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Some block frontage designations contain distinct minimum façade transparency regulations. The purpose of these regulations is to maintain “eyes on the street” for safety and create welcoming pedestrian environments. Table 12.48.310 below includes details in how they are measured.

Table 12.48.310. Transparency regulations.

Transparency Area

Storefront

The transparency area is on the ground floor between 30" and 10' above sidewalk grade

Ground-floor nonresidential and nonstorefront

The transparency area is between 30" and 8' above grade

Residential buildings and residential portions of mixed-use buildings

All vertical surfaces of the façade are used in the calculations

Other Transparency Provisions

Windows must be transparent

Ground-level window area for storefronts and other nonresidential uses that is covered, frosted, or perforated in any manner that obscures visibility into the building must not count as transparent window area. Perforated signs are allowed provided they meet applicable window sign regulations in Chapter 12.22 BMC. Also, mirrored glass and highly reflective or darkly tinted windows must not be counted as transparent windows.

Covered windows

Perforated sign

Display windows and parking garages

Display windows may be used for up to 25% of nonresidential transparency requirements (except for ground-level storefront-designated block frontages) provided they are at least 30" deep to allow changeable displays and the interior wall is nonstructural so it can be removed if the windows are not used for display. Tack-on display cases as shown in the far right example do not qualify as transparent window area.

For parking garages (where allowed by block frontage regulations), the left image illustrates how such a structure can meet (and not meet) the applicable transparency regulations.

Integrated display windows

Tack-on display cases

Parking garage with window openings

Parking garage without window openings

(Ord. 2341 § 5 (Exh. A), 2020).