Explanation and Examples
If a building is set back from the sidewalk, the space between the building and public right-of-way may be conducive to pedestrian or resident activity. In business districts where pedestrian activity is desired, the primary function of any open space between commercial buildings and the sidewalk is to provide visual and physical access into the building and perhaps also to provide a space for additional outdoor activities such as vending, resting, sitting or dining. Street fronts can also feature art work, street furniture and landscaping that invite customers or enhance the building's setting.

Where a commercial or mixed-use building is set back from the sidewalk a sufficient distance, pedestrian enhancements should be considered in the resulting street front.

Examples of desirable features to include:

• visual and pedestrian access (including barrier-free access) into the site from the public sidewalk
• walking surfaces of attractive pavers
• pedestrian-scaled site lighting
• areas for vendors in commeercial areas
• landscaping that screens undesirable elements or that enhances the space and architecture
• signage which identifies uses and shops clearly but which is scaled to the pedestrian
• site furniture, artwork or amenities such as fountains, benches, pergolas, kiosks, etc.

Examples of features to avoid are:

• asphalt or gravel pavement
• adjacent unscreened parking lots
• adjacent chain-link fences
• adjacent blank walls without appropriate screening

The following treatment if entrances can provide emphasis and interest:

• special detailing or architectural features such as ornamental glazing, railings and balustrades, awnings, canopies, decorative pavement, decorative lighting, seats, architectural molding, planter boxes, trellises, artwork signs, or other elements near the doorway.
• visible signage identifying building address