APPENDIX U A" J I [ GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HILLSIDE AND CLUSTER HOUSING SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 84 8.0 APPENDIX" A" - GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HILLSIDE AND CLUSTER HOUSING The Southwest Okanagan Mission Sector Plan, as the first step in the planning process, provides the initial opportunity to provide form, identity and focus to this area of the City. The intent is the establishment of a closely knit residential community that is neighborly and pedestrian friendly while preserving the strongly identified natural features. Of particular concern is the development of the now undeveloped South Slopes area. It is recognized that the development of the hillsides will require special consideration at the design, servicing and construction stage to ensure that the impact on the natural environment is minimized. Although each Concept Development Plan must include detaiied Design Guidelines to guide the form and character of development, some general guidelines to guide hillside and cluster housing have been prepared: • The predominant type of housing will be low density single family, with emphasis on clustering. Housing should be street level to preserve the existing character of the area. Cluster housing must be sensitive to surrounding single family development. • New development must ensure careful architectural transition between detached and attached housing types by means of scale, compatible design elements and open space. Massing and roof forms that reflect individuality of dwellings and sensitivity to the natural environment will be required. SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 85 • The pattern of development will be responsive to the varied topography, taking advantage of views and the surrounding natural landscape. • Building forms should be stepped to conform to the topography. They should be simple one and two storey structures in colours which blend into the landscape. Building and roof forms should be "broken" into compositions of smaller components to reflect the landscape. Roof forms should be pitched to follow slope and should be broken up and staggered • Excessive cantilevers and overhangs are discouraged on downhill elevations. Avoid large expanses of a wall in a single plane on downhill elevations. The building must step back on each floor to reflect the slope of the site e:.}(A Mpt..e t'F 1"U~J~­ AOA Pr\"~ ~j-ra::rur<.e. ~ IL-V'NC, F~ ~ ~ ,"~ "1"Ae !+ (u..,.SI t?e. • Building materials must blend in with the color and texture of the natural vegetation and ground form • Changes to the existing terrain should be kept to a minimum. This includes minimizing areas of grading and avoiding unstable slopes. Lot design should incorporate slopes rather than "create" large, flat lots, particularly in steeper areas. SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 86 • Hillside development must preserve or protect unique or special natural features of the site, such as land forms, rock outcroppings, mature trees and vegetation" drainage courses, hilltops and ridge lines • To protect the scenic and aesthetic value of highly visible ridges, hills and knolls, building sites should be selected so that construction occurs below the ridge. .~ ~1IX;tUNe.. -_ ........... - .. , . , .' • Planting and landscaping materials should reflect the Okanagan landscape. Removal of natural vegetation must be minimized. Mature vegetation or trees must be preserved or incorporated into the design of the project. Site design should demonstrate that a diligent effort has been made to preserve both the natural vegetation and tree cover. The "no net loss" principle is to apply. This will be addressed more completely at the Concept Development Plan stage and may involve the registration of "No Disturb Covenants" or Council adoption of Tree Cutting Bylaws. • Planted yard areas and common areas should be properly planted prior to development to enable plants to grow and mature over time. • Indigenous plants must be maintained within setbacks and property lines. Where land is disturbed, it is to be replanted with plant material indigenous to the area. An extensive use of non-indigenous grasses which require large amounts of water is discouraged. In SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 87 general, developments must incorporate xeri-scaping principles into development of landscape programs. • Low-flow or drip irrigation systems which minimize the use of water will be required. Impervious paving surfaces should be minimized for improved water conservation (i.e. paver blocks, brick on sand, turf blocks, etc.). • Complete lot clearing to enable the creation of "view lots" will discouraged and controlled through the Concept Development Plan stage. CirculationlAccess Principles • Roadway/Access patterns should follow topography. Street layout should be aligned to conform to the topography whenever possible. Long stretches of straight road should be avoided. This can be achieved in a variety of ways including the introduction of gentle horizontal and vertical curves. SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 88 • The City must show flexibility with roadway standards where it can be justified (i.e. use of lanes or private access easements) and where it will result in the preservation of the hillside. Where road right-of-way widths are reduced, additional off-street parking may be required on each lot or cluster site. • Private access roads may reduce grading requirements and eliminate civic maintenance responsibilities • Side access garages are encouraged so that the street facing elevations of houses are not dbminated by garages. Platform garages may be necessary if slope is too severe. SlOE- Acct:$S CtA AACte6 r.<e.(7~ ~ s('re. 'OISii.H<SAr-Jc.e:. • Single loaded roadways, split roadways and lanes may be utilized for access purposes where appropriate and where construction of a roadway would result in further site disturbance. • Cyclist/Pedestrian Systems should utilize existing natural corridors and should be of manageable grade. Special attention should be made to the provision of barrier free access to cyclist/pedestrian systems in both the public (linear parks, public parks, etc.) and private realm, in order to provide equal opportunities to special needs users. SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 89 • Driveways which serve more than one site are encouraged to reduce unnecessary grading, paving and site disturbance. Driveways should be aligned with the natural contours of the site and finished grades should be consistent with the finished grade of the site. SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 90 Hillside Grading and Drainage Principles • Utilize natural drainage ways where possible • Man-made storm drainage systems should be designed to create a natural rather than manufactured appearance • Utilize surface drainage systems as amenity/open space corridors • Use storm water detention ponds which recharge ground water and irrigate landscape amenities • Create opportunities for wildlife habitats in surface drainage areas • Avoid flattening of terrain to create building sites: respect existing topography • Avoid sharp cuts and fills and long linear slopes of uniform grade • Proposals should include erosion control measures: during and after construction SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 91 • Terracing should be done in small steps; avoid wide step terracing. Retaining walls must be of minimum height and must be surfaced with natural materials Subdivision and/or Lot Layout Principles • Alternative lot configurations (panhandle, substandard frontage, etc.) can be utilized to encourage terracing of buildings and minimize cut and fill roadways .. " . '" ... \ '. .... ', .. .. ". '\ ' to ' : ',". • ~'- ..: ,',-- ' ...... .. .'~».~: ... :::.: • Building envelopes must be established on all lots • Lot size and shape will vary in relation to topography • Driveway viability may dictate increased lot sizes SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 92 • Driveway configurations must respect contours and should connect to roadways at an angle between 70 and 90 degrees Visual Impact Mitigation • Design techniques which minimize grading impacts and protection of sensitive areas and natural drainage features on highly visible slopes shall be used • New development shall be adequately buffered from adjacent development and properties by tree preservation and increased setbacks • Development shall be limited within 30m of all ridge lines • Design of buildings and sites should be sensitive to the natural terrain of existing knolls • Roads and streets should be designed, constructed and landscaped to minimize views from the valley floor, roads and adjacent properties • Large retaining wall and structures visible from off-site require special treatment • Building heights should be limited to the height of existing tree cover and shall maintain vegetative backdrop visible from off-site • All new residential development will be located to minimize interference with views of neighbouring properties • At the time of preparation of Concept Development Plan, the landowner must also prepare an Environmental Impact Review of the proposal. A key component of this review is the completion of a Visual Impact Analysis. which will be required for all hillside developments. SOUTH WEST MISSION SECTOR PLAN 93 Cluster Housing Design and Application Principles The general intent of cluster housing is that residential units are concentrated on a smaller portion of the overall building site so that the remainder of the site can be preserved as unbuilt open space for conservation or recreation/amenity space. The net density of the cluster