HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10 - Amending the Residential Design GuidelinesRESOLUTION NO. 05-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COSTA MESA AMENDING THE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
GUIDELINES.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA HEREBY RESOLVES
AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 01-29 on May 7, 2001,
adopting Residential Design Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recently amended various zoning provisions
contained in the City of Costa Mesa Municipal Code by adoption of Ordinance 05-2; and
WHEREAS, these zoning code amendments included modifications to the
threshold for determining when a project is subject to minor design review, and these
modifications require a similar amendment to the Residential Design Guidelines in order
to maintain consistency with the Costa Mesa Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the project has been reviewed for compliance with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the CEQA Guidelines, and the City's environmental
procedures, and has been found to be exempt.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Costa Mesa City Council does
hereby amend the Residential Design Guidelines as described in attached Exhibit "A".
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amendment shall become effective upon
the effective date of Ordinance 05-2.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of March 2005.
Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
CEST:
Dep.,Apity Clerk of th City of Costa Mesa APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attomey
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, Julie Folcik, Deputy City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the
City of Costa Mesa, hereby certifies that the above foregoing Resolution No. 05-10 was
duly and regularly passed and adopted by said City Council at a regular meeting thereof
held on the 1' day of March, 2005, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Mansoor, Monahan, Bever
NOES: Dixon, Foley
ABSENT: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the Seal of the
City of Costa Mesa this 2nd day of March, 2005.
Deput City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the
City Council of the City of Costa Mesa
EXHIBIT "A"
City of Costa Mesa Residential Design Guidelines
Residential
Development
ij, war I 1.
Information
The City of Costa Mesa Planning Division
2v° Floor, 77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92628`
(714) 754-5245 f!?t
- March 2005
Residential Design Guidelines
The City of Costa Mesa Planning Division
2nd Floor, 77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92628
(714) 754-5245
wwwAxosta-mesaxams
Adopted May 7, 2001
Amended June 18, 2001
Amended August 18, 2003
Amended March 1, 2005
Table of Contents
1.
Purpose.........................................................................................................3
2.
Approval Procedures.....................................................................................3
3.
Second -Story to First -Story Percentage........................................................
5
4.
Other Building Mass and Form Considerations .............................................
5
5.
Second -Story Side Setback..........................................................................
8
6.
Elevation Treatments....................................................................................8
7.
Roof Forms...................................................................................................
9
8.
Window Placement.......................................................................................
9
9.
Integration of Second -Story Construction...................................................10
10.
Site Planning Considerations...................................................................
10
EN
Residential Dmgn Guidellnea
1. Purpose
These Residential Design Guidelines are intended to promote design
excellence in new residential construction. The 2000 General Plan includes
the following policies related to residential development:
CD -7A.1 Ensure that new and remodeled structures are designed in
architectural styles which reflect the City's diversity, yet are
compatible in scale and character with existing buildings and natural
surroundings within residential neighborhoods. Develop and adopt
design guidelines for residential development.
CD -7A.2 Preserve the character and scale of Costa Mesa's established
residential neighborhoods; where residential development or
redevelopment is proposed, require as a condition of approval that it is
consistent with the prevailing character of existing development in the
immediate vicinity, and that it does not have a substantial adverse
impact on the adjacent areas.
In view of these policies, the City of Costa Mesa encourages architectural
diversity that considers the existing neighborhood character and anticipated
trends and development.
It is recognized that there will be instances when these guidelines may yield
an unsatisfactory design or the applicant may propose a design that meets
the intent of these design guidelines but not the specific criteria. In these
instances, overriding consideration will be given to meeting the intent of the
Residential Design Guidelines and promoting design excellence.
These Residential Design Guidelines are intended to implement the goals,
objectives, and policies of the 2000 General Plan as they relate to residential
development. To achieve this, all residential construction shall be subject to
the following architectural design guidelines, as appropriate, with the
exception of single -story construction in an RI zone.
It should be noted that these design guidelines are to be used in conjunction
with the City of Costa Mesa Zoning Code, which provides numerous
development standards that are applicable to new residential construction
and additions. Please consult the Planning Division for appropriate zoning
information.
2. Approval Procedures
Unless stated otherwise, deviations from these guidelines shall require the
approval of a Minor Design Review. A Minor Design Review is a discretionary
review process that requires approval by the Zoning Administrator. The City
provides public notice in the form of a mailing to all property owners within
500 feet of your property and a posting of a notice on the property.
os^--��M
Residential Design Guidelines
For residential projects that meet the criteria listed below, the Planning
Division is the final review authority. The Planning Division shall mail a notice
of zoning approval to all owners of properties that share a common property
line with the proposed project on the day zoning approval is given. An
exception to this notice provision is for residential projects located on
Aviemore Terrace. For Aviemore Terrace, the Planning Division shall also mail
notice to owners of properties across the street within 100 feet of the
proposed project. The properties owners who receive notice shall have 7
days from the date of the notice to file an appeal of the Planning Division's
decision to the Planning Commission, in accordance with Section 2-303 of
the Costa Mesa Municipal Code. The Planning Division's decision will
become final after 7 days if no appeal is filed. Please consult with the
Planning Division for any questions regarding the review and approval
process.
Planning Division Review of Residential Projects
Zone
Number of Units
Criteria'
RI
2 or less
Two-story residential
construction or addition that
R2 -MD, R2 -HD, and R3
complies with these
Residential Design
Guidelines.
1. A residential project that does not meet all of these criteria will require minor design
review or design review approval. Please consult with the Planning Division to determine the
appropriate review process.
Costa Mes
Rmidentiol Design Guidelines
3. Second -Story to First -Story Percentage
1. Second -story floor areas should not exceed 80% of the first -story floor area
(including garage area, if attached).
2. Single -story areas with vaulted ceilings that exceed 15 feet in height shall be
counted as a two-story area for the second -story to first -story percentage
calculation. In instances where the second -story floor area exceeds 50% of
the first -story floor area, the Zoning Administrator, through a Minor Design
Review, may grant an exception if the vaulted area provides articulation and
transitioning between the first and second story.
4. Other Building Mass and Form Considerations
1. To enhance variety and interest, long, unbroken building facades should
be avoided and offsets and building projections made an integral part of
residential design. Providing individual and identifiable entries to units is
also encouraged to add interest and variety to the streetscene.
2. Variety should be accomplished through variation in building heights and
forms.
3. Variation in depth of floor plans to create interesting massing is
encouraged. Structures having dwelling units attached side-by-side should
avoid the long -row effect by consisting of no more than 6 dwelling units.
The Planning Division may approve alternative designs, which accomplish
the same purpose.
4. Consideration shall be given to the effect of proposed development on the
light, air, and privacy of adjacent properties.
Please see the following photographs for examples of inappropriate and
appropriate building mass and form.
am
Residential Design Guidelines
Inappropriate Massing and Form
P-1: Flat elevation facing the street.
P-2: Stark rear elevation of attached
building.
P-3: Rear elevation with no building plane P-4: Only minor articulation is created with
off -sets or vertical articulation. the recessed patio area.
[Costa Mes
Residential Design Guidelines
Appropriate Massing and Form
P-5: Variation in rooflines and horizontal P-6: Variable rooflines, porches, and
articulation of elevations creates greater balconies provide relief along facades.
architectural interest.
P-7: Combinations of hipped and gable P-8: Recesses in building plane provide
ended roofs are appropriate. visual relief.
osti
Residential Design Guidelines
5. Second -Story Side Setback
1. The second -story interior side building elevation should be set back an average
of 10 feet, but shall be no closer than 5 feet from the side property line.
Exception. This requirement would not apply to the following:
a. The distance between dwelling units within the same development in
multiple -family residential zones; or
b. The initial development in planned development zones (subsequent
additions would be subject to this requirement); or
c. Second -story construction that is consistent with the prevailing two-
story design within the same residential tract.
d. Second -story additions to existing residences with current side yard
setbacks that are less than 10 feet; provided that the current width of
the side yard is not further decreased. A minirnum 5 -foot setback
shall be required.
2. In addition to the above -stated setback, second -story construction should use
additional design techniques to provide visual relief to the side yard. This
includes, but is not limited to: horizontal and/or vertical plane breaks, roof plane
breaks, and varied roof forms, openings such as breezeways, limiting the
length of the second story, and appropriate architectural details.
6. Elevation Treatments
1. Architectural projections are encouraged to provide visual focus and
emphasize some aspect of design such as an entryway or major window.
2. Elevations with stepping forms both horizontally and vertically are
encouraged to soften and provide transition to second -stories.
3. With emphasis on front and street -facing elevations, building elevations
should incorporate enhanced detailing, which may include articulations,
projections, and use of varied building materials.
4. Elevations should incorporate multiple building planes and offsets, and
may include porches and patio covers and enhancement of exterior
openings (doors/windows).
Please see following photographs for examples of architectural elements.
M
Residential Design Guidelines
Architectural Elements
P-9: Architectural enhancement through
variation in detailing is encouraged. Note
the use of shutters, decorative porch
supports, stone accents around the garage.
P-10: The use of dormer elements and
Palladian windows add interest to the front
and side elevations.
7. Roof Forms
1. Variation in roof forms, orientation and pitch are encouraged to provide
visual interest.
2. Within development projects, single type or color roofing is not
encouraged. Consideration of a variety of roof types and color tones
provides relief from monotony and enhances the appearance of a
neighborhood.
3. The maximum building height of 27 feet, as specified in the Zoning
Code, will only be allowed for structures with sloped -roof designs.
Structures proposed to have a flat roof, for either the entire structure or
a portion thereof, should be designed to be consistent with the bulk and
scale of the structures in the surrounding neighborhood, and overall
height of the portion of the structure where the flat roof is proposed
should not exceed 22 feet.
8. Window Placement
1. Second -story windows should incorporate off -sets to minimize direct
views into the windows of existing, neighboring structures.
EMResidential Desi
2. The use of screen landscaping to minimize privacy impacts should also
be considered.
9. Integration of Second -Story Construction
1. Second -story additions to existing residential structures should be
designed to appear as though they were part of the original house
construction, and should be well integrated into the design of the
existing structure.
2. In both new construction and additions, the second -story floor -to -ceiling
dimension should be similar to the first -story floor -to -ceiling dimension,
so that the second story does not appear out of proportion or top heavy
in relation to the first story.
10. Site Planning Considerations
The location and orientation of all buildings should be designed and
arranged to preserve natural features by minimizing the disturbance to
the natural environment. Natural features such as trees, groves,
waterways, scenic points, historic spots or landmarks, bluffs or slopes
should be delineated on the site plan and considered when planning the
location and orientation of buildings, open spaces, underground
services, walks, paved areas, playgrounds, parking areas and finished
grade elevations.
10