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1. Intent. Architecture plays an important part in developing an identity for neighborhoods and dwellings. Thus, the Town wants to build upon the architectural traditions of the region, yet allow for diversity of expression. In addition, the Town wants to encourage a variety of housing types, sizes, and prices in each neighborhood to allow people to remain in their neighborhoods, as their housing needs change.

2. Housing diversity/neighborhood identity. Housing diversity is an important goal for new residential development in the Town. In support of this, the integration of detached and attached single-family dwellings, and multi-family dwellings, within neighborhoods, even in the same block, is encouraged.

3. Prohibited buildings in the residential zoning districts.

a. Metal buildings greater than two hundred (200) square feet are not permitted in a residentially zoned neighborhood.

b. Clear span buildings are not permitted in a residentially zoned neighborhood.

4. Single-family detached and duplex dwellings. The intent of this Section is to build a significant proportion of single-family detached and duplex dwellings with architectural designs that relate homes to the street, create diversity and variety along residential streets, have front porches, rear-loaded garages or alternatively loaded street-accessed garages, and that reflect traditional Colorado styles and neighborhoods, as well as more modern designs.

a. Streetscape diversity. Single-family detached and duplex building requirements are intended to ensure that an adequate mix of models and styles are offered within a neighborhood and within each block face. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the building permit applicant shall illustrate, how the new home will comply with the requirements set forth in this Section.

b. Model diversity.

(1) Each block face shall contain at least three (3) different models or duplex buildings that have significant variations in exterior elevations and massing. Differentiation in models requires all of the following variations:

(a) Massing;

(b) Size;

(c) Color scheme;

(d) Use of exterior material;

(e) Garage component (at street-access condition); and

(f) Garage access (at street-access condition).

(2) Each block face shall contain no more than two (2) of the same model or duplex building with the same architectural style.

(3) Significant variation in the range of wall colors on a block face is encouraged. Use different colors on adjacent building facades and the home across the street.

(4) Each block face shall contain at least three (3) roof colors.

(5) The same model with the same architectural style shall not be placed adjacent to each other or directly across the street from one another.

(6) At least one-third (1/3) of the buildings on each block face shall have a front porch.

c. Stylistic diversity. Each model or duplex building shall have at least two (2) architectural styles and color schemes. This requires:

(1) Distinctly different roof forms/lines/profiles.

(2) Distinctly different facade compositions consisting of:

(a) Different window and door style and placement;

(b) Different garage and entryway locations.

(3) Distinctly different entry treatments and locations including porches, columns, etc.

(4) Different number of stories.

Changing roof or siding materials and colors, adding garages, providing "mirror images" of models, or different elevations of the same model do not constitute distinctly different models.

d. Enhancements at corners. At corners, buildings shall address the side street or open space. Corner lots shall be wide enough to allow for side elevation enhancements. At least two (2) of the following enhancements are required:

(1) A side- or wrap-around porch, or a bay window. Wrap-around porches are encouraged.

(2) Windows or glazed doors that face the side street or open space.

(3) A change in the vertical or horizontal wall plane.

(4) Brackets, projections, belt courses, or other such details.

e. Architectural style. New residential architecture shall resemble the architecture commonly found in Colorado neighborhoods as well as more modern designs. The goal is to create the memorable character, identity, and appeal that these neighborhoods display, not to provide exact replicas of historic buildings.

f. Massing. The mass of a house or duplex should strongly reflect its architectural style and be scaled to provide visual interest and depth, reduce boxiness, and achieve an articulated form on all four (4) sides.

g. Roof. The roof forms and pitches of a house or duplex shall strongly reflect its architectural style. In general, a simple dominant roof form should be used in combination with complementary secondary and minor roof forms and elements.

(1) Roof overhangs, eaves, fascias, and soffit detail shall be detailed appropriately for the architectural style of the building.

(2) The character and placement of dormers, when used, shall also reflect the architectural style of the building.

h. Covered entries and porches.

(1) A covered entryway for the front door is encouraged.

(2) Porch designs shall reflect the architectural style of the building. Where provided, a porch shall be at least six (6) feet deep, eight (8) feet wide, and be defined by a railing, columns or similar architectural features that are scaled and detailed to reflect their style.

(3) Raised porch floors, sixteen (16) inches or more above the finished grade, are encouraged.

i. Exterior embellishments.

(1) Bays, projections, brackets, trim, and material changes that are appropriate for the expression of the architectural style of a building are encouraged.

(2) Highly reflective materials are not allowed.

j. Exterior color. The skillful use of color variation is especially important. Monotonous color palettes are strongly discouraged.

(1) Strong colors should be muted shades or tints of the pure hue to ensure that colors are subdued. High gloss paints are discouraged. Use saturated color hues sparingly as accents.

(2) Primary or other bright colors should be used sparingly and only as accents.

(3) Wall, trim, accent, roof, and masonry colors shall be coordinated.

(4) Generally, corner trim should be of similar or lighter value than the main body color.

k. Garages. Homes, not garages, shall have the emphasis on residential streets. The intent is that residential streets have variety and that garages do not dominate homes and streets. For the purpose of this section, street-facing shall include all dwelling units facing onto public rights-of-way and private driveways or streets.

(1) At least fifty (50) percent of the dwellings located on any block face shall have garages that are either:

(a) Recessed or flush with the street-facing facade of the living area of the dwelling, provided the living area is at least twelve (12) feet wide;

(b) Recessed or flush with the street-facing facade of an unenclosed, covered porch, provided the area of the porch is at least sixty (60) square feet; or

(c) Side-loaded (garage doors are perpendicular to the front lot line).

(2) No garage with street-facing doors shall protrude more than six (6) feet from the street-facing facade of a first story living area (measuring at least twelve (12) feet wide) or from a first story unenclosed, covered porch (measuring at least sixty (60) square feet and at least ten (10) feet wide. No more than three (3) adjacent dwellings located on the same block face shall have a protruding garage with street-facing doors.

(3) When garage doors are other than street-facing (e.g., the doors face a side or rear lot line), the side of the garage facing the street shall include windows or other architectural details that mimic the features of the living area portion of the dwelling.

(4) Garage doors shall not comprise more than fifty (50) percent of the street-facing linear building frontage, except that garage doors located on the side of a dwelling facing a side yard street may comprise up to two-thirds (2/3) of the street-facing linear building frontage. For purposes of this provision, the width of the garage door(s) shall be measured as the linear distance between the outer edges of the door(s), including any wall area separating two or more garage doors that is less than (2) feet wide.

(5) For new development on a lot or parcel where the existing dwelling has been removed, the replacement dwelling and garage shall comply with the standards this article.

(6) Building permit applicants shall demonstrate on the application that the garage for a dwelling complies with these standards.

(7) The Planning Director may accept alternative garage door treatments, orientation, or design, through review of a minor modification if:

(a) The configuration of the lot or other existing physical conditions of the lot make the application of these standards impractical; and

(b) The proposed design alternative substantially meets the intent of this section to line streets with active living spaces, create pedestrian-oriented streetscapes, and provide variety and visual interest in the exterior design of residential buildings.

Figure 2-11. Allowed Types of Street-Accessed
Single-Family Residential Garages

5. Single-family attached housing, including four-plexes and townhomes. The intent of this Section is to build single-family attached homes with architectural designs that relate buildings to the street, and that achieve a harmonious balance between repetition and variety.

a. Individual dwelling identity. When a single-family attached project is proposed, the developer shall work to create visual variety and, at the same time, promote an integrated character for the project.

b. Building design.

(1) Architectural detailing, horizontal off-sets, architectural window details, and other features shall be provided on all sides of the building to avoid blank walls. All sides of all buildings shall be designed with quality materials (360 degree architecture).

(2) Vertical and horizontal elements shall be used in contrast to one another. Contrast and interest are affected by offering exterior selections that emphasize a dominant building material but include complementary materials and colors.

(3) Buildings shall incorporate visually heavier and more massive elements at their bases, and lighter elements above these components.

(4) For projects with multiple buildings, variety shall be used in site orientation and among buildings to avoid a "barracks" appearance.

(5) Two or more distinct building models shall be required for projects with three to six buildings.

(6) For projects with more than six buildings, a minimum of three distinct building models shall be required.

(7) Fireplace "box-outs" shall extend vertically from ground level to meet the roofline and avoid a "tacked-on" look.

c. Exterior building materials and colors.

(1) Building materials for single-family attached developments should be of a high quality as approved by the Town. Suggested exterior wall materials include natural wood, stucco, brick, and stone. In general, due to the imposing nature of many multi-dwelling unit buildings, the exterior materials should reflect subdued colors and muted tones. In general roof material colors should be darker and warm, earth-toned hues that accent and complement other building colors.

d. Garages. To add visual interest and avoid the effect of a long blank wall with no relation to human scale, accessibility needs, or internal divisions within a multi-family building, the following standards for minimum articulation shall apply.

(1) Perimeter garages.

(a) Any garage located with its rear wall along the perimeter of a multi-family development and within fifty (50) feet of a public right-of-way or the property line of the development site shall not exceed fifty-five (55) feet in length. A minimum of ten (10) feet of landscaping shall be provided between any two (2) such perimeter garages.

(b) No rear garage wall that faces a street or adjacent development shall exceed thirty (30) feet in length without including at least one (1) of the following in at least two (2) locations:

i) Change in wall plane of at least six (6) inches;

ii) Change in material or masonry pattern;

iii) Change in roof plane;

iv) Windows;

v) Doorways;

vi) False door or window openings defined by frames, sills, and lintels; and/or

vii) An equivalent vertical element that subdivides the wall into proportions related to human scale and/or the internal divisions within the building.

(2) All garages.

(a) Rear doorways shall be provided as reasonably necessary to allow direct access to living units without requiring persons to walk around the garage to access living units.

(b) At a minimum, a vertical trim detail that subdivides the overall siding pattern shall be provided at intervals not to exceed two (2) internal parking stalls.

6. Multi-family housing, including condominiums and apartments. The intent of this Section is to build multi-family stacked units that achieve a harmonious balance between repetition and variety with a residential style. Each multi-family dwelling containing more than three (3) dwelling units shall feature a variety of massing proportions, wall plane proportions, roof proportions and other characteristics. The following specific standards shall apply to multi-family stacked units, including condominiums and apartments:

a. Individual building identity. For all developments of three (3) or more multi-family stacked buildings, a floor plan may be repeated; however, identical building facades must not be replicated more than twice within the development.

b. Articulation. Each multi-family dwelling or condominium shall be articulated with projections, recesses, covered doorways, balconies, box or bay windows and/or other similar features, dividing large facades and walls into human-scaled proportions. Each multi-family building shall feature walls that are articulated by at least two (2) of any of the following elements within every thirty-six-foot length of the facade.

(1) Recesses, projections or significant offsets in the wall plane;

(2) Distinct, individualized, and covered entrances;

(3) Chimneys that project from the wall plane;

(4) Balconies and/or other outdoor living space; or

(5) Bay or box windows.

c. Roofs. Each multi-family building shall feature a combination of primary and secondary roofs. Primary pitched roofs shall be articulated by at least one (1) of the following elements:

(1) Changes in plane and elevations;

(2) Dormers, gables or clerestories; or

(3) Transitions to secondary roofs over entrances, garages, porches or bay windows.

d. Exterior building materials and colors.

(1) Building materials for multi-family developments should be of a high quality as approved by the Town. Suggested exterior wall materials include natural wood, stucco, brick, and stone. In general, due to the imposing nature of many multi-dwelling unit buildings, the exterior materials should reflect subdued colors and muted tones. In general roof material colors should be darker and warm, earth-toned hues that accent and complement other building colors.

e. Garages. To add visual interest and avoid the effect of a long blank wall with no relation to human scale, accessibility needs, or internal divisions within a multi-family building, the following standards for minimum articulation shall apply:

(1) Perimeter Garages.

(a) Any garage located with its rear wall along the perimeter of a multi-family development and within fifty (50) feet of a public right-of-way or the property line of the development site shall not exceed fifty-five (55) feet in length. A minimum of ten (10) feet of landscaping shall be provided between any two (2) such perimeter garages.

(b) No rear garage wall that faces a street or adjacent development shall exceed thirty (30) feet in length without including at least one (1) of the following in at least two (2) locations:

i) Change in wall plane of at least six (6) inches;

ii) Change in material or masonry pattern;

iii) Change in roof plane;

iv) Windows;

v) Doorways;

vi) False door or window openings defined by frames, sills, and lintels; and/or

vii) An equivalent vertical element that subdivides the wall into proportions related to human scale and/or the internal divisions within the building.

(2) All garages.

(a) Rear doorways shall be provided as reasonably necessary to allow direct access to living units without requiring persons to walk around the garage to access living units.

(b) At a minimum, a vertical trim detail that subdivides the overall siding pattern shall be provided at intervals not to exceed two (2) internal parking stalls. (Ord. 1167 § 14 (Exh. A), 2014)