Portsmouth

Family day homes shall be licensed and comply with all state regulations for family day homes. Once the request has been determined to comply with the requirements of this Ordinance, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the adjoining property owners of the site by registered or certified letter ... If the Zoning Administrator receives no written objection from a person so notified within thirty (30) days ... the Zoning Administrator may issue the Zoning Permit sought. Where written objection is received ... the Zoning Permit shall be denied.

Family day homes shall be licensed and comply with all state regulations for family day homes. Once the request has been determined to comply with the requirements of this Ordinance, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the adjoining property owners of the site by registered or certified letter sent to their last known address of a request for a family day home in accordance with Code of Virginia § 15.2-2292. If the Zoning Administrator receives no written objection from a person so notified within thirty (30) days of the date of sending the letter, the Zoning Administrator may issue the Zoning Permit sought. Where written objection is received from a person so notified within the thirty (30) day time period, the Zoning Permit shall be denied. If denied, the applicant may submit a Use Permit application in accordance with Sec. 40.2-533.

A private club shall impose a seven-day waiting period on membership approval. A private club shall ensure that the total number of guests present at any time shall not exceed the lesser of: the total number of members present; or the total number of guests who may be present pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority.

A private club shall not operate in the same physical space as an eating and drinking establishment, entertainment establishment, or event space/banquet hall. A private club shall impose a seven-day waiting period on membership approval. A private club shall ensure that the total number of guests present at any time shall not exceed the lesser of: The total number of members present; or The total number of guests who may be present pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The requirements for entertainment establishments set forth in subsection 40-2-217(G)(5) shall also apply to private clubs.

Community gardens may be developed without complying with the minimum lot size standard of the zoning district. Signage is limited to a single, non-illuminated, flat sign of nine square feet. Retail sales shall not be permitted, except as an approved temporary use. Plantings in community gardens shall not obstruct roadway visibility or impede the flow of traffic. Perimeter fencing, including trellises, are allowed in community gardens and are subject to the standards governing fence location, maintenance, and height and design within each respective zoning district.

Community gardens may be developed without complying with the minimum lot size standard of the zoning district. Signage is limited to a single, non-illuminated, flat sign of nine square feet. Retail sales shall not be permitted, except as an approved temporary use, as specified in Sec. 40.2-217(J) Temporary Use-Standards. Plantings in community gardens shall not obstruct roadway visibility or impede the flow of traffic. Perimeter fencing, including trellises, are allowed in community gardens and are subject to the standards governing fence location, maintenance, and height and design within each respective zoning district.

No zoning permit for any radio, television, or microwave towers shall be issued until the applicant provides evidence that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a permit for said tower or that no permit is required.

No zoning permit for any radio, television, or microwave towers shall be issued until the applicant provides evidence that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a permit for said tower or that no permit is required. Space shall be provided for at least three cellular or similar providers, unless expressly approved for less as a condition of the Use Permit. The applicant shall provide a listing of all structures within one-half a mile that are of a similar elevation along with an explanation of why a colocation on another tower is not possible.

No zoning permit for any radio, television, or microwave towers shall be issued until the applicant provides evidence that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a permit for said tower or that no permit is required. The applicant shall provide a copy of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report and documentation that the application presents no hazard to any airport, or documentation that FAA review is not required. Space shall be provided for at least three cellular or similar providers, unless expressly approved for less as a condition of the Use Permit. The applicant shall provide a listing of all structures within one-half a mile that are of a similar elevation along with an explanation of why a colocation on another tower is not possible, to the extent permitted by law.

Telecommunication antennas and co-locations of telecommunications equipment shall be considered minor utilities. ... Antennas and any accessory equipment shall be painted or colored to blend in with the structure or surrounding environment. ... Small cell facilities located on private property shall be dismantled and removed within six months of abandonment.

Telecommunication antennas and co-locations of telecommunications equipment shall be considered minor utilities. In addition to general requirements, a telecommunications antenna that is co-located on an existing tower or placed on an existing building shall comply with the following standards: Telecommunication antennas shall comply with the regulations within the Code of Virginia § 15.2-2316.4:1. Antennas and any accessory equipment shall be painted or colored to blend in with the structure or surrounding environment. Antennas, supports and utility cabinets shall be mounted or placed in a manner, which blends with the surrounding environment. The permit application shall include a statement and supporting documentation that the telecommunications antenna will not materially interfere with other pre-existing communications facilities. Reasonable screening is required where deemed appropriate by the Zoning Administrator considering the size and design of the telecommunications antenna and the historic, residential, or commercial character of the surrounding area. Co-location of Small Cell Facilities: Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, applications for the co-location of small cell facilities on existing structures located on private property, as said terms are defined in Code of Virginia §15.2-2316.4, shall be governed by all requirements set forth in Division 2 of Article XI of Ch. 32 of the City Code other than §32-317. Small cell facilities located on private property shall be dismantled and removed within six months of abandonment.

Except as permitted in Sec. 33.1 of the City Code, no building or other permit shall be issued for a proposed commercial use unless such use is located on a lot that abuts a fully improved street. For the purposes of this section, "fully improved" shall mean a street that abuts the lot and complies with all standards for streets in Sec. 33.1 of the City Code.

The internal network of streets shall connect to adjacent existing streets to better integrate the development with its context. Vehicular ingress and egress shall align with access points located across the street, whenever possible. Driveways shall be consolidated in order to reduce curb cuts, where possible.

The principal façades shall face a public street serving the development to the greatest extent possible.

Outbuildings shall frame the corner of an adjacent street intersection or entry point to the development; Outbuildings within the same development shall include a consistent level of façade articulation on façades facing public streets, a gathering space, or parking lots.

Outdoor storage, trash collection, and loading areas shall be integrated with the overall design of the building, or be screened in accordance with the standards in Sec. 40.2-304 Landscaping and Screening. The location and configuration of screening of large waste receptacles and refuse collection areas shall be depicted on development plans. Large waste receptacles and refuse collection areas and the fences or walls screening them shall maintain setbacks applicable for accessory buildings in the district where located. Large waste receptacles and refuse collection areas shall not be located within front or corner side yards. Areas intended for large waste receptacles and refuse collection shall be surfaced with concrete that meets or exceeds minimum city standards. Exterior shopping cart storage areas shall be secured to the ground.

All rooftop equipment shall be screened from all off-street views. When flat roofs are used, parapet walls with three dimensional cornice treatments shall be used to conceal roof-mounted equipment.

Except for development subject to the standards for large commercial developments, the front façade of buildings shall provide glazing for at least 40 percent of the ground floor façade area between two feet above grade to eight feet above grade towards the street that the front façade faces. On corner lots, other building façades that face a public street shall be designed with one or more of the following: Glazing for at least 40 percent of the ground floor façade area between two feet above grade to eight feet above grade; Recessed wall elements equal in area and location to the glazing requirement in (a) above and compatible with the overall architectural design and details of the building; A mural or other artistic design of a noncommercial nature and of durable materials as determined by the Zoning Administrator comparable in size to the glazing requirement in (a) above; or An alternative wall design specifically submitted and approved by Zoning Administrator or as part of a Use Permit application, that meets the design intent of this section. Where there are more than two public street frontages only the two more significant frontages in terms of traffic and exposure shall be required to meet the requirements for glazing or the above alternatives.

Pedestrian walkways shall: Connect all buildings within a multi-building development with the public sidewalk. Have a minimum width of five feet and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Be provided along the full length of building façades with an entryway or facing off-street parking areas. Site design, including entrances and parking lots, shall be coordinated with the location of existing and planned transit facilities.

In addition to the general commercial standards, all new buildings of 60,000 gross square feet in area or more shall comply with the following standards. Large commercial buildings shall have clearly defined, highly visible customer entrances featuring no less than three of the following: Canopies or porticos; Overhangs; Recesses/projections; Arcades; Raised corniced parapets over the door; Peaked roof forms; Arches; Outdoor patios; Display windows; Architectural detail such as tile work and moldings integrated into the building structure and design; or Integral planters that incorporate landscaped areas and places for sitting. Front façades of large commercial buildings shall be articulated to reduce their mass, scale, and uniform appearance. Large commercial buildings shall incorporate two or more of the following design elements on each façade visible from a street: Changes in wall plane, such as projections or recesses, having a wall offset of at least one foot depth, and located a minimum of every 40 feet. Each required offset shall have a minimum width of ten feet; Distinct changes in texture and color of wall surfaces; Variations in roof form and parapet heights; Glazing of 40 percent of at least two elevations; Vertical accents or focal points; and/or Side walls exceeding 30 feet in length shall have façade articulating elements such as columns and/or changes in plane, texture, or masonry pattern.