The regulations, general provisions, and exceptions set forth in this chapter and in Chapter 14.66 shall apply in the R3-4.5 District.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-20)

The specific purpose of the R3-4.5 District is to retain and enhance the character of the Stevens Place and Marshall Court area.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-20; Ord. No. 2023-501, § 1(App. A), 10-10-2023)

The following uses shall be permitted in the R3-4.5 District:

A.

Two-family dwelling units;

B.

Animals as provided in Chapter 5.10 of this code.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 2023-501, § 1(App. A), 10-10-2023)

The minimum site area shall be seven thousand (7,000) square feet.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 2023-501, § 1(App. A), 10-10-2023)

A.

The maximum coverage for all structures in excess of six feet in height shall be sixty (60) percent of the total gross site area.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 2023-501, § 1(App. A), 10-10-2023)

A.

The maximum floor area shall be fifty-five (55) percent of the gross lot area.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 2023-501, § 1(App. A), 10-10-2023)

No minimum or maximum unit size shall be applicable, except for accessary dwelling units as allowed in Chapter 14.14 of the Los Altos Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 2023-501, § 1(App. A), 10-10-2023)

A.

The minimum setbacks shall be as follows:

B.

The second story setback shall be measured from the wall of the second story, or in the case of a sloping ceiling or roof where there is no exterior wall, from the point the second story ceiling has a height of five feet or greater from the finished floor.

C.

When a unit has an existing nonconforming setback and fifty (50) percent or more of the floor area of that unit is voluntarily being rebuilt or replaced, the entire unit shall be brought into conformance with current setback requirements. This threshold is applied to each unit within a two-family dwelling and does not require both units to be brought into conformance when only one unit is being modified under the threshold above. For the purposes of this section, the garage portion of the structure shall be considered a separate unit.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020)

A.

No structure shall exceed three stories or thirty-six (36) feet in height as measured from the existing natural grade immediately adjacent to the proposed structure.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 2023-501, § 1(App. A), 10-10-2023)

A.

Building Massing and Articulation.

1.

For buildings exceeding the height limit established in the applicable base and overlay zone, the right-of-way-facing façades of the uppermost floor must be embedded in a sloped roof form as allowed by Section 14.16.1100.A.4.

2.

Vertical Articulation.

a.

Each building volume shall be defined according to one of the following classifications:

i.

Main body (one per building): The widest volume of the structure, containing main entrances and the most public interior spaces.

ii.

Wing (optional, multiple per main body allowed): A narrower volume attached to a main body volume.

b.

Each main body volume shall contain at least one entrance.

c.

Street-facing wings shall be recessed by no less than three feet relative to the front façade of the Main body.

d.

The eave/roof of a wing shall be no higher than the corresponding elements of the main body.

3.

R-1 Adjacencies.

a.

Building façade planes abutting an R-1 district may not exceed forty-eight (48) feet in width.

b.

When a building façade abutting an R-1 district exceeds forty-eight (48) feet in width, it must be separated into façade bays no greater than forty-eight (48) feet by a recess five feet wide and five feet deep.

c.

Balconies, roof decks and other habitable outdoor space is not allowed on upper-story façades abutting R-1 zones.

d.

Sliding glass doors, French doors, and floor-to-ceiling windows are not allowed on upper-story façades abutting R-1 zones.

4.

Roofline and Roof Design.

a.

Acceptable roof forms are limited to:

i.

Hipped.

ii.

Gable.

iii.

Dormer.

b.

When the top story is stepped back and embedded in a sloped roof form, the floor below must (and other floors may) be stepped back to meet the slope of the top floor.

c.

Façade facing R-1 Zone must utilize a hipped or gable roof and may incorporate dormers.

d.

Roofline at corners shall not exceed roofline of adjacent wallplanes by more than twenty-four (24) inches.

B.

Building Design.

1.

Façade Composition. Building façades shall be arranged in an orderly composition of bays, defined by vertically aligned openings alternating horizontally with solid walls or columns. The pattern shall be visually expressed through the spacing of openings, recesses, eaves, cornices, overhangs, trellises, exposed rafters, columns, or bay windows.

2.

Building Entrances. Building entrances must incorporate one of the following entry features. See Section 14.66.275 (Entrance Type Standards) for design standards applicable to each entrance type listed.

a.

Stoop.

b.

Porch.

c.

Dooryard.

3.

Primary Entrance Location(s). Locate primary entrance along the front right-of-way and/or interior courtyard.

4.

Ground Floor Floor-to-Ceiling Height. Minimum twelve (12) inches taller than typical upper floor floor-to-ceiling height.

C.

Window Design.

1.

All windows must have a sill.

2.

Vinyl sliding windows are prohibited on façades visible from a right-of-way.

D.

Building Materials.

1.

Primary shall mean fifty (50) percent or more of a façade surface area excluding transparent surfaces. Permitted primary cladding materials are limited to:

a.

Stucco (minimum two-coat stucco; synthetic stucco or EIFS not allowed).

b.

Siding (lap, vertical, or shingle).

i.

All siding shall be wood, composite wood, or cement fiberboard.

ii.

Wood siding shall be painted or stained.

iii.

Vinyl and aluminum are not permitted.

c.

Stone.

d.

Brick.

2.

Secondary shall mean less than fifty (50) percent of a façade surface area excluding transparent surfaces. Permitted secondary cladding materials are limited to:

a.

Stucco (minimum two-coat stucco; synthetic stucco not allowed, EIFS not allowed).

b.

Siding (lap, vertical, or shingle).

i.

All siding shall be wood, composite wood, or cement fiberboard.

ii.

Wood siding shall be painted or stained.

iii.

Vinyl and aluminum siding are not permitted.

c.

Stone (watertable and building base only).

d.

Brick (watertable and building base only).

e.

Tile.

f.

Concrete (watertable and building base only, board-form only, cast concrete not permitted).

E.

Screening.

1.

Service, trash, and utility areas must be screened from view of the right-of-way.

2.

Screening must be architecturally consistent with primary building in terms of materials, colors, and style.

F.

Topography and Grading.

1.

A stepped foundation is required where the average slope beneath the proposed structure exceeds ten (10) percent.

2.

Terracing and plantings must reflect the shape of the natural terrain.

G.

Additional Design Standards. See Section 14.66.280 for additional design standards applicable to all multi-family development in the R3-4.5 District.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 2021-478, § 1, 9-14-2021)

As provided in Chapter 14.74 of this title.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020)

Basements shall be regulated as follows:

A.

Basements shall not extend beyond the floor area of the first floor of the main or accessory structure above;

B.

Light wells, ingress and egress wells, patio wells, and other similar elements shall not be permitted within a required front or exterior side yard setback. These elements may be permitted within an interior side or rear yard setback, but in no event closer than five feet to a property line;

C.

Light wells, ingress and egress wells, patio wells, and other similar elements shall utilize vertical retaining walls. Contour graded slopes, which expose the basement as a story, are prohibited.

D.

Light wells, ingress and egress wells, patio wells, and other similar elements shall be at least seventy-five (75) percent open in area to light and air above.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020)

As provided in Chapter 14.68 of this title.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020)

As provided in Chapter 14.72 of this title.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-20)

As provided in Chapter 14.66 of this title.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020)

As provided in Chapter 14.15 of this title, and with the following parameters:

A.

Yard areas adjacent to Homestead Road or an R1 District shall be treated as the rear yards for the purposes of this section.

B.

Accessory structures will not be permitted in any other setback area.

(Ord. No. 2019-467, § 1, 2-11-2020)