Page 13 - San Marcos, TX Development Code

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Zoning Regulations C H A PT E R

Division 5: ACTivATion 4. Recessed or projecting entries or building elements
have been incorporated into the design of the building to
Activation standards are described here and required based on the enhance visibility of the non street-facing entrance; and
properties zoning district or designated building type.
5. The pedestrian route from the street, sidewalks, bus stops
Section 4.3.5.1 Street Facing Entrance and other modes of transportation to the entrance is safe,
convenient and direct; and
A. Intent
6. In CD-5D and the five downtown Design Contexts, the
1. The street-facing entrance regulations are intended to
concentrate pedestrian activity along the street edge and approved alternate conforms to the Downtown Design
provide an easily identifiable and conveniently located Guidelines.
entrance for residents, visitors, and patrons accessing a Section 4.3.5.2 Ground Story Transparency
building as pedestrians from the street.
A. Intent. Ground story Ttransparency requirements are intended
2. Access points should be located or identified in a manner to lend visual interest to street-facing building facades for
visible to the pedestrian from the street and be accessible both pedestrians and building occupants and minimize blank
via a direct path. wall areas. These requirements aim to ensure sight lines from
the sidewalk to the goods and services provided inside the
B. General Requirements
property. This is not applicable to residential uses. Applicability
1. An entrance installed after the adoption of this code can be found in Division 6, Building Type Standards.
providing both ingress and egress, operable to residents B. General Requirements
or customers at all times, is required to meet the street
facing entrance requirements. Additional entrances from 1. The minimum percentage of windows and doors that must
another street, pedestrian area or internal parking area are cover a ground story facade is measured between zero (0)
permitted. and twelve (12) feet above the adjacent sidewalk.

2. The entrance spacing requirements must be met for each 2. The minimum percentage of windows that must cover
building, but are not applicable to adjacent buildings. upper story facades is measured between the top of the
floor plate of the upper story and the bottom of the ceiling
3. An angled entrance may be provided at either corner of a structure.
building along the street to meet the street-facing entrance
requirements. 3. Windows shall not be made opaque by non-operable
window treatments (for example curtains, blinds or shades
C. Alternative Compliance Findings. The Planning and Zoning
Commission may in accordance with Section 2.8.4.1 allow within the conditioned space are considered operable,
a non-street-facing entrance, subject to all of the following whereas stationary shades such as “faux roman” shades
findings. that do not move are considered non-operable).
4. Glass shall be considered transparent where it has a
1. The approved alternate meets the intent of the street-facing transparency higher than eighty (80%) percent and
entrance regulations;
external reflectance of less than fifteen (15%) percent.
2. The approved alternate conforms with the Comprehensive Clear glazing must have a visible transmittance rate of 0.5
Plan and adopted City plans; or greater to count towards the transparency requirement.

3. The pedestrian access point is easily identifiable by
pedestrians, customers and visitors;

Downtown Design Final Draft: March 2021 San Marcos Development Code 4:31