Chapter 4.3
Pedestrian Mobility

• ALL
• Remove Code Barriers
• Create Incentives
• Fill Regulatory Gaps

Standards for Attractive Entrances to Public Spaces

INTRODUCTION

In order to create more attractive streets and encourage pedestrian mobility, local governments should adopt an ordinance that provides entrance standards for buildings open to the public in pedestrian friendly areas. The main focus when drafting this ordinance is primary entrances to a building structure, although requirements for secondary entrances may be desirable if located near a pedestrian walkway. This ordinance can apply to all districts or certain districts within a jurisdiction, and for development and/or redevelopment projects. Local governments should set entrance requirements developers must meet when beginning a new project or redeveloping an existing structure.

Entrance requirement provisions intend to create vibrant, active, and attractive downtown street fronts and sidewalks.[1] Additionally, this type of ordinance supports safe pedestrian walkability.[2] Walkability necessitates unhindered pedestrian access to sites, structures, crosswalks, and building entrances.[3] Pedestrian amenities and furnishings such as benches or sculptures strengthen the usability of open spaces.[4] Pedestrian-scale lighting along streets also encourages walkability (for a description of adequate lighting and walkability, see Lighting for Sidewalks, Buildings, and Crosswalks brief).[5]

This type of ordinance expects entrances to complement the building’s exterior design and other exterior development requirements.[6] When drafting this regulation, local governments can choose from a variety of architectural, material, and other visual requirements for an entrance. Local governments may consider providing developers with several options that allow some flexibility in meeting the ordinance.[7] Local governments should provide regulations they believe best suit the character of their community and can provide different standards for different districts and types of development, zones, or neighborhoods. Common entrance requirements include: canopies, arches, recessed entrances, landscaping, planters, columns, pillars, material of doors (i.e. glass, wood, or appropriate material to match the building style), and other visually pleasing design aspects.

When drafting this ordinance local governments can have primary and secondary requirements. Primary requirements focus on architectural and design elements, while the secondary requirements focus on entrance ornamentation.[8] This two-tiered system allows local governments to prioritize critical design requirements and bolsters neighborhood continuity, while giving developers freedom to make their building unique and identifiable to the public.

Local governments can also enact codes to prevent undesired building structures or designs. Blank facades, service doors, and loading docks connecting to a main road may be deemed contradictory to pedestrian mobility.[9] Visible box air conditioning units, fire escapes, or an aluminum storefront on a front façade may hinder an attractive entrance.[10] Bright- or metallic-colored buildings or buildings with superfluous decorations may also be considered unattractive.[11] Chain link fences and security bars may frustrate otherwise attractive entrances.[12] Exterior neon tubing, floodlights, reflective glass, internally-illuminated awnings, or permanent attention-attracting devices may also hinder a local government’s strategy to beautify an entrance (for a description of public art use in pedestrian areas, see Public Art Requirements brief).[13]

EFFECTS

Entrance and façade ordinances help provide for more attractive streets which can help encourage pedestrian and non-automotive forms of transportation. Attractive streets create a variety of benefits for a municipality. This ordinance furthers local beautification by creating standards for visually appealing entrances. Attractive streets promote pedestrian traffic, which positively effects local economies, air quality, and the community as a whole.[14]

This ordinance can promote the local economy by encouraging people to be in a certain area more often and for longer periods of time.[15] People are more likely to visit stores and restaurants in areas people frequent on foot, which can promote local businesses and encourage new business development.[16] Consumer options alone, such as stores and restaurants, do not fully promote pedestrian mobility; instead, the options should be integrated into the street.[17] A vibrant exterior and entrance facing the street connects the building to the community. This ordinance ensures that developers will emphasize the public face of a building.[18] Entrance improvements will have the greatest impact on increased pedestrian traffic when it is drafted to require building entrances to face a street or pedestrian walkway instead of a parking lot.[19]

Additionally, this regulation promotes healthier lifestyles. The attractiveness of the street makes it more pleasurable to walk and bike.[20] Walking instead of driving can reduce the risk of several diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, glaucoma, and high blood pressure.[21] Health benefits are also derived from the decreased emissions from automobiles when people choose to walk instead of drive.[22] Less driving equates to less air pollution that has been linked to respiratory problems like asthma.[23] Lowering of emissions from driving also helps promote the overall environment and can mitigate human effects on climate change.[24]

EXAMPLES

North Palm Beach, FL

The Northlake Boulevard Overlay Zoning District in North Palm Beach sets out entrance requirements. The intent of the ordinance is to provide the district with an overall architectural style, that will assist with the revitalization and redevelopment of the area.[25] The requirements apply to all new buildings or structures in the district and to renovations, additions, or redevelopments if costs are greater than 50% of the assessed property value, or if the square footage will be increased by more than 20% of original square footage.[26] Designs proposed by developers must be compatible with the structure’s surrounding environment.[27]

North Palm Beach provides two sets of requirements: Primary Entrance Feature Design Element and Secondary Decorative Treatment. North Palm Beach also provides two tables in the code that list multiple options for both the primary and secondary element requirements.[28] From those tables, a developer must satisfy at least one of the options for each type of element. Primary elements include: (1) canopies, porte-cochere, or porticos; (2) wall recess or projection of a minimum of twelve inches in depth; (3) covered arcades, a minimum of eight feet clearance in width; (4) peaked roof forms; and (5) arches, columns, or pilasters.[29] Secondary elements include: (1) overhangs, cornices and eaves; (2) decorative moldings or trims around windows and doors; (3) covered public outdoor patio or plaza incorporated with entrance area which are not part of a tenant space; (4) special pavers, bricks, decorative concrete, or other similar pavement treatment; (5) architectural details such as tile work or moldings; (6) benches or other seating components; (7) decorative landscape planters or wing walls that incorporate; landscaped areas; and (8) structural or vegetative shading.[30] The code also allows for a deviation from the requirements if the proposed deviation is approved by the local government.[31]

To view this provision, see North Palm Beach, FL, Code of Ordinances § 45-35.3 (Art. 5 § 5-5 C) (2017).

Belfast, ME

Belfast, Maine enacted a city ordinance regarding entrance standards for nonresidential structures in a commercial district.[32] The intent of the design requirements are to “help create a vibrant, well-functioning and attractive area in which to eat, shop, obtain services, and work.”[33] Along with design requirements for new development in the district, such as presenting the building’s “best face” to the access road, the City created entrance design requirements.[34] One design requirement states the entryway should be attractive, functional, and complement the rest of the building design.[35] The City sets out general standards for all entrances to be clearly defined and highly visible.[36] The code also lists a series of design elements which developers must choose three of, including: “canopies or porticos, overhangs, recesses/projections, arcades, raised corniced parapets over the doors, peaked roof forms, arches, outdoor patios, display windows, architectural details that are integrated into the building structure and design, or integral planters or wing walls that incorporate landscaped areas and/or places for sitting.”[37]

To view this provision, see Belfast, ME, Code of Ordinances § 102-187(5) (2001).

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Monument, CO, Code of Ordinances § 17.32.040 (2012) (requiring attractive entrance facing the street, requiring at least two planters for each building entrance, recommends doors be of visual interest).

Raytown, MO, Code of Ordinances § 50-396 (2010) (encouraging site furnishings such as benches and other pedestrian amenities at commercial building entrances. Additionally, the City’s ordinance is efficiently organized with an abundance of relevant and helpful details and images concerning the specifications and requirements).

Collier County, FL, Land Development Code § 5.05.08 (current through Jun. 13, 2019) (providing different entrance design standards depending on type of development, including clearly defined, highly visible customer entrances).

Clare, Michigan, Code of Ordinances § 52-277 (1985) (providing entrances must retain original entrance if historically accurate and sets requirements for doors in the downtown district).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

How Implement Pedestrian Mobility Around Work Zones:

Seattle Dept. Of Trans., How to Plan, Document and Implement Pedestrian Mobility in and Around Wok Zones (Dec. 5, 2017) (providing helpful information around planning and implementing pedestrian mobility measures with helpful things to consider regarding state and federal laws. It is produced by the Seattle DOT making it specific to Washington law, but the intent is useful for all jurisdictions).

Pedestrian Facility Design Document:

Old Colony Planning Council, Pedestrian Facility Design (last accessed Jun. 12, 2019) (providing for general walkability design features and contains estimated costs of implementing them).