thickness that requires more room than a fence, but also lends depth and character to the border. In some parking lots wood fences are used, providing edge definition and an effective physical and visual barrier. In two parking lots the presence of concrete retaining walls is obvious, because they present a blank and uninteresting face to the outside.

Parking Conditions. Conveniently located parking lots are essential to the economic health and vitality of the business districts. Particularly noteworthy is the common arrangement of parking to the rear of buildings. This permits the consistent setback of buildings from Far Hills Avenue and the border between building and street to be a landscaped area, instead of a parking lot. Approximately half of this district’s buildings’ fronts face directly onto Far Hills Avenue, creating a unified street wall. The lack of front parking enhances the image of the district as a long-established traditional town center. The overall arrangement of parking accommodates the automobile, without being completely dominated by its presence.

Many of the smaller parking areas, especially those that are accessed by driveways between buildings, are well organized with well defined edges. Some of these lots are primarily used for employee parking and are not as attractively arranged. Other small parking lots are along the side of a building, facing a side street, and many of these are enhanced by planted edges. However, in the case of one parking area, vehicles are placed between the building and the front sidewalk, in a configuration that presents an unattractive face to the street.

Some of the larger parking lots are less organized, and their borders tend to be less effective in allocating space among pedestrians and the rows of vehicles and pavement. A jumbled and busy image is present in this area, which undermines the special character of the Far Hills Avenue Business District.

Rear Facade Treatment. Although often overlooked as an important element in establishing the character of a business district, rear building facades are especially important. They are not visible to through traffic, but rear entrances act as main entrances in the many instances where parking is present at the rear of a building. Signs and light fixtures mark entrances, and canopies provide protection from weather elements. Most of the rear facades contain less costly and attractive materials than the front facades, but consistent treatment of some facades minimizes visual clutter and upgrades the look and feel of the entrance. However, in some cases, the presence of unscreened garbage containers detracts from the appearance of the building.

Additionally, the rear facades of many of the buildings are visible from adjacent residences, especially where the border between the two is thin or nonexistent.