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· Amend appendices to ADD the following language to create Appendix B: COMMERCIAL DESIGN STANDARDS The following standards shall apply to new and/or expanding developments in the 0-1, LC, and GC zoning districts. Additionally, in PUD developments where no architectural and/or design controls are specifically approved by the Planning and Zoning Board, said Commercial Design Standards shall apply, Commercial/office projects pennitted in the AO, CR, LDR, HDR and MDR zoning districts shall also be snbject to these standards, GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS AMENITY AREA Projects containing groups of buildings to be devoted primarily to office and/or retail activities shall incorporate amenity areas into the site design. Amenity areas include, but are not limited to, public plazas, courtyards, squares or small parks on the site, Design elements to be included in the amenity areas are seating walls, benches, outdoor dining/gathering areas, decorative fountains or water features, clock towers and/or garden areas, Since the purpose of these amenity areas is to serve as pocket recreational areas and to help foster a sense of community, additional elements shall be considered if the applicant shows that the design meets the intent of this section. SETBACKS The setbacks to be established are intended to form a consistent relationship of buildings to the street and sidewalk. This relationship shall form a visually continuous, pedestrian-oriented street front. The best way to maintain this relationship is to have minimal vehicle use between building faces and the street. Front building setbacks shall be between a minimum of ten (!O) feet and a maximum of twenty (20) feet to maintain a consistent and nniform streetscape. All other setbacks are established in Chapter 5 of the Cabarrus County Zoning Ordinance, Buildings should be arranged so that they help to frame and define fronting streets (as well as any internal or side streets), Buildings shall not be separated from fronting streets by large expanses of parking. In some instances, the setbacks may be adjusted by the Administrator to address access issues and access road placement. In the event the Administrator grants an adjustment to the required setbacks, additional landscape shall be required. Setbacks adjustment requests shall be handled on a case by case basis. CONNECTIVITY AND SIDEWALKS Sidewalks shall serve as the secondary mode of transportation to the use of roads and shall link residential and commercial developments, common areas, and parking areas. If a proposed development includes multiple buildings in the site design, then an overall connectivity plan shall be provided for the development. Sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet wide and shall have a minimum six-foot landscaped buffer area between the road and the sidewalk itself. Sidewalks shall remain as unobstructed as possible by items such as plantings or trash receptacles, PARKING REQUIREMENTS Parking areas shall balance the needs of both the automobile and the pedestrian. Off street parking areas shall be designed to mini.m;7e breaks in the pedestrian environment and the visual continuity of the streetscape, Additionally, no more than two rows of parking may be pennitted on the side of the structure. Off street parking shall be required and detennined per Chapter 10, Parking areas shall primarily be located to the rear of the proposed structures to minimize visibility, In the event that a proposed development includes multiple structures, parking areas may be pennitted in "front" of the internal buildings, In no case, however, shall expanses of parking be pennitted between any street and structure. PARKING LOT DESIGN Parking lots shall be designed to allow pedestrians to safely move from their vehicles to the buildings. This may be achieved in smaller lots by providing a sidewalk at the perimeter of the lot. On larger lots, corridors within the parking areas should channel pedestrians from the car to the perimeter of the lot, A paving material that is different in color and/or texture from that of vehicular areas shall delineate these pedestrian travel ways and shall be clearly marked. Small posts or bollards incorporating lights may also serve the same purpose, Parking lots shall be adequately screened from public view and shall include landscaping and buffering per Chapter 9 of the Cabarrus County Zoning Ordinance, Page 3 of9 C2006-o2-ZT G--3