Lot size | Minimum area and width for new mixed-use development projects. | |
Lot area | Greater than 5.01 acre | 1.0-5.0 acres |
Lot width | N.A. | N.A. |
Floor area ratio (FAR)(2)(4) | 2.2 | 2.25 |
Min. Non-Residential Floor Area (5)(6) | 20% of ground floor footprint (must be publicly accessible) | 10% of ground floor footprint (must be publicly accessible) |
Lot coverage | N.A. | N.A. |
Residential density | 40 units per acre average over project site (13) | Maximum 65 units per acre |
Variations of residential density | Variations from the maximum residential density are permitted as provided below: • In the MU-2 Zone, 55 du/ac average when at least 30% of ground floor footprint provided as commercial/retail uses. • When the following condition exists, the maximum residential density may be increased to 75 units per acre: the nearest property line of the perimeter of a mixed-use zone is either separated by the 405 freeway from or located at least 400 feet from the property line of an R1 Zone in the city. |
Minimum density | 30 units per acre Development in the MU Zone shall include a residential component at the min. residential density. | 30 units per acre Development in the MU Zone shall include a residential component at the min. residential density. |
Setbacks (7)(10) (11) | Minimum setbacks required on the ground floor from perimeter property lines of a project (does not include the sidewalk and curb). |
Street Frontage | 15 ft. average with min. 10 ft. (max. 40% of an elevation can be at 15 ft.) | 10 ft. average with min. 5 ft. (max. 40% of an elevation can be at 10 ft.) |
Interior property line (abutting non-res. zone) | None (a maintenance agreement shall be recorded on the deed prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy) |
Interior property line (abutting res. zone) (7) | • Abutting R1/GH zone, one of following options: (1) 30 ft. with a min. step-back of 20 ft. above the height of 35ft.; OR (2) 100 ft. setback with no step-back; OR (3) 30 ft. with height averaging as noted below in the height section. • Abutting R2, R3, and R4 zone, one of the following options: (1) 10 ft. setback with an average step-back of 10 ft. above the height of 45ft.; OR (2) 20 ft. setback with no stepback; OR (3) 10 ft. with height averaging as noted below in the height section. • Interior setback areas may be counted toward private open space (not public open space requirement) when landscaped and designed for functional use by the residents. |
Upper Level Step-Back (7) (10) (11) | • MU-1 Zone: an upper level step-back of 15 ft. average of all street-facing upper floors above 35ft. • MU-2 Zone: an upper level step-back of 15 ft. average of all street-facing upper floors above 45ft. Exception: Average step-backs do not apply along interior property lines abutting R1/GH zones (See setbacks from interior property lines abutting residential zones). |
Height (1) (3) | A baseline height is provided for the MU-1 and MU-2 zones and adjustments above the baseline are permitted as provided below: |
Baseline Height | 6 stories & 65ft. (see height modulation) | 5 stories & 55ft. (see height modulation) |
Height Modulation (9)(12) | A square box is not an acceptable design and the modulation of the heights is required to provide visual interest and reduce the scale of building mass. Accordingly, a proposal shall include a building step-back on the street frontage and at least two of the following elements: |
• Height variation: a change in roof heights of at least 10 ft. every 150 linear ft. |
• Height averaging: Height averaging where a portion of the building may exceed the baseline height provided that the height of the entire project is equal to or does not exceed the baseline height. Except that within 100 ft. of a R1 & GH Zone, the height of the building shall not exceed 45ft. and within 50 ft. of a R2, R3, & R4 Zone, the height of the building shall not exceed the baseline height (above). (12) |
• Corner: A ground level plaza or a prominent corner feature that is differentiated by height and design features from the primary massing of the building by a minimum of 10 ft. To qualify, corner feature shall have a measurement of at least 25 linear ft. in each direction. |
Open Space (10) | Projects shall provide open space that is both accessible to the public and open space that is for the exclusive use of on-site residents based on the following formula: • 10% of gross site area (<2 acre site), OR 15% of gross site area (>2 acre site); PLUS • 100 square feet per residential unit (includes live-work units) The total open space requirement resulting from the above calculation shall be distributed between publicly accessible open space and private open space as noted below: |
Publicly accessible open space | • A minimum of 50% of the required open space must be publicly accessible and located along the street frontage or directly accessed from a public sidewalk. |
Private open space | • Private open space may be provided in any combination of the following three ways: Additional publicly accessible open space above the minimum requirement. Common open space for residents only (interior courtyards and decks). Private balconies and patios (min. dimension of 4 ft.) • A min. of 20% of the total required common open space for residents must be landscaped with live plant material. |
Façade and Massing Variation | Blank expanses of walls and lack of variation in the façade is not an acceptable design. Recesses and projections of the façade in combination with changes in colors, materials, and articulation create the desired quality and visual interest. In every building frontage, at least one of the following elements shall be incorporated: |
Modulation | Major recess/projection of at least 2 ft. depth and 4 ft. in width every 150 linear ft. plus a minor recess/projection of at least 1 ft. depth and 2 ft. in width every 50 linear ft. |
Delineated base, middle, top | • Change in materials (acceptable street level materials include a preponderance of brick, wood, stone, or similar detailed materials. Above the first floor, no more than 80% of an elevation may be clad in EIFS or stucco); or • Design that creates distinct vertical and horizontal visual separation through color, material, cornice trim, and/or awnings; or • Upper level step-backs. |
Building Separations (10) | A building separation shall be provided on each street facing building elevation of 250 linear feet or more through at least one of the following means: • A building separation of an average width of 40 ft. and an average depth of 25 ft. with a minimum 1,200 sf of area that extends to the street level and is open to the sky; OR • A building separation that begins at the second floor of an average width of 40 ft. and an average depth of 20 ft. that is open to the sky. The ground level floor within the separation area must be set back an average of 5 ft. from the main building façade. |
Between separate structures | 10 ft. min. with an average of 20 ft. except 15 ft. average between sidewalls and front or rear of other buildings. No setbacks are required between buildings with no openings on adjoining walls. See Section 21.08.050(b) for accessory structures. |
Minimum residential floor area (8) | Minimum floor area requirements for residential units. Per Section 21.08.040, Residential zoning district general development standards, Table 2-4. |
Minimum residential storage areas | Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum of 200 cubic feet of individually enclosed, weatherproofed and lockable storage space. Such space shall be for the sole use of the occupant of the dwelling unit and may be provided within individual storage lockers, cabinets or closets within the garage area if neither the space nor the doors leading thereto overhang a parking space assigned to another unit. Storage areas inside units must be separate from typical forms of interior storage including closets, pantries, linen closets, and kitchen/bathroom closets. |
Landscaping | As required by Chapter 21.20 (Landscaping) excepting that the provisions of Section 21.20.040, Landscape area requirements, shall not apply. |
Parking | |
Signs | As required by Chapter 21.24 (Signs). Prior to issuance of first sign permit, a master sign program shall be prepared and approved by the city that establishes site-specific standards. |