The general development standards set forth in this subsection apply to all mixed-use development projects in the City's Mixed-Use Zones, with the exception of single-room occupancy developments, which are set forth in section
23.20.05.
A. Site Planning and Orientation.
1. Street Frontage Elements.
a. At sidewalk level, non-residential buildings shall be primarily transparent (i.e., windows). At least fifty percent (50%) of the area of the non-residential building frontage facing a public right-of-way shall be devoted to pedestrian-oriented features (e.g., storefronts, pedestrian entrances to nonresidential uses; or transparent display windows).
b. At sidewalk level, residential buildings within ten feet (10') of a public right-of way, shall have unit front entries oriented to face the pubic right-of-way. For units that do not abut a public right-of-way, provide a clearly identifiable pedestrian path of entry to the units from the public right-of-way.
c. At sidewalk level, blank walls without windows, doors, or other articulation are strongly discouraged. The maximum length of any blank wall shall be limited to twenty feet (20').
d. Buildings on corner lots shall be oriented toward the primary intersection and the primary and secondary street frontages, while parking and auto access shall be located away from the primary intersection corners.
a. Primary building entrances shall be visible from the adjoining public right-of-way.
b. The primary entrances of buildings shall be identified and highlighted through signage and contain architectural monumentation framing the entry to include at least one of the following: trellis columns, archway, gate, or wall.
c. All building entrances shall be well-lit. Light fixtures shall be architecturally compatible with the building design.
d. When nonresidential and residential uses are located in a vertical mixed-use structure, separate pedestrian entrances shall be provided for each use.
e. The pedestrian entrance to residential portions of the building shall be accessed through a street level lobby, architecturally integrated entry corridor, from an adjacent alley, or from an internal parking area.
f. Street-abutting residential common building entrances and street-abutting individual residential unit entrances shall have transitions from the street consisting of stoops, porches, or other covered front entries with a minimum recess or projection area of forty-eight (48) square feet.
g. Building and unit entryways shall provide all of the following:
(1) Unit number identification;
(2) Lighting shielded downward and directed away from other residences;
(3) Landing area of at least four feet by four feet (4' x 4') in size;
h. Continuity in entry design between units to include at least two (2) of the following elements:
(1) Doors to match between all units onsite.
(2) Doors recessed at least three inches (3") from the building façade or doors recessed at least two feet (2') from the building façade to create a covered porch or landing area.
(3) Awning of at least one foot (1').
(5) Paving material, pattern, or color that is differentiated from the pedestrian pathway.
i. Street entryway accentuation by a minimum of one (1) of the following:
(1) Change in roof pitch or form, such as a gable, that extends a minimum of one foot (1') past the sides of the door jamb.
(2) Increase in roof height of at least one foot (1') to accentuate the entry.
(3) Wood, stone, tile, or brick accent materials covering a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the entryway wall surface area, inclusive of windows and doors.
j. Setback continuity. Notwithstanding the front and side yard setback standards established in this section, the front and side yard setbacks of a new building shall either be the same as existing adjacent structures or vary no more than five feet (5') from the established front or side setback of adjacent existing structures.
B. Circulation, Vehicular, and Pedestrian.
1. Vehicular Circulation.
a. Vehicular access shall be provided through the alley when present. For lots without an alley, vehicular access shall be provided from the secondary street.
b. For lots without a secondary street frontage and without alley access, vehicular access may be permitted from the primary street. In this case, reciprocal or shared access between property owners is encouraged to decrease the number of driveways taking access from the primary street frontage.
c. Unless otherwise specified in the fire code, driveways shall be at least twenty feet (20') wide for two-way traffic and ten feet (10') wide for one-way traffic and maintain a vertical clearance of at least ten feet (10').
d. No more than one driveway for every one hundred feet (100') of street frontage shall be provided for each parcel.
e. Parking areas shall be internally connected for vehicular purposes and shall use shared driveways within the development.
f. Where required for public safety, appropriate entrance, exit, and directional signs shall be posted at the driveways and parking areas and maintained by the property owner.
g. Fire lanes shall be adequately marked and patrolled to prevent parking and other obstructions.
2. Pedestrian Circulation.
a. All structures, facilities, parking areas, amenities, common areas and open space areas within a development shall be internally connected by pedestrian pathways. Such pathways shall connect the development to the public sidewalk along each street frontage, and to adjoining residential, commercial and public uses. Pedestrian pathways shall be ADA-compliant.
b. Pedestrian entrances and walkways shall be clearly identified through paving pursuant to section
23.21.03.04 N.2. and landscaping, and be separated by a physical barrier consisting of either a raised planting strip a minimum of three feet (3') wide or grade separation of at least six inches (6") from vehicle access areas.
c. Enhanced or textured paving pursuant to section
23.21.03.04 N.2 shall be included where pedestrian crossing occurs in parking areas.
d. Vehicular driveways with access to the public right of way shall have sidewalks and pedestrian connections on both sides of driveway.
1. Permitted parking facilities include parking lots, on-grade or underground parking structures, and bicycle parking.
a. Carports may be used if sufficiently shielded from view from the public right-of-way. Carport shall be a permanent roofed structure that covers a minimum of two (2) contiguous parking stalls, built for the purpose of sheltering automobiles and/or supporting solar photovoltaic panels. A carport does not include any temporary or non-permanent structure. There can be no enclosed use above a carport.
a. Parking spaces shall be separated from buildings by a pedestrian sidewalk (minimum four feet (4')) and a landscape strip (minimum six feet (6')), measured from curb face, when in the right of way.
b. Parking lots shall be located at the rear or interior of the block and shall not be located between the sidewalk and the building frontage facing the public right of way.
c. Parking lots for developments with more than forty (40) residential units may provide a series of connected smaller parking lots of no more than seventy-five (75) spaces in lieu of a single parking area.
a. On-grade parking structure walls facing a public right-of-way and any other parking structure walls greater than twenty-five feet (25') in length shall include design features consisting of textured surfaces, articulation, and/or landscaping covering a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the wall surface area at full growth. The design of all parking structure walls shall include the same materials, colors, and surfaces as other buildings associated with the development. For the purposes of this subsection, articulation includes faux windows, arches, grillwork, building offsets, and stone/tile building materials.
b. Below-grade parking structures shall be screened from the street by landscaping, berming, low walls or fences, or buildings.
c. Gated, fenced, or underground parking facilities, and gated exterior stairwells, shall incorporate access control technology (e.g., access card or key). In cases where all units.
a. Short-term bicycle parking shall be provided in the form of an inverted "U" shape facility or other design as approved by the Community Development Director. Bicycle parking shall not be separated from building entrances by a road, parking area or structure.
b. If provided, long-term bicycle parking shall be provided on-site in a secure, enclosed structure, or in a secured location within a parking structure.
4. Parking facilities shall be located within five hundred feet (500') of building entrances.
5. General requirements established in section
23.10.05 A and section
23.10.05 B shall apply.
D. Open Space and Common Areas.
1. Outdoor areas. Landscaping shall be located in all outdoor areas that are not specifically used for parking, driveways, pathways, walkways, patios, or other outdoor amenities described below.
2. Gathering space. Projects of more than ten (10) units shall feature a gathering space with a structure that permits group activities such as shared meals with reasonable amenities provided such as a kitchen, patio, or BBQ area, in addition to an outdoor passive recreation amenity which may include a community garden, outdoor seating area, or multipurpose lawn. At least fifteen percent (15%) of the total gross development area shall be provided for gathering spaces, up to a maximum required area of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.
a. Flat and low slope roof: Roof height shall be varied with a minimum of a two-foot (2') to maximum four-foot (4') vertical difference between a minimum thirty feet (30') and a maximum fifty feet (50') horizontally.
Figure 1 - Flat roof variation
b. Pitched roof: For a roof structure that extends more than fifty feet (50') along any building wall, the roof line shall vary by incorporating variation in roof form, in either orientation, pitch or height.
2. Roof overhangs. Overhangs shall not exceed twenty-four inches (24") into the yard setbacks.
Figure 2 - Roof overhang.
3. Exterior roof ladders. Exterior roof ladders shall be prohibited. Roof access shall only be provided from the building interior.
4. Roof materials, colors and applications. Notwithstanding sections
23.20.03.03 K.2 and
23.20.03.03 L.2, projects shall comply with all applicable objective standards in the Pre-Approved Roof Materials, Colors, and Application list adopted by City Council Resolution No. R-10-11, or as may be later amended.
1. Architectural Articulation. All building façades facing a public right-of-way shall be articulated so that no wall segment shall run more than thirty feet (30'). Articulation shall consist of at least one of the major breaks and two (2) of the minor breaks listed below:
(1) A change in building materials and colors so that the building mass appears to be made up of multiple buildings;
(2) Architectural features pursuant to section
23.01.01 that are at least four feet (4') wide and extend a minimum of one (1) floor in height;
(3) Exterior arcades or other ground floor building recesses that provide sheltered walkways within the building footprint with a minimum width of four feet (4');
(4) Notwithstanding the front and side yard setbacks established in Table 2, varied residential unit setbacks within the same structure of a minimum four feet (4'); or
(5) Recessed or projected covered entries with a minimum of twenty-four (24) square feet.
(1) Variations in wall plane (projection or recess) by a minimum of two feet (2') in depth for at least thirty percent (30%) of the façade;
Figure 3 - Minor articulation- wall plane recess.
(2) Vertical pilasters that protrude a minimum of one foot (1') from the wall surface and extend the full height of the structure;
(3) Porches, patios, or stoops;
(4) Lower wall wainscots, or built-up or recessed reveals, trims and other projections along different levels of wall surface;
2. Floor variation. Buildings of two or more stories and wider than thirty feet (30') shall be designed to differentiate the ground floor and upper floor(s) through at least one of the following techniques:
a. Changes in wall planes that protrude and/or recess with a minimum dimension of four feet (4') for a minimum seventy percent (70%) of the façade length;
b. Balconies with a minimum of two feet (2') in depth for a minimum twenty-five percent (25%) of the façade length;
c. Horizontal and/or vertical recesses or projections of more than four inches (4") depth using shading and weather protection devices, decorative architectural details or a pattern or grouping of windows, panels or bay windows;
d. At least two (2) sizes, proportions or patterns of fenestration; and
e. At least two (2) sizes, textures, patterns or colors of façade material.
3. Detail articulation. Details, such as trim, shutters, and posts shall be articulated by the use of color and/or texture.
4. Unit types. Each unit type shall have the following minimum floor area:
a. Single room occupancy: one hundred and fifty (150) square feet;
b. Efficiency apartment: four hundred and fifty (450) square feet;
c. One (1) bedroom unit: seven hundred and fifty (750) square feet; and
d. Two or more (2+) bedroom unit: nine hundred and fifty (950) square feet.
5. Vertical elements. The vertical emphasis of architectural design elements shall be minimized by the use of a minimum of three (3) of the following approaches:
a. Incorporating horizontal bands, reveals, trims, and overhangs along different levels of the wall surface;
b. Limiting columns or pilasters to a maximum of one-story height;
c. Limiting tower elements to one per building, and no more than two (2) stories in height;
d. Varying the spacing and distribution of architectural elements and details along building façades; and
e. Limiting entry treatments to the first story of the building.
6. Façade length. Building façades shall be no longer than one hundred and twenty-five feet (125'). Building façades shall be divided into shorter modules a maximum of thirty feet (30') in width to give the appearance of an assemblage of smaller structures, with each of the units individually recognizable through employment of approaches listed in sections
23.20.03.03 F.1,
23.20.03.03 F.2 and
23.20.03.03 F.6 above.
Figure 5 - Building façade modules.
7. End units. End units shall include a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) fenestration area on their side elevations.
G. Windows, Doors, and Balconies.
1. Horizontal window bands. Horizontal window bands over forty feet (40') in length shall be prohibited.
2. Street-facing windows. Windows shall be provided facing a public street for all units adjacent to the street to break up building mass.
3. Bay windows. Bay windows, if provided, shall project at least two feet (2'), but no more than three feet (3') from the façade.
4. Security bars. Security bars are prohibited.
5. Double glazed windows. At a minimum, windows shall be double glazed, consistent with energy code requirements.
6. Operable windows. Operable windows shall have screens.
7. Window frames. Raw or clear anodized aluminum window frames are prohibited.
8. Window materials. Window materials shall comply with all applicable objective standards of the City's Pre-Approved Window Material List.
9. Window and door trim. Windows and doors shall either be trimmed or recessed. When trimmed, the trim material shall not be less than three and one-half inches (3.5") in width by three-quarter inch in depth when protruding from the wall. Foam trim is prohibited on the ground floor. When recessed, the building primary siding material shall cover the recessed edge faces and wrap toward the interior face of the window or door glazing by at least three inches (3") in depth.
10. Unit front door entryways. Exterior entrances at individual residential unit entries shall have weather protection by providing a minimum of one of the following treatments:
11. Residential front doors. Knockers or door bells, and safety and security viewers, shall be provided on all residential front entrance doors.
1. Garage door placement. For projects of more than two (2) residential units, garage doors shall not face a public street, but be oriented toward an alley or private street or driveway internal to the project.
2. Garage door treatments. Garage doors shall be recessed a minimum of six inches (2") from the surrounding building wall, and shall include a trim of a minimum of one and one-half inches (1.5") in depth. Garage doors shall also include at least one of the following detail treatments, to be consistent throughout all garage door design in the building:
c. Minimum of two (2) colors; and
d. Minimum of two (2) textured surfaces.
I. Stairwells. Exterior stairwells. Exterior stairwells shall be designed as an integral part of the project's architecture by incorporating solid wall portions, columns, and/or a decorative balustrade. Stairwells shall not be oriented towards a public street, but shall face interior spaces such as plazas, gathering areas, parking areas and walkways and pathways shall not be separated from these areas by landscaping, fences or walls taller than three feet (3'). The design shall be of the same materials, color and detail of the building. Open metal and pre-fabricated stairwells are prohibited.
1. Residential adjacencies. The side and rear walls of any building within fifteen feet (15') of a required setback, or within fifteen feet (15') of a lot line where a setback is not required, shall be a maximum of fifteen feet (15') higher than an existing residential building on a directly adjacent property, or the exterior wall plane of each floor above the ground floor shall be stepped back by a minimum of eight feet (8') from the floor building plane just below along the full façade.
Figure 6 - Multi-story buildings adjacent to residential structures.
1. Exterior façade materials. The following materials are permitted, shall be maintained for exterior façades, and can be used in relation to their designation of primary, secondary, and accent. Materials listed as prohibited or omitted altogether are not permitted. At least two (2) materials shall be used on any building façade, in addition to glazing, railings and trim. A primary material shall constitute a minimum of sixty percent (60%) of any building façade, excluding windows and railings. Buildings with false façades or false fronts, exclusive of parapets used to shield rooftop equipment, are prohibited.
2. Roofing material. Where not indicated otherwise in section
23.20.03.03 E.4, each structure shall have and maintain a roof constructed of wood shake, shingle, asphalt, composition, fiber cement, or tile (slate, concrete or clay). Metal roofing and roofing of a glossy or reflective surface are prohibited.
3. Material transitions. Material transitions along any façade shall only occur on the inside corner of plane change. When material changes occurs in the same plane, trims, cornices, or other architectural elements shall be used to create a corner for material transition.
1. The number of colors appearing on the entire building exterior, excluding the roof, shall be a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) colors (or tones of the same color), including trim and accent colors. The selection of colors shall be the same among multiple buildings within a project. Changes in color due to a change in building material are not considered an additional color. Stone materials shall not be painted.
2. Roof color treatment. Notwithstanding section
23.20.03.03 E.4., the colors of natural roofing materials, such as barrel tiles and slate, shall be left natural and not be altered by staining or painting. Colors of synthetic roofing materials shall simulate natural materials. The blending of more than two (2) colors on a roof is prohibited.
M. Landscaping. The following landscape design standards are in addition to the landscape standards in section 23.16.
1. Parking lots shall include a continuous six inch (6") concrete curbs to be provided at wheel stops where parking adjoins landscaping.
2. Native plants. New plant material in landscaped areas shall include at least twenty-five percent (25%) native plant species selected from those listed by the California Native Plant Society in the Calscape website specific to the Western San Gabriel Valley. Existing plant material, if preserved, shall not be subject to this requirement.
3. Drought tolerant plants. Notwithstanding section 23.16, at least fifty percent (50%) of new plant material in landscaped areas shall be low-water use plants. Plant selection shall reflect water conservation through the use and grouping of plants that are well adapted to the particular site and require similar water needs (same hydrozones), and climatic, geological and topographical conditions. Existing plant material, if preserved, shall not be subject to this requirement.
4. Areas to be landscaped. Landscaping shall be provided in all outdoor areas that are not specifically used for parking, driveways, walkways, patios, or other required amenities. Landscaping materials shall not be located such that at maturity they obstruct pedestrian paths and vehicular access along the public right-of-way, private streets, and private driveways. Landscaping adjacent to pedestrian and vehicular paths shall either be raised planting surfaces or separated by a minimum six-inch (6") concrete curb.
5. Trees, shrubs and groundcover. New trees shall consist of both evergreen and deciduous varieties, the distribution of which shall be the applicant's choice providing that no more than percent of trees shall be deciduous. Existing trees, if preserved, shall not be subject to this requirement. At least five (5') different species of shrubs and groundcover shall be used in planter areas.
6. Use of lawn. Notwithstanding the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, and section 23.16, the maximum area permitted for lawn shall be sixty percent (60%) of the total landscaped area on site. Lawn shall not be used in planting strips narrower than five feet (5') wide, and slopes over fifteen percent (15%) to ensure adequate irrigation.
7. Water Efficient Landscaping. New irrigation systems outlined in landscape and irrigation plans subject to the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance shall conform to the requirements of such ordinance and section 23.16 to achieve water efficient landscaping.
8. Landscape architectural features. Landscape architectural features as defined in section
23.01.01, such as pilasters, walls, pergolas and trellises shall match the colors and materials of the closest buildings on-site.
1. Type of Pavement. Asphalt is permitted, except in areas where pavement is visible from the public right-of-way.
2. Pedestrian paving. Pedestrian walkway materials shall consist of stamped or scored concrete, interlocking unit pavers, tiles, bricks, or stone, and shall also be used to delineate crossings at circulation drives and parking aisles.
3. Driveway entry treatment. The first twenty feet (20') of a vehicular driveway entry shall be composed of at least one of the following treatments and shall be provided for the full width of the driveway: pavers, stamped or scored concrete, stone, brick, exposed aggregate.
4. Paved areas in yard setbacks. Paved areas shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the required front or street side yard setback area.
O. Refuse Collection Areas.
1. Screening. Trash, green waste, organic waste, and recycling collection areas shall be screened from public view.
2. Design. Enclosures shall be designed with the same primary wall materials and colors as the nearest building within the development. Enclosures shall be either opaque fencing or walls, and include an opaque gate. Corrugated metal, plastic, and chain link fencing with or without wooden/plastic slats, is prohibited. Enclosure dimensions shall conform to solid waste provider dimensions.
3. Proximity to residences. Enclosures shall not be located within twenty feet (20') of any adjacent property zoned for or occupied with residential use, and from any pedestrian path or vehicle driveway. Enclosures shall be located no more than one hundred feet (100') from a residential unit.
4. Enclosure buffers. Enclosures shall be buffered from adjacent parking with a minimum six-foot (6') wide landscape planter on all sides except the enclosure access or gate, or trellised vines on at least one side.
5. Lighting. Lighting of enclosures shall be provided for night-time security and use, and shall conform to section
23.20.03.03 R.
6. Access. Access to the enclosure shall conform to solid waste provider requirements.
P. Utility and Mechanical Equipment.
1. Roof screening. Roof-mounted mechanical units shall be fully screened from view from adjacent public rights-of-way, and incorporated into the roof design through increased slope, screening or enclosures. Screening and enclosures shall match the materials, colors and style of the building architecture. New roof-mounted or installed air conditioner units are prohibited. Replacement of existing, legal roof-mounted air conditioner units with new units of the same dimensions of the original units are permitted.
2. Equipment in open space areas. Utility and mechanical equipment shall not be located within any required open space area.
3. Ground-mounted. Ground-mounted mechanical, electrical, and utility equipment shall be screened or hidden from view of the public street.
4. All vents, gutters and downspouts, louvers, and exposed flashing shall be concealed within the wall or roof, or, if exposed, shall be metal painted. Plastic material is prohibited.
Q. Mailbox Locations. Mailboxes shall be placed either at an on-site location adjacent to or incorporated into a common area for all residents, or at individual units.
1. Lighted areas. All pedestrian pathways, vehicle parking areas, bicycle parking areas, structure entries, trash enclosures, and landscaped areas, and common open space areas shall be illuminated for safety and security.
2. Fixture orientation. No outdoor lighting shall be permitted where the light source is directed toward, or results in direct illumination of, a parcel(s) other than that upon which such light source is physically located. Accent lighting of buildings, trees or other landscape features may be permitted, provided the lighting only accentuates those individual features, and not an entire structure or landscaped area. Accent lighting shall be directed onto the building façade or tree, and all lighting fixtures shall be fully shielded and mounted as close as possible to the architectural feature of the building or tree being illuminated. Uplighting and flood lighting is prohibited.
3. Illumination limits. No one fixture or luminaire shall exceed one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens, however accent lighting shall not exceed eight hundred (800) lumens.
4. Correlated color temperature. For outdoor lighting, the maximum correlated color temperature (CCT) for each luminaire shall not exceed four thousand degrees Kelvin (4,000°K). Outdoor lights that exceed four thousand degrees Kelvin (4,000°K), commonly referred to as cool color temperatures, are prohibited.
5. Fixture height. No outdoor lighting shall be permitted where the light source or fixture, if located on a building, is above the eave line. If the light source or fixture is located on a building with no eaves, the light source or fixture shall not be more than ten feet (10') above existing grade, adjacent to the building or pole. Free-standing light standards for pedestrian and parking lot lighting shall be a maximum of fourteen feet (14') high, including the pole and light fixture. The light fixture, separate from the light pole, shall not be more than two feet (2') in height.
6. Light trespass. The maximum illumination level at the project site property line shall be no more than a 0.07 foot as measured at grade. Light trespass that results in glare to neighboring properties or public/private streets is prohibited unless the director determines that there is no other alternative to provide such security lighting required by the California Building Code, or approves the use of alarm or motion-activated security lighting. For the purposes of this section, "glare" means stray, unshielded lighting striking the eye that results in discomfort, such as bright light causing squinting of the eyes; and/or disabling glare, such as bright light that reduces the ability to drive or see into shadows.
7. Fixture types. All light fixtures, including pole-mounted and wall-mounted light fixtures, shall be fully shielded so that the light bulb is invisible from the adjacent neighbors or streets. Light fixtures shall be "cut-off" where lenses, refractors or lamp sources do not extend below the surface of the fixture housing, and no light shall be directed at or above the lowest horizontal plane of the light fixture. Louvered light fixtures shall not qualify as fully shielded fixtures.
8. Extinguishment of lights. With the exception of approved security lighting, or operational lighting conditions approved through a conditional use permit, all exterior lighting and parking lot lighting shall be extinguished by ten o’clock (10:00) P.M.
9. Exemptions. The following outdoor lights shall be exempted from the requirements of this section:
a. Temporary construction or emergency lighting;
b. Exterior lighting for a permitted temporary activity; and
c. Landscape lighting that does not require a permit from building and safety.
S. Signage: All signage shall comply with the requirements set forth in section
23.12.01.
1. All fences and walls shall comply with the requirements set forth in section
23.13.01, section
23.13.02, and section
23.13.03. (Ord. O-24-1415, 11-20-2024)