HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. O15-01 ORDINANCE NO. 015-01
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 17 OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ADD CHAPTER 17.25 ENTITLED DOWNTOWN OVERLAY DISTRICT TO THE
CITY'S ZONING REGULATIONS.
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to keep the Laurel Municipal Code current by
modifying and updating chapters, sections and subsections to address situations and problems
within the City and to remain in accordance with Montana law; and
WHEREAS, City Staff modified the existing ordinance to comply with changing
conditions within the City's planning jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, City Staff prepared, reviewed, and approved the following Chapter 17.25
for inclusion into the existing Title 17 as noted herein and hereby recommends the same to the
City Council for their full approval.
IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED by the City Council for the City of Laurel, Montana, that
Title 17 is hereby amended, modified and adopted as follows:
Chapter 17.25
Downtown Overlay District
Sections:
17.25.010 Intent
17.25.020 District Boundaries
17.25.030 Application and Approval Process
17.25.040 Nonconformance
17.25.050 Definitions
17.25.060 Building Design Requirements
17.25.070 Site Design Requirements
17.25.080 Landscape Requirements
17.25.090 Signage
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17.25.010 Intent
The City of Laurel hereinafter ("City"), in collaboration with the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency,
prepared the following set of regulations to preserve and protect the unique nature of the
Downtown core of the City of Laurel. These regulations are intended to promote, preserve, and
enhance the character of the built environment while encouraging a cohesive identity.
In addition to building construction, further elements include, but are not limited to parking and
pedestrian connectivity requirements, landscaping, and signage.
This District's requirements are in addition to the existing zoning ordinances found in Title 17 of
the Laurel Municipal Code (LMC). Single-family and two-family residential uses in the District
are exempt from the provisions herein.
The intent of this section is to:
A. Promote a physical landscape to make the District an attractive place to live and work;
B. Encourage creativity in design and quality site planning;
C. Promote development patterns in coordination with the goals and objectives of the City's
Growth Management Plan;
D. Provide consistency to land uses and design that will protect the investment of property
owners in the District.
17.25.020 District Boundaries
The boundaries of the District are identified in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Downtown Overlay District Boundaries
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17.25.030 Application and Approval Process
A. All building permit applications shall be submitted to the City's Building Official. All
permit applications must be submitted and signed by the property owner or the authorized
agent of the property owner. An approved building permit is required prior to any
construction activity.
B. Each building permit application must include, but not be limited to, the following
information:
1. The name and address of the property owner;
2. The name and address of the applicant;
3. The legal description of the parcel;
4. A map drawn to scale showing the dimensions, acreage, location of the parcel, north
arrow, streets and adjacent land uses;
5. A complete site plan drawn to a scale of no less than 1"=40' showing the dimensions
and height of the structure;
6. A Complete elevation drawings drawn to the scale 1"=40' including the dimensions
and height of the structure;
7. If applicable, signage plan specifications, location and ground lighting pattern; and
8. Payment of application review fee.
C. Within fifteen working days following the submittal of a complete application, the
Planning Director, designee, or the Public Works Department (in the case of signs) shall
issue approval for development or a denial of the application, unless the applicant
consents in writing to an extension of the review period. Should the application be
denied, the applicant shall be notified in writing specifying the reasons for the denial.
(Ordinance 002- 31, 2002)
17.25.040 Nonconformance
A. Any lawful characteristic of the properties existing prior to the effective date of the
ordinance that would not be a permitted characteristic under these regulations is declared
to constitute a nonconforming characteristic.
B. Nonconforming structures shall not be enlarged, extended, reconstructed, or structurally
altered in an amount greater than fifty percent of its assessed valuation, unless the
characteristics of the building are changed to comply with the appropriate regulations.
C. If any nonconforming structure is damaged by an event including, but not limited to, fire,
flood, explosion, wind, or war, in an amount equal to or greater than fifty percent of its
assessed valuation, reconstruction must comply with the appropriate regulations. In
addition, repair and maintenance may be carried out each year in an amount not to exceed
twenty-five percent of the assessed valuation of the structure for that year.
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D. A nonconforming structure may continue pursuant to these regulations, but it shall not be
changed in any way except to conform to the regulations herein.
17.25.050 Definitions
All terms shall have the same meanings as defined elsewhere in the city zoning ordinance or city
signage regulations. For purposes of this title, certain words and terms used herein are defined in
this chapter.
A. Architectural Design Elements means an architectural feature consisting of a
decorative, three (3) dimensional element, horizontal or vertical, protruding or indented at
least two (2) inches from the exterior facade of a building typically utilized to provide
additional aesthetic relief to a façade.
B. Build-to Zone means an area of a lot designated for placement of a building facade along
a street, located parallel to a front property line or a front and side property line in the
case of a corner lot. The Build-to Zone defines an area in which the locations of building
fronts can vary within a specified range. See Figure 2.
Figure 2 Build-to Zone
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C. Expression Line means an architectural feature consisting of a decorative, three (3)
dimensional, linear element, horizontal or vertical, protruding or indented at least two (2)
inches from the exterior façade of a building typically utilized to delineate the top or
bottom of floors or stories of a building or provide additional aesthetic relief to a façade.
See Figure 3.
Figure 3 Expression Line
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EXPRESSION -UNE
EXPRESS ON :NE
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D. Facade means the exterior face of a building, including but not limited to the wall,
windows, windowsills, doorways, and design elements such as expression lines.
E. Front Facade means any building face adjacent to the street. In the case of a corner lot,
the front façade is the face that the building is addressed.
F. Lot Line, Front means the boundary abutting a right-of-way, other than an alley, from
which the required setback or Build-to Zone is measured. The front lot line shall be to the
street to which the building is addressed.
G. Lot Line, Side means the boundary line adjacent to the front lot line and may or may not
abut a right-of-way depending on lot location from which the required setback or build-to
zone is measured.
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Expression Line:The raised brick and molding
expression line are an example of an
3 acceptable expression line.
17.25.060 Building Design Requirements
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A. Exterior materials shall be sufficiently durable to ensure stability, maintainability, and
long life. The use of natural and natural looking materials indigenous to the area
signifying permanence, such as stone, stucco and masonry are encouraged.
1. Buildings shall be finished with one or more of the following materials. Brick,
fluted block, colored textured block, glass, stucco, or stone. Exposed seam metal
buildings are prohibited unless covered with an acceptable finishing material.
2. All front façades and sides adjacent to streets shall have a minimum of twenty-
five (25) percent masonry composed of natural materials such as stone, brick,
brick veneer, or cast stone.
3. Exterior cladding materials shall be of colors that compliment neighboring
structures.
B. Roof top mechanical equipment shall be screened from view with parapet walls,
articulated roof designs or other architectural components.
C. Expression lines are required on the front façade of all buildings.
D. Blank Walls on front facades or facades adjacent to street are not permitted. The amount
of windowless or non-transparent area allowed on a front façade is measured per façade.
No rectangular area greater than fifty 150) percent of a front façade may be windowless.
All other facades are encouraged to have transparent elements. See Figure 4.
Figure 4 Blank Wall Limitations
PERCENT OF FACADE TO BE TRANSPARENT
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E. All front facades shall have a minimum of one (1) entry door.
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17.25.070 Site Design Requirements
A. When a building does not have 100 percent lot coverage a Build-to Zone of at least five
(5) feet is required at the front lot line or a side adjacent to street. Exceptions to this
include properties in the district that are zoned Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, and
Highway Commercial.
B. If off-street parking is proposed it shall be located at the rear of the building. See figure 5.
Shared parking is encouraged when property owners have a written agreement. This
agreement is not subject to approval by the City but should be presented if it is applicable
to meeting off-street parking requirements. See Figure 6.
C. Landscape islands are required at the terminal ends of all parking rows.
D. If a property is located in this District and the Entry Way Zoning District, parking and
landscape requirements of the Downtown Overlay District shall apply.
Figure 5 Parking and Landscape Requirements
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Figure 6 Shared Parking Requirements
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17.25.080 Landscape Requirements
Landscaping in the form of trees, shrubs and groundcover serve several purposes: The softening
of harsh building forms and paved areas, the absorption of groundwater, the reflection of
seasonal color change, the provision of sound barriers, and urban wildlife habitat. If a property is
located in this District and the Entryway Zoning District, parking and landscape requirements of
the Downtown Overlay District shall apply.
A. Any site development where the building and parking area does not occupy 100 percent
of the parcel, the remaining property must be landscaped.
B. Landscaping should be of an indigenous species or species that are acclimated to the
City's climate.
C. Landscaping shall include a mix of plants, shrubs, sod and trees. A minimum of 50
percent of the trees shall be at least 2.5 inch in caliper size.
D. Landscaping shall not interfere with clear vision requirements.
17.25.090 Signage Requirements
Laurel Municipal Code 15.40 governs signage within the City of Laurel. Exceptions to LMC
15.40 occur only when a property is located in a special zoning district. If a property is located in
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this District and the Entryway Zoning District, signage requirements of the Entryway Zoning
District shall apply.
A. Allowable sign types include wall signs, window signs, awning signs, corner projecting
signs, and projecting signs. See Figure 7.
Figure 7 Allowable Signs
FREESTANDING SIGN
WALL SIGN SI GA
PROJECTING /
CORNER SIGN -
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B. Illumination is encouraged to be internal. When external illumination is used, it must be
focused only upon the sign face and must have cut off shields to prevent light spillage.
C. Any projecting or corner projecting sign shall not extend above the roofline of the
attached building.
D. Any wall sign shall not exceed 30 percent of the area of any building facade.
E. Electronic message boards are not permitted in this District.
Corner Projecting signs are
' ° allowable in this district.These
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rons. Similar
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ri ". . , portion of the façade.
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This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after final passage by the
City Council and approved by the Mayor.
Introduced and passed on first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on March
3, 2015, by Council Member Stokes
PASSED and ADOPTED by the Laurel City Council on second reading this 17`h day of
March, 2015, upon motion of Council Member Nelson
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 17`h day of March, 2015.
CITY OF LAUREL �/
000 (ie/& ''
Mark A. Mace, Mayor
ATTEST:
Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer
pipved 6-6 fojw:
m S. Painter, Civil City Att. ey
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