Page 176 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

135-2. DeSiGN reQUireMeNtS DRAFT

Building Facade Elements

A. encroachment. Awnings, canopies, and light c. integrated Design. A minimum of 35 percent of
shelves shall not extend into a city right-of-way or the perimeter of each balcony shall abut an exterior
easement except as otherwise approved by the city wall of the building, partially enclosing the balcony.
engineer or city council. The balcony support structure shall be integrated
B. Attached Awnings & canopies. Awnings and with the building facade; separate columns or
canopies that are attached to the building and could posts supporting any balcony from the ground are
be removed shall meet the following standards: prohibited.
1. Material. All awnings and canopies shall be D. Platform. The balcony platform shall be at least 3
canvas or metal. Plastic awnings are prohibited. inches thick and any underside of a balcony that is
Other materials may be approved with a type 1 visible from any public way shall be finished.
exception. e. Facade coverage. A maximum of 40 percent of the
2. Solar Panels. Solar awnings or canopies are public way frontage facades, calculated separately
allowed. for each facade, may be covered by balconies. The
balcony area is calculated by drawing a rectangle
3. Shapes. Waterfall or convex, dome, and around the platform or floor of the balcony, any
elongated dome awnings are prohibited. columns or indentations, and any ceiling, roof, or
4. Lighting. Backlit awnings are prohibited. upper balcony.
5. Structures. Frames shall be metal and shall be F. railing Design. Tops of railings shall not have a flat
wall mounted. Support poles from the ground surface.
are prohibited unless over 8 feet in depth and G. Build-to Zone requirement. The portion of
utilized for outdoor eating areas or entrances. the facade occupied by an upper story balcony
6. Multiple Awnings on the Facade. When more is exempt from meeting the build-to zone
than one awning is mounted on a facade, the requirement.
awning types and colors shall be coordinated.
c. canopies & light Shelves. Permanent canopies,
projections, or overhangs used as architectural
features, light shelves, or shading devices are
permitted.
D. clearance. All portions of any awning, canopy, or
light shelf shall provide at least 8 feet of clearance
over any walkway and 15 feet of clearance over
vehicular areas. .

2.3.4 BAlcONieS
The installation or construction of balconies on
street and public way facades is encouraged, but not
required. The construction of any balcony on a facade
facing any street or public way shall be consistent with
the requirements of this subsection on all buildings
except House building types. See Figure 2.3-F.
A. Definition. For the purpose of this subsection, NOT
balconies shall include any roofed or un-roofed
platform that projects from the wall of a building PERMITTED
above grade and is enclosed only by a parapet Balconies: Covers More Balconies Appropriately
or railing. This definition does not include false than 40 Percent of Attached to or
balconies, sometimes referred to as Juliet balconies Facade Incorporated into Facade.
or balconettes, consisting of a rail and door, and any
outdoor platform less than 18 inches in depth.
B. Size. Balconies shall be a minimum of 4 feet deep
and 5 feet wide. Figure 2.3-F. Examples of Balconies

135-2-6 DRAFT AuGuST 3, 2017