SECTION 37 - TOWN CENTER OVERLAY DISTRICT

37.1     General: The use of land, buildings and other structures within the Town Center Overlay District shall be established and conducted in conformity with the underlying zoning classification, subject to the additional requirements of this Section. No application for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance shall be approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and no Certificate of Zoning Compliance shall be issued by him until he has made a determination and certifies in writing that such a use or structure has been reviewed according to the procedures specified in paragraph 37.4 of these Regulations.

37.2     Purpose: The purpose of this regulation is to provide for advisory design review by the Town Center Revitalization Review Board in order to develop creative solutions to design, land use and circulation problems, to enhance the unique cultural, historic, aesthetic and natural resource assets of the District, and to protect the public health, safety, convenience and property values. In furtherance of these objectives, the Commission may approve exemptions from parking requirements (as provided for in paragraph 42.5 of these Regulations) and increases in allowable housing unit density.

37.3     Activities and Uses Covered: Any new use or change of use which requires site plan or special use approval per Schedule A, Section 24 of these Regulations and which is located within the Town Center District, is subject to the requirements of, and eligible for the special provisions of, the Town Center Overlay District. Review of such new use or change of use shall cover the following aspects of the proposal:

a.       Facades

b.      Pedestrian and vehicular circulation

c.       Parking

d.      Streetscape (including lighting, street furniture, fencing and sidewalk paving)

e.       Landscaping

f.       Signs

g.      Permitted Uses

h.      Utilities

37.4     Procedures: All applications for site plan or special use approval within the Town Center District shall include one extra set of site plan/special use application materials and additional materials listed in paragraph 37.5, to be reviewed by the Town Center Revitalization Review Board (the Board). The Board shall report its findings and recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission within 35 days. Such report shall be read at the public hearing on a special use application, or, for a site plan application, at any meeting at which the application is discussed.

37.5     Application: Applications for a Special Use and/or Site Plan approval within the Town Center shall include, in addition to the requirements of paragraph 31.4, the following materials, as applicable:

a.       Facades: Description of materials, color and texture of major building materials; exterior wall elevations of all structures within 100 feet, drawn at a minimum scale of 1 inch equals 8 feet.

b.      Pedestrian and vehicular circulation: Site plan as required in paragraph 31.4.2.4, augmented by indication of all entrances and exits to buildings and any special uses thereof. (e.g. employees only, residents only, service entrance)

c.       Parking: Description of uses and calculation of parking requirements for any mixed use, shared parking or parking exemption request.

d.      Streetscape: Detailed drawing showing design, color, texture and type of materials.

e.       Landscaping: Location, size and species of all plantings and identification of existing and proposed vegetation.

f.       Signs: Detailed drawings showing design, size, color, texture and type of materials. Lettering style, size and color for wall signs shall also be included.

g.      Permitted Uses: A description of the proposed use shall be given in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of unique requirements or contributions to the Town Center District and compatibility with adjacent uses.

h.      Utilities: Site plan as required in paragraph 31.4.2.7.

37.6     Town Center District Standards: For specific examples of desirable architectural and site plan design features, applicants are referred to “Design Criteria and Guidelines, Branford Town Center”. In reviewing applications, the Town Center Revitalization Review Board shall also take into consideration the following design criteria:

a.       Conformance with the purpose of the Town Center Overlay District as described in paragraph 23.18 of these Regulations.

b.      Logic of design.

c.       Exterior space utilization.

d.      Architectural character.

e.       Attractiveness.

f.       Material selection.

g.      Harmony and compatibility.

h.      Circulation - vehicular and pedestrian.

i.        Maintenance aspects.