Downtown Form-Based Code

DFD 505. Squares and Civic Greens

1. A.
   Intent

   1. 1.
      These standards apply to those spaces that are either publicly owned or publicly accessible, as designated on the Regulating Plan.
   2. 2.
      Squares, Civic Greens and plazas should be situated at prominent locations and should be dedicated to important events or citizens. The green plants and trees of Squares and Civic Greens provide a landscape and civic architecture that complement the surrounding private building architecture.
   3. 3.
      Squares are active pedestrian centers. Civic Greens are spaces intended for less intensive foot traffic. Surface treatment is regulated accordingly.
   4. 4.
      Pervious paving materials (to allow oxygen for tree roots and absorb stormwater run-off) are encouraged in both Squares and civic Greens, and the percentage of impervious paving material is limited. (see Section 505.C. Materials and Configurations)
2. B.
   Standards
   Squares and Civic Greens must be designed, planted and maintained according to the following requirements:

   1. 1.
      Squares and Civic Greens shall have at least 60% of their perimeter fronting public rights-of-way. Both shall be surrounded by Street Trees. Their dimensions shall be no narrower than a 1:5 ratio and no Square or Civic Green width or breadth dimension shall be less than 25 feet.
   2. 2.
      Appropriate to their high (pedestrian) traffic level Squares must be designed with a higher percentage of paved surface area. (see Section 505.C.2 Squares below)
   3. 3.
      A clear view through the Square or Civic Green (from 2 to 7 feet in height) is required, both for safety and urban design purposes.
   4. 4.
      Squares and Civic Greens shall not include active recreation structures such as ball fields and courts.
3. C.
   Materials and Configurations

   1. 1.
      General

      1. a.
         Street Trees shall be planted along the alignment shown in the street type specification, and in accordance with Section DFD 504, B. Street Trees. They may (generally will) be of a different species than the connecting streets.
      2. b.
         The ground surface level elevation shall be between 0 and 18 inches above the top of the adjacent curb.
      3. c.
         The maximum slope across any Square or Civic Green shall not exceed 10%.
      4. d.
         Except for tree trunks, streetlights, Civic Use Buildings, public art or monuments, there shall be a clear view between two and seven feet above grade. The foliage of newly planted trees may intrude into this area until the tree has sufficient growth to allow such a clear trunk height.
      5. e.
         Trees within a Square or Civic Green may also be selected from the public space tree lists (see Section DFD 507. Tree Lists).
      6. f.
         Asphalt is prohibited within a Square or Civic Green tract.
   2. 2.
      Squares

      Appropriate to their high (pedestrian) traffic level, Squares shall incorporate a higher percentage of paved surface area. Surface treatment and materials (within the back-of-curb to back-of-curb area, excluding any Civic Use Building, public art or monument footprint) shall be between 20% and 35% unpaved pervious surface (turf, groundcover, gravel, soil or mulch).

   3. 3.
      Civic Greens
      

      Appropriate to their less intensive character, Civic Greens shall be designed with a lower percentage of paved surface area. Surface treatment and materials (within the area back-of-curb to back-of-curb area excluding any Civic Use Building, public art or monument footprint) shall be a minimum 50% unpaved pervious surface area (such as turf, groundcover, gravel, soil or mulch).

   4. 4.
      Pedestrian Pathway

      The area within a Pedestrian Pathway shall be a public access easement or public right-of-way. The easement width for these pathways must not be less than 20 feet with a paved walkway not less than 10 feet wide providing an unobstructed view straight through its entire length, except where otherwise specified on the Regulating Plan.

Effective on: 1/1/1901