Chapter 3 Special Districts Appendix 3B Downtown Overlay District Page3 of 4

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  1. Waterfront View District
    1. Buildings should be set back about 20 feet from the sidewalk in order to enhance views and access to the waterfront.
    2. To allow adequate light and air, tall buildings (over 14 stories) should generally:
      1. Keep about 100 feet between other tall buildings within the same block.
      2. Make the upper stories of tall buildings progressively narrower.
    3. The shapes and forms of a building and its orientation to the street, to people and to nearby buildings should:
      1. Enhance existing views and vistas--or potential ones
      2. Be sensitive to any impact on the pedestrian, including overexposure to the sun, too much wind, or not enough light or air.
      3. Relate strongly to nearby buildings, particularly at the edges of the district where stepbacks and changes in building height and volume are important.
    4. Rooftops should avoid looking cluttered from any vantage point. All mechanical or utility equipment should be well-integrated into the overall design.
    5. The exterior of any construction, improvements or alterations should be designed and detailed so that it fits well into its architectural surroundings. Exteriors should be compatible with the general character of nearby buildings.
    6. Lighting--interior and exterior--is important in making buildings and the downtown in general look and feel more inviting 24 hours a day. Lighting should:
      1. Be integrated into the exterior design.
      2. Help create a greater sense of activity, security and interest to the pedestrian.
    7. In order to view the waterfront, any parking garages visible from the street should be set back 20 feet from the sidewalk, or a distance consistent with the prevailing building line, whichever is greater. The garage should:
      1. Follow all guidelines for Building Design
      2. Avoid ramped floors that are clearly visible from the street.
      3. Make sure the predominant vertical and horizontal architectural forms and patterns within the district are followed.
      4. Be sensitive to conflicts between cars and pedestrians.
      5. Have openings and entrances that are in scale with people.
      6. Provide adequate direction and information signs for motorists.
    8. Any surface lot in the district should:
      1. Make sure there is adequate perimeter landscaping that is high enough to screen but low enough to let people feel safe.
      2. Interior landscaping--should especially include shade trees.
      3. Provide adequate directions and information signs for motorists.
    9. Any open space accessible to the public should generally:
      1. Enhance pedestrian access to the waterfront, Belvedere and surrounding areas.
      2. Reinforce views of the waterfront.
      3. Create a comfortable and interesting place to rest.
      4. Let people clearly know it's there and that it's accessible.
      5. Provide plenty of seating (about one linear foot for every 30 square feet of paved open space.)
      6. Have enough lighting to create a safe nighttime environment.
      7. Use fountains or other water features.
      8. Incorporate public art.
    10. The Downtown Banner Guidelines (pursuant to Ordinance No. 99, Series 1992 and Street Banner Program Guidelines II. D, and IV. A, B, C) apply.
    11. Fences and walls should reinforce the sidewalk line while enhancing views of the waterfront.
    12. River Road and Second Street have been identified as future parkways. These streets should be tree-lined and parkway-like in appearance, with landscaping and other right-of-way improvements.
    13. For the sake of visual continuity, large shade trees should be planted in the right-of-way every 25 feet to 35 feet along the curbline in order to create a continuous canopy.
    14. A mix of ornamental and shade trees can be planted outside the right-of-way for both shade and visual variety.
    15. Landscaped areas should have lawn, evergreen ground covers, shrubs, or ornamental plantings that create a pleasant environment for pedestrians.
    16. Signs should be sensitive to the architectural character of the district, building and project. Accordingly:
      1. Integrate the sign into the design of the building or project; signs should fit, not cover.
      2. Avoid gaudy, moving or harshly illuminated signs.
    17. Advertising signs and billboards are discouraged and should:
      1. Avoid blocking views and vistas or creating a cluttered appearance.
      2. Be integrated into the design of a building or project.
    18. Public art should be available for the enjoyment and enrichment of all the people within the community. Inclusion of a meaningful allowance for the Commissioning of public art in the planning and construction of all significant building projects is encouraged.
    19. The public art planning and selection process should begin at the onset of individual projects. It should be designed, executed and/or supervised by artists or other design professionals to integrate the artwork with the overall project and aesthetically enhance the urban environment.
  2. Exempt Activities
    1. The following development activities shall be exempt from review under the Development Review Guidelines:
      1. Ordinary repairs
      2. Removal of existing signage without replacement
      3. Temporary signage or structures
      4. Emergency repairs ordered by a City Building Code enforcement official in order to protect health and safety
      5. Alterations or major structural change only to the interior of the structure
      6. Development activity which falls within the jurisdiction of the Louisville Landmarks Commission.
    2. All development activity within the overlay districts established by this chapter, except for exempt activities described in Subsection (A) of this Section shall be classified pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 158.08 of this chapter as either requiring expedited or non-expedited review under the Guidelines, as follows:
      1. The following development activities shall be subject to expedited review:
        1. Landscaping,
        2. Sidewalk/Street Paving; Lighting; Streetscape Furnishings; Banners,
        3. Signage; and,
        4. Exterior alterations which are not major structural changes.
      2. The following development activities shall be subject to non-expedited review:
        1. New construction,
        2. Major structural change, and
        3. Parking facility development or redevelopment.

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