Columbia Pike code ( selected elements)

Building envelope standards, general guiding principles: 1. Buildings are aligned and close to the street. 2. The street is a coherent space, with consistent building forms on both sides of the street. 3. Buildings oversee the street (and square) with active fronts. 4. Property lines are physically defined by buildings or street walls. Land should be clearly public or private — in public view and under surveillance, or private and protected. 5. Buildings are designed for towns and cities. Views are directed to the street and the garden/courtyard, not toward the neighbors. 6. Vehicle storage, garbage and mechanical equipment are kept away from the street. 7. Retail on the ground floor (the retail definition includes office uses — upper floors are generally required to be residential). 8. Parking (not including on-street parking) should be away from the streets and shared by multiple owners/users. 9. Historic character. Those structures that have historic character should be preserved in some manner or their elements incorporated in the redevelopment of their site. Main street buildings 1. Building heights shall be measured in stories. Each building shall be between three and six stories, except where otherwise noted. 2. Ground floor shall have at least 15 feet clear (floor to ceiling). 3. Any unbuilt alley or common lot line frontage shall have a street wall built along it. 4. The street facade shall be built to not less than 75 percent of the overall required building line. 5. The street facade shall be composed as a simple plane (limited jogs less than 18-24 inches are considered a simple plane within this requirement) interrupted only by porches, stoops, bay windows, shopfronts, and balconies. 6. The ground story facade shall have between 60 percent and 90 percent fenestration. Awnings and overhangs are encouraged. Note: the above details are portions of a more extensive code. See complete details at www.co.arlington.va.us/forums/columbia