2170 Rte 44th 55 Gardiner, NY 12525-5804

Standards for the Highway Commercial (HC) District. All new development in the HC District, excluding agricultural structures used on a farm operation, shall comply with the following design standards. Where alterations to existing structures and business operations require special permit or site plan approval, they shall comply with these standards to the extent practical; i.e. full compliance shall not be required if it would impose unnecessary economic hardship or discourage property owners from improving their properties. The overall design goal is to maintain and enhance the landscape character of commercial road corridors. This is to be accomplished by mitigating the visual impacts of business development through landscape, layout, and architectural standards. The design guidelines referred to in § 220-5 shall apply except where a building or site is screened from public roads and adjacent properties. The following standards shall apply in the HC District for buildings that are visible from public roads: (1) Building placement. (a) Buildings shall be clustered together to the extent practical, preserving existing green areas. (b) Lots on which all buildings and all parking lots are screened from view by trees, natural topography, and other landscape features shall be entitled to an additional 20% impervious surface coverage allowance and shall be exempt from the architectural design requirements of this subsection. (c) Buildings shall be placed in front of their parking lots to screen the parking from the road. This requirement shall not apply if the entire site is screened from the road by natural vegetation and/or natural topography. (d) Parking lots on adjoining parcels shall interconnect wherever practical to minimize curb cuts and allow circulation between adjoining uses. (2) Architecture. (a) Existing structures with historic or architectural significance, as determined by the Planning Board, shall be retained to the extent practical. Alterations to such structures shall be compatible with the architecture of the existing structure. (b) Buildings, including canopies for accessory facilities, shall have peaked roofs with a slope of at least 8:12, except that hip roofs with a slope of at least 4:12 and flat roofs that are hidden by a raised cornice shall also be permitted. (c) Windows shall be vertically proportioned and balanced on facades, with width to height ratios ranging from 1:2 to 3:5. Horizontal windows may be used just below roof eaves ("eyebrow" windows) and as first-floor display windows.