Existing regulations already in Chapter 23 of the City's Code of Ordinances - Article XX re: Vacant Storefronts

C. The design guidelines for major thoroughfares shall include the following storefront window treatment guidelines:

Storefront window treatment guidelines:

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning;

Vacant or under construction means properties not open to the public, or to clientele of any sort, and buildings not being used for the display or merchandising of any product and/or otherwise furnished.
Operational means having active business hours and holding an active occupational license for that building.

In the CAC zoning district: All windows or openings of buildings located within the central area commercial zoning districts of the town, whereby the interiors of such buildings can be observed form the public streets or sidewalks of the town shall be treated or screened in the manner set forth below.

Specifications: All windows or openings of vacant buildings or buildings under construction located within the commercial zoning district of the town, which windows or openings can be viewed from the public streets and sidewalks of the town and which expose the interiors of such buildings, shall screen the vacant interior of the building in which they are located. This may be achieved by either constructing within the window or opening a pocket, equivalent in dimension to the dimension of the window or opening itself, and forty (40) inches or more in depth, or hanging curtains or utilizing interior shutters. The pocket shall be used for purposes of screening the interior of the building, and to provide an attractive display for those who can observe the window or opening from the streets or public sidewalks of the town. This pocket shall be decorated by featuring displays of the incoming tenant, or vignettes representing designs and merchandise of existing city merchants. The window glass shall be clean both inside and outside. It is advisable that the window shall be lighted at night.

All windows or openings of businesses that are operational, vacant or under construction may not have storage materials, such as kitchen equipment, alcoholic beverage containers, stacked furniture, debris or packing materials visible from a public street or right-of-way. A window or opening of an operational business will be decorated with merchandise or screened from view with curtains or interior shutters.

Any storefront both vacant or operational that has more than twenty-five (25) feet of frontage on a public sidewalk must provide a vignette display in at least one-half (½) of its available window space.

Newspaper, printed paper or unpainted plywood will not be allowed in a window.

An owner must comply with these specifications within seven (7) days of vacancy of a storefront and effective immediately for operational businesses.

No windows or openings of storefronts will utilize a mirrored reflective film. Films allowing light to pass through, but blocking ultraviolet light will be permitted. The intent is that interior displays will be visible from the right-of-way.

Penalties: Any owner of any building found to be in violation of this division shall be subject to general penalties as provided by law or to the provisions of the code enforcement board.

(Ord. No. 2001-27, § 1, 10-16-01; Ord. No. 2002-2, § 1, 1-15-02; Ord. No. 2002-13, § 1, 5-7-02)