Los Gatos Commercial Design Guidelines FINAL ... - City of Winters

INTRODUCTION
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Strong landscaping used to define main entry
to the shopping center
Planter boxes can be used to enhance
storefronts and add visual interest to the
streetscape
Town of Los Gatos
1.5.9 Utilize high quality building materials and
details
a) The use of exposed concrete block is strongly discouraged
in favor of wood, stucco, stone or brick, and
in the case of the LM District, metal.
b) Avoid plywood wall facings.
c) Avoid plastic or shiny metal materials and finishes.
d) Avoid rough sawn wood for exposed structural or
finished surfaces.
1.5.10 All projects shall be well landscaped
a) Landscaping should relate to existing landscape
treatments along the adjacent street fronts.
b) Smaller landscaping (e.g., planter pots, window
boxes) are used often within the Town to provide
smaller scale elements close to the pedestrian, and
should be included within commercial projects whenever
possible.
c) Landscaping should have form and substance to
define edges and paths, to provide visual focal points,
and to buffer less desirable views (e.g., less finished
facades facing public ways or residences.)
1.5.11 Maintain a high degree of transparency at all
window areas
a) Avoid dark or highly reflective glazing.
1.5.12 Utilize colors that are appropriate to the use and
the surrounding area
a) Muted tones are generally preferred with stronger
accent colors limited to smaller areas of trim.
b) Thoughtful consideration shall be given to the selection
of color hues. Consider muted tones of blues,
yellows, tans, greys and other hues rather than selecting
nondistinctive beiges and browns.
c) In most cases, a range of analogous or complementary
colors is preferred over painting all wall surfaces
with the same paint color and shade.
d) Strong building colors that are used for branding
or advertising purposes may not be approved.
e) Uses which might make a case for stronger colors
will be evaluated case-by-case based on the design and
the context of surrounding buildings and uses.
Small scale landscaping used to enhance
pedestrian areas and storefronts
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Commercial Design Guidelines