102 Aquatic Drive ZVL 11.19.2019Sec. 24-171. - Commercial corridor development standards.
(a) Intent. The following additional standards and requirements shall apply to those lands within
all commercial zoning districts that are located along arterial street corridors within the City
of Atlantic Beach. The intent of these additional requirements is to: Enhance the aesthetic
and physical appearance of these gateways into the City; enhance and retain property
values; promote appropriate redevelopment of blighted areas; and to create an environment
that is visually appealing and safe for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicular traffic. New
development in the CBD and TM zoning districts may be exempted from the landscaping
provisions of this section by the Community Development Director.
(b) Delineation of commercial corridors. Commercial corridors are defined in Section 24-17.
They are graphically depicted on the following map:
(c) Building form and finish materials. The following general provisions shall apply to all development in
the commercial corridors.
(1) Roofs, which give the appearance of a flat roof from any street side of the building, are
prohibited. Roofs may be gabled, hipped, mansard or otherwise designed so as to avoid
the appearance of a flat roof from the adjoining street.
(2) Open bay doors and other similar large doors providing access to work areas and
storage areas shall not open towards or face the commercial corridors.
(3) The exterior finish of new buildings, and also exterior finish alterations and additions
to the front and any street side, or any side visible from adjoining residential properties, of
existing buildings shall be of brick, wood, stucco, decorative masonry, exterior insulation
and finish systems (EIFS), architectural or split-faced type block, or other finish materials
with similar appearance and texture. Metal clad, corrugated metal, plywood or oriented
strand board (OSB), and exposed plain concrete block shall not be permitted as exterior
finish materials of a building.
(4) Blank exterior walls facing the commercial corridors, which are unrelieved by doors,
windows and architectural detail, shall not be permitted.
(5) Burglar bars, steel gates, metal awnings and steel-roll down curtains are prohibited on
the exterior and interior of a structure when visible from any public street. Existing
structures which already have burglar bars, steel gates, metal awnings and steel-roll down
curtains shall be brought into compliance with these provisions within a reasonable time
after any change of ownership of the property, which shall not be more than ninety (90)
days.
(d) Signs. Signs shall be regulated as set forth within chapter 17 of this Code, except that
externally illuminated monument signs are encouraged.
(e) Lighting. Exterior lighting shall be the minimum necessary to provide security and safety. Direct
lighting sources shall be shielded or recessed so that excessive light does not illuminate
adjacent properties or the sky.
(f) Fences. The use of chain link, barbed wire, razor or concertina wire, and similar type fencing
shall be prohibited in any required front yard and in any required yard adjoining a street.
(g) Landscaping and required buffers. The requirements of Article III, division 8 of this chapter
shall apply, except that the following additional requirements shall also apply to new
development and to redevelopment that is subject to the requirements of Article III, division
8. Required buffers and landscape materials shall be depicted on all plans submitted for
review. See Figure 12 for a graphical depiction of street frontage landscaping requirements.
(1) A ten-foot wide buffer shall be required along the entire parcel frontage of the commercial
corridors, except for driveways. This buffer shall consist of trees as required by division 8 and
shall also contain a continuous curvilinear row of evergreen shrubs not less than two (2) feet
in height at installation. Buffers shall be kept free of debris and litter and shall be maintained
in a healthy condition.
(2) Along the front of the principal building, a six-foot wide area shall be maintained between
the building and the parking area or any walkway. This area shall be use for landscaping.
(3) Sod or ground cover shall be installed and maintained in a healthy condition. Only organic
mulch shall be used, and the excessive use of mulch is discouraged.
(4) Because of the harsh environment of the commercial corridors, the use of landscape
materials that are drought and heat resistant is strongly encouraged. Unhealthy or dead
landscape materials, including sod and ground covers shall be replaced within thirty (30)
days of written notification from the City to the property owner.
(5) Stormwater retention or detention facilities may be placed within required buffers, provided
that required landscape materials are provided.