HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 3345' ( ..( ,~
. ~. • • ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE NO. 3345
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING THe ZONING CODE (TITLE 18) AND THE SUBDI
VISION CODE (TITLE 21) WITH REGARD TO DEFINITIONS,
DISTRICT REGULATIONS, USE PBRMITS, VARIANCES, AP
PEALS, ACTION ON AND AMENDMENTS TO TENTATIVE AND
0RELIMir\ARY PARCEL M}',!'.IS, LOT LINE REMOVALS E:TC. ,.,
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as fol.lows:
SECT!ON 1. Section 18.04.030(67) [Definitions) of t•.·1e Palo Alto
Municipal Code is hereby amended to read:
"(67) 'Heiqht' means the vertical distance
above grade to the hiqhest point of the coping of a
fl at ro0 f; or to the deck line of a mansard roof or
to the aver age height of the h iqhes t gable of a
pitched or hipped rol) f, except that in the R-1
District the heiqht of a '.?it·;hed or. hjpped roof
shall be measured to the hr .ght of the peak or
hi qh(•s t r l dCJ r:' .li r,c. '.Che < .lSU rement: may be tak0n
from thr: high-~~~~t adjoininc t3idewa.lk eir ground sur
face within a 1.5 meter (' 1e foot} horizontal dis
tance of the 1:xter.ior w: ) of t~e huildin9, wflen
sut'h sidewalk or gi.ound surfacf~ is not mor.e than 3,0
meters (ten feet 1 .'tbove ·~}r:ade, 'I'he height of a
stepped or terra(:ed buildinq is the m.~ximum height
of any segment of th2 building.~
SECTION 2. Section 1!3.!~.0SO(i) (Site d\?velOt')ment regulationg] of
the PaTo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to rel.ld:
1-<;(i) Height. The ma>:imuM heiqht shall bt: 9.14
meters (thirty feet) as measured to the peak the
roof; however, no structun: except tel!:!vision and
radio antennas and chimneys and flues !::>hall exten<~
above or beyond a dayl iqht plane hav inq a height of
3.66 meters (tw·elve feet) at each side or. rear line
and an angle of 45°.N
SECTION 3.
encroachments] is
read:
Section 18 .• 12.080 [R-,1 District Permitted ynrd
hereby added to the Palo Alto Municipal Code to
18. 12. 080. Permit te-d Yar:d Encroachments ..
(a) Horizont~l Additions. Wh~re a single-family
dwelling legally constructed ~ccordinq to existing
yard and setback regulations at the time of con
struction oncroaches upon present required yards,
one encroaching side of the existing structure may
be extended in accord with this section. Only one
st.ch extension shall be perN1itted for a life of such
building. This section shall not be co11struea to
allow the further extension of an encroachmeut by
any building which is the result of the granting of
a variance, either before or after such prope::ty
became part of· 1e city.
( 1) Front Yard. In cases where the
existing setback is less than 6.1 meters (twenty
feet) but at least 4. 3 metet·s ( fv..crteen feet), the
existing encroachm~nt may be extended for a distance
of not more than one hundred perce.nt of the lenqth
of wall to t:-e exten<.i~c ~ pr0vided, that the total
length of the existing ~ncroaching wall and the
additional wall shall together not tr.i(Ceed one-half
the maximum existin~ width 0f ~uch building.
(2) Interior Side Yar<l. ln cnses where
the existing setback is less than 1.8 meters (six
feet) but at least 1.5 meters (five feet), an exist
ing encroachment may be extenden not more than one
hundred percent of the lenqth of the existing en
croachment, hut not to ~xceed 6.1 additional meters
(twenty additional feet).
(3) Stceet Si<le Y(lrd. rn ca.sr~s wht-ere the
existinq side yard setback :ls less than 4.<.1 meters
(sixte~ri feet) but f\t least 3.0 meters (ten feet.),
an existing encroachment m,3.y be extendeii for not
more than one hundred p0rc~:>nt of the length of the
enc.roachinq wall to be excended, but not to e:<ceed
6.1 meters (twenty feet).
(b) Vertical additions. Where a sinqle-
family c~welling h~gally constructed, accordinq to
existing yard and setback requlations at the time of
construct ion, r:>ncr.oaches irnon pee.sent t·equ i rt-~fl
yards, c.i Vf~rtical ariditL)n t,; th~; ~:;tcuctun~ above
the e:<istinq side "''ails sh<.1ll t:L' nen1i.tter1 to<.~
heiqht which does not violate the 0.~yi~qht plane
re~u lat ions, pl'.'ov ided that tho arkU t ion does not i.n-·
crease the encroachment into thr~ side yard. No
v e rt i ca l a ad i t i o ri to a s .i. n q 1 e ·· ~ a JT. i 111 d we l l i n q sh a 11
i.)e allowed ov~~r a horizontal ~~xten:-~ion pcrrn)tted
under section 1b. i2.080(a).
SECTION 4.
hereby repealed o
Section 18.88.120 of tbe Palo A:ito MunU:ipul Code is
SEC'l'ION S. Section 18.04.030(44) fnefinitions) of the Palo Alto
Municipal Coae is hereby amendpcl to read:
~(44) 'Daylight plane' rrH.~ans an inclinEo
plane beg innL1g at a stated heiqht above qrade at a
side or rear property line, and ex tending into thE:
site at a stated upward anqle to the horizontal,
which may limit the height or horizontai extent of
structures at-any specific point on the site where
the daylight plane is more res tr icti .'e than the
height limit or the mi.nimum yard applicabl~ at such
point on the site.R
SECTION 6 Section 18.12.0SO(k) fR-1 District Site development
regulations--lighting] is he~eby added to the Palo Altc Municipal Code
to r0nd:
"(k) Lighting. Recreationa~ and security
lighting shall be permitted only so long as the
lighting is .3hield'?d so that the <li:.ect light ooes
not extend beyond the property ~her€! it is located.
Fr.om the effective date of this ordinance, both
recreational and security .lighting, it' f.ree~-~-rr.g;
shall be resttlcted to twelve (12T feet in heig~t.~
SECTION 7. Section 18.41.070(d) [CN Special Reqt?irementsl of the
Pa.i o Al to" u.1\i;T cipa 1 Code is he re by r.en umbered t.o Sect ion 18. 4 1 • O 70 ( e) •
SECTION 8. Section 18.41.070(d) !CN Sp~cial Requirem~nts] is
hereby added to the Palo Alto Municipal Code to r.ead:
"(d) Sites which are opposite a site in any
RE, R-1, R-2, P.M or any residential PC district and
separated by a str.eet, all~y, creek or drainage
facility shall be subject to a maximum height estab
lished by a dayliqht plane beginning at a height of
3.0 meters (10 feet) at the applicable RE, R-1, R-2,
2.
RM or n.~sidential PC ctistrict ~;id" .')r n•ar sitr> line
and increasing at'" !dopt-~ of on,-.. mPtr>r for t>d:ch two
meters of distance from thP ~;iti> 1 inc-unt. i l inter
secting the height otherwi~w 1~~tahl ished for the CN
district."
SECTION 9. Sect.ion 18.04.030(33} !Ocfinitionsi of the Palo Alto
Municipal Cone is hereby repealed.
SEC'l'ION 10. Sections 18.04.030(34) -18.04.030(37)
of the Palo Alto Municipal Code ;·ire hPrPhy renumhereci
18.04.030(33) -18.04.030(36).
[Def initionsJ
to Sect ions
SECTION 11. Section 18.04.030(110) !Definitions] is hereby added
to the Palo -A.Tto Municipal Corle to r-earl:
"(110) 'Park.i.nq as
us;~ providinq parkinq <3nd
on a prof'.lt or nonprofit
and not accessory to ,1
use. 11
a prinC"ipal use' means n
sto r .irw i)f motor veh i c .I.es
l1d'lis, as ,1 principal use
nt>nnit·tf'd ('r conditional
SEC'rION 12.
M 1Jn i c 1 paT--codi!~-·1s
~>ection 1~l •. ~7.04Cl(b~
hereby r<'\J('d}Pd.
Section 18.41.040(c) (\C
h~::t:-·.~~;·; <lrl1t'l1dPc1 to t"i'<ld:
" ( c ) P e.H· k i n q .·:i G 2l p r \ n c i pa i us c· ,
of the Palo .i\..lto
SECTION 14, 8f~ct1on 1A.45.040(e) [CS Di~>tl~ictJ of the Palo .Z\lto
Mu.nicTpa1CoCfe-is hereby ameno(>o to rea<l:
"(e) Pa~king as a principal use.
SECTION 15, Section 18.55.040(c) [GM District.) of the Palo Alt.o
MunicipaT·· Codei~::> hereby amended to rea.d:
"(c) Farkinq as a principal use.
SECTION 16. Section 18.32.GSO(e) [PF Distr.ict.] of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code is hereby amended to read:
(e) Flour Area Ratio. The maximum floor area
ratio shall be 1. 0 to l ,, 0 t provided t.hat for-park
ing facilities the maximum floor area ratio shall
be equal to the floor area ratio established by the
most restrictive adjacent zoning district.
Sf;CT.ION 17. Section 18.32"050(f) fl'F District] uf the Palo A1.t0
MunicTpar-cooe is hereby amended to read:
(f) Site Cove·ceage. The maximum oitr::> coverage
shall be thirty percent C>f the site area, pl'.'ovided
that for parkins facilities the maximum site cover
age shall be equal to the site coverage al lowed by
the most r-estrictive adjacent zoning aistrict.
SEC'l.'ION 18. Section 18. 71.080 (OS District Requlations --Maximum
building cov~rage] of the Palo Alto Municipal Code ls hereby amena~a to
read:
•18.71.080 Maximum building coverage. The
max imurn imperv iou~ area and building cove:caqe sh al 1
be 3.5 perce:nt~ provided that wher:e a portion of a
subdivision l:'lith clustered lots of less than ten
acres in si. ze cont":_"' s an area rendered undevelop
able by an open space re::. tr i ct ion, the impervious
coverage which would otherwise be allotted to this
undevelopable area shall be transferred to those
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lots within the
will be permitted
lot size.
1ubrlivision on which rlevelopmcnt
in a proportional mannf:•r hase,1 on
SECTION 19. Section 18.04,040(117) [Definitions! 0f tlie, Palo Altn
Municipal Code is hereby renumbered to 18,04,030( 118).
SECTION 20. Section 18.04.030(t17) [Definitions! is hereby adrled
to the Palo Alto Municipal Code to read:
(117/ Property means r.eal property which in
cludes the landr that which is affixed to the land,
and that which is incidental or appurtenant to the
l~nd, as defined in Civil Code Sections 658-662.
SECTION 2·1. Secti(rn 18.68.140 [PC District) of the Palo l-\lto
MunicTPal Coci'e-is hereby amended to read:
N18.68.140 Failure to Meet Development
Schedule. Sixty days prior to the (~xpi rtit ion of
th~"? development. schedult=', the zoninq ,'.h1mini::;tJ::-ator
shall r1otify the property owner in wd.tinq of ti1f:
date of expiration or1d ndvise the: pr:opr::-'t·ty nwne?· <..)f
section 18.68.130. Fc'.lure to meet. thE::' appt:oved
development schedule, incJ.udinq an ext.ensi.on:, it
grc.mt.ed, shali. result in
11 (1) The expiration of the property own
er's right to d"'!velop under the PC district. 'rhe
zoning administrator shall notify the µcoperty own··
er, the city council, the planning commission and
the building official of such expiration; and
"(2) The zoning administrator's .i.niti:::lt-
inq a zone change for the property subject to t:h0 PC
district in accordance with Chapter 18.98. The
property owner may submit a new application for a PC
district concurrently with the zoning administra
tor's recommend at ion for a zone change.
SECTION 22. Section 18~98.0SO(a) [Amen1 ments] of th~ Palo Alto
Mu~icipal Code is hereby amended to read:
"'18. 98. 050 Action by the Zoning Administra
tor. (a) Upon receipt of an application for
chan9e in oounaar ies, or upon receipt of the mot ion
of the city council or th~ planning commission, or
upon the expiration of a development schedule in a
PC zone~ the zoning ad mini st ra tor sh al 1 notify the
chairman of the planning commission. It
SECTION 23. Se ;tion 18.68.160 [PC District--Inspectionsl is here-
by added to tfie Palo Alto Municipal Code to read:
~is~68.160 Inspections,, Each PC district
shall be inspected by the buildin0 division at least
once every three years for compliance with the PC
district. regulations ana the conditions of the ordi
nance under which the district was created."
SECTION 24. Section 18.90.0BO(a) [Variances and Conditional Use
Permits]'of the Palo Al to Municipal Code is herehy a.Mended to read:
" (a) In any case where the cond it .i.ons of a
variance or conditional us-~ permit !lave not. been or
are .net ooing complied with, the zoning ar}ministra
tor shall set a date for ~ p~blic hea~ing and notice
the public hearing in accordance with section
18.90.030. Following such hearing, but not more
than ten working nays after the cone 1 us ion of the
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hearing, the zoning administrator shall make find
ings of whether the conditions of the variance or
conditional use permit have not heen or not b€inq
complied with an<'! render his d~cision to r.evoke or
modify such val'.'iance or:-conditional use permit."
SECTION 25. Section iB.92.010 [Appeals] of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code is hereby amended to read:
•18.92.010 Appeal.. An appeal may be taken
to the planning commission by any person, f.irm, or
col'."poration aggrieved ~;r affected by any determina
tion of the zoning administrate~ with respect to the
granting, denial, revocation or modification of a
var i a nee or condition a 1 use permit • 11
SEC'rION ~~6. Section 18.90.080(c) [Variances and Condi.tional rJse
PermifsT of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is herby amended to ~::et~<i:
11 (c) A use permit which has not been use(l for.
any period of one year or more shall become~ nuJ.l
and void. At such time as the zoning administrato~
det2t·mines that it is most 1 i kel y that a use per in it
has r.o t been used for a year or more, t.1"1e z.on i n(.i
administrator shall notify the propet"ty owner and
hold a public hearing in ac(:ordance .,., i th Sect 10,1
18. 90. 030. At the t: ime and ;-ilace set fol::' suci·\
hearing, the zoninq administre:1bJ!:" shall hear ~""vi··
dence on the use and/or non use of th~ use permit.
Within a re<.l.sonable time .• hut not mon~ than ten
working days after ::onclusion of the hearing, the
zoning adm~~~strator shall make findings and render
a de~ision on the effectiveness of th~ use perr1it.
Notice of th€ deci~don of the zoninq aJmi nistrator.
shan. be mailed to the property owner and tr: any
other person requesting such notice. 'l'he decision
of the zoning administrator ruay be appeale~ in
accordance with Chapter 18.~%."
SECTION 27. The first paragraph of ·:md subparagraph ( b) of Sec-
t ion !8.90.100··rvarianc~s in <.."'Onjunction with subd.ivisionl of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code are hereby amended to read:
•18.90.100 Variances in conjunction with
subdivision. In cas~s of major or minor subd iv i
s ions, the subdivider may, in conjunct ion with the
f i 1 i.ng of a tentative map or a pre 1 iminary parce 1
map and addi•;iorial data pursuant to Title 21, also
file an application under this chapter for one o:r.
more variances set forth in sect ion 18. 90. 01 O. In
such event, the variance application shall be pt"o
cessed concurrently with the major" or min0c subd iv i
s ion, in lieu of under the provisions of this Title,
in acccrd with the following procedure:
. . .
"(b) In the case of a tentative map, the plan-
ning commission mdy recommend and the city council
may approve., and in the case of a preliminary parcel
map, the director of planning and community environ
ment may approve, the granting of one or mor~ var i -
ances where the findings for variances sGt forth in
section 18.90.050 are made. No s~parate public
hearing need be held for the granting of variances.
under this section."
SECTION 28. Section 18.92.040 [Hearing and Notif1cation] of the
Palo Alto MunICipal Code is hereby amended to read:
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"18.92.040 fie,"•ring and notification. Upon
notification and receipt of the appeal, the chairman
of the planning commission shall set a nate for a
public hearing on the appeal, which shall he held
within three months of the date of filing of the
appeal. Notice of hearing shall be given in the
same manner as provided in Chapter 18.90 for notice
of hearing by the zoning administrator.
"The zoning administrator shall transmit to the
planning commission copies of the original applica
tion, of the appeal, and of other papers constitut
ing the record upon which the action appealed was
taken, including a written. statement settinq forth
the rea3ons for his dee is ion. The per.mi t app 1 i cant
at his/her expense shall be required to provide for
the con~ission and council sufficient copies, as
determined by the zoning administrator-, of papers,
including plansf that constitute the record of
appeal."
SECTION 29. Section 18.93.050 [Consideratiort and Notifica.tionJ of
the Palo AltOt.Tunicip~l Code is hereby amenc'}d to read:
R18.93.050 Consideration and notificatiDn.
Upon notificat.ion and receipt of the appeal, the
chairman of the pJ.ann ing commission shall place the
aopeal on the agenda for-the next regular meeting of
the planning comndi:.sion on the fourth Wednesday cif
the month for action; provided that lf, in the
opinion of the cha i r:rnan of the planning commission,
such schedulinq is not practical by reason of the
pr.ox im it y of the date of the aµpea1 to the next
regular meeting date of the planr1inq commission, or
by r2ason of the congest ion of the agf!nd a for said
meet :i. ng, plann i L'.J commission consideration of the
appeal m.::i.y be sc:heduled, at the discret ior1 of t.he
chairman of the planning commission, for t~e next
following reguJ.::ff meeting of the planning commis
sione Notice o.f. the date and ... irne of conside1.ation
of the appeal shall be mailed to the applicant and
appellant not later than the cate of distribution of
the planning commission packet of the subject. meet
ing.
"The director of planning and conununity ~nvi
ronmen t shall tr>'"'.nsm it to the planning comm iss icri
copies of t.ht.: on.ginal application, of the appeal,
and of other papers constituting the record upon
which the act io:J appealed was taken~ incl uct i ng a
writ ten statement setting forth the reason~~ for his
dee is ion. The permit applicant at his/her expf'nse
sha 11 be required to provide for the commission and
council sufficient copies, as determined by the
a i rector of planning and comrnun it y env i ronrnent, of
the pa,.::d:>1 including plans, that con:Jtitute the
record of appeal."
SECTION 30. Sect ion 18. 99. 040 [Minor Changes J of the Palo Al to
MunicTj3a1Cocte-is hereby amended to read~
•is.99.040 Division of applications for
administrative approval. The director of planning
and community environment in hh.. discretion may
divert a qualified application for a minor change to
the administrative approval process provided in this
chapter, and the e.ppl icant shall then pay the fee
prescribed by the municipal fee schedule for a minor
change."
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SECTION 31. Section 18.99.060(d) [Minor. Chanqe,s] of the Palo Alto
Municipal C~is hereby repe~ied.
SECTION 32. Section 21.08.060 [Waiv'9r of Parcel Map) of the Palo
Alto Municipa1Code is hereby ren1.1rnhered to Section 21, 08 .070.
SECTION 33. Sect ion 21 • 08. 06 0 f Lot Line Removal 1 is hereby added
to the P:.10-Alto Municipal Code to read~
21.08.060 Lot line removal. A. lot line
removal shall constitute a minor surxHvision or a
major subdivision, and ther0fore shall require a
preliminary parcel map or a tentative map and a
parcel map or a final map.
SECTION 34. Section 21.12.090(e) (Action of preliminary parcel
map] 07. the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to read:
" ( e) Act ion on pre l im inar.y parce J. map. Sub-
ject t.o the appeal procedures of this title, the
dit:-ector· of planning may approve 1 conditlonally
approve, or deny any pre 1 im inary parcel map filed.
The director of planning shall take such action
withil"\ fifi::y Clays of the date of filing, unless
ex tended by the mu tu c:il consent: of the '.:" i r.0ctr.n· of
planning and the applicant~ Prior to taking any
such act.ion, the director of planning shall hold a
public hearing at whi.·:h any interested person rihall
be allowed to present testimony regardi:-ig the pre-
1 imi:1a·ry parcel map. If, in the opinion of the
director of planning, there are issues cf major
significance associated with the proposed parcel
mzrp, ouch map may be deferred by the director of
pl ann ins to the planning co min iss ion and the city
counci J. f.ol'." processing in accordance with the pro
cedures set forth in sect ions ?.1. 12. 090 ( c) and
(d)."
SECTION 35. The first. paragraph of subsection (a) , and
subsectJ.ons TFrand (d) of Secl::1on 21.16.010 [S<1bmiss:Lon of
submission of parcel map] of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
amended to read:
final map,
<u:·e hereby
•21.16.010 Submisaion of final map, submis
sion of parcel •ap. (a) Within two yt::eo".'i:> of the
approval or condition al approval of a tentative map,
or a pre 1 irn inary parce 1 map, the subdivider shall
cause the subdivision or anv part th~1reof to be sur
veyed, and a final map or a parcel map, as specif j_ed
in Chapter 21.08, to be prepared in conformance with
the ten ta~ i ve map or pr: el iminary parcel map as ap
proviad or conditionally approved, and in compliance
with the provisions of the Subd .iv is ion Map Act and
this title and submitted to the city engineer.
" ( b) An extent ion of time muy be granted by
the director of planning in the case of a prel imi
nary parcel map and by the <:ity council after recom
mendation of the planning commission in the case of
a tentative map, upo.ri. the viritten application of the
subdivider within two years of the approval or con
ditional approval of the tentative map or prelimi
nary pa race l map or prior to the ex pi rat ion of any
pi:·evious extension granted underneath this suhsec
t ion. Such extent ion sh al 1 be subject to the maxi
mum limitations set forth in the Subdivision Map
Act.
"(d) Unless a final map or parcel map is
filed, ;;ind a.1.1 conditions of approval are fulfilled
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within said two-year perio<'l, or such extP.ntion as
may be granted, the tentative or preliminary parcel
map shall expire and all proceedinqs shall termi
nate. Thereafter, no final or parcel map shall be
filed without first processing a tentative or pre-
1 iminary paracel map."
SECTION 36. Paragraph 2 of Section 21.20.240(2) [Wi<'lths] of the
Palo Alto Mun1cipa.l Code is hereby amended to read:
"(2) All other streets shall have right-of-way
of the following widths, except where the city coun
cil determines that the topography or the small num
ber of lots &erved and the probable future traffic
development are such as to justify a narrowed width.
Increased widths may be required where streets 2re
to serve nonresidential property, or where probable
traffic conditions warrant such increased widths~
1a) Major arterials: 86 feet to 100
feet.
(b) Co1J.e,;tor streeb.1 1 local st:ceeL;;, or:
cul-de-sac streets longer than 350 feet: 60 feet.
( <; }
in length: 50
Cul~-de-~sac
feet.
stre(~ts 350 feet or less
( d) Private st re et s: Such right-of-way
a.s would be requir:ed for a comparable public street,.
unless subdivider can demon st rate to the sat i sf ac
t i_on of the city council or dire~tor of planning and
community environme1.t., as appi::·opriate, facts relat
inq to the nature or location of the proposed street
er the nature of the proposed development which
render such right-of-way unnecessary for or detri
mental to the public hf'-al th f safety or we1fare.11
SECTION 37. The Council hereby finds that these changes wi11 have
no sign1f1cant ~averse environmental impact.
SECTION 38. This ordinance shall become effecti·ve upon the com
mencement or-nle thirty-f.irst day after the day of its passage.
INTRODOCED: April 5, 1982
PASS ED r. A p r i l l 9 , 1 9 8 2
AYES: Bechtel, Cobb, Eye-rly, Fazzino, F"letcher, K1ein, Levy, Renze1,
Witherspoon
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS~ None
l\BSENT! None
City Cl )r')''
PPROVE~/ AS ' -·--kl
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APPROVED )
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