sr-101309-7c~;tYo, City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: October 13, 2009
Agenda Item: ~' °
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Eileen Fogarty, Director, Planning & Community Development
Subject: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance amending provisions of
the Zoning Code related to number and #ype of driveways required for
parking lots and structures with more than 40 spaces, HVO (hazardous
visual obstruction) mitigations, allowable number of parking maneuvers,
parking access. in all districts, and garage door width in the front one-half
of parcels.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading an ordinance that
amends Sections 9.04.10.02.090, 9.04.10.08.070, 9.04.10.08.100 and 9.04.10.08.190
of Santa Monica Municipal Code Article IX (Zoning Ordinance) regarding the number
and type of driveways required for parking. lots with more than 40 spaces, hazardous
visual obstruction (HVO) mitigations, allowable number of parking maneuvers, parking
access in all districts, and garage door width in the front one-half of parcels.
Executive Summary
The proposed text amendment would incorporate standards contained in Interim
Ordinance 2200 (CCS), which will expire on December 11, 2009 and allows necessary
flexibility in the Zoning Ordinance in order to achieve the most efficient parking lot
design. The ordinance applies to the number and type of driveways to be required for a
development with more than 40 parking spaces. This flexibility is currently in place for
developments with over 80 parking spaces. In addition, the proposed text amendment
includes several other minor clarifying amendments to Zoning Ordinance sub-sections
related to parking and circulation design requirements. that are aligned with the City's
overall transportation goals. These revisions include: removing two references to speed
bumps as a suggested element to provide visibility next to driveways, streets and alleys
in lieu of an area clear of hazardous visual obstructions (HVO); allowing a small number
of required parking spaces to be designed such that four, rather than two, maneuvers
are needed to access them; clarifying that parking access requirements apply in all
districts; requiring that garage doors be wide enough to ensure safe access within two
maneuvers into garages, such as those accessed via alleys; and clarifying the garage
door width allowed in the front one-half of the property to limit the door's visual
dominance. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 2, 2009,
and recommended approval of the proposed text amendment to the City Council. All of
the proposed revisions are consistent with the City's current Land Use and Circulation
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Elements, compatible with the direction of the LUCE Strategy Framework, and have
been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Background
The City Council adopted Ordinance Number 2159 (CCS) on June 28, 2005, to allow
flexibility in the Zoning Ordinance regarding number and width of driveways for parking
lots and structures containing more than 40 spaces based on considerations of safety,
efficiency and effectiveness. The City Council extended the ordinance through the
adoption of Ordinance Number 2164 (CCS) on September 25, 2005, and through the
adoption of Ordinance Number 2200 (CCS) on March 11, 2007. This interim ordinance
will expire on December 11, 2009 and may not be further extended.
Prior to adoption of this ordinance, parking lots and structures with 41 to 80 spaces
required two. double driveways, while the number of driveways required for parking
facilities with 81 or more spaces could be determined by the City Parking and Traffic
Engineer, which in practice is now the purview of the Transportation Planning Manager.
The City's longstanding policy has been to discourage excessive numbers of driveways,
which create potential pedestrian conflict points, while still ensuring efficient and safe
vehicular movement. It was often determined that one driveway would be preferable for
the mid-size facilities of 41 to 80 parking spaces. However, due to the Code
requirements, this would require the applicant to request and receive a variance. To
avoid this, some facilities were being built with unneeded parking spaces just to exceed
81 parking spaces so that they could be approved with only one driveway. Applicants
were left unable to design their parking facilities to meet their needs and the City's
requirements.
In 2005, an interim ordinance was adopted, resolving this situation and allowing the City
to require driveways based on efficient, effective, and safe circulation of both vehicles
and pedestrians with discretionary approval by the Transportation Planning Manager.
Since its adoption, this interim ordinance has allowed staff to approve parking facilities
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more expeditiously and in a manner that is consistent with the City's goal to create
pedestrian-friendly streets and sidewalks.
While preparing the analysis to incorporate the interim ordinance into the Zoning Code,
other minor Code provisions related to parking visibility and access were identified that
cause confusion or impede flexibility in achieving efficient parking layout and design.
As a result, the proposed amendment would revise language in a few of these
problematic Code sections related to parking visibility and access, as described in
Attachment A.
Commission Action
The Planning Commission adopted a Resolution of Intention to initiate this Zoning Text
Amendment on August 19, 2009. At the .public hearing on September 2, 2009, the
Commission unanimously recommended approval to the City Council.
Discussion
- _ _ __
The interim ordinance provisions that permit discretion over the number and type of
driveways into parking facilities .with 41 or more parking spaces continue to be
necessary to allow approval of parking facility design consistent with the efficient,
effective and safe circulation of vehicles and pedestrians. These principles are
reinforced and strengthened in the LUCE Strategy Framework. If the interim ordinance
were to expire and the underlying Code language allowed to become effective again,
staff would lose the flexibility necessary to achieve quality project design and efficient
circulation, and clearly be detrimental to the permit approval process.
The proposed language, which is the same as the interim- ordinance, would revise
SMMC 9.04.10.08.100(c) and (d) to indicate that the number and type of driveways
required in multi-family residential, commercial and industrial zoning districts driveways
would be:
1 to 20 spaces 1 single driveway
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21 to 40 spaces 1 double driveway
41 spaces and over Number and type of driveway to be approved by the
Transportation Planning Manager based on
considerations of safety, efficiency and effectiveness,
The comprehensive Zoning Code revision will not be completed until after the LUCE is
adopted. At that time, a thorough and comprehensive review of parking and circulation
policies will be conducted. However, there are some more minor amendments that are
worthwhile to undertake presently in order to clarify the Code's intent and assure that
new and redeveloped parking facilities are designed for safe and efficient circulation.
The additional amendments are summarized as follows:
1. Removing speed bumps as mitigations for lack of visibility: Section 9.04.10.02.090
prohibits obstructions that obscure or block the visibility of vehicles entering or
exiting an alley, driveway, parking lot, street intersection or other right of way, which
would pose a hazard to pedestrians, and defines a five foot hazardous visual area
that must be kept clear of any planting or development higher than 24 inches. In two
sub-sections, the Zoning Administrator and Transportation Planning Manager are
permitted to grant certain exceptions based on geographic conditions and hardship
findings, provided that design features offer an alternative form of visibility.
Examples given include speed bumps. However, speed bumps are impractical and
may in fact introduce a different type of hazard if used for this purpose. Since they
are not a good solution to provide alternative visibility, it is proposed to remove the
reference to speed bumps in two sub-sections of this Code section.
2. Parking access in all districts: A number of changes are proposed to the title and
sub-sections of SMMC 9.04.10.08.070. It is proposed to change the title to make it
consistent with the two sections that follow (Parking Access ih Multi-Family
Residential Districts and Parking Access in Non-residential Districts) and to read
more clearly that it applies to single family residential uses.
Currently, SMMC 9.04.10.08.070(a) reads that "use of a required parking space
shall not require more than two vehicle maneuvers." This continues to be a good
standard for single family and most residential and commercial properties because it
prohibits poorly designed lots that require- cars to make 3 and 4 maneuvers when
entering or exiting parking spaces. However, in certain commercial districts where
lot design is challenging or multi-family areas where street parking is at a premium,
allowing a small portion of the parking spaces to be accessed using additional
maneuvers could provide an opportunity for additional on-site parking, provided they
are evenly distributed around the site. As it would be undesirable to remove this
restriction entirely on such properties, it is proposed to allow a small percentage (5%
on lots of 20 or more spaces) of spaces that would require four maneuvers to
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access. Four maneuvers typically is defined as: 1) reverse out; 2) pull forward but
not quite clear enough to exit; 3) back up again; and 4) pull out.
It is anticipated that the flexibility provided by this text amendment will allow
development of additional on-site parking, will reduce the demand. for on-street
parking and, in some cases, may provide the opportunity to avoid excavation in
order to provide required parking or allow applicants to accommodate more trees
and other landscaping.
The proposed changes to 9.04.10.08.070(b) are very minor grammatical and
reference adjustments.
The last proposed amendment to this section, in Sub-section (c), would ensure that
the Transportation Management Division (TMD) is able to require wider new garage
doors when a garage is altered or built in order to make the parking spaces more
accessible. For instance, an older alley-accessed garage may contain a 15-foot-
wide garage door, in some cases precluding the ability to park in both spaces
without using more than two maneuvers. However,. a wider door could alleviate that
problem and make it feasible to use the garage for parking. The current Code does
not expressly give authority to TMD to require this upgrade, resulting in difficult
implementation and applicant confusion that can delay the permit process.
3. Garage doors in the front one-half of a residential parcel: The proposed changes to
SMMC 9.04.10.08.070(c) serve primarily to clarify the implementation of this policy
which intends to limit front-facing garage doors. The first sentence ("In a garage
which shall have not more than eighteen feet of garage door or doors") seems to
imply that an 18 foot wide door would be allowed, which conflicts with the later
limitation of 16 feet on a two-car garage door. The 18 feet allowed by the current
language is to accommodate two 9 foot wide doors, for a total length of 18 feet. A
single 18 foot wide door is not allowed because it tends to dominate the appearance
of the property. The proposed language clarifies this by rephrasing and not referring
to a single door that might be 18 feet wide. It is additionally proposed to fix the two-
car garage door size at 16 feet in width because narrower doors do not provide
adequate and safe access to a two-car garage. However, wider doors tend to
dominate the front elevation, which this Code section is intended to avoid through
restriction of the door width.
It is also recommended to cross-reference the Code section being added herein
[g.04.10.08.070(c)] in regard to parking access on the side street of a corner or
reversed corner lot. The cross-reference of the garage door width standard for the
side street promotes consistency in the Code, and is appropriate since garage doors
on the side of the property would not visually affect the front fagade.
In order to amend the Zoning Ordinance, certain findings of consistency with the City's
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adopted General Plan must be made to ensure the public health, safety and general
welfare. These findings are made in the proposed ordinance (Attachment A).
Alternatives
As an alternative to the recommended action, the Council may consider:
1. Adopting a revised version of the proposed ordinance.
2. Not adopting the proposed ordinance.
the interim ordinance provisions and
language.
This would result in the expiration of
a return to the prevailing ordinance
.Environmental Analysis
The proposed ordinance is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) in that it can been seen with
certainty that the proposed ordinance does not have the potential to significantly impact
the environment. The proposed text amendments would not result in negative impacts
on the City's circulation, but rather would facilitate better circulation and parking access
both within private parking areas and within the public right of way. There are no
reasonably foreseeable impacts such as a direct or indirect physical change in the
environment that would result from the adoption of the proposed ordinance.
Public Outreach
In compliance with SMMC 9.04.20.22, notices of the proposed text amendment for both
the Planning Commission and City Council hearings were published in the Santa
Monica Daily Press a minimum of 10 days prior to the hearings.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The recommendations included in this report have no budget impacts.
Prepared by: Elizabeth Bar-EI, AICP, Senior Planner
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Approved:
Planning & Community
Department
Attachments:
Forwarded to Council:
~mont Ewell
Manager
A. Proposed Ordinance
B. Summary of Current & Proposed Code Sections
C. Interim Ordinance 2200(CCS)
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ATTACHMENT A
Proposed Ordinance
s
f;\atty\muni\laws\barry\transportation 10-13-09
City Council Meeting 10-13-09 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MbNICA AMENDING SECTIONS 9.04.10.02.090, 9.04.10.08.070,
9.04.10.08.100, AND 9.04.10.08.190 OF THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATED TO THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF DRIVEWAYS REQUIRED FOR.
PARKING LOTS AND STRUCTURES WITH MORE THAN 40 SPACES, HAZARDOUS
VISUAL OBSTRUCTION MITIGATIONS, ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF PARKING
MANEUVERS, PARKING ACCESS IN ALL DISTRICTS, AND GARAGE DOOR WIDTH
IN THE FRONT ONE-HALF OF PARCELS
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is concerned with the efficient, effective
and safe circulation of vehicles and pedestrians both inside parking areas and within the
public right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.10.08.100 provides
discretion to transportation staff to determine the number of driveways for projects
providing over 80 parking spaces, but mandates two double driveways for projects
providing between 41 and 80 parking spaces in multi-family, commercial and industrial
districts; and
WHEREAS, when evaluating and approving a design for a parking lot or
structure which contains over 80 parking spaces, the Transportation Management
Division assesses whether the design provides for the efficient, effective, and safe
circulation of both vehicles and pedestrians; and
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WHEREAS, each additional entrance or exit from a parking structure into the
public right-of-way creates an additional point of conflict between vehicles, bicyclists or
pedestrians in the street or alley; and
WHEREAS, each additional entrance or exit also requires an additional curb-cut
which reduces on-street parking; and
WHEREAS, fewer entrances and exits from parking structures into the public
right-of-way create fewer points of conflict between vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians;
and
WHEREAS, the current Zoning Ordinance provision can require applicants with
projects providing 41 and 80 spaces to propose more driveways than are necessary to
safely and efficiently serve particular projects, thereby leading to the potential conflicts
and detriments addressed above; and
WHEREAS, in light of these concerns, the City Council adopted Ordinance
Number 2159 (CCS) on June 28, 2005, Ordinance Number 2164 (CCS) on September
25, 2005, and Ordinance Number 2200 (CCS) on March 11, 2007, which allow
administrative approval of the number and type of driveways required for parking
structures with over 40 parking spaces in Multi-Family, Commercial, and Industrial
Districts in the City; and
WHEREAS, this extension ordinance will expire on December 11, 2009 and
may not be extended; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to modify other parking and circulation design
requirements located in Santa Monica Municipal Code Sections 9.04.10.02.090,
9.04.10.08.190, and 9.04.10.08.070 so as to eliminate requirements that contradict
2
principles of good design or sound policy, impede necessary flexibility, or cause
confusion; and
WHEREAS, these other additional minor amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
relate to parking and circulation design requirements, including requirements. related to
providing driveways free of hazardous visual obstructions and designing adequate
access to parking. spaces both in parking lots and structures and in residential garages,
and are necessary to facilitate better design and allow flexibility for the Transportation
Management Division in its review of proposed parking facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution of Intention to
initiate this Zoning Text Amendment on August 19, 2009; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 2,
2009 and recommended approval of the proposed text amendments to the City Council;
and
WHEREAS, the proposed Zoning Text Amendments are consistent in principle
with several of the goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan. Specifically, the
amendment is consistent with Circulation Element Policy 4.3.7 which states that: "New
driveways and mid-block access points shall be limited especially along major roads..."
and Circulation Element Policy 4.7.3, which states that "Most efficient use of parking
facilities shall be encouraged...;" and
WHEREAS, the proposed Zoning Text Amendments are also consistent with the
direction for future development expressed in the Land Use and Circulation Element
Strategy Framework, which envisions a continuation and intensification of policies that
promote pedestrian safety and priority, and discourages points of conflict that are
3
generated by excessive numbers of driveways, sub-standard garage doors and speed
bumps adjacent to driveways; and
WHEREAS, the public health, safety and general welfare require the adoption of
the proposed provisions in order to ensure adequate access to parking areas and
spaces with minimum interference with the movement of pedestrians, bicyclists and
other vehicular traffic, to provide drivers with maximum visibility of the surrounding area,
and to clarify Code language, which contributes to improving the City's permit process
and providing better customer service,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.10.08.100 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
9.04.10.08.100 Driveways.
(a) For purposes of this Section:
(1) A driveway is defined as an access drive leading from a public
street or right-of-way to a parking area, or from one parking area to
another, but not including any ramp, aisle, maneuvering area or driveway
approach.
(2) A ramp is defined as an access driveway leading from one
parking level to another.
4
(b) Driveways in the R1 Single Family District shall not be less
than ten feet in width. The driveway width shall be maintained free and
clear of all obstructions.
(c) In multi-family residential districts, driveways shall conform to
the following standards:
Single driveway
Double driveway
10-foot minimum, with 12-foot
minimum apron
20-foot minimum, with 24-foot
minimum apron
The minimum number and type of driveways required to be
provided shall be determined based on the number of parking spaces
contained in any given parking area according to the following standard:
1 to 20 spaces
21 to 40 spaces
1 single driveway
1 double driveway
X141 spaces and over Number and type of driveway to be
approved by the
5
€+~g}neer Transportation Planning
Manager based on considerations of
safety efficiency and effectiveness.
The driveway width shall be maintained free and clear of all
obstructions.
(d) In all commercial and industrial districts, driveways shall
conform to the following standards:
Single driveway
Double driveway
10-foot minimum, with 12-foot
minimum apron
20-foot minimum, with 24-foot
minimum apron
The minimum number and type of driveway required to be provided
shall be determined on the number of parking spaces contained in any
given parking area according to the following standard:
1 to 20 spaces
21 to 40 spaces
1 single driveway
1 double driveway
x-1-41 spaces and over Number and type of driveway to be
approved by the '
€agit~eer Transportation Planning
Manager based on considerations of
safety efficiency, and effectiveness.
The driveway width shall be maintained free and clear of all
obstructions.
(e) In all districts, interior ramps with one-way traffic shall be not
less than fourteen feet in width and ramps with two way traffic shall be not
less than twenty feet in width.
(f) In all districts, the Zoning Administrator and the City Parking
and Traffic Engineer may reduce the driveway width as necessary and
appropriate such that circulation, traffic and safety concerns are
adequately addressed.
SECTION 2. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.10.02.090 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
9.04.10.02.090 Hazardous visual obstructions.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 9.04.10.02.080, no person shall
permit any obstruction, including, but not limited to any fence, wall, hedge,
tree or landscape planting to obscure or block the visibility of vehicles
entering or exiting an alley, driveway, parking lot, street intersection or
other vehicle right-of-way or to constitute an unreasonable and
7
unnecessary hazard to persons lawfully using an adjacent pedestrian or
vehicle right-of-way. In addition, no obstruction shall be located less than
five feet from the intersection of the parcel line with a driveway or garage
door, or the intersection of parcel lines adjacent to street or alley
intersections unless the obstruction is either less than twenty-four inches
above the adjacent vehicle right-of-way or is authorized pursuant to
subsection (b) of this Section. No development shall be allowed if it would
otherwise cause an existing obstruction to be in violation of this subsection
(a) unless the obstruction is either less than twenty-four inches above the
adjacent vehicle right-of-way or the obstruction or development is
authorized pursuant to subsections (b) or (c) of this Section.
(b) The Zoning Administrator and Transportation Planning
Manager may approve encroachments into the five foot hazardous visual
area in addition to those specified in subsection (a) of this Section when
the property owner submits a written request and satisfactory evidence
that:
(1) Characteristics applicable to the property, including size,
shape, topography, location, or surroundings that do not apply to other
properties in the vicinity which unreasonably restricts an owner's ability to
comply with subsection (a) of this Section; and
(2) The proposed encroachment will be designed to maintain
adequate sight view and/or provide other design elements, such as the
8
use of mirrors and-speed-bumps and will not constitute a hazard to
persons lawfully using an adjacent sidewalk, alley, street or other right-of-
way; and
(3) The strict application of the provisions of this Chapter would
result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships, not including
economic difficulties or economic hardships, or would result in
unreasonable deprivation of the use or enjoyment of the property; and
(4) The granting of the encroachment will not be contrary to or in
conflict with the general purposes and intent of this Chapter, nor to the
goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan.
(c) The Zoning Administrator and Transportation Manager may
during the plan check process approve a detached garage located in the
R1 District with alley access even if this garage would cause an existing
obstruction to be located in the hazardous visual obstruction area if the
garage will be designed to maintain adequate sight view and/or provide
other design elements, such as the use of mirrors ^^~' °^°°'' "~ ~^,^° and
will not constitute a hazard to persons lawfully using an adjacent sidewalk,
alley, street or other right-of-way
SECTION 3. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.10.08.070 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
9.04.10.08.070 Parking
access in all districts.
9
(a) Use of a required parking space shall not require more than
two vehicle maneuvers. Notwithstanding the above, for all uses with 20 or
more parking spaces up to 5% of the total number of parking spaces, with
a maximum of 10 spaces may require four turning maneuvers. Such
spaces shall be distribu#ed around the parking area(s) on the parcel.
(b) Exits from any subterranean or semisubterranean parking
structure shall provide sight distance which ce~piy complies with
standards established by the City ?'^~~"^^ ^^~' T~°~'^ ~^^ ^^^~
Transportation Planning Manager.
~c) The width of any garage door shall be at least 8' for a single
space and at least 16' for two spaces. Unless otherwise expressly
prohibited in this Chapter additional width shall be required if the
Transportation Planning Manager determines that it is necessary and
appropriate to adequately address circulation, traffic and safety concerns.
.SECTION. 4. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.10.08.190 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
9.04.10.08.190 Location of required parking spaces.
(a) Required off-street parking spaces shall be located on the
parcel or building site. In commercial or industrial districts, off-street
parking may be located off of the parcel or building site, except as
prohibited by Section 9.04.10.08.200 of this Chapter, if each of the
following conditions are satisfied:
10
(1) All parking spaces are located within one thousand feet
of the perimeter of the parcel or building site and the parking area
commences within three hundred feet of the perimeter. This distance shall
be computed from the nearest point of the parking area.
(2) The property on which the parking spaces are provided
is owned in fee by the owner of the parcel or building site which is subject
to the parking space requirements.
(3) Additional documents, covenants, deed restrictions, or
other agreements as may be deemed necessary by the Zoning
Administrator are executed to assure that the required parking spaces are
maintained off site.
(b) Parking requirements may not be met by providing parking in
the front one-half of a parcel in a residential district except:
(1) In a garage. If the garage faces the front lot line, the
araae doors shall not be more than eiahteen fleet wide
t+ne for each seventy-five feet or fraction thereof of lot width. A door to a
single space shall ~e not be less than eight feet aor more than nine feet
wide, and a~door to two spaces shall not be mere-tk~ar} sixteen feet wide.
Not more than one double garage may be entered from the side street
side of a corner e# or a reversed corner lot in comoiiance with Section
9.04.10.08.070(c} +h.,., „~ ., ,+,,,,r ..,.+ ....,ra +h.,,, ~ „+oon +oo+ ,.,;,ao Any
11
garage on the front one-half of a lot or on the side street side of a corner
or a reversed corner lot shall be fully enclosed within the architecture and
structure of the main building except for entrances;
(2) In multi-family residential districts, where the parcel has
no alley, provided that no part of a required front yard shall be used for
parking purposes;
(3) Where the parcel is in the A Overlay District and has
been approved for parking use pursuant to the provisions of Part
9.04.08.36.
SECTION 5. 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, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary
to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 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.
12
SECTION 7. 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 30 days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
S
M RSHA NES M TRIE
Ci Attor y
13
ATTACHMENT B
Summary of Current & Proposed Code Sections
Summary of Current & Proposed Text Language
1 to 20 1 single driveway
spaces
21 to 40 1 double driveway
spaces
41 to 80 2 double driveways
spaces
81 ,spaces Number and type
and over of driveway to be
approved by the
City Parking and
Traffic Engineer.
...The proposed encroachment will
be designed to maintain adequate
sight view and/or provide other
design elements, such as the use
of mirrors and speed bumps and
will not constitute a hazard to
persons lawfully using an adjacent
sidewalk, alley, street or other right-
of-way"
...The Zoning Administrator and
Transportation Manager may
during the plan check process
approve a detached garage located
in the R1 District with alley access
even if this garage would cause an
1 to 20 spaces 1 single driveway
21 to 40 spaces 1 double driveway
41 spaces and over:
Number and type of driveway to be
approved by the Transportation
Planning Manager based on
considerations of safety, efficiency
and effectiveness.
"...The proposed encroachment
will be designed to maintain
adequate sight view and/or provide
other design elements, such as the
use of mirrors aad-speed-bumps
and will not constitute a hazard to
persons lawfully using an adjacent
sidewalk, alley, street or other
right-of-way"
"...The Zoning Administrator and
Transportation Manager may
during the plan check process
approve a detached garage
located in the R1 District with alley
access even if this garage would
existing obstruction to be located in cause an existing obstruction to be
the hazardous visual obstruction
area if the garage will be designed
to maintain adequate sight view
and/or provide other design
elements, such as the use of
mirrors and speed bumps and will
not constitute a hazard to persons
lawfully using an adjacent sidewalk,
alley, street or other right-of-way."
located in the hazardous visual
obstruction area if the garage will
be designed to maintain adequate
sight view and/or provide other
design elements, such as the use
of mirrors a„d-spee^'~e and
will not constitute a hazard to
persons lawfully using an adjacent
sidewalk, alley, street or other
right-of-way."
Title: Access to parking lots and New title: Parking access in all
structures in all districts. districts.
10
Use of a required parking space
shall not require more than two
vehicle maneuvers.
Exits from any subterranean or
semi-subterranean parking
structure shall provide sight
distance which .comply with
standards established by the City
Parking and Traffic Engineer.
NEW SECTION (related to parking
access in all districts)
(1) In a garage which shall have not
more than eighteen feet of garage
door or doors facing the front lot
line for each seventy-five feet or
fraction thereof of lot width. A door
to a single space shall be not less
than eight feet nor more than nine
feet wide, and a door to two spaces
shall not be more than sixteen feet
wide. Not more than one double
garage may be entered from the
side street side of a corner of a
reversed corner lot through a door
not more than sixteen feet wide.
Any garage on the front one-half of
a lot or on the side street side of a
Use of a required parking space
shall not require more than two
vehicle maneuvers. Notwith-
standing the above, for all uses
with 20 or more parking spaces.
up to 5% of the total number of
parking spaces, with a maximum
of 10 spaces, may require four
turning maneuvers. Such spaces
shall be distributed around the
parking area(s) on the parcel.
Exits from any subterranean or
semi-subterranean parking
structure shall provide sight
distance which comptY. complies
with standards established by the
Transportation Planning Manager
The width of any garage door shall
be at least 8' for a single space
and at least 16' wide for two
spaces: Unless otherwise
expressly prohibited in this
Chapter, .additional width shall be
required if the Transportation
Planning Manager determines that
it is necessary and appropriate to
adequately address circulation,
traffic and safety concerns.
(1) In a garage. If the garage
faces the front lot line, the garage
doors shall not be more than
eighteen feet wide for each
seventy-five feet or fraction thereof
of lot width. A door. to a single
space shall not be less than eight
feet or more than nine feet wide,
and a door to two spaces shall be
sixteen feet wide. Not more than
one double garage- may be
entered from the side street side of
a corner or a reversed corner lot in
compliance with Section
9.04.10.08.070(c). Any garage on
the front one-half of a lot or on the
11
corner or a reversed corner lot shall side street side of a corner or a
be fully enclosed within the reversed corner lot shall be fully
architecture and structure of the enclosed within the architecture
main building except for entrances; and structure of the main building
except for entrances;
12
ATTACHMENT C
Interim Ordinance 2200(CCS)
13
F:\atty\muni\lawslbarry\drivewaysextend 7-25-06
City Council Meeting 7-25-06 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER2200 {CCS}
{City Council Series)
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY'OF SANTA
MONICA EXTENDING THE INTERIM ORDINANCES ALLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE
APPROVAL OF THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF DRIVEWAYS REQUIRED FOR
PARKING STRUCTURES WITH OVER 40 PARKING SPACES tN MULTI-FAMILY,
COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS 1N THE CITY
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 City of Santa Monica is concerned with the efficient, effective and safe
circulation of vehicles and pedestrians both inside parking areas and within the public right-
of-way.
{b) Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.10.08.100 provides discretion to
transportation staff to determine the number of driveways for projects providing over 80
parking spaces, bu# mandates two double driveways for projects providing between 41 and
80 parking spaces in multi-family, commercial and industrial districts.
{c) When evaluating and approving a design for a parking lot or structure which
contains over 80 parking spaces, the Transportation Management Division assesses
1
whether the design provides for tfie efficient, effective, and safe circulation of both vehicles
and pedestrians.
(d) Each additional entrance or exit from a parking structure into the public right-of-
way creates an additional point of conflict between vehicles, bicyclists or pedestrians in the
street or alley.
(e) Each additional entrance or exit also requires an additional curb-cut which
reduces on-street parking.
(f) Fewer entrances and exits from parking structures into the public right-of-way
create fewer points of conflict between vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
(g) The current Zoning Ordinance provision can require applicants with projects
providing 41 and 80 spaces to propose more driveways than are necessary to safely and
efficiently serve particular projects, thereby leading to the potential conflicts and detriments
addressed above.
(h) The City's Zoning Ordinance should be revised to provide the Transportation
Planning Manger with the discretion to establish the number and type of driveways
provided to serve parking lots or structures which provide over 40 parking spaces based on
considerations of safety, effciency, and effectiveness.
{i) Pending completion of these permanent revisions, in order to protect the public
health, safety, and welfare, it is necessary on an interim basis to change current
development standards as they relate to the number and type of driveways provided to
serve parking lots and structures.
(j) In light of these concerns, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number 2159
{CCS) on June 28, 2005 and Ordinance Number 2164 (CCS), which allow administrative
2
approval ofi the number and type of driveways required for parking structures with over 40
parking spaces in Multi-Family, Commercial, and Industrial Districts in the City. However
Ordinance Number 2164 (CCS) will expire on March 11, 2007, unless extended. Adoption
of the proposed extension ordinance will allow sufficient time for a comprehensive planning
process to revise these development standards on a permanent basis in conjunction with
the Land Use Element/Zor,ing Ordinance Update.
(k) As described above, there exists a current and immediate threat to the public
safety, health, and welfare should this interim ordinance not be adopted pending the City's
adoption of permanent revisions to the City's Zoning Ordinance.
(I) Consequently, the City Council finds and declares that the public health, safety
and general welfare require adoption of this interim ordinance to extend the provisions of
Ordinance Number 2159 (CCS) and Ordinance Number 2164 (CCS) up to and including
December 11, 2009, which allows administrative approval of the number and type of
driveways required for parking structures with over 40 parking spaces in Multi-Family,
Commercial, and Industrial Districts in the City.
SECTION 2. Driveways. The minimum number and type of driveway required to be
provided in all multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial districts shall be
determined based on the number of parking spaces contained in any given parking area in
accordance with the following standards:
1 to 20 spaces 1 single driveway
21 to 40 spaces 1 double driveway
3
41 spaces and over Number and type of driveway to be approved by the
Transportation Planning Manager based on
considerations of safety, efficiency and effectiveness.
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be of no further force or effect after
December 11, 2009.
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, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. If any sectiah, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Interim
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 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
4
newspaper within 15 days after its adoption
days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
' ~, ~~
MA HA JOKE MOUTRI
City Attorney l~
This Ordinance shall become effective 30
5
Approved and adopted this 25th day of July, 2006.
i
Robert T. olbrook, Mayor
State of California )
County of Los Angeles) ss.
City of Santa Monica )
I, Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance tdo. 2200 {CCS) had its introduction on July 11, 2006, and was
adopted at the Santa Monica City Council meeting held on July 25, 2006, by the
following vote:
Ayes: Council members: Bloom, Katz, McKeown, O'Connor,
Mayor Pro Tem Shriver, Mayor Holbrook
goes: Council members: None
Abstain: Council members: Clone
Absent: Council members` Denser
ATTEST:
Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk