17.112.040 Building design standards applicable in the NB, GC, and GI zoning districts.
(1) Architectural style is not to be restricted; however, styles representative of the building styles that have been used throughout the history of Stanwood are strongly encouraged. In particular, architectural styles representative of commercial buildings that existed in western Washington from 1890 through the 1920s are encouraged. The evaluation of the exterior appearance and design of any new development or renovation to an existing building shall be based on its relationship to the surrounding environment.
(2) Building materials used on exterior walls and roofing shall be durable and in design harmony with any adjoining or adjacent structures.
(a) Metal siding, metal screening, plastic, plywood, sheet wood products or fiberglass shall not be used to cover over existing exterior walls. Wood shall not be used to cover over existing brick or cast stone masonry.
(b) If metal siding is used to cover more than 25 percent of a new building’s exterior walls, such siding must have a matte finish in a neutral or earth tone shade or color such as buff, gray, beige, tan, cream, white or “dulled” color such as barn red, blue gray or burgundy. If metal siding is to be used to cover more than 25 percent of the exterior walls, the building design must include:
(i) Visible window and door trim painted or finished in a complementary color; and
(ii) Corner edge trim that covers exposed edges of the sheet metal panels.
(c) If concrete block, tilt-up walls, or poured or precast concrete are used for exterior walls that are visible from a public street, the construction must be treated in one or more of the following manners:
(i) Use textured block with surfaces such as “split face” or “grooved”; or
(ii) Use other masonry types such as brick, glass block or tile in conjunction with concrete block.
No open-faced concrete block shall be permitted on any building.
(d) The following building materials are prohibited from use on exterior walls where they would be visible from a public street:
(i) Corrugated fiberglass;
(ii) Corrugated metal (does not apply to architectural rib panels);
(iii) Mica plaster;
(iv) Asbestos shingles;
(v) Nonanodized aluminum frames;
(vi) Chain-link fencing (except for temporary purposes such as a construction site, or such fencing that has been prepainted black, dark brown, dark gray or dark green and polycoated, and buffered with vegetative landscape material);
(vii) Sheet panel siding.
(3) All projections and mechanical details such as louvers, exposed flashing, flues, vents, gutters and downspouts, but excluding wood stove vents or pipes, are to be recognized as architectural features and are to be treated to match the color of the adjacent material or a complementary color approved by the planning director.
(a) Gutters and downspouts must be concealed unless they are designed as continuous architectural features. Exposed gutters used as architectural features shall be colored to match the roof trim or exterior wall (unless copper is used). Exposed downspouts must either match or be complementary to the color of the exterior wall to which they are attached (unless copper is used).
(b) All flashing and sheet metal shall be colored to match the surface to which they are attached.
(c) All vents, stacks and pipes shall be colored to match the roof or facade from which they project and are to be grouped so as to minimize the effect of roof penetrations.
(d) All antennas are restricted to the attic or interior of the building. (Antennas required in performance of public safety or other government services are exempt.)
(e) Skylights are to be designed as integral parts of the roof to which they have been installed. Skylight glazing must be clear, solar bronze or gray. White or reflective glazing is prohibited. Skylight framing material must be bronze anodized or colored to match the roof to which the skylight has been installed.
(f) Solar heating panels shall be an integral part of the design of the roof.
(4) Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware to be placed on the roof, ground or exterior walls shall be located so as not to be visible from any public streets or adjacent residential areas. Where such limitation is not possible to accomplish because of topography or other unique natural features, the facilities shall be screened from public view with material that is harmonious with the building.
(5) Solid waste disposal and storage areas, construction equipment, building material supply and storage yards and exterior work areas shall be screened from view from public streets with materials that are harmonious with adjacent buildings. This requirement shall also apply to all existing such uses within three years of the adoption of the standards. (Ord. 1110 § 3, 2002; Ord. 950, 1996).