HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 3447ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE NO. 3447
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OP~THECTiYY
ADDING CHAPTER 18.30 (NEIGHBORHOOD
COMBINING DISTRICT (NP) REGULATIONS)
ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
OF PALO Al.TO
PRESERVATION
TO THE PALO
The Council of th~ City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SBC'rION 1. Chapter. ·is.30 {Nt:ighbor'."lo<)d ?resf!rvation
DistrTct-(NP)'f<egulations) is hertc:hy added to the PalG I'.lto
Code to read.:
CHAPTER 18.30
-:i ' -• Cornn1n1nq
~un1c:1pal
NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION COMBINING DIS'I'RXC'.I' (NP) REGULATIONS
Sections:
18.30.010
18.30.020
18.30.030
18.30.040
18.30.050
Specific Purposes
Applicabll1ty of Requiations
Zoning Map Designation
Design Review Requirements
Exceptions to Development Standards
18.30.010 Specif,ic PuI·poses.. 'l'he neigh-
bori-10od pr.~servation combining district is intended
to modify the regulations of mu 1 t iple family res i
dence districts in areas where it is deemed essen
tial to maintain the visual and historic character
of existing neighborhoods. The combining di.strict
is intended to foster retention of existing single
family structures~ to foster additions to existing
proper ties without demol it.ion of sound residential
structures, and to assure compatibility of design
of new residential unit.s with existing structur~s
on the same or surrounding properties.
18.30.020 Applicability of r~gulations.
The neighborhood preservation como1n1ng district
may be combined with any multiple family residence
<listii:::t, in accord wH:.h Chapter 18.0S and 18 .. 98.
Where so combined, the regulations ~stabl ished by
this chapter shall apply in ~ddition to the provi
sions established by such underlying multiple
family district or Chapter 18.90.
18.30~030 Zoning map designation. The
neighborhood pr.eservat ion comb.in i ng district shall
apply to properties designated on the zoning map by
the symbol ~NP" with in par en theses, fol lowing the
general district designation for the distcict with
which it is combined.
18.30.040 Design review requirements.
(a) Design approval required. No design re
view shall be required for construction of or modi
fications to single family structures which consti
tute the only pr inc i pal st rue tu re on a pa rct> 1 of
land. For properties on v1hich two or mon') residen
tial units are developed or modified, desiqn review
and approval shall be required by the Architectural
Review Board in compliance with p:rocf~dures estab-
1 ished in Chapter 16.48 for any new development or
modification to any structure on th.e property and
for site amemities.
( b) Purposes~ The purpose of design review
shall be to achieve compatibility of scale, silhou
ette, facade articulation and ma.terial.s of new con
struction with existing structures 011 the same
property or on surrounding properties wit.h.ln a
combining district.
(c) Design guidelines. The Architectural
Review Board shall, at its discretion, develop
specific design review guidelines for each specific
area to which this c:ombining district is applied.
18 .. 30.050 Exceptions to development si:c(ndards~
(a) Duties of the zoning anministrator~ Sub
ject to the provisions of this chapter and the gen
eral purposes of this title to foster. r:etention of
ex is ting single family structures and to maintain
the existing historic and general character of the
neighborhood, the zoning administrator may grant
exceptions to site development regulations (except
limitations on residential density), parking regu
lations, and from thE=t speci.al setback requirements
of Title 20 applicable to the underlying zone dis
trict where combined with the neighborhood preser
vation combining district. This e!ception proce
dure i a the exc1us i ve racedure fo_r e;;.~s.ur tH9_<!!.! exc~~;_on_~_eve .oemer1t _§.ta~~s . .2.!!-.-~-~
Comb1 n l ns • Dl s tr:~.£!;&,_,_ It, ,i, ~ f'lOt~ _.]1eCe!!3a!'}! for_ t~
12ro2erty owner to obta1n a variance ~t;~u~~ to
Ctiapter 18. 9q." · · ---
( b) Application for except ions from develop
men t standardd.
2.
-~-----·-·----------------------.....
{l) Application for an exception from
development standards may be made by the owner of
record of property from which an exception is
sought or by a purchaser of said property when
acting pursuant to a contract executed and acknowl
edged by both the buyer and owner of record, or by
an agent of the subje<~t property owner when duly
authorized by the owner in writing.
{2) Application shall be made to the
zoning administrator on a form prescribed by the
zoning administrator, and shall contain the
following:
( i) A description and ma.p showing
the 1ocat ion of the property f.o:r which the excep
tion is sought, and indicating the location of all
parcels of real property with 91.4 meters (300
feet) ft·om the exterior boundary of the pr.oper-t}.r
involved in the application~
( i. i) •rhe name and addr.ess of the
applicant, anci the names and addresses of all Pf1c·
sone, shown in t.he last equa..l i zed assessment rol 1
(as upd;;ited by the semi-annual rea1 estate upda.te
information) as owning real property within 91.4
meters ( 300 feet) of the (;~ter ior boundary of the
property which is subject of this application~
(iii) Plans and/or des er iptions of
existing and proposed construction on the proper.ty
involved, toqether with a statement of the circum
stances which justify the exception application;
(iv) Such additional information as
the zoning administrator may deem pertinent and
essential to the application.
( 3) P.ppl icc.t ion for an except ion shall
be accompanied by the fee prescribed by the munici
pal fee schedule, no part of which shall be return
able to the applicant.
(c) Public hearing and notice.
(1) Upon receipt of an application for
a.n exception, the zoning administrator shall set a
date for a public hearing, which hearing shall be
held within fot"ty-five days of the date of filing
of the application.
3.
---------------~------·-----~-------------------------...
(2) Notice of such hearing shall be
given by pub.l icat ion once in a local newspaper of.
general circulation not less that fifteen days
prior to the date of hearing. Additionally, notice
of such hearing sha 11 be mailed at least. fifteen
days prior to the date of hearing to the applicant,
and to owners of record o.f real propeety within
91. 4 meter.s ( '300 feet) of the ext.er ior boundary of
th0 property involved, as such owners of record are
s how.n in the last equalized assesi:;ment rol 1 (as
updated by the semi-annual real estate update in
formation) and the occupant of said property within
91 • 4 meters. Compl .i a nee with the procedures .set
forth herein shall constitute cl good faith effort
tc provide notice, and tbe failure of any ownec or
occupant to recei.ve notice shall not prevent the
City from proceeding wi.th the hearing or from
taking any action nor affect the validity of any
action.
(3) ~['he not.ice of public hearing shall
contain the following:
( i) ~rhe exact address of the prop
erty, if known, or the location of the property, if
the exact address is not known, and the natun~ or
purpose of the application;
(ii) The t irne, place, and p1J.rpose
of the hear.ing ~
(iii) A briP.f descriptionr the con
tent of which shall be in the sole discr.et ion of
the City, of the exception sought1
(iv) Reference to the application
on file for par· · c1.llars; and
(v) A statement that any interested
person, or agent thereof, ma} appear and be heard.
Typographical and/or publishing er.rors shall
not invalidate the notice nor any City action.
(d) Action by zoning administrat.or9 At the
time and place set for hearing, the zoning admin
i s tra toe shall hear e11 idence for and against such
application. Each hearing shall be open to the
public. The zoning administrator may continue any
hearing from time to time. Within a reasonable
t. ime, but not more than ten working days after the
conclusion of the hearing, the zoning administrator
·--·--~--------------------~----------------
shall make findings and shall render a_ decision on
the application which in his opinion is supported
by the evidence contained in the application or
presented at the hearing. Notice of the decision
of the zoning administrator shall be mailed to the
applicant and to any other person requesting such
notice. Upon the request of the recipient of the
exception, the exception, and the conditions appli
cable thereto, shall be recorded with the County
Recor.der.
(e) Findings and conditions.
( 1) The .-zoning administrator may qr ant
an exception from the site development regulationsr
the pa:i::king and loading regulations, or the rpec.ial
requir-ements of this title applicable within any
residential district which has been combined with
the neighborhood preserva.t ion combining district
if p from the application or the facts presented at
thepublic hearing, he finds:
( i) The grantin9 of the exception
will faciljtate the preservation of an existing
residential structure on the same property and will
be of benefit in maintaining the existing historic
and general character. of the surrounding neighbor
hood, and
(ii) The granting of the
tion will not be detrimental or injurious
erty or improvements in the vicinity and
be detrimental to the public health,
general welfare, or convenience.
app~ica
to prop
will not
:;afety,
{ 2) In gr,anting S\lCh except.ion, the
zoning administrator may impose such reasonable
conditions or re~trictions as he deems appropriate
or necessary to protect the public heal t.h, safety •.
general welfare, or convenience, and to secure the
purposes of this title.
( f) Effective date. An ex<;ept ion granted by
the ~oning administrator shall take erfect ten days
following the mailing of the notice of the decision
of the zoning administrator, unless an appeal ~s
filed as provided in Chapter 18.92.
(g) Revocation~ extension, transferability,
and duration,,
5.
--~------------~---------------------------.....
( 1) In ~my case where the conditions of
an except.ion have not been or are not being com
plied with, the zoning administrator shall set a
date for a pub1 ic hearing an.d notice the public
hearing in accor.dance with section 18.30.050(c).
Fol lowing such hear i nq, but not more thar~ ten work
ing days after the conclusion of the hear.i.ng, the
zoning administrator shall moke findings of whether
the conditions of t.he e){ception have not been or
not b~ing complied with a.nd render his decision to
revoke or modi.fy such exception.
( 2) An e:.: cept ior, which has not been used
within one year following th~~ effective date there
of~ shall becomi::> null and void and of no ef feet
unless a shorter time period sball specifically be
prescribed by the conditions of such f!XC<~ption.
The zoning administrator. may, without a. hearing,
extend such time for a maxi.mum period of one addi~·
tional year: only, upon application filed with him
before the expiration of the one-year limit, or the
expiration of such limit as may be specified by the
conditions of the exception granted.
(3) An exception granted pursuant to
this chapter shall exist for the life of the exist
ing structure preserved or such structure as may be
constructed purs1umt. to the approval unless a dif
fecent time period is specified in the issuance of
t.he except ion. An except ion from the parking 3nd
loading regulations shall be valid only dur.ing the
period of continued operation of the use and/or
structure for which the exception was granted~
SECTION 2. Severability. If any provision or clause of this
chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is
held to be uncon.sti tutional or to be otherwise invalid by any court of
competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other chapter
provisions, and clauses of this chapter are declared to be eeverable.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that none of the provisions of this
ordinance will have a s.igni f icant environmer1tal impact.
SEcrrION 4. Thie, ordinance sha 11 become effective upon the com
mencen'lent o!t"'he thirty-first day after the day of its passage.
6.
• •
INTRODUCED: June 20' 1983
PASSED; July 11~ 1983
AYES: Bechtel, Cobb, Fazzino, Fletcher, Klein, Levy, Renzel,
Witherspoon
NOES~ Eyer l y
ABSENT.: None
~?;p~---·-·------r~:_)
7.