points. Yet surface parking has a responsibility to contribute to the quality of the place as does every other activity. Therefore, it should present itself with an art and accommodation that complements its neighbors and that rationalizes its presence ... no matter how temporary.
The design of parking structures should relate to the design context of the area as expressed in the design of nearby buildings and other features. Exterior walls of parking structures should be designed with materials, colors, and architectural articulation in a manner that provides visual compatibility with the adjacent buildings and environment.
Active uses in the sidewalk level of parking structures are encouraged. The incorporation and enhancement of active ground-level uses in parking structures helps create a more interesting and attractive environment for pedestrians. Such incorporation in new and modified parking structures near active retail and pedestrian areas will substantially improve pedestrian linkages and enrich the District's cityscape. However, if active uses cannot be initially incorporated, the design of the sidewalk level of parking structures should be done to allow for future conversion for active uses.
Portions of the street edge of surface parking lots can be pedestrian activated with vending stalls. This is particularly appropriate in proximity to other retail and office uses.
The siting and location of parking should minimize traffic movement and circulation throughout Goose Hollow to lessen pedestrian conflict.
* C1-1 GUIDELINE: Design surface parking and parking garage exteriors to visually integrate with their surroundings.
This guideline may be accomplished by any or all of the following:
* Refer to Appendix A
Signs exist in a shared environment that compete for the attention of viewers. Unlike most other communication devices, a sign is influenced by its location in relation to and with buildings, traffic arteries, other rights-of-way and by its proximity to other signs. Signs share with architecture an ability to characterize entire sections of a city as well as single establishments. The street is a gallery for the many forms of sign art, which can be seen by everyone. Therefore, for visual harmony, signs should be complementary and respectful to the visual integrity and architecture of buildings. Inappropriate signs can defeat the purposes of other design considerations or detract from the land uses within an area. On the other hand, signs that respect and enhance an area can be a powerful tool for achieving the results intended by the land use and design process.
Signing and identification should be considered as integral design elements of any improvement/development project. When supporting structures of signs are exposed, they should be considered as important and integral elements of the sign design.
To achieve compatibility in the design of signs for a building storefront, developers and their architects are encouraged to establish a design system for building signage. Signage should therefore be delineated as part of the required permit and approval process. This will help ensure that signage is well integrated into the project and provide certainty as to the allowable signage for the project. This program of signage criteria should be included in tenant leases. Initial review and approval by the City of a sign system for a building will facilitate sign additions and changes in the future for new and different tenants because individual signs which comply with an approved sign system would not require further design review.
* C1-2 GUIDELINE: Integrate signs and awnings to be complementary and respectful of a building's architecture.
This guideline may be accomplished by any or all of the following:
* Refer to Appendix A
The Goose Hollow District will witness significant changes in the character of development in the near future. Most of Goose Hollow District is served by light rail transit. Transit will largely influence the infill and redevelopment potentials of this area. New surface parking lots are not allowed within 100 feet of a light rail station. Some existing surface parking lots and Tri-Metıs replacement parking sites are opportunities for future infill or expansion. To maximize this future opportunity it is important to carefully locate new buildings in a manner that will encourage infill development on the surface parking areas. This should be done in order to facilitate the overall development compatibility of the District in the future.
* C3-1 GUIDELINE: Locate and shape buildings to provide for future infill development on surface parking areas.
* Refer to Appendix A
REDUCE THE IMPACT OF RESIDENTIAL UNIT GARAGES ON PEDESTRIANS
BACKGROUND
Residential units with garages fronting on the pedestrian environment can have a negative impact. Garage doors create "blank wall" area, and multiple accesses exacerbate conflict between pedestrians and vehicles. In contrast, residential character is enhanced when living spaces, home-offices, studios, workshops, etc. are located at the ground-floor level. Providing garage access from alleys, permits active uses to be located along the street edge.
Wherever possible, garage entries should be avoided along main streets. In case of any exceptions, human scale should be maintained by locating windows in the garage doors and by employing pedestrian-scaled features at the ground floor level.
* C7-1 GUIDELINE: Reduce the impact on pedestrians from cars entering and exiting residential unit garages by locating garage access on alleys, wherever possible,
and active spaces on ground floors that abut streets.
* Refer to Appendix A
Ordinance No. 169824 39
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