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158.07 Visual Compatibility

158.07 Visual Compatibility

 

(a) Purpose: The purpose of this section is to preserve and encourage the integrity of historic buildings, structures, sites, monuments, streetscapes, and neighborhoods and to ensure their compatibility with any new work. The construction of a new building or structure, and the moving, reconstruction, alteration, major maintenance, or repair conspicuously affecting the external appearance of any building, structure, or appurtenance within the boundaries of the primary area of a structure within an Historic District must be generally of a design, form, proportion, mass, configuration, building material, texture,, and location on a lot compatible with other buildings in the Historic District and with places to which it is visually related.

 

(b) Criteria for Considering Visual Compatibility Within Historic Districts: Within an Historic District, new buildings and structures, as well as existing buildings, structures, and appurtenances that are moved, reconstructed, materially altered, or repaired, must be visually compatible with buildings and places to which they are visually related. The following compatibility factors should be considered when applicable:

 

(1) Height: the height of proposed buildings shall be visually compatible with adjacent buildings.

(2) Proportion of Building’s Front Facade: the relationship of the width of a building to the height of the front elevation must be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related. 

(3) Proportion of Openings Within the Facility: the relationship of the width of the windows to the height of windows in a building must be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related.

(4) Relationship of Solids to Voids in Front Facades: the relationship of solids to voids in the front facade of a building must be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related.

(5) Rhythm of Spacing of Buildings on Streets: the relationship of a building to the open space between it and adjoining buildings must be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related.

(6) Rhythm of Entrances and Porch Projections: the relationship of entrances and porch projections of a building to sidewalks must be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related.

(7) Relationship of Materials and Texture: the relationship of the materials and texture of the facade of a building must be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related.

(8) Roof Shapes: the roof shape of a building must be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related.

(9) Wall of Continuity: appurtenances of a building or site, such as walls, wrought iron fences, evergreen landscape masses, and building facades, must form cohesive walls of enclosure along the street, if necessary to ensure visual compatibility of the building to the buildings and places to which it is visually related.

(10)   Scale of the Building: the size of a building, and the building mass of a building in relation to open spaces, windows, door openings, porches, and balconies shall be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which it is visually related.

(11)   Directional Expression of Front Elevation: a building shall be visually compatible with buildings, squares, and places to which it is visually related in its directional character, including vertical character, horizontal character, or non-directional character.  



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