(a) A senior citizen housing development should be designed specially for this purpose, incorporating all necessary safety and convenience features. In general, the site amenities provided should be more attractive than for multi-family projects since the elderly spend nearly all their time on the site. The yards and passive recreation areas should be extensive in quantity and fully landscaped. There should be a composition of small, intimate, private yard and court areas for a variety of passive activities.
(b) Safety shall be emphasized both in scope and design. In addition to the requirements of the Building Code, each development shall be fully sprinklered and each building shall be provided with wet standpipes having a diameter of six inches. Each building shall have an unencumbered access to a public right of way. Vehicular circulation drives shall only be at the perimeter of the project; subject to the requirements of Section 1139.10, parking areas may penetrate into the perimeter of the site. Abrupt grades shall be avoided, all changes in grades in the walk system shall be accomplished by ramps; there shall be not more than two exterior steps to any building used by occupants. All buildings, two or more stories measured from the main entrance, shall be served by at least two elevators, the minimum size being five feet by seven feet each and equipped with heat-sensing devices.
(c) Electric and telephone service wires shall be underground between point of service and the building. Each building shall have a public easement for underground improvements such as sewer and water.
(d) When developed as an ancillary use, the multi-purpose senior center shall be centrally located within the development.
(Ord. 81-19. Passed 5-4-81.)
(e) When required side and rear yards border a one- and two-family residential district or any other zoning district with an existing residence thereon, a landscape buffer shall be provided and maintained in a manner approved by the Planning and Design Commission.
(Ord. 95-72. Passed 10-16-95.)