Redondo Beach
Objective Residential
Design Standards
Community Workshop
January 10th, 2022
Agenda
1. Welcome & Team Introductions (5 min)
2. Virtual Protocols (5 min)
3. Why update our Residential Guidelines? (10 min)
4. Defining Objective Design Standards (10 min)
5. Standards for Redondo Beach (20 min)
6. Question & Answer, On-line Survey info (45 min)
2 3
General
• Only Staff & Team Panelists will be visible with cameras turned on
• All attendees will be muted with cameras turned off during the presentation
• Meeting Participants will not be able to unmute
themselves during the Q+A period at the end of the
presentation
Technical Issues?
• Email: [email protected]
Virtual Protocols – Meeting Participants
Virtual Protocols – Meeting Participants (cont.)
4 Virtual Commenting
• Meeting Participants can submit questions
directly to Staff via the chat function in
Zoom. Comments will be recorded and
referenced during or at the end of the
presentation, as appropriate.
• Participants may remain in the Workshop
to listen to the discussion or may leave
when convenient and can review materials
and provide comments virtually using a
survey link or email provided after the
presentation.
Purpose of this Workshop
• Provide an overview of the Redondo Beach
‘Objective Residential Design Standards’ effort
• Introduce some design topics the Standards will
likely address
• Opportunity for community members to ask
questions and provide input (e.g., what other topics
should Standards address, what aspects of the Design
Guidelines can be improved?)
Why update our Residential Guidelines?
6 • City Council Strategic Plan identified a need to update Residential Guidelines (last updated in 2003)
• Funding from Senate Bill 2 (SB2) Planning Grants Program For California cities and counties to prepare, adopt, and implement plans and process improvements that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production.
• City Council hired Cityworks Design to update the City’s Residential Design Guidelines, with input from a Focus
Group, Planning Commission, Community Workshops and
online survey.
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
7 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
8 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)
9 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
10 “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?
11 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
12 When to use the new Standards?
13 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
14 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. 15 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 16
Example of Benchmarks & Performance Measures
• Quantifiable &
widely accepted
• Verifiable & well
documented
Source: HCD Objective Design Standards Toolkit
Design Standards
17 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 18
Standards for Redondo Beach
19 Redondo Beach Residential Zones
Single-family Residential Zones
Multi-family Residential Zones
20 Redondo Beach Neighborhoods
21 Key Design Topics
Architectural character of a neighborhood
breaks down into elements that can be reflected
in design standards
22 • Lot design & setbacks
• Roof types
• Roof deck types
• Mezzanine/balconies & cantilevers over driveways
• Covered shade structures
• Private open space
Lot Design & Setbacks
23 Front Yard
Setback
Street
Side
Setback
Roof Types
24 Roof Deck Types
25 Source: Image courtesy of the Huntley
Mezzanines & Cantilevers
26 Mezzanine Existing
1-story
Cantilever over
Driveway
Mezzanine Examples
27 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
28 Enclosed
Mezzanine
Partially Enclosed
Mezzanine
Enclosed
Mezzanine
M M M
Historic 2-story
Gertruda Avenue
Historic District
New 2-story
Recent multi-family
without mezzanine
29 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:
30 31
Stepback & Transitions
Building
Adjacent Stepback
Setback
Garage or Habitable Space
32 Landscape & Planting Palette
33 Landscape & Planting Palette
34 table of contents
Introduction 2
Site Plan & Plant Design 4
Site Sections
parkway 6
front yard 8
side yard 10
backyard 12
LA Climate Zone Map 14
Plant Lists by Zone 16
How-To Section
get to know your garden 26
grade for rain 32
bild hlthil 34
page 10
table of con
1 Site Sections
parkway 6
front yard 8
side yard 10
backyard 12
LA Climate Zone Map 14
Plant Lists by Zone 16
How-To Section
get to know your garden 26
grade for rain 32
build healthy soil 34
plant and mulch 38
water wisely 40
tend your garden 42
Nursery List 44
Resources & Index 46
Shopping List 48
Photos top to bottom: 1-2.Marilee Kuhlmann 3.Pamela Berstler page 10
page 32
page 12
Techo-bloc.com
South Bay Environmental Services
Center (West Basin MWD)
Driveway & Parking Layout
Front
Loaded
Garage
Rear
Loaded
Garage
Side
Loaded
Garage
Alley
Loaded
Garage
Street
Alley
35 Tandem
Parking
Rear Alley Access
Alley Loaded
Garage
Street
Alley
Garage
36 Accessory Dwelling Units
• ADU Ordinance
explanation
• Planning/building
process
• Streamlined vs
non-streamlined
applications
37 Original house
(regular dwelling unit)
Source: Alfred Twu SB9 infographic
Survey & Feedback
• Additional comments will be
accepted through January 31st via
the following survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TBJYSXN
• The survey can also be accessed
using the following QR code:
• Comments can also be submitted to:
[email protected]
38 Question & Answer
39 Submitting Questions
• Please submit questions directly to
Staff via the chat function in Zoom.
• Participants may remain in the
Workshop to listen to the discussion
or may leave when convenient and
can review materials and provide
comments via email or on-line
survey
Thank You!