Menlo Park City Zoning Code

Parking facilities may be shared if multiple uses cooperatively establish and operate the facilities, if these uses generate parking demands primarily during different hours than the remaining uses, and if a sufficient number of spaces are provided to meet the maximum cumulative parking demand of the participating uses at any time. An individual development proposal may incorporate a shared parking study to account for the mixture of uses, either on site or within a reasonable distance. Project applicants may also be allowed to meet the minimum parking requirements through the use of nearby off-site facilities. The shared parking supply and off-site parking would be subject to review and approval as part of the development review process based on the proposed uses, specific design and site conditions.

Building projections, such as balconies and bay windows, at or above the second floor shall not project beyond a maximum of five (5) feet into the setback area.

Where a property is contiguous to a single-family zoned property, no projections into the setback are permitted for balconies or decks at or above the second floor.

The total area of all horizontal and vertical building projections shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the building facade area, and no one (1) projection shall exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the facade area on which the projections are located. Where such projections enclose interior living space, eighty-five percent (85%) of the vertical surface of the projection shall be windows or glazed. (See Figure 1.)

Building facades facing public rights-of-way or public open spaces shall not exceed fifty (50) feet in length without a minor building facade modulation. At a minimum of every thirty-five (35) feet of facade length, the minor vertical facade modulation shall be a minimum two (2) feet deep by five (5) feet wide recess or a minimum two (2) foot setback of the building plane from the primary building facade.

Building facades facing public rights-of-way or public open spaces shall not exceed one hundred (100) feet in length without a major building facade modulation. At a minimum of every seventy-five (75) feet of facade length, a major vertical facade modulation shall be a minimum of six (6) feet deep by twenty (20) feet wide recess or a minimum six (6) foot setback of building plane from primary building facade for the full height of the building.

In addition, the major building facade modulation shall be accompanied with a four (4) foot minimum height modulation and a major change in fenestration pattern, material and/or color.

Starting at a height of twenty-five (25) feet, a forty-five (45) degree building profile shall be set at the minimum setback line contiguous with a public right-of-way or single-family zoned property.

Horizontal building and architectural projections, like balconies, bay windows, and dormer windows, that extend beyond the forty-five (45) degree building profile shall comply with the standards for building setbacks and projection in Section 16.40.040(1). (See Figure 2.)

Vertical building projections like parapets and balcony railings shall not extend more than four (4) feet beyond the forty-five (45) degree building profile.

Rooftop elements that may need to extend beyond the forty-five (45) degree building profile due to their function, such as stair and elevator towers, shall utilize the same materials and colors as the remainder of the building.

Vertical building projections such as parapets and balcony railings may extend up to four (4) feet beyond the maximum building height.

Rooftop elements that may need to exceed the maximum building height due to their function, such as stair and elevator towers, shall not exceed fourteen (14) feet beyond the maximum building height.

Towers, cupolas, spires, chimneys, and other architectural features not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the roof area may exceed the maximum building height limit by a maximum of ten (10) feet.

Stucco on the exterior facade shall be limited to no more than fifty percent (50%) of the entire area of an elevation, inclusive of all windows and doors.

All exterior windows located in solid walls shall be inset by a minimum of two (2) inches from the face of the exterior finishes.

When simulated divided light windows are included in a development, the windows shall include mullions on the exterior of the glazing and contain internal dividers (spacer bars) between the window panes.

When a building is adjacent to a public street or other public space, the building shall provide entries, access points or features oriented to the street that are visible from the public right-of-way or public space and provide visual cues to denote access into the building. For larger residential buildings with shared entries, the main entry shall be through prominent entry lobbies or central courtyards facing the street.

Utilities, including meters, backflow prevention devices, etc., shall be concealed or integrated into the building design to the extent feasible, as determined by the public works director.

Projects shall include dedicated, screened, and accessible space for recycling, compost, and solid waste storage and collection.

Trash and storage shall be enclosed and screened from public view.

Materials and colors of utility, trash, and storage enclosures shall match with the primary building.

Roof-mounted equipment shall meet the requirements of Section 16.08.095.

A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of any landscaping removed for residential development shall be replaced either on the residential development parcel or elsewhere on the original parcel. The replacement landscaping may be counted toward the required common open space for a development.

Residential developments shall have a minimum of one hundred (100) square feet of open space per unit created as common open space or a minimum of eighty (80) square feet of open space per unit created as private open space, where private open space shall have a minimum dimension of six (6) feet by six (6) feet. In case of a mix of private and common open space, such common open space shall be provided at a ratio equal to one and one-quarter (1.25) square feet for each one (1) square foot of private open space that is not provided.

Depending on the number of dwelling units, additional common open space shall be provided to meet the following criteria:

Service access and loading docks shall be located on local or interior access streets and to the rear of buildings.

Aboveground garages shall be screened (with perforated walls, vertical elements, landscaping or materials that provide visual interest at the pedestrian scale) or located behind buildings that are along public streets.

Surface parking lots shall be buffered from adjacent buildings by a minimum six (6) feet of paved pathway and/or landscaped area.

Surface parking lots shall be screened with landscaping features such as trees, planters, and vegetation.

Surface parking lots shall be planted with at least one (1) tree with a minimum size of a twenty-four (24) inch box for every eight (8) parking spaces. Required plantings may be grouped where carports with solar panels are provided.

Exterior lighting fixtures shall use fixtures with low cutoff angles, appropriately positioned, to minimize glare into dwelling units and light pollution into the night sky.

Lighting in parking garages shall be screened and controlled so as not to disturb surrounding properties, but shall ensure adequate public security.

For all new construction, the project will meet one hundred percent (100%) of energy demand (electricity and natural gas) through any combination of the following measures:

Alterations and/or additions of ten thousand (10,000) square feet or larger where the building owner elects to update the core and shell through the option presented in Tables 16.95.050(1)(B):

The project will meet one hundred percent (100%) of energy demand (electricity and natural gas) through any combination of measures listed in subsections (2)(A)(i) to (iv) of this section.

Single-pass cooling systems shall be prohibited in all new buildings.

All new buildings shall be built and maintained without the use of well water.

Applicants for a new building more than one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet or more of gross floor area shall prepare and submit a proposed water budget and accompanying calculations following the methodology approved by the city. For all new buildings two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) square feet or more in gross floor area, the water budget shall account for the potable water demand reduction resulting from the use of an alternative water source for all city-approved nonpotable applications. The water budget and calculations shall be reviewed and approved by the city's public works director prior to certification of occupancy. Twelve (12) months after the date of the certification of occupancy, the building owner shall submit data and information sufficient to allow the city to compare the actual water use to the allocation in the approved water budget. In the event that actual water consumption exceeds the water budget, a water conservation program, as approved by the city's public works director, shall be implemented. Twelve (12) months after city approval of the water conservation program, the building owner shall submit data and information sufficient to allow the city to determine compliance with the conservation program. If water consumption exceeds the budgeted amount, the city's public works director may prohibit the use of water for irrigation or enforce compliance as an infraction pursuant to Chapter 1.12 until compliance with the water budget is achieved.

All new buildings shall be dual plumbed for the internal use of recycled water.

All new buildings two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) square feet or more in gross floor area shall use an alternate water source for all city-approved nonpotable applications. An alternative water source may include, but is not limited to, treated nonpotable water such as graywater. An alternate water source assessment shall be submitted that describes the alternative water source and proposed nonpotable application. Approval of the alternate water source assessment, the alternative water source and its proposed uses shall be approved by the city's public works director and community development director. If the Menlo Park Municipal Water District has not designated a recycled water purveyor and/or municipal recycled water source is not available prior to planning project approval, applicants may propose conservation measures to meet the requirements of this section subject to approval of the city council. The conservation measures shall achieve a reduction in potable water use equivalent to the projected demand of city-approved nonpotable applications, but in no case shall the reduction be less than thirty percent (30%) compared to the water budget in subsection (3)(C) of this section. The conservation measures may include on-site measures, off-site measures or a combination thereof.

Potable water shall not be used for dust control on construction projects.

Potable water shall not be used for decorative features, unless the water recirculates.

No more than ten percent (10%) of facade surface area shall have non-bird-friendly glazing.

Bird-friendly glazing includes, but is not limited to, opaque glass, covering the outside surface of clear glass with patterns, paned glass with fenestration, frit or etching patterns, and external screens over nonreflective glass. Highly reflective glass is not permitted.

Occupancy sensors or other switch control devices shall be installed on nonemergency lights and shall be programmed to shut off during nonwork hours and between ten (10) p.m. and sunrise.

Placement of buildings shall avoid the potential funneling of flight paths towards a building facade.

Glass skyways or walkways, freestanding (see-through) glass walls and handrails, and transparent building corners shall not be allowed.

Transparent glass shall not be allowed at the rooflines of buildings, including in conjunction with roof decks, patios and green roofs.

Use of rodenticides shall not be allowed.

A project may receive a waiver from one (1) or more of the items listed in subsections (5)(A) to (F) of this section, subject to the submittal of a site-specific evaluation from a qualified biologist and review and approval by the planning commission.