DESIGN GUIDELINES

VILLAGE OF KOHLER, THE CLEARINGS

In the early 1900s, concerned that the Village of Kohler would become a “congested metropolis,” Walter Kohler hired the Olmsted Brothers to lay out the overall village. They devised a 50-year plan for controlled growth and created a “garden community.” The village is currently growing within its second 50-year master plan, developed by John Lillesand, Herb Kohler and Vern Swaback of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 

The long-standing residential design philosophy in the village has been that each home is made more beautiful by the presence of the others. There is a relatedness within the community scale while encouraging variety at the individual scale. This historic precedent will be followed in developing The Clearings of Kohler.

The Clearings of Kohler is a neighborhood for the future, designed with a sense of the past— and a clear understanding of the traditional Midwestern home and lifestyle. Socioeconomic diversity is promoted by providing a range of lot sizes, which in turn promotes a variety of home sizes.

The Clearings of Kohler Design Guidelines are intended to be a framework for residents, designers and builders to understand the urban and architectural goals of this neighborhood within the Village of Kohler.

While these guidelines represent as clearly as possible the recommendations of the Design Review Committee, the decisions of the Committee will always have precedence over the written guidelines.

 

SITE PLANNING 

Minimum living area on the main level must not be less than  1400 sq. ft..

Minimum setback requirements are front, 20 ft.; side, 10 ft.; rear, 20 percent of lot depth depending on lot configuration. While setback requirements are minimal, varying setbacks are encouraged.

No building shall be constructed which shall be a substantial duplication of another previously approved or constructed building, unless in the opinion of the Village Realty & Development’s Design Review, such duplication would not be a detriment to the previously approved or constructed building. 

The garage may not protrude in front of other architectural elements on the front of the house. Side-entry garages must be set back a minimum distance of 25 feet from the property line to allow for vehicle maneuvering. Refer to the architectural section for further design features regarding garages.

Building coverage shall not be greater than 25 percent of the lot area.

Maximum driveway width where pavement meets the public right-of-way is 16 ft. A 12 ft. apron is preferred.

It is preferred to provide a minimum clear distance of 6 ft. between the edge of the driveway pavement and street trees within the public right-of-way.

Mail kiosks shall be provided within The Clearings of Kohler. Homeowners are responsible for the maintenance of their mailbox kiosks. The kiosks will be sided and maintained in a neutral tone.

ARCHITECTURE

GENERAL

It is desirable that there be compatibility of scale, color, materials or design motifs that will allow a project to blend into its setting. Selection of roof materials and color palettes can often be crucial in determining if a project fits the context of the area.

Driveway pavement should be either dark-hued (gray, brown, black, etc.) colored concrete, red or dark colored decorative brick or concrete unit pavers, or asphalt. The installation of traditional paving materials such as stone and brick are encouraged.

Roof Geometry: A minimum of 6/12 pitch on a single-story house is required. Hip and gable roof configurations are preferred. No flat roofs are permitted.

Fences and hedges are discouraged, but if necessary, they must be compatible with architectural features of house, color of house and landscaping. Fences and hedges must not exceed 42 inches in height and may not surround a property.

The general contractor shall perform an as-built survey to ensure that the grading and house elevations conform to the grading plan.


SCALE

Scale relationships must be carefully considered, and appropriate transitions provided where a change of scale is proposed or required. Stair-stepping building height, breaking up the mass of the building and shifting building placement can help mitigate the impact of differing building scales and intensities.

Buildings that are significantly taller or which otherwise differ in scale from their neighbors may be acceptable, but they will require justification by the owner.

RHYTHM

Building rhythm relates to the horizontal and vertical patterns expressed by architectural features such as cornices, columns, windows, doors or variations in massing. Examples of building rhythm include horizontal and vertical banding with different materials, groupings of windows, regular or repetitions of details, or consistent design and placement. Designers should employ several related rhythms to avoid repetitions of one, or very few elements throughout the building. New developments should respect rhythms established by adjacent buildings. Building rhythm will be addressed in design review.

 

BUILDING FAÇADE

External details in building façades, entries, stairways, retaining walls and other features provide visual interests, enrichment and texture to buildings. Each house should incorporate the use of strong vertical and/or horizontal reveals, offsets, and three-dimensional detail between surface planes to create shadow lines and break up flat surface areas. If large blank surfaces are proposed, they should be for some compelling design purpose, and the design should incorporate mitigating features to enrich the appearance of the project and provide a sense of human scale at the ground level that is inviting to the public.

Rear building elevations, especially those facing adjoining residential areas should be aesthetically enhanced with materials to match the front of the building. Exterior side

yard setbacks should be treated with the same quality of design and materials as the front setback area and front building elevations.

 

COLORS AND MATERIALS

Materials and colors in the area of the project should be considered when selecting the materials and colors used in the proposed project. Materials and colors can unify an area through the use of a clearly defined palette. Colors and materials should be selected for compatibility with the site, as well as compatibility with the neighboring area, white included.

All sides of a structure should exhibit design continuity. There should be no unimproved side to a structure. For instance, a material should be carried around all sides of the building, not just along the front.

 

WINDOWS AND DOOR PLACEMENT

Buildings and windows should be located to maximize the possibility of occupant surveillance of entryways, recreation and laundry areas. Children’s play areas should be sited to allow for clear parental monitoring.

Relentless grids of repeated windows should be avoided. The patterns created by the window and door placement can help add variety and interest to the design.

 

SCREENING

All above-ground utility structures and equipment must be screened from public view, including but not limited to the following: air conditioning units, gas and electric meters, trash and recycling receptacles, and satellite dishes (maximum dish size shall be 18 inch diameter.) This screening may be accomplished with either low walls or landscaping. 

Rooftop antennas and towers are not permitted.

All utilities must be underground.

 

BUILDING EXTERIOR

Exterior building materials shall utilize at least one of the following all-natural materials: stone, brick, or wood. Composite siding (wood fiber) or cement board siding that has the same dimension and texture as real wood are acceptable materials. Stucco and other exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS) are also acceptable and may be used in combination with the above materials.

Varying wall patterns can add interest to facades. Board and Batten, shingles and trim bands can add interest and are encouraged.

No exposed metal fireplace flues shall be permitted. A prefinished metal or masonry shroud is required.

Finished roof construction: cedar shake, slate, fiberglass, asphalt dimensional, composite shingle and metal shingle are allowable materials as long as they are of a dark color range which will help unify all of the homes with each other.

 

EXTERIOR COLOR

The body of the home should have a monochromatic exterior color scheme, with accents.  They should be different from, yet complementary to, the neighboring homes.

Homes along the north and south side of The Clearings of Kohler Phase I should have a minimum of 75 percent of their exterior materials in either brick or stone. These largest lots will be best suited to homes with grander materials. Specifically, lots 39 through 43 and 64 through 72 should have these materials.

The exterior of the homes in the center of the subdivision, excluding the lots listed in the above paragraph, can be any shade of composite engineered wood, with brick or stone features being optional.

High-contrast colors are allowed for shutters, windows and doors, especially on masonry homes. Exterior corner boards should blend into the primary body color and not be an accent trim color. The trim color is typically reserved to accent windows and doors. 

Flues, vents, gutters, downspouts, flashing (except copper), etc., must be painted to match the color of the architectural component from which they project.

Garage doors shall complement the primary color of the house. If garage doors are front entry, the door should be recessed into a deeper jamb. Deeper roof overhangs at garage doors are encouraged.

 

LIGHTING

All exterior lighting shall be soft and indirect, with light sources aimed away from neighboring properties. In general, directional spotlights or floodlights should be avoided in favor of decorative pathway lights or low-voltage accent lighting used in conjunction with landscaping.

 

LANDSCAPE

PURPOSE & INTENT

Much has been written about how the quality of life in the Village of Kohler is a result of the harmonious integration of man's activities and the natural environment. This is certainly no accident, but rather the culmination of the steadfast adherence to a carefully developed Master Plan, a continuous planning process, community pride and ongoing stewardship.

Well executed landscaping enhances aesthetic appeal and adds measurable value to neighborhoods and individual homes. It also can offer privacy through screening, noise abatement, shading, atmospheric purifications and provide wildlife habitat. The collective effect of having all properties within The Clearings of Kohler attractively landscaped will be the establishment of strong visual unity and character relating the neighborhood and landscaping to other established portions of the Village. With the intent of aesthetic continuity in mind, these guidelines are set forth to establish a minimum requirement for the type and amount of landscaping to be provided with each new home. Landscape improvements above and beyond the established minimum are strongly encouraged and will serve to further increase the uniqueness of each home and overall neighborhood character.

 

GENERAL

Existing trees and wooded areas are to be preserved. On wooded lots, some trees may have to be removed to accommodate home construction. It may be prudent at the same time to remove any dead trees or dead branches; however, an extensive tree removal will not be permitted. No live trees shall be removed without written permission from Kohler Company.

Existing trees that are to remain shall be completely protected from all construction-related activities in order to avoid any disturbance, root zone compaction or accidental damage. Prior to any site disturbance, temporary construction fencing shall be provided around all existing trees in order to delineate a Tree Protection Zone.

Street trees within the public right-of-way will not require construction fencing unless specifically required by Kohler Company. Construction fencing shall be at least 4’ tall and installed to fully encircle individual existing trees or continuously line all affected edges of existing wooded areas.

The construction fencing shall be located to include, at a minimum, the entire Critical Root Zone (CRZ); however, a larger Tree Protection Zone is strongly encouraged where space allows.

Refer to Figure 1 for how to delineate the CRZ.

Figure 1:


The drainage patterns on each lot shall conform to the master-grading plan established for the neighborhood. This will ensure that all stormwater is directed appropriately to designed inlets and eliminates any potential for ponding or saturated soils on or between any of the properties. 

Landscaping intended for privacy or accent between homes is encouraged; however, any plant beds that emphasize straight property boundaries or form a continuous, linear division between properties is not permitted. Plant bed masses along property boundaries shall be provided in natural, sweeping shapes where desired, while leaving some portions of the parcel boundaries as open lawn. The desired effect is for the landscape massing to flow smoothly between adjacent homes and a sense of open space is created by the resultant vistas which extend beyond individual lots. Coordination with Kohler Company and/or the adjoining property owner will be required to achieve this effect.

All portions of individual lots exposed to public view shall be completely landscaped to present a finished appearance. Special conditions may require additional landscape screening to be provided in addition to the established minimum quantities of these guidelines. Triple and double frontage lots and corner lots, therefore, may require more extensive landscaping than others. Large, highly visible garages are another condition that may require additional landscaping in order to provide adequate visual screening. All utility structures, air conditioning units and other above-ground equipment must be screened from public view. Kohler Company will work with each homeowner to address any special conditions and determine the type and quantity of required additional landscaping. 

Landforms (berms) can add visual interest, vertical articulation and help to provide sound and visual screening. Use of berms and/or low, decorative retaining walls are encouraged as part of the landscape improvements. Where provided, berms shall align with the approved grading scheme and have smooth, flowing contours in order to appear natural. Small, isolated berms appearing as "lumps" in the lawn are not permitted. All proposed decorative retaining walls must be approved by Kohler Company as part of developing the landscape improvements.

Acceptable decorative retaining wall materials include natural stone or masonry that is visually consistent with the architectural materials and color scheme. See Implementation section below for specific submittal requirements. 

In order to create continuity of the streetscape at The Clearings of Kohler, shade trees have been planted within the roadway terraces at a rate of one for every 40' of lot frontage. The size and species of trees has been determined by the Landscape Architect as part of the neighborhood landscape design process described earlier. These trees must be protected from damage during the home construction process and may not be removed or relocated without written permission from Kohler Company. 

 

LANDSCAPE DESIGN STANDARDS

All new plantings shall be hardy and adapted to local Plant Hardiness Zone 5. Plantings should be properly sited, taking into account their cultural requirements and ultimate mature size. A Guide to Selecting Landscape Plants for Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin Extension Programs, publication A2865) is an excellent reference on this subject.

Installed plants shall be of the following minimum sizes unless otherwise approved by Kohler Company:

  • Shade trees: 14’ – 16’ height

  • Ornamental/flowering trees: 5' height (single-stem or clump form is acceptable)

  • Evergreen trees: 8' height

  • Tall-growing deciduous & evergreen shrubs: 3' height

  • Medium height deciduous & evergreen shrubs: 2' height or spread

  • Low-growing deciduous & evergreen shrubs: 18" height or spread

  • Groundcovers: 3" pots

  • Perennials and ornamental grasses: I quart pots

 

All shade trees, ornamental/flowering trees, evergreen trees, and shrubs shall be balled and burlapped or container-grown.

Landscaping within the front, side and rear yard areas shall be provided to meet the minimum requirements as indicated below. Required shrub quantities shall be calculated using the total width of the home along each respective facade, including the garage. For areas where driveway pavement directly abuts the home, required plants may be provided along the outside of the pavement edges. Shrub quantity calculations shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

Utilizing a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrub types is encouraged to ensure visual diversity and multi-season interest. Providing perennials and ornamental grasses in addition to the required minimum shrub quantities is also strongly encouraged where possible. This can be achieved by either providing larger foundation planting beds or incorporating additional planting beds within the yard areas or along parcel boundaries as described earlier. To allow for design flexibility, required shrubs can be substituted with perennials or ornamental grasses at a rate of 3 per shrub

 

Front yard landscaping:

  • Provide continuous foundation planting beds that are at least 4’ wide and include shrubs at a rate of 1 per 4.5 linear feet of total home width, including garage.

  • Provide at least two of the following tree types within the foundation planting beds or lawn area: shade trees, ornamental/flowering trees, or evergreen trees.

  • Corner lots shall provide a minimum of three trees and foundation planting beds along both street-facing facades at a rate of 1 per 4.5 linear feet of total home width, including garage.

Side and rear yard landscaping:

  • Continuous foundation planting beds that are at least 4’ wide and include shrubs at a rate of 1 per 6 linear feet of total home width, including garage

  • Provide at least three of the following tree types for each side and rear yard area: shade trees, ornamental/flowering trees, or evergreen trees

  • Required trees may be located within the foundation planting beds, the lawn area or a naturally flowing perimeter plant bed as described earlier

Mulch:

  • All required trees and plantings must be located within a mulched area

  • Trees shall be separated from lawn areas by a minimum distance of 3 feet from the trunk

  • Biodegradable, shredded hardwood bark mulch with no artificial coloration or dye that could potentially leach into surface waters is the preferred material

  • Any proposed decorative stone mulch must be approved by Kohler Company as part of developing the landscape improvements

  • Decorative stone mulch material and color shall be visually consistent with the architectural materials and color scheme 

Landscape areas not devoted to planting beds and paving shall be sodded or seeded with lawn- type grasses. All trees planted within lawn areas shall have a minimum 6’ diameter mulch ring.

As part of each owner's landscaping improvements, a minimum 6" depth of quality topsoil shall be spread and fine graded over all landscaped areas. To prevent soil erosion outside of individual lot boundaries, silt fencing shall be installed in accordance with the approved Site Plan.

Use of low-voltage landscape lighting is encouraged to add night interest and accentuation. All landscape lighting shall be housed in concealed fixtures or include cut-off shields and be aimed so no unpleasant glare is visible from the public right-of-way or be allowed to spill over onto adjacent properties.

 

IMPLEMENTATION

A landscape plan with a minimum scale of 1" = 10' – 0” shall be developed and submitted for each individual lot. Refer to Figure 2 for an example landscape plan. The plan shall delineate or include at least the following information:

  • Dimensions indicating total width of each home façade (including garages)

  • Summary table of calculations for each home façade (front/corner, sides & rear) indicating width, minimum quantity of plants required and plant quantity provided

  • Graphic drawing scale and north arrow shown on the plan

  • Lot designation and property lines

  • House location on lot (indicating first floor plan and any roof overhangs)

  • Paved areas (including proposed materials and construction details) matching the approved Building Permit Survey

  • Drainage patterns and spot elevations

  • Existing and proposed utilities, utility appurtenances, and easements

  • Existing trees to remain and location of construction fencing around Tree Protection Zones

  • Location of proposed trees and vegetation with clearly readable labels

  • Plant symbols sized to represent anticipated plant spread at 70% mature age

  • Detailed plant material schedule indicating quantities, scientific names, common names, root conditions (balled & burlapped, container or bare root), installed sizes, mature heights & spread and plant spacing (schedule must be located on the landscape plan sheet)

  • Delineation of all planting beds (including type of proposed edging & mulch material)

  • Ground layer treatment for lawn areas including all proposed seed or sod blends

  • Garden structures or decorative retaining walls, if used (including location(s), height(s), construction details and sufficient information about proposed materials and color scheme proving visual consistency with the architecture)

  • Landscape lighting locations, if used (including a cut sheet indicating type, features and construction details)

  • Sufficient explanatory notes to clarify design intent

  • Author and date

Kohler Company reserves the right to address any special conditions within The Clearings of Kohler where landscaping or screening in addition to the minimum requirements is deemed necessary in order to preserve the desired aesthetic quality and overall character of the neighborhood. This will be handled on a lot-by-lot basis as part of the design review and approval process.

Landscaping must be installed within 20 months of obtaining home approval from the Village of Kohler Planning Commission. Once completed, the homeowner shall notify Village Realty & Development who will then conduct a follow-up review of the installation to assure compliance with the approved landscaping scheme.