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HomeMy Public PortalAboutWatertown_Design_Guidelines_1_22_15_Public_Presentation_3_201501231135598246 WATERTOWN MASSACHUSETTS DESIGN GUIDELINES + STANDARDS ,-�y� � T - �-.• ` � fir";: '' �� ` `� _ 7 I` *5'' PUBLIC MEETING 3 urbande gn ASSOC 8 LIATES DATE 1 /22/15 WATER TOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES + STANDARDS MANUAt 9/19/2014 Draft GAMBLE ASSOCIATES Week 4 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 month September I October I November I December I January week of 15 22 29 1 6 13 20 27 3 10 17 24 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 Towr 0 0 PHASE DOCUMENT REVIEW +CASE STUDIES A. Local and National Precedents B. Update Town Base Map: Project Areas C. Precedent examples for public meeting 1 PHASE EXISTING PROPERTY ASSESSMENT A. Document Areas of Transition 0 i B. Existing Zoning Diagnostic i i k CL i M M M C.Summary of Collected materials i 72 i ro D. Initial Developer collaboration C E ❑ E i R4ASF2 MAJOR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT A. Public Meeting 1: Guideline Overview CL C B. Public Meeting 2: Focus Area Application I 72 C. Public Meeting 3: Presentation rPHASE -1, DRAFT DESIGN GUIDELINES+STANDARDS FINAL DESIGN GUIDELINES +STANDARDS SQPT RL-view PHASE � ZONING LANGUAGE: CODE OF ORDINANCES What is most important in terms of the character of the Town ? 1 . Preserving and 49% beautifying open space 2 . Integrating residential and commercial 24% growth 17% 3 . Addressing congestion 11% 4. Enhancing the commercial centers 1 2 3 4 My biggest cause of anxiety right now is . . . 1 . The amount of new 36% development 2 . The scale of new 270 buildings Coro 3 . The quality of the private/public realm 12% 4. The lack of a 50,0 coordinated vision 5 . Other 1 2 3 4 5 In terms of new development, what issue is the most important to get right ? 1 . Building heights 41,0 2 . Cultivating a mix of uses 26% 3 . Site plan design, access and parking 15% 15% 4 . Design quality 5 . Other 3% 1 2 3 4 5 • • I , . . • • g,00 AV }� ' '�• � * " � - ram+ 0 � O LLL s 'k �5 y aj SfGv�1�1G¢ MA55fp(" St 1 �*i /01 NUMB Along a commercial � �{�� �;�I� corridor, bring a buildinJ- ill 111, LAc up to the street is only half � � the battle. It must also �;fi 'j llif 1J�4�, � enhance the streetlife. Or � J' y i ' S 'n GAs! Bu relse ,4 r ow , - I Poo ti i cw r[, r � � I 1 YII 1 1► � Wed Sarlea CM KEEP LIGHT tir ■ � 1 1k t '. Amble 4 9# 0 * --]1 lid ................. f It - s i This sign is in neon r i rl 4 1 • there is also / marquee contribute to the character I • history , Town? "I'd like to see some taller Height alone is a poor indicator of buildings in the mix." quality or urbanity. "Maximum of 3.5 stories !" ' .t 4 mo r w + l 16, � -d +' s, f IY 1 - 11 I'J■ y Ail. 72 I �t 5 �ir II �� • - '� Yf1RY•' :i }I . . __ -'_��� .f owl ■ _ _ MOB, A ��1 5 y� but not as much as -41 . jS _ _ . you might think. The amont of transparency • • • building i This building elevation is nearly 1,000'. I I r I r 4 w A LI fin •. - it 2 r This building is less than 150' long. ir MIN I �,+• _-x'#: .� 4' �+ I '"N ;L _ �. ._ .��: - � �"•�. _ --' *I_ it. J x n _ I � .. . �+1fi �,! �F -` . - - — - - •— —. _�-� jam. �� - � a._�'. x r y This portion of the building is less than / alongPleasant 4: r 7Z Ponce City Market, Atlanta dp t'r.'ev�c- - 7 - L ti s 5 ..1 v H H HH t l ( l 125' 130' 185' 225' 275' 233 Pleasant St Olde World CharlesBank Alta at the Estate River Bend IM M"I" LM ma I Y c 285' 300' 430' 350' 580' Perkins School Hanover/Cresset Repton/The Mews River Works (Aetna Mills) 725' 925' 1,015' Elan The Arsenal Home Depot (Arsenal Mall) 233 Pleasant St Olde World Charlesbank H ( l ( l 125' 130' 185' oil AL At qf � I I R-7 Poe 3 i F ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SIGNATURE MOMENTS Employ solar panels and ' ' Greater height reserved for turbines where possible select/prominent areas OVERALL HEIGHT ROOFTOP MECHANICALS Varies by sub-district,correlate ' ' Locate towards center of roof to width/character of street and visually shield from view UPPER STEP-BACKS GREEN ROOFS Reduce the apparent height of , _ _ — — — — — _ Employ where possible to the building and create porches _ _ _ _ _ — — reduce heat island/runoff MANIPULATE DEPTH _ REAR STEPBACKS Break up massing and use Diminish height and shadows, balconies to increase depth — and provide decks/balconies INTERMEDIATE FLOORS _ I FACADETREATMENT Add texture and depth,and iJ I — Create hierarchies and avoid monotonous panels l _ patterns to impart scale OVERHANGS/AWNINGS BUILDING ENVELOPE Provide shelter for pedestrians, Use high-performance windows-�- &insulation to reduce heat loss potential for signage/lighting _ IIi SIGNAGE _ _ J NEIGHBORHOOD FABRIC Employ attractive,handmade \ _�� ' ' Taper height to provide signage,limit florescent lighting � _ � � �, transition to residential areas GROUND FLOOR t -= � - PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION Highest degree of material i ]� Encourage a mix of uses,with detail,frequent entrances public ones on lower floors STREET WALL GREEN BUFFER Build to sidewalk in urban sites, _ Use trees and shrubs to shield distance varies in other district — l �I o adjacent properties STREETSCAPE _ _ CONNECTIONS Provide benches,bicycle Provide walking and cycling storage,and street trees , o links to adjacent neighborhoods ON-STREET PARKING LOWER LEVELS Calms vehicular traffic and �.� Use large amounts of glazing buffers people from cars and durable,natural materials STORM WATER RUNOFF SIGNAGE Incorporate rain gardens Regularize location and and permeable paving correlate to entrances CYCLE TRACKS BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE Increase bike travel and safety nab ■.� Provide secure bicycle storage by locating along sidewalk and maintenance spaces BUILDING LENGTH PUBLIC SPACE Allow pass-throughs to Enable areas for outdoor break up large blocks seating and pocket parks GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DESIGN GUIDELINES PROTOTYPE UNDERGROUND PARKING Where possible,incorporate � Reduces surface lots and WATE RTW N MA geothermal heating/cooling O S SA H I I V SETT S visually shields parking COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND SQUARES OF WATERTOWN MAIN ST MT AUBURN ST COOLIDGE SQUARE • PLEASANT ST WATERTOWN SQUARE ARSENAL ST N BEACON ST GALEN ST Watertown is defined by its relationship to the Charles The Design Guidelines focus on these links and nodes, River, as well as by its squares and the commercial outlining best practices to guide sustainable future corridors that link them. Together, these stitch together growth. By strengthening the character of these major the various residential neighborhoods which make up corridors, greater connectivity and a richer "sense of the majority of the Town. place" can be achieved. OVERARCHING PRINCIPALS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY DESIGN AESTHETIC Watertown's Design Guidelines were created to enhance Development in Watertown will occur on a site-by-site the economic vitality of selected commercial areas basis, with individual projects advanced by different through attractive, consistent design. By following development entities and according to their own these guidelines, each project will complement another, schedules. These Design Guidelines cannot depict every resulting in a cohesive development over time. The possible building configuration on each site. Rather, a guidelines were developed specifically to provide prototypical building footprint is shown in a manner that direction for the design of new infill development in accommodate many conditions that emerge on a project commercial areas. The goal is not to limit creativity, but site. The massing is general enough that it can contain a rather to recognize potential for architectural diversity range of uses, but specific enough to highlight the critical while adhering to the overarching principles contained areas of concern. Even when closely following these herein. They intend to define expectations for new guidelines, each project will take its own form that will development while allowing for flexibility and fostering differ from the example shown here. A singular design high quality design. aesthetic in Watertown is neither viable nor desirable. HISTORIC PRESERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE Urban regeneration means more than simply building New development offers an opportunity for sustainable anew; historic preservation is an effective economic construction practices that acknowledge technological development strategy. The reuse and regeneration of innovation and green building practices. It should existing buildings should be encouraged in addition to strive to address the highest sustainable and ecological new development as they provide a direct connection to principles, using advanced green technologies and Watertown's past. Existing buildings that have retained materials, and promoting high-performance buildings. cultural or architectural significance can form the basis for New buildings should be constructed with local, low- economic development and growth. embodied energy materials and constructed with the highest standards for environmental sustainability. CATEGORIES The Design Guidelines are organized into nine distinct sections, each identified by a specific color and icon: PUBLIC REALM INTERFACE PARKING + ACCESS Q SUSTAINABLE DESIGN BUILDING MASSING BUILDING HEIGHT BUILDING SETBACKS FACADE TREATMENT C� MATERIAL SELECTION SIGNAGE PUBLIC REALM INTERFACE Commercial corridors are most successful when the street edge is defined with active ground floor uses with a high degree of transparency. i/zz/is DRAFT ASPIRATIONS The relationship of the building to the street (in the While the massing of a building and its height, scale, form of setbacks or build-to lines) plays a key role in the profile and orientation have a significant impact on one's ability of a development to enhance or detract from the impression of a place, the manner in which it meets the experience of a place. Commercial corridors are most ground is the most critical. Entrances and ground floor successful when the street edge is defined with active windows should be at grade, easily accessible and they ground floor uses with a high degree of transparency. A should aid in pedestrian comfort, safety and orientation. _ vibrant public realm interface is essential for a successful community. How a building relates to the public realm makes an enormous difference in the quality of the development and the degree to which the building contributes to public life. C ELEMENTS Upper Level Exterior Spaces Street Furniture Creating porches, terraces, and balconies on the Benches,trash receptacles, pedestrian lighting, and exterior of a building help to bring the activity within other types of street furniture make a welcoming to the outside, increasing both the safety of the pedestrian realm that invites people to linger. sidewalk as well as enlivening the building fagade. Ground-Level Transparency O2 Canopies and Awnings 7 Large areas of glazing at ground level dissolve the Exterior overhangs and projections protect visual barrier between the interior and exterior of a pedestrians from the elements, create a threshold at building, allowing the sidewalk to benefit from the the entrances to shops and restaurants, and visually adjacent activity. complete the "ceiling" of the public realm. Open Space Networks/Connectivity OPublic Spaces C Where possible, new public open spaces around Well designed, appropriately-scaled, and publicly- buildings should link to and expand existing accessible exterior spaces create an inviting networks,whether they be bike paths,walking paths, public realm that becomes an integral part of the pocket parks, or pedestrian linkages. surrounding neighborhood. Paving Patterns Frequent Entrances Varying the paving patterns through the use of Having frequent entrances along public ways creates colored concrete, pavers, and other materials can a lively and more interesting pedestrian experience. help to create a unique sense of place Shops, cafes, restaurants, offices, and lobbies all in front of a building and visually brand the location. create destinations that increase foot traffic. OStreet Trees/Vegetation Street trees and other plantings help to visually soften the building, create a permeable barrier between the street and sidewalk, reduce solar gain, provide shade, and create a more appealing environment. STRATEGIES ENCOURAGE: Pedestrian Interest Large Caliper Trees Frequent entrances, large areas of ground-level transparency, Often times, small caliper trees are planted that will not building permeability, and high-quality materials all contribute achieve the benefits of a tree canopy for a number of years. to creating an engaging pedestrian experience. Since the ground Additionally, smaller caliper trees have a higher instance level of a building is the one the public most frequently interacts of dying due to shock, disease,winter conditions, or the with, it should receive the highest degree of detailing so as to challenging environment of developed areas. By specifying enliven the public realm and create a unique sense of place. larger caliper trees,there is a higher assuredness of a successful transplant, and a more immediate positive effect Appropriately Scaled Sidewalks from their presence. The width of the sidewalk should be calibrated to the height of the adjacent building as well as the width of the street. Appealing, Publicly-accessible Outdoor Spaces Taller buildings and larger, multi-lane streets along primary Pocket Parks, public plazas, outdoor seating space, pedestrian commercial corridors require wider sidewalks. Smaller, more corridors, and exterior shop space all serve to enliven the intimate sidewalks are appropriate for residential areas and public realm, and to allow the general public to access and neighborhood commercial nodes.The level of street furnishings enjoy privately owned spaces.These transition zones between and plantings should scale to the sidewalk environment. the public right of way and the building are an important interface, and provide the surrounding community with long- Greater Connectivity term benefits and amenities from a building's construction. In order to decrease the dependency of accessing a site solely by car, greater emphasis needs to be placed on the Public Art Opportunities pedestrian and cycle connections from the site to the larger Where possible, public art and other cultural considerations context. Developers should carefully design with each mode of should be incorporated into a development.This can range transportation in mind to ensure that they are accommodated from dedicated community gathering and gallery space, to and share equal priority. showcasing local artist's work in lobbies and other publicly accessible spaces,to exterior pieces of sculpture, murals, Bike Paths and a number of other mediums.This serves to bolster local Efforts should be made to include bike paths and cycle tracks artists, enrich the public contribution the building makes, within or adjacent to a site. Developments should anticipate better engage the surrounding community, and enhance the future connections and incorporate them in their site plans to passing pedestrian's experience. prevent thwarting long-term planning visions.The existing cycle tracks along Arsenal St should be expanded, and on-street bike lanes should be advanced with the town if not already present along the main frontage of a site. DISCOURAGE: Residual, Privately-owned "Public Spaces" Preferencing Automobiles New development may meet the letter of the law regarding All modes of accessing a site should be given equal priority, the percentage of open space without achieving the spirit as as opposed to the largely car-centric designs that dominate intended.This often happens when open space is captured much of Watertown's commercial corridors. Buildings should completely within the development, rendering it inaccessible to front the sidewalk, pushing parking underneath or to the rear. the public, or is comprised of thin, marginal exterior spaces that Adequate bicycle storage facilities should be provided at all lack any distinct sense of place.These are to be avoided; public developments, and emphasis should be placed on pedestrian spaces should be places of adequate size and value that non- and cycle connections to existing networks, as well as public users of the site would want to use them. transit hubs. Wide Building Setbacks Along Commercial Corridors Multiple Curb Cuts As opposed to residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors Curb cuts, where a vehicle entrance or exit crosses the sidewalk benefit from a coherent, relatively continuous street wall created to access the street, put pedestrians directly in conflict by the facades of the buildings that line it. Overly generous with vehicles, as well as impede the efficient flow of traffic. setbacks remove the building from the public realm, and fail Developments should seek to minimize the number of curb to contribute positively to the vibrancy of street life. Setbacks cuts they employ so as to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety from the property line along commercial corridors should only as well as create a less confusing environment for drivers. be included when the existing right of way doesn't allow for an adequately scaled public realm. URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES The manner in which a building meets the sidewalk is critical. Along Watertown's commercial corridors there is an aspiration to have a mix of uses and to enhance the pedestrian experience. This impacts the relationship of a building to its primary street frontage. PRECEDENTS INN - - - - II Paving Patterns,General Aviation Facility Street Furnishings,315 on A, Boston MA Outdoor Seating, Millennium Place, Boston MA Logan Airport, Boston MA Pedestrian Pacc-Thrnriah furl rtraat 1 nnrinn I IV (-,miinrl I oval Trancnaranry Brooklyn Rntaniral(;arrlan Rrnnklvn NV RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES Minimum of 50% transparency on ground floor facade that fronts the primary public way. Minimum percent of publicly accessible retail / commercial space on the ground floor level for mixed-use residential and commercial buildings. PARKING + ACCESS Development should consider the pedestrian first, then bicyclists, then transit and then the automobile. 1/22/15 DRAFT I \ I \ \ ASPIRATIONS Parking is always a primary consideration and its location Consideration should be given to shared parking on the site can be varied. When parking is located in opportunities where day and night uses do not overlap. front of buildings, it often requires multiple curb-cuts for Opportunities for shared parking must be pursued the property it serves. As a result, the relationship of the to increase development potential wherever possible building to the street favors vehicles, not pedestrians. and diminish the impact of the automobile. This has Surface parking lots located in front of commercial the added benefit of encouraging alternate modes of establishments facilitate access for patrons but do little to transportation and enhanced transit ridership. Regardless improve the character of the street or public realm. of where they are located, existing and future parking lots must be visually buffered by trees and native grasses. Development should consider the pedestrian first, then bicyclists, then transit and then the automobile. o © © o N N � y V Q © 0 008) 11 12 �- 10 , � �- I B I, J� 1 �./L, ��� � •_ I ...� � ' l' � `� �� / i � � _- ��_ I r^ � '� _ _- � ._: �- \� f, _. '� j �� �- . i � t �, / � � � -�,- `' �� �� v ;�_ `�" I, � .� � � , � � � , I Ord . .-.----�-., - � __ � �� ,� � , -__- ��� �. I ;- 14 13 URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES Communities across the country are looking to — — — — — — — — enhance walkability and — — — foster access to places that do not rely exclusively on ❑ travel by car. Watertown must be one of those places. Parking and access can be handled in a way that preferences people over cars. � 4 C 4 PRECEDENTS 46 I 1 1� Shared Street,Winthrop Street,Cambridge MA Bicycle Racks,Allston Public Library,Allston MA 4 -1 d�- Cycletrack, MIT West Annex Lot,Cambridge MA Garage Screening, Lexus,Watertown MA Vegetated Buffer,The Box Office, Providence RI RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES Reduce parking required on average of 25% per unit for larger mixed-use developments. Triple the number of required bicycle spaces as a percentage of parking for residential mixed-use buildings. Advance shared parking plans across multiple properties . SUSTAINABLE DESIGN A sustainable design approach effectively balances environmental and aesthetic concerns. i/zz/is DRAFT ASPIRATIONIC "Sustainable" is one of the most widely used but A building's use, massing, orientation, and design increasingly ambiguous and misunderstood terms in character influence a great deal how a building relates to design vocabulary. The term is used here to describe its context. Deploying sustainable design and construction projects that are connected with the environment in strategies ensures that these decisions are made in the which they reside. A development that is sustainable service of a greater objective which acknowledges the utilizes alternative and renewable energy sources for impact that construction has on our environment. A energy generation and retention. Sustainable buildings sustainable design approach is one where environmental use less energy through the use of solar panels, wind responsibility is an integral part of the design, and the turbines and geothermal fields. Projects that have negative impacts associated with development are rainwater harvesting, green roofs, energy responsive minimized. A sustainable ethic involves making careful, facades, sun-shading devices, natural daylighting, ecologically conscious decisions at every point in the recycled content and low embodied energy materials are planning, design and construction process. A sustainable sustainable. A sustainable design approach effectively building treads lightly on the earth. balances environmental and aesthetic concerns. � 0 O Ln LL U 1 W \`1 W J IA a z m URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES It is essential that new development addresses site specific issues related to the environment. Building and landscape strategies that mitigate the negative environmental effects of construction are no longer aspirations, they are mainstream. _g PRECEDENTS tel: not tr _ Rooftop Solar Gloucester Marine Termin-,I Shade Trees,The Arsenal on the Charles High-Performance Skin Artists for Humanity �..,.,��h,N.,..�a�, .,��,u..��«� �„�a����� ���������a� .,��Qu.. �����, ����r-,�����a�.,�� ���� .,��a���� ���5��-� ��������a��,.�.,�.���,r,������ �.,� ��u���a����y Gloucester City NJ Watertown MA South Boston, MA ,1_y P �! 4 JA � I � h Green Roof,Alice Paul&David Kemp Residence Halls,Swathmore PA Rain Garden, Permeable Paving,+Street Trees,6th Street, Brooklyn NY RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES Require building to meet the level of "LEED Certified" as a minimum standard. Require solar assesment for all large mixed-use and commercial projects. Require landscaping to use native, non- invasive, and drought tolerant plants. [:IN BUILDING MASSING As Watertown's density increases and previously vacant or low density sites fill in with new buildings, figuring out how to manage massing becomes increasingly important. 1/22/15 DRAFT ASPIRATIONS Building massing has to do with the overall proportion Larger building masses are most appropriate for Watertown of a structure, including the dimensions of the building Square,the historical commercial center of the Town. Greater footprint and its relationship to the context where building height and mass is recommended in this area. The it resides. As Watertown s density increases and commercial corridors of Mt.Auburn Street and Arsenal previously vacant or low density sites fill in with new Street-with their traditional mixed-use fabric-are also buildings, figuring out how to manage massing becomes viable candidates for larger building masses as are portions of Pleasant Street and Main Street. As new development sites get increasingly important. closer to existing residential areas, a building's mass should taper to relate more closely with the character of established neighborhoods. r - - URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES The shape, proportion and volume of a building's mass has as much of an impact on the character of the building than other characteristics. Building programs dictate the size of footprints but uses change over time. Building forms, on the other hand, endure. PRECEDENTS L Emphasized Corner Entrance,Allston Public Library,Allston MA Agregate Volumes,Wilkes Passage Lofts, Boston MA 1 - Vertical Elements, First+ First, Boston MA Pass-Through, Harvard University,Cambridge MA Additive/Subtractive,six9one, Boston MA RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES Maximum contiguous facade length of 150' and building length of 400'. Minimum offset of 25' for a facade not to be considered contiguous. Minimum separations of 30' between adjacent buildings on the same site . ' ' BUILDING HEIGHT Greater height in certain locations can be beneficial, and increasing heights in some areas can offset the need for building in other places. 1/22/15 DRAFT -T_ I I I � I ASPIRATIONS Height constitutes just one aspect of a building's Greater height in certain locations can be beneficial, and massing, but it is undoubtedly the most conspicuous. increasing heights in some areas can offset the need Historical building heights in Watertown vary, with for building in other places. The impact of height can be greater height generally reserved for civic buildings, diminished when offset by the inclusion of open space institutions, places of worship, and older manufacturing or a building setback. A taller building will appear less facilities. The vast majority of the buildings, however, tall when setback from the street edge. When concerns are just one or two stories along the primary commercial about density arise as a result of a building's height, the corridors. Heights are impacted by a variety of factors relationship of the building fagade to the public-right-of- including the individual floor to floor dimensions, the way can have a greater impact than any other dimension. type of construction, the contours of a site, use and the At the same time, what is deemed an appropriate height scale of the surroundings. for a building is relative to the urban context. 0 0 0 o s o \_ i -+ I I j Ilml . 6 U7 URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES The vast majority of the buildings along Watertown's commercial corridors are one to two stories. As the town •_ — — -T — — —_ evolves, greater height along these corridors is warranted. Modulating the building components is necessary in order to break down the overall mass of the structure. Careful consideration needs to be placed on how new buildings relate to adjoining residential TI �JA-- areas. IL s 0 0 4 PRECEDENTS 4• a 1 L hFA f Upper Level Setback,Trolley Square,Cambridge MA Corner Condition, 225 Centre,Jackson Square, Boston MA < l — Cornice Detail, Fort Point, Boston MA Contextural Height,6 Newbury Street, Boston MA Transitional Height,Charlesview, Brighton MA RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES Building heights calculated on the basis of site topography taken at 30' intervals. Minimum height requirement of 24'. Additional height of up to 10' granted at civic intersections/or in exchange for public ammenities. � � 7 BUILDING SETBACKS J Setbacks that do occur should be used for pocket parks, plazas, seating areas or lush landscape zones that are publicly-accessible. 1/22/15 DRAFT ASPIRATIONS The dimension from a building to the street edge has While aligning an elevation to the property line is most .. everything to do with how a space feels. In urban often the appropriate response for a building in an urban areas with a lot of commercial activity, it is important setting, there are instances, where some spatial relief is to maintain a continuous street wall with modest or necessary and a building setback should be included as few building setbacks. Setbacks that do occur should part of a property's development. Along Watertown's be used for pocket parks, plazas, seating areas or commercial corridors, modest setbacks function best for landscape zones. What constitutes an appropriate residential buildings and areas of high traffic. Setbacks are building setback is impacted by the character and scale also beneficial in mature neighborhoods where the street of the street it fronts, the type of uses on the ground width is narrow. floor of the building and the concentration of pedestrian activity. Urban corridors are most vibrant when they help _ to define a streetwall. 1 2� -------------- ---------� ........... I I � � I r _ i REAR VIEW i I e 3 4 5U U6 URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES Setting back upper stories of buildings from the build-to line mitigate the overall impression of height from _ — many vantage points. 1 Watertown's commercial corridors abut residential neighborhoods that intrinsically have another scale to them. 4 -a 4 0 0 4 PRECEDENTS 01 • f rJ II Front Setback with seating, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston MA Planted Terrace within Stepback, Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley CA i _. .. Ground Level Stepback, Meridian Building Upper Side Stepback,537 E First St Upper Level Front Stepbacks, FP3 Wellington, New Zealand South Boston MA Fort Point, Boston MA RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES Maximum and minimum setbacks along public ways per the "Pleasant Street Corridor District" language . Open air porches, arcades, and covered stoops allowed within required setback. INFACADE TREATMENT Durable, high quality materials will add a level of sophistication to a large and/or minimally- detailed fa4ade. i/zz/is DRAFT ASPIRATIONS The facade is defined as the primary public or streetside While the overall composition of a facade is important, of the building in its entirety from the sidewalk or grade the greatest amount of detail needs to be reserved for level to the uppermost portion of the roofline. Corner the ground floor. This is the area which garners the most buildings have two primary facades. The character attention and view for pedestrians. However, the roofline of an elevation depends on a number of factors: the is also important, and mechanical equipment and rooftop • proportion and orientation of openings, the composition vents should be minimized from view with parapet walls of the fenestration, the color and patterning of the or screens. Style is subjective. Some people prefer classic exterior skin and the relationship between the various over contemporary or historical over modern. What parts of the exterior. Durable, high quality materials will matters most in a building's elevation is quality and add a level of sophistication to a large and/or minimally- consistency. detailed facade, whereas inexpensive materials make a nicely-proportioned building look cheap. A building's elevation or facade says a lot about the quality and character of a building. . . . 1 r' -- 1 � _ III URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES The amount of transparency in a building and the proportion and distribution of windows has a big impact on the character _ of a building. All elevations of a building are important, but the building's primary fagade along the commercial corridors and those adjacent to the Charles River are paramount. PRECEDENTS _ y Natural Materials,City Operations Building Solar Shading, Kirpatrick Oil Field Office Facade Patterns,Troy White Rock, BC Hennessey,OK South End,Boston MA pw .+..-- it MAIN YF"w � ►� � I 1 Windows, Harry Parker Boathouse, Brighton MA Retractable Wall,Sonsie, Boston MA Retail Base Below Housing, Ink Block, Boston MA RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGE Maximum of 50' between entrances along the public way. 0 MATERIAL SELECTION @0 Products and materials that are specified for construction should be selected with respect to their performative and sustainable qualities rather than just trends or aesthetics. 1/12/15 DRAFT • . r • r • r • . • . • . mil. - 1 .= • r • r • r • r • r • . • . • r • r • r • r . . • . • • r • r • . • r • r • r • r • r • r • • r • r • r • . • . • r • r • r • r • r • r • r • r • • r • r • r • r • r • r r • r • r • r • r • . • • r • r • r • r • r • r • r • ii • r • . •':::. '.':. • r • ii • r ASPIRATIONS There is a direct connection between material choice Whenever possible, materials should be selected that are and environmental stewardship. Buildings account for locally harvested, have a low embodied energy content half of all the world's greenhouse gases and consume and are recyclable. Using local materials reduces the 50% of its raw materials. Products and materials that transportation and distribution costs of the product. are specified for construction should be selected with Products that reduce raw material use should be chosen respect to their performative and sustainable qualities because of their resource conservation. Zero or low- rather than just trends or aesthetics. With this in mind, emission building products should be specified to improve materials should be chosen based on their durability, air quality. • maintenance and recyclability characteristics, energy use, and consumption profile. In other words, projects should be built with natural and sustainable materials. ' o Q o 0 s 1, � t 0 � URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES MATERIAL SELECTION Durable and natural materials ensure that the building is built for the long-term. • PRECEDENTS ter. 1SIM �.__-_.__ j - •. Curtain Wall, Bolling Municipal Building Precast Panels,Suffolk Dormitory Wood Rainscreen and Operable Shutters, Kripalu Center • Dudley Square, Roxbury MA Beacon Hill, Boston MA Stockbridge MA - rTIWITOOW IL _ . _ • r- 1 �u7Z d I h 1A I 111.111 ! 11.12 Stone Base,Allston Public Library,Allston MA Brick Pattern, Millennium Place, Boston MA Wood Shingles, Harry Parker Boathouse, Brighton MA RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGE Prohibited exterior materials* : -Vinyl siding -Aluminum clapboard siding -Asphalt panel siding -Exterior Insulation Finishing System *Applies to large-scale mixed-use commercial and residential buildings. 'Jiii SIGNAGE A balance needs to be struck between the desire to call attention to individual businesses and the desire for a positive collective image for Watertown. 1/22/15 DRAFT � I � I I I I I I I I I ' ASPIRATIONS Commercial establishments need to advertise. However, Certain types of signs are more appropriate to specific advertising signs should be effective and appropriate areas than others. What is appropriate for a suburban to Watertown's historic areas without contributing to strip mall is inappropriate for a downtown setting. These visual clutter. A balance needs to be struck between the sign guidelines relate to the commercial corridors. desire to call attention to individual businesses and the desire for a positive collective image for Watertown. Signs can either complement or detract from that image a depending on their design, placement, quantity, size, materials, colors and condition. 0 o a Ilk Q / , o� WATERTOWN SQUARE _ 0 LL�JJI II � L ------ � J I URBAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES Signage along Watertown's commercial corridors need to operate at a number of scales. Large-scale commercial entities that _ advertise along Arsenal Street and are seen mainly from the automobile have demands than pedestrian- oriented signs which are attached to small shops in Watertown Square. Size matters but quality is more important. O s I PRECEDENTS � 4 1 1 i Architectural Facia Signage,Thomson Family Adventures,Watertown MA11 Applied Street Signage,Channel Center, Fort Point, Boston MA s I � r -i•� o � Y `( Projecting Blade Signage,Arsenal on the Charles Freestanding Monument Signage, MIT Projecting Marquee Signage,Town Delux Diner Watertown MA Cambridge MA Watertown MA RECOMMENDED ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES Allow 1 identifying sign per building entrance. No exposed conduit, junction boxes, and tranformers shall be exposed to public view. Banner signs must be a minimum of 9' above ground level . W V Q � z N z W �7 z O 1�- N Z H V H Z W W N = Q W V V I a _V m W V W Q W a W Q cccoE = N W N W + a l7 l7 Q 1�- LU Z Z Z Z W Q l7 � � N J J J a � z D Q > > > > a a a cn m m m cn � � v GENERIC SITE ALONG COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT SCENARIO - SUBURBAN TYPE ' FRONT �� REINFORCE STREET WALL q4M, SHARED PARKING �; PASS7HROUGHS RESPECT ZONING LIMITS F . . . ........... REINFORCE CORNER VARY HEIGHTS BREAK DOWN VOWME CREATE TERRACES EMPLOY VERTICAL BREAKS ENLIVENFACADE 0 1 III ,,,lui �I HORIZONTAL ELEMENTS �� HIGH TRANSPARENCY � VERTICAL ELEMENTS �I � ��� uu/ � luu� li►, III I � SOLAR ENERGY � SHEILD MECHANICALS a GREEN ROOF CREATE PATTERNING 000. REINFORCE MASSING ,� �1�1 IIIIII ��,, ��, �� , �♦ �, v 111 �j I� ♦ IIIIII �/ 1 �111�1i1 1�,1111���1111 IIIII 111�111 III�I I� �I �, �I 111 .���ii�llll 11i�►• \� I� �� fl � 000.0( PAVING MATERIALS AWNINGS/ BENCHES SIGNAGE LOCATIONS aPERMEABLE MATERIALS �,� BUFFER PARKING a PLANTINGS/TREES TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT SCENARIO - NATIONAL CHAIN STORE �r / F � � �-,_, � � � � � � � � � \ � � � � � � � � � \ � � � � / � � .. � / � � � � / � \ � � i / \ � � � \ � � � � � � \ � � � \ v F � / � � � \ � � \ � \ � � - � � � � / � / � \ � � � � � � \ \ � � / � _, � � � � � � � � � �i \ � � � \ � � � � �� � � � � � � \ � � � � � \ � � �. \ � � � \ a � \ \ � � � / "� \ � � � / � � � � � � � � \ � � � � � � � � \ � � � \ � � � ; �/� 7 i i ��. \ � . , � � , � % \� �. � � ' / � j- � �--- �.. \ �,, \ �✓ /� 7 � �. � �`� '" i , ' � � �' / � / � � � �, , ���� � ,; , ; , : ; ��� , � � � � � � � � � \ � � \ � \ \ l' \ � � � � � � � WATERTOWN MASSACHUSETTS DESIGN GUIDELINES + STANDARDS ,-�y� � T - �-.• ` � fir";: '' �� ` `� _ 7 I` *5'' PUBLIC MEETING 3 urbande gn ASSOC 8 LIATES DATE 1 /22/15