Section 53.8.B.3
Extracted standards
22 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Design
- Architectural articulation
Buildings shall incorporate at least one of the options: facade plane modulation, feature projections, variety in height/roof forms, or facade detail.
- Corner features at important intersections
At important intersections, buildings shall incorporate special features to reinforce the intersection.
- Preservation of neighborhood character
The design of new infill development shall respect, complement, and be compatible with the scale, style, theme, and design of surrounding buildings and neighborhoods.
- Sight lines minimized
Sight lines into and from neighboring properties shall be minimized.
- Visual relationship between multiple buildings
Multiple buildings on a single site shall be designed to create a strong visual relationship between and among the buildings.
Height
- Roof heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. exception
The responsible review authority may approve an exception to the minimum height requirement to accommodate a roof, if findings are made.
Other
- Maximum blank wall length20 ft
No street frontage wall may run in a continuous plane for more than twenty (20) feet without an opening.
- Commercial ground-floor transparencyGround-floor transparencyThe share of a ground-floor street wall that must be windows rather than blank surface.50 pct
Windows and openings facing streets shall constitute a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of street-facing building faces for commercial ground-floor uses.
- Commercial upper-floor transparencyGround-floor transparencyThe share of a ground-floor street wall that must be windows rather than blank surface.40 pct
Windows and openings facing streets shall constitute a minimum of forty percent (40%) of street-facing building faces for commercial upper-floor uses.
- Upper-story stepback adjacent to public open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted. or historicHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. resources
Buildings shall not intercept a 45-degree daylight plane inclined inward from 15 feet above existing grade at the property line of the parcel adjacent to property line of an adjacent property containing public open space or an historic resource.
- Upper-story stepback adjacent to residential
Buildings shall not intercept a 45-degree daylight plane inclined inward from 15 feet above existing grade at the property line of the parcel adjacent to the residential district boundary line.
- Horizontal separation for buildings over 3 storiesStoreysHabitable floor levels. Whether a basement or attic counts is defined by the local code. or 40 ft
For buildings exceeding three (3) stories or forty (40) feet in height, the first story shall provide horizontal separation from the upper portions of the building by incorporating architectural features that enhance the pedestrian experience.
- Minimum ground floor heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. nonresidential12 ft
The minimum height of nonresidential ground floor spaces shall be twelve (12) feet.
- Minimum ground floor heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. residential/live-work10 ft
The minimum height of residential and live/work ground floor spaces shall be ten (10) feet.
- No blank rear facades abutting Redwood Creek
Significant blank, rear facade areas shall not abut Redwood Creek.
- Nonresidential first floor elevation2 ft
The first habitable floor shall be located no more than two (2) feet above or below the existing grade at any point along a street property line for nonresidential uses.
- Primary entrance on street-fronting facade
Primary entrances shall be located on a street-fronting facade or a street-fronting corner.
- Residential first floor elevation6 ft
The first habitable floor of a residential-only building shall be located no more than six (6) feet above existing grade and no more than two (2) feet below existing grade along a street property line.
- Residential ground-floor transparencyGround-floor transparencyThe share of a ground-floor street wall that must be windows rather than blank surface.30 pct
Windows and openings facing streets shall constitute a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of street-facing building faces for residential ground-floor uses.
- Residential upper-floor transparencyGround-floor transparencyThe share of a ground-floor street wall that must be windows rather than blank surface.20 pct
Windows and openings facing streets shall constitute a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of street-facing building faces for residential upper-floor uses.
- Supplemental entrance facing creek trail
Supplemental entrances shall be configured to face the creek trail.
- Vibration study near railroad100 ft
For all residential buildings and vibration-sensitive development located within one hundred (100) feet of the centerline of railroad tracks, a site-specific vibration study is required.
From the ordinance
Primary entrances shall be located on a street-fronting facade or a street-fronting corner.