(a) Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to provide guidance for good design in the form of "contextual design criteria" which establish design intent, and objective design standards that facilitate streamlined review. Diagrams are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to convey required architectural style. Rather, the objective design standards aim to accommodate a variety of styles, construction types (e.g., wood frame, modular) and housing types including townhomes, apartments, condos, and mixed-use buildings.
(b) Applicability of Regulations
These regulations apply to Housing Development Projects (as defined in Gov. Code 65589.5), both new construction and renovations, within the following zones and combining districts:
Housing Development Projects include multifamily housing with three or more units ("multiple-family use" as defined in Section 18.04.030), supportive and transitional housing, and residential mixed-use projects with at least two-thirds residential square footage shall meet the objective design standards.
(c) Process and Alternative Compliance
Each section of this chapter includes two components:
(1) Contextual design criteria establish design intent for more detailed standards and are intended to give guidance for all applicable projects, regardless of use.
(2) Objective design standards provide detailed measurable standards or options for compliance. Projects meeting objective standards are automatically assumed to meet contextual design criteria.
Housing Development Projects are required to comply with objective standards in order to take advantage of streamlined review pursuant to Section 18.77.073. However, applicants may choose to forgo one or more objective standards, in which case the housing project no longer qualifies for streamlined review and will be evaluated based on Context-Based Design Criteria for the zoning district, if relevant, and be subject to architectural review as set forth in Sections 18.76.020 and 18.77.070.
(d) Definitions
In addition to definitions provided in Chapter 18.04, the following definitions are specific to this chapter.
(1) "Primary Building Frontage" means the front lot line or lot line along the public right-of-way. In the case of a through-lot or corner lot, the primary building frontage could be on either public right-of-way.
(2) "Primary Building Entry" means the entrance leading to a lobby and accessed from the primary building frontage.
(3) "Pedestrian Walkway" means a sidewalk or path that is publicly-accessible and connects from a public right-of-way or private street to another public right-of-way, private street, or publicly accessible open space.
(4) "Façade Modulation" means a change in building plane, either a recess or a projection, that changes the shape of the exterior massing of the building.
(Ord. 5553 § 1 (part), 2022)