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33 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ZONING CODE AMENDMENT, P2024-0310-ZCA, AMENDING CULVER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE (CCMC), TITLE 17 – ZONING CODE, TO SECTION S 17.210.020 – RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, 17.220.03 0 – SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT , AND 17. 300.010 – APPLICABILITY, TO
INCORPORATE CITYWIDE RESIDENTIAL AND MIXED USE OBJECTIVE
DESIGN STANDARDS BY REFERENC E AND RECONCIL E THESE WITH
EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AND MIXED USE STANDARDS , AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT “A” ATTACHED HERETO
(Zoning Code Amendment, P2024-0310-ZCA)
WHEREAS, the State of California has adopted numerous bills, including, but not limited to, Senate Bill 167 ("SB 167"), Senate Bill 35 ("SB 35"), Senate Bill 330 ("SB 330") and Assembly Bill 2162 ("AB 2162"), which limit or restrict discretionary review of certain qualifying residential projects; and
WHEREAS, State housing law continues to evolve, and multi -family affordable housing projects meeting certain criteria are required to be ministerially approved; and WHEREAS, cities are permitted to apply only "objective design standards," which are intended to provide clear, quantifiable, objective standards for those qualifying projects; and
WHEREAS, the City's adopted 2021 -2029 Housing Element contains housing programs aimed at facilitating additional housing, including developing objective design standards to comply with SB 330 (Policy 6.J, and Measure 4.H); and WHEREAS, in December 2022, the City of Culver City engaged Rincon Consultants Inc. to review the City’s existing design guidelines and Zoning Code to create a separate Citywide Residential and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards (Objective Design Standards) document that would be referenced in the Zoning Code; and
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33 WHEREAS, on October 9, 2024, the City’s General Plan Update and Zoning Code Update became effective, including Implementation Action LU-6, and Policy Goals LU-13.2 and LU-15.6, within the Land Use and Community Design Element, which also call for adopting and updating objective design standards; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Objective Design Standards will supersede and replace the Gateway Neighborhood and Gateway Adjacent Neighborhood Design Guidelines, which were adopted on March 24, 2010 and July 13, 2011, as these contain subjective standards; and
WHEREAS, the Zoning Code Amendment is necessary to incorporate the proposed Objective Design Standards by reference, eliminate overlapping standards and subjective standards applicable to residential and mixed use development , and include standards for consistency with the proposed Objective Design Standards; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Guidelines, the adoption of the Objective Design Standards and associated Zoning Code Amendment, which will supplement Zoning Code standards as it relates to design, and do not affect permitted uses or density/intensity, are exempt per Section 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. In addition, the proposed Objective De sign Standards and associated Zoning Code Amendment do not require additional review under CEQA pursuant to Section 15168(c)(2) as they are consistent with the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the General Plan and Zoning Code Update cert ified on August 26, 2024 (SCH# 2022030144) and would not result in new impacts. The adoption of the Objective Design Standards implements the adopted General Plan (Implementation Action LU -6, and
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33 Policies LU-13.2, LU-15.6); as the creation of Objective Design Standards was considered in the General Plan and Zoning Code EIR, pursuant to the provisions of CEQA no further environmental analysis is required; and
WHEREAS, on February 12, 2025, after conducting a duly noticed public hearing on a City-initiated Zoning Code Amendment (P202 4-0310-ZCA), amending Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC), Title 17 – Zoning (Zoning Code), Sections 17.210.020 – Residential Zoning Districts Development Standards, 17.220.030 – Supplemental Standards for Mixed Use Development, and 17.300.010 – Applicability, in order to incorporate the proposed Objective Design Standards by reference, eliminate overlapping standards and subjective standards applicable to residential and mixed use development, and include standards for consistency with the proposed Objective Design Standards (Amendment), and fully considering all reports, studies, environmental information, and testimony presented, th e Planning Commission by a vote of 3 to 0, adopted Resolution 2025-P003, recommending to the City Council approval of Objective Design Standards , associated Zoning Code Amendment P202 4-0310-ZCA, and exemption from CEQA, as set forth herein below; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2025, after conducting a duly noticed public hearing on a City-initiated Zoning Code Amendment (P202 4-0310-ZCA), amending Zoning Code Sections
17.210.020 – Residential Zoning Districts Development Standards, 17.220.030 – Supplemental Standards for Mixed Use Development, and 17.300.010 – Applicability, fully considering all reports, studies, environmental information, and all testimony presented, the City Council, by a vote of 5 to 0, introduced an ordinance approving Zoning Code Amendment, P2022-0234-ZCA, (the “Ordinance”), as set forth herein below , and adopting an exemption from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) and 15168(c)(2).
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33 WHEREAS, on April 14, 2025, the City Council, by a vote of __ to __, adopted the Ordinance and exemption from CEQA.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Culver City , California, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN, as follows:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to the foregoing recitations and the provisions of the CCMC, the following required findings for a Zoning Code Amendment, as outlined in Section
17.620.030.A, are hereby made:
1. The proposed amendment ensures and maintains internal consistency with the goals, policies and strategies of all elements of the General Plan , and, in the case of a Zoning Code amendment, will not create any inconsistencies with this Title.
The purpose of the proposed Zoning Code Amendment is to incorporate the proposed Objective Design Standards by reference and to remove and add text related to residential and mixed use development standards specifically to maintain consistency across both documents. The Zoning Code Amendment and associated Objective Design Standards are consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan because they are derived from and reflect policies and implementation actions of the Land Use Element of the General Plan, including Policy Goals LU -13.2 and LU-15.6 and Implementation Action LU-6, as listed above. In addition, the proposed is consistent with Policy 6.J, and Measure
4.H of the Housing Element of the General Plan. Accordingly, the proposed amendment and associated Objective Design Standards maintain consistency with the General Plan and internally.
2. The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience or welfare of the City.
The proposed amendment to the Zoning Code ensures the protection of the general interest, health, safety and welfare of the community as the amendment serves to incorporate and reconcile with the Objective Design Standards , which supplement the minimum Zoning Code requirements for residential and mixed use development, in order to achieve high quality design. The Objective Design Standards serve as baseline standards for developments by establishing design standards that are relate d to site design, architecture, architectural styles, and landscaping. The Amendment and Objective Design Standards do not affect or change any existing zoning, use, density/int ensity, or height requirements of the Zoning Code.
3. The proposed amendment is in compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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33 The proposed amendment to incorporate and align with the Objective Design Standards is in compliance with the provisions of CEQA. Specifically, it is exempt from CEQA per Section 15061.b.3 “Common Sense Exemption”, because the proposed will establish standards to implement and facilitate compliance with State Law, where the Obje ctive Design Standards supplement Zoning Code development standards as it relates to site design, architecture, and architectural style for residential and mixed use development , and do not affect or change any existing zoning, use, density/intensity , or h eight requirements of the Zoning Code, such that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed Amendment will have a significant effect on the environment.
In addition, pursuant to Section 15168(c)(2), the proposed Zoning Code Amendment to incorporate Objective Design Standards and remove and add text to align with said standards does not require additional review under CEQA. Specifically, the proposed Amendment and Objective Design Standards are consistent with the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the General Plan and Zoning Code Update certified on August 26, 2024 (SCH# 2022030144) and would not result in new impacts.
The Objective Design Standards implement the adopted General Plan (Implementation Action LU -6, and Policies LU -13.2, LU -15.6); as the creation of Objective Design Standards was considered in the General Plan and Zoning Code Update EIR. Pursuant to the provisions of CEQA no further environmental analysis is required.
SECTION 2. Pursuant to the foregoing recitations and findings, the City Council of the City of Culver City, California, hereby adopts the Ordinance approving Zoning Code Amendment, P2024-0310-ZCA, amending Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Title 17 – Zoning Code, as it relates to objective standards for residential and mixed use development, as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part thereof.
SECTION 3. Pursuant to Section 619 of the City Charter, this Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after the date of its adoption. Pursuant to Sections 616 and 621 of the City Charter, prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days after the adoption, the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance, or a summary thereof, to be published in the Culver City News and shall post this Ordinance or a summary thereof in at least three places within the City.
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33 SECTION 4. The City Council hereby declares that, if any provision, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, phrase or word of this o rdinance is rendered or declared invalid or unconstitutional by any final action in a court of competent jurisdiction or by reason of any preemptive legislation, then the City Council would have independently adopted the remaining provisions, sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, phrases or words of this ordinance and as such they shall remain in full force and effect.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this ___ day of April 2025.
DAN O’BRIEN, Mayor
City of Culver City, California
ATTESTED BY: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
JEREMY BOCCHINO, City Clerk HEATHER BAKER, City Attorney
EXHIBIT A
17.210.020 RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
A. General Requirements. Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and a lterations to existing land uses and structures in the R1 and R2 zones shall conform to the requirements in Table 2-3 (Residential District s Development Standards (R1, R2)). Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures in the RLD, RMD and RHD zones shall conform to the requirements in Table 2-4 (Residential District Development Standards (RLD, RMD, RHD)). In addition , the applicable development standards in Article 3 (Site Planning and General Development Standards) apply t o all residential zoning districts. Table 2-5 (Supp lemental Standards for Townhouse Developments) shall apply to townhouse developments in RLD and RMD zones.
Table 2-3 Residential District Development Standards (R1, R2) RESIDENTIAL ZONES (R1, R2)
Standards R1 R2 Additional Regulations
Lot and Density Standards
Maximum residential
density
8.7 units/gross acre, maximum 1
unit per parcel
17.4 units/acre, maximum 2 units
per parcel
Maximum dwelling size 0.45 Floor Area Ratio
1,500 square feet plus 40% of
gross lot area for parcels less than
8,000 square feet;
60% of gross lot area for parcels
8,000 square feet or more.
See Section 17.400.095 for
exceptions for Accessory
Dwelling Units.
Minimum dwelling size 1,000 square feet on the ground
floor
1,000 square feet for a single-
family unit;
750 square feet/unit in a duplex
Minimum lot size (for
new lots) 5,000 square feet
Condominium, townhouse, or
planned development projects
may be subdivided with smaller
parcel sizes for ownership
purposes, with the minimum lot
area determined through the
subdivision review process,
provided that the overall
development site complies with
the minimum lot size
requirements of this Chapter.
Minimum lot width (for
new lots) 40 feet 40 feet
Minimum lot depth (for
new lots) 100 feet 100 feet
Building Form and Location
Maximum height -
primary structure
Flat roofs – 27 feet;
Sloped roof – 30 feet
30 feet
Sloped roofs equal to or greater
than a 3:12 sloped; flat roofs less
than 3:12.
See Section 17.300.025, for
standards for Height
Measurement and Height Limit
Exceptions.
Maximum height -
accessory building
See Section 17.400.095 (Residential Uses - Accessory Dwelling Units) See Section 17.400.100 (Residential Uses - Accessory Residential Structures)
RESIDENTIAL ZONES (R1, R2)
Standards R1 R2 Additional Regulations
Minimum distance
between structures
5 feet between accessory residential structures and accessory dwelling units;
5 feet between primary dwelling units and accessory residential structures and accessory dwelling units;
8 feet between detached dwelling units.
Lot Setbacks - Minimums (feet)
Front
Single story structures -20 feet
Two story structures - 20 feet; 25
feet for second story, as defined by
this Title, or any roof or portion of a
roof, parapet wall, or front yard-
facing facade that exceeds a height
of 18 feet
15 feet
Street Side (corner lots)
5 feet single story structures
5 feet - two story structures; plus
minimum 5 feet stepback for
second floor
10 feet - two story structures
without minimum 5 feet second
floor stepback
4 feet
Interior Side
5 feet minimum
No structure shall encroach upon a
1:1 upward- and inward- inclining
setback plane starting from 18 feet
above any interior side lot line
4 feet minimum
No structure shall encroach upon a
1:1 upward- and inward- inclining
setback plane starting from 20 feet
above any interior side lot line
Rear 15 feet 10 feet
Open Space
Roof deck Rooftop decks shall be set back 5 feet from the building edge along an interior side yard adjacent to a residential zoned property A permanent, built-in landscape
planter with vegetation shall be
located within the required
setback area to screen views of
the deck from neighboring
properties. Rooftop decks
which are located in a roof well
are not required to include a
landscape planter.
Open space
Minimum area of a site to remain uncovered by structures, in compliance with Section 17.400.100 (Residential Uses - Accessory Residential Structures)
Private None required other than setbacks
Common None required
Maximum front yard
paving
No more than 25% of any required setback facing a street shall be paved to provide access to on-site parking, unless paving of a larger area is required to comply with Subsection 17.320.035.C. (Parking Space and Lot Dimensions) (e.g., to provide a standard 16-foot, double-wide driveway for a two-car garage within the 20-foot front setback area).
In addition to any required driveway paving, additional paving may be allowed for a pedestrian pathway leading to the entrance of the development provided the pedestrian path is not more than 4 feet in width. If the pedestrian path is not connected to the driveway, it shall be separated from the driveway by a minimum width of 3 feet and landscaped. If the pedestrian pathway is connected to the driveway, the maximum width of the connection to the driveway shall not exceed 4 feet.
See Chapter 17.310
(Landscaping) for additional
regulations.
Other Standards See CCMC Article 3
17.220.030 SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR MIXED USE DEV ELOPMENT
A. Purpose. This Section provides supplemental location, deve lopment, and design standards for mixed use developments.
B. Applicability.
1. The provisions in this Section shall regulate the c onversion of existing buildings to include mixed us es, as defined herein, and new construction of mixed use projects, where allowed by the applicable zoning districts.
2. The Mixed Use Development Standards do not supersede the provisions of the Mixed Use Downtown District (MU-DT).
3. Where an Owner-Participation Agreement, Disposition and Development Agreement, Development Agreement, or similar agreement with the City or Re development Agency applies to a land parcel, and th e provisions of such agreement differ from the Mixed Use Development Standards, the provisions of the agreement shall prevail.
C. Site Planning and Design Standards.
1. Building bulk. Projects shall be designed to achieve interesting, graceful and articulated buildings by the use of varied rooflines and vertical attachments; clearly define the base, middle and top of each building and other architectural features; and include building line s etback and step backs to create visual interest and reduce monolithic design. See Figure 2-6 (Building Elevation Composition).
Figure 2-6 Building Elevation Composition
2. Street frontage requirements.
a. The street frontage shall be architecturally varied to create visual interest and shall include archit ectural features and pedestrian amenities such as recessed entries, arcades, colonnades, stairs, art, and othe r architectural features or pedestrian improvements subject to the following:
i. Passageways in arcades and colonnades are, at minimum, five feet wide. ii. Architectural and ornamental features do not impede pedestrian routes. iii. Stairs are decorative and attractive.
b. With the exception of required driveway curb cuts, street frontage requirements shall apply to 100% of the total property frontage parallel to the street and shall include step backs and building line offs ets above the ground level to create visual interest and attractive building massing. c. No blank wall area is permitted in the street front age wall area. The maximum width of any continuous blank wall in the street frontage shall be no more than 30 feet. d. Major entrances and corners of buildings shall be articulated within the street wall façade.
1.3. Building entrances.
a. Pedestrian entrances shall be provided for all g round floor uses along the primary street frontage. See Figure 2-9 (Plan of Pedestrian Entrances).
Figure 2-7 Plan of Pedestrian Entrances
b. Pedestrian entrances shall be directly accessibl e from the public right-of-way or a publicly-access ible pathway or open space, and shall have direct access and view from the adjacent sidewalk. c. Commercial uses and residential uses shall have separate exterior entrances, elevators, and lobbies. The Director may waive this requirement, based on site constraints.
24. Signage and lighting. Signs shall be developed pursuant to Chapter 17.3 30 (Signs). Exterior lighting shall comply with the requirements of Section 17.300.040 (Outdoor Lighting).
35. Parking and vehicular access.
a. Street level parking facilities and lots shall be s creened from view from the adjoining street(s) by ornamental walls or fences, at least four feet high above street grade. b. Ingress/Egress:
i. Two-way vehicular ingress/egress areas on arterial streets shall only be permitted on development sites with a minimum of 100 feet of street frontage on the street where the vehicular ingress/egress area is located. The Director may waive this requirement, based on site constraints. ii. One-way vehicular ingress/egress areas on arterial streets shall only be permitted on development sites with a minimum of 75 feet of street frontage on the street where the ingress/egress area is located. The Director may waive this requirement, based on site constraints.
iii. Vehicular ingress/egress areas are prohibited on ar terial streets where the street frontage of the development site adjacent to the arterial street is less than 75 feet. The Director may waive this requirement, based on site constraints.
D. Residential Development Standards.
1. Open space. Mixed use developments shall comply with the open space requirements of Section 17.210.030.A (Open Space Requirements for Multiple-Family Residential).
2. Facility and design requirements. Mixed use developments shall comply with the facili ty and design requirements of Section 17.210.030.B (Facility and Design Requirements for Multiple-Family Residential).
E. Live/Work Development Standards. In addition to the standards detailed in this Sec tion, live/work units within a mixed use development shall meet all applicable s tandards contained in Section 17.400.060 (Live/Work Development Standards).
F. Parking Standards. Mixed use developments shall comply with all requirements contained in Chapter 17.320 (Off- Street Parking and Loading).
17.300.010 APPLICABILITY
A. Standards. The standards of this Chapter shall be considered in combination with the standards for each zoning district in Article 2 (Zoning Districts, Allowable Land Uses and Zone-Specific Development Standards). Residential and mixed use structures shall also comply with the Citywide Residential and Mixed Use Objective Desig n Standards. Where there may be a conflict, the standards specific to the zoning district shall override these general standards.
B. Compliance. All structures, additions to structures, and uses shall comply with the standards of this Chapter, as determined applicable by the Director, except as specified in Chapter 17.610 (Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Parcels).