(A) Development standards. An urban development unit or units and the development of a lot created through an urban lot split shall be subject to the development standards set forth in the table below.
Development standards for urban development units and urban lot splits
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Standard | Requirement | Notes |
Development standards for urban development units and urban lot splits
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Standard | Requirement | Notes |
Dwelling unit size for new unit on a lot with existing unit | Maximum size of the new unit shall be limited by maximum lot coverage standard, below. | |
Minimum | 500 square feet | In any circumstance, the new unit is allowed to be at least 800 square feet in size. |
Dwelling unit size (each) where two new units are proposed | Maximum size of each unit shall be limited by maximum lot coverage standard, below. | |
Minimum | 500 square feet | In any circumstance, each unit is allowed to be at least 800 square feet in size. |
Dwelling unit height (maximum) for: (1) new unit on lot with an existing unit; and (2) lot where two new units are proposed | 16 feet | Limited to one story at ground level, measured to the highest point on roof. |
Dwelling unit setbacks for: (1) new unit on lot with an existing unit; and (2) lot where two new units are proposed | Setbacks also apply to an attached or detached garage. Rear setback may be reduced to 5 feet minimum for a detached garage. | |
Minimum front minimum | 20 feet | |
Interior side minimum | 4 feet | |
Street side | 4 feet | |
Minimum rear | 4 feet | |
Minimum building separation | 6 feet | Applies also to all detached structures on the lot. |
Maximum lot coverage | 45% of lot area | Includes all buildings, primary and accessory. |
Minimum number of parking spaces | 1 space per dwelling unit | Parking for an existing primary dwelling unit shall be maintained for that unit as required by § 153.150. Parking for a new dwelling unit or units may be provided in an attached or detached garage, or may be an unenclosed space on the same lot. Tandem parking is not allowed; all spaces must be individually accessible and unobstructed by another space. |
Minimum private open space area | 20% of lot area, divided equally per unit | Area shall be continuous, with a minimum length and width dimension of 15 feet. Shall be located within the interior side, street side, or rear yard area of the lot. |
(B) Exceptions to required setbacks. The required setbacks in the table above do not apply, or shall be modified, under the following circumstances:
(1) Any street adjacent setback shall be measured from the ultimate right-of-way line.
(2) The projection into a required setback shall be subject to the provisions of § 153.130.030.
(C) Exceptions to required number of parking spaces. The required number of parking spaces in the table above do not apply under the following circumstances:
(1) The lot is located within one-half mile walking distance of either a high-quality transit corridor, as defined in Cal. Public Resources Code § 21155(b), or a major transit stop, as defined in Cal. Public Resources Code § 21064.3.
(2) There is a car share vehicle located within one block of the lot.
(D) Other applicable regulations. In addition to the requirements contained in this section, regulations and standards for development within the R-1 zone contained in other sections of this chapter may be applied to a qualifying two-unit residential development and the development of a lot created through an urban lot split, unless specifically modified in this section, or unless it would preclude any new primary dwelling unit from being at least 800 square feet in floor area.
(E) Priority to consideration of other exceptions to standards. Any required standard that would have the effect of physically precluding the construction of up to two primary residential units on a lot or that would physically preclude each new unit from being at least 800 square feet in floor area shall be modified or waived to the extent necessary, as determined by the Community Development Director or designee, to allow the development of two primary residential units on a lot. In order to waive or modify certain standards, the city has established the following priorities and procedures for allowances for exceptions and has established the following limits to the development standards as indicated.
(1) The following development standards, in descending order of priority, with the first development standard listed having the highest priority, shall be applied to exceptions:
(a) Lot coverage up to 60%;
(b) Dwelling unit front setback, exclusive of garage front, up to within 10 feet of the front property line; the garage front shall be set back at least 20 feet in all circumstances;
(c) For lots less than 2,000 square feet in size, dwelling unit height up to 22 feet;
(d) Building separation to the minimum separation required by the Building Code;
(e) Private open space area of 15% of lot area.
(2) In applying any exception, an urban development unit or units or urban lot split shall be designed such that a development standard given a lower priority is modified or waived before a development standard given a higher priority. If each lot can accommodate two 800-square-foot primary dwelling units by modifying or waiving a development standard with a lower priority, then an application that proposes a design requiring the modification or waiver of a development standard with a higher priority will be denied.
(3) Allowing an exception shall not be interpreted to permit the construction of new garages or accessory structures, or the maintenance of existing accessory structures not providing required parking, where the development or maintenance of two 800-square-foot dwelling units on the lot would not be physically precluded in the absence of such proposed or existing structures.
(4) As part of the application for an exception, the applicant shall provide a written explanation that specifically lists every development standard the applicant seeks to modify and waive, describes why waiver or modification of each development standard is needed to prevent physically precluding the construction of up to two primary residential units on the lot and/or each new unit from being at least 800 square feet in floor area, and demonstrates that the requested modifications and/or waivers are consistent with the prioritization hierarchy.
(F) Nonconforming conditions. A two-unit project may be approved without requiring a legal nonconforming zoning condition to be corrected.
(G) Utilities.
(1) All dwelling units shall be connected to public water utilities and to either public sewer or an onsite wastewater treatment system.
(2) Each primary dwelling unit must have its own direct utility connection to the utility service provider.
(Ord. 1503, passed 7-5-23)