§ 8.3. Exterior Design Requirements

8.3.1

Exterior Building Materials (refer to Appendix C)

A.

All primary and accessory buildings constructed in the MF-1, MF-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, Mixed Use, PUD and PF zoning districts and non-residential buildings, such as schools and churches, in residential zoning districts, shall have all exterior walls clad in brick, stone, stucco, tile, cultured stone or split faced block for one hundred percent (100%) of the wall area, exclusive of all windows, doors, roofs, glass construction materials, or sidewalk and walkway covers. However dditional building accents such as decorative metal, clay and/or concrete tiles, standing seam metal, exterior insulation finish system (EIFS), decorative cast stone, and block glass are permitted such as they do not exceed 15 percent (15%) of the total exterior wall surface area.

Building designs should incorporate accent materials that are typical of South Central Texas and Cibolo, such as, but not limited to, standing seam roofs, decorative stone (limestone) and the like. These accents can be used in wainscot, pilaster, and vestibule design elements. Reference UDC Appendix C for additional details.

Where building facades are not visible from any public right-of-way and not visible from any adjoining residential property, the use of painted smooth face block or painted tilt wall shall be permitted.

B.

All primary and accessory buildings constructed in the I-1 and I-2 zoning districts, shall have all exterior walls clad in brick, stone, stucco, tile, cultured stone or split faced block for one hundred percent (100%) of the wall area, exclusive of all windows, doors, roofs, glass construction materials, or sidewalk and walkway covers for facades visible to the public right-of-way and where adjacent to any residential zoning district. However additional building accents such as decorative metal, clay and/or concrete tiles, standing seam metal, exterior insulation finish system (EIFS), decorative cast stone, and block glass are permitted such as they do not exceed 15 percent (15%) of the total exterior wall surface area.

Building designs should incorporate accent materials that are typical of South Central Texas and Cibolo, such as, but not limited to, standing seam roofs, decorative stone (limestone) and the like. These accents can be used in wainscot, pilaster, and vestibule design elements. This level of design shall wrap around façade corners visible from the right-of-way and any residential zoning district.

Where building facades and accessory buildings are not visible from any public right-of-way and not visible from any adjoining residential property, the use of painted smooth face block, metal facades or painted tilt wall shall be permitted.

8.3.2

Exterior Architectural Elements

The following architectural elements shall apply to all buildings constructed in the MF-1, MF-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 , Mixed Use, PUD and PF zoning districts and all non-residential buildings within any residential zoning district for building elevations that front on any public street.

A.

Windows (Fenestration)

1.

Windows shall be provided with trim.

2.

Windows shall not be flush with exterior wall treatment.

3.

Windows shall be provided with architectural treatments, such as mullions.

4.

Total transparent windows shall comprise a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the gross square footage of exterior building elevations or a transparent opening shall be provided every fifteen feet (15'), measured from jamb to jamb or the edge of the building.

5.

Glass curtain walls are prohibited. Glass shall not comprise more than seventy percent (70%) of the exterior building skin for any given elevation.

B.

Building Colors

Primary exterior wall colors shall be compatible with the colors of buildings on surrounding properties. Where no surrounding color pallet exists, primary building colors should be earth tones and other colors typical for South Central Texas. City Council has approved exterior colors based on the Sherwin Williams Historic Color Palette - https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family#/section/historic found in UDC Appendix page 1. Fluorescent colors are prohibited. Colors used on roof materials are encouraged to contrast exterior building colors. Building elevations showing the proposed exterior wall and roof colors shall be submitted with the site plan application at the time of new construction as provided for by UDC Article 12.

For commercial, Industrial and Institutional buildings that exist as of the passage of this section, upon the repainting and/or alteration of any structure, the paint and material color shall comply with Section B above and be submitted for review and approval by the Planning Director or his/her designee.

C.

Vestibules/Canopies

1.

Building entrances, vestibules and windows shall be accentuated with a canopy, awnings, upgraded building material or other accents to provide attractive building articulation elements.

2.

Canopies shall be constructed of marine fabric or by approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

3.

Canopies shall be discontinuous.

4.

Canopies must provide a minimum vertical clearance of eight feet (8') above sidewalks and pedestrian circulation areas.

D.

Vertical and Horizontal Articulation

1.

The building design must provide for vertical and horizontal articulation. Said articulation may be achieved through the use of architectural elements such as reveals and shall address the visual impact of long uninterrupted walls. No uninterrupted length of any façade shall exceed one hundred feet (100'). A minimum of two (2) of the following elements must be included:

a.

Variation in color and materials;

b.

Wall plane projections or recesses having a depth of at least three percent (3%) of the length of the façade and extending a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the length of the façade not to exceed one hundred feet (100');

c.

Variation of a minimum of two feet (2') in height of parapets. Variation to parapet height may include pilasters and projected raised entrance features;

1.

Pilasters projecting from the plane of the wall by a minimum of sixteen inches (16"). The use of pilasters to interrupt horizontal patterns such as accent banding is encouraged;

2.

Repetitive ornamentation including decorative applied features such as wall-mounted light fixtures or applied materials. Repetitive ornamentation shall be located with a maximum spacing of fifty feet (50').

d.

Exposed Columns (Structural or Decorative) - Exposed columns shall be constructed or clad with a material that is of like and similar material to that of the primary structure.

E.

Roofs

1.

Pitched Roofs - Pitched roofs shall have a minimum slope of seven (7) feet of rise for every twelve (12) feet of run (7:12). Installed roofing shingles must consist of dimensional shingles with a minimum manufacturers rating of thirty (30) years. Roofing systems or materials exceeding the standards established herein may be used pursuant to approval of the Chief Building Official, or his/her designee.

2.

Flat Roofs - Building walls shall extend to parapets that enclose the roof area. Said parapets shall be of a sufficient height and accented with crown molding to fully screen the roof and any mechanical equipment located on the roof.

3.

Pump islands and canopies for uses selling gasoline shall be subject to these design requirements.

F.

Plaza or Public Space

1.

Projects in the C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 Mixed Use and PUD zoning districts that involve a gross floor area in excess of forty thousand (40,000) square feet shall provide one (1) square foot of plaza or public space for every ten (10) square feet of gross ground floor area. Plazas or public spaces shall incorporate at least three (3) of the following six (6) elements:

a.

Sitting Space - a minimum of one (1) sitting space for each two-hundred and fifty square feet shall be included in the plaza. Seating shall be a minimum of sixteen (16) inches in height and thirty (30) inches in width. Ledge benches shall have a minimum depth of thirty (30) inches.

b.

A mixture of areas that provide shade.

c.

Trees in proportion to the space at a minimum of one (1) tree per eight hundred (800) square feet.

d.

Water features or public art.

e.

Outdoor seating areas or food vendors or raised landscape planters/seating.

f.

Public areas may be located next to buildings or at any location on the site. This requirement can also be satisfied by preserving stands of existing trees, wetland and greenspace along streams or as a part of stormwater detention filtration areas.

G.

City Planner Discretion

1.

The City recognizes that all projects and buildings have unique attributes that do not readily allow for complete compliance with all aspects of the requirements of this Article. In those instances, the City Planner is authorized to attempt to find design solutions that will satisfy the general spirit and intent of this Article. If a solution cannot be found relative to any requirement in Section 8.1 or 8.2, the request shall be heard by the Board of Adjustment as a variance, with the applicant required to follow all variance procedure described in Article 3 of this UDC. If the issue pertains to a requirement in Section 8.3, the applicant can request an appeal of the interpretation of the City Planner to the Planning and Zoning Commission. If the Planning and Zoning Commission or Board of Adjustment denies the appeal, the applicant has ten (10) business days to file an appeal with the City Planner to request City Council consideration of the appeal.