A.
Design guidelines provide a basis for planning, design and evaluation
of development proposals. They are intended to assist residents, developers,
design professionals, and the Town's boards with the review and approval
of projects. While the Town's Zoning Code determines what uses are
appropriate as well as the location and density of both residential
and nonresidential development, the manner in which these uses are
designed and developed can be even more important and will have a
lasting effect on the Town's appearance, function and the quality
of life of its residents.
B.
As Fishkill grows and changes, the Town should ensure that new development
enhances, rather than detracts from the appearance of the community.
Elements of the built environment, such as architecture, signage,
lighting, parking, and the layout of development have a lasting impact
on a community's sense of place. When well designed, these elements
can enhance the visual quality and aesthetic character of the Town.
C.
When applicants are provided with clear direction about a community's
preferred designs and the type of development desired at the beginning
of the approval process, before extensive engineering and design work
has been conducted, projects are more likely to developed that have
community support. These guidelines clarify what is expected and acceptable,
thereby simplifying and speeding up the site plan approval process
for both applicants and boards. The result is high quality design
that creates enduring value, builds civic pride and enhances and builds
on Fishkill's heritage.
D.
Where specific standards exist within other chapters of the Fishkill
Code, such specific standards shall take precedence over design guidelines.
E.
The Dutchess County Greenway Guides shall be considered in all discussion
related to design.
A.
All facades of a building, other than the front facade, that have
a secondary or primary entrance usable by patrons or the public, or
that will be seen from any public right-of-way, shall have design
details which continue elements visible on the front facade of the
building.
B.
In keeping with the desired pedestrian scale, developments with facades
over 50 feet in horizontal length should be designed to visually reduce
the scale and mass of the building by architecturally dividing and/or
providing projecting or recessing architectural features to the facade
to break up the flat plane of the building.
C.
Multistory buildings should be designed to extend the horizontal
alignment of key architectural details such as window openings, caps,
cornices and entablatures with neighboring buildings.
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D.
The front facade of a building should be set back similar distances
from the street as neighboring structures, unless greater setbacks
are being proposed to create a public square or open space and increase
the amount of linear commercial frontage along the street.
E.
Buildings shall be designed to have a clear base, middle and top,
with horizontal elements separating each.
 Clear Expression of Building Elements
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F.
Coordination of the height of new buildings or substantial reconstruction
projects with the actual and apparent height of adjacent structures
is encouraged, especially where buildings will adjoin or be close
to each other. Coordination of building height can often be achieved
by adjusting the height of a wall, cornice or parapet line to match
that of the adjacent building. Similar design linkages can be achieved
to adjust apparent height by placing window lines, belt courses, and
other horizontal elements in a pattern that reflect the same elements
on neighboring buildings.
 Contextual Building Design
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All rooftop utilities or other equipment should be concealed
from view of pedestrians, car traffic and existing residential units
which may be located at higher elevations on adjacent lots. Mansard
or gabled roofs are generally preferred for detached structures. Flat
roofs should have a parapet cap and cornice appropriate to the architectural
style of the building. More ornamental architectural details such
as dentils, corbels and an ornamental frieze are encouraged and may
exceed the maximum height requirement.
If feasible, all original windows shall be maintained and remain
uncovered; this should include transoms often found above doorways
in many buildings. Replacement windows shall have similar features
as the originals and shall be appropriate to the architectural style
of the building. Maintaining architectural style may also include
retention of decorative features surrounding windows such as sills,
lintels, shutters or other elements. Windows that are different sizes
from the original and require facade modification are discouraged.
A.
The use of traditional building materials such as stone, brick or
wood for facade treatments (and/or environmentally-friendly "green"
building materials that closely resemble traditional materials) are
preferred. Prefabricated aggregate stone shall not be permitted.
B.
Stucco shall be used where it is traditional to the architectural
style proposed. For example, stucco is appropriate to Tudor and Spanish
Revival styles among others, but not appropriate to Greek Revival
and Victorian styles, among others.
C.
Wrought iron, copper or other metalwork can be used in detailing
for items such as railings, balconies or other architectural details
but shall not be used for visible doors or siding.
D.
A combination of materials may be used, but the entire building should
be of the same architectural style.
E.
Plain concrete blocks shall not be visible on any outer facade of
a building. Decorative concrete block is permitted.
F.
Bright or neon colors and black shall be avoided.
G.
Fabric awnings are permitted with steel supports over windows or
storefronts. Colors and lettering on all awnings shall be uniform.
A.
To prevent glare, protect the night sky, reduce energy waste, and
enhance the Town's nighttime character, lighting standards based on
recommendations of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
(IES) and International Dark Sky Association shall be utilized:
B.
Full shielding of lighting that eliminates glare, especially off-site,
with no light above the horizontal level into the night sky should
be provided wherever possible.
C.
Mercury vapor and low pressure sodium fixtures, as well as laser
lighting or searchlights for advertising purposes should be avoided.
D.
Encourage lighting that accents distinctive architectural features,
but discourage "uplighting" or illuminated banding that is primarily
for advertising purposes.
E.
High pressure sodium or LED lighting is most efficient for highway
lighting; metal halide is preferred for commercial and pedestrian
areas to give better color quality; incandescent bulbs can be used
for low wattage (under 150) accent/specialty lights.
F.
Main street and pedestrian area lighting shall be designed to not
exceed 15 feet in height; parking lot lights shall not exceed 20 feet.
Lighting fixtures should be spaced at approximately four times the
height of the fixture.
G.
Outdoor signs shall be lighted from the top. Where internally lit
signs are permitted, dark backgrounds and light lettering produce
less glare and are easier to read.
H.
Exceptions will be considered for stadium lighting and other specialty
activities, short-term events, and tree lighting or other decorative
bulbs under 75 watts. Lighting levels shall comply with the recommendations
of the IES for playing fields.
I.
Lighting should be provided around all building entrances, walkways
and any outdoor seating or dining area. Light fixtures should match
the architectural style of the building.
 Stadium lighting solutions
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J.
Fully shielded fixtures, such as the "light-structure green" stadium
fixtures shown above, minimize light spillage on adjacent properties.
Since they are more energy efficient, they are also less expensive
to operate.
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POOR LIGHTING EXAMPLES
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GOOD LIGHTING EXAMPLES
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A.
Parking can complement the building and street if it does not visually
dominate the site. Adequate but not excessive off-street parking shall
be provided for new development.
B.
Parking lots shall be screened from roads and adjacent residential
uses. Planting of trees, shrubs and generous landscaping within and
surrounding parking lots shall be required.
C.
Continuous landscaping treatment along any frontage with street trees
and low plantings and denser evergreens or fencing along residential
neighbors is encouraged.
D.
Parking lots should be designed to enhance the appearance of the
community. Applicants who wish to exceed maximum parking requirements
shall balance the increase with enhanced landscaping, screening and
innovative design.
E.
To the extent possible, parking lots shall be located behind, to
the side or underneath buildings and featuring quality landscaping
along the frontage.
F.
The emphasis in parking lot design should be on dispersion on a site
to reduce impacts.
G.
The construction of parking groves and parking courts, with a significant
number of shade trees and surrounded by low hedges, stone walls or
attractive fencing is encouraged:
H.
The use of bricks, pavers, or textured surfaces for crosswalks and
stalls, with grass block overflow areas is encouraged to breakup blacktop
areas and reduce stormwater runoff.
I.
New curb cuts are discouraged and should not be permitted unless
necessary.
J.
Where a drive crosses over a sidewalk or other pedestrian thoroughfare,
the pavement shall have a crosswalk with a distinct surface treatment
such as pavers or Belgian Block or shall be stamped and painted to
look the same and drop curbs shall be installed.
K.
The creation of shared parking between adjacent uses is strongly
encouraged. Access drives shall be located at the edge of properties
so they can be easily shared with an adjacent use if feasible.
L.
View of dumpsters, utility and other equipment from the street shall
be minimized to the extent possible and shall be landscaped or otherwise
enclosed.
 Screening with Architectural Walls & Trellis
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 Screening with Hedges & Trees
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 Preferred Parking Configurations
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 On-Street Parking through Streetscape and Access Management
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 Inefficient Parking and Access Conditions
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A.
All requirements of other chapters of the Fishkill Code shall be
met, and, where competing standards exist, the requirements of such
other chapters shall take precedence over any design guidelines contained
herein.
B.
Pole signs, pylon signs and all other detached permanent signs are
discouraged.
C.
Nonilluminated movable signs, such as sandwich boards which are less
than four feet in height and constructed mainly of wood, may be displayed
within a front setback.
D.
Canopy signs and hanging signboards are generally preferred. Window
signage should not exceed 15% of the total front-facade window area.
Hanging signs should be mounted perpendicular to the building facade
and may extend above the public sidewalk.
A.
Internal light poles should be uniform in appearance.
B.
Light poles shall be spaced no further than 80 feet on center.
C.
Light poles shall be 12 to 18 feet in height.
D.
Fixtures should be cutoff-type and cast a minimal amount of light
upwards. Full cutoff fixtures are preferred but not required; the
lighting plan should be designed to avoid casting significant light
into upper-story windows.
E.
Low-wattage lamps are preferable to high-output lights, and no lamp
should exceed 250 watts.
F.
All multistructure sites will provide trash receptacles on at least
one corner where a sidewalk crosses an internal drive. At least one
trash receptacle shall be located for every 300 feet of continuous
internal sidewalk. A trash receptacle shall be placed adjacent to
any sitting area or bench or near the entrance of any restaurant (take-out
or dine-in) which may be located in an internal shopping plaza.
G.
All multistructure sites will provide benches which may be spread
throughout the site or together in a sitting area. Benches can be
wood, metal or another material made to look like wood or metal. Benches
should incorporate design elements to discourage abuse by skateboarders,
including seating surfaces comprised of slats running perpendicular
with the long axis of the seating area or multiple arm rails.
H.
A long-term redesign program can gradually transform commercial strips
into mixed-use centers with each successive site plan application.
With buildings up front, attractive architecture, wall signs and sidewalks
can be featured along the street, rather than parking lots and large
signs.
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A.
Ensure that new residential subdivisions are designed as pleasant,
walkable neighborhoods.
B.
Homes designed with the garage as the prominent architectural feature,
dominating the view from the street, sometimes referred to "snout
houses" are discouraged and should be avoided whenever possible.
C.
Encourage front porches that open onto the street.
D.
Encourage the placement of garages to hide vehicles and create a
more pedestrian-friendly environment.
E.
Multifamily developments should be encouraged to be designed as row
houses with garages accessed by rear alleys, or as garden courts with
buildings.
F.
Underground utility boxes shall be screened or be located fully below
ground.
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G.
Homes should be sited around a site's natural features wherever possible.
To fit development into the landscape, buildings should be placed
on the edges of fields or woods, or on the slopes of ridges and hills.
Situating a home in a highly visible location, such as the middle
of a wooded area or the crest of a hill, intrudes on the rural landscape
and detracts from scenic views, as illustrated below:
 Hilltop Siting — Avoid
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 Hillside Siting — Preferred
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H.
In new subdivisions, discourage the conversion of indigenous plant
life on a site to manicured lawns and gardens using nonnative and/or
nonindigenous plants.
I.
As much existing vegetation as possible shall be preserved in all
new developments to create a more established look in new neighborhoods.
Stone walls, hedgerows, and other rural landscape elements shall be
preserved wherever possible.
J.
Buildings and access roads shall be placed within treelines, on mildly
sloping ground, or along the edges of fields wherever possible. Construction
in open fields or on ridgelines shall be avoided.
K.
Structures and septic systems shall be located more than 100 feet
from streams or ponds to protect water quality.
L.
Farm roads or country lanes shall be reused whenever possible, rather
than constructing new wide roads.
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