Page 245 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

DRAFT 7. MeASUreMeNtS AND DeFiNitiONS

Measurement of Building Type Requirements

minimum of 50 percent transmittance factor and
a reflectance factor of not greater than 0.25.
B. Measurement. Minimum facade transparency
is measured from floor-to-floor of each story
separately, except for required minimum ground
story transparency as defined below. Refer to Figure
7.1-E. Transparency requirements shall be met with
windows or glass in doors meeting the standards
for transparency as defined in A, above. The
measurement may include the frame, mullions, and
= Percent Transparency
muntins, but shall not include trim or casing.
c. Blank Wall Segments. No rectangular area greater
than 30 percent of the story’s facade, as measured
floor to floor, shall be without transparency.
Additionally, no horizontal segment of a story’s
facade greater than 15 feet in width shall be without minimum transparency
transparency. Refer to Figure 7.1-F. required per story
midlevel of story
D. exception. When the facade of any story is located minimum transparency
2
required per story
less than 6 feet from another parallel building
facade, no minimum transparency is required for Ground story without a separate transparency requirement
that story.
e. Minimum Ground Story transparency. When
a separate minimum ground story transparency minimum 25%
is required per the building types requirements of transparency
135-1.3 through 135-1.12, the following applies: 8’ or 10’,
per building
1. Ground story transparency shall be measured type 2’
between 2 feet and either 8 or 10 feet, as Ground story with separate transparency requirement
specified per building type, from the average
grade at the base of the facade.
2. The minimum ground story transparency Figure 7.1-G. Transparency on Tall Stories
requirements supersedes the minimum
transparency required per story for the
building type. The facade design shall fulfill
that requirement in addition to a minimum of
transparency for the remainder of the ground
story.
F. Mezzanines. Mezzanines shall be treated as a
separate story and include the required upper story
transparency amounts.
G. tall Stories. Stories that are 18 feet or taller
in height shall include additional transparency
consistent with the following standards. Refer to
Figure 7.1-G. does not
one entrance
one entrance
1. Separate Ground Story Transparency Required. required per facade meet required per facade
When a separate minimum ground story segment minimum segment
required
transparency is required per the building types segment size,
requirements of 135-1.3 through 135-1.12, the no entrance
required.
facade design shall fulfill that requirement in
2 Only needed if transparency is required for facades other Figure 7.1-H. Number of Required Entrances
than public way facades.

CITY OF DES MOINES CHAPTER 135: PLANNING AND DESIGN DRAFT 135-7-5