HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2703• • Of~IGU\JAL
ORDINANCE NO 2703
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
ADDING CHAPTER 16.48 TO THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE TO
CREATE AN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD, SPECIFYING ITS
JURISDICTION, DUTIES, POWERS, AND STANDARDS FOR REVIEW,
AND AMENDING SECTION 18.88.120(c) OF THE PALO ALTO
MUNICIPAL CODE
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAlN as follows:
SECTION 1. The document entitled "Chapter 16.48-Architectural Review" attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference is hereby added to the Palo Alto Municipal
Code. ·
SECTION 2.:.Section 18.88.120(c) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended
to read:
"(c) Pian_review and approval. Plans for development of such paved areas
sltall he submitted to the Architectura1 Review Board for re'liew and approval prior
to the issuance of any building permit. The Architectural Review Board shall
review such plans to determine if they substantially achieve the purposes of this
chapter and Chapter 16.48 of this code. The procedures contained in Chapter
16.48 shall apply to the review provided for herein."
SECTION 3: This ordinance shall become effective upon the expiration of thirty
days from its passage. Section 1648.020 shall be<~ orne effective on April 30, 197 3, or
such earli .... r time that the Architectural Review Board notifies the Building Official, Director
of Planning, and Zoning Administrator that it is ready to carry out its review duUes under
this chapter, whichever occurs sooner.
INTRODUCED: January 29, 1973
PASSED: February 26. 1973
AYES: UNANIMOUS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ATTEST:
_J,.,.AA'vi'--, /i 1
City Clerk /
APPROVED j,/s TO FORM:
L/1~~--
Senior Assistant City Attorney
APPROVED:
/~ ~tgef
\
•
Sections
16.48.010
16.48.020
16.48.030
16.48.040
16.48.050
16.48.060
16.48.070
16.48.080
16.48.090
lil.48.100
16.48.110
16,48.010
chapter are to:
•
CHAPTER 16.48
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
Declaration of goals and purposes.
Applicability of chapter.
Architectural Review Board.
Manner of appointment
•
Procedures of the Architectural Review Board
Application.
Action of the Architectural kt~view Board.
Preliminary review.
Standards for review.
Appeals.
Integration with other code provisions.
Dedaration of goats and purpos.es. The goals and purposes of this
I. Promote orderly and harmonious development of the city;
2. Enhance the desirability of residence or investment in the city;
3. Encourage the attainment of the most desirable use of land and improvements;
4. Enhance the desirability of living conditions upun the immediate site or in
adjacent areas; and
5. Promote visual environments which are of high aesthetic quaHty and variety and
which, at the same time, are considerate of each other.
I6.48.020 ~1icability of chapter. No permit issued under Title 16 of this code
shall be issued except after approval of. the design of the project by the Architectural
Review Board or the City Council, as the case may be, in compliance with this chapter.
Public property and projects are subject to the requirements of this chapter. This chapter
shall apply to all new construction in the city, including paved areas, and all other exterior
work and signs which require a permit from the city. Singly developed single family
dwellings and duplexes, and additions thereto, are exempt from this chapter. The director
of planning, building official, and zoning administrator shall h:ne discretion to submit
applications for fences, variances and use permits to the Architectural Review Board when
in their judgment a significant effect upon the aesthetic character of the city or the area
affected may be caused thereby. Plans for P-C (Planned Community) developments shall
be acted upon by the Architectural Review Board prior to action thereon by the Planning
Commission, provided that in the event significant land use decisions are involved, the
director of planning or the Architectural Review Board may first send the application
to the Pl:mning Commis&.;:,n for a decision thereon.
16.48.030 Architectural Review Board. There is hereby created an Architectural
Review Board consisting of five persons, at least three of whom shali · be architects,
landscape architects, building designers, or other design profe1>sionals. Each member of
the Architectural Review Board shall be appointed by the City Council and shall serve,
commencing on the first day of October, for a term of three years or until his successor .. ,
, I
~ I -
\
0 •
Sections
-1."6.48.010
16.48.020
16.48.030
16.48.040
16.48.050
16.48.060
16.48.070
16.48.080
16.48.090
16.48.100
16.48.110
16.48.010
chapter are to:
•
CHAPTER 16.48
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
Decl~ration of goals and purposes .
• ·.F-pJka~ility of chapter.
Architectural Review Board.
Manner of appointment
•
Procedures of the Architectural Review Board.
Application.
Action of the Architectural Review Board.
Preliminary review.
Standards for review.
Appeals.
Integration with other code provisions.
Declaration of J2als ar.d .J?urposes. The goals and purposes of this
I. Promote orderly and harmonious development of the city;
2. Enhance the desirability of residence or investment in the city;
3. Encourage the attainment of the most desirable use of land and improvements;
4. Enhance the desirability of Jiving conditions upon the immediate site or in
adjacent areas; and
5. Promote visual environm~nts which arc of high aesthetic quality and variety and
which, at the same time, are considerate of each other.
16.48.020 Aep1icability of chapter. No permit issued under Title 16 of this code
shall be issued except after approval of the design of the project by the Architectural
Review Board or the City Council, as the case may be, in compliance with this chapter.
Public property and projects are subject to the requirements of this chapter. 'This c~1apter
shalf apply to all new construction in the city, including paved areas, and aJJ other exterior
work and signs which require a permit from the city. Singly developer' single family
dwellings and duplexes, and additions thereto, are exempt from this chapter. The director
of planning, building official, and zoning administiator shall have discretion to submit
applications for fences, variances and use permits to the Architectural Review Board when
in their judgment a· significant -effect upon the aesthetic character of the city or the area
affected may be caused thereby. Plans for P-c (Planned Community} developments shaH
be acted upon by the Architectural Review Board prior to action thereon by the Planning
Commission, provided that in the event significant land use dedsjons are involved, the
director of planning or the Architectural Review Board may first s:Jnd th~ application
to the Planning Commis-:~:nt for a decision thereon.
16.48.030 Architectural Review Board. There is hereby created an Architectural
Review Board consisting of five persons, at least three of whom shall be architects,
landscape architects, building designers, or other design professionals. Each member of
the Architectural Review Board shall be appointed by the City Council and shaH serve,
commencing on the first day of October, for a term of three years oruntil his successor
~ , '
- 1 -
• •
is appointed and takes office. The origina] members of the Architectural Review Board
shall have staggered terms, to be dt~termined by lot among said members. with three
members to serve a term expiring September 30, 1976, and two members to serve a term
expiring September 30, 1975. The Architectural Review Board shaH have the powers
and duties specified herein, and shall comply with the procedures specified herein.
16.48.040 Manner of appointment. In filling vacancies on the Architectural
Review Board, the following procedures shaH be foUowed by the City Council:
(a) FoUowing notification vf vacancy or pending vacancy on the Architectural
Review Board, the city clerk shall advertise the same upon the Council agenda and in
a newspaper of general circulation in the city, incl~tding the CounciJ agenda digest, four
times within two weeks.
(b) Nominations and applications shaH be submitted to the city c1erk within such
two week period, to be forwarded to the City Council for it~ consideration.
(c) The City Coum:il shall review all nominations and applications and conduct such
interviews as it deems necessary prior to selection.
(d) Final selection ana appointment shall be made by the City Council after such
two week period has expired.
16.48.050 Procedures of the Architectural Review Board. The Architectural
Review Board shall meet at least monthly and shaH prescribe by~Jaws, forms, applications,
rules and regulations for the conduct of its business. AJI meetings of the Architectural
Review 3oatt:l. shall be open to the public and are subject to Title 5, Division 2, Part
1, Chapter 9 of the California Government Code or wccessor legislation.
The decisions of the Architectural Review Board shall be transmitted to the director
of planning; except that decisions on items otherwise subject to review by the PJanning
Commission shall be transmitted to that body.
!6.48.060 Application. Applications for design review shall be filed with the
planning department, along with a fee of ten doHars. The director of planning shal1
thereafter place the matter on the agenda of the Architectural Re\ \ew Board for the regular
meeting next following the 16th working day after receipt of the application. For good
cause, the director of planning shall have discretion to place the application on an earlier
or later agenda of the Arc~.itecturaJ Review Board.
16.48.070 Action of the Architectural Review Board. The Architectural Review
Board may approve or disapprove the design as submitted, or suggest changes, modifications
or alt\'lrations th~r~in, or impose conditions, all in accordance with the standards contained
in this chapter, and such additional standards as mgy be adopted and published by said
board from time to time. The Architecturai Review Board shaJl act upon each application
within two meetings, or thirty days, whichever occurs later, from the fmt consideration
_thereof, unless the applicant C(msents to further continuance. Failure of the Architectural
Review Board to a~t within said period wiU be deemed a disapproval of the application.
16.48.080 Pn;l:l!minary review. For the purpose of securing the advice of the
Architectural Review Board prior to making application for formal city action or permit
issuance, an application may be made whenever activities under Section 16.48.020 are
contemplated. The Architectural Review Board shall have discretion not to consider the
same. Approval of such applications shall be deemed to be compliance with this chapter
. 2 -
I ..
•
for purposes of later ~.~ity approvals or permit issuance under this code, so long as no
substantial changes are made in the design of the project. The director of planning shall
determine whether or not any change is substantial. Action upon such application is
not subject to appeal.
16.48.090 Standards for review.
(a) In addition to the goals and purposes of this chapter as set forth in Section
16.48.0 I~ hereof, the following standards shal1 be used by the Architectural Review Board
in reviewing matters within its jurisdiction:
1. Consistency and compatibility with applicable elements of the city's general plan.
2. Conceptual compatibility of design with the immediate environment of the site.
3. Appropriateness of the design to the site and function of the project.
4. In areas considered by the Board as having a unifieu design character or historical
character, to determine that the design is .:ompatible.
5. Whether the design promotes hannonious transitions in scale and character in
areas between different designated land uses.
6. Compatibility with future construction both on and off the site.
7. Whether the project expresses an appropriate sense of identity with its function.
8. Whether 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.
9. Whether the amount and arrangement of open space and landscaping are
appropriate to the design and the function of the structures.
10. Whether sufficient ancillary functions are provided to support the main functions
of the project and whether the same are compatible with the project's design concept.
1 I. Whether access to the property and ciJ"culation thereon are safe and convenient
for pedestriaus, cyclists and vehicles.
12. Whether natural features are appropriately preserved and integrated with the
proje~~t.
13. Whether the materials, textures, colors and details of cons!mction are an
appropriate expression of its design concept and function and whether the same are
compatib\e with the adjacent and neighboring structures and functions.
(b) The Architectural Review Board is empowered to review each of the following
items with respect to the proposed work, to the extent that the results of said review
are not in conflict with the provisions of Titles I 6 or J 8 cf this code.
1. Uses permitted.
2. Lot size.
3. Building coverage.
. . • •
4. Setbacks.
s. Building height.
6. Parking and other paved areas.
7. Use of open space.
8. Landscaping.
9. Signs and grapl}ics.
10. Aesthetics.
11. Quality of desien.
12. Character.
13. Scale.
14. Building materials.
IS. Color.
16. Pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular circulation.
17. Compatibility with neighboring properties and uses.
18. Ughting.
19. Noise.
20. VisibiHty and effect upon view at all sight lines.
21. Emission of smoke, fumes or odors.
22. Location upon the site.
23. Disturbance of existing topography, trees, shrubs and other natural features.
24. Water percolation, d!'~~nage, and impenneability of soils.
25. Accessory structures, including garages, sheds, utility facilities, and waste
receptacles.
26. Art work, sculpture, fountains and other artistic features.
27. Stairs, ramps, escalators, moving sidewalks, elevators and downspouts on the
exterior of buildings.
28. Flues, chimneys, exhaust fans, air conditioning equipment, elevator equipment,
flllls, cooling towers, antennae or similar structures placed upon the roof or the exterior
of the building which are visible from the street or any building in the immediate vicinity.
29. Sun shades, awnings, louvres or any visible device for deflecting, flltering, or
shielding the structure or interior from the elements.
- 4 -
. .
. ... • •
30. Balconies, penthouses, loading dock!~ or similar special purpose appendages or
accessory structures.
31. Fire safety, life safety, and fire a~.:ccss.
32. Such other features as affect the design and ultimate appearance of the work,
as determined by the Architectural Review Board.
16.48.100 Appeals. An)' person aggrieved with the action of the Architectural
Review Board may fiJe an appeal, not later than fifteen days following the action of
the Architectural Review Board or a disapproval by non-action provided in Section
16.48.070, with the City CounciL Any such app~al shall be filed with the city clerk,
along with a fee of ten dollars. The city derk shall place the appeal upon the agenda
of the City Council fr.r any regular meeting thereof r.3t later than the 3! st working day
after receipt thereof. The City Council may affirm, reven;e, modify, or a1ter the decision
of the Architectural Review Board in any respect. Appeals en ite.ms which otherwise
are subject to review by the Planning Commissio.n shalf be considere~ by said body prior
to action by the City Council. Placement upon the agenda of the Planning Commission
within two months after receipt by the dty clerk shall be. deemed to be compliance with
the time limits provided in this section. Action by the PJanning Commh;sion shaH include
a recommendation concerning the appeal of the action of the Architectural Revi.::w Board.
16.48.110 lntegr~tion with other code provisions. Nothing in this chapter shall
be construed as waiving, modifying, eliminating, or mitigating the requirements of any
other provision of this code. The requirements herein are intended to be supplementary
and addih .. mal thereto, and in case of any conflict therewith, the most restrictive shall
apply.
-5 •