9-1-19-5R: POLICY 5 (RELATIVE) ARCHITECTURAL COMPATIBILITY:
The town hereby finds that excessive similarity, dissimilarity, or poor quality design of any building adversely affects the desirability of the immediate area and the community as a whole, and by so doing impairs the benefits of existing property owners, the stability and value of real property, produces degeneration of property with attendant deterioration of conditions affecting health, safety, and general welfare of the community, and destroys a proper relationship between the taxable value of real property and the cost of municipal services provided therefor. Features of design include, but are not limited to, size, shape, scale, proportions, solid to void ratios, texture, pattern and color of materials, and architectural elements and details.
3 x (-2/+2) | A. | General Architectural And Aesthetic Compatibility: All proposed new developments, alterations, or additions are strongly encouraged to be architecturally compatible with the general design criteria specified in the land use guidelines. It is strongly encouraged that cut and fill slopes be kept to a minimum, and that the site, when viewed from adjacent properties, be integrated into its natural surroundings as much as possible. In addition, excessive similarity or dissimilarity to other structures existing, or for which a permit has been issued, or to any other structure included in the same permit application, facing upon the same or intersecting streets within the same or adjacent land use districts is discouraged. This subsection A only applies to areas outside of the Historic District. Architecture within the Historic District is regulated by the Handbook of Design Standards for the Historic and Conservation Districts. |
Exterior building materials and colors should not unduly contrast with the site's background. The use of natural materials, such as logs, timbers, wood siding and stone, are strongly encouraged because they weather well and reflect the area's indigenous architecture. Roof materials should be nonreflective and blend into the site's backdrop as much as possible. Inappropriate exterior building materials include, but are not limited to, untextured exposed concrete, untextured or unfinished unit masonry, highly reflective glass, reflective metal roof, and unpainted aluminum window frames. This subsection A applies only to areas outside of the Conservation District, but does not apply to the Cucumber Gulch Overlay Protection District (see section 9-1-19-5A, "Policy 5 (Absolute) Architectural Compatibility", subsection C, of this chapter).
B. Exterior building materials listed in the table below are regulated per façade. Exterior building materials not considered in this development code will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may require input from the planning commission regarding their use. This subsection B only applies to areas outside of the Historic District. Architecture within the Historic District is regulated by the Handbook of Design Standards for the Historic and Conservation Districts.
Material | Points* | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Brick | Allowed as an accent or on smaller elements up to 25% of each façade with no negative points > 25-50% of any façade warrants negative two (-2) points > 50-75% of any façade warrants negative four (-4) points > 75-100% of any façade is prohibited with some exceptions per section 9-1-19-5A(B) | Bricks should be a natural earth-tone color and brick style that is appropriate for the historical and mountain context of Breckenridge. Additional points under subsection A of this section may be assigned for bricks that are of a color or dimension not typical of the historic or mountain context of Breckenridge. Buildings defined as an institutional use may be constructed of brick without the assignment of negative points. |
Composite wood siding | > 0-33% of any façade warrants negative two (-2) points > 33-66% of any façade warrants negative four (-4) points > 66-100% of any façade warrants negative six (-6) points | |
Metal siding | Up to 25% per façade warrants no negative points > 25-50% of any façade warrants negative two (-2) points > 50-75% of any façade warrants negative four (-4) points > 75-100% of any façade is prohibited per section 9-1-19-5A(B) | Per section 9-1-19-5A(A)(1) all exterior metal elements must be nonreflective. |
Fiber cement siding | Warrants negative three (-3) points when applied with no supplemental natural materials | No negative points will be assigned when applied with natural materials such as natural wood accents or a natural stone base on each elevation and provided the fiber cement siding is compatible with the general design criteria listed in the land use guidelines.** |
Stucco | Up to 25% per façade warrants no negative points > 25-50% of any façade warrants negative two (-2) points > 50-75% of any façade warrants negative four (-4) points > 75-100% of any façade is prohibited per section 9-1-19-5A(B) | Natural earth-tone colors are recommended. Additional negative points could be assigned under subsection A of this section if nonnatural colors are applied. |
*To determine the allocation of points, façade area is measured from the fascia board to finished grade. Such measurement shall include column elements, windows, and chimneys, but shall not include decks and railing elements.
**Natural materials for the purpose of offsetting the application of fiber cement siding can include elements such as railings, decking, or other architectural details not included in the calculation of the façade area as long as these natural material elements are applied on the same elevations as the fiber cement siding.
C. Historic And Conservation Districts: For all projects within the Historic or Conservation Districts, see section 9-1-19-24A, "Policy 24 (Absolute) The Social Community", and section 9-1-19-24R, "Policy 24 (Relative) Social Community", of this chapter. (Ord. 15, Series 2013; amd. Ord. 1, Series 2019; Ord. 1, Series 2023)