Page 156 - Healdsburg, CA Citywide Design Guidelines

Service Areas and Utilities
Parking Area
Street
Figure 6.18: Locate a utility or
service area to minimize visual
impacts to the street and sidewalk.
Screen and enclose a free-standing
utility or service area.
148 Healdsburg Citywide Design Guidelines
Service areas and utilities include loading docks, trash areas,
electrical stations and other necessary functions. These should be
designed to be visually unobtrusive and to be integrated with the
site and building. The visual impact of a service area on the public
right-of-way should be minimized. More information regarding the
location and design of public utilities, such as transformers, can be
found in Chapter 9.
6.37 Locate a utility or service area to minimize its visibility
from the public realm.
a. Locate a utility or service area to the side or rear of a
building.
b. Orient a service area toward an alley or secondary street.
c. Integrate mechanical equipment into the design of a
building. For instance, provide a small wall offset for
mechanical equipment so that a screen or wall appears
to be a continuation of the building wall.
d. Consider integrating a service or utility area into a gap in
a side or rear building wall.
e. Locate a utility or service area away from residential
areas or outdoor places such as plazas.
6.38 Design a utility building to minimize its visual impacts
to the street and sidewalk.
a. Locate a utility building or shed to the rear of a primary
structure.
6.39 Design a trash enclosure to minimize run-off.
a. Locate a trash enclosure so that the enclosure is slightly
elevated from its surroundings, but also so that any
runoff does not drain to neighboring uses.
b. Locate so that run-off drains to the sewer system.
6.40 Enclose a free-standing utility or service area.
a. When not integrated into a building wall, enclose and
cover a utility or service area with a mostly opaque wall.
b. Screen the entrance to a utility or service area with a
solid gate made from painted metal, wood or other high
quality, non-reflective material that is detailed to provide
visual interest.
c. Do not use chain link.