A. Church spires, belfries, cupolas and domes, monuments, water towers, fire and hose towers, silos, observation towers, distributions and transmission towers, lines and poles, windmills, chimneys, smokestacks, flag poles.

B. Public utility transmission and distribution lines. Said lines shall be permitted in all districts without the necessity of obtaining a use permit, provided, however, that the route of all transmission lines shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation prior to acquisition of rights-of-way therefore.

C. Places of public assembly in churches, schools, and other permitted public and semi-public buildings, provided that these are located on the ground floor of such buildings and provided that for each one (1) foot by which the height of such building exceeds the maximum height otherwise permitted in the district, its side and rear yards shall be increased in width or depth by an additional foot over the side and rear yards required for the highest building otherwise permitted in the district.

D. Elevator and stair penthouses, water tanks, monitors and scenery lofts, provided no linear dimension of any such structure exceeds fifty (50) percent of the corresponding street lot line frontage; or to towers and monuments, fire towers, hose towers, cooling towers, gas holders or other structures, where the manufacturing process requires a greater height. Provided, however, that any structure above the height otherwise permitted in the district shall occupy no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the area of the lot and shall be distant not less than twenty-five (25) feet from every interior lot line.

E. New residential units or additions to existing residential units when these units have or are in areas which have special character or special historical, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value where additional building height would result in a building design more compatible with the dominant building height in the immediate neighborhood, as determined by the Community Development Director. Provided, however, that the building does not exceed a maximum height of thirty-five (35) feet.

F. Telecommunications facilities provided that such facilities meet all applicable provisions of Chapter 14.44 of the Petaluma Municipal Code and this Ordinance.

A. The increase in density made possible by the increase in the height limit is consistent with the General Plan density range for the site.

B. The additional height will not result in unreasonable restrictions of light and air to adjacent properties or the public right-of-way, or otherwise be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.

C. The additional height will support other goals and policies of the General Plan and will result in a better overall project.

A. On a site situated between sites improved with buildings, the minimum front setback shall be the average depth of the front yards on the improved sites adjoining the side lines of the site.

B. Where a site is not situated between sites improved with buildings and where sites comprising forty (40) percent of the frontage on a block are improved with buildings, the minimum front setback shall be the average of the existing front yard depths in the block.

C. On a site which is not rectangular or approximately rectangular, or is a flag lot, the location of the required front setback shall be determined by the Director.

D. In any R District where the natural grade of the front setback of a lot has a slope such that it is not practicable to provide a driveway with a grade of fifteen (15) percent or less to a private garage or carport, the garage or carport may be located within the required front setback.

A. The width of one required side setback may be reduced when authorized by the Zoning Administrator (Director) to a width not less than three (3) feet; provided the sum of the width of the two side yards is not less than the sum of the required setbacks.

B. On a site which is not rectangular or approximately rectangular, or is a flag lot, the location of the required side and rear setbacks shall be determined by the Director.

A. Exception – Principal Dwelling/Building. The Director may grant an exception for the principal dwelling/building, in the same manner as provided in Section 24.060 (Conditional Use Permits), from the development standards regulating building encroachment into required setbacks in residential districts when all of the following findings can be made based on substantial evidence in the record:

B. Exception – Accessory Building. The Director may grant an exception for the reconstruction, renovation or expansion of existing accessory buildings and structures, in the same manner as provided in Section 24.060 (Conditional Use Permits), from the required setbacks for accessory buildings and structures contained in Tables 4.6 through 4.13 when all of the following findings can be made based on substantial evidence in the record: