Page 244 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

7. MeASUreMeNtS AND DeFiNitiONS DRAFT

Measurement of Building Type Requirements

F. Minimum and Maximum Height per Story. Each
story is measured with a range of permitted floor-to-
floor heights. Refer to Figure 7.1-D.
1. Measurement. All story heights shall be
measured in feet between the floor of a story
to the floor of the story above it. Minimum and
maximum floor-to-floor heights are required to
be met along facades for a minimum of 80% of
each story.
2. Primary Frontage Ground Story. Where noted = Transparency Included in Calculation (Numerator) = Percent Transparency
as a separate height range, the primary frontage = Area of Overall Measurement (Denominator)
ground story height shall extend from the
primary frontage facade into the building a
minimum of 30 feet. The remainder of the Upper Story
ground story may meet either the primary
frontage ground story heights or the height
range permitted for all stories. Upper Story
3. Single Story Buildings and Top Story
Measurement. For single story buildings and the
uppermost story of a multiple story building, the 8’ or 10’,
per building type
minimum floor-to-floor height shall be measured Ground
from the floor of the story to the ceiling. 1 Story 2’
4. Mezzanines. Mezzanines may be included within Figure 7.1-E. Measuring Minimum Facade Transparency
the floor-to-floor height of any story. Mezzanines
occupying more than 30 percent of the floor
area below and extending above the story’s
allowable floor-to-floor height shall count as an
additional story and shall meet transparency
requirements per building type.
5. Taller Spaces. Spaces exceeding the allowable
floor-to-floor heights of the building type are not
permitted on primary frontage facades. Examples of rectangular areas measured per story on a
building facade, measuring less than 30% of the story and
meeting the blank wall limitation requirement
7.1.7 MiNiMUM reQUireD trANSPAreNcY.
Per the requirements of each building type, a minimum
amount of transparency is required on all stories of Upper Story
street, courtyard, and public way facades.
A. Definition of transparency. For the purposes
of this chapter, transparency is the measurement Upper Story
of the percentage of a facade that contains highly
transparent, low reflectance glass.
1. Storefront. Where transparency is required Ground
separately for primary street ground story Story
facades, glass shall be a minimum of 60 percent
transmittance factor and a reflectance factor of Half Story
not greater than 0.25.
2. All Other Windows. Transparency for all window Maximum 15’ Maximum 15’ Maximum 15’
segments
segments
and door glass other storefront glass shall be a Figure 7.1-F. Measuring Blank Wall Limitations segments
1 Need to verify floor to floor heights of ranch style and
cottages in field

135-7-4 DRAFT AUGUST 3, 2017