BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Blue folder items are additional back up material to administrative reports and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
December 16, 2021
L.1. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN UPDATE TO THE CITY’S
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
• Consultant PowerPoint Presentation
Redondo Beach
Objective Residential
Design Standards
Planning Commission Presentation
December 16th, 2021
Presentation Overview
1. Why update our Residential Guidelines?
2. Defining Objective Design Standards
3. Standards for Redondo Beach
4. Commission Discussion
2 Why update our Residential Guidelines?
3 • City Council Strategic Plan identified a need to update Residential Guidelines (last updated in 2003)
• Funding from Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant LEAP provides one-time grant funding to cities and counties to update their planning documents and implement process improvements that will facilitate the acceleration of housing production and help local governments prepare for their 6th cycle RHNA (much like the SB2 Planning Grants).
• City Council hired Cityworks Design to update the City’s Residential Design Guidelines, with input from Focus
Groups Workshops, Community Meetings and online
surveys.
California is experiencing a statewide housing shortage and rising prices that threaten housing security for both homeowners and renters.
Over the past decade, housing production has fallen short, and the State legislature has reduced local control in order to expedite housing approvals and new construction.
• The City’s ability to apply discretionary processes and guidelines is diminishing.
The Context
4 State Laws that significantly impact
Local Housing Approval Process
• Affordable Housing Streamlined
Approval Process (SB35, 2017)
• Housing Crisis Act (SB 330, 2019)
• HOME Act (SB9) Adopted 9/16/2021
New Context that effectively removes SF/R1
• SB10 Adopted 9/16/2021
Provides option to cities to increase density
without CEQA review
What Does the State Require?
Source: HCD Objective Design Standards Toolkit
5 Desired Outcome
• Once adopted, new standards will
replace current Design Guidelines
(2003) for single & multi-family
structures
Goal: maintain design intent; extend to
incorporate the R-1A District
• Standards will be prepared for
adoption into the Zoning Code
Provisions will also address ambiguities in
process and terminology
• Redondo Beach will be positioned for
successful processing of residential
development
Objective
Standards
(2022)
6 Refining the Standards
• Test draft standards against existing built projects
considered acceptable to the community
• Refine as needed to ensure the proposed
standards are effective & flexible by the time the
final draft goes forward for adoption
7 “involve no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and are uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official before submittal.”
Government Code Sections 65913.4 and 66300(a)(7)
Using straight-forward criteria that aim to reflect existing character of neighborhood so new buildings are compatible with old buildings What are “Objective” Standards?
8 Important for Redondo Beach in
order to:
• Encourage housing that fits well
• Capture opportunities for
new/updated housing in R1 and
multi-family neighborhoods
• Adopt standards for R-1A – Tall
& Skinny Homes
• Maintain overall community
character
Objective Design Standards
Source: HCD Objective Design Standards Toolkit
9 When to use the new Standards?
10 Current Zoning Code references Residential Design Guidelines in the following Sections:
• 10-2.2500 Administrative Design Review (Coastal Zone Additionally) (b) Criteria. The following criteria shall be used in determining a project’s consistency with the intent and purpose of this section:
(7) The project shall be consistent with the intent of residential design guidelines adopted by resolution of the City Council.
• 10-2.2502 Planning Commission Design Review (Coastal Zone Additionally) (7) Consistency with residential design guidelines. The project shall be consistent with the intent of residential design guidelines adopted by resolution of the City Council.
What will the new Standards do?
• Guide design of sites & buildings
through illustrations, diagrams &
photo examples
• Provide clear direction to
applicants & staff (must be
verifiable and measurable)
Source: HCD Objective Design Standards Toolkit
11 How Standards differs from Guidelines
Enforceability
• Use of “shall” or “must” – indicates “REQUIRED”
• Use of “should” or “may” – indicates “RECOMMENDED”
Examples of Standards
• The entire second floor must be set back from the front building line by a minimum of 10 feet.
• The front setback shall include at least 40 square feet of planted area.
Guideline Example
• The design of the primary dwelling should reflect the neighborhood character.
• Design may include features such as balconies, porches and bay windows. 12 Design Standards
Variety of Methods
• True/False
• Counts & Measurements
• Ratios & Calculations
• Lists
• Scorecards
• Benchmarks &
Performance Measures
Example of Scorecard
Example of True/False
Source: HCD Objective Design Standards Toolkit 13
Example of Benchmarks & Performance Measures
• Quantifiable &
widely accepted
• Verifiable & well
documented
Source: HCD Objective Design Standards Toolkit
Design Standards
14 Design Standards
• Use simple, clear language
• Avoid technical terms
• Group similar topics
together
• Use tables or lists
• Use graphics to illustrate
standards
• Cross-reference where
appropriate
Source: HCD Objective Design Standards Toolkit 15
Standards for Redondo Beach
16 Redondo Beach Residential Zones
Single-family Residential Zones
Multi-family Residential Zones
17 Redondo Beach Neighborhoods
18 Key Design Topics
Architectural character of a neighborhood
breaks down into elements that can be reflected
in design standards
19 • Lot design & setbacks
• Roof types
• Roof deck types
• Mezzanine/balconies & cantilevers over driveways
• Covered shade structures
• Private open space
Lot Design & Setbacks
20 Front Yard
Setback
Street
Side
Setback
Roof Types
21 Roof Deck Types
22 Source: Image courtesy of the Huntley
Mezzanines & Cantilevers
23 Mezzanine Existing
1-story
Cantilever over
Driveway
Mezzanine Examples
24 Historic (Spanish) Landmark
next to new single-family
residence with mezzanine/FAR
bonuses in The Avenues
Single-story residence next to
larger home with mezzanine in
Upper Avenues, Clifton Heights
Mezzanines
25 Enclosed
Mezzanine
Partially Enclosed
Mezzanine
Enclosed
Mezzanine
M M M
26 Cantilever NOT within
overall building massing (5ft setback)
Mezzanine within overall
building massing/roof
Mezzanines & Cantilevers
Mezzanine with
flat roof
No Mezzanine
Historic 2-story
Gertruda Avenue
Historic District
New 2-story
Recent multi-family
without mezzanine
27 2-story Examples
• Stepback & Transitions
• Garage or habitable space
• Landscape & planting
palette
• Driveway & parking layout
• Rear alley access
• Accessory Dwelling Units
(ADU’s)
• Fencing or screening
• Building entry/access
• Special neighborhood
standards (TBD)
Key Design Topics (cont.)
The interface with the street and neighboring
structures to reflect existing neighborhood
character can be controlled through design
standards:
28 29
Stepback & Transitions
Building
Adjacent Stepback
Setback
Garage or Habitable Space
30 Landscape & Planting Palette
31 Driveway & Parking Layout
Front
Loaded
Garage
Rear
Loaded
Garage
Side
Loaded
Garage
Alley
Loaded
Garage
Street
Alley
32 Tandem
Parking
Rear Alley Access
Alley Loaded
Garage
Street
Alley
Garage
33 Accessory Dwelling Units
• ADU Ordinance
explanation
• Planning/building
process
• Streamlined vs
non-streamlined
applications
34 Original house
(regular dwelling unit)
Source: Alfred Twu SB9 infographic
Getting Input
Focus Group Conducted December 13, 2021
Planning Commission December 16, 2021
Community Workshop January 10, 2022 (6:30pm)
Community Survey Available on-line soon!
Residents and design community can provide input on
what they’d like addressed in the Objective Residential Design Standards
35 Discussion Topics
1. Maximum Height/Stories
(currently 30 ft, 2 stories with mezzanine)
2. Mezzanines & Cantilevers
3. Roof Deck Types
4. Driveways/Curb Cuts
5. Massing & Building Offsets
Are there any design topics not mentioned in
presentation that should be considered in the new
Standards?
36 Thank You!