HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7513
City of Palo Alto (ID # 7513)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 12/12/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Second Reading Architectural Review Findings Ordinance
Title: SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Approving Revisions to
the Architectural Review Findings in Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 18.76
and Approval of an Exemption Under Sections 15061 and 15305 of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council conduct a second reading and adopt the attached ordinance
(Attachment A).
Background
On November 14, 2016, the City Council reviewed and adopted (on “first” reading, a draft
ordinance revised following Council prior readings on April 11 and September 12, 2016) a draft
ordinance modifying the 16 architectural review findings into six findings.
The findings approved by the City Council on November 14, 2016 are:
1. The design is consistent with applicable provisions of the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan;
Zoning Code including context-based design criteria, as applicable), coordinated area
plans, and any relevant design guides.
2. The project has a unified and coherent design, that:
a. creates an internal sense of order and desirable environment for occupants,
visitors, and the general community,
b. preserves, respects and integrates existing natural features that contribute
positively to the site and the historic character including historic resources of the
area when relevant,
c. is consistent with the context based design criteria of the applicable zone
district,
d. provides harmonious transitions in scale, mass, and character to adjacent land
uses and land use designations, and
City of Palo Alto Page 2
e. enhances living conditions on the site (if it includes residential uses) and in
adjacent residential areas.
3. The design is of high aesthetic quality, using high quality, integrated materials and
appropriate construction techniques, and incorporating textures, colors, and other
details that are compatible with and enhance the surrounding area.
4. The design is functional, allowing for ease and safety of pedestrian and bicycle traffic
and providing for elements that support the building’s necessary operations (e.g.
convenient vehicle access to property and utilities, appropriate arrangement and
amount of open space and integrated signage, if applicable, etc.).
5. The landscape design complements and enhances the building design and its
surroundings, is appropriate to the site’s functions, and utilizes regional indigenous
drought-resistant plant material capable of providing desirable habitat, and that can be
appropriately maintained.
6. The project incorporates design principles that achieve sustainability in areas related to
energy efficiency, water conservation, building materials, landscaping, and site planning.
Attachments:
Attachment A: AR findings approved 11 14 16 (PDF)
Not Yet Approved
161121 jb 0131537 1 Rev. Nov. 21 2016
Ordinance No. _______
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code
(PAMC) Title 18 (Zoning Regulations), Section 18.76.020 (Architectural Review)
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. As part of the City’s annual Zoning Code update, the City desires to improve its
Architectural Review findings to ensure robust design review, to eliminate repetitive findings and to
remove outmoded and unnecessary findings.
B. On September 3 and October 1, 2015, the Architectural Review Board (ARB)
reviewed the draft updated architectural review findings and provided input. Subsequently, the
Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) reviewed the AR findings and recommended that
Council approve them without any changes.
C. On April 11, 2016, the Council reviewed the draft findings, suggested revisions and
directed staff and the ARB to review the updated language and offer approval, feedback or changes.
D. On June 16, 2016, the ARB reviewed the updated findings and provided additional
comments.
E. On August 10, 2016, the Planning and Transportation Commission reviewed the
updated findings and concurred with the ARB and Staff’s comments.
F. On September 12, and November 14, 2016, the City Council conducted a public
hearing on the current draft of the updated architectural review findings.
SECTION 2. Subdivision (d) of Section 18.76.020 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is
amended to read as follows:
18.76.020 Architectural Review.
***
(d) Findings
Neither the director, nor the city council on appeal, shall grant architectural review approval, unless
it is found that each of the following applicable findings is met:
(1) The design is consistent with applicable provisions of the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan,
Zoning Code, coordinated area plans (including compatibility requirements), and any
relevant design guides.
(2) The project has a unified and coherent design, that:
Not Yet Approved
161121 jb 0131537 2 Rev. Nov. 21 2016
(a) creates an internal sense of order and desirable environment for occupants, visitors,
and the general community,
(b) preserves, respects and integrates existing natural features that contribute positively
to the site and the historic character including historic resources of the area when
relevant,
(c) is consistent with the context-based design criteria of the applicable zone district,
(d) provides harmonious transitions in scale, mass and character to adjacent land uses
and land use designations,
(e) enhances living conditions on the site (if it includes residential uses) and in adjacent
residential areas.
(3) The design is of high aesthetic quality, using high quality, integrated materials and
appropriate construction techniques, and incorporating textures, colors, and other details
that are compatible with and enhance the surrounding area.
(4) The design is functional, allowing for ease and safety of pedestrian and bicycle traffic and
providing for elements that support the building’s necessary operations (e.g. convenient
vehicle access to property and utilities, appropriate arrangement and amount of open
space and integrated signage, if applicable, etc.).
(5) The landscape design complements and enhances the building design and its surroundings,
is appropriate to the site’s functions, and utilizes to the extent practical, regional indigenous
drought resistant plant material capable of providing desirable habitat that can be
appropriately maintained.
(6) The project incorporates design principles that achieve sustainability in areas related to
energy efficiency, water conservation, building materials, landscaping, and site planning.
Neither the director, nor the city council on appeal, shall grant architectural review approval,
unless it is found that:
(1) The design is consistent and compatible with applicable elements of the Palo Alto
Comprehensive Plan;
(2) The design is compatible with the immediate environment of the site;
(3) The design is appropriate to the function of the project;
(4) In areas considered by the board as having a unified design character or historical character,
the design is compatible with such character;
(5) The design promotes harmonious transitions in scale and character in areas between
different designated land uses;
(6) The design is compatible with approved improvements both on and off the site;
(7) The planning and siting of the various functions and buildings on the site create an internal
sense of order and provide a desirable environment for occupants, visitors and the general
community;
(8) The amount and arrangement of open space are appropriate to the design and the function
of the structures;
(9) Sufficient ancillary functions are provided to support the main functions of the project and
the same are compatible with the project's design concept;
Not Yet Approved
161121 jb 0131537 3 Rev. Nov. 21 2016
(10) Access to the property and circulation thereon are safe and convenient for pedestrians,
cyclists and vehicles;
(11) Natural features are appropriately preserved and integrated with the project;
(12) The materials, textures, colors and details of construction and plant material are
appropriate expression to the design and function and whether the same are compatible with the
adjacent and neighboring structures, landscape elements and functions;
(13) The landscape design concept for the site, as shown by the relationship of plant masses,
open space, scale, plant forms and foliage textures and colors create a desirable and functional
environment and whether the landscape concept depicts an appropriate unity with the various
buildings on the site;
(14) Plant material is suitable and adaptable to the site, capable of being properly maintained
on the site, and is of a variety which would tend to be drought-resistant and to reduce consumption
of water in its installation and maintenance;
(15) ITie project exhibits green building and sustainable design that is energy efficient, water
conserving, durable and nontoxic, with high-quality spaces and high recycled content materials. The
following considerations should be utilized in determining sustainable site and building design:
(A) Optimize building orientation for heat gain, shading, daylighting, and natural ventilation;
(B) Design of landscaping to create comfortable micro-climates and reduce heat island
effects;
(C) Design for easy pedestrian, bicycle and transit access;
(D) Maximize on site stormwater management through landscaping and permeable paving;
(E) Use sustainable building materials;
(F) Design lighting, plumbing and equipment for efficient energy and water use;
(G) Create healthy indoor environments; and
(H) Use creativity and innovation to build more sustainable environments.
(16) The design is consistent and compatible with the purpose of architectural review as set
forth in subsection (a).
SECTION 3. Adoption of this ordinance is found to be categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guideline sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense
Exemption) and 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations)because: (1) the activity
(rewording of Architectural Review findings) is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only
to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and it can
be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a
significantly effect on the environment, and (2) this ‘minor alteration in land use limitations’ does
not result in any changes in land use or density.
SECTION 4. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of the ordinance is
for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it should have adopted the ordinance and
Not Yet Approved
161121 jb 0131537 4 Rev. Nov. 21 2016
each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional.
SECTION 5. This ordinance shall be effective upon the thirty-first day after its passage
and adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ _____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
___________________________ _____________________________
Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager
_____________________________
Director of Planning and Community
Environment