3.0 Land Use and Development - Town of Amherst

TOWN OF AMHERST BICENTENNIAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
to achieving the goals of the Vision Statement and implementing
the Aesthetic/ Community Character initiative. Clear standards
will also help to improve the predictability of the development
review and approval process, thus eliminating a source of
frustration for citizens and developers alike (Amended 2-28-11;
BCPA-10-1).
3-5 Employ design standards to enhance community
appearance and sense of place.
Design standards are effective tools to guide and shape new
development and revitalization initiatives and are important in
addressing such issues as impacts on the visual character of
public roadways and on adjacent residential areas. Design
standards should address the following considerations,
especially for revitalization projects where complementing the
surrounding context is important:
• Landscaping and lighting: The Town’s current
regulations provide specific guidance to petitioners and
approval authorities regarding the Town’s expectations
for landscaping of new developments, including the
percentage of the site that is landscaped, screening and
interior landscaping of parking areas, rear and side yard
buffers and screening, and preservation of existing trees
(coordinated with the Amherst Comprehensive Tree
Law). However, revitalization projects may require
flexible landscaping standards to account for site
constraints and provide for a more urban form of
landscaping. Project lighting should be in accordance
with an overall lighting plan and should avoid excessive
illumination and light spread beyond the project limits.
Development Considerations:
• Landscaping and lighting
• Screening of visually obtrusive
elements
• Placement of building and
parking areas
• General building design
• Scale
• Access and connectivity
• Public safety
• Signage
• Screening of visually obtrusive elements: Elements
such as outside mechanical equipment, dumpsters,
rooftop HVAC equipment, and loading and service areas
should continue to be screened from view from adjacent
streets and properties.
• Placement of building and parking areas in relation
to each other and public roads: Depending upon the
surrounding context, the location of buildings and
parking lots can have a significant impact on visual
character. The pedestrian-friendly character of traditional
commercial centers is directly related to buildings that are
pulled up to the sidewalk/street with parking located
behind or beside the buildings. In general, locating
buildings closer to the street and parking to the sides and
rear of buildings will decrease the visual impact of
automobiles and create more of a pedestrian-friendly
environment. This principle particularly applies to
traditional commercial areas in Williamsville, Eggertsville,
3-8
Town Board Adopted Plan (Amended March 2009) – Land Use and Development