The purpose of the Commercial Design District (CDD) is to establish an overlay zone that identifies the district and provides regulations and design guidelines that will serve to encourage the economic development and fiscal health of the community. The intent of the CDD is to help guide development within the district in ways that will:
(a) 
Provide flexible development opportunities and increased responsiveness towards economic trends for land having high visibility and access to the major interchange of Interstate 84 at Exit 10.
(b) 
Empower the Commission with a measure of control over the type and quality of development while encouraging mixed industrial, commercial, and business uses.
(c) 
Ensure that such development is accomplished with minimal negative impact to neighboring areas and critical natural resources.
To help accomplish the above purpose and intent, the CDD is hereby recognized as a designated design district adopted by the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission so that development within the district will be reviewed by the Design Advisory Board as provided pursuant to Newtown Town Ordinances. Applications for development within the CDD design district will only be accepted for the areas abutting: I-84 and Route 6/Church Hill Road (Exit 10) commencing at Interstate 84 and terminating 1,200 feet South of the eastbound ramps (Conners Road), as depicted on the map entitled "Newtown, Connecticut Zoning Map" dated July 1, 1969, as amended.
All principal and accessory uses allowed in the underlying zones are permitted provided that a site development plan or special exception approval has been granted, if required.
The following principal uses are permitted as principal uses within the CDD subject to the granting of a special exception by the Commission in accordance with the standards, criteria, conditions and procedures which are set forth in Article XI of these regulations.
(a) 
Restaurants.
(b) 
Restaurants with outside service and drive-through facilities but excluding outside entertainment
(c) 
Financial institutions.
(d) 
Financial Institutions with drive-through facilities.
2.03.510 
Except for a single-family dwelling and uses and structures accessory thereto, new construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of buildings or signs located within the CDD that are in view from public roadways shall obtain a report and recommendation from the Design Advisory Board.
2.03.520 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with the Design Advisory Board prior to submitting a formal application to the Staff or Commission as applicable.
2.03.530 
The Commission may seek the recommendations of any town or regional agency or outside specialist with which it wishes to consult.
2.03.540 
Any reports or recommendations from such agencies or organizations shall be entered into the public hearing record and considered by the Commission in making its decision.
2.03.610 
To help accomplish the purposes of this section, the exterior of structures shall, to the extent reasonable and practicable, be designed to be consistent with the intent to maintain and enhance the character of the Town while promoting the economic development of the designated interchange areas.
2.03.620 
To help accomplish the purposes of this section following criteria all development in the district shall be designed to achieve the following compatibility objectives:
(a) 
The building and layout of buildings and included site improvements shall reinforce existing buildings and streetscape patterns and the placement of buildings and included site improvements shall ensure there is no adverse impact on the district;
(b) 
Proposed streets shall be connected to the existing district road network, wherever possible;
(c) 
Open spaces within the proposed development shall reinforce open space patterns of the district, in form and siting;
(d) 
Locally significant features of the site such as distinctive buildings, historic buildings, historic factors or sight lines of vistas from within the district, shall be integrated into the site design;
(e) 
The landscape design shall complement the district's landscape patterns;
(f) 
The exterior signs, site lighting and accessory structures shall support a uniform architectural theme if such a theme exists and be compatible with their surroundings; and
(g) 
The scale, proportions, massing and detailing of any proposed building shall be in proportion to the scale, proportion, massing and detailing in the district.
(h) 
Any new construction upon a site shall respect the height, bulk, scale and style of architecture that exists and materials used shall be of a similar color, scale, texture and style as that which exists.
(i) 
Site elements of noteworthy or historical value such as stone walls, outstanding vegetation and other similar site features shall be protected from damage, removal or significant alteration.
(j) 
Site improvements shall be so designed in space allocation, orientation, texture, materials, landscaping and other features to produce an environment of stable and desirable character, complementing the design and values of the surrounding neighborhood. Plantings and other site elements (such as lighting, paving, site furnishings, signage and parking) shall be located and designed to enhance the Town character of the existing structure(s) and surrounding property.
2.03.710 
Drive-through windows. The supplemental standards in this section are intended to supplement the standards in the underlying district for uses proposed to include drive-through windows.
(a) 
Drive-through lanes shall include a designated bypass lane which shall be designed to prevent circulation congestion both on site and on adjacent streets. The design of these lanes shall be not enter or exit directly into a public street and shall be integrated with the internal site circulation patterns.
(b) 
Drive-through lanes shall be designed to minimize their crossing of pedestrian walkways and shall not obstruct access to or otherwise impede pedestrian access. Where pedestrian walkways cannot be avoided crossing drive-through lanes, the pedestrian walkways shall be clearly visible and delineated.
(c) 
Drive-through lanes shall be designed with the following minimum standards:
•
Interior radius at curves: 10 feet
•
Aisle width: 11 feet
•
Distance from lane entrance to access driveway intersection: 50 feet
(d) 
Drive-through lanes shall be constructed with the necessary vehicle queuing capacity so that vehicles do not overflow into parking aisles or public street rights-of-way and shall be located to the rear of the building.
(e) 
Drive-through lanes shall provide a minimum of 8.0 queuing or stacking spaces with a minimum of 4.0 spaces before the ordering speaker. Each queuing or stacking space is defined to be a minimum of 20 feet in length and 10 feet in width.
(f) 
Exterior service windows and menu boards shall be a minimum of 50 feet from any residential district.
(g) 
Drive-through lanes shall be designed in a manner that minimizes impacts on adjacent properties from noise, exhaust fumes and headlights from idling vehicles as they queue for drive-through services.
(h) 
Any audible devices, including speakers, intercom systems, or other means of communication, shall not play continuous audio or video.
(i) 
Menu boards shall be fixed and shall not incorporate any internally illuminated lighting or any flashing, rotating or otherwise moving lights, displays or messages. Lighting of menu boards and service windows shall not include neon or unshielded light sources.
(j) 
Any vehicular traffic that will visit a restaurant with a drive-through facility must access the site via an intersection controlled by a traffic signal.
(k) 
Restaurants with drive-through shall be limited to lots with a minimum acreage of two acres, and shall be restricted to one drive-through facility per lot.
(l) 
The maximum size of a restaurant with a drive-through shall be limited to 2,500 square feet.