SR-09-10-1996-8A
8A
SEP 1 0 1996
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City Councll Mtg: September 10, 1996
Santa Monlca, Californla
TO: Mayor and Clty Council
FROM: Clty Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendatlon to Introduce for Flrst Readlng an
Ordlnance Approving Amendment of Article IX of the Santa
Monlca Munlclpal Code to Modlfy Stepback Standards In the
Llght Manufacturing and StudlO Dlstrict
INTRODUCTION
ThlS report recommends amend~ent of Article IX of the Santa Monica
Municipal Code to modify the upper-level stepback standards for the
Llght Manufacturing and StudlO Dis-:rict (LMSD).
The Planning
Com~ission has revlewed and approved the amendMent
BACKGROUND
The Llght Manufacturlng and Studio Distrlct was created in May 1995.
In November 1995 ~he City Counell adopted a modlflcatlon to the
stepback standards appllcable to the dlstrict to reference the
standard stepback formula WhlCh is appllcable on a clty-wlde baS1S
to non-residentlal development rather than malntaining a unlque
stepback standard.
In approving the November 1995 amendment, the Councll dlrected the
Planning Commlssion to conslder further changes to the stepback
regulatlons for thlS zone, glven the nature of LMSD development,
whleh lS often characterized by low-scale, llght-lndustrial type
8A
SEP 1 0 1996
buildings.
The Plannlng Cornmlsslon consldered the addltlonal
modificat1on on June 12, 1996 and recommended ltS approval.
Consistent w1th Councll dlrectlon and Plannlng Co~mission act1on,
this report sets forth the recommendatlon that the standard C1ty-
wide stepback be requ1red for build1ngs lD the LMSD, unless the
Arch1tectural Revlew Board ;pakes speclfic find1ngs that an alternate
approach 18 more apprcprlate
Th1S flexlble mea~s of approach1~g
the stepback requ1rement 1S appropriate glven the ~ixed character
of the Dlstrlct, WhlCh includes llght industrlal, entertainment
production, automot1ve repair, warehous1ng, off1ce a~d other uses
and the var1ed nature of the exist1ng buildings, lot Slzes and
streetscapes.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The recommendatlon of thlS report would have no budget/flnanc1al
lmpact.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends t.hat the C1ty Councll 1ntroduce the attached
ordinance for first reaolng.
Prepared by: Suzanne Fr1ckr Plann1ng & Community Development
D1rector
D. Kenyon Webster, Plann1ng Manager
2
CA:f:\atty\muni\laws\mhs\lmstep
City Council Meeting 9-10-96
Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER
( CCS )
(city council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA AMENDING SANTA MONICA
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 9.04.08.35.050
REGARDING BUILDING STEPBACK REQUIREMENTS
IN THE LMS DISTRICT
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution of
Intention to amend the zoning ordinance to modify building stepback
requirements in the LMS District; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the
proposed amendment on June 12, 1996 and made recommendations to the
city council following the hearing; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on the
proposed amendment on September 10, 1996; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and declares that the proposed
amendment is consistent in principle with the goals, objectives,
policies, land uses, and programs specified in the adopted General
Plan, in that the amendment will create greater flexibility with
regard to building design in the District, consistent with Land Use
Element Objective 1.1, which among other policies calls for the
fair treatment of property owners and residents, and Land Use
Element Policy 3.1.1, which addresses minimization of the impact of
perceived mass of structures by establishing a building volume
"envelopeill and
WHEREAS, the public health, safety, and general welfare
require the adoption of the proposed amendment, in that the
objectives of the Light Manufacturing and studio District will be
better achieved through more flexible building design standards,
which may effectively promote the studio, school, and theater uses
which are allowed a greater height than other uses in the District,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. section 9.04.08.35.050 of the Santa Monica
Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:
9.04.08.35.050. Property development standards.
All property in the Light Manufacturing and studio
District shall be developed in accordance with the
following standards:
(a) Maximum BuilcUng Height. The maximum building
height shall be two stories, not to exceed thirty feet,
except the following projects may have a maximum height
of four stories, forty-five feet:
(1) Projects involving the expansion of public
or private elementary and secondary schools (Grades K
through 12) existing prior to September 8, 1988;
(2) Entertainment-related facilities including
sound stages, movie studios, editing facilities, post-
production facilities, set construction facilities and
special effects facilities;
(3) Theaters.
There shall be no limitation on the number of
stories of any detached parking structure so long as the
height does not exceed the number of feet permitted in
the district.
(b) Maximum Floor Area Ratio. Maximum floor area
ratio shall be 1.0, except the following projects may
have a floor area ratio of 1.5:
(1) Projects involving the expansion of public
or private elementary and secondary schools (Grades K
through 12) existing prior to September 8, 1988;
(2) Wi th approval of a development review
permit, projects including artist studios, provided the
addi tional .5 floor area ratio is devoted to artist
studio use, and the commercial square footage does not
exceed 1.0 floor area ratio.
(c) Minimum Lot Size. The minimum lot size shall
be fifteen thousand square feet, each lot shall contain
a minimum depth of one hundred fifty feet and a minimum
width of one hundred feet, except that lots existing on
the effective date of the ordinance codified in this
Chapter shall not be subject to this requirement.
(d) Front Yard Setback. All landscaping shall be
in accordance with the provisions of Part 9.04.10.04 of
this Code.
(e) Rear Yard Setback. No rear yard setback shall
be required except:
(1) Where the rear parcel line abuts a
residential district, a rear yard equal to:
5' + (stories x lot width
50'
shall be required.
The required rear yard may be used for parking
or loading to within five feet of the rear parcel line,
provided the parking or loading does not extend above the
first floor level and provided that a wall not less than
five feet or more than six feet in height is erected and
maintained along the rear commercial parcel line. Access
shall be permitted to cross perpendicularly the required
rear yard, provided the dr i veway does not exceed the
minimum width permitted for the parking area. A required
rear yard shall not be used for commercial purposes;
(2) Such rear yard setback as is necessary to
accommodate landscaping and screening for a rear yard
buffer required pursuant to the provisions of Part
9.04.10.04 of this Code.
(f) side Yard Setback. No side yard setback shall
be required except:
(1) Where the interior side parcel line abuts
a residential district, an interior side yard equal to:
5' + (stories x lot width
50'
shall be required.
The interior side yard may be used for parking
or loading no closer than five feet to the interior side
property line, provided the parking or loading does not
extend above the first floor level and provided a wall
not less than five feet or more than six feet in height
is erected and maintained along the side commercial
parcel line. A required interior side yard shall not be
used for access or for commercial purposes;
(2) Such side yard setback as is needed to
accommodate landscaping required for a street side yard,
landscape buffer and screening pursuant to the provisions
of Part 9.04.10.04 of this Code.
(3) For portions of buildings that contain
windows, doors, or other openings into the interior of
the building, a ten-foot setback from an interior
property line shall be required. An interior side yard
setback of less than ten feet shall be permitted if
provisions of the Uniform Building Code related to fire-
rated openings in side yards are satisfied.
(g) Building Stepback. Building stepbacks shall be
provided pursuant to the requirements of Section
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(h) Olympic Boulevard Setback. Buildings shall be
setback a minimum of twenty feet from Olympic Boulevard.
(i) Development Review.
A development review
permit is required for any development of more than
thirty thousand square feet of floor area, for any
development with rooftop parking, and for projects which
include artist studios with a 1. 5 floor area ratio,
provided the additional .5 floor area ratio is devoted to
artist studio use, and the commercial square footage does
not exceed 1.0 floor area ratio.
SECTION 2. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or
appendices thereto, inconsistent with the provisions of this
Ordinance, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further,
are hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect
the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by a decis ion of any court of any competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby
declares that it would have passed this Ordinance, and each and
every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared
invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of the Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. The Mayor shall sign and the city Clerk shall
attest to the passage of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall
cause this ordinance, or a summary thereof to be published once in
the official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This
Ordinance shall be effective 30 days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM: