5.7.D Site Design | Sedona Land Development Code

D. Site Design

Site design standards address a development’s relationship to its surrounding natural features and development patterns. They also address the relationship between key elements within the site. Site design standards should be considered at the outset, and throughout, the design process. These standards are intended to:

a. Ensure development relates to the physical characteristics of the site;

b. Ensure building scale, orientation, and design relates to the surrounding uses and streets, and creates a cohesive visual identity and an attractive street scene;

c. Ensure site design for efficient pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicular circulation patterns, and create a high-quality pedestrian environment;

d. Promote design environments built to human scale;

e. Ensure delivery, trash, and loading facilities are located so as not to impede regular vehicular and pedestrian circulation and access routes; and

f. Ensure safe and efficient access between buildings and parking areas.

Site design shall respond to the following standards:

1. Building envelopes and areas of disturbance shall be selected on the basis of natural landforms, native vegetation and native mature trees, underlying geology, floodways and floodplains, drainage ways, and required setbacks.

2. Structures and access shall be designed and located to fit into the topographic contours of the site, minimize disturbance of sensitive areas, and preserve geologic and natural vegetative features. Natural vegetation, significant rock outcroppings, and existing landforms shall be retained to the maximum extent practicable. Flexibility and creativity are encouraged in designing development around existing features.

3. Site design shall maximize the use of disturbed land for roads, parking areas, or structures in order to preserve natural, undisturbed areas.

Where retaining walls are required, they should be faced with natural rock and/or constructed to blend with adjacent surroundings. If retaining walls are constructed of block and/or finished with stucco, they shall comply with the color requirements of Section 5.7.F(5). The use of dry stack rock walls, where structurally appropriate, is strongly encouraged.

Trees and vegetation shall be maintained to provide slope stability and prevent visual scarring wherever possible. Revegetation with native plant materials is encouraged following development. A revegetation landscape plan is required for disturbed site areas.

The following standards implement the Schnebly CFA plan; see pages 13–14.

1. The Oak Creek floodway and riparian habitat shall be permanently protected in its natural state to preserve riparian habitat, maintain storm water functions, minimize flood damage, and serve as an historical focal point of Sedona and character-defining feature of the area.

2. Permanent structures shall be located outside the Oak Creek floodway, with only minor improvements allowed within the floodway such as trails, recreation amenities, or temporary structures other than tents or tent-like structures.

Open space shall be a defining feature of the area, protected for its natural resources, wildlife habitat, riparian and scenic values, and rural character, subject to the following standards:

1. Development shall be clustered to preserve open space, which shall comprise at least 25 percent of the site, and may include hillsides, floodplains, and other features, but shall not include paved areas.

2. Open space shall be uninterrupted and contiguous with open space and natural areas on adjacent properties.

3. Drainages flowing into Oak Creek shall be retained unaltered as linear corridors of natural open space.

4. Hillsides that are identified in the Schnebly CFA Plan as visible from Uptown and Highway 89 shall be preserved as open space to retain scenic views and to minimize erosion.

5. Uses within open space areas may include:

i. Park, greenway, trails, and other recreation amenities.

ii. Orchards, gardens, and other agricultural uses.

All proposed development shall be designed to protect the public from the potential hazards of drainage, debris flow, fire, and erosion. Projects shall be designed with existing features in order to minimize disturbance to, and therefore mitigation of, land surfaces and hillsides.

a. Development shall respect local development patterns and site features to the maximum extent practicable when such development patterns contribute to a unified visual appearance. Site designs shall respond to local contextual influences and to the design and layout of adjoining developments.

b. Elements that shall be coordinated between adjacent sites to the maximum extent practicable include:

1. Shared driveways for accessing adjoining streets;

2. Linkages of internal vehicular circulation systems;

3. Linkages of interior pedestrian systems;

4. Linkages/continuation of open space systems;

5. Perimeter open space and landscape buffer zones;

6. Areas and access for refuse collection;

7. Drainage and detention facilities; and

8. Linkages of any other networks and/or functional areas where a coordinated site design approach will benefit the cohesiveness of a larger area, such as shared utility easements.

a. All water, sewer, telephone, cable television, electric lines (12 KV or less), and other utilities shall be underground unless an administrative determination is made that physical barriers render undergrounding utilities infeasible. Transformers, pedestals, fire hydrants, and other appurtenances normally associated with “underground” utility installations are permitted on the surface of the ground.

b. Temporary emergency facilities may be erected and maintained above the surface of the ground for a period of four months. Other temporary aboveground utilities expected to be utilized for a longer period of time may be erected and maintained only after obtaining a temporary use permit for the use being served in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.4.D.

c. Wherever possible, underground utilities shall be located within or immediately adjacent to the disturbed areas of a lot or parcel (such as driveways and roadways). In any event, all areas disturbed by the installation of the underground utilities shall be revegetated and/or landscaped. [Ord. 2020-07 § 1, 11-10-20 (Res. 2020-24); Res. 2019-19 Exh. A, 10-8-19].