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SR-8-B (128) . . j--B LUTM:CPD: w/OP2sfa COUNCIL MEETING: APR 2 J Ei;l April 23, 1991 Santa Monica, California TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: city staff SUBJECT: Recommendation to Adopt an Interim Ordin~nce to Change the Method for Calculating Height in the OP-2 District, To Reduce the Permitted Height and Require Building Entrances oriented To the street in the R2R District. INTRODUCTION This report recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance which will modify the method for calculating height in the OP-2 District, reduce the permitted height and require building entrances oriented to the street in the R2R District. The Ordinance will be effective for 10 months and 15 days after which the Council may extend it for an additional two years. staff is proposing interim standards until such time as the Planning commission completes a more thorough review of this issue and associated zoning Ordinance changes. It is anticipated this process will take between six and nine months to complete. Once that prpcess is complete a permanent ordinance will be prepared to replace this interim ordinance. - 1 - I-IJ APR 2 1 19:Ji . . BACKGROUND On January 22, 1991 the Council directed staff to prepare the ordinance to address specific concerns raised by residents in the OP-2 and R2R Districts. In particular, residents were concerned with two issues, development of buildings on sloping lots in the OP-2 District, and the compatibility of new structures in the R2R District. On March 12, 1991 the City Council approved an interim 45 day ordinance with the direction that staff modify the ordinance to address remodeling of eXisting structures. staff has met with a committee of architects and representatives of the neighborhood to develop this revised ordinance. Based on the input from both groups, the following changes have been incorporated into the ordinance: o The maximum height for structures at the street level will be limited to two stories 14 feet with a flat roof and 23 feet with a pitched roof. o Maximum height will be l'I\easured from the street level and will run parallel with the slope of the parcel for portions of the building 30 feet back from the front parcel line. o For portions of the building beyond 30 feet, maximum building height shall be measured from the level of the existing grade and will run parallel with the slope of the parcel. Height will be limited to two stories 23 feet for a flat roof, and 30 feet for a pitched roof. The following provisions of the previous ordinance will still apply: - 2 - . . o If excavation occurs, the natural grade existing on the parcel prior to construction must be re-established. This ensures that the below grade portion of the building is in fact below grade. o The first story will be counted from the point where the building is more than 3 feet above the existing grade. This will limit the amount of building area that can be constructed on a sloping parcel. PLANNING COMMISSION PROCESS These standards are proposed on an interim basis while the Planning Commission examines in more detail various alternatives. staff is preparing issue papers examining the various alternatives tor calculating height that have been released for public review. Workshops and Planning Commission hearings are planned to take place in the next six to nine months. At the conclusion of the process, staff will return to the Council with a recommendation on permanent standards. BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT The recommendation presented in this report does not have a budget or fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council introduce for adoption the proposed ordinance. prepared By: Paul Berlant, Director of LUTM Suzanne Frick, Principal Planner Land Use and Transportation Management Department Program and Policy Development Division - 3 - . . City Council Meeting: 4-23-91 Santa Monica, California ORDINANCE NUMBER (CCS) (City council Series) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA MODIFYING THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IN THE R2R DISTRICT ON AN INTERIM BASIS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Findings and Purpose. The City Council finds and declares: (a) The R2R Low Density Duplex District, known historically as the Central Beach neighborhood, is characterized primarily by low scale, turn of the century single family homes that represent the most intact example of early Santa Monica beach cottages constructed primarily between 1900 and 1905. (b) While heights and densities have been reduced, and setback, landscaping, and private open space requirements increased in the adjacent Ocean Park residential area, the development standards in the R2R district have not been reviewed since their adoption in 1981. (e) The height requirement in the R2R District at 2 storiesj25 feet for a structure with a flat roof or 2 storiesj35 feet for a structure with a pitched roof, is currently higher - 1 - . . than any residential district in the Ocean Park area with the exception of the OP-4 High Multiple Residential District. (d) The R2R District, similar to the OP-Duplex District, is composed of small parcels designated primarily for single family or duplex uses. (e) The character of the R2R District is enhanced by its narrow streets, pedestrian scale structures, street facing entrances, and numerous front porches. (f) The potential for development to the currently specified height limit in the R2R District poses a current and immediate threat to the pUblic health, safety and welfare of the residents, and the approval of permits for such development would result in a threat to pUblic health, safety, and welfare. (g) The Zoning Ordinance requires review and revision as it pertains to the appropriate development standards for the R2R District. (h) Pending completion of this review and revision, it is necessary to modify on an interim basis the existing zoning to prevent development in the R2R District from being constructed without the design amenity of a front porch and up to a height of 35 feet, thereby preventing development inconsistent with existing land uses in and the general character of the R2R District. - 2 - . . SECTION 2. Interim zoning. (a) No development or permit shall be approved pursuant to Chapter 1 of Article IX of the Santa Monica Municipal Code, and no Subdivision or parcel map shall be approved pursuant to chapter 3 of Article IX of the Santa Monica Municipal Code, for land in the R2R District unless the following findings are made: (1) The project complies with existing R2R development standards, except for building height, set forth in Chapter 1 of Article IX of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. (2) The project complies with the height standards for the OP-Duplex Ocean Park Duplex Residential District contained in Chapter 1 of Article IX of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. (3) The project provides a building entrance oriented toward the street, however the front door need not be parallel with the front street. Pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9040.17 , unenclosed porches which may be covered by a roof or canopy may encroach a maximum of six feet into the required ten foot front yard setback~ For parcels 32 feet or less in width, a variance to modify the parking configuration may be considered pursuant to Chapter 1 of Article IX of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. (4) The application for a project was deemed complete on or before January 22, 1991. - 3 - . . SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall be of no further force and effect 10 months and 15 days from its adoption. SECTION 4. 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 5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision 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 6. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective after 30 days from its adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM: ROBERT M. MYERS city Attorney - 4 - . ~..7'."-~" 11-4 APR 2 3 \l'~l SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REPORT ITEM SA & 8B, APRIL 23, 1991 LUTM:PB:SF:eig/OP2sfa.word.ppd COUNCIL MEETING: April 23, 1991 Santa Monica, California TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: city staff SUBJECT: Recommendation to Adopt an Interim Ordinance to Change the Method for Calculating Height in the OP-2 District, To Reduce the Permitted Height and Require Building Entrances Oriented To the Street in the R2R District. INTRODUCTION This report supplements and replaces the original staff report prepared for item 8A and 8B on the April 22, 1991 Council Agenda. This report recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance which will modify the method for calculating height in the OP-2 District, reduce the permitted height and require building entrances oriented to the street in the R2R District. The Ordinances will be effective for 10 months and 15 days after which the council may extend it for an additional two years. Staff is proposing interim standards until such time as the Planning Commission completes a more thorough review of this issue and associated Zoning Ordinance changes. It is anticipated this process will take between six and nine months to complete. A.. ,I~ 1-4, ~-8 - 1 - APR 2 3 1991 . . Once that process is complete a permanent ordinance will be prepared to replace this interim ordinance. BACKGROUND On January 22, 1991 the council directed staff to prepare the Ordinance to address specific concerns raised by residents in the OP-2 and R2R Districts. In particular, residents were concerned with two issues, development of buildings on sloping lots in the OP-2 District, and the compatibility of new structures in the R2R District. On March 12, 1991 the city council approved an interim 45 day ordinance with the direction that staff modify the ordinance to address remodeling of existing structures. The proposed extensions split the interim ordinance into two new ordinances, one relating to OP2 and one to R2R. OP2 Ordinance staff has met with a committee of architects and representatives of the neighborhood to develop this revised ordinance. Based on the input from both groups, the following changes have been incorporated into the OP2 ordinance: o The maximum height for structures at the street level will be limited to one story 14 feet for the first 15 feet from the front parcel line. From 15 feet to 30 feet, height is limited to two stories 18 feet with a flat roof and 23 feet with a pitched roof. From 30 feet to rear setback, height is limited to two stories 23 feet with a flat roof or 30 feet with a pitched roof. - 2 - . e o Maximum height will be measured from the street level and will run parallel with the slope of the parcel for portions of the building 30 feet back from the front parcel line. o For portions of the building beyond 30 feet, maximum building height shall be measured from the level of the existing grade and will run parallel with the slope of the parcel. The following provisions of the previous ordinance will still apply: o If excavation occurs, the natural grade existing on the parcel prior to construction must be re-established. This ensures that the below grade portion of the building is in fact below grade. o The first story will be counted from the point where the building is more than 3 feet above the existing grade. This will limit the amount of building area that can be constructed on a sloping parcel. R2R Ordinance with regard to the R2R ordinance, it is identical to what the Council adopted in March. It requires that the maximum height shall be that of the OP Duplex Zone(two stories 23 feet with a flat roof and 30 feet with a pitched roof.) All projects are required to have an entry oriented toward the street. PLANNING COMMISSION PROCESS These standards are proposed on an interim basis while the Planning Commission examines in more detail various alternatives. staff is preparing issue papers examining the various alternatives for calculating height that have been released for public review. Workshops and Planning commission hearings are planned to take place in the next six to nine months. At the - 3 - . . conclusion of the process, staff will return to the Council with a recommendation on permanent standards. BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT The recommendation presented in this report does not have a budget or fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council introduce for adoption the proposed ordinance. Prepared By: Paul Berlant, Director of LUTM Suzanne FriCk, Principal Planner Land Use and Transportation Management Department Program and Policy Development Division - 4 -