Page 140 - Michigan City, IN US Highway 421 Corridor Plan

5.3 Design Guidelines

Explanation of Standards D. Building materials and Transparency
The building type standards and guidelines cover the following: This standard lists the applicable building materials and
minimum percentages of glazing required for ground floor and
A. Intent Statement
upper floor uses.
The intent statement describes the development intent and
typical characteristics for the respective building type. E. Corner Treatment
Some buildings require additional guidelines and
B. Façade Width
recommendations for corner treatments to reinforce pedestrian
Facade width standards regulate the maximum width of a scale and views in high priority areas.
building facade. If the frontage length exceeds the maximum
façade width, the facade must be broken by providing a change F. Frontage Types
in building type. This standard lists which frontage types are permitted for
each building type. Developments must also comply with the
Alternatively, any two of the following techniques may be permitted frontage type standards of the applicable block
employed:
development standards. Figure 5.9 Shared Outdoor Space Diagram
1. Provide a horizontal plane break with one facade set behind G. Pedestrian Access and Entries
the other by at least two feet.
This standard regulates the location and orientation of building Adjacent buildings may combine the required outdoor spaces into
2. Provide a material change. one shared space provided the cumulative minimum requirements for
entries.
3. Provide a change in the overall type, size, spacing, or each building is met.
proportion of windows or fenestration system or change in H. Parking and Access
sill heights and head conditions. This option in applicable Building type parking standards provide parking design
only to vertically proportioned windows. regulations that are specific to each building type.
4. Provide a change in facade compositional strategy including I. Outdoor Space
roof heights, and roof types. For example, a symmetrical
facade may be placed next to a façade with a repetitive bay Each building type requires a specific amount of outdoor space
system that is not symmetrical. to be designated on site. Such outdoor space may either be
private, only accessible to the occupants, or open to the general
5. Provide separate and additional primary entries from the
street. public. Outdoor space may be located at grade, atop a podium
or at the rooftop unless the location is restricted by the selected
building type. Regardless of location, the design of outdoor
C. Building Height and Massing space shall maximize solar access. Setbacks less than 15 feet
Height standards regulate the maximum building height. in depth shall not count towards fulfilling the required amount.
Required outdoor space can be shared between adjacent
Some building types require horizontal or vertical plane breaks building types, as long as the cumulative minimum requirements
or both (see also Figure 5.8, Key Building Type Elements). for each type are satisfied.
Horizontal plane breaks shall not alleviate the minimum building
frontage occupancy requirements from Section 5.3.1, Block J. Landscape and Buffering
Type Development Standards. Building facades facing build- The landscape standards regulate the design of outdoor space
to lines shall provide plane breaks in a manner such that the including the amount of outdoor space that is required to be
overall building frontage meets the minimum building frontage planted with vegetation.
occupancy requirements. Plane breaks are only required at
street-facing facades.

These standards intend to articulate new development and avoid
monotonous, blocklike building designs in favor of more varied
building designs with reduced bulk at the upper stories.

5-21

Adopted: August 16, 2016 Implementation 5.0