§ 3.37.26. Sign regulations applicable to all tiers.

All signs in the district shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Code and the following additional requirements:

A.

Signs shall be designed in compliance with the applicable requirements in the district design guidelines.

B.

All ground signs shall be a monument-style sign with a base and support members made of brick, stucco or stone as illustrated in the district design guidelines.

C.

Ground signs shall be single- or double-faced only and shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way line.

D.

All monument signs, and/or a building's front façade facing a public or private street or private drive shall have the address numbers visible from the street or drive, and the individual numbers shall not exceed eight (8) inches in height. Address numbers shall be excluded from the maximum allowed sign area.

E.

Each lot or out-parcel with a single tenant shall be permitted one (1) monument sign per public street frontage. The sign area (face) of the monument sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet and the sign structure shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height.

F.

Each nonresidential single tenant lot with a floor area greater than fifty thousand (50,000) square feet shall be permitted one (1) monument sign per public street frontage. The sign area (face) of the monument sign shall not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet and the sign structure shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.

G.

Each lot or development with multitenants/shopping center shall be permitted one (1) monument sign per public street frontage. The sign area of the monument sign shall not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet and the sign structure shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.

H.

Mixed-use developments shall be permitted one (1) monument sign for each street frontage. One (1) additional monument sign may be allowed for each entrance from a street or drive that is internal to the mixed-use development. The monument sign area shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet and a maximum height of six (6) feet, except for one (1) of the monument signs along the primary entrance may be a maximum of sixty-four (64) square feet and fifteen (15) feet in height.

I.

Each single-family residential or multifamily development shall be permitted to have one (1) monument sign per subdivision entrance from a primary or secondary street as classified in this section, not to exceed a sign area of thirty-two (32) square feet and six (6) feet in height from a primary street and sixteen (16) square feet and six (6) feet in height from a secondary street. If a monument sign is to be located on both sides of the entrance, the size may be divided for not more than sixteen (16) square feet in sign area and six (6) feet in height for an allowable thirty-two (32) square foot sign and eight (8) square feet in sign area at a maximum height of six (6) feet for a sixteen (16) square foot allowable sign.

J.

Each separate business front façade with an external public entrance may have a maximum of one (1) wall sign which shall not exceed an area of five (5) percent of the area of the façade of the ground floor of the building or seventy-five (75) square feet, whichever is less. Interior tenant space within a business of at least fifty thousand (50,000) square feet may have an additional wall sign area not to exceed a total of five (5) percent of the area of the façade of the ground floor of the building or one hundred (100) square feet, whichever is less.

K.

Signs may be externally or internally illuminated. In Tiers 3, 4, and 5, monument signs shall be only externally illuminated with ground lights at the base of the monument sign.

L.

Window signs shall be limited to not more than ten (10) percent of the aggregate window area per applicable wall and shall not require a sign permit unless it is the primary identification sign.

M.

Temporary decals, placards, posters and advertisements are prohibited from being placed on the face of exterior walls or windows except as permitted in this section.

N.

Each multitenant or single-tenant building shall be permitted one (1) building-mounted wall sign per tenant façade along a public right-of-way or private drive frontage similar to that shown in Exhibits 12 and 13 of the district design guidelines.

O.

Wall-mounted sign shall be channel cut letters applied directly to the building façade. Wall signs shall not have changeable copy.

P.

Attached canopy and awning sign area shall be deducted from the permitted wall sign area.

Q.

Freestanding drive-through menu board and walk-up and drive-through ATM structures with signage shall not be considered a sign.

R.

Sign placement, lettering and massing shall be limited as follows:

1.

Monument sign structures shall not be two and one-half (2½) times the size of the sign copy area unless incorporated into a perimeter wall/fence structure.

2.

Sign lettering shall be opaque and consist of block lettering in which individual letters are proportional in size to the overall size of the store wall or distance from the right-of-way, but in no event shall individual letters and/or logo copy area exceed the heights below depending on the distance from the street right-of-way:

Building Setback	Copy Area	Letter Height
50 feet	50 sq. ft.	24"
75 feet	120 sq. ft.	30"
100 feet	240 sq. ft.	36"
125 feet	300 sq. ft.	42"
150 feet or greater	360 sq. ft.	48"

 

Building setback is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way or private street, or the back of the curb of a private drive.

S.

The following types of signs are prohibited in the district:

1.

Motorist distractions. Signs that incorporate flashing lights or beacons, highly reflective materials, rotating graphics, motion, smoke or visible matter, noise or changeable copy, that is copy that changes at intervals of more than once every six (6) seconds, are prohibited.

2.

Roof signs. Signs that are placed on or above roofs, penthouses, mechanical equipment screens, and other like structures and any signs that extend above the building parapet or roof fascia line.

3.

Signs that are placed on vehicles or trailers that are not in regular use and are visible from a public right-of-way or major internal private drive.

4.

Pole signs and other signs with exposed structural supports that are more than three (3) feet in height and have post supports larger than two (2) inches in diameter or a total of four (4) square inches in cross-section area.

5.

Vacuum-molded or premanufactured signs.

6.

Temporary signs. Banners, streamers, pennants, flags, wind banners, air/gas filled balloons, portable signs, string lights, laser lights and search lights except as approved as a part of a permitted temporary festival or event.

7.

Flashing, animated, marquee, sound-emitting, fluorescent, rotating or otherwise moving signs are prohibited.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

A.

Sidewalk requirement. There shall be a public sidewalk constructed along all public street frontages within Tiers 1, 2, and 5 of the district subject to the following standards:

1.

Covington Highway, Panola Road, Redan Road and South Hairston Road. Provide sidewalks at a minimum width of ten (10) feet in compliance with applicable Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") requirements; tapering of sidewalks may be required when connecting to existing sidewalks. A planting strip for street trees a minimum width of ten (10) feet shall be provided between the back of the curb and the sidewalk. In blocks where there are overhead utility lines, the planning director may authorize a two-foot extension of the planting zone from the curb with the street tree-planting zone to be located adjacent to the sidewalk.

2.

All other new streets in the district. Provide sidewalks at a minimum width of ten (10) feet in compliance with applicable ADA requirements. A planting strip for street trees a minimum width of five (5) feet shall be provided between the back of the curb and the sidewalk. In blocks where there are overhead utility lines, the planning director may authorize a two-foot extension of the planting zone from the curb with the street tree-planting zone to be located adjacent to the sidewalk. In blocks of residential-only properties, a minimum sidewalk width of five (5) feet shall apply.

B.

Street tree planting.

1.

Street trees of a caliper not less than three (3) inches shall be planted no less than thirty (30) feet on center along properties within the district having street frontage. Trees of the following type or equals approved by the DeKalb County Arborist shall be used:

a.

October glory red maple.

b.

Sunset maple.

c.

Nuttal oak (Quercus nattalli).

d.

Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii).

e.

Willow oak.

f.

Zelkova serrata.

g.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba).

h.

Trident maple (Acer buergeranum).

i.

Allee lacebark elm (Ulmus parvifolia emer (II).

j.

Chalkbark Maple (Acer Leucoderme).

k.

Georgia Oak (Quercus Falcata).

2.

Street trees shall have a minimum planting area of four (4) feet by eight (8) feet. Tree-planting areas shall provide porous drainage systems that allow for drainage of the planting area.

3.

Benches, trash receptacles, and bike racks shall be placed within the sidewalk zone on all streets and shall comply with all applicable district design guidelines.

C.

Maintenance of trees and ground cover. All trees and all ground cover required by this chapter or by chapter 14 of the Code shall be maintained in a healthy condition, and any trees or ground cover which die shall be replaced at the next earliest possible planting season.

D.

Curb cuts. There shall be a minimum distance of twenty-five (25) feet between curb cuts. Curb cuts shall not be permitted within one hundred (100) feet of the intersection of any two (2) public streets and shall not be more than twenty-four (24) feet wide.

E.

Pedestrian zone. Safe and convenient pedestrian pathways shall be provided from sidewalks along streets to each structure entrance, including pedestrian access routes to parking decks and through parking lots and between adjacent buildings within the same development. All such pathways shall be concrete, brick or stone at a minimum width of five (5) feet except in Tiers 3 and 4, paths and trails may be constructed of natural materials.

F.

Landscaping requirements and plans. The following landscaping requirements shall apply to all uses in the district. Any new development or redevelopment applying for a land development permit shall include in the application a written landscape plan, which shall include the following elements:

1.

Landscape strips. A landscape strip shall be provided along all primary and secondary street frontages with a minimum width of ten (10) feet and shall be planted with a row of street trees selected from the list of street tree species identified in the district design guidelines of at least three and one-half (3½) inches in caliper and planted not less than thirty (30) feet on center.

2.

Ground cover. Ground cover shall also be provided in accordance with the district design guidelines in order to protect tree roots and to prevent erosion. Ground cover shall consist of evergreen shrubs or groundcover plant material mulched with pine bark mulch, or other similar landscaping material, to include mulch made from recycled materials.

3.

New trees. Newly planted trees shall conform to the district design guidelines.

4.

Tree spacing. No tree shall be planted closer than two (2) feet to the street or sidewalk, and no closer than five (5) feet to a fire hydrant, sign post, streetlight standard, utility pole, or similar structure.

G.

Parking lot landscaping requirements. All parking lots within the district shall be landscaped in conformity with the requirements of section 5.4.4.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.28.   Underground utilities for all tiers.

All new utilities in the district, except for major electric transmission lines and substations, are required to be placed underground except where the development director determines that underground utilities are not feasible due to preexisting physical conditions, such as conflicting underground structures or utilities, shallow rock, high water table, or other similar geologic or hydrologic conditions.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.29.   Streetlights and street furnishings for all tiers.

Streetlights and furnishings are required for all streets in the district and shall conform to the district design guidelines and the following requirements:

A.

Street and pedestrian lighting shall be alternated along roadways.

B.

Street lights along all public rights-of-way and new streets within the district shall be located within the street tree-planting zone spaced at a maximum distance of ninety (90) feet on center.

C.

Pedestrian lights along all public rights-of-way and new streets within the district shall be located within the street tree-planting zone spaced at a maximum distance of thirty (30) feet on center.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.30.   Street and inter-parcel access for all tiers.

A.

Streets. Streets within the district may be either private drives, public or private streets. Private streets shall comply with the requirements of public streets found in chapter 14 and all other applicable provisions of the Code.

B.

Inter-parcel access. Sidewalks and parking lots serving properties shall be interconnected to provide continuous driveway connections and pedestrian connections between adjoining uses, lots and streets, but this requirement shall not apply to lots zoned for single-family residential development. Where necessary, DeKalb County may require access easements be provided to ensure continuous access and egress routes connecting commercial, office and multifamily lots.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.31.   Multimodal access plans required for all tiers.

Each new application for a land development permit in the district shall be accompanied by a multimodal access plan prepared at a scale not greater than one inch equals one hundred feet (1"=100'). The multimodal access plan shall cover the full extent of the proposed development along with public rights-of-way of adjoining streets and any other property lying between the subject property and the nearest public streets on all sides. The purpose of the multimodal access plan is to demonstrate a unified plan of continuous access to and between all buildings in the proposed development and adjacent properties. Connections to available transportation modes, such as driveways, sidewalks, and bike paths shall be shown along adjacent streets and those entering adjoining properties. Safe and convenient pedestrian ways shall be provided from sidewalks along streets to each building entrance, including pedestrian access routes across parking lots and between adjacent buildings within the same development. Where an existing or planned public transportation station or stop is within one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) feet along travel routes from any boundary of the subject property, the access plan shall show how pedestrians and bicycle access may safely travel from such station or stop to the subject property.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.32.   Parking requirements for all tiers.

A.

Required parking may be provided through a combination of off-street, on-street, or shared parking provided that all required parking is located with seven hundred (700) feet of the principal entrance of the building which it is intended to serve. The minimum number of required parking spaces shall be as required by the underlying zoning district classification regulations, except as follows:

1.

Retail uses, personal service uses, and other commercial and general business uses including food stores. Minimum of four (4.0) spaces per one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross floor area.

2.

Office and clinic uses. Minimum of three (3.0) spaces per one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross floor area.

3.

Hotel and motel uses. Minimum of one (1.00) space per unit.

4.

Multifamily residential uses. Minimum of one and one-quarter (1.25) spaces per dwelling unit.

5.

Single-family. Minimum of four (4) spaces per single-family detached dwelling. Minimum of two (2) spaces per single-family attached dwelling or units in a mixed-use development.

B.

Required residential parking shall be segregated from parking for all other uses with the exception of additional parking provided for live/work units.

C.

Each development which provides automobile parking facilities shall provide bicycle parking facilities in on-site parking structures, parking lots, or within a designated area of the landscape zones adjoining the sidewalk. Nonresidential developments shall provide bicycle parking at a ratio of one (1) bicycle parking space for every twenty (20) vehicular spaces. Multifamily residential developments shall provide bicycle parking facilities at a minimum ratio of one (1) bicycle parking space for every five (5) multifamily units. No nonresidential or multifamily development shall have fewer than three (3) bicycle parking spaces nor exceed a maximum of fifty (50) bicycle parking spaces.

D.

All off-street parking including surface lots and parking decks shall be located in the side or rear yards.

E.

Off-street parking shall be screened from view from any public street by buildings, decorative walls/fences, and/or landscaping. Off-street parking may not be located between the public street and the building's front façade. If a lot is bound by more than one (1) public street, the front of the lot shall be considered the yard adjacent to the street with the highest classification as follows: Primary: Covington Highway, Redan Road, South Hairston Road, Young Road, Panola Road; Secondary: all other new and existing streets.

F.

Any portion of a parking deck that is adjacent to a public street shall have the ground level developed with retail, office or other permitted uses on and ground floor entrances oriented toward the street frontage. Any upper stories of a parking deck that face a public street shall be finished to resemble office or residential buildings with fenestration compliant with materials permitted in this division. Landscaping may be appropriate as an alternative, subject to prior approval of the planning director.

G.

No parking or yard area may be used for the repair, dismantling, service, car wash or storage of any equipment or disabled vehicle.

H.

Shared parking is encouraged and may be authorized by the planning director. Parking facilities within any parcel may be shared if multiple uses cooperatively establish and operate parking facilities and if these uses generate parking demands primarily when the remaining uses are not in operation, so that the off-street parking requirements for each use are met or exceeded during said use's operational hours. Applicants may make an application to the planning director for a special exception for shared parking. Said applications shall be considered and decided by the planning director pursuant to the standards and procedures set forth in section 7.6.5.A.3. and 4.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.33.   Plans required; certificates of compliance for all tiers.

A.

Plans required. Prior to the issuance of any land development permit, building permit, or sign permit, the applicant shall submit a conceptual design package and final design package to the planning director. The planning director shall provide a copy of the submittals to the related district commissioner(s) and super district commissioner for review and comment. The final design package must include full architectural and landscape architectural plans and specifications. The submitted plans must include a site plan, architectural elevations and sections; renderings depicting the building design including elevations and architectural details of proposed buildings, exterior materials and colors, landscape plans and any shared parking agreements, all of which shall demonstrate that the proposed design is in compliance with all the requirements of this division and the underlying zoning classification.

B.

Fees. The conceptual design package shall be accompanied by an application and payment of a fee in an amount determined by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.34.   Conceptual plan package review.

A.

The conceptual plan package shall be composed of the following:

1.

A narrative addressing the proposed development explaining how it meets the purpose, intent, and standards of this division of the Code. The narrative shall include a tabulation of the approximate number of acres in each land use, the approximate number of dwelling units by type, the approximate gross residential density, the approximate commercial density, the approximate publicly accessible open space acreage, the anticipated number, type and size of recreational facilities and other public amenities; the legal mechanism for protecting and maintaining publicly accessible open space, as required by the applicable provisions of this Code.

2.

A site location map showing the proposed development, abutting property, the relationship of the proposed development to surrounding and existing development, and transitional buffer zones, if required.

3.

A multimodal access plan meeting the requirements of this division.

B.

The conceptual plan package shall contain a site plan that contains all of the following information:

1.

Ten (10) copies of the site plan drawn to a designated scale of not less than one inch equals one hundred feet (1"=100'), certified by a professional engineer or land surveyor licensed by the state, presented on a sheet having a maximum size of twenty-four (24) inches by thirty-six (36) inches, and one (1) eight-and one-half-inch reduction of the plan. If presented on more than one (1) sheet, match lines shall clearly indicate where the sheets join. The plan shall contain the following information:

a.

Boundaries of the entire property proposed to be included in the development with bearings and distances of the perimeter property lines.

b.

Scale and north arrow with north, to the extent feasible, oriented to the top of the plat and on all supporting graphics.

c.

Location and approximate dimensions in length and width for landscape strips and required transitional buffers, if any.

d.

Existing topography with a maximum contour interval of five (5) feet and a statement indicating whether it is an air survey or field run.

e.

Approximate delineation of any floodplain designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Geological Survey, or DeKalb County.

f.

The delineation of any jurisdictional wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act.

g.

Approximate delineation of any significant historic or archaeological feature, grave, object or structure marking a place of burial, if known, and a statement indicating how the proposed development will impact it.

h.

A delineation of all existing structures and whether they will be retained or demolished.

i.

General location, in conceptual form, of proposed uses, lots, buildings, building types and building entrances.

j.

Height and setback of all buildings and structures.

k.

Approximate areas and development density for each type of proposed use.

l.

Location, size and number of all on-street and off-street parking spaces, including a shared parking analysis, if shared parking is proposed.

m.

Identification of site access points and layout, width of right-of-way and paved sections of all internal streets.

n.

Conceptual plans for drainage with approximate location and estimated size of all proposed stormwater management facilities and a statement as to the type of facility proposed.

o.

Development density and lot sizes for each type of use.

p.

Areas to be held in joint ownership, common ownership or control.

q.

Location of proposed sidewalks and bicycle facilities, trails, recreation areas, parks, and other public or community uses, facilities, or structures on the site.

r.

Conceptual layout of utilities and location of all existing or proposed utility easements having a width of twenty-five (25) feet or more.

s.

Standard details of signs, sidewalks, streetlights, driveways, medians, curbs and gutters, landscaped areas, fencing, grating, street furniture, bicycle lanes, streets, alleys, and other public improvements demonstrating compliance with the district design guidelines.

t.

Conceptual layout of building designs including elevations showing architectural details of proposed buildings, exterior materials, all of which shall demonstrate that the proposed design is in compliance with all of the requirements of this division.

u.

Seal and signature of professional preparing the site plan.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)

Sec. 3.37.35.   Final design package review and approval process.

A.

Review and approval of final design package. Upon receiving comments on the conceptual design package, the applicant will submit the final design package for review and approval. The final design package must include full architectural and landscape architectural plans and specifications. The submitted plans must include a site plan, architectural elevations and sections; renderings depicting the building design including elevations and architectural details of proposed buildings, exterior materials and colors, plans and elevations of all hardscape, landscape and signage and any shared parking agreements, all of which shall demonstrate that the proposed design is in compliance with all requirements of this division and the underlying zoning classification. The final design package must be signed and sealed by a professional engineer/architect. The final design package must contain all plans, elevations, sections and specifications necessary for obtaining development and building permits. The applicant may submit the final design package simultaneously with the submission for permitting.

B.

Review. The planning director shall review each application for compliance with all requirements of the district and the underlying zoning classification. Prior to approval by the planning director and issuance of any land development or building permit, the conceptual design package and final design package shall be submitted to and approved by the planning director after consultation with the district commissioner(s) and super district commissioner(s), consistent with the requirements of this division. Where the director determines that said plans comply with the requirements of the district, a certificate of compliance shall be issued in the form of the director signing the plans and drawings after which the applicant shall then apply for land disturbance, building or signs permits. Where the director determines that said plans do not comply with the requirements of this Code, then the director shall provide the applicant with comments and redlined plans and drawings identifying where said applicant fails to comply with such requirements. All applications shall be considered and decided by the planning director within thirty (30) days of receipt of a complete application. Any appeal of the planning director's decision in this regard shall be to the zoning board of appeals pursuant to section 7.5.2.

C.

Innovative design. By enacting this division, the board of commissioners authorizes the planning director to approve proposed developments that provide for unique site features and innovative designs that comply with the district design guidelines and comply with the requirements and standards set forth in this division.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)