Page 148 - Michigan City, IN US Highway 421 Corridor Plan

5.3 Design Guidelines

5.3.3 FRONTAGE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES Storefront
A building’s frontage is the interface between the public A. Frontage Intent Statement
realm and private development. This Plan recognizes that the Storefront frontages provide direct access to ground floor spaces
successful design of this interface significantly contributes to the that are located adjacent to the sidewalk. Storefronts frontages
realization of an active and engaging urban environment. can accommodate retail, commercial and dining uses. Storefront
Buildings within the Plan area have ground-floor frontages that frontages may also provide for outdoor seating or outdoor display
are human-scaled, provide visual interest, and access to ground- areas.
floor uses. This section provides a palette of prototypical frontage
types that are permitted. Standards include dimensional criteria, B. Entries
criteria for openings, as well as criteria for the ground plane Entries should be set at the adjacent sidewalk or within an
immediately adjacent to the frontage, such as minimum glazing. alcove that is adjacent to a sidewalk.

C. Dimensions
Explanation of Standards
Storefronts shall be between 12 to 25 feet high, measured from
A. Frontage Intent Statement the finished floor to the bottom of ceiling of the storefront space.

The intent statement describes the building-to street relationship Storefront spaces shall be set no more than twelve inches above
that each frontage type is meant to achieve. the adjacent sidewalk at the primary entrance. Storefront Section
Storefront frontages provide direct access to ground floor spaces that are
B. Entries D. Paving and Landscaping located adjacent to the sidewalk.
These standards address entries at the block fronts, not those The area between the property line and the building face shall
that are internal to the site. be paved.

C. Dimensions E. Furnishing Zone
Specific dimensions of features like massing, entry height, Where permitted, outdoor seating may be provided in front
openings, and setbacks are delineated here. setbacks. Product displays (e.g. flowers, food, merchandise
displays) are encouraged near storefront entries.
D. Paving and Landscaping
F. Additional Standards and Guidelines
This standard addresses the area between the property line and
building face. At least 35-45% percent of the storefront façade area at the
ground floor shall be glazed. Glazing shall be transparent
E. Furnishing Zone and clear. Opaque, highly reflective, and dark, tinting are not
permitted.
This standard addresses furnishing within front setbacks.
G. Storefront Guidelines
F. Additional Standards and Guidelines
The maximum length of blank walls facing the street is limited to
These standards and guidelines provide additional direction
in shaping the appropriate building-to-street relationship. They 15 horizontal feet for any one stretch.
address glazing at the ground floor, frontages, and entries.

G. Storefront Guidelines
This standard addresses the design of building frontages, such
as maximum length of a blank wall.

Storefront Illustrative Photo
Storefronts frontages can accommodate retail, commercial and dining uses.

5-29

Adopted: August 16, 2016 Implementation 5.0