sr-091179-8aCA RLK:SSS:dd
Council Meeting v9-11-79 Santa P~Sonica valifornia
STAFF RERORT
TO: t•?ayor and City Council
FROP?: City :'Attorney
SEP 1 1 1975
SUBJECT: Floor Area Limitation in the CA, CP and C4 Districts.
I?VTRODUCTIO~T
This report transmits for first reading a proposed
arlehdment to three sections. of the Santa P-?onica D?unicipal Code
limiting floor area to a ratio;:- equal to 3 times the commercial
lot area for the CA, CP and C4 Districts.
BACI:GROUND
'vVhen the six story height limit was established for the
City's major commercial areas, the Planning Commission indicated
an analysis of the potential floor area, often referred to as
bulk, was also a matter of concern requiring additional
investigation and. analysis. A'bulk analysis of the::['Iilshire
Boulevard Corridor was completed which indicated both Wilshire
and Santa Monica Boulevards were approximately 30°s of their
potential traffic carrying capacity and the allowable floor
area exceeded that capacity.
The staff analysis indicates current zoning would allow
9 million square feet on Wilshire Boulevard and 10 million
square feet on Santa i~?onica Boulevard in excess of the
amount of traffic the tcao streets can carry. Statistics indicate
traffic generated per 1000 square feet of floor area ranges from
12 daily trips for office buildings to 553 for fast food
restaurants. Even at the lowest rata, .the present development
SkP 1 1974
potential for these two streets alone would generate an
estimated 228,000 daily automobile trips in excess of what
the streets could carry. (19 million square feet at 12 trips
per thousand)
As traffic is directly related to floor area, a reasonable
limitation on floor area provides the best means of eliminating
the possibility of overbuilding the street capabilities and
sharing the remaining capacity equally among all commercial
property owners. Current development trends in the T^7ilshire
Corridor include a number of major office developments.
The Planning Commission has therefore recommended allowable
floor areas in the CA, CP and C4 Districts be limited to 3
times the commercial lot area unless a greater amount is
permitted by the Planning Commission or City Council by
Conditional Use Permit. This proposed procedure would be the
same as that now required to exceed the 6 story height limit.
To construct floor area greater than 3 times the commercial
lot area, a building would be required to demonstrate no adverse
environmental or fiscal impacts would occur as a result of the
additional floor area.
ALTE RDIATI VE S
The City Council may accept or reject the proposed
ordinance amendment recommended by the Planning Commission.
RECOtIl'2ENDATI ON
It is respectfully recommended that the City Council
accept the attached amendment to the Santa ?`?onica Municipal
Code for first reading and hold a public hearing thereon..
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ORDINANCE 'tJO.
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COtNCII, OF
THE CITY OF SANTA NiOiJICA ATIENDITIG
SECTIONS 9113B, 91148, ACID 9117B OF
THE SAi`ITA tdONICA MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING PROPERTY DF.VELOPPIENT
STANDARDS .
SECTION 1. Section 9ll3B of the Santa Monica Municipal
Code is hereby amended and as amended shall include subsection
6 to read as follows:
6. Permitted Floor Area. Other sections of this
Chapter notwithstanding, the total adjusted floor area
of any building exclusive of ar_y areas devoted o off
street parking constructed in this district shall not
exceed three (3) times the horizontal area of the
commercially zoned lot or building site including one-
half (1/2) of the area of adjacent or adjoining alleys
except that buildings in excess of this limitation may
be permitted by the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit.
under the provisions of Section 9148 on the basis of an
environmental and fiscal analysis satisfactorily demon-
strating that no significant adverse environmental or
fiscal impacts will occur as a result of the increased
floor area.
SECTION 2. Section 9114B of the. Santa ?Monica P~iunicpal
Code is hereby amended and as amended shall include subsection
4 to read as follows:
l . ~ J..
j y fa s ,~ 2:J .,,a &, i1:
4• Permitted Floor Area. Other sections of this
Chapter notwithstanding, the total adjusted floor area
of any building exclusive of any areas devoted to off
street parking constructed in this district shall not
exceed three (3) times the horizontal area of the
commercially zoned lot or building site including one-
half (1/2) of the area of adjacent or adjoining alleys
except that buildings in excess of this limitation may
be permitted by the issuance o£ a Conditional Use Permit
under the provisions of Section 9148 on the basis of an
environmental and fiscal analysis satisfactorily dernon-
strafing that no significant adverse environmental or
fiscal impacts will occur as a result of the increased
floor area.
SECTION 3. Section 9117B of_ the Santa "4onica :~unicipal
Code is hereby amended and as amended shall include subsection
6 to read as follows:
6. Permitted Floor Area. Other sections of this
Chapter notwithstanding, the total adjusted floor area
of any building exclusive of any areas devoted to off
street parking constructed in this district shall not
exceed three (3) times the horizontal area of the
commercially zoned lot or building site including one-
half (1/2) of the area of adjacent or adjoining alleys
except that buildings in excess of this limitation may
be permitted by the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit
under the provisions of Section 9148 on the basis of an
environmental and fiscal analysis satisfactorily demon-
strating that no significant adverse environmental or
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fiscal impacts will occur as a result of the increased floor
area.
SECTIOPd 4. Any .provision of the Santa Monica
Municipal Code or appendices thereto inconsistent therewith,
to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, are
hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
affect the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTI0:7 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 competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions of the ordinance.
The City Council hereby declares that it would have amassed
this ordinance and each and every section, subsection,
sentence, clause or phrase not declared invalid or unconsti-
tutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTIOiI 6. The Alayor 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 necespaper within fifteen (15) days after its
adoption. The ordinance shall become effective after
thirty (30) days from its adoption.
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