The height overlay districts (H) zone is established to preserve and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community, and to promote quality design consistent with General Plan policies by allowing for modifications to the building height standards established in a base zone. A building height standard may be reduced for the purpose of achieving design or public safety goals, or for avoiding possible detrimental impacts of building height or mass on neighboring properties or public right-of-way. Building height standards may also be increased to provide an incentive for mixed-use projects or to facilitate a more efficient and desirable use of land. The height overlay districts zone may be applied to any zone and may be applied in conjunction with other overlay zones.

Whenever the height overlay districts is established on any property, no building or structure shall be constructed on said property higher than the number of feet specified after the H on the official zoning map of the city, and said number of feet shall take precedence over the height requirement permitted by the underlying zone. For example, C-2-H65 indicates that the base zone of the property is C-2 (community commercial) and the maximum number of feet permitted for a building is sixty-five (65) feet, in lieu of the thirty-five (35) foot height maximum allowed within the C-2 zone.

The maximum overall building height limit in the height overlay districts shall be measured between the average level of the highest and lowest elevations of the land covered by the structure and the highest point of the roof or parapet wall covering that structure. Architectural and building project shall be permitted to exceed the limits of the height overlay, pursuant to the provisions of the underlying zone.

The contiguous boundaries of height overlay districts shall consist of a minimum of one (1) gross acre or more.