Berkeley City Council
May 7, 2024

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
1 To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Councilmember Sophie Hahn (Author) and Vice Mayor Wengraf (Co-Sponsor)
Subject: Resolution in Support of the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California

RECOMMENDATION
Send a resolution to Governor Gavin Newsom and the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California, endorsing the campaign to “Keep the Law” and uphold Senate Bill 1137, which prohibits new oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals, and requires companies to adopt health, safety, and environmental standards.

SUMMARY STATEMENT
Following the successful passage of SB 1137 – co-authored by State Senators Lena Gonzalez and Monique Limón – which created a public health buffer between new oil and gas wells and homes, schools, and other community sites, Jerome Reedy – a board member of the California Independent Petroleum Association (CIPA) – successfully filed a State-level referendum to overturn the law.

The referendum will appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot. This item seeks to register the Berkeley City Council’s official position in opposition to the referendum, which would allow oil companies to continue polluting areas close to homes, schools, and other sensitive facilities.

BACKGROUND
In 2022, the California State Legislature overwhelmingly passed and the Governor signed SB 1137, creating a public health buffer between new oil and gas wells and homes, schools, and other community sites. Living near oil and gas wells increases exposure to air pollution in the form of toxic particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, ozone and volatile compounds.1 The adverse health effects of which have been well-documented: increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, migraines, and birth defects.2 1 Tucker, D. (2021, October 12). Living near oil and gas wells increases air pollution exposure, according to Stanford research [Press Release]. Stanford News Service. 2 Gross, L. (2022, November 39). Petition Circulators Are Telling California Voters that a Ballot Measure Would Ban New Oil and Gas Wells Near Homes. In Fact, It Would Do the Opposite. Inside Climate News.

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
2 With more than 2.7 million Californians living within the 3,200 ft buffer zone – 70% of them people of color – the law was celebrated as a victory for environmental justice.3 However, just days after the bill passed, CIPA board member Jerome Reedy filed a referendum to undo the law. Since then, oil companies have spent over $20 million on a campaign to mislead California voters. Petition circulators funded by “Stop the Energy Shutdown,” the oil industry backed committee leading the campaign against SB 1157, were caught lying to voters on multiple occasions – with some allegedly going as far as to say that the petitions they are circulating would ban new oil and gas wells.4 Community member Beth Harvey has shared that she was finishing up grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s Rockridge in Oakland when she was approached by a canvasser who told her they were circulating a petition to protect communities from oil drilling. Hurriedly, packing her groceries into her car, she took the canvasser at their word and signed the petition, only to realize later on she had been told a lie.5 The top funder, Sentinel Peak Resources, operates the largest urban oil field in the country – Los Angeles County’s Inglewood Oil Field – and has donated $4.5 million to the effort.6 The Inglewood Oil Field has a long history of spills and disasters, and neighbors – most of whom are Black or Latino – have been raising concerns over air and water pollution for years. In April 2021, a pipeline leak spilled over 1,600 gallons of oil onto the field, just a few hundred feet from Kenneth Hahn Park Playground.7 In 2019, an oil-water leak traveling down a storm drain led to the closure of traffic lanes and a dog park in Culver City.8 A containment tank leak in 2018 exposed residents within 4,100 feet to a cloud of toxic benzene, a known carcinogen. In both 2005 and 2006, nearby residents were forced to evacuate their homes after major toxic releases. These examples just barely scratch the surface of the negligence and public health implications of allowing oil and gas drilling within a stone’s throw of California communities.

In 2023, the Secretary of State announced that CIPA cleared the 623,000 signature threshold and the referendum qualified for the November 5, 2024 ballot. Following this setback, health professionals, environmental justice groups, community and faith leaders, and young people joined together to form the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California to ensure that no Californians have to endure health hazards from living just steps from dangerous oil wells. 3 Grigoryants, O. (2022, September 16). Gov. Newsom signs SB 1137, creating a safety buffer between homes and oil wells in California. Los Angeles Daily News. 4 Gross, L. Petition Circulators Are Telling California Voters that a Ballot Measure Would Ban New Oil and Gas Wells Near Homes. In Fact, It Would Do the Opposite. 5 Gross, L. Petition Circulators Are Telling California Voters that a Ballot Measure Would Ban New Oil and Gas Wells Near Homes. In Fact, It Would Do the Opposite. 6 Gross, L. (2023, January 29). California Activists Redouble Efforts to Hold the Oil Industry Accountable on Neighborhood Drilling. Inside Climate News.
7 Sierra Club. (2021, April 7). Oil Spill at Inglewood Oil Field Sends Over 1,600 Gallons Flowing Near Communities [Press Release].
8 Martin-Straw, J. (2019, April 2). No Fooling – April 1st Oil Spill Affected Dog Park, Traffic Lanes. Culver City Crossroads.

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
3 RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
As outlined in its Strategic Plan, the City of Berkeley is committed to being a global leader in addressing climate change, advancing environmental justice, protecting the environment, as well as championing and demonstrating social and racial equity.

In 2006, 82% of Berkeley residents voted to reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 2000 levels by 2050. In 2018, the City adopted a Climate Emergency Declaration and a resolution establishing the goal of becoming a Fossil Fuel-Free city. Further, in 2021, City Council adopted a resolution in support of the C40 Race to Zero Campaign, committing to reaching net-zero emissions by 2045 or sooner.

These resolutions are in line with Berkeley’s stated goals under its Resilience Strategy to advance preparedness and equity, which includes accelerating access to reliable and clean energy, advancing racial equity, and adapting to climate change.

By endorsing the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California, Berkeley is living up to its goals and values of environmental justice and leadership.

FISCAL IMPACTS
None.

CONTACT
Councilmember Sophie Hahn, (510) 981-7150
Attachments:

1. Resolution

2. Senate Bill 1137

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
4 RESOLUTION NO. ##,###-N.S.

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SB 1137 AND

THE CAMPAIGN FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, research shows that living within half a mile of an oil well increases the risk of asthma, birth defects, high risk pregnancies, respiratory illnesses and cancer; and WHEREAS, today, more than two million Californians are exposed to the most toxic emissions, and communities of color are disproportionately harmed by neighborhood drilling; and WHEREAS, creating a buffer separating industrial oil operations from day care centers, schools, parks and homes helps protect nearby communities – primarily low-income communities of color, including children, seniors and other vulnerable individuals – from potentially devastating health impacts; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that, as a community committed to health, equity, and environmental justice, Berkeley speak out against fossil fuel companies that seek to perpetuate harm against low-income communities of color and other communities impacted by their operations, and must counter a campaign that already has amassed millions of dollars to veto legislation they dislike; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, Berkeley voters issued a call to action on the climate crisis by overwhelmingly endorsing ballot Measure G to reduce our entire community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 2000 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, in further recognition of the climate emergency, the City Council on June 12, 2018, adopted a Climate Emergency Declaration and a resolution establishing the goal of becoming a Fossil Fuel-Free city, and on May 11, 2021, adopted a resolution committing to the C40 Race to Zero Campaign to reach net-zero emissions by 2045 or sooner; and WHEREAS, one of the key goals of Berkeley’s Resilience Strategy, in recognition of the harm perpetuated by fossil fuels, is to accelerate community access to clean and renewable energy; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Berkeley City Council proudly joins the statewide coalition of public health leaders, environmental justice groups, community and faith leaders, and youth to stand up to Big Oil and make sure that no Californians have to endure health hazards from living near dangerous oil wells.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Berkeley endorses the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California to uphold SB 1137, California’s 2022 law that prohibits toxic oil drilling within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, day care centers, parks, healthcare facilities and businesses, and oppose the fossil fuel industry’s referendum.

Senate Bill No. 1137
CHAPTER 365
An act to add Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 3280) to Chapter 1 of Division 3 of the Public Resources Code, relating to oil and gas. [Approved by Governor September 16, 2022. Filed with
Secretary of State September 16, 2022.]
legislative counsel’s digest
SB 1137, Gonzalez. Oil and gas: operations: location restrictions: notice of intention: health protection zone: sensitive receptors.

Existing law establishes the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation, under the direction of the State Oil and Gas Supervisor, who is required to supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells in the state and the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of tanks and facilities related to oil and gas production within an oil and gas field, so as to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources. Existing law requires the operator of a well to file a written notice of intention to commence drilling with, and prohibits any drilling until approval is given by, the supervisor or district deputy. Existing law authorizes the supervisor to require other pertinent information to supplement the notice. Existing law requires the owner of any well to file with the supervisor a monthly statement that provides certain information relating to the well, as provided. Existing law requires an operator proposing to perform a well stimulation treatment to apply to the supervisor or district deputy for a permit to perform the well stimulation treatment and imposes other requirements and conditions on the use of well stimulation treatments. Under existing law, a person who fails to comply with this and other requirements relating to the regulation of oil or gas operations is guilty of a misdemeanor.

This bill would prohibit, commencing January 1, 2023, the division from approving any notice of intention within a health protection zone, as defined, except for reasons related to preventing or responding to a threat to public health, safety, or the environment, complying with a court order, or to plug and abandon or reabandon a well, as provided. The bill would also explicitly authorize the division to approve notices of intention to public and private entities who own, purchase, or lease land containing idle-deserted or previously plugged and abandoned wells for the purposes of those public and private entities plugging and abandoning, or replugging and abandoning, those oil and gas wells so development of nonfossil fuel production and injection and related uses can proceed, as provided. The bill would require an operator who submits a notice of intention, except for certain notices of intention, to also submit either a sensitive receptor inventory and map of

94

the area within the 3,200 feet radius of the wellhead or proposed wellhead location to the division, or a statement certifying that the operator has confirmed that there are no sensitive receptors, as defined, located within 3,200-foot of the wellhead location, as provided. If a notice of intention is approved pursuant to compliance with a court order, the bill would require the operator of the oil or gas well to provide an individual indemnity bond sufficient to pay the full cost of properly plugging and abandoning the operator’s well or wells, and decommissioning any attendant production facilities in the health protection zone, as provided.

Commencing January 1, 2025, the bill would require all oil or gas production facilities or wells with a wellhead within a health protection zone to comply with specified health, safety, and environmental requirements, as provided. These health, safety, and environmental requirements would, among other things, require compliance with requirements related to applicable permits, public notice, sound levels, light generation, migration of dust and particulates beyond property boundaries, emissions and vapor venting, and chemical analyses of produced waters.

The bill would also require all operators with a production facility or well with a wellhead in a health protection zone to submit a leak detection and response plan, as provided, to the division by January 1, 2025, require division approval or notice of deficiency by January 1, 2026, and require implementation of the plan by January 1, 2027. The bill would require the division to hold public workshops related to the leak detection and response plans, as provided, operators to review and update their plans at least once every 5 years, subject to division approval, and the supervisor to notify the applicable legislative budget and policy committees about these leak detection and response plans, as provided. The bill would require operators to contact property owners and tenants before commencing work that requires a notice of intention, and would also require operators to comply with water sampling requirements, as provided. The bill would require every operator to submit a sensitive receptor inventory and map to the division by July 1, 2023, and provide updates to the inventory and map annually thereafter, as provided, and require the division to make all current sensitive receptor inventories and maps publicly available on its internet website.

The bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, require operators with a wellhead or other production facility in a health protection zone to provide information to the division, as provided, and require the division to make this information publicly available on its internet website.

Because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would exempt from its provisions underground gas storage wells and attendant production facilities.

The bill would require the division, on or before July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to provide a legislative report to the applicable budget and policy committees regarding the implementation of health protection zones, as provided. The bill would authorize the division, the State Air Resources 94 — 2 — Ch. 365

Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board to prescribe, adopt, and enforce any emergency regulations as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce these duties, as provided. The bill would require the State Air Resources Board, relevant local air districts, the State Water Resources Control Board, and relevant local water quality control boards, by June 1, 2023, to enter into memoranda of understanding with the division to clearly delineate respective responsibilities for the implementation and enforcement of health protection zones. By imposing requirements on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would state that its provisions are severable.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)  In addition to increasing impacts of climate change, a growing body of research shows direct health impacts from proximity to oil extraction. (b)  These impacts are disproportionately impacting Black, indigenous, and people of color in California, who are most likely to live in close proximity to oil extraction activities and who are the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.
(c)  Proximity to oil and gas extraction sites pose significant health risks, especially due to increased air pollution.
(d)  Studies have shown evidence of harm at distances less than one kilometer, which is approximately 3,200 feet.
(e)  Further assistance must be provided to frontline communities that have been most polluted by the fossil fuel industry by cleaning up pollution, remediating negative health impacts, and building resilient infrastructure to prepare for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

SEC. 2. Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 3280) is added to Chapter 1 of Division 3 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

Article 4.6. Health Protection Zones
3280. For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(a)  “Area” means surface area, and all measurement of distances is on the surface of the land.
94 Ch. 365 — 3 —

(b)  “Health protection zone” means the area within 3,200 feet of a sensitive receptor. The measurement shall be made from the property line of the receptor unless the receptor building is more than 50 feet set back from the property line, in which case the measurement shall be made from the outline of the building footprint to 3,200 feet in all directions. (c)  “Sensitive receptor” means any of the following:
(1)  A residence, including a private home, condominium, apartment, and living quarter.
(2)  An education resource, including a preschool, school maintaining transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, daycare center, park, playground, university, and college. Where a university or college is the only sensitive receptor within 3,200 feet of the operator’s wellheads or production facilities, the university or college is not a sensitive receptor if the operator demonstrates to the division’s satisfaction that no building with nominal daily occupancy on the university or college campus is located within 3,200 feet of the operator’s wellheads or production facilities.
(3)  A community resource center, including a youth center. (4)  A health care facility, including a hospital, retirement home, and nursing home.
(5)  Live-in housing, including a long-term care hospital, hospice, prison, detention center, and dormitory.
(6)  Any building housing a business that is open to the public. 3281. (a)   Notwithstanding any other law, commencing January 1, 2023, the division shall not approve any notice of intention under Section 3203 within a health protection zone, except for approvals of notices of intention necessary for any of the following purposes:
(1)  To prevent or respond to a threat to public health, safety, or the environment.
(2)  To comply with a court order finding that denying approval would amount to a taking of property, or a court order otherwise requiring approval of a notice of intention.
(3)  To plug and abandon or reabandon a well, including an intercept well necessary to plug and abandon or reabandon a well.
(b)  An operator who submits a notice of intention under Section 3203, except for notices of intention described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), shall submit a sensitive receptor inventory and map pursuant to Section 3285 of the area within the 3,200-foot radius of the wellhead or proposed wellhead location to the division with the notice of intention or a statement certifying that the operator has confirmed, and the division has verified, that there are no sensitive receptors located within 3,200 feet of the wellhead location. The operator shall submit the sensitive receptor inventory and map in a format that complies with all requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–336) and its implementing regulations for online viewing. If the inventory or map includes any personally identifiable information, the operator shall submit a second version with the personally identifiable information redacted. Inventories 94 — 4 — Ch. 365

and maps with no personally identifiable information shall be made available to the public in compliance with Section 3234. No new production facilities shall be constructed or operated in a health protection zone unless associated with a notice of intention approved pursuant to subdivision (a) or as determined by the division to be necessary to protect public health and safety.
(c)
If a notice of intention is approved pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the approval shall require the operator of the oil or gas well to provide an individual indemnity bond sufficient to pay the full cost of properly plugging and abandoning the operator’s well or wells, and decommissioning any attendant production facilities in the health protection zone. The division shall determine the amount of the individual indemnity bond in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 3205.3. The bond shall be executed by the operator, as principal, and by an authorized surety company, as surety, and shall be in substantially the same language and upon the same conditions as provided in Section 3204, except as to the difference in the amount. The operator’s blanket indemnity bond authorized pursuant to Section 3205 shall not be used to satisfy this subdivision. (d)  Underground gas storage wells and attendant production facilities are not subject to this article.
3281.5. (a)   The Legislature finds and declares that development of oil and gas fields into nonfossil fuel production and injection and related uses, including, but not limited to, housing, recreation, and commercial development, may have plugged and abandoned wells or may require existing oil and gas wells to be plugged and abandoned, or replugged and abandoned, to current statutory and regulatory standards, and that the creation of health protection zones, and the related restrictions and requirements of this article, do not apply in the context of development for nonfossil fuel production and injection and related uses.
(b)  Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of subdivision (a) of Section 3281, the division may approve notices of intention pursuant to Section 3203 to public and private entities who own, purchase, or lease land containing idle-deserted or previously plugged and abandoned wells for the purposes of those public and private entities plugging and abandoning, or replugging and abandoning, those oil and gas wells so development of nonfossil fuel production and injection and related uses can proceed. This may include, without limitation, a notice of intention to drill or rework an intercept well, if needed to plug and abandon or replug and abandon another well on the condition that the intercept well is itself plugged and abandoned.

The public and private entities, as well as any lessees, tenants, or other occupants, shall not engage in oil or gas development or production or injection or related uses for which they have submitted a notice of intention pursuant to this subdivision.
3282. Commencing January 1, 2025, all oil or gas production facilities or wells with a wellhead within a health protection zone shall be in compliance with all of the following requirements:
94 Ch. 365 — 5 —

(a)  The operator is required to comply with the terms and conditions of all applicable federal, state, and local permits required to operate the well and facility.
(b)  If not otherwise required by law or regulation, clearly post contact information for where to address complaints about noise, odor, and other concerns on the perimeter of the site. This information shall include responsible persons employed by the operator, as well as enforcement officials in the city, county, or city and county, and air district, in which the facility is located. The size and format of the posted information shall be consistent with existing requirements.
(c)  Unless more stringent local requirements apply, between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., sound levels from oil and gas production operations shall not exceed ambient noise levels, as measured at the property line. (d)  Unless more stringent local requirements apply, minimize light generated at an oil or gas well or production facility to reduce light traveling beyond property boundaries. Except as needed in emergency circumstances, operators shall use only such lighting as is necessary to provide the minimum intensity and coverage for safety and basic security between the hours of 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Lighting shall be hooded or otherwise directed so that it shines onto only the operator’s property and not onto adjacent properties or into the sky.
(e)  Unless more stringent local requirements apply, employ operational measures to prevent dust and particulates from migrating beyond property boundaries. Dust control measures to be employed within property boundaries shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)  Limiting vehicle speeds on unpaved roads to 15 miles per hour or less.
(2)  Containing or covering stored sands, drilling muds, and excavated soil.
(f)  Immediately suspending the use of a production facility if the production facility, including all permanent and temporary equipment within the health protection zone that emits vapors, such as tanks, vessels, separation facilities, gas processing units, and other equipment holding petroleum liquids or produced water, is not in compliance with all applicable air district requirements relating to preventing vapor venting to the atmosphere. (g)  (1)  The operator is required to provide the division with representative chemical analyses for all produced water transported away from the oilfield where it was produced.
(2)  Chemical analysis required under this subdivision shall be in accordance with the analytical specifications for liquid analysis detailed in Section 1724.7.2 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, and shall be filed with the division within three months of produced water being transported from the oilfield and whenever the source of produced water is changed.
(3)  For the purposes of this subdivision, the source of produced water is changed if the treatment process or additives are changed, if a contributing source is added or removed, or if there is a significant change to the relative 94 — 6 — Ch. 365

contribution of individual sources such that the last chemical analysis is not representative of the produced water being transported from the oilfield. 3283. (a)   All operators with a production facility or well with a wellhead in a health protection zone shall develop a leak detection and response plan that shall be submitted to the division no later than January 1, 2025, and fully implemented by operators by January 1, 2027. For any leak detection and response plan submitted by January 1, 2025, the division shall either approve the plan or provide notice of deficiencies by January 1, 2026.

Commencing January 1, 2027, the operator shall suspend all production and injection operations within a health protection zone unless an approved leak detection and response plan is fully implemented in that area. A leak detection and response plan is subject to review and approval by the division, in consultation with and with the concurrence of the State Air Resources Board, and shall include all of the following:
(1)  The leak detection and response plan shall identify the chemical constituents, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, as well as potential toxics of highest concern in the region as identified by the State Air Resources Board or local air district that will be detection targets for the emissions detection system to ensure early detection of leaks that otherwise may result in emissions impacting the surrounding communities. Not all chemical species that may be found in the oilfield are required to be detection targets and methane may serve as a surrogate for chemical constituents that cannot be continuously monitored but are identified in the leak detection and response plan. The State Air Resources Board and the State Water Resources Control Board shall adopt regulations as necessary to implement and set performance standards by regulation for the emissions detection system. The division, the State Air Resources Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board may adopt such regulations under an emergency rulemaking process as provided in Section 3288.
(2)  (A)  The leak detection and response plan shall include a continuously operating emissions detection system designed to provide for rapid detection of target chemical constituents to identify leaks before emissions impact the surrounding communities. Sampling locations and sample inlets shall be sited consistent with local meteorology and best practices. (B)  The emissions detection system shall include an alarm system that effectively, immediately, and reliably alerts the operator when triggered. (C)  The emissions detection system shall include a new, or use an existing, meteorological system that is appropriately sited with the ability to continuously record measurements.
(b)  The leak detection and response plan shall include an alarm response protocol that provides for immediate action to rapidly identify and fix the leak that is the source of the emissions. In the event that the source of the emissions is not identified and the leak stopped within 48 hours of the leak being identified, the alarm response protocol shall include a communication plan for notification of local emergency responders and public health authorities, the division, and people in the community, including notification in languages that are easily understood by the affected community. The 94 Ch. 365 — 7 —

alarm response protocol shall provide for compliance with all local, state, and federal requirements for reporting leaks of hazardous emissions. The operator shall consult with local emergency response entities when preparing the alarm response protocol and shall engage in drills as deemed necessary by the local emergency response entity. The alarm response protocol shall provide for collection and determination of the chemical composition of a representative sample near the leak when a continuous alarm event indicates that emissions from the leak may have impacted the surrounding community, and the subsequent collection and determination of the chemical composition of samples when there is reason to believe that the composition of the emissions may be changing. If the source of the emissions is a leak from a well or production facility, the operator shall suspend use of the well or production facility until the leak has been corrected and the division has approved the resumption of its use. Where the operator can demonstrate to the division that the source of the emissions is not related to the oil and gas operations, the division may waive any additional actions required under the alarm response protocol.
(c)
The division and the State Air Resources Board shall collaborate to develop methods for providing public access to data generated by operators from emissions detection systems.
(d)  The division shall hold no less than three public workshops following the enactment of the emergency regulations pursuant to Section 3288 to provide information and guidance to operators and the public on the development of leak detection and response plans pursuant to this section. (e)  An operator’s leak detection and response plan shall be reviewed and updated by the operator, subject to division approval, at least once every five years from the date of its initial approval by the division. The division shall hold at least one public technical workshop at least biennially to provide information and guidance to operators on best practices for the development, review, and update of leak detection and response plans. (f)  The operator shall record and maintain records of emissions and meteorological monitoring, including the composition of any samples collected during leak events, for 10 years.
(g)  Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, commencing July 1, 2023, and at six-month intervals thereafter, the supervisor shall notify the applicable legislative budget and policy committees on progress, including milestones, towards achieving the deadlines in subdivision (a) for the development, approval, and implementation of the leak detection and response plans. 3284. (a)   Before commencing any work that requires a notice of intention under Section 3203 in the health protection zone, the operator shall contact property owners and tenants within a 3,200-foot radius of the wellhead in writing with a record of delivery and offer to sample and test water wells or surface water on their property before and after drilling. (b)  The operator shall contact property owners and tenants as specified in subdivision (a) at least 30 days before commencing drilling. If a property owner or tenant requests sampling and testing of a water well or surface 94 — 8 — Ch. 365

water, drilling may not commence until a baseline water sample has been collected, provided that the owner’s or tenant’s request is delivered in writing with a record of delivery to the operator within 20 days from the date notice is provided and the surface property owner makes necessary accommodations to enable the collection of a water sample within 10 days from the date notice is provided. The operator shall collect a followup water sample no sooner than 30 days, and no later than 60 days, after drilling is complete.

The costs of sampling and testing required under this section shall be borne by the operator.
(c)
Before commencing drilling in the health protection zone, the operator shall provide to the division documentation of the effort to identify and notify property owners and tenants as required.
(d)  The operator shall conduct water sampling and testing, both baseline and followup, pursuant to this section, in accordance with all of the following requirements:
(1)  Water quality sampling shall be conducted by appropriately qualified personnel in a manner consistent with standard environmental industry practice and chain of custody protocols. Documentation of the sampling process shall accurately describe the location that the sample was taken from and the process for collecting the sample.
(2)  Water quality analytical testing shall be performed by a laboratory that has been accredited under the State Water Resources Control Board’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program to perform the tests necessary to complete the required analysis under this subdivision, except for those tests labeled as field tests, that may be conducted by any person qualified to sample and interpret the results of the required test. (3)  (A)  Water quality testing shall include baseline measurements before the commencement of the drilling, and followup measurements after drilling is completed.
(B)  Liquid analysis required under this subdivision shall include testing for all of the following: total dissolved solids; total petroleum hydrocarbon as crude oil; major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Sr, B); major anions (CI, SO4, HCO3, CO3, Br, I, NO3); any constituents listed in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 66261.24 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations; radionuclides; appropriate indicator chemicals for drilling mud and fluids used for well cleanout; total alkalinity and hydroxide; electrical conductance; pH; and temperature. (C)  The division or the regional water quality control board may require testing for additional constituents on a case-by-case basis. (4)  Within 120 days after drilling in the health protection zone is complete, the results of any baseline and followup water quality testing shall be provided by the operator to the division, the appropriate regional water quality control board, the State Water Resources Control Board, the surface property owner, and the requesting tenant.
(5)  The appropriate regional water quality control board shall be notified at least five working days before collecting a sample under this section so that regional water quality control board staff may witness the sampling. 94 Ch. 365 — 9 —

(6)  Water quality data collected under this section shall be submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board and the appropriate regional water quality control board in an electronic format that follows the guidelines detailed in Chapter 30 (commencing with Section 3890) of Division 3 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations within 120 days after drilling is complete.
(7)  If the property owner or tenant is unable to provide the necessary access to perform baseline or followup testing under this section, then failure to do the testing is not a violation of this section. The division may waive the requirements of this section if the operator demonstrates that the delay in well work associated with the requirements of this section is likely to result in significant damage to life, health, or natural resources. The operator is not required to sample or test water under this section if the relevant authorities have determined that the water is not an underground source of drinking water, as defined in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.

Sec. 300f et. seq.), and the water has no beneficial uses, in accordance with subdivision (f) of Section 13050 of the Water Code.
3285. (a)  Every operator shall submit to the division by July 1, 2023, a sensitive receptor inventory and map that includes the following:
(1)  A list of all sensitive receptors within 3,200 feet of an operator’s wellheads and production facilities by field. For each sensitive receptor listed, the operator shall provide all of the following:
(A)  The distance from the sensitive receptor to each wellhead or production facility that is located within 3,200 feet of that specific receptor.

The well shall be identified by API number, and the production facility shall also be explicitly identified. Latitude and longitude shall also be provided for the wellhead and production facility.
(B)  The type of sensitive receptor.
(C)  A map showing each sensitive receptor’s location in relation to the operator’s wellheads and production facilities.
(2)  A statement from each operator based on their sensitive receptor inventory that provides the operator’s determination as to whether their wellheads and production facilities are located within 3,200 feet of a sensitive receptor. An operator who has identified sufficient sensitive receptors such that their entire operation is located within a health protection zone may cease adding new sensitive receptors to their inventory and make a determination that all of their wellheads and production facilities are located within a health protection zone.
(b)  By July 1 of each year, all operators shall submit to the division a sensitive receptor inventory and map pursuant to subdivision (a) that is up to date, with information no more than 90 days old, and shall make a new determination regarding the location of each of their wellheads and production facilities within a health protection zone. If there have been no changes to the location of sensitive receptors in the 3,200 feet surrounding the operator’s wellheads and production facilities, the operator shall submit a statement that no changes to the determination are needed. 94 — 10 — Ch. 365

(c)  The division shall review for completeness and accuracy no less than 30 percent of the inventories and associated maps submitted annually pursuant to this section. The division shall notify operators of any discrepancies in the submitted inventories and maps as determined by the division.
(d)  The division shall make available to the public on its internet website all current sensitive receptor inventories and maps.
3286. (a)   Commencing January 1, 2027, and no less than annually on a date to be determined by the division, an operator with a wellhead or other production facility or facilities in a health protection zone shall provide at least the following information to the division by location in a format that complies with all requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–336) and its implementing regulations for online viewing:
(1)  The number of and amounts of time the emissions detection system was not operating.
(2)  The number of validated alarms, and the reasons for the alarms. (3)  The number of leaks that occurred, the time needed to repair the leak, and a brief description of the leak, including the impact on air quality and community exposure.
(4)  The number of times the surrounding community was notified after a leak persisted for 48 hours.
(5)  The number of times and length of time production and injection operations and other use of the facility were suspended due to leaks. (6)  Any baseline and postdrilling groundwater testing performed by location.
(b)  The division shall make the information submitted by the operators available to the public on its internet website.
3287. Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, on or before July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the division shall provide a legislative report to the applicable budget and policy committees regarding the implementation of health protection zones by the division. The reports shall include at least the following:
(a)
The number and types of wells and attendant facilities in health protection zones by operator and field.
(b)  The estimated population protected by the health protection zone. (c)  The status of leak detection and response plans by operation and location.
(d)  The number and type of notices of intention approved in health protection zones and the reason the notices of intention received approval by operator and field.
(e)  The number of sensitive receptor inventories and maps received by the division by operator and field.
(f)  Aggregated information by operator and location of leaks detected and alarms associated with the leaks.
94 Ch. 365 — 11 —

(g)  The number of notices of violation issued by the division for dust control, excess noise and light, and other requirements pursuant to this article by operator and field.
(h)  The number of orders issued by the supervisor pursuant to this article by operator and field.
(i)  The number of times by operator and location that baseline and postdrilling groundwater testing was performed.
3288. The division, the State Air Resources Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board may prescribe, adopt, and enforce any emergency regulations as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce its duties under this article. Any emergency regulation prescribed, adopted, or enforced pursuant to this article shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and, for purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of the regulation is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding any other law, the emergency regulations adopted by the division, the State Air Resources Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board may remain in effect for two years from adoption.
3289.
(a)  No provision of this article is a limitation on the authority or jurisdiction of the State Water Resources Control Board, the regional water quality control boards, the State Air Resources Board, or local air quality districts.
(b)  This article does not prohibit a city, county, or city and county from imposing more stringent regulations, limits, or prohibitions on oil and gas development.
3290. The State Air Resources Board, relevant local air districts, the State Water Resources Control Board, and relevant local water quality control boards shall enter into memoranda of understanding with the division to clearly delineate respective responsibilities for implementing and enforcing health protection zones. These memoranda of understanding shall be executed by June 1, 2023. The division may pursue additional memoranda of understanding with other state and local entities as needed. 3291.

This article does not diminish or alter the authority of the supervisor to deny, revoke, or suspend permits to meet the division’s purpose to protect public health and safety and environmental quality, including the reduction and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, or the supervisor’s repeated obligation pursuant to this division to supervise certain oil and gas related operations to prevent, as far as possible, damage to life, health, property, natural resources, or underground and surface waters suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes, among other reasons.

SEC. 3. The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
94 — 12 — Ch. 365

SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

O
94 Ch. 365 — 13 —

CONSENT CALENDAR
MAY 7, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Councilmember Sophie Hahn (Author), Vice Mayor Wengraf (Co-Sponsor) Subject: Budget Referral for Development of Voluntary Design Guidelines

RECOMMENDATION
Refer to the City Manager to develop and return to the City Council for review and adoption a set of Voluntary Design Guidelines for the City of Berkeley. Refer $200,000 to the FY2025/2026 budget process to engage a consultant to assist with this process.

SUMMARY STATEMENT
Voluntary Design Guidelines are a set of non-binding principles and recommendations Cities and Counties adopt to guide the design of projects in their communities. Zoning and Objective Standards are codified and must be met by all applicants seeking approval for projects in applicable zones. Voluntary Design Guidelines, created by Architects, Landscape Architects and/or City Planners, embody community aspirations for the quality of the City’s built environment, but are not codified or required. Many developers appreciate the guidance provided by Voluntary Design Guidelines -- as they seek to build in ways that meet community expectations.

This item refers $200,000 to the Planning Department to develop Voluntary Design Guidelines for Berkeley, based on existing models in other communities, that push for high quality design elements that are adaptable to many styles – modern, traditional, craftsman, Victorian, Mediterranean, and others – allowing Berkeley to remain as eclectic and original as it is, but suggesting ways that architecture and designs of buildings of all sizes and uses can follow Berkeley’s best practices.

BACKGROUND
In the last decade, Berkeley has grown rapidly – its population increasing by 11,700 residents or 10%.1 Similarly, Oakland and the Bay Area have also experienced rapid growth – with the metropolitan Bay Area region growing 6% over the last 10 years.2 In the next 20 years, Berkeley’s population is further expected to grow by at least 13,000 residents.3 This rapid growth has necessitated increased development and urbanization to meet growing housing and commercial needs.
1 Markovich, A. (2022, July 17). A changing Berkeley: 6 maps show how the past decade has remade the city. Berkeleyside.
2 Metropolitan Transportation Commission. (2023, February). Vital Signs: Population. 3 Savidge, N. & Yelimeli, S. (2021, October 3). 9,000 homes by 2031? How Berkeley will try to pull it off.

Berkeleyside.

Since 1969, California has required that all local governments adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. Local governments meet this requirement by adopting housing plans as part of their General Plan. Through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process, every local jurisdiction is assigned a number of housing units representing its share of the state’s housing needs for an eight-year period. In 2020, the California Department of Housing and Community Development provided the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) with its determination of total regional housing needs, with the Bay Area’s nine counties being required to build 441,176 units of new housing between 2023 and 2031.4
Under the RHNA, Berkeley has a mandate to facilitate the construction of 8,934 new units in this eight-year cycle and has been adding new housing at the fastest rate in decades, with almost 900 new homes approved in 2022.5 As Berkeley grows and welcomes new residents, it’s important to ensure the built environment – both buildings themselves, and their landscapes - continue to be as green, inviting and vibrant as the Berkeley we already love.

Design Guidelines are different from development standards as one is a set of discretionary recommendations and the latter a threshold requirement. Both, however, guide development to achieve a desired level of quality and can include recommendations on style, architecture, sustainability, open space, and more.

Cities and counties across the United States, as well as many here in the Bay Area including Oakland, Albany, San Francisco, Fremont, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz and Alameda County have adopted voluntary design guidelines to express their aspirations and values in a flexible manner, allowing builders to consider the community’s best practices without being bound by mandates.

As previously defined by Alameda County, which adopted both design standards and guidelines in 2014 for unincorporated communities in West Alameda County, the function of design guidelines is “to preserve and enhance the desired character of existing neighborhoods and improve the aesthetic and functional quality of new development projects.”6 Similarly, Santa Cruz County described their purpose as: “crafted to ensure that development projects are attractive, functional, context-sensitive, and in alignment with community goals and objectives… [support the County’s sustainability goals and contribute toward building functional and livable communities.”7
4 Association of Bay Area Governments. (2021, December). Final Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Plan.
5 Savidge, N. (2023, July 25). Berkeley is adding new housing at the fastest rate in decades.

Berkeleyside.
6 Alameda County. (2014, October). Residential Design Standards and Guidelines for the unincorporated communities of West Alameda County.
7 Santa Cruz County. (2022, November). Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines.

Berkeley’s 2012 Downtown design guidelines were written for “property owners, building tenants, architects, designers, developers, city staff, and members of City boards and commissions who influence physical change in Downtown” and are “meant as a guide to ensure that future changes will protect, enhance, and be compatible with the historic character of Downtown Berkeley.”8
Guidelines are used by developers to assist in the design of new projects, and by City staff and the public to review applications for proposed projects. Guidelines give developers a sense of architectural and community expectations. They are often designed to work in tandem with development standards and other regulatory requirements to provide a complete framework that ensures new projects fit with the built and natural landscape of a city or county.

This item refers to FY 2025-2026 Budget Process $200,000 for the development of voluntary design guidelines for the City of Berkeley. While this item suggests voluntary standards, there is precedent for the adoption of more permanent standards. The Planning Department should solicit feedback from community members and stakeholders before returning to Council with a set of proposed guidelines for adoption.

REVIEW OF EXISTING PLANS, PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND LAWS
The line between zoning and design standards is not fixed; they are part of a continuum. Many elements of Berkeley’s Zoning Code speak to massing, volumes, setbacks, and other elements that impact design, but have not traditionally been thought of as “design” standards.

Berkeley has an incomplete patchwork of largely outdated guidelines that are referred to in different circumstances. All were developed during an era in which discretionary review of projects by Staff and the Zoning Administration Board was the norm, and they have served as guides for discretionary approvals. In an era of more by-right approvals, with limited ability to influence the design of projects at the approvals phase, many jurisdictions are adopting more robust voluntary guidelines.

Berkeley’s Design Review Committee (DRC) is the subcommittee of the Zoning Adjustment Board (ZAB) charged with the review and approval of design proposals for all projects in commercial, manufacturing, and some higher residential zoning districts. Projects that do not fall into these categories or zones are not subject to design review. The DRC is composed of a minimum of two licensed architects, one licensed landscape architect, and two laypersons. The DRC reviews development projects in accordance with Section 23.406.070 of the Berkeley Municipal Code.

Berkeley has a set of citywide design guidelines that are provided in City’s the design review application as provided under BMC Section 23E.08.040.A of the Zoning Ordinance. These guidelines, limited in scope, include recommendations on building and parking sitting, street facades, landscaping, open space, and circulation.
8 City of Berkeley. (2012). Downtown Berkeley Design Guidelines.

As an example, the design review guidelines on facades encourage harmony with surroundings:
“The proposed design should be in harmony with its surroundings through the coordination of such design elements as cornice lines, eaves, and setbacks with those of existing neighborhood buildings. This is especially important when the architectural style of the proposed design is in strong contrast to that of adjacent structures. Form, color, materials and texture of existing buildings should be considered in design of new structures. Landscaping should also be compatible with surroundings.”9
These guidelines – dating back to 2002 – remain vague and far less extensive than what other cities and counties have adopted, leaving the design review process open-ended.

The City has also adopted neighborhood and project-specific guidelines which can be found in the City’s Open Space Improvement Plan (SOSIP), the Downtown Berkeley Design Guidelines, the University Avenue Plan Design Guidelines, the Southside Design Guidelines, and the Pedestrian Plan.

The 1996 University Ave guidelines include recommendations on sitting, physical characteristics, solar orientation, privacy, and the reuse of historic and existing buildings. The Plan acknowledges that there are many older and historic buildings on University Ave that “contribute to the charming fine-grained fabric that makes up the built environment of Berkeley” and recommends that “whenever possible, historic/existing buildings should be retrofitted, restored for their original use, re-configured for a new use, or combined with neighboring buildings to create a larger floor plate.”10
Other cities have Zoning Standards that have more detailed prescriptive “objective standards” than what Berkeley’s code provides, that many would consider to address “design elements.” Jurisdictions are also promulgating voluntary Design Guidelines to provide developers with a framework and sense of community expectations. Berkeley is “light” on both codified objective standards and voluntary guidelines, and the guidelines we have are both outdated and were designed to support a discretionary permitting environment that is no longer the norm in California.

In its Urban Design Guidelines, the City of Santa Barbara lists a series of priorities to support pedestrian-friendly design:11
● Create and maintain a continuous, convenient network of pedestrian facilities throughout the City grid to reduce dependence on the automobile.
● Provide pedestrian amenities, including street furniture, landscaping, lighting, and trash receptacles, to make walking more attractive and convenient. 9 City of Berkeley. (2002). Design Review Basic Submittal Package. 10 City of Berkeley. (1996, July). University Avenue Plan Design Guidelines. 11 City of Santa Barbara Planning Division. (1999, December) City of Santa Barbara Urban Design Guidelines.

● Design and locate pedestrian facilities and amenities to promote the uninterrupted flow of pedestrian traffic.
● Create pedestrian links to transit and bicycle facilities to increase the convenience of transit and bicycle travel.

San Jose’s guidelines include recommendations on entrance design, building elements such as roofs and parapets, and site organization such as pedestrian and bicycle access locations.12 Santa Cruz County’s Design Guidelines include overarching guidelines pertaining to all projects as well as guidelines specific to multi-family residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects.

The overarching guidelines provide design guidance for elements including site planning, building design, open space, multi-modal access and parking, neighborhood transitions, landscaping, sustainable design, and utility and trash enclosures.

In terms of building design, Santa Cruz County provides guidelines on upper floor setbacks, wall plane variation, roofline variation, building modulation, facade articulation, design consistency, 12 City of San Jose. (2021, February). San Jose Citywide Design Standards and Guidelines.

balconies, patios, and decks, windows, and ground floor activity areas. See below for an example of Santa Cruz County’s Design Guidelines. See Attachment 1 for the entirety of Santa Cruz County’s adopted Design Guidelines.

ACTIONS/ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The City of Berkeley could choose not to adopt voluntary design guidelines, but would miss out on an important opportunity to communicate its development and design recommendations to developers through a set of voluntary recommendations that can be flexibly interpreted and applied.

CONSULTATION/OUTREACH OVERVIEW AND RESULTS
Councilmember Hahn consulted with the Planning Department who expressed support for creating an updated and comprehensive set of voluntary design guidelines for the City of Berkeley.

RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
Voluntary design guidelines provide reasonable standards that support the city’s priorities for design and development, and will help project developers understand community expectations for the built environment.

IMPLEMENTATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND ENFORCEMENT
Engage a Landscape Architecture or City Planning firm with demonstrated expertise in developing Design Guidelines – with a preference for local firms located in and/or familiar with Berkeley, to ensure a product that avoids generic recommendations not tailored to this community’s frequently expressed desire to remain an interesting, distinctive, and attractive City. Solicit feedback from a diversity of Berkeley residents, from appropriate Commissions, from local architects and design professionals, and other stakeholders; return to the City Council a set of Voluntary Design Guidelines to consider for adoption.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
N/A

FISCAL IMPACTS
$200,000 in staffing costs.

CONTACT
Sophie Hahn, District 5, (510) 981-7150
Attachments:

1. City of Berkeley Design Review Guidelines

2. Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines

UPDATED 07-01-2017

DESIGN REVIEW

BASIC

SUBMITTAL

PACKAGE

DESIGN REVIEW FEES
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2017
Adopted May 16, 2017 by Council Resolution No. 67,985-N.S.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Land Use Planning Division, 1947 Center Street, 2nd floor, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7410 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510.981.7420 Email: [email protected]

DESCRIPTION FEE
Design Review – Staff Level
Sign/Awning $5821
Project valued at $50,000 or less $12081
Project valued between $50,001 and $1,999,999 $19331
Project valued at $2 million or more $24505 base fee (12 hours) plus $200 per hour of staff
time in excess of that covered
by the base fee
Design Review Committee – Preliminary
Project valued at $50,000 or less $17881
Project valued between $50,001 to $1,999,999 $26581
Project valued at $2 million or more $50505 base fee (25 hours) plus $200 per hour of staff
time in excess of that covered
by the base fee
Design Review Committee – Final
Project valued at $50,000 or less $11531
Project valued between $50,001 and $149,999 $13361
Project valued at $150,000 or more $37341
Design Review Committee – Other
Modifications $5971
Preview prior to formal review $5061
Design Review Appeals
Appeal – Non Applicant $95
Appeal – Applicant $1734
1 Includes $50 Records Management Fee.

G:\LANDUSE\Forms & Instructions\Land Use Planning Forms\WORD Files\FORMS_Design Review\DR Fee Schedule_July 2017.docx

PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Land Use Planning Division, 1947 Center Street, 2nd floor, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7410 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510.981.7420 Email: [email protected]
For All Design Review Projects:
 All application materials must be submitted electronically and in hard copy. The electronic copy must be identical to the paper copy submitted. See last section for further details.
 Submit Design Review application form
 Submit one legible set of plans with your application (11 x 17” is standard but if key information is not legible, submit a larger set)
For Design Rev
iew Committee Review:
 Once the project is scheduled for a DRC meeting, you will be requested to submit ten 11”x17” or ten half-size sets of plans. Ten sets shall be at a standard architectural scale.

If the plans have changed since the original submittal, please email a pdf of the plans following the specs above.

PLEA

SE DIFFERENTIATE GRAPHICALLY BETWEEN EXISTING AND PROPOSED FEATURES

 SITE PLANS
 Title Block—Sheet title, north arrow (to top of sheet if possible); graphic and numerical scale; date, name, address and phone number of person preparing plan, name, address and phone number of project applicant; property address; zoning district of site
 Existing On-Site Features
 Property lines, setback lines, easements, right- of-ways and their dimensions  All structures: main and accessory buildings, including roof overhangs; fences, decks, trash enclosures, etc. – include dimensions
 Treatment of all areas not covered by structures: landscaped areas, parking areas, walkways, driveways, curb cuts
 Location of light standards and fixtures
 Location of signs
 Proposed On-Site Features
 All structures: main and accessory buildings, including roof overhangs; fences, decks, trash enclosures, etc. – include dimensions
 Treatment of all areas not covered by structures: landscaped areas, parking areas, walkways, driveways, curb cuts
 Location of light standards & fixtures used to light buildings, walkways, driveways and parking areas

PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Page 2 of 4

 Location of signs
 Proposed street dedications and improvements – curbs, gutters, ramps, sidewalks
 Prop
osed location of artwork.
 LANDSCAPE PLANS (may be combined with site plan)
 Written statement of landscape plan concept
 Title Block – Sheet title; north arrow (to top of sheet if possible); graphic and numerical scale; date, name, address and phone number of person preparing plan; property address, zoning district. Plans may be drawn to architect’s or engineer’s scale, as appropriate (architect’s scale must be 1/8” = 1’; engineer’s scale must be 1” = 10’).
 Property lines and required setbacks, including dimensions  Existing Features On-Site
 All structures: main and accessory buildings, including roof overhangs; fences, decks, trash enclosures, etc – include dimensions
 Pedestrian and vehicular circulation systems; parking areas, driveways, other paved areas
 Mature trees (location, species, size); prominent natural features  Proposed Features On-Site
 All structures: buildings, decks, ramps, etc. – include dimensions  Treatment of all areas not occupied by structures:
 All proposed trees, shrubs, ground cover and other plant materials presented in concept only, with outline of mature size
 Existing trees to be removed
 Outdoor equipment, such as benches, trashcans, etc.
 Fences and walls
 Preliminary grading plan, showing existing contours (dashed lines) and proposed contours (solid lines)
 ELEVATIONS (if possible, include on the same sheet as floor plans)  Title Block – Sheet title; graphic and numerical scale; date; name; address and phone number of person preparing the plan; property address; zoning district of site  Drawings showing relationship of proposed building(s) to adjacent properties. If located on a corner lot, a perspective drawing is required. Photomontages may be substituted for drawings.
 All exterior elevations, including existing structures to maintain  Finished floor elevations

PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Page 3 of 4

 The design of the following building components:
 Stairs, ramps, fences and walls
 Refuse, storage and pickup areas
 Utility lines, meters, meter boxes, transformers, and their proposed screening  Flues, chimneys, exhaust fans and downspouts
 Canopies, awnings, sunshades, louvers
 Balconies and decks
 Mechanical equipment and proposed screening
 Antennas
 Type of glazing (e.g., clear, opaque, etc.)
 Type of roof and wall material to be used
 Existing and proposed signs – location, size, proposed materials  Location and size of lighting standards and fixtures (both fixed to the building and freestanding)
 FLOOR PLANS: of all floors
 SECTIONS: typical cross-section through all elevations visible from a public right-of-way or a neighboring building
 VICINITY MAP:
 Show property in context with the neighborhood
 Scale: 1” = 50’ or 1” = 100’
 PRELIMINARY COLOR AND MATERIAL SAMPLES BOARD (Maximum size 10” x 18”)  Samples and colors of all exterior materials

PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Page 4 of 4

G:\LANDUSE\Forms & Instructions\Land Use Planning Forms\WORD Files\FORMS_Design Review\Design_Review-Preliminary_DR_Submittal_Requirements_2017.docx

1 “Flattening” the files means the individual “layers” that often comprise large architectural and engineering plan sets are reduced down to one layer. As a result, the PDF file becomes much smaller and therefore more easily managed. For more information on PDF “flattening”, please visit http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/printing- complex-pdfs-acrobat.html.

Electronic and Paper Formats [effective November 4, 2013]

Submit all application materials in both paper and electronic format, according to the requirements stated below.

Requirements:
 Submission Format: All files must be submitted in PDF format  Electronic documents (i.e., created using a computer program such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or AutoCAD) and digital photographs shall be converted to Adobe PDF format using “Save As PDF” or “Print As PDF” commands.
 Non-electronic (e.g., typewritten or handwritten) documents shall be converted to PDF format by scanning.
 Resolution:
 Text documents: 100 to 150 DPI/PPI. (If converting electronic document to PDF, use “standard” setting in Adobe Acrobat, or 144 DPI setting in Cute PDF Writer.)  Plans, photos, and other graphics: 300 DPI/PPI. (To reduce file size, disable editing capabilities, “flatten” all layers1, and use “Reduced Size PDF” function when available.)
 Total Size:
 Combine all documents into a single PDF file which does not exceed 20MB.  If total size exceeds 20 MB, submit documents as separate PDFs.  If you do not have access to software which allows multiple PDFs to be combined (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro), submit individual PDF files and City staff will combine them.

FINAL DESIGN REVIEW

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Land Use Planning Division, 1947 Center Street, 2nd floor, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7410 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510.981.7420 Email: [email protected]
For Design Review Committee Review:

 All application materials must be submitted electronically and in hard copy. The electronic copy must be identical to the paper copy submitted. See last section for further details.
 Submit Design Review application form
 Submit TEN half size sets of plans with legible notes.

PLEASE DIFFERENTIATE GRAPHICALLY BETWEEN EXISTING AND PROPOSED FEATURES  VICINITY MAP
 SITE PLANS
 All “Preliminary Design Review Submittal Requir ements”  ELEVATIONS
 All “Preliminary Design Review Submittal Requirements”  Details of railings, fences, fascias, trim and other decorative elements  Detailed drawings of lighting standards and fixtures; specifications for lighting (number of bulbs, type of bulbs, wattage)
 Sign location and elevations: size, materials, colors, lettering for proposed signs and existing signs to remain
 One set rendered elevations
 FLOOR PLANS: of all floors
 SECTIONS: Typical cross-section through all elevations visible from a public right-of- way or a neighboring building.
 LANDSCAPE PLANS
 Landscape plans in construction detail showing the location, species (botanical and common names) and size of plant materials: present in table form.

Recommended: highlight features of plant material (e.g. winter flowering, evergreen, fall color, etc.). Indicate estimated height and spread of canopy at maturity.
 Irrigation plan

 Ma
intenance provisions
 Details for tree and shrub planting, staking and guying. When applicable: details for espalier treatment of vines and shrubs, permanent tree staking in parking areas, and protection of existing trees
 Specifications for paving materials
 Final grading plan, showing existing contours (dashed lines) and proposed contours (solid lines)

FINAL DESIGN REVIEW SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Page 2 of 2

 FINAL COLOR AND MATERIAL SAMPLES BOARD (Maximum size 10” x 18”)  Samples and colors of all exterior materials, including roof, walls glazing materials, paving materials, trim; signage
 OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED
 Manufacturers’ brochures
 Site photographs
 Model
 Perspective drawings

Electronic and Paper Formats [effective November 4, 2013]

Submit all application materials in both paper and electronic format, according to the requirements stated below.

Requirements:
 Submission Format: All files must be submitted in PDF format  Electronic documents (i.e., created using a computer program such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or AutoCAD) and digital photographs shall be converted to Adobe PDF format using “Save As PDF” or “Print As PDF” commands.
 Non-electronic (e.g., typewritten or handwritten) documents shall be converted to PDF format by scanning.
 Resolution:
 Text documents: 100 to 150 DPI/PPI. (If converting electronic document to PDF, use “standard” setting in Adobe Acrobat, or 144 DPI setting in Cute PDF Writer.)  Plans, photos, and other graphics: 300 DPI/PPI. (To reduce file size, disable editin g capabilities, “flatten” all layers1, and use “Reduced Size PDF” function when available.)  Total Size:
 Combine all documents into a single PDF file which does not exceed 20MB.  If total size exceeds 20 MB, submit documents as separate PDFs.  If you do not have access to software which allows multiple PDFs to be combined (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro), submit individual PDF files and City staff will combine them.

g:\landuse\forms & instructions\land use planning forms\word files\forms_design review\design_review-final_dr_submittal_requirements 2013.doc

1 “Flattening” the files means the individual “layers” that often comprise large architectural and engineering plan sets are reduced down to one layer. As a result, the PDF file becomes much smaller and therefore more easily managed. For more information on PDF “flattening”, please visit http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/printing-complex-pdfs-acrobat.html.

CITY OF BERKELEY

DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES

As required under BMC Section 23E.08.040.A, of the Zoning Ordinance, the following Design Review Guidelines are to be used by the Design Review Committee, Landmarks Preservation Commission, or City Staff when Design Review is required for exterior changes to buildings in the City’s commercial and industrial zones.

A) BUILDING AND PARKING SITING

(1) Setbacks.

a. The street facade of commercial streets should be respected, in order to create or maintain the sense of urban space. No new building line facing a street should be significantly in front of, or behind adjacent building facades unless such a variation complements or enhances the immediate urban space.

b. For usual lot shapes and locations, the building footprint should allow for corners and spaces that can be used by pedestrians.

c. Whenever possible parking should be behind buildings, underground, or in a central court. Screening of parking areas shall be subject to design review.

(2) Orientation and Protection of Sunlight and Views.

a. Buildings should be oriented to take advantage of the sun or outdoor private/public open space areas. Year-round solar access for adjacent buildings is encouraged.

b. Views out from public areas and from existing buildings should be retained whenever possible by the use of setbacks, orientation and height limitations. The natural topography should be used to achieve these ends.

(3) Parking and Driveways .

Conflict with pedestrian circulation should be prevented by the proper location and design of auto entrances.

B) STREET FACADES

(1) Harmony with Surroundings .

The proposed design should be in harmony with its surroundings through the coordination of such design elements as cornice lines, eaves, and setbacks with those of existing neighborhood buildings. This is especially important when the architectural style of the proposed design is in strong contrast to that of adjacent structures. Form, color, materials and texture of existing buildings should be considered in design of new structures. Landscaping should also be compatible with surroundings.
(2) Articulation.

Street facades in general and the ground floor level in particular should include elements of pedestrian scale and three-dimensional interest.

2 CITY OF BERKELEY DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES Page 2 of 4

(3) Window and Door Treatment .

Window and door placement, size, grouping and shape should be sensitive to the neighborhood pattern, and should relate to design characteristics of surrounding buildings, especially when adjacent to historic structures. Security devices and grillwork visible from the street should be integrated into the overall building design.

(4) Signs and Other Building Accessories .

a. Signs shall be in conformity with Title 20 of the Berkeley Municipal Code (Signs).

Signage should be integrated with the building design. Materials used for signs should be compatible with the building's architectural materials as well as with the design of neighborhood signs, or be incorporated into artwork integral to the surroundings. When multiple tenants in the same building provide signs adjacent to each other, a signable theme encouraging compatibility of such elements as size, shape, lettering, colors, and design elements should be established.

Vandal-proof and weather resistant signage is encouraged.

b. Secondary building accessories such as garbage receptacles, utility meters and mechanical and electrical equipment should be screened from the view of pedestrians. Screening of such accessories should be done in a way that is harmonious with the building design, or as integrated artwork in the building design.

(5) Heights.

In general, the height of adjacent buildings especially historic structures should be respected in the design of new buildings. Abrupt changes in height may be appropriate, even desirable, in certain situations, such as the need for focal points, landmarks, and the closure of long views. Such techniques as setbacks and terraces may be used to reduce the visual impact of differing heights, if the impact is negative.

(6) Lighting.

Lighting for circulation, security, building/sign identification should be non-obtrusive, except for light fixtures which are themselves decorative additions to the streetscape. Large visible expanses of fluorescent lights should be avoided.

If necessary, structural screening or window shades should be incorporated into the building design to minimize nighttime glare.

(7) Walls and Fences .

Large, unarticulated expanses of any particular wall material that deaden the pedestrian environment should be avoided. The use of clear windows for ground floor retail project is encouraged. Walls designed to allow sitting areas for pedestrians or space for landscaping and artwork are encouraged, especially in areas of heavy pedestrian use. Landscaping and/or art work should be maximized if large expanses of wall must be left devoid of openings.

3 CITY OF BERKELEY DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES Page 3 of 4

(8) Neighborhood Pattern .

It is not the intent of this section that neighborhood pattern, or characteristics of adjacent buildings, be necessarily copied literally, particularly if they have little or no architectural merit. Diversity and innovation are positive values, and are encouraged where they do not disrupt the harmony of the overall urban setting.

C) LANDSCAPING AND OPEN SPACE

(1) Protection of Existing Landscape .

New construction should include measures to protect desirable and existing landscaping of significance, especially street trees and landscaping visible from the sidewalk. In the event that existing landscaping must be displaced or obscured, every effort should be made to replace it with new landscaping of equal or greater prominence.

(2) New Development.

The provision of planters, trees, ground covers, and shrubs with automatic watering systems is encouraged where they do not impede pedestrian movement and where the building owner and/or tenant will provide continuing maintenance.

The City's Public Works Department and Parks/Marina Office should be consulted regarding the provision of sidewalk landscaping.

(3) Sidewalk Areas.

Sidewalk areas should include landscaping that is coordinated with the neighborhood design. The consistent use of one species of tree along a street or block is encouraged. Paving materials may be varied but must create a pattern that is sensible in terms of cues for people who have visual impairments.

(4) Parking.

If parking is not placed underground, behind buildings, or in interior courts, it should incorporate adequate landscaping or artwork for visual screening.

Screening should not interfere with pedestrian safety. When adjacent to public sidewalks, parking areas should include walls, beaming, artwork or shrubbery that is at least three feet, but no more than four feet, in height between the sidewalk and the first row of parked cars. Parking areas should include setbacks for landscaping and/or artwork to minimize visibility of parked cars, especially from the street. Shading of at least fifty percent (50%) of the surface area (as measured at 12 noon on June 21) is encouraged to reduce heat buildup and to improve visual appearance. (See also Chapter 23E.28 of the Zoning Ordinance.)

(5) Public Open Space Areas.

The inclusion of public open spaces is encouraged as a means of providing places for people to come together for community interaction and enlivening the pedestrian environment. These spaces should be wheelchair accessible and the entrances should be visible from the street. Such amenities as artwork, patios with benches, fountains with nearby sitting areas, and interior courtyards are encouraged. These open space areas should be located to take advantage of

4 CITY OF BERKELEY DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES Page 4 of 4

winter and afternoon sunlight, and to protect from prevailing winds. Roof plazas and gardens are encouraged.

D) CIRCULATION

(1) Location of Driveways.

Shared parking facilities are encouraged whenever possible to minimize the number of curb cuts. Driveways should be designed to have minimum interference with pedestrian traffic flow. Whenever possible, driving and loading access should be to and from side streets rather than main thoroughfares.

(2) Pedestrian Paths.

Pedestrian paths and arcades interior to the block which joins different parts of buildings as well as different streets are encouraged. These paths should be lighted, should not contain blind corners, and should be marked for a clear under- standing of direction and destination points. Entry points to the pathways and arcades should be defined by architectural elements such as gateways, change in paving materials, signage, and artwork.

(3) Building Entrances.

Entrance points should be clearly defined and easily identifiable by pedestrians by appropriate locations and by elements such as awnings, signage, artwork, or changes in paving material to define the entry point. Building on corner lots are encouraged to incorporate a cut away entrance to improve visibility and pedestrian circulation.

(4) Transit Loading Points.

Where appropriate, remodeling of adjacent transit loading points may be desirable.

Transit loading points should be designed to provide protection for transit users in inclement weather. Adequate room should be provided for transit loading so that pedestrian traffic is not interrupted.

(5) Bicycle Parking .

New developments should provide usable bicycle racks that are visible from a public way and that do not impede pedestrian or auto circulation. When possible, locked and covered structures for bicycles should be provided and designed to be compatible with the building and neighborhood.

(6) Access For Disabled Persons.

Provisions for disability access should be compatible with the overall building design and should be clearly visible. In addition, they should comply with all existing disability access laws.

444

DESIGN REVIEW APPLICATION

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Land Use Planning Division, 1947 Center Street, 2nd floor, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7410 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510.981.7420 Email: [email protected]

DATE STAMP HERE

Project Address: ___________________________________________Zone: ___________________

Project Description: ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Date Building Permit/Sign Permit/Use Permit or Zoning Permit was applied for: _________________ Associated Use Permit number: _____________________
For exterior changes to existing buildings, other than signs and awnings, the estimated construction cost is $_________________________________

 Property Owner Name (Print) ____________________________________________________________ Owner's Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Daytime Phone # ___________________________________ E-mail: _____________________________ 
Applicant Name (Print) 
SAME as Above:
________________________________________________
Appl
icant's Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Daytime Phone # _________________ __________________ E-mail: ____________________________

Under penalties of perjury, I certify that the information above and in any attachments hereto, is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Applicant Signature: Date:

Owner’s Signature: Date:

g:\landuse\forms & instructions\land use planning forms\word files\forms_design review\dr_ application_07-01-2017.docx

For: ____ Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
____ Final Design Review (FDR)
____ Staff Level Design Review (DRSL)
____ Signs and Awnings
____ Modification: PDR or FDR

Intake Planner ____________________

SANTA CRUZ

COUNTY DESIGN

GUIDELINES
NOVEMBER 2022

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DESIGN GUIDELINES
November 2022
Prepared by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Matt Machado, Community
Development & Infrastructure Director
Paia Levine, Past Planning Director
Kathy Molloy, Past Planning Director
Stephanie Hansen, Assistant Director
MIG
Daniel Iacofano, Principal
Mukul Malhotra, Principal
Dan Amsden, Director
Rishi Dhody, Project Manager
Christine Thompson, Project Manager
Anais Schenk, Planner IV
Annie Murphy, Planner IV
Daisy Allen, Planner IV
Natisha Williams, Planner IV
Blaze Syka, Project Manager
Phoenix Alfaro, Associate
Saul Vasquez, Associate
Kelsey Hubbard, Associate
Farah Tekbali, Associate

TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 02
03 04
05 06
A
B
1 5
33 49
63 79

INTRODUCTION

OVERARCHING DESIGN GUIDELINES

MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

MIXED-USE

WORKPLACE FLEX
APPENDIX A: STREET STANDARDS
APPENDIX B: DESIGN PRINCIPLES

FOR THE PLEASURE POINT

COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR

DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK.

01 INTRODUCTION
Contents
A. Overview
B. Purpose and Organization
C. Street Typologies
D. Design Guidelines for Specific Areas
E. How to Use the Guidelines

Introduction
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 3
01 INTRODUCTION
A. OVERVIEW
Santa Cruz County is one of the most unique places
in California. The stunning natural environment hosts
spectacular views and rich natural and open space
resources that make this place cherished by residents
and visitors alike. The dynamic changes in natural
context have led to the development of communities
that vary dramatically in character, ranging from
coastal communities to Redwood forest enclaves and
everything in between - each with their own history
reflective of stories of past industry and ways of life.

As Santa Cruz County’s communities continue to
grow and change, it is critical that they do so in
a way that aligns with the existing character that
defines each unique context and continues to
elevate design and foster healthy environments for
inhabitants. Identifying design solutions that work for many natural and urban environments is a challenge.

However, tailored design guidelines that rely on the
fundamentals of community development, building
form and scale, receptiveness to neighborhood
character, and integration of sustainability, will
guide future development and redevelopment and
create new opportunities for housing, economic
development and activity.

B. PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION
The Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines are crafted
to ensure that development projects are attractive,
functional, context-sensitive, and in alignment with
community goals and objectives. The guidelines
support the County’s sustainability goals and
contribute toward building functional and livable
communities. These guidelines are designed to work
in tandem with development standards and other
regulatory documents to construct a complete
framework to ensure that new projects fit with the
built and natural character of sites throughout the
County. The guidelines offer illustrative examples
of how new projects should be built or remodeled
to best fit overarching objectives while still offering developers, architects, designers and property
owners the flexibility to be creative in their projects.

Alignment with the design guidelines is crucial
in streamlining the review process and ensuring
that project designs complement or enhance the
community’s vision.

The guidelines are organized into chapters based
on project development type. The chapters are as
follows:

Ch 2. Overarching Design Guidelines. These
guidelines can be applied to all project types and
provide design guidance for elements including site
planning, building design, open space, multi-modal
access and parking, community character and
neighborhood transitions, landscaping, sustainable
design, and utilities and trash enclosures..

Ch 3. Multifamily Residential Design Guidelines.

Multifamily Residential projects can have a wide
range of configurations and typologies. Guidelines

4 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
are provided for both small infill projects that are
placed in an existing neighborhood, and larger-
scale multifamily projects situated along transit-
rich corridors. Particular guidelines are provided
to prioritize scale and livability in the high-density
“residential flex” multifamily zone district.

Ch 4. Commercial Design Guidelines. Both new and
repurposed/retrofitted commercial development are
addressed in this chapter, with special considerations
for infill development strategies and organization of
commercial uses within buildings.

Ch 5. Mixed-Use Design Guidelines. Mixed-
use development is an efficient and effective
pattern that combines residential and commercial
development. The guidelines address the
complexities of designing multiple uses on one site.

Design strategies for both vertical and horizontal
mixed-use typologies are outlined.

Ch 6. Workplace Flex Design Guidelines. The
Workplace Flex zone district allows a mix of
light industrial, office, and retail uses within one
parcel. The guidelines establish criteria to facilitate innovative and context-sensitive development of
projects in this zone district.

C. STREET TYPOLOGIES
These guidelines take into account the conditions
and character of street typologies associated with
different roadways in Santa Cruz County. The
County has adopted a layered network approach to
roadway classifications that incorporates multimodal
planning. A balanced transportation system is based
on the understanding that it is difficult for a single
roadway to meet the demands and expectations of
all modes simultaneously. A “layered” transportation
network envisions streets as systems based on user
types (pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, drivers)..

In this approach, certain user types are prioritized
on specific streets. When compiled together the
roadway system is then comprised of multiple
networks of street types such that different users
are traveling using different networks. This layering
approach allows for each user type to have a higher
quality experience as compared to an approach that
attempts to accommodate all users on all streets.

Street typologies include:

Multimodal Corridors. Primary corridors for transit,
cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles. Accessibility and
mobility are prioritized, with wide sidewalks, buffered bike lanes, and frequent transit service. Community-
serving commercial, mixed-use, and high-density
multifamily residential land uses are appropriate.

Active Connectors. Corridors providing high-
quality pedestrian and bicycle facilities that
emphasize first and last mile connections to major
land use destinations and transit. Residential and
neighborhood-serving commercial and mixed-use
land uses are appropriate.

Main Streets. Walkable commercial streets that
cultivate an intimate and vibrant streetscape and
create destination spaces that facilitate activity
and social interaction. Commercial and mixed-
use land uses are appropriate, with connection to
neighborhoods.

Local Residential Streets. Low-speed streets
connecting residential neighborhoods with
commercial service areas, catering to pedestrians,
cyclists, and vehicles.

Rural Connectors. Long-distance connectors
between rural neighborhoods and agricultural areas.

Primarily used by vehicles and cyclists.

Mountain-Agriculture Streets. Local streets outside
urban service boundaries.

In these guidelines, considerations for street frontage design are provided within the context of the street

Introduction
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 5
typologies where development is expected to occur.

Buildings should be designed to accommodate
street zones to ensure safe and efficient travel and
enhance the public realm. Street zones include
the vehicle travel zone, bicycle zone, parking zone,
pedestrian amenity zone, pedestrian sidewalk zone,
and activity zone. Street zone requirements are
different for Multimodal Corridors, Active Connectors,
Main Streets, and Local Residential Streets. Specific
guidelines are not provided for Rural Connectors or
Mountain-Agricultural Streets, since the guidelines
are focused on development in the urban area. For
more information see Appendix A.

D. DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR

SPECIFIC AREAS
Design guidelines for the Pleasure Point Commercial
Corridor are provided as Appendix B to these design
guidelines. Design guidelines for other specific
geographic areas are provided in village, town, and
community plans under separate cover, such as
the Aptos Village Plan. To determine whether any
specific geographic area design guidelines apply to
a given parcel, consult Chapter 2 of the General Plan,
as well as the County’s online mapping application
(https://gis.santacruzcounty.us/gisweb/).

E. HOW TO USE THE GUIDELINES
The Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines should
be used in conjunction with the Santa Cruz County
General Plan, County Code, and Design Criteria
for streets and frontages. The guidelines provide
ideas and best practices for well-designed projects,
whereas the General Plan, County Code, and Design
Criteria set land use requirements and quantitative
development standards that projects are legally
required to follow. In cases where design guidelines
are related to specific quantitative requirements, links to the relevant standards are provided.

Chapter 13.11 of the County Code identifies which
project types are subject to the Santa Cruz County
Design Guidelines. Projects that are not required to
follow the Design Guidelines are still encouraged
to follow applicable provisions in Chapter 2:

Overarching Design Guidelines.

Project types with specific guidelines that
are provided in Chapters 3 - 6 (multifamily,
commercial, mixed-use, and workplace flex) should
follow both the Overarching Design Guidelines and
those specific guidelines.

Projects located within geographic areas with
specific design guidelines should follow those
guidelines as well as applicable portions of the
Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines.

In some cases, specific guidelines serve to provide
more detailed direction for topics addressed in the
Overarching Guidelines, and in other cases they
provide guidelines for topics that are unique to
certain development types or geographic areas.

The guidelines provided for the Pleasure Point
Commercial Corridor identify exactly which sections
of the Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines should
be followed for projects in that area (see Appendix
B, Guiding Design Principles for the Pleasure Point
Commercial Corridor).

In any case where there is a conflict between the
Overarching Design Guidelines and guidelines for
specific project types, the specific project type
guidelines shall take precedence. Guidelines for
specific geographic areas take precedence over all
other design guidelines.

Project applicants should also learn the street
typology for the street where their project will be
located, make note of any design guidelines that
particularly apply to that street typology, and review
street zone standards related to that street typology
as provided in Appendix A.

6 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK.

02 OVERARCHING
DESIGN

GUIDELINES
Contents
Purpose and Applicability
Overarching Design Goals
A. Site Planning
B. Building Design
C. Open Space
D. Access, Circulation and Parking
E. Community Character
F. Neighborhood Transitions
G. Landscaping
H. Sustainability
I. Trash Enclosures and Utilities

Overarching Guidelines
02 OVERARCHING GUIDELINES

PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
The following design guidelines are intended to
provide general direction for design across all
development project types in Santa Cruz County.

These general application guidelines address site
features and design qualities that are common to
most development types. Design guidelines that
are tailored toward specific development types -
including multifamily residential, commercial, mixed-
use, and workplace flex developments - can be found
in the other chapters of this document.

Project types with specific guidelines that are
provided in Chapters 3 - 6 should follow both the
Overarching Design Guidelines and the guidelines
specific to that project type.

In some cases, the guidelines in Chapters 3 - 6
serve to provide more detailed direction for topics
addressed in the Overarching Guidelines, and in other
cases they provide guidelines for topics that are
unique to certain development types.

These guidelines provide ideas and best practices
for
well-designed projects. In cases where design
guidelines are related to specific quantitative
requirements, links to the relevant standards are
provided.

OVERARCHING DESIGN GOALS
1 4
2 5
3 Establish site planning and building orientation patterns that create active street edges and efficiently organize on- and off-site connectivity.

Install landscaping and design utilities and trash enclosures to increase the quality of frontages, enhance open spaces, provide screening and contribute to the overall aesthetic of the site.

Create open spaces that support on-site uses and create a network of interconnected active, safe and attractive public and private open spaces.

Integrate sustainable and pedestrian-oriented design across all development types.

Encourage new structures that have compatible mass and scale, architectural style and materials that respect and contribute to the neighborhood context.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 7

A1. Building Placement. Place new structures at
or near public right-of-way edge of Main Street
and Active Connector street types to activate
the pedestrian realm. Where needed, building
placement along Multimodal Corridors may allow
landscaped buffers. Building placement along
Local Residential Streets should follow the pattern
of existing neighborhood context. Place buildings
to preserve existing natural systems such as creeks.

A2. Corners. Locate new development to activate
important street corners. Where needed, set back
buildings to create corner plazas to be utilized as
common open space in commercial, mixed-use,
and workplace flex projects along Main Street and
Active Connector street types. Extra setbacks at
corners may also be necessary to ensure safe sight
distance for drivers.

See SCCC 13.16.093 and County Design Criteria for
site distance requirements.

A3. Building Orientation. Maximize the length
of street-facing frontage of new structures along
public streets to encourage street definition and
activation.

A4. On-Site Parking. Provide on-site parking
behind buildings rather than between buildings
and street frontages, especially along Main Streets,
Multimodal Corridors and Active Connectors. See
Section D: Access, Circulation and Parking for more
detailed guidance on parking design.

A1 A2A3
Active Connector / Main Street
A4
A1
Multimodal Corridor
A4
A3
A2
A. SITE PLANNING
8 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

A5. Setbacks. Provide street-facing setbacks to
ensure space for the pedestrian amenity zone,
pedestrian sidewalk zone, and activity zone.

See Appendix A for more information about
appropriate widths for these zones along different
street types.

Setback - distance between a building and a
property line or other marker
A6. Usable Open Spaces within Street-Facing
Setbacks. Design wider setbacks as active, usable
open spaces such as pocket plazas and other
programmable areas, especially for projects
fronting Active Connectors and Main Streets. See
Section C: Open Space for more detailed guidance
on open space design.

A7. Interior Side and Rear Setbacks. Buffer new
development from less intense neighboring land
uses with increased side and rear setbacks.

See SCCC 13.10.323 for residential setback
requirements, SCCC 13.10.333 for commercial
setback requirements, and SCCC 13.10.335 for
mixed-use setback requirements.
1 2 3
1 2Activity zone Pedestrian sidewalk zone
3 Pedestrian Amenity Zone
Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 9
A. SITE PLANNING

B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
10 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B1. Upper Floor Stepbacks. Visually break up
building mass through the use of upper floor wall
stepbacks. This is especially important for buildings
that are three or more stories when sited near
lower-scaled structures on adjoining properties.

Stepback - setback of an upper floor of a building
from a lower floor.

See SCCC 13.10.323 for residential third story
setback reuqirements and SCCC 13.10.333 for
commercial third story setback requirements.

B2. Wall Plane Variation. To add visual interest,
consider creating setback offests of at least one
(1) foot in depth every 25 to 50 feet of wall plane
along street-fronting walls.

B3. Roofline Variation. Consider using a variety
of roof designs and dormers to create variation in
building height and further enhance visual interest.

Pitched roofs with dormers can be used to reduce
the appearance of upper-floor building mass.

B4. Building Modulation. Provide vertical and
horizontal modulations with elements such
as facade extrusions and recesses, alternating
materials and roof forms, to provide more interest
and depth to the building facade.

Modulations - building facades differentiated by
depth, direction, or material
B5. Facade Articulation. Provide an array of
treatments such as trim, awnings, windows,
balconies, and other architectural elements to
create variation along the building facade.

Awnings - fabric projections that provide weather
protection, identity, or decoration
B. BUILDING DESIGN

B6. Design Consistency. Select compatible and high-
quality building materials that harmonize with the
overall project design, landscaping, and neighboring
structures.

B7. Balconies, Patios, Decks. Design decks, patios,
and upper floor balconies along high-visibility
corridors and frontages to create an “eyes on
the street” effect and foster a more inviting and
comfortable street environment.

B8. Windows. Place ground floor and upper floor
windows and openings along all exposed edges of
the building face with particular attention to public
streets.

B9. Ground Floor Activity Area. Create an attractive
and open ground floor design along building
frontages for all development types in order to help
activate the streetscape. Locate public and publicly-
oriented uses on the ground floor of buildings to
encourage pedestrian activity.

See SCCC 13.10.335(C) for ground floor commercial
use requirements.

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 11
B. BUILDING DESIGN

12 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
C1. Frontage Open Space. Consider allocating
activity zones along Main Street and Active
Connector street frontages as open spaces
for public use. These spaces can be designed
as plazas, forecourts or paseos, programmed
uses such as outdoor dining, mobile and pop-
up businesses, farmer’s markets, temporary
events, play spaces and community gardens. See
Appendix A for more information about activity
zones.

C2. Internal Open Space. Design internal
open spaces tailored to on-site building users
including common open spaces for building
residents, and outdoor seating, plazas,
forecourts and paseos to support businesses
that do not have street frontages.

For projects along Multimodal Corridors, internal
open spaces should be located in central and
rear portions of the site in order to create a quiet
environment insulated from street noise and
emissions.

Plaza - public square
Forecourt - area between a building entrance
and the sidewalk or street frontage
Paseo - walkway for strolling
C. OPEN SPACE

C3. Parklets. When possible, repurpose public
right-of-way and parking spaces into passive
common public space to serve as seating and
outdoor retail for clientele and the general public.

Such installations are well-suited for Main Street
and Active Connector contexts.

C4. Amenities. Design open spaces with chairs,
tables, trash receptacles, lighting, shade features,
and landscaping to create outdoor social areas,
especially along commercial frontages and on
residential properties.

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 13
C5. Shading. Incorporate shade elements in
open spaces through elements such as canopies,
awnings, trellises, umbrellas, or other similar
features. Adequate tree cover may fulfill this
purpose as well.

Trellis - framework that supports and displays
climbing plants
C. OPEN SPACE

D1. Primary Pedestrian Access. Locate primary ground
floor pedestrian building entrances for access from the public sidewalk, especially on Multimodal Corridors,
Active Connectors and Main Streets. If a building faces more than one of these street types, determine primary
street frontage by the following priority: (1) Main Street, (2) Active Connector and (3) Multimodal Corridor.

D2. Residential Unit Pedestrian Access. Orient
residential buildings so that the majority of ground floor units have individual entries from public streets. This encourages a safe and activated streetscape.

D3. Parking and Access. Locate parking areas toward
rear of the site or otherwise obstruct from off-site views, while maintaining appropriate access for people with
disabilities. On Main Streets, discourage parking lots
between street frontages and buildings. On Multimodal
Corridors, surface parking lots should occupy less than 50% of any single street frontage.

See County Design Criteria and SCCC 13.16 for parking
design requirements.

D4. Curb Cuts. Limit curb cuts for vehicle entrances and exits to maximize pedestrian character and safety. Curb cuts should not exceed the minimum width required.

See County Design Criteria for curb cut requirements.

D5. Landscape Buffers. Parking lots located along
street frontages should include landscaped buffers to
screen and soften the appearance of parking lots. See
Section G: Landscaping for more guidance on parking
lot landscaping..

D6. Surface Parking Coverage. Consider limiting the
total automobile area (parking, driveways, travel lanes, etc.) to less than half of the total site area, inclusive of surface parking lots and new streets. Underground or structured parking is encouraged as an alternative to surface parking lots where feasible and appropriate.

D3
D4
14 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING

D7. Parking podiums. For buildings with integrated
parking garages, maximum height of a parking podium
visible from a street should be one story from finished grade. Parking podiums should only be open-sided on the back or when facing alleys. Integrate shallow commercial spaces at ground level to activate the streetscape.

Parking podium - Above-ground parking structure
enclosed by walls and supporting residential or commercial space overhead.

D8. Bike Parking. Install shared long and short term bike parking outside buildings along Multimodal Corridors,
Active Connectors and Main Streets, and in interior
building locations for on-site residents and workers,
if applicable. Provide covered bike parking whenever
possible.

See SCCC 3.16.040 for bike parking requirements.

D9. Paving Materials. Create more comfortable pedestrian environments through the use of high-quality paving
materials for on-site, at-grade surfaces used by both
vehicles and pedestrians on private property. Consider
pavers, colored concrete, and stamped or scored concrete.

D10. ADA Compliance. Ensure minimum four-foot wide
wheelchair-accessible pedestrian pathways, including
where sidewalks cross driveway ramps.

D11. Pedestrian Crossings. Create enhanced internal
pedestrian crossings delineated with materials or colors to prioritize pedestrians within developments. Mid-block pedestrian crosswalks should be provided on blocks longer than 500 feet.

D12. Access to Amenities and Networks. Connect
building and site design to transit stops and pedestrian/ bike networks. Provide controlled pedestrian access to
creeks and other open space amenities where appropriate.

Consider public access easements through large parcel
developments.

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 15
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING

E1. Sense of Place. Encourage traditional and contemporary styles that respond to the character and climate of the local community, while reinforcing a sense of place through adaptation of local architectural influences. 16 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
E. COMMUNITY CHARACTER

E2. Consistent Theme. Ensure visual interest
and continuity with the streetscape and adjacent
neighborhoods through massing, architectural styles,
materials, colors, and other treatments that respect
local scale and character. Use design elements
such as materials, colors, textures, and rooflines to
articulate the design theme.

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 17
E. COMMUNITY CHARACTER

E4. Frontages. Provide staggered
block frontages and pedestrian areas
within setbacks to reflect massing
that is consistent with adjacent
structures.

E3. Identity. Where possible,
incorporate art and sustainable
elements to celebrate local stories
and community values.
18 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
E. COMMUNITY CHARACTER

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 19
E5. Complementary Style. Use complementary textures, colors, and materials to ensure that new buildings seamlessly blend into existing residential neighborhoods and mixed-use and commercial corridors.

Rehabilitate existing buildings by retaining the architectural style of original buildings while adding new elements that improve functionality such as skylights that maximize natural light.

E. COMMUNITY CHARACTER

F1. Stepped Massing. Encourage
building massing to be stepped-
down or provide greater setbacks
when adjacent to property
designated for low-density
residential development in order to
create visual interest and reduce the
perception of bulk and height.

Stepped-down massing - shorter
building height near the edges
of a new development where the
new development borders existing
shorter buildings.

See SCCC 13.10.323 for residenital
third-story setbacks and SCCC

13.10.333 for setback requirements
for commercial buildings adjacent
to residential or agricultural
developments.

F2. Scale Contrasts. Reduce the bulk
and scale of multi-unit and mixed-
use buildings by including upper-
level dormers, angled roofs and other
similar architectural elements.

Use a variety of colors and materials
to de-emphasize the bulkiness and
height of upper building levels.

F. NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITIONS
20 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

F3. Finer Scale. Encourage larger
buildings to be broken up into smaller,
distinct individual forms reflective of
the scale and character of adjacent
structures and the local neighborhood.

See SCCC 13.11.070(B)(3) for infill
development design strategies.

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 21
F. NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITIONS

F4. Horizontal Elements. Use
horizontal linear elements such
as porches, balconies, clerestory
windows, cornices or plinths to
counteract the vertical mass of
taller buildings and complement
the character of surrounding
neighborhoods.

Clerestory Windows - windows
above eye level designed to let in
light
Cornice - molding along the ledge
of a building
Plinth - base or platform that
supports a structure
22 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
F. NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITIONS

F5. Transitional Landscaping. Use
trees and landscaping to soften
scale differences, particularly in
areas where trees and vegetation
are unifying aspects of community
character. Landscaping should
also be used to provide privacy
screening when a commercial
project adjoins existing residential
or lower-scale commercial
development.

See SCCC 13.11.070(D) for
landscaping design requirements.

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 23
F. NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITIONS

24 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
G1. Corridor Landscaping. Along commercial corridors, use landscape treatments to define outdoor spaces, screen unsightly features, buffer pedestrians from high-traffic areas, and create a shaded, inviting pedestrian experience while maintaining public safety.

G2. Plant Palette. Utilize locally appropriate plant
species to improve quality of life, reduce heat island
impacts and create the conditions for thriving wildlife habitats and ecological systems. Encourage plant
species that provide habitat or food sources for
butterflies, birds, honey bees and other pollinators.

G3. Green Landscapes. Consider green roofs, green
walls and edible landscapes. Edible plants may be
segregated into particular landscaped areas such
as community gardens or integrated with the larger
landscape.

G. LANDSCAPING

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 25
G4. Tree Placement. Locate trees to increase shade
and provide buffers for parking areas, buildings, and
the public realm. For security purposes, openings
should be incorporated into the landscape design to
provide clear views into sites.

California Building Code 5.106.12.1 Surface parking
areas. For non-residential and mixed-use projects,
shade tree plantings, minimum #10 container size or
equal, shall be installed to provide shade over 50% of
the parking area within 15 years.

California Building Code 5.106.12.2 Landscape
areas. For non-residential and mixed-use projects,
shade tree plantings, minimum #10 container size or
equal, shall be installed to provide shade over 20%
of the landscape area within 15 years. Exception:

Playfields for organized sport activity are not
included in the landscape area calculation.

See SCCC 13.11.070(D), SCCC 13.16.060(D) and
County Design Criteria for landscape design
requirements for sites, streets and parking areas.

G. LANDSCAPING

26 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
H1. Energy Conservation. Reduce energy
usage and carbon footprint using energy
efficiency and energy generation technologies
in the building and open space design in
support of Santa Cruz County’s Climate Action
Plan goals.

H3. Passive Solar Design. Consider passive
heating and cooling techniques during building
design. Integrate these elements to articulate
building facades.

Passive Solar heating and cooling - The use
of the sun’s energy directly for heating and
cooling. Walls and floors are stone, concrete, or
other materials that collect, store and distribute
solar heat. Windows and shades are designed
to let in light and heat in the winter but not in
the summer, based on the angle of the sun in
the sky.

H2. On-Site Energy Production. Encourage
the installation, maintenance and use of solar
and wind power generation systems on new
or remodeled commercial buildings. Explore
structures and mechanisms that can serve
a dual purpose as public art features either
through their design, movement or lighting.

H. SUSTAINABILITY

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 27
H6. Natural Lighting. Maximize exposure
to daylight with glass, skylights, atriums,
and light reflectors. Design windows on
northern facades and shading on southern
facades to reduce reliance on artificial
lighting.

Light reflectors - trim around light fixture to
maximize light transmittal from the fixture
or from a window and direct light to other
areas
H5. Operable Windows. Incorporate
operable windows or ventilated double
facades to allow natural ventilation and
reduce energy consumption.

H4. Shading. Control solar heat gain and
glare using external shading devices.

H. SUSTAINABILITY

28 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
H7. Stormwater Management. Create an
integrated system of pervious and impervious
systems that function together to capture,
transport, filter/prefilter and treat stormwater on
site in order to reduce off-site flows, replenish
groundwater and provide water for landscape
irrigation. Incorporate swales and rain gardens
into the design of pedestrian amenity zones.

Pervious - Allowing water to pass through.

Examples of pervious site materials include
landscaping, gravel, brick or stone pavers without
grout, and pervious asphalt and concrete.

Impervious - Not allowing water to pass through.

Examples include roofing, asphalt, concrete,
and grouted brick or stone pavers. Runoff from
impervious surfaces causes erosion and flooding.

Swale- Landscaped linear ditch that collects,
filters, and slows the flow of stormwater.

Rain Garden - Garden bed planted with deep-
rooted species that collects and absorbs on-site
stormwater into the soil.

See County Design Criteria for stormwater
management design requirements.

H. SUSTAINABILITY

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 29
H9. Preserve Existing Natural Systems. Situate
buildings to preserve existing natural systems
and mitigate negative environmental impacts.

See SCCC 13.11.070(B) for environmental
consideration requirements in site design.

H8. Building Stormwater Runoff. Encourage
drainage systems that divert stormwater runoff
from building rooftops, parking areas, and
hardscapes (sidewalks, pathways, plazas) into
cisterns or stormwater systems integrated
into on-site open space designs or public art
features.

Cistern - A tank for storing water, located above
or below ground.

H. SUSTAINABILITY

30 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
I1. Trash Location. Ensure trash enclosures are
located away from public view and pedestrian path
of travel on Main Streets, Active Connectors and
adjacent parcels in order to minimize noise and odor
impacts typically associated with garbage collection
and storage.

I2. Trash Size. Ensure enclosures are of sufficient size to house the number and size of bins and containers
needed to accommodate the waste generated by
building users, including trash, cardboard, cans
and bottles, food waste, green waste, and other
recyclables.

See SCCC 13.11.070(C)(2) for recycling and waste
storage design requirements.

I. TRASH ENCLOSURES AND UTILITIES

Overarching Guidelines
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 31
I3. Trash Screening. Screen trash enclosures to
reduce their visual impact on the overall site and
building design. Screening should be constructed
of durable materials. Structural screening such as
fences should be supplemented with landscaping.

I4. Utility Screening. Either contain (within a
building) or fully screen all utility cabinets, meters, and backflow prevention devices on Active
Connectors and Main Streets to reduce visual
impacts. Screening mechanisms can include
landscaping, fencing, low walls, or other techniques.

See SCCC 13.11.070(C)(1) for utility equipment design
requirements.

I5. Outdoor Storage and Delivery Screening. Screen
outdoor storage and delivery areas containing
materials, supplies, utilities or equipment from public view along Multimodal Corridor,s, Active Connectors,
Main Streets, and Local Residential Streets. Consider
using landscaping and art elements to screen larger
areas.

I. TRASH ENCLOSURES AND UTILITIES

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32 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

03 MULTI
FAMILY

RESIDENTIAL
Contents
Purpose and Applicability
Multifamily Design Goals
A. Site Planning
B. Building Design
C. Open Space
D. Access, Circulation and Parking

Multifamily Residential
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 35
03 MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL

PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
The following design guidelines are intended
to inform the scale, character and features of
multifamily residential projects in Santa Cruz County.

Multifamily residential projects include a variety
of building typologies, ranging from small-scale
duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes that resemble
large single family homes, to larger townhome
projects, apartment buildings and condominiums.

These guidelines apply to all multifamily residential
projects, although some guidelines are specifically
oriented toward smaller or larger projects. The
guidelines provide ideas and best practices for well-
designed projects, and should be used in conjunction
with the County’s General Plan, County Code, and
Design Criteria for streets and frontages. In cases
where design guidelines are related to quantitative
requirements, links to relevant standards are
provided.

Specific development standards and appropriate
design guidelines for multifamily projects may
depend on the street type, zone district, and General
Plan land use designation of the parcel where the
project is located. For instance, the “Residential Flex” zone district allows higher housing density, more lot
coverage, and less open space compared to other
multifamily districts and is most appropriate in areas
with a mix of larger-scale existing development and
connection to transit, such as Multimodal Corridors.

Multifamily residential projects should follow both
Chapter 2: Overarching Design Guidelines and the
guidelines provided in this chapter.

MULTIFAMILY DESIGN GOALS
1 4
2 5
3 6
Plan and design efficient pedestrian and vehicular access layouts that prioritize direct pedestrian connections to the street and encourage residents to walk, bike, and take transit.

Cultivate inviting frontage conditions and activate the streetscape and provide natural surveillance (“eyes on the street”) while also serving ground floor residential units.

Provide livable and functional multifamily housing that is affordable to residents of a variety of income levels.

Provide sensitive transitions between residential and commercial properties.

Allow creativity and flexibility in architectural form and design that accommodates high- density housing while respecting the scale, style and character of the local context.

Provide well-designed open space and other housing amenities that meet the needs of a diverse mix of residents.

36 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
A. SITE PLANNING

SMALL-SCALE MULTIFAMILY
A1. Building Placement - Neighborhoods. Within residential neighborhoods, locate multifamily buildings in the center front of the site, especially if other buildings in the neighborhood follow this pattern. Locate front yards along public streets to assist in cultivating a sense of community and neighborhood feel.

A2. Building Placement - Corridors. Along Multimodal and Active Corridors, place buildings along the edge of frontages with adequate space to accommodate a front yard area between the building face and the edge of the fronting streetscape.

A3. Building Orientation. Orient buildings towards public streets with the primary entrance to housing units on the ground floor directly accessible from an adjacent sidewalk. Internally-facing buildings with primary entrances oriented toward a common space should prioritize the pedestrian experience. Primary building facades and entrances should not face parking areas when the option to face the street is available.

A4. Parking Location. When feasible, locate parking at the center or rear of the site, improving street frontages and minimizing views of parking areas from public streets. For sites adjoining other residential properties, locate access driveways at the side of the site where feasible to act as a buffer.

See County Design Criteria and SCCC 13.16 for parking design requirements.

A4
A1
A3
A5
A1
A3
A4
Building located in center front
of site
Oriented toward public street
Building front setback is simlar
to neighbors
A5
Parking located at rear of
site; side yard driveway
Landscaping/Open Space
Setback
Parking/Drive
Property Line

Multifamily Residential
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 37

LARGE-SCALE MULTIFAMILY
A2
Buildings
placed close to
frontages
Central garage
and surface
parking
Pedestrian unit
entrances from
sidewalk
Central
common open
space
A3
A4
A6
A. SITE PLANNING
A5. Front Yard Setbacks. Along streets where walking and streetscape activity is encouraged, site multifamily buildings close to the street to connect the development with the streetscape. A greater setback distance may be appropriate to create a common open space or enhanced front yards to enrich the streetscape.

Along Local Residential Streets and in residential neighborhoods, assess setback distances of adjacent residential properties and site buildings to complement the existing pattern of front yard depth.

Along Multimodal Corridors, multifamily buildings may be placed further back from the street to buffer living areas from noise, privacy and emissions impacts.

See SCCC 13.10.323(C) for residential setback requirements and SCCC 13.10.323(F)(7) for front yard averaging requirements.

A6. Open Space. Locate common open space areas in front and side yard areas when possible. On larger sites with multiple structures or along Multimodal Corridors, explore centrally-located common open spaces.

See Section C: Open Space for more guidance on common and private open space design.

See SCCC 13.10.323(D) for residential open space requirements.

A4
A6 A2A3
A6
Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
Parking/Drive
Property Line

38 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B1. Building Mass. Encourage highest building height and mass to be located near the center of the site and building footprint. Building mass should taper from the center of the site toward the property lines to emulate the scale and style of single-family residential development and allow for solar access to open spaces, especially within neighborhoods.

Design upper floor mass to complement neighborhood scale by incorporating design elements such as upper floor stepbacks and gable and hip roof forms.

See SCCC 13.10.323(C) for third floor stepback requirements.

B2. Wall Plane Variation. To add visual interest, consider offsets of at least one (1) foot in depth to differentiate building units and emulate surrounding development patterns.

B3. Setback Variation. On larger projects, consider
utilizing fluctuating
setbacks approximatley every 25 to 35 feet or the width of one housing unit to create a rhythm along the street edge.

B4. Roofline Variation. Consider utilizing changing roof heights, roof slope angles and dormers to create variation in the roofline and building height profile and further enhance visual interest.

B1
B2
B2
Variated wall planes
Building mass
concentrated in
middle of building
B1
B3
B4
Roof pitches
and dormers fit
neighborhood

Multifamily Residential
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 39
B1
B3
B4
B2
B3
B4
Setback variation
Varying wall planes accentuate
individual units
Roofline and height changes
B1
Gable roofs de-emphasize upper
floor building mass
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B2

40 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B5. Building Step-Backs. Upper floor
building mass should be stepped
back along internal frontages to
provide solar access to common
open spaces, internal drives, and
other on-site spaces.

Upper-floor stepbacks along
frontages should be incorporated
along Local Residential Streets.

See SCCC 13.10.323(C) for third floor
stepback requirements.

B6. Building Modulation. Create
variation in building mass along
building faces to diminish the sense
of bulk, and provide more interest
and depth to building form.

Building modulation to balance bulk
and mass is especially important
within the Residential Flex (RF) zone
district where buildings may take up
a larger percentage of the lot area
compared to other residential zone
districts.

B7. Facade Articulation. Provide
an array of facade treatments such
as trim, awnings, bay windows,
balconies, and other architectural
elements to create variation along
the building face.

B8. Facade Design. Utilize a
harmonious palette of materials and
color to add visual interest.

Multifamily Residential
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 41
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B9. Materials Modulation. Emphasize
modulating and articulating building
elements through material changes
to create more visual interest.

B10. Design Consistency. Select
compatible and high-quality building
and landscape materials that
harmonize with the overall project
design, landscaping, and neighboring
structures. On larger projects, ensure
design continuity throughout the
project through similar architectural
styles, materials, colors, and other
treatments.

See SCCC 13.11.070(D) for landscape
design requirements, including
requirements for front yards, plant
species, tree planting and removal,
site furniture and fixtures, and
buffering and screening.

B11. Frontage Design. Locate
the front door to housing in a
visible location from the adjacent
streetscape. Entrances that front
Multimodal Corridors should be
designed to create distance and
differentiation from the streetscape.

This may be achieved through
landscaping, wider front yards,
fencing, and/or elevated stoops.

42 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B12. Windows. Place ground floor
and upper floor windows and
openings along exposed edges of
the building face with particular
attention to buildings fronting
public streets. Additionally, locate
balconies, raised decks, patios
and other outdoor private open
space elements along highly visible
frontages. This encourages doors
and windows to open onto the
public street and provides eyes on
the street.

Multifamily Residential
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 43
C1. Private Open Space. On sites
zoned Residential Multifamily (RM),
provide 60 square feet of private open
space for every unit. Site buildings to
accommodate stoops and porches
along ground floor unit entrances,
including internal-facing front yards.

On sites zoned Residential Flex (RF),
higher density development may not
allow for private open space for every
unit. Wherever private open space is
provided for multifamily projects, the
minimum dimension should be six feet
in order to ensure that the space is
usable.

C2. Common Open Space. On sites
zoned RM, provide 200 square feet of
common open space per unit. On sites
zoned RF, provide at least 15% of gross
site area as private or common open
space.

Locate common open space areas
in front and side yard areas when
possible. On larger sites with multiple
structures or along Multimodal
Corridors, explore centrally-located
common open spaces, such as plazas,
that are interconnected with a network
of pedestrian paths to individual
private open spaces. Wherever
common open space is provided, the
minimum dimension should be 15-20
feet to ensure that the space is usable.

See SCCC 13.10.323(D) for usable
open space requirements.

C. OPEN SPACE

44 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
C. OPEN SPACE
C3. Private/Common Open Space
Interface. Consider locating private
open spaces for individual housing
units next to common open spaces.

Where possible, connect different
open spaces with elements such as
strolling paths to foster a sense of
community.

C4. Amenities. Install chairs, tables,
trellises and other shade features
to create outdoor social areas in
common spaces that serve as internal
gathering spots.

C5. Front Yards. Design front
yards and front setback areas to
accommodate residential amenities,
passive recreational activity, trees and
landscaping.

Within front setback areas along
Local Residential Streets and in
residential neighborhoods, create a
front yard environment that offers
common open space for residents
and complements the front yard use
patterns in the neighborhood to help
build community.

Along Multimodal Corridors and
Active Connectors, use front yard
areas to screen residential units,
and consider locating common
open space in interior areas such as
courtyards to provide a more restful
space for residents.

See SCCC 13.11.070(D) for front yard
landscape design requirements.

Multifamily Residential
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 45
C. OPEN SPACE
C6. Res Flex sites. On sites zoned
RF, front yard setbacks and open
space areas may be smaller
compared to other multifamily
sites in order to accommodate
larger buildings and more
residential units. On these sites,
include common open space
areas whenever feasible, especially
on sites with more than 10 units.

Consider providing common
open space as one large area to
enhance usability and a sense of
community, in a location that is
visible and easily accessed by all
units, and accessible to users of all
ages and physical abilities.

C7. Play Element Amenities. On
large sites, consider installing on-
site play features to support active
and passive recreation needs for
people of all ages and abilities
and encourage a family-friendly
community.

C8. Gardens. Explore community
gardens to serve the needs of the
development and neighborhood
residents.

46 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING
D1. Curb Cuts. Limit curb cuts for vehicular
access to a maximum of one per frontage
and up to three for developments with
more than two frontages. Curb cuts should
not exceed the minimum width required.

Driveways should be designed so that
sidewalks remain ADA compliant as they
cross driveways.

See County Design Criteria for curb cut
requirements.

D2. Resident Parking. Encourage
garage parking as the preferred covered
residential parking option. On larger
projects, encourage podium parking if
feasible.

D3. Guest Parking. Consolidate and locate
surface parking for guests, if required, at
several locations throughout the project
site, to reduce the visual impact of large
swaths of parking.

Multifamily Residential
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 47
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING
D4. Efficient Parking. Encourage space-
efficient parking options such as shared
driveways, tandem parking, stacked
parking, valet parking and parking garages
to maximize space for building and open
spaces..

D5. Access Drives. Locate vehicular access
driveways at the periphery of the site.

Design drives to visually accommodate
two-way vehicular circulation on large
sites. Consider creating shared driveways
between adjoining properties.

See SCCC 13.16 and County Design Criteria
for access driveway, vehicular parking and
pedestrian path design requirements.

D6. Pedestrian Paths. Construct
distinguishable pedestrian paths for
residents and guests. Pedestrian paths
should utilize different materials, colors
and textures from the vehicular driveway,
and ideally should be separated from from
the driveway. For large projects, design at
least one mid-block pedestrian connection
along each frontage with a clear and well-
designed pedestrian path.

D7. Unit Access. When applicable, install
high-quality exterior staircases accessing
upper-floor units that match the aesthetics
and materials of the building.

D8. Unit Entrances. For all street-facing
ground floor residential units, consider
providing a visible entrance that directly
connects to the sidewalk to create a
pleasant streetscape environment.

48 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
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04 COMMERCIAL
DESIGN

GUIDELINES
Contents
Purpose and Applicability
Commercial Design Goals
A. Site Planning
B. Building Design
C. Open Space
D. Access, Circulation and Parking

Commercial
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 51
04 COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES

PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
The following design guidelines are intended
to inform the scale, character and features of
commercial projects in Santa Cruz County.

Commercial land uses include consumer-
focused retail, service, entertainment and visitor-
accommodation uses as well as worker-focused
office and laboratory uses. The Commercial
Design Guidelines can be applied to new whole-
site developments, infill development on existing
properties, and redesign or repurposing of existing
buildings for new commercial uses.

The guidelines provide ideas and best practices
for well-designed projects, and should be used
in conjunction with the County’s General Plan,
County
Code, and Design Criteria for streets
and frontages. In cases where design guidelines
are related to quantitative requirements, links to
relevant standards are provided.

Specific development standards and appropriate
design guidelines for commercial projects may
depend on the street type, zone district, and General
Plan land use designation of the parcel where the
project is located.

Commercial projects should follow both Chapter 2:

Overarching Design Guidelines and the guidelines
provided in this chapter.

Commercial projects with residential components
should follow Chapter 5: Mixed-Use Guidelines.

Commercial projects in the Workplace Flex (C3)
zone district should follow Chapter 6: Workplace Flex
Guidelines.

COMMERCIAL DESIGN GOALS
Provide for a range of commercial development from small scale infill development on existing underutilized land to larger new commercial development.

Ensure that commercial projects are designed and operated to be compatible with adjacent uses and neighborhoods and the surrounding natural environment.

Minimize impacts on residential areas by providing context sensitive site layout, landscaping, signage, building design and size, and on-site parking, loading, and circulation.

Create active and attractive edge conditions along primary frontages of new and existing development to foster visually-engaging, functional and comfortable streetscape environments.

Encourage a well-defined public realm through careful placement and design of buildings, streets and pedestrian areas so that commercial areas become destinations for residents and visitors.

Accommodate parking that is adequate (but not excessive), contributes to a pedestrian-friendly, bicycle friendly, and transit-supportive environment, and supports a “park once” environment. 1 4
2 5
3 6

52 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
A. SITE PLANNING
Open Spaces
Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
Parking/Drive
Property Line
A1. Building Orientation. Place buildings parallel to streets to maximize site efficiency, improve pedestrian flow and wayfinding, and create a linear urban edge along commercial corridors.

Orient buildings and open spaces with high pedestrian traffic such as shops, cafes, and plazas to face the street and engage the sidewalk, in order to create a more active and enjoyable pedestrian environment.

A2. Entrances. Locate primary entrances along streetscape frontages to develop direct access points and foster connection with the immediate pedestrian environment. Locate secondary entrances to access parking lots and rear or side building faces.

A3. Open Spaces. Locate public open spaces and plazas facing Main Streets and Active Connectors in order to create social gathering spaces that are welcoming and visible.

A1
A1
A2
A2
A3
A3
Building sited
parallel to
street
Entrances
oriented to
face major
street(s)
Outdoor
plaza spaces
along primary
frontage
A2A3

Commercial
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 53
A2
A. SITE PLANNING
A4. Setbacks. Site buildings close to the required street-facing setback(s) along Main Streets and Active Connectors, unless a greater distance is being used to enhance the public realm with large activity zone uses such as outdoor dining and plazas. Allow expanded landscape buffers or other similar features on Multimodal Corridors that require mitigation from noise and emission.

See SCCC 13.10.333 for commercial setback requirements.

A5. On-Site Parking. Ensure parking is clustered toward the rear of a site (opposite street frontages), allowing the building to activate street frontages. Provide shared driveways and coordinated parking opportunities with adjoining properties. Building frontages should not face parking areas when the option to front the street is available.

See SCCC 13.16 and County Design Criteria for parking design requirements.

A4
A4
A2
A2
A5
A5
Building setback to
allow space for plaza
Entrances oriented
toward frontages and
corners
Rear-located parking

54 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
A. SITE PLANNING - INFILL
A6. Infill Structures. Locate small-scale infill commercial development within existing parking lots facing public streets such as Main Streets and Active Connectors. Prioritize infill development in strategic locations such as street intersections and parcel edges.

A7. Infill Open Space. Add common public spaces to create active areas that front the immediate streetscape and support the infill commercial development.

A8. Infill Parking. Site infill commercial development to create consolidated, centrally-located parking.

A9. Infill Frontage Enhancement. Install a landscape buffer along the primary frontage to create an attractive edge condition that screens areas of exposed parking lot and provides a pedestrian- friendly experience, especially along Main Streets.

See SCCC 13.11.070(B)(3) for infill design strategies, SCCC

13.11.070(D) for commercial infill landscaping, and SCCC 13.16 and County Design Criteria for parking design requirements.

Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
Parking/Drive
Property Line
A7
A9
A8
A6
Existing Structure
Centrally-located
parking lot
Enhanced edge
condition to buffer
parking from
frontage
A6
New infill structures
placed along
primary frontage
Outdoor plaza
spaces along
primary frontage
A9
A8
A7
A6
A9

Commercial
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 55
A. SITE PLANNING - BUILDING PROGRAM
A10. Ground Floor Uses. Where possible,
encourage ground floor spaces fronting
public streets to be primarily occupied
by retail, restaurant, personal services,
cultural destinations, and other similar
public oriented businesses. Place the most
active functions, such as restaurants, office
lobbies and common customer areas, along
public streets with gracious sidewalks
and landscaping. Front internally-facing
buildings with similar ground floor uses
toward a common space with pedestrian
orientation. These uses can be accompanied
by parklets to further extend activities into
the public realm.

See SCCC 13.10.335(C) for ground floor
commercial use requirements.

A11. Ground-Floor Height. Consider
providing ground floor minimum floor-to-
floor height of 15 feet to best support retail
and office uses.

A12. Small Scale Retail. Encourage
temporary and permanent small scale retail
opportunities in front of ground floor office
spaces that require privacy from pedestrian
traffic.

56 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B1. Articulated Frontages. Consider
including articulated frontages for
commercial buildings and projects, with
alternating setbacks, building planes, and
varied colors and materials to create more
pedestrian interest.

B2. Street Activation. Design commercial
buildings to directly engage the street by
using first floor overhangs, tree canopies,
seating areas, extended outdoor dining,
and well-defined entrances. Encourage
active frontages along streets and alleys
by incorporating features such as
window glazing, outdoor seating, and
landscaping. Also include functional art
such as decorative bike racks, fences, and
murals. These areas should enhance the
experience for pedestrians and bicyclists
while encouraging people to linger and visit
local businesses.

B. BUILDING DESIGN
B1
B1
B2
B2
B3
B4
Articulated frontages
Floor overhangs, awnings, tree canopy
to activate street
Ground-floor building transparency to create
visual interest for pedestrians

Commercial
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 57
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B3. Ground-Floor Building Transparency.

Make internal building activities visible from
public streets and internal pathways, unless
there are privacy or security concerns.
prevent transparency. Encourage ground-
floor, street-facing building walls of non-
residential uses to provide transparent
windows or doors with views into the
building for at least 60 percent of the
building frontage, in order to create visual
interest and to help stores showcase their
merchandise or services.

B4. Building Mass. Design multi-story
commercial buildings along corridors, in
commercial centers, and for specific uses
such as medical centers. Incorporate single-
floor building volumes and horizontally-
oriented building elements in areas where
low-lying buildings are cherished aspects of
community character.

B5. Multiple Buildings. Develop larger
sites with multiple buildings or buliding
forms that include a variety in designs and
functions. The individual buildings should
include variation and articulation in their
setbacks, stepbacks and heights in order to
break up the bulkiness of the development.

58 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B6. Pedestrian Scale. Step-back
upper floors from the street to avoid
a “canyon effect.” and preserve a
human or pedestrian scale along the
street edge.

Use porches, arcades, or balconies to
counteract the vertical emphasis of
taller buildings.

Additionally, use a variety of materials
and/or colors to de-emphasize the
size and bulk of upper floors.

B7. Interesting Facades. Include
façade elements and materials that
make larger buildings more visually
interesting and less bulky, particularly
along streets and pedestrian
pathways.

B8. Entrances. Use features such as
overhangs, business signs, and/or
recesses to create an architectural
focal point and draw attention to
stores and restaurant entrances.

Commercial
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 59
B9. Adaptive Reuse. Retain the
original character and unique features
of historically designated buildings
that are retrofitted or reused for a
new purpose, to maintain the cultural
history of individual neighborhoods.

This should be accomplished in
accordance with local historic
preservation regulations.

Additionally, require historical
buildings to maintain important
façade or architectural features
during retrofits and expansion
projects.

See SCCC 16.42 for historic
preservation requirements.

B10. Signage. Provide clear and
architecturally consistent business
identification signage. In shopping
centers and in buildings with multiple
businesses, adopt a cohesive signage
program for all businesses.

See SCCC 13.10.581 for signage
requirements.

B11. Blank Walls. Minimize the use
of blank walls, particularly at the
ground-floor level. Where necessary,
blank walls should be textured or
layered with different materials or
should incorporate art enhancements
where appropriate.

B. BUILDING DESIGN

60 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
C4. Public Art Integration. Ensure that art, sculpture, and interactive installations are meaningfully
integrated into the open space design.

C1. Location. Locate outdoor gathering spaces so
they are visible from public streets or trail networks, accessible from the building/street, and connected to
other pedestrian facilities.

C3. Paving. Coordinate paving, planting, and other
landscape materials with the design of the building
and site.

C2. Landscaping. Encourage publicly-accessible
plazas and open spaces to include a combination
of landscaped and hardscaped elements. Ensure
that high-quality paving materials, such as
stone, concrete, tile, pavers, or brick are used for
hardscaped elements.

C. OPEN SPACE

Commercial
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 61
C6. Parking Space Conversion. Along Main Streets,
Active Connectors, and on internal parking lots,
consider allowing conversion of parking spaces into
outdoor dining and other commercial use, where
adequate parking exists and other requirements such
as ADA access can be met.

C7. Outdoor Retail. Design open spaces to host
outdoor retail environments that support indoor uses
such as restaurants, cafes, artist studios, etc.

C8. Events. Program publicly accessible open spaces
with a wide variety of temporary and frequent events
such as farmers markets, wine tasting, etc.

C5. Amenities. Provide benches, tables, and shade
in plazas and other outdoor areas. These features
should be made from high-quality, durable materials
consistent with the architectural theme of the
building and surrounding neighborhood.

C. OPEN SPACE

62 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING
D1. Sidewalk Connections. Provide
on-site pathways for pedestrians and
bicyclists, separated from vehicular
traffic, that connect building entries to
adjacent public sidewalks.

See County Design Criteria and SCCC

13.16 for pedestrian and bicycle pathway
requirements.

D2. Walkway Design and Materials.

Include elements such as contextually-
appropriate paving materials, trellis
structures, landscaping, pedestrian-
scaled lighting, seating and trash
receptacles along sidewalks and
pedestrian pathways.

D3. Drive-Through Design. Where
drive-throughs are allowed, design drive-
through faciltiies to mitigate problems
such as pollution, congestion, noise and
appearance. Buffer drive throughs from
residential uses and provide adequate
room to accommodate queuing vehicles
on site.

See SCCC 13.16.091 for drive-through
facility design requirements.

Commercial
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 63
Circulation
Primary Pedestrian Access
Secondary Pedestrian Access
Primary Vehicle Access

Open Spaces
Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
Parking/Drive
Property Line
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING
D4. Parking Location. Provide vehicle drop-off areas and limited short term, retail-friendly teaser parking along sidewalks.

The remainder of the parking should be behind the building or in underground or structured parking, in order to maintain an attractive and pedestrian-oriented frontage to major streets.

D5. Parking Size. Encourage large outdoor surface parking lots to be broken up by landscaping and stormwater planters.

D6. Shared Parking. Maximize opportunities for shared and stacked parking to reduce parcel footprint devoted to parking.

Include interior vehicle connections between properties.

D7. Bicycle Parking. Provide convenient and secure bicycle parking adjacent to building entrances. The design and
materials should be coordinated with the site and building design. Whenever possible, bicycle parking areas should be covered and located in areas which are clearly visible to site users.

See SCCC 13.16 and County Design Criteria for vehicular and bicycle parking requirements.

64 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
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05 MIXED USE
DESIGN

GUIDELINES
Contents
Purpose and Applicability
Mixed-Use Design Goals
A. Site Planning
B. Building Design
C. Open Space
D. Access, Circulation and Parking

Mixed-Use
05 MIXED-USE DESIGN GUIDELINES

PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
The following design guidelines are intended
to inform the scale, character and features of
horizontal and vertical mixed-use residential
and commerical projects in Santa Cruz County.

Horizontal mixed-use consists of separate residential
and commercial buildings within a single parcel.

Vertical mixed-use consists of residential and
commercial uses within the same building.

The guidelines provide ideas and best practices
for well-designed projects, and should be used in
conjunction with the County’s General Plan, County
Code, and Design Criteria for streets and frontages.

In cases where design guidelines are related to
quantitative requirements, links to relevant standards
are provided.

Specific development standards and appropriate
design guidelines for mixed-use projects may depend
on the street type, zone district, and General Plan
land use designation of the parcel where the project
is located.

Mixed-use projects should follow both Chapter 2:

Overarching Design Guidelines and the guidelines
provided in this chapter.

MIXED USE DESIGN GOALS
1 7
2 6
3 5
4 Ensure active and inviting ground floor commercial spaces that support a pedestrian- friendly environment.

Accommodate parking and circulation on site to maximize connections between different land uses.

Create well-designed public and semi-public gathering places that support social interaction and community cohesion.

Create visual interest through design variation, architectural details, and high-quality materials.

Enhance public safety through increased natural surveillance and eyes on the street.

Provide well-designed housing that is affordable to residents of a variety of income levels and is located within walking distance to stores, services, jobs, and community amenities.

Provide flexibility to allow for a wide variety of mixed-use developments to enhance the County’s overall economic vitality.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 65

A. SITE PLANNING - VERTICAL MIXED USE
Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
Parking/Drive
Property Line
66 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
A1. Building Placement. Place buildings along the
edge of the sidewalk to activate the pedestrian realm,
especially along Main Streets and Active Connectors.

A2. Building Setbacks. Site buildings close to the
required setback to provide street definition, unless a greater setback distance is approrpriate to enhance
the public realm (outdoor retail, plaza, etc.) or to
avoid noise or traffic impacts.

See SCCC 13.10.334(A) for mixed-use setback
requirements.

A3. Mid-Block Pedestrian Paths. Create enhanced
internal pedestrian crossings delineated with
materials or colors to prioritize pedestrians within
developments. Provide mid-block pedestrian paths
between and through buildings.

See SCCC 13.16 and County Design Criteria for
pedestrian path and parking design requirements.

Primary Frontage
A1
A2
A2
A3
A3
A4
A4
A1
Building placed close to
front and side property lines
Larger building setback
provided to create plaza
Mid-block pedestrian
path/connection
Primary parking located
behind buildings

Mixed-Use
Parking/Drive
Property Line
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 67
A5
A6
Buildings oriented toward
frontages
Active ground floors with
open facades and active
space
A4. Parking Location. Ensure parking is clustered
to the rear of the site, allowing the building to
activate street frontages and provide shared parking
opportunities with adjoining properties. Building
frontages should not face parking areas along Main
Streets and Active Connectors when the option to
front the street is available.

A5. Building Orientation. Orient buildings toward
public streets with the primary entrance(s) to the
site or to commercial uses directly accessible from
the sidewalk. Include multiple entrances from Main
Street sidewalks. Buildings with primary entrances
oriented toward an internal public space rather than a
public street may be appropriate if they enhance the
pedestrian experience.

A6. Ground-Floor Uses. Encourage ground-floor
spaces fronting primary streets to be primarily
occupied by retail, restaurant, and personal service
uses that generate pedestrian activity and engage the
sidewalk to create an active and enjoyable pedestrian
environment.

See SCCC 13.10.334(C) for ground floor use
requirements.

A5
A6
A. SITE PLANNING - VERTICAL MIXED USE

A. SITE PLANNING - HORIZONTAL MIXED USE
A7. Building Placement. Prioritize placement of commercial buildings along the edge of sidewalk to activate the pedestrian realm, especially along Main Streets and Active Connectors.

Residential structures may be most appropriate along the rear or side of the site.

A8. Mixed-Use Compatibility. Design and locate service entries, loading areas, and trash areas associated with commercial uses so they minimize conflicts with residential uses located on site.

A9. Parking Location. Locate parking for on-site commercial uses at the center of the site, allowing the parking to provide a buffer from on-site residential uses and maximize shared parking opportunities between residential and commercial uses.

Dedicated private residential parking areas should be located in a private area away from public commercial parking.

Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
Parking/Drive
Property Line
68 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
Residential
Commercial
A7
A7
A7
A8
A8
A9
A9
A9
Commercial and residential
building placements, at
front and rear of the site
Utilities location for
commercial uses on site
Residential and
commercial parking areas

Mixed-Use
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 69
A10. Building Setbacks. Site buildings close to the required setback, unless a greater distance is being used to enhance the public realm (outdoor retail, plaza, etc.).

See 13.10.334(A) for mixed-use setback requirements.

A11. Sidewalk Activation. Ensure that buildings with high pedestrian traffic uses (retail, restaurant, commercial services, community-serving uses, or other active uses) face public streets and engage the sidewalk to create an active and enjoyable pedestrian environment. Maximize opportunities for temporary and permanent retail uses along sidewalks fronting Main Street and Active Connectors.

A10
A10
A11
A11
Buildings sited toward
front and street side
setbacks
Landscaped and
activated sidewalk
along commercial
frontage
A10
A. SITE PLANNING - HORIZONTAL MIXED USE

Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
Parking/Drive
Property Line
70 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
A12. Residential Location. In vertical mixed-use
developments, locate residential uses on the upper
floors above ground floor retail or office. In horizontal mixed-use developments, locate residential uses
along Local Residential Streets or at the rear of
the site to provide visual privacy and complement
existing residential uses.

A13. Residential Spaces. Place active residential
spaces such as entrance lobbies, recreation spaces,
and amenity areas along public streets.

A14. Floor Height. For development flexibility,
consider designing ground floor to have a floor-
to-floor height of 10 to 14 feet, with a minimum
subsequent floor(s) height of 9 to 10 feet.

A15. Utilities – Accessibility. Ensure that utilities
are conveniently located and accessible from tenant
spaces but screened from the street and other
pedestrian areas.

See SCCC 13.11.070(C)(1) for utility design
requirements.
1 1
2 2
Upper-floor
residential
Vertical Mixed Use Horizontal Mixed Use
Residential
structures detached
from commercial
structures
A. SITE PLANNING - RESIDENTIAL USE CONSIDERATIONS

Mixed-Use
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 71
A16. Commercial Use Location. Place retail
spaces and office entry lobbies and meeting
spaces along active street frontages.

See SCCC 13.10.334(C) for ground floor
commercial use requirements along Main
Streets, Active Connectors and Multimodal
Corridors.

A17. Ground-Floor Height. For development
flexibility, consider providing ground floor
minimum floor-to-floor height of 15 feet to
best support retail and office uses.

A18. Office Depth. Encourage ground floor
office space in a mixed-use building to have
a depth of between 45 and 60 feet. Where
possible, multiple smaller offices should be
created in favor of a single large office space.

A19. Retail Depth. Encourage ground floor
retail uses in a mixed-use building to have
a depth of at least 45 feet. Where possible,
encourage 60 foot depths to accommodate
a wider range of tenants, especially food
tenants.

A20. Pop-Up Retail. Provide small pop-up
retail spaces where the minimum depth for
commercial uses is not possible.
2 1
2 1 245’-60’ depth 15’ ground floor height
A. SITE PLANNING - COMMERCIAL USE CONSIDERATIONS

B1. Step Backs. Step back at least
50% of third floor exterior walls an
additional 10 feet from the minimum
required setback to break up building
bulk,
especially abutting non-
commercial parcels. In no case should
a third story be stepped back less
than the first and second stories
See SCCC 13.10.333 for third story
setback requirements abutting non-
commercial parcels.

B2. Blank Walls. Discourage any
unarticulated/blank building wall that
exceeds 10 feet in length. Specifically
encourage building articulation
associated with entrances, building
projections or recesses, doorway and
window trim, and other details that
provide architectural design interest.

Different methods can be employed,
including varying wall planes, heights,
contrasting materials and colors,
awnings, canopies, and arcades.

Enhance visual interest by
incorporating architectural relief,
architectural detail, or landscaping.

B3. Entrances. Provide multiple
commercial and residential entrances
into buildings, particularly into
ground-floor uses.
72 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B. BUILDING DESIGN

Mixed-Use
B4. Ground-Floor Building
Transparency. Transparent windows
or doors for ground floor commercial
spaces are encouraged. Ground floor
transparency should offer views
into the building for at least 60
percent of the building’s length along
primary and secondary frontages.

Position windows for visibility by
both pedestrians and motorists at
street level in order to create interest
in commercial activities and improve
safety.

B5. Expansion into Sidewalks.

Encourage doors or sliding windows
that enable ground-floor restaurants
and retail to expand into outdoor
amenity zone areas along publicly-
accessible sidewalks with appropriate
permits and while meeting County
Design Criteria and maintaining
a sidewalk pedestrain zone for
unobstructed travel.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 73
B. BUILDING DESIGN

B6. Design Consistency. Provide
visual interest and design continuity
throughout all sections of the
project - including residential and
commercial sections - through similar
architectural styles, materials, colors,
and other treatments.

B7. Storefront Width. Reduce the
perceived size of larger buildings
to maintain pedestrian scale and
rhythm. Consider limiting the width of
building bays to maximum 50 feet.

B8. Signage. Signage should be
located and scaled so it can be
read and accessible to motorists,
pedestrians and bicyclists as
appropriate. Signage and other
advertisement displays and
installations should be primarily
affixed to commercial portions of the
project.

See SCCC 13.10.581 for sign design
requirements.

B9. Adaptive Reuse. Encourage the
adaptive reuse of older buildings.

Encourage historical buildings
to maintain important façade or
architectural features during retrofits
and expansion projects. Similarly,
development of buildings next to
historic or culturally significant
buildings should respect the
architectural character of existing
historical buildings.

See SCCC 16.42 for historic
preservation requirements.
74 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B. BUILDING DESIGN

Mixed-Use
C1. Commercial Open Space. Where
space allows, integrate public plazas
into the design of commercial
portions of mixed-use projects,
creating large activity zones.

See also Open Space guidelines in
Chapter 4, Commercial Guidelines.

C2. Residential Open Space. Provide
a total of at least 50 square feet of
private and/or common open space
per dwelling in mixed-use projects.

Common open spaces should have a
minimum dimension of 15 feet. Private
open spaces should have a minimum
dimension of six feet.

In some cases, it may be appropriate
to locate common open spaces
along street frontages adjacent to
commercial uses and make these
open spaces available to the public.

See also Open Space guidelines in
Chapter 3, Multifamily Residential
Guidelines. However, note that
minimum required residential open
space for mixed-use projects is less
than that for multifamily projects due
to the combination of uses on site
See SCCC 13.10.334(A) for mixed-use
open space requirements.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 75
C. OPEN SPACE

Circulation
Primary Pedestrian Access
Secondary Pedestrian Access
Parking/Drive
Property Line
Primary Vehicle Access
Secondary Vehicle Access
Open Spaces
Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space
76 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
D1. Shared Parking. Maximize opportunities
for shared parking between residential and
commercial uses that have parking demand
at different times of day, to reduce the overall
parcel footprint devoted to parking.

See SCCC 13.16.070(B) for shared parking
standards.

D2. Curb Cuts. Minimize pedestrian and vehicle
conflicts by limiting the number of curb cuts to a
maximum of two per project if possible.

See County Design Criteria for curb cut design
requirements.

D3. Well Connected Spaces. Link different
commercial, residential, and open space areas
with internal pathways.

D2
D3
Vertical Mixed Use Horizontal Mixed Use
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING

Mixed-Use
D4. Parking Location. Provide
vehicle drop-off areas and limited
short term, retail-friendly teaser
parking along sidewalks. The
remainder of the parking should
be behind the building or in
underground or structured parking.

See SCCC 13.16 and County Design
Criteria for vehicular parking design
reuqirements.

D5. Screening. Screen surface
parking located adjacent to
roadways with a decorative wall,
hedge, trellis, or landscaping.

Also screen surface parking from
residential neighborhoods to reduce
the visual impact of large parking
areas.

See SCCC 13.16.060 and SCCC

13.11.070(D) for parking screening
requirements.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 77
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING
D6. Bicycle Parking. Provide
convenient and secure exterior
bicycle parking adjacent to
commercial building entrances.

Provide convenient and secure
indoor bicycle parking for residents.

Whenever possible, bicycle parking
areas should be covered and clearly
visible to site users.

See SCCC 13.16.040 for bicycle
parking design reuqirements.

78 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
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06 WORKPLACE
FLEX

GUIDELINES
Contents
Purpose and Applicability
Workplace Flex Design Goals
A. Site Planning
B. Building Design
C. Open Space
D. Access, Circulation and Parking

Workplace Flex
06 WORKPLACE FLEX

PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
The following design guidelines are intended
to inform the scale, character and features of
workplace flex projects in Santa Cruz County.

The Workplace Flex (C3) zone district provides for
employment centers with a flexible mix of office,
retail, and light industrial land uses as well as other ancillary uses to meet the needs of businesses and
workers. The Workplace Flex Design Guidelines
encourage flexibility and innovation in realizing
developments that can accommodate workplace
functions such as offices, sales, research and
development, light assembly, and shipping and
distribution. The guidelines are crafted to ensure
that development and site improvements result
in functional, attractive, sustainable, and context
sensitive projects with an innovative mix of land uses.

These guidelines provide ideas and best practices
for well-designed projects, and should be used in
conjunction with the County’s General Plan, County
Code, and Design Criteria for streets and frontages.

In cases where design guidelines are related to
quantitative requirements, links to relevant standards
are provided.

Specific development standards and appropriate
design guidelines for workplace flex projects may
depend on the street type of the parcel where the
project is located. Workplace flex developments
may be appropriate along Multimodal Corridors
and Active Connectors, as well as frontage roads
and other places with easy highway access for light
industrial operations.

Workplace flex projects should follow both
Chapter 2: Overarching Design Guidelines and the
guidelines provided in this chapter.

WORKPLACE FLEX DESIGN GOALS
1 4
2 5
3 Provide for a range of commercial uses with flexibly-designed spaces for multiple business types and changing business needs over time.

Create well designed common open and built spaces that offer amenities to both workers and visitors to the workplace flex development.

Reuse and repurpose underutilized parcels and buildings along transportation corridors into employment centers and community destinations.

Design to encourage workers to walk, bike and take transit to employment centers from nearby commercial corridors and residential neighborhoods.

Minimize noise and sound impacts to residential areas by providing landscape buffers and other design elements.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 81

A. SITE PLANNING
A1. Building Placement. Place buildings close to frontages. Encourage buildings along Active Connectors and Multimodal Corridors to enhance the pedestrian experience and add visual interest.

A2. Building Setbacks. Site buildings at the minimum required setback, unless a greater distance is being used to accommodate an activity zone or create a buffer necessary to mitigate air and noise impacts.

See SCCC 13.10.333 for commercial setback requirements.

A3. Public Gathering Places. Create centrally-located common open spaces that are interconnected with a network of pedestrian paths.

A4. Parking Location. Encourage parking to be located in central or rear portions of the site, allowing the building to activate street frontages and minimizing views of parking areas from public streets. Building frontages should not face parking areas when the option to front a public street is available.

See SCCC 13.16 and County Design Criteria for parking design requirements.

A1
A1
A4
A3
A2
A3
A2
Buildings oriented
toward primary frontage
Parking does not
dominate the building
frontatge
Larger setbacks along
primary frontage to
accommodate activity
zone
Centrally located
flexible open space
A4
Plaza/Open Space
Landscaping/Open Space

Parking/Drive
Property Line
82 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

Workplace Flex
B1. Setback Variation. Consider utilizing varying setbacks and stepbacks on street edge when fronting along pedestrian- oriented streets such as Active Connectors, in order to avoid long wall expanses and maintain human scale.

B2. Roofline Variation. Consider changing roof heights and designs and dormers to create variation in the height profile and further enhance visual interest.

B3. Building Modulation. Create variation in building mass along building faces to diminish the sense of bulk.

B4. Floor Height. Require a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 15 feet and allow a maximum buliding height of 50 feet to accommodate a flexible mix of commercial uses.

See SCCC 13.10.333 for workplace flex development standards.

B1
B2
B2
B3
B1 B3
B4
Two buildings use
different setbacks
Roofline and height
changes
Modulating features
along facades
B4
15 foot floor-to-celing
height minimum
B2
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 83
B. BUILDING DESIGN

B5. Facade Articulation. Provide an
array of facade treatments such as trim,
awnings, bay windows, balconies, and
other architectural elements to create
variation along the building facade.

B7. Building Step Backs. Where needed,
setback upper floor building mass in
order to create better scale with the
adjacent uses and provide solar access
to common open spaces.

See SCCC 13.10.333 for commercial third
story setback requirements.

B6. Frontage Design. Locate the front
doors to shops, eating establishments,
offices, art studios and cultural
destinations in a visible location from
the adjacent streetscape..
84 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
B. BUILDING DESIGN

Workplace Flex
B8. Design Consistency. Ensure
visual interest and design continuity
throughout all sections of the project -
including light industrial, office, and retail
spaces - through similar architectural
styles, materials, colors, and other
treatments. Contemporary or industrial
styles may be more appropriate than
traditional styles.

B10. Materials and Colors. Use a variety
of colors and materials to de-emphasize
the mass and bulkiness of buildings and
add visual interest.

B9. Fenestration. Where possible, place
ground floor and upper floor windows
and openings along all exposed edges
of the building face with particular
attention to frontages.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 85
B. BUILDING DESIGN

C1. Open Space Design. Landscape
open spaces with trees and plantings
to serve the diverse needs of workers.

Ensure paving, planting and other
landscape elements are coordinated
with the design of the building and site.

See SCCC 13.11.070(D) for landscaping
design requirements.

C2. Amenities. Provide seating, tables
and shade elements.

C3. Evenly Distributed. On large sites,
evenly distribute open spaces to be
within walking distance of different
employment centers. Program essential
amenities such as seating and lighting at
these locations.
86 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz
C. OPEN SPACE

Workplace Flex
D1. Pedestrian Connections. Design mid-
block pedestrian connections with clear
and well-design pedestrian paths.

See SCCC 13.16 and County Design Criteria
for pedestrian path design requirements.

D3. Parking Design. Parking should be
located in rear or central portions of the
site and hidden from views from adjacent
streets. Where possible, parking should be
shared among different uses.

See SCCC 13.16.060 for vehicle parking
design standards.

D2. Frontage Width. Provide a street
frontage of at least 60 feet in order to
accommodate larger buildings and truck
access required for light industrial land
uses.

See SCCC 13.10.333(B) for minimum parcel
frontage requirements.

D4. Bike Parking. Distribute and locate
bike parking in high visibility areas,
preferably close to building entrances.

See SCCC 13.16.040 for vehicle parking
design standards.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ 87
D. ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING

THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK.
88 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

APPENDIX A:

Street Zone Standards
Contents
Purpose and Applicability
Street Zones Overview
Street Zone Standards: Multimodal Corridor
Street Zone Standards: Active Connector
Street Zone Standards: Main Street
Street Zone Standards: Local Residential Street

Appendix A

A STREET ZONE STANDARDS

PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
This appendix outlines regulatory street zone
standards for new developments. The vehicle travel
zone, bicycle zone, and parking zone are roadway
zones that work together to ensure safe and
efficient roadway travel. The pedestrian amenity
zone, pedestrian sidewalk zone and activity zone are
sidewalk public spaces that front a building and allow
for safe and pleasant pedestrian travel and social
gathering.

Street zone standards are provided for Multimodal
Corridors, Active Connectors, Main Streets, and
Local Residential Streets. These four street types are part of Santa Cruz County’s layered transportation
network which prioritizes certain user types on
specific streets. Street types are designated by
the Access and Mobility chapter of the Santa Cruz
County General Plan. Street zone standards are
different for each street type based on the users
proritized for that street type and the associated
street frontages and streetscape character.

The street zone standards are crafted to ensure that
the resulting public realm is functional, attractive, and supportive of the County’s sustainability goals. These
standards should be used in conjunction with the
General Plan, County Code, and Design Criteria for
streets and frontages.

Sidewalk Pedestrian Zone is a contiguous uninterrupted pathway allowing flow of pedestrain movement and full accessibility along the sidewalk.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ A-1

Street Zones Overview
Example Street
Cross Section
A
B
C
D
E
F

E D B A
B C D
E
F
Street Zones
Building and Site Design Related to Street Zones
The Vehicle Travel Zone provides standard-width lanes for cars and wider lanes for shared use by cars and buses. Turn lanes and traffic lights are provided as needed to avoid traffic congestion in this zone.

The Bicycle Zone provides designated bicycle travel facilities in the form of either Class I facilities (separated bicycle paths), Class II facilities (designated bicycle lanes), or Class IV facilities (protected bikeways as shown in the illustration). On roadways where there is not space to accommodate a bicycle zone, there may be Class III bicycle facilities (bicycle routes where signage is used to indicate that bicycles and vehicles should share the vehicle travel zone).

The Parking Zone contains street parking for vehicles. It may be appropriate for parking to be parallel or diagonal to the building frontages. In some cases, it may be appropriate to allocate space for drop-off zones or parklets, or remove street parking from one or both sides of the street.

The Pedestrian Amenity Zone contains landscaping (trees and planting) and street infrastructure such as lighting, parking meters, and utilities. In some cases, the Amenity Zone may also contain seating and art elements. This design of this zone must incorporate accessibility and shall not block access to bus stops, on- street parking, intersections and street crossings.

The Activity Zone provides space for activities such as outdoor dining in front of commercial uses and a landscaped buffer for ground floor residential uses. The Activity Zone must be designed to incorporate accessibility requirements.

The Pedestrian Sidewalk Zone is a contiguous uninterrupted pathway allowing flow of pedestrian movement and full accessibility along the sidewalk.

The pedestrian amenity zone, pedestrian sidewalk zone, and activity zone may be located within the right of way or within public property, dependent on property line location. In areas where the sidewalk width is constrained, buildings should be set back far enough from the street to accommodate these zones, and dedication of these zones may be offered to the County. Other aspects of building and site design should also relate to the street type and street zone configuration, such as upper floor setbacks, ground floor height and transparency, pedestrian and vehicular access, and open space design.

A-2 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

Appendix A
Street Zone Standards: Multimodal Corridor

F E D B
Multimodal Corridor Street Zone Standards Table
Vehicular Zone 11’-0” maximum width inside vehicle travel lanes and 12’-0” maximum width outside vehicle/bus travel lanes A
Bicycle Zone 6’-0” minimum width buffered or 8’-0” unbuff ered Class II bike lanes B Parking Zone
8’-0” maximum width when parking zone is pro
vided. Parking may be removed to
prioritize bicycle and transit infrastructure (left side of cross section illustration) or drop-off zones (right side of cross section illustration).

C
Pedestrian Amenity Zone 4’-0” minimum width, 5’-0”minimum width for transit shelter D Pedestrian Sidewalk Zone 5’-0” - 6’-0” clear pathway E
Activity Zone Varies; activity zones ar
e not always appropriate along multimodal corridors. F
Multimodal Corridors like Soquel Drive and Capitola Road prioritize transit, specifically bus rapid transit (BRT) and other long distance modes of travel. To encourage more people to walk, bike and take transit, new developments along multimodal corridors allow a wide variety of uses that are complimented with pedestrian and transit friendly design elements.

Multimodal Corridor Objective
A B C
E
Along Multimodal Corridors, high building intensity residential and commercial land uses are appropriate, including compact housing options, mixed-use development, and diverse employment opportunities to support more frequent and convenient transit service.

Land Use Considerations
Existing Multimodal Corridor right of ways in Santa Cruz County are not wide enough to accommodate pedestrian and activity zones. Therefore, regardless of minimum setback requirements for a given zone district, buildings should be set back far enough from property lines to accommodate pedestrian amenity, pedestrian sidewalk, and activity zones as appropriate, as shown in the cross section.

New buildings should be multiple stories. Ground floor spaces should contribute to activation of the streetscape. Building entries should be located along the corridor street frontage. Vehicular access should be via two-way driveways, designed at least 100 feet apart if possible to avoid interruptions to transit, bicycle, and pedestrian travel along the corridor. Vehicular access from side roads should be provided on corner lots.

Building and Site Design Considerations
Multimodal
Corridor Cross
Section
D
Property Line Property Line
County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ A-3

Active Connectors like Brommer Street prioritize walking, biking and transit. New infill developments allow a wide variety of uses that are complimented with safe, comfortable and dedicated pedestrian and bike facilities that provide critical first and last mile connections to transit, neighborhoods, and major destinations.

Street Zone Standards: Active Connector
Active Connector Objective
Active Connector Street Standards Table
Vehicular Zone 10-0” maximum width travel lanes (1 lane in each direction) A Bicycle Zone 6’-0” minimum width buffered or unbuff ered Class II bike lanes B Parking Zone Parking zone is not r ecommended for active connectors C Pedestrian Amenity Zone 4’-0”minimum width D
Pedestrian Sidewalk Zone 6’-0”minimum clear pathway E
Activity Zone Varies; activity zones ar e not required on Active Connectors F Active Connector
Cross Section

E D B A
B D E
FF
Property Line Property Line
Along Active Connectors where pedestrians and bicycles are prioritized, encourage land uses to facilitate neighborhood trips and “last mile” commutes. Diverse housing options, neighborhood commercial and personal services, and small office uses are appropriate, as well as community facilities such as schools, religious institutions and parks.

Land Use Considerations
Building and Site Design Considerations
Existing Active Connector right of ways in Santa Cruz County are generally wide enough to accommodate pedestrian zones but not activity zones. Within front yard setback areas, property owners may choose to provide private activity zones using design elements such as landscaping and porches, as illustrated in the right side of the cross section; or public activity zones using design elements such as bike racks and benches, as illustrated in the left side of the cross section.

New buildings should be multiple stories. Espectially at street corners, consider ground floor spaces that contribute to activation of the streetscape. Building entries should be located along the corridor street frontage. Vehicular access should be via two-way driveways, designed at least 100 feet apart if possible to avoid interruptions to transit, bicycle, and pedestrian travel along the corridor. Vehicular access from side roads should be provided on corner lots.

A-4 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

Appendix A
Main Streets like Portola Drive are pedestrian oriented destination streets. To encourage more people to walk, bike, shop and socialize, new developments allow a wide variety of uses with a strong emphasis of street-activating ground floor uses.

Street trees, landscaping and wide sidewalks with activity zones help strengthen the destination character.

Street Zone Standards: Main Street
Main Street Objective
Main Street
Cross Section
Street Standards Table
Vehicular Zone 10’-0” maximum width travel lanes A
Bicycle Zone 5’-0”minimum width Class II bike lanes B
P
arking Zone
8’-0” maximum width. Parking may be r
emoved to prioritize pedestrian amenities
such as drop-off zones, parklets (right side of cross section illustration), and food trucks (left side of cross section illustration).

C
Pedestrian Amenity Zone 4’-0”minimum width D
Pedestrian Sidewalk Zone 6’-0” - 10’-0” clear pathway E Activity Zone 10’-0” - 15’-0” width F

E D B A
B D E
FF
C
C
Property Line Property Line
Along Main Streets where pedestrians are prioritized, encourage ground floor retail, restaurant, and other “active” commercial land uses that serve to enliven pedestrian activity. Encourage infill mixed-use development to increase building intensity and support economic vitality of Main Street businesses.

Land Use Considerations
Building and Site Design Considerations
Existing Main Street right of ways in Santa Cruz County are generally not wide enough to accommodate the extra wide sidewalks required to support the pedestrian and activity zones that are important to the success of this street type.

Buildings should be set back from property lines to accommodate these zones as needed. In some cases, design elements such as second floor overhangs or arcade buildings (left side of cross section illustration) can serve to provide activity zone space within the building footprint.

New buildings should be multiple stories and ground floor spaces should have large window areas and entrances that activate of the streetscape. Vehicular access should be via two-way driveways, designed at least 100 feet apart if possible to avoid interruptions to transit, bicycle, and pedestrian travel along the corridor. Vehicular access from side roads should be provided on corner lots.

County of Santa Cruz \ DESIGN GUIDELINES \ A-5

Street Zone Standards: Local Residential Street
Local Residential
Street Cross Section
Local Residential Streets like Felt Street provide access to residential neighborhoods. These low-speed and low-traffic streets are shared by pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles and allow for a wide mix of residential developments including both single and multifamily development uses.

Objective
Street Standards Table
Vehicular Zone 10-0” maximum width travel lanes (1 lane in each direction) A Bicycle Zone Shared Class III bik eways B
Parking Zone 8’-0” maximum width C
Pedestrian Amenity Zone 2’-0”minimum width D
Pedestrian Sidewalk Zone 6’-0”minimum clear pathway E
Activity Zone 10’-0” minimum width for multifamily de velopments F E D A+B
D E
FF
C
C
Property LineProperty Line
Along Local Residential Streets, encourage a variety of single and multifamily residential development, including infill development that respects the surrounding neighborhood character.

Land Use Considerations
Building and Site Design Considerations
Typical existing Local Residential Street right of ways in Santa Cruz County are wide enough to accommodate vehicular and parking roadway zones and pedestrian amenity and sidewalk zones. Within front yard setback areas, property owners may choose to provide activity zones using design elements uch as landscaping and porches, as illustrated in the cross section. Activity zones should be provided for multifamily developments.

Vehicular access should be via one or two-way driveways. Street parking should also be provided to conveniently accommodate guests and deliveries.

A-6 / DESIGN GUIDELINES / County of Santa Cruz

Appendix B

B-1

APPENDIX B:

Design Principles for the Pleasure
Point Commercial Corridor

Contents
I. Introduction
⬧ How to Use This Appendix
II. Vision
III. Design Principles for the Private Realm
⬧ Overarching Private Realm Design Principles
⬧ Distinct Character Areas
⬧ Style and Character
⬧ Desirable Uses
⬧ On-Site Parking
⬧ Internal Circulation and Access
IV. Design Principles for the Public Realm
⬧ Green Street Features
⬧ Public Art

Appendix B

B-1

B Design Principles for the Pleasure Point
Commercial Corridor

I. INTRODUCTION

Bordered by the ocean to the south and Portola Drive
to the north, and located west of 41st Avenue,
Pleasure Point is a unique community with a strong
connection to the ocean and surf culture, outdoor
living, and with vibrant local businesses and eclectic
architecture. Seeing an increased interest in
developing the commercial area of Pleasure Point, in
2018 the County initiated a community planning
effort focused on the commercial corridor (Corridor)
along Portola Drive between 26 th Avenue and 41 st
Avenue, and including lower 41 st Avenue north of
Portola Drive to the border with Capitola (see map
below).

East Cliff Drive in Pleasure Point

The Pleasure Point Commercial and Mixed-Use corridor includes both Portola Drive and lower 41st Avenue, as shown in the figure above.

Appendix B

B-2

Working collaboratively with the community through
a series of public workshops, the county developed a
Planning Study (Study) with a vision and guiding
design principles for the Corridor. The Study can be
viewed here:
https://sccoplanning.com/PlanningHome/Sustainabil
ityPlanning/PleasurePointCommercialCorridor.aspx.

This Appendix incorporates the vision, private realm
design principles, and public realm design principles
from the Study that apply to private development .

Other p ublic realm design principles have been
incorporated into the Santa Cruz County General
Plan. Quantitative standards provided in the Study
have been codified in the Santa Cruz County Code as
special standards for commercially zoned sites in the
Pleasure Point commercial corridor.

This Appendix, along with General Plan policies and
County Code standards , ensures that future
development contributes to the community vision for
the Corridor as a vibrant, active, locally focused
community where people shop, dine, live, relax, and
interact, that is safe and convenient for all modes of
travel, with varied architectural styles, attainable
workforce housing, and interesting open spaces.

Lower 41st Avenue
The Study also included s treetscape concepts that
provided various options for reconfiguring the Portola
Drive streetscape and roadway . These concepts are
being further evaluated and will be considered in
future planning efforts.

HOW TO USE THIS APPENDIX

This Appendix appl ies to all new development and
redevelopment projects on parcels within the
Pleasure Point Commercial Corridor, as identified in
the County GISWeb (santacruzcounty.us). The Vision
(Part II of the Appendix) , Private Realm Design
Principles (Part III), and Public Realm Design Principles (Part IV) provide guidance for site planning and
building design, addressing design considerations
such architectural style and community character and
compatibility, active street frontages, transitions to
residential parcels , on -site parking, circulation and access, public art and green street features.

The Private Realm Design Principles in Part III of the
Appendix also identify distinct character areas within
the corridor and desired land uses within these areas
that should be considered w hen establishing new
uses in the corridor.

This Appendix is to be used in conjunction with the
Santa Cruz County General Plan, County Code, Design
Criteria, and Design Guidelines. As the Design
Principles for the Corridor address several aspects of
building and site design comprehensively, only the
following sections of the Santa Cruz County Design
Guidelines apply to development within the Corridor:
• Chapter 2, Overarching Design Guidelines
• Appendix A, Street Zone Standards
Where conflicts exist between the Design Principles
for the Corridor and the applicable sections of the
Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines, the Design
Principles for the Corridor will take precedence.

Appendix B

B-3

II. VISION
Identifying a shared vision for the future of the Pleasure Point Commercial Corridor was a key step in the community planning process. Each of the design principles are consistent with, and help implement, the Vision.

Vision Statement
This Vision Statement is key for describing how future public and private improvements shall meet community desires:
“Pleasure Point is a vibrant and eclectic place where people shop, dine, live, relax, and interact. A place where people can walk safely along wide and active sidewalks, ride bikes and skateboards on safe and comfortable bicycle lanes, drive cars and access transit on streets designed for all modes of transportation. A place characterized by buildings with varied architectural styles and sizes, compatible with local character, interesting open spaces, and with attainable workforce housing. Where parking is convenient but does not dominate the area. An active, locally‐focused social and commercial center where the neighborhoods on the north and south sides of Portola Drive meet.”

Pleasure Point Street Fair, Portola Avenue

Appendix B

B-4

III. PRIVATE REALM GUIDING DESIGN PRINCIPLES
The following guiding design principles apply to new and remodeled development projects on privately owned land in the study area. The “private realm” includes all uses located on private property, such as buildings, on‐site parking, plazas and landscaping. While each parcel has its own unique size, shape and design constraints, the following design principles apply to all new private development along the Pleasure Point Commercial and Mixed‐Use Corridor.

Purpose: To facilitate review and design of development projects so that each project contributes to the Vision for the area.

OVERARCHING PRIVATE REALM DESIGN PRINCIPLES

A. Support local economic vitality by encouraging a mix of businesses and uses that complement and support the surrounding residential neighborhoods, encouraging the inclusion of workforce housing, and discouraging new hotels.

B. Require quality architecture and materials that reflect the eclectic character of Pleasure Point. This includes supporting a variety of materials, colors and styles. However, large expanses of stucco on front and side facades are discouraged in the Pleasure Point community.

C. Encourage publicly-accessible plazas and landscaping to be incorporated into the site design of new development projects in order to improve aesthetics, create more shade, increase pedestrian activity and promote sustainability through the application of on‐site prefiltration of stormwater.

D. Require private parking to be located at the rear of parcels where feasible so it is not fronting Portola Drive. This will allow buildings to be closer to street and allow for a more active pedestrian environment.

Appendix B

B-5

E. Minimize the appearance of building height by locating taller portions of buildings in the center of parcels and requiring articulated frontages.

F. Require buildings in the Corridor to respect the existing height limit with no exceptions and minimize the appearance of height through setbacks, upper story step-backs and articulated frontages.

G. Encourage the transition of underutilized properties and auto-oriented properties on the north side of Portola Drive west of 36th Avenue to mixed-use and residential development, with zoning and development standards that support attainable housing (including smaller units suitable for seniors and singles).

H. Support the transition of underutilized parcels east of 36th Avenue to predominantly commercial uses, with some
residential units predominantly on the upper floors.

I. Encourage publicly accessible art on privately-owned parcels though the installation of murals, creatively designed bicycle racks and benches, and other decorative and functional art, especially within sites east of 36th Avenue.

Appendix B

B-6

DISTINCT CHARACTER AREAS
The Pleasure Point Commercial and Mixed‐Use Corridor has a range of different lot sizes and existing uses, and the character of the area changes as people move along the corridor. In order to implement the Vision Statement while also considering variations in lot sizes and uses, the corridor is divided into three portions as shown below.

Western Portion Middle Portion Eastern Portion

Western Portion (26th Avenue to 36th Avenue)
A residentially-oriented mixed‐use area with
some smaller‐ scale commercial uses. Ground
floor residential is encouraged to replace auto-
oriented uses to strengthen the residential
character. Retail and office uses can be located on
intermittent corners and other viable locations.

Middle Portion (36th Avenue to 38th Avenue)
A commercial mixed‐use area that builds on
existing local shops, restaurants, services and
other destinations. New mixed‐use projects are
possible with residential uses and ground floor
retail (some sites may be suited to horizontal
mixed-use with some ground floor residential).

There is a potential for micro‐retail and small‐
scale dining kiosks within existing parking lots.

West of 36th Avenue, the north side of Portola
Drive transitions to a residential mixed-use area.

Appendix B

B-7

Eastern Portion (38th Avenue to 41st Avenue)
A commercial mixed‐use area that builds on the
existing mix of retail, restaurant and other
commercial uses. New mixed‐use projects are
possible with residential uses on upper floors.

Continue the diversity of uses and architectural
character present on lower 41st Avenue.

Appendix B

B-8

STYLE AND CHARACTER
Intent: To protect and enhance the eclectic character of the Pleasure Point community by ensuring that future developments and improvements reflect the unique nature of the area.

1. Architecture. Require varied architectural styles and the use of natural materials that support the character of Pleasure Point. Discourage large expanses of stucco on front and side facades, corporate or franchise‐specific architecture, or other styles that do not reflect the Pleasure Point community.

2. Maximum Building Size. Encourage small or fine-grain buildings that provide space for small local “mom & pop” stores, cafes and restaurants. Prohibit individual tenant spaces larger than 20,000 square feet from locating in the corridor to support local businesses and discourage larger chain or “big box” stores.

3. Building Scale Character/Street Interface. Require new buildings to be of an appropriate scale for the corridor, with building articulation and/or upper story step- backs from public streets.

4. Massing. Locate shorter (one to two story) buildings closer to Portola Drive and any three-story elements towards the middle of a parcel or site to reduce the feel of building mass from the street.

5. Height. Respect the existing height limit for any new building along the corridor.

6. Setbacks. Ensure variable building setbacks:
a. Minimum: Enough distance from face of curb to allow for a 10‐foot sidewalk fronting Portola Drive and 6‐foot sidewalks on side streets. Encourage larger sidewalks fronting Portola Drive when located in front of restaurants, cafes or similar uses to encourage outdoor dining.
b. Maximum: 20 feet from the edge of the sidewalk to any new building with ground floor commercial, restaurant or office uses fronting Portola Drive, or 30 feet from the edge of the sidewalk for any new building with ground floor residential uses fronting Portola Drive or for outdoor cafes. Allow outdoor

Appendix B

B-9

seating/active patio areas within setbacks in front of commercial and restaurant uses. Building setbacks within the allowable range shall be appropriate for specific conditions, including building height, the proposed use, and allowances for landscaping.

7. Neighborhood Transitions. Ensure that commercial buildings along Portola Drive provide a minimum 30‐foot buffer between the building and the property line adjoining a residentially zoned parcel. Encourage landscaping, plazas, mini‐parks or parking in these buffer areas. Ensure new residential buildings along Portola Drive provide a minimum 20‐foot buffer between the back of the building and the property line facing existing residential parcels. An additional 5-foot setback from the property line shall apply to the third story of any commercial or residential building adjoining a residential lot.

8. Step-backs. Step back the third floor of all commercial and mixed‐use buildings an additional 10 feet from the first two floors along Portola Drive to break up building bulk and maintain the eclectic character of the corridor.

9. Articulated Frontages. Ensure that new buildings and projects include articulated frontages with alternating setbacks, building planes, and varied colors and materials to break up bulk and create more pedestrian interest.

10. Active Street Frontages. Encourage active street frontages, new alleys and active use of alleys along the corridor that incorporate features including outdoor seating, landscaping, and decorative and functional art such as decorative bike racks, fences, and murals. These areas should enhance the experience for pedestrians and bicyclists while encouraging people to linger and visit local businesses. They should also have varied and articulated front facades with extensive window glazing at the ground floor, to support an interesting and comfortable pedestrian streetscape.

11. Activated Corners. Encourage the repurposing of corners in existing large parking lots for more active uses, such as flower stands, micro-cafes, and public art, to assist in activating the corridor and neighborhood, while maintaining onsite parking requirements.

12. Plazas. Encourage new plazas along the corridor that have a blend of hardscape and natural landscaping to create areas of social gathering and interest.

13. Pop‐Up Events. Encourage temporary pop‐up events and joint use of private parking lots to activate them.

14. Mountain Views. Ensure that new or substantially remodeled projects on the north side of Portola Drive continue to provide views of the Santa Cruz mountains through the site from the sidewalk on the south side of Portola Drive. Corridor views may be acceptable.

Appendix B

B-10

DESIRABLE USES
Intent: To ensure the future economic vitality of the area by supporting local businesses and encouraging a mix of commercial, office, public/quasi-public, and residential uses that complement the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

1. Vertical Mixed‐Use. Encourage vertical mixed‐use projects where the ground floor includes commercial and/or restaurant uses, and upper floor(s) contain commercial, office or residential uses. Vertical mixed use is the preferred type within the eastern portion between 38th Avenue and 41st Avenue.

2. Horizontal Mixed‐Use. Encourage horizontal mixed‐use projects on larger parcels where a variety of uses can be in different buildings on the same site. When utilizing horizontal mixed‐use, orient commercial, restaurant and office uses closer to Portola Drive, and residential uses either set back from the street or located towards the sides, middle or rear of the project. Public/quasi-public uses such as community centers may also be incorporated.

3. Workforce Housing. Encourage new multi-family residential units consisting of attached housing developed at a density sufficient to support smaller dwellings, especially studios and one-bedroom units, that are more affordable by design to Santa Cruz residents and workers.

4. Hotels. Discourage new hotels within the corridor, which are less favored by the community.

Appendix B

B-11

ON-SITE PARKING
Intent: To avoid negative impacts on surrounding residential neighborhoods and existing businesses, new or substantially remodeled projects should provide adequate on‐site parking that is convenient for patrons and residents while also ensuring adequate space for enlivening uses on the street and convenient access for bicyclists and pedestrians.

1. Amount. New projects in the study area shall comply with parking standards in the Santa Cruz County Code.

2. Tandem Parking. Tandem parking is allowed for single and multi‐family uses in the Corridor.

3. Location. Encourage the efficient layout of on‐site parking to reduce the overall amount of parking coverage on the site and limit the number of unique ingress and egress points from the site to either Portola Drive or side streets.

4. Rear Parking. Require new developments to locate on‐site parking towards the rear of the site whenever feasible. Parking is allowed within setback and buffer areas when there are appropriate edge treatments to limit impacts on adjacent residential neighborhoods.

5. Stormwater Capture. Encourage the use of permeable pavers, bio‐swales and other methods in parking areas to capture onsite stormwater and pre‐treat it before it goes into the public storm drain system.

Appendix B
B-12

INTERNAL CIRCULATION AND ACCESS
Intent: To ensure new projects prevent circulation conflicts and enhance connectivity through improved site access, cross easements, enhanced safety and reduced delivery truck conflicts.

1. Driveways. Design driveways and alley access points to improve site access, enhance safety and reduce vehicle conflicts with all modes of travel. Encourage shared driveways.

2. Long Blocks. Provide safe and comfortable pedestrian paths along driveways and alleys to help “break up” larger blocks and allow for a more pedestrian scale along the corridor.

3. Cross Easement Coordination. Encourage property owners to create connections behind and between adjacent parcels by adding new easements, and to better coordinate existing easements to provide more alley access and site access through the back side or middle of larger blocks or sites. Encourage vehicular access between parcels to reduce on-street congestion. Specifically, when Assessor’s Parcel Number 032-041-68 is redeveloped, a
vehicular cross easement is desired to extend Avis Lane through the parcel to connect with 35th Avenue on the western boundary of the site.

4. Truck Delivery Coordination. Encourage businesses to schedule truck deliveries during off‐peak daylight hours (between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM) so trucks do not conflict with commute times or create unwanted nighttime noise impacts for surrounding neighborhoods. Encourage deliveries and pick-ups for Portola Drive businesses to occur
on Portola Drive rather than side streets.

Appendix B

B-13

IV. PUBLIC REALM GUIDING DESIGN PRINCIPLES

GREEN STREET FEATURES
Intent: To create and maintain an integrated green street system that allows for stormwater runoff capture and filtration as part of the overall streetscape design of Portola Drive.

1. Stormwater Planters. Install naturally drained, landscaped stormwater planters where possible, exploring the transition from piped to natural percolation and including these planters on sidewalks, medians, bulb‐outs, quasi‐public parks and plazas.

2. Integration with Private Development. Work with property and business owners to find creative ways to integrate private drainage/outflows with stormwater management systems located within the public realm.

3. Permeable Paving. Encourage the use of permeable paving materials or porous asphalt within the public realm along parking lanes.

4. Plant Selection. Use low‐maintenance native or drought‐tolerant plant species in streetscape landscaping to minimize water consumption and maintenance. Incorporate street trees that provide shade at regular intervals to improve the pedestrian experience and the scenic qualities of the corridor.

Appendix B

B-14

PUBLIC ART

Intent: To promote creativity and support the eclectic character of Pleasure Point through the placement of unique and functional public art.

1. Location. Display public art pieces at entry gateways, along Portola Drive, and on wide sidewalk spaces so they are highly visible and become iconic features for Pleasure Point.

2. Style. Create a cohesive series of art pieces either by theme, artist, style or materials and explore installation of artistically designed bicycle racks, trash receptacles, seating, lighting posts and utility boxes.

3. Local Artists. Explore opportunities for local artists to design, fabricate and install public art that reflects and promotes the surf and ocean culture of Pleasure Point.

4. Dual Purpose. Encourage art pieces that serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose, such as sculptural bicycle racks, trash receptacles, seating, lighting posts and utility boxes.

5. Character and Style. Encourage public art that reflects Pleasure Point’s unique history and culture.

Susan Wengraf
Vice Mayor and Councilmember District 6
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7160 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7166 E-Mail: [email protected]

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Vice Mayor Wengraf (Author), Councilmember Humbert (Co-Sponsor), Councilmember Taplin (Co-Sponsor), Councilmember Hahn (Co-Sponsor) Subject: Budget Referral: City of Berkeley Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day

RECOMMENDATION
Refer to the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 budget process a request for $7,000 annually to fund the City of Berkeley’s Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Program.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
A total of $14,000 over two years.

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
For the past 21 years, The City of Berkeley has sponsored a Holocaust Remembrance Day Program. Participation in this important annual program has exceeded expectation, with attendance at in-person events in excess of 200 people (room capacity). The pandemic-inspired virtual program has brought in between 300 and 750 viewers each of the last four years.

Councilmembers have always given generously to this program from their discretionary accounts. In 2018, with the goal of ensuring continuation of the only non-secular Holocaust Remembrance Day Program in the East Bay Area, Council approved a modest $6,000 expenditure from its General Fund Budget to support the Annual Program. City funding has since been approved each year a budget referral was brought forward.

This budget request is for a slightly increased amount of $7,000 each year for the next two years. These funds will be leveraged by volunteer labor and donations, guaranteeing the continuance of the City's program through 2026.

According to ADL data, antisemitic incidents have increased 360 percent in the United States in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel. It is critical that Berkeley’s Holocaust Remembrance Day Program continues annually. The history of the Holocaust needs to be remembered for the purpose of educating and keeping the memory alive for generations to come in order to safeguard the future.

Budget Referral: City of Berkeley Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Event CONSENT Calendar May 7, 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
In compliance with City’s environmental sustainability goals.

CONTACT PERSON
Vice Mayor Susan Wengraf Council District 6 510-981-7160

Susan Wengraf
Vice Mayor and Councilmember District 6
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7160● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7166 E-Mail: [email protected]

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Vice Mayor Wengraf (Author), Councilmember Hahn (Co-Sponsor) Subject: Budget Referral: Crossing Guard for Cragmont School

RECOMMENDATION
Refer to the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget Process an annual allocation of $22,000 to fund a Crossing Guard for Cragmont Elementary School at the intersection of Regal Rd. and Spruce Street.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Total of $44,000 for one Crossing Guard for two academic years: 2024-2025 & 2025- 2026. This is for a half-time position,10-months a year.

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
Cragmont Elementary School can be accessed on either side of the school. One side, on Marin Avenue, where traffic is dangerous and fast moving, crossing guards at Spruce Street and at Cragmont Avenue help students and parents cross safely. The other side, at Regal Road and Spruce Street remains problematic.

The Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Program conducted a School Safety Assessment of Cragmont Elementary in Fall 2022. Participants in the October 25, 2022 assessment included members of Safe Routes to Schools, Berkeley Public Works, BUSD, Cragmont Elementary staff and parents. Denise Turner, Safe Routes to School Program Manager, submitted the assessment report to Cragmont Principal Candy Cannon in September 2023.

Some of the problematic findings at the Regal Rd./Spruce St. intersection were as follows:

1. Southbound drivers on Spruce St. have a blind, downhill turn as they approach the crosswalk at Regal Rd.
a. Participants observed drivers crossing the double yellow centerline to pass stopped garbage and delivery trucks around this blind turn, with limited sightlines to the crosswalk across Spruce St.

Budget Referral: Crossing Guard for Cragmont School CONSENT CALENDAR May 7, 2024

b. The crosswalk across Spruce St. ends in a driveway on the western side of the street.

2. The large curb radii and width of the Regal Rd. approach allow for faster vehicle turns and make it easier to block crosswalks at the corners.

3. Crosswalk across Regal Rd. at Spruce St. is extremely long (65 feet) & without pedestrian protection.

4. Bicyclists traveling in both directions add to the symphony of modes of transportation pedestrians must navigate to cross safely.

Additionally, Berkeley’s Vision Zero Action Plan identifies Spruce St. and Marin Ave as High-Injury Streets for people walking and riding bikes.

Given the complexity of the traffic situation at this location, a crossing guard at this intersection would be a proactive step to ensuring safety for our children.

Ana Vasudeo, BUSD Board Member, strongly supports the position of a Crossing Guard at Spruce St. and Regal Rd. Sheila Collier, BUSD Transportation Manager, agrees that a Crossing Guard at Spruce and Regal would enhance safety for students and their families.

BACKGROUND
Situated in a dense residential neighborhood, adjacent to two of the City’s High Injury Streets (Marin Ave & Spruce St), the daily weekday process of finding legal parking and crossing a busy and dangerous intersection to and from school in the morning and again in the afternoon is nerve-racking for parents, caregivers and students. A Crossing Guard positioned at the intersection of Regal and Spruce would ease this strain and create safe passages to Cragmont Elementary.

Budget Referral: Crossing Guard for Cragmont School CONSENT CALENDAR May 7, 2024

Half-time Crossing Guard Pay Rate for 12 months:

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
Providing safe, enjoyable paths for young people to walk to their destination inspires a lifelong use of pedestrian modes of transportation.

CONTACT PERSON
Vice Mayor Susan Wengraf Council District 6 510-981-7160

Susan Wengraf
Vice Mayor and Councilmember District 6
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7160● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7166 E-Mail: [email protected]

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Vice Mayor Wengraf (Author), Councilmember Hahn (Co-Sponsor) Subject: Budget Referral: Equipment for Hybrid Commission Meetings

RECOMMENDATION
Refer to the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget Process an allocation of $110,000 for infrastructure costs to conduct hybrid city commission meetings.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
$110,000

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
One silver-lining of the COVID-19 pandemic was the utilization of virtual technology to conduct City Council Meetings. The Zoom format allowed Councilmembers to continue their work and the public to remain, or become, civically engaged at a time when in- person meetings could put them at risk. Four years later, Council Meetings remain in hybrid format because of the multitude of benefits, most especially, that residents can watch and participate from their homes. Councilmembers have also benefited, within the limits prescribed by the Brown Act. Hybrid meetings also reduce our carbon footprint. Cars that would likely bring the public to and from evening meetings can remain unused.

Berkeley residents would benefit from shifting the City’s 32 commission meetings to a Hybrid format as well. However, Ethernet ports and AV equipment must be purchased and installed at the 11 unique locations where Commissions meet, besides Council Chambers.

The City Clerk, in collaboration with the IT Department, has worked out the feasibility of the shift and the infrastructure costs:

Equipment Cost per Location Cost for All 11 Locations
Ethernet Port $1,500 $16,500
AV Equipment $8,400 $92,400
Total: $108,900

Budget Referral: Hybrid Equipment for Commission Meetings CONSENT CALENDAR May 7, 2024

If approved, this $110,000 budget referral will enable all of the City’s Commission Meetings to be conducted in hybrid format in FY 2025. Once the equipment has been purchased and installed, Commission Secretaries will be trained to use the equipment and to manage hybrid meetings.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
Hybrid meetings reduce the number of miles driven and reduce the spread of illness.

CONTACT PERSON
Vice Mayor Susan Wengraf Council District 6 510-981-7160 Attachments:
1: City of Berkeley Boards & Commissions Meeting Information (Location Legend)

Attachment 1: Boards & Commissions Meeting Information (Location Legend)

Susan Wengraf
Vice Mayor and Councilmember District 6

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Vice Mayor Wengraf (Author), Councilmember Taplin (Co-Sponsor), Councilmember Hahn (Co-Sponsor)
Subject: Budget Referral: $70,000 to Evaluate Pedestrian Safety and Implement Solutions on Euclid Avenue between Eunice Street and Bay View Place

RECOMMENDATION
Refer to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Process an allocation of $70,000 to Evaluate Pedestrian Safety and Implement solutions on the short stretch of Euclid Ave between Eunice Ave and Bay View Place, including the crossings at Eunice and between Codornices Park and the Jane Hammond Field and the Berkeley Rose Garden and west side of Euclid.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
$70,000

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
Tens of thousands of people visit Berkeley’s renowned Rose Garden and Codornices Park annually. The Rose Garden is a regional destination for visitors and a venue for weddings and prom photos as well as rose lovers. Codornices Park, across the street, is used by all ages for recreation including picnics, children’s play, basketball, softball and summer camps. The new tennis courts at the Rose Garden are in constant use.

This block is a hub of high activity and although the City has invested in improvements to the recreational facilities, no investment has been made to ensuring that pedestrians are safe as they use them.

In addition, the AC Transit bus runs along Euclid with a stop in each direction at the corner of Eunice Ave. Buses for private schools also use Euclid for pick up and drop off.

This narrow block of Euclid Ave between Eunice Ave and Bay View Place is 870 feet long and 36 feet wide, with cars parked on both sides of the street. Eager passengers, young and old, and drivers open car doors into oncoming traffic, causing cars to swerve into the oncoming lane and creating a very dangerous situation. Young children run across the street with limited sightlines of approaching vehicles. Drivers pay no attention to the crosswalks. Cars make turns onto Eunice without noticing pedestrians in the crosswalks. In the past nine months, three traffic calls have been reported to BPD about

[Title of Report] CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
this block: a pedestrian was hit and sent to the hospital, a close call with a vehicle failing to yield to a pedestrian, and reckless driving. Pro-active measures must be taken to ensure the safety of the children and adults who frequent this area.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
Safe access to public spaces, especially parks, is healthy for Berkeley residents, visitors and the environment.

CONTACT PERSON
Vice Mayor Wengraf Council District 6 510-981-7160

Susan Wengraf
Vice Mayor and Councilmember District 6
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7160● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7166 E-Mail: [email protected]

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Vice Mayor Wengraf (Author), Councilmember Hahn (Co-Sponsor) Subject: Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III – Advancing Pre-Design & Construction Activities for Berkeley’s Maudelle Shirek and Veterans Buildings

RECOMMENDATION
Refer to the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget Process an allocation of $300,000 for the Civic Center Plan Phase III.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
$300,000

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
The Civic Center Plan is a Strategic Plan Priority Project, advancing our goal to provide state-of-the-art, well-maintained infrastructure, amenities, and facilities. Our Veterans Memorial Building, and the Maudelle Shirek Building (“Old City Hall”) are not built to current seismic code and show signs of disrepair and deferred maintenance and are therefore underutilized. These beautiful, historical buildings in the center of our community will collapse unless we progress with the work of the Civic Center Vision Plan. Started in 2019, the Civic Center Vision Plan, which includes Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park (“Civic Center Park”) and the Veterans Memorial Building, and the Maudelle Shirek Building, is guided by the following Vision Statement:

Civic Center will be the heart of Berkeley’s community. Civic Center will be the prime space for civic life, culture, and the arts. It will reflect the city’s diverse identities, celebrate its history, and contribute to shaping its future. A place of shared resources and a platform for free expression accessible to all, Civic Center aims to manifest the city’s values, advance social justice, and demonstrate the power of true public space.

Phase I and Phase II of the Civic Center Vision Plan have been successfully completed.

Phase III: Advancing Pre-Design & Construction Activities needs funding in order to proceed. During this Phase, the tentative scope includes hiring a consultant team, with support of city staff, to a achieve the following outcomes for Berkeley’s Civic Center:

1. Existing Conditions Documentation - on the city-owned and occupied Civic Center buildings (Maudelle Shirek and Veterans): topographic survey, Building

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III CONSENT CALENDAR May 7, 2024

Information Models (BIM) including, if desired, 3-D modeling, hazardous materials study, utility assessments, building system assessments. Explore the possibility of moving the Council Chambers back to the Maudelle Shirek building when construction is completed. Explore and consider constructing and attaching a new structure to the back of the Shirek building in order to retrofit the original landmark, as recommended in one the earthquake studies. This could include a new Council Chamber (and possibly additional office space if new space is identified as a need.).

2. Tenant Identification - in close collaboration with all city departments Phase III of the Civic Center project will further identify and refine who the future tenants of the structures will be, with a focus on the Maudelle Shirek Building as the Veterans building has been identified already for arts and cultural uses, in the Phase II Design Concept Plan. This effort will utilize and/or update the City's existing space needs study (if available), and generate a companion inventory of city-owned space along with any existing conditions documentation as needed to develop a design concept for the Courthouse building (city owned, leased to Alameda County until potentially 2057, if the County uses all of their extension options) that integrates it into the larger Civic Center Design Concept given its prime location at 2120 MLK Jr Way in between the Public Safety and Maudelle Shirek Buildings. The Building Inventory should include all City owned and leased space, including rental costs and insurance costs of leased space and termination dates for existing leases.

As a refresher, the Maudelle Shirek Building (“Old City Hall”), located at 2134 MLK Jr.

Way project is a remodel and rehabilitation of an approximately 27,500 square foot structure and a 15,000 square foot addition for new council chambers and meeting space, resulting in a 42,500 square foot building providing city meeting spaces, hearing rooms, and office spaces for mission-aligned non-profit organizations. Construction costs are assumed at $68,860,000. The Veterans Memorial Building project is a remodel and rehabilitation of an approximately 28,000 square foot structure and a 6,000 square foot addition, resulting in a 34,000 square Community Arts Center, providing performance, teaching, exhibit and practice spaces accessible to all members of the community. Construction costs are assumed at $40,590,000.

BACKGROUND
Council approved Berkeley’s Civic Center Vision and Implementation Plan (Phase I) on September 22, 2020 and approved the Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept (Phase II) on July 25, 2023 (Attachments 1&2). Phase III is awaiting funding. Project details and reports to date can be accessed online at the Civic Center Vision Plan webpage. A summary of the approved Civic Center vision-aligned design concept is also included as Attachment 3. The resolution approving the design concept in July 2023, highlights the “highest priority of the Council is the seismic retrofit and best use of the historic buildings…in the approved plan.”

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III CONSENT CALENDAR May 7, 2024

Costs and funding mechanisms for the Civic Center Plan are as follows:

Phase I: Vision Plan – $350,000, funded from T-1 Bond Measure, Adopted September 2020.

Phase II: Design Concept - $200,000, funded via a General Fund budget referral approved in the City Council’s adoption of the FY 2022 Budget, Adopted July 2023.

Phase III: Advancing Pre-Design and Construction Activities - $300,000  REQUEST funding via a General Fund budget referral to the City Council’s FY 2025-2026 Budget Process
A funded Phase III for Civic Center would allow for the city to embark upon the start of the design and construcion phase which would take the project from the design concept included in the 2023 Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept Plan through construction.

The project design team would include an architect, civil engineer, landscape architect, mechnical engineering plumbing (MEP) engineers, required specialty consultants, and cost estimator. In addition, the City will need to provide overall project management, procure existing conditions documentation, complete an environmental review and permitting process, and manage the construction bid. A fufilled $300,000 request would allow for the first part of this phase by completing the following elements:

1. Pre-Design Existing Conditions Documentation – these pre-design drawing and documents would be completed for the city-owned and occupied Civic Center buildings (Maudelle Shirek and Veterans) and could include topographic survey, Building Information Models (BIM) including, if desired, 3-D modeling, hazardous materials study, utility assessments, and building system assessments.

2. Identify Building Tenants – this effort would identify which City Departments are best suited to move into a retrofitted and rehabbed Maudelle Shirek Building and which additional community-serving agencies should also occupy the space.

Similar defining will take place with arts agencies and community organizations that are to become tenants of the Veterans Memorial Building. The results will inform subsequent Pre-Design steps for each building. This effort will rely on the generation of two reports; a space needs assessment which identifies the city departments’ space needs for staff and operations, including growth projections, and a city-owned space inventory that catalogues the current City-owned buildings and spaces, their size, use, and general condition. The Space Inventory (or space / building audit) task would yield a map and list of all city properties, including use, area, size, and condition of the building at 2120 MLK Jr. Way that is currently leased to Alameda County for county court related uses and sits between the city’s Public Safety Building and the Maudelle Shirek Building.

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III CONSENT CALENDAR May 7, 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
Funding Phase III of the Civic Center Plan supports rehabilitation of existing city owned buildings. Rehabilitation is in alignment with the City’s Environmental Sustainability Goals.

CONTACT PERSON
Vice Mayor Susan Wengraf Council District 6 510-981-7160 Attachments:
1: Resolution No. 69,579-N.S. Approving Berkeley’s Civic Center Vision and Implementation Plan (Phase I)
2: Resolution No. 70,964-N.S. Approving Berkeley’s Vision-Aligned Civic Center Design Concept (Phase II).
3: Presentation to Council on July 25, 2023: Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept (Phase II)

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7160● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7166 E-Mail: [email protected]
Attachment 1: Resolution No. 69,579-N.S. Approving Berkeley’s Civic Center Vision and Implementation Plan, September 2020

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Attachment 2: Resolution N.S. 70,946, Approving Berkeley’s Vision-Aligned Civic Center Design Concept, July 2023

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Attachment 3: Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept, Presentation to City Council, July 25, 2023.

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Budget Referral: Civic Center Plan Phase III

CONSENT CALENDAR
May 7, 2024

Office of the City Manager
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7000 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: https://berkeleyca.gov/

ACTION CALENDAR
May 7, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Dee Williams-Ridley, City Manager
Submitted by: Jordan Klein, Director, Planning and Development Department Subject: Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes, including Local Amendments to the 2022 California Building Standards Code

RECOMMENDATION

1. Adopt first reading of an Ordinance repealing and reenacting the Berkeley Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, and Green Building Standards Codes in BMC Chapters 19.28, 19.29, 19.30, 19.32, 19.34,

19.36 and 19.37, and adopting related procedural and stricter provisions; and

2. Adopt a Resolution setting forth findings of local conditions that justify more stringent regulations than those provided by the 2022 California Building Standards Code Supplements, and rescinding Resolution No. 70,585-N.S.

SUMMARY
The proposed legislation would incorporate updates to California’s Building Standards Code (known as “Mid-Cycle Supplements”) effective July 1, 2024, while preserving certain more stringent local amendments Berkeley has previously adopted. Proposed actions include:
 Retain Berkeley’s more stringent, previously adopted requirements for Wildland- Urban Interface area, repairs to existing buildings, structural standards, Exterior Elevated Elements (E3) technical amendments, Emergency Housing and various appendices supporting sustainable construction such as Light Straw-Clay Construction.
 Retain previously adopted local amendments to the 2022 California Plumbing Code to require installation of motion activated gas shut-off valves in new construction, and alterations or additions to existing buildings containing fuel gas piping.

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

 Adopt modified amendments to the 2022 California Green Buildings Standards Code (CALGreen) to retain Berkeley’s more stringent electric vehicle charging requirements in all building types; and
 Introduce new amendments to the 2022 California Green Buildings Standards Code (CALGreen) to require Zero NOX Buildings for newly constructed buildings.

The State updates its Building Standards Code every three years. Cities may adopt the State codes as written, or they may adopt those codes with local amendments, if justified by their specific local climatic, geological or topographical conditions. The City of Berkeley most recently adopted the State code with its local amendments in November 2022.

Additionally, the State publishes intervening code amendments known as the “Mid- Cycle Supplements” 18 months after the triennial code publication. The State codes with Mid-Cycle Supplements will automatically become effective July 1, 2024 as published unless the City adopts its local amendments and makes findings to that effect. Since the State’s proposed Mid-Cycle Supplements impact several important Berkeley priorities, the proposed Ordinance would retain the previously adopted amendments, and would introduce other new and modified amendments.

FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
The California Green Building Standards Code Supplement (CALGreen) with City amendments will increase plan check and inspection workload due to increased EV requirements, the deconstruction and reuse of existing non-residential structure provisions and the Zero NOX Building standard. Those costs would be covered by fees paid by applicants. There are no other new fiscal impacts from the adoption of updated State codes and local amendments.

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
The current three-year code cycle is effective through December 31, 2025. The State’s Mid-Cycle Supplements will supersede and conflict with the City’s previously adopted local amendments adopted under Ordinance 7891-N.S., unless Berkeley re-adopts them. The local amendments proposed with this Ordinance include the previously adopted amendments, and introduce new or modified amendments to the 2022 Building Code, Residential Code and Green Building Code. If adopted, the new Ordinance would also ensure that the City amendments to the Mechanical and Plumbing Codes are retained. Under state law, local jurisdictions may adopt other administrative provisions appropriate to the locality, and may adopt stricter code provisions, if justified by findings of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions.

The proposed Ordinance supports City Council directives and policies including fire and life safety, resilience, and climate protection, and is supported by the Resolution

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

adopting findings of local conditions. The Ordinance also provides for the adoption of the referenced California Building Standards Codes including local amendments, before the California Building Standards Code Mid-Cycle Supplements automatically become effective July 1, 2024. The last day to file for a building permit to be reviewed under the current Berkeley Building Code Title 19 will be Friday, June 28, 2024. Staff will inform future applicants and other community members that all permit applications submitted on or before June 28, 2024, will be reviewed under the current Berkeley Building Codes.

Outreach will include notifications on the City’s website, announcements on the online Permit Service Center webpage, notification flyers distributed at the Permit Service Center, and email notifications.

Codes recommended for adoption are the Berkeley Building Code (Chapter 19.28), which also includes the Historical Building Code and the Existing Building Code, the Berkeley Residential Code (Chapter 19.29), the Berkeley Electrical Code (Chapter

19.30), the Berkeley Mechanical Code (Chapter 19.32), the Berkeley Plumbing Code (Chapter 34), the Berkeley Energy Code (Chapter 19.36) and the Berkeley Green Code (Chapter 19.37). In all cases, the changes are designed to provide enhanced protection of public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures.

Berkeley Building Code (Chapter 19.28)
The 2022 California Building Code adopted in BMC Chapter 19.28 included numerous model code changes impacting use and occupancies, allowable building heights and areas, fire protection features, means of egress, structural modifications, etc. Of major importance were the introduction of three additional construction types for larger and taller mass timber buildings, new provisions for small and large family care facilities in apartment buildings, and the introduction of the minimum safety requirements for shipping containers when repurposed for use as buildings and structures. The revisions in the Mid-Cycle Supplements with incorporated local amendments include changes to the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) terminology and WUI roofing requirements. Other state revisions that do not impact local amendments include modified definitions, clarifications and minor changes to the occupancy classifications, accessible parking requirements, etc. All other local amendments will be readopted.

Berkeley Residential Code (Chapter 19.29)
The 2022 California Residential Code adopted in BMC Chapter 19.29 included numerous model code changes further refining prescriptive provisions for the construction of dwellings. Of major importance were the updated local climatic criteria required for designing structural, heating and cooling systems for buildings, introduction of the minimum safety requirements for shipping containers when repurposed for use as residential or accessory buildings and structures, and Appendix AU Cob Construction, which provides requirements for clay, sand and straw to be used as the primary building material. The revisions in the Mid-Cycle Supplements with incorporated local amendments include changes to the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) terminology and

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

WUI roofing requirements. Other state revisions that do not impact Berkeley amendments include clarification on the emergency escape and rescue openings, ESS energy rating limits, structural anchorage changes, and roof covering limits that trigger full reroof. All other local amendments will be readopted.

Berkeley Electrical Code (Chapter 19.30)
The 2022 California Electrical Code initially adopted in BMC Chapter 19.30 will be readopted without local amendments.

Berkeley Mechanical Code (Chapter 19.32)
The 2022 California Mechanical Code adopted in BMC Chapter 19.32 incorporated the prior local amendment to require installation of residential kitchen range hoods with a minimum air flow of 100 cfm and maximum sound rating not exceeding 3 sones over residential stoves and cooktops. This local amendment will be readopted.

Berkeley Plumbing Code (Chapter 19.34)
The 2022 California Plumbing Code, adopted in BMC Chapter 19.34, incorporated the prior local amendment in response to a referral from the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission, adopted by the City Council on June 1, 2021. This amendment requires mandatory installation of motion activated gas shut off valves whenever a plumbing or mechanical permit is issued for buildings containing fuel gas piping, regardless of permit valuation. This amendment is intended to reduce or prevent serious gas-related fires or explosions in the event of a major seismic event. This local amendment will be readopted.

Berkeley Energy Code (Chapter 19.36)
The 2022 California Energy Code initially adopted in BMC Chapter 19.36 will be adopted with State Mid-Cycle Supplement without local amendments.

Berkeley Green Code (Chapter 19.37)
The 2022 California Green Building Standards Code adopted in BMC Chapter 19.37 included model code changes primarily concentrated on electric vehicle (EV) charging readiness, including charging provisions for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. In the Mid-Cycle Supplement, the EV charging infrastructure requirements for new construction have quantitatively increased, but are still less restrictive than Berkeley’s local requirements and exceptions as adopted in Ordinance 7891-N.S. All of the previously adopted more restrictive local amendments will be retained for EV charging infrastructure, for low-carbon concrete, and for increased construction and demolition (C&D) waste diversion. The State’s Mid-Cycle Supplement includes new code provisions for deconstruction and reuse of existing non-residential structures.

In addition, a new local amendment is proposed to require all newly constructed buildings of all covered types to meet the definition of a Zero NOX Emission Building.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) are defined as the sum of nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

dioxide (NO2), collectively expressed as NOX. NOX is a harmful air pollutant; short-term exposure can aggravate asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and exposure can lead to hospital admissions and emergency room visits.1 Long term exposure can cause asthma.2 Further, NOX contributes to acid rain and is one of the building-blocks of ozone, an air pollutant, a greenhouse gas, and a major component of smog.3 A Zero NOX Emission Building is defined as a newly constructed building that exclusively uses Zero NOX Emission Appliances. This new provision sets a higher standard for health and environmental protection of new building occupants by improving air quality. This is consistent with the published purpose of the California Green Building Standards Code “to improve the health, safety and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of concepts having a reduced negative impact.”
The City of Berkeley proposed Zero NOX Emission Building amendment to CALGreen builds upon the first such local ordinance, from the City of Los Altos Hills, by requiring Zero NOX Emission Buildings for new nonresidential occupancies, and requiring Zero NOX cooking equipment. Current non-electric ovens and ranges constitute the greatest risk to building occupants, because of the intermixing of unvented NOX emissions with respiration air. This proposed Berkeley local amendment would become effective in advance of the first Zero NOX appliance regulation provision of Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 9 Rule 4, which becomes effective Jan 1, 2027 for tanked water heaters <75kBtu.4
This CALGreen amendment addresses immediate health concern for Berkeley residents of growing importance. BAAQMD notes that: “In 2019, emissions from residential natural gas combustion accounted for roughly the same amount of NOX emissions as passenger vehicles.”5 However, shifts in remote work practices since 2019 have likely increased that percentage, due to increased work hours from home and also reduced work commutes. BAAQMD further notes that: “Through the reduction of NOX and particulate matter emissions, the proposed amendments are projected annually to prevent up to 85 premature deaths and save up to $890 million in health impacts.”6 In summary, the proposed amendment for Zero NOX Emission Buildings leads the critical path to a built environment consistent with current understanding of human disease prevention and environmental health. 1 https://www.epa.gov/no2-pollution/basic-information-about-no2 2 ibid
3 https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/mediakits/ozone/facts.pdf 4 FAQ-Appliance Rules_rev_ 12-18-23 (baaqmd.gov)
5 ibid
6 ibid

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

The readopted local amendments would require increased EV charging readiness and installation in new buildings, to help facilitate EV adoption in keeping with Berkeley’s Electric Mobility Roadmap. Specifically, where parking spaces are provided, the retained EV amendments require:
 Single-family homes, duplexes, and townhouses must have at least one parking space equipped with a listed raceway, wiring, and power to support a future Level 2 EV charging station. By contrast, the State’s “Mid-Cycle Supplement” requires only a raceway and panel space.
 Multifamily and Hotel/Motel buildings designed with parking lifts must provide the code-required EV charging infrastructure elsewhere within the parcel.  Nonresidential buildings must have at least 20% of spaces as EV capable to support future Level 2 EV charging stations, and at least 10% of spaces with EV charging stations installed. By contrast, the State model code requires 20% EV capable spaces, 25% of which will be EV charging stations or EVCS.

The combination of requiring EV charging stations and EV charging readiness in all new multifamily, nonresidential, and hotel/motel buildings will reduce the long-term costs of EV infrastructure installation by eliminating future required retrofits, will help increase EV adoption and ultimately help decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation.

These proposed amendments to the Berkeley Green Code were shared with the Environment and Climate Commission (ECC) on April 24, 2024.

Previous Local Amendments to Re-adopt
Previous local amendments, with some revisions and updates in code language and code sections, that are recommended for continuance in the reenacted Berkeley Building Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement (BMC Chapter 19.28) include:
 Article 1. Scope and Administrative Provisions – local amendments concerning permits, applications, fees, undocumented units, appeals, violations, unsafe buildings, and safety assessment placards.
 Article 2. Restrictions in Fire Zones – adding additional local requirements applicable to additions, alterations, repairs and re-roofs, and enacting fire protection areas not covered by the state-mandated areas.  Article 3. Wood Burning Appliances – local amendment reducing the health risks caused by wood smoke based upon Berkeley’s climatic conditions.  Article 4. Projection into Public Right of Way – an administrative amendment concerning revocation, removal and indemnification regarding construction in the

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

Right of Way.
 Article 5. Existing Buildings – adopting 2022 California Existing Building Code and certain chapters of the 2021 International Existing Building Code to reduce the risk from earthquakes.
 Article 6. Repairs to Existing Buildings and Structures – establishing updated regulations for the repairs of damaged structures to comply with the Stafford Act, which authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund the repair and restoration of eligible facilities damaged in a declared disaster, and requires that the repair and restoration be "on the basis of the design of such facility as it existed immediately prior to the major disaster and in conformity with current applicable codes, specifications and standards.”  Article 7. Amendments to Structural Standards – addressing Berkeley’s close proximity to major earthquake faults. The Berkeley Building Official has participated in meetings of the Tri-chapter Uniform Code Committee (TUCC), which is part of the International Code Council East Bay Chapter. The TUCC recommended several structural amendments to the 2022 California Building and Residential Codes, which are included in the proposed local amendments for Berkeley.
 Article 8. Construction of Exterior Appurtenances – establishing more stringent construction standards for exterior elevated elements and continuing the amendments adopted in July 2015 following the balcony collapse at 2020 Kittredge Street.
 Article 9. Emergency Housing Appendix P (formally Appendix O) – establishing local amendments reflecting the particular characteristics and needs of Berkeley’s emergency shelter responses.

Previous local amendments, with some revisions and updates in code language and code sections, that are recommended for continuance in the reenacted Berkeley Residential Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement (BMC Chapter 19.29) include:
 Appendix AH for Patio Covers which relaxes certain provisions contained in the body of the code as related to patio covers, including permitted uses; exterior wall insect screens; glazing and translucent or transparent plastic; light, ventilation and emergency egress.
 Appendix AQ for tiny homes used as dwelling units, relaxing various code requirements as they apply to smaller homes in response to the California housing crisis.
 Appendices AR, AS and AU for light straw-clay, strawbale and COB construction respectively in support of sustainable construction practices which reduce environmental impact and provide increased thermal efficiencies.  Appendix AX for Swimming Pool Safety Act that contain mandatory provisions to

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

comply with State Law.
 Section 19.29.050 Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildlife Exposure – adding additional local requirements applicable to additions, alterations, repairs and re-roofs, and enacting fire protection areas not covered by the state-mandated areas.
 Section 19.29.060 Technical Amendments to Structural Standards – addressing Berkeley’s close proximity to major earthquake faults.

Previous local amendments, with some revisions in code language and code sections, that are recommended for continuance in the reenacted Berkeley Green Code with Mid- Cycle Amendments (BMC Chapter 19.37) include:
 Section 19.37.040 Requirements increased EV charging readiness and installation in new buildings.
 Section 19.37.040 Construction and Demolition debris amendments to require that 100% asphalt, concrete, excavated soil and land-clearing debris be diverted from disposal by recycling, reuse, and salvage, in addition to the general 65% diversion requirement.
 Section 19.37.040 Low-carbon concrete requirement, which requires that cement used in concrete mix design be reduced by not less than 25 percent.

The proposed Ordinance, with the local amendments, supports the City’s Strategic Plan Goals to create a resilient, safe, connected, and prepared city, and to be a global leader in addressing climate change, advancing environmental justice, and protecting the environment. The proposed actions also support emergency housing provisions to assist in the declared homeless shelter crisis.

BACKGROUND
The Council last adopted the California Building Standards Code with local amendments in November 2022, which became effective on January 1, 2023. That adoption was supported by and consistent with the goals and feedback received from the Environment and Climate Commission and the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission, and other interested stakeholders.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS
Adoption of the 2022 Berkeley Building Codes with Mid-cycle Supplements including the Berkeley local amendments is important to meet Berkeley’s Climate Action Plan, Zero Waste, and Fossil Fuel Free Berkeley goals. The Berkeley Green Code supports the goals of these three initiatives by:

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

1) Providing expanded EV charging facilitates electric mobility and supports the diminished greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation, currently about 60% of Berkeley’s total emissions.
2) Providing for Zero NOX Emission Buildings which limit the human health, environmental, and climate impacts of emissions associated with building occupancy. 3) Addressing the growing concern that the use of concrete, a common building product contributes to an estimated 8% of global carbon emissions. Low-carbon concrete requirements will limit the greenhouse gas emissions associated with building construction.
4) Increasing diversion requirements for construction and demolition materials keeps waste out of landfills.

RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
Local building standard codes must be adopted by the City every three years or State Model Codes will go into effect without local amendments. Since the State’s Mid-Cycle Supplements conflict with adopted local amendments, re-adoption of local amendments and findings is needed to preserve previously adopted policies designed for Berkeley’s local conditions. Such local policies provide a higher level of safety than would be achieved through the State’s Model Codes. Fire risk, seismic danger, and other local conditions, as described in detail in the attached Resolution, justify adoption of Berkeley code amendments that are stricter than the California Building Standards Code.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED
Staff considered establishing an exception to the proposed Zero NOX amendment for commercial cooking appliances. However, due to known health risks to kitchen staff, the negative impacts to the environment, and the increased availability of Zero NOx cooking equipment, this exception was not included in staff’s recommendation.

Staff considered establishing a Single Margin Source Energy Code amendment as an alternative to the Zero NOX CALGreen amendment. This alternative would allow projects to include NOX emitting equipment if they also included increased building energy efficiency measures to offset the environmental impacts. This alternative would require approval by the State Energy Commission before the City could enforce the amendment and therefore could not become by effective July 5, 2024.

City Council could also adopt the California Buildings Standards Code with Mid-Cycle Supplements with fewer, or no, local amendments; or take no action, and let the state mandated codes take effect without local amendments specifically adopted by the City of Berkeley.

CONTACT PERSON

Re-Adoption of the Berkeley Building Codes ACTION CALENDAR May 7, 2024

David Lopez, Chief Building Official, Building and Safety Division, Planning and Development Department, 510-981-7441
Kurt Hurley, Green Building Program Manager, Building and Safety Division, Planning and Development Department, 510-981-7501
Sarah Moore, Interim Manager, Office of Energy and Sustainable Development, Planning and Development Department, 510-981-7494
Attachments:
1: Code Adoption Ordinance
2: Resolution Adopting Findings of Local Conditions

ORDINANCE NO. –N.S.

REPEALING AND REENACTING BERKELEY MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTERS 19.28 (BERKELEY BUILDING CODE), 19.29 (BERKELEY RESIDENTIAL CODE), 19.30 (BERKELEY ELECTRICAL CODE), 19.32 (BERKELEY MECHANICAL CODE), 19.34 (BERKELEY PLUMBING CODE), 19.36 (BERKELEY ENERGY CODE), AND 19.37 (BERKELEY GREEN CODE)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Berkeley as follows:

Section 1. That Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 19.28 is hereby repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

Chapter 19.28
BERKELEY BUILDING CODE*
Sections:

19.28.010 Adoption of the California Building Code
Article 1. Scope and Administrative Provisions

19.28.020 Adoption of Chapter 1 Scope and Administration Article 2. Restrictions in Fire Zones

19.28.030 Chapter 7A Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildlife Exposure
Article 3. Wood Burning Appliances

19.28.040 Wood Burning Appliances
Article 4. Projection into Public Right of Way

19.28.050 Encroachment into the Public Right of Way - Revocation and Removal Indemnification and Hold Harmless
Article 5. Existing Buildings

19.28.060 Adoption of 2022 California Existing Building Code with Mid- Cycle Supplement and certain Chapters of the 2021 International Existing Building Code by Reference
Article 6. Repairs to Existing Buildings and Structures

19.28.070 Adoption of Regulations for the Repairs of Existing Structures Article 7. Amendments to Structural Standards

19.28.080 Technical Amendments to Structural Standards
Article 8. Construction of Exterior Appurtenances

19.28.090 Technical Amendments for Construction of Exterior Projecting Elements and Appurtenances
Article 9. Emergency Housing

19.28.100 Emergency Housing and Emergency Housing Facilities Notes:
* See Chapter 1.24 for abatement of nuisances by City.

19.28.010 Adoption of the California Building Code.

A. The California Building Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, 2022 edition, as adopted in Title 24 Part 2 of the California Code of Regulations, including Appendices I, J and P, is hereby adopted and made a part of this Chapter as though fully set forth herein, subject to the modifications thereto which are set forth in this Chapter. One copy of this Code is on file in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Berkeley.

B. The California Historical Building Code, 2022 edition, as adopted in Title 24 Part 8 of the California Code of Regulations, is hereby adopted and made a part of this Chapter as though fully set forth herein, subject to the modifications thereto which are set forth in this Chapter. One copy of this Code is on file in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Berkeley.

C. The California Existing Building Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, 2022 edition, as adopted in Title 24 Part 10 of the California Code of Regulations, including Appendix A, is hereby adopted and made a part of this Chapter as though fully set forth herein, subject to the modifications thereto which are set forth in this Chapter. One copy of this Code is on file in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Berkeley.

D. This Chapter shall be known as the "Berkeley Building Code" and shall be referred to in this Chapter as "this Code."
E. This Chapter will become effective on July 5, 2024, and shall not apply to any building permit submitted by June 30, 2024.

Article 1. Scope and Administrative Provisions

19.28.020 Adoption of Chapter 1 Scope and Administration Chapter 1 of the 2022 California Building Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement is adopted in its entirety subject to the modifications thereto which are set forth below.

CHAPTER 1 SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
SECTION 101 – GENERAL
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Berkeley Building Code, hereinafter referred to as “this Code”.
101.4 Referenced codes. The other codes specified in Sections 101.4.1 through 101.4.9, and referenced elsewhere in this Code, shall be considered part of the requirements of this Code to the extent prescribed in each such reference.

101.4.1 Gas. The provisions of the Berkeley Mechanical Code, based on the 2022 California Mechanical Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, and the Berkeley Plumbing Code, based on the 2022 California Plumbing Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, as amended herein, shall apply to the installation of gas piping from the point of delivery, gas appliances and related accessories as covered in this Code. These requirements apply to gas piping systems extending from the point of delivery to the inlet connections of appliances and the installation and operation of residential and commercial gas appliances and related accessories. 101.4.2 Mechanical. The provisions of the Berkeley Mechanical Code, based on the 2022 California Mechanical Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, as amended herein, shall apply to the installation, alterations, repairs and replacement of mechanical systems, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and/or appurtenances, including ventilating, heating, cooling, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, incinerators and other energy-related systems. 101.4.3 Plumbing. The provisions of the Berkeley Plumbing Code, based on the 2022 California Plumbing Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, as amended herein, shall apply to the installation, alteration, repair and replacement of plumbing systems, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances, and where connected to a water or sewage system and all aspects of a medical gas system. The provisions of the Berkeley Plumbing Code shall apply to private sewage disposal systems.
101.4.4 Residential property maintenance. The provisions of the Berkeley Housing Code, as adopted in Chapter 19.40, shall apply to existing residential buildings and premises; equipment and facilities; light, ventilation, space heating, sanitation, life and fire safety hazards; responsibilities of owners, operators and occupants; and occupancy of existing premises and structures.

Notwithstanding any provisions contrary in this Chapter, any building or portion thereof constructed in compliance with the Berkeley Building Code shall not be deemed to be in violation of the Housing Code provisions that may conflict. 101.4.5 Fire prevention. The provisions of the Berkeley Fire Code based on the 2022 California Fire Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, as adopted in Chapter

19.48, shall apply to matters affecting or relating to structures, processes and premises from the hazard of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling or use of structures, materials or devices; from conditions hazardous to life, property or public welfare in the occupancy of structures or premises; and from the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire suppression and alarm systems or fire hazards in the structure or on the premises from occupancy or operation.
101.4.6 Energy. The provisions of the Berkeley Energy Code, based on the 2022 California Energy Code with Mid-Cycle Supplement, as amended herein, shall