§ 1409-23. Ground Floor Transparency.

The purpose of the standard for ground floor windows and transparent doors is to engage the pedestrians' interest and attract the pedestrian to the goods and services offered within buildings. Ground floor windows and glass doors strengthen the commercial viability of a use by attracting customers and add to the enjoyment of the pedestrian on the street.

(a)

Minimum Standard. Windows and transparent doors must be a minimum percentage of the street frontage, as specified in Schedule 1409-23 below. The percentage of the building's street elevation is measured between 2.5 feet and 7.0 feet in height above grade. Glass block, opaque or darkly tinted glass is not considered to be transparent. Refer to Figure 1409-23-A.

Schedule 1409-23: Transparency Standard for Ground Floor Windows and Doors

	Street Transparency Percentage
Each Street Frontage (lineal feet)	Primary Street	Secondary Street
40 or less	80	30
41—80	70	40
81 or more	60	50

 

Within the zone of transparency as per Figure 1409-23-A

(b)

Display Windows. Display or show windows that do not provide clear visual access into the interior of the building count, provided they are at least two feet in depth.

(c)

Security Grills. Security grills may not be installed on the outside of windows along primary street frontage. Open meshed architectural grills installed on the inside are allowed as they provide greater visibility into the store both for safety and for maintaining transparency and streetscape interest even when a store is closed.

(d)

Entrance. In pedestrian districts, the primary entrance must be on an arterial or collector street.

(e)

Special Exceptions. Special exceptions may be granted pursuant to Chapter 1445, Variances, Special Exceptions and Conditional Uses where uses cannot meet the requirements of this section.

(f)

Exemptions. In the CN-P, CN-M and CC-P Districts, residential uses are exempt from the ground floor transparency requirements of Section 1409-23.

Figure 1409-23-A Ground Floor Zone of Transparency

 

Figure 1409-23-B Example of Ground Floor Transparency

(Ordained by Ord. No. 15-2004, eff. Feb. 13, 2004; a. Ord. No. 0026-2007, § 1, eff. Feb. 18, 2007)