Redondo Beach
Objective Residential
Standards
Planning Commission #3
Final Recommendation May 18, 2023
Agenda
1. Goals for Tonight
2. Recap Planning
Commission Direction
3. Key changes to ORS
4. Clarifications made
2 Goals for Tonight
• Share key changes in ORS based on Planning
Commission direction received 3/29/23
• Walk through approach to clarifications
• Answer commission questions, discussion
• At June 15th meeting, make final
recommendations to City Council
Final Draft Document Link:
https://www.redondo.org/news/ then click on Residential Design Guidelines Update item and click on “latest version” document 3 Process to Date
4 Late 2021 Focus Group #1 and Planning Commission #1
Early - Mid 2022 Community Meeting #1, Public Survey, Prepare Draft ORS Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Planning Commission Subcommittee Input January - March 2023 ORS Public Draft and FAQs Released, Input on Public Draft March 2023 Focus Group #2, Planning Commission #2, and Community Meeting #2
May 18, 2023 Planning Commission #3
May - June 2023 Staff Prepares Zoning Amendments
June 2023 Planning Commission recommendations to City Council on Zoning Amendments and Final Draft ORS
July 2023 City Council discussion and input on draft
August 2023 City Council / Public Hearing: Zoning Amendments and Adopting ORS
Note: Schedule is driven by SB2 Grant
Overall Goal for ORS
To streamline the residential application process
and achieve compatible development through
objective building and landscaping standards
Proposed to be achieved by…
• Replacing the 2003 Residential Design Guidelines
• Adding Standards for R-1A Zone
• Supplementing Existing Zoning Ordinance Requirements
• Clarifying Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance
5 “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?
6 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. 7 Examples of Guideline to Standard
EXAMPLE 1: Existing Guideline for Roof Deck Location (R-1) • Should be stepped back from the building edge above the second floor;
• Should be oriented away from neighbors’ yards as much as possible; Proposed Standard
• A roof deck shall be set back at least 10 feet from the required first story setbacks on all sides.
EXAMPLE 2: Existing Guideline for Multi-Family Landscaping • Landscaping shall emphasize water-efficient plants.
Proposed Standard
• Multi-Family landscaped areas shall include drought tolerant live plants in 75% of the area.
8 Planning Commission Direction
9 • 2nd story Side Setbacks 2’ average, but more than 2’, on each side • 2nd story Rear Setbacks Eliminate from R-1A Zone; R-1 Zone to match bonus language (additional 5’ average).
• Balconies along Interior Side Yards Not allowed where residential is adjacent.
• Mezzanines Allow plumbing and walls as long as space is open to floor below; no adjacent balcony access; allow in R1A zone too. • Height OK as proposed.
• Roof Decks Setbacks from first-story setback: in R-1 Zone 10’ all sides; in R-1A Zone: 10’ front and rear, 3’ sides; solid guard rail on sides.
Planning Commission Direction continued
10 • Character Areas Standards
TRW Tract Eliminate 120’ lot depth threshold for roof decks.
Lower Avenues No artificial turf in parkways allowed.
Upper Avenues If alley exists, garage access must be from alley; if not, driveway with garage in rear required; garage in front not allowed.
Add porches and gabled roofs from current design guidelines to ORS guidelines.
• Tandem Parking Not allowed for required parking in R-1 or R-1A.
Carports Not allowed in R-1 or R-1A.
• Height on Sloping Lots Develop clearer method for calculating height. • Porches Not allowed in front yard setback.
Planning Commission Direction continued
11 • Multi-family Separate out R-2/R-3 from RMD/RH standards • Compatibility Address mass, scale and privacy, especially regarding window placement. Updated application to require photo montage, demonstrate how project is compatible with existing neighbors, show project in context of neighborhood and explain why its compatible. • Landscape Specify “live plant material”, artificial turf and plants not allowed.
Non-ORS Topics Discussed
12 • 2nd story Rear Stepbacks Consider eliminating FAR bonus for 2nd story rear and side setbacks currently in zoning code.
• Roof decks Consider not limiting combined areas for roof decks and mezzanines currently in zoning code.
• FAR Consider adding FAR limits to R-1A, R-2 and R-3 Zones. • Character Areas Consider adding others if Commission defines standards
13 • Document Format modified for larger font; all
standards in table with intent; 2-column layout
• Changes made: All PC motions
• Clarifications made:
o Added definitions, zoning code references
o Explain story and gross floor area definitions
o Building height on sloping lots
o Decks versus roof decks
o The stricter of ORS or RBMC will apply
Key Changes to ORS
14 Height/Bulk on Sloping Lots
• Zoning Code Definitions
Story. If the finished floor level directly above a usable or unused under-floor space is more than four (4) feet above existing grade for more than fifty (50%) percent of the total perimeter, it is a story. 15 Height/Bulk on Sloping Lots
• Zoning Code Definitions
Gross Floor Area shall include basements where the finished first floor above the basement is more than two (2) feet above the existing grade or finished grade, whichever is lower, within the front forty (40) feet of the lot.
16 Height/Bulk on Sloping Lots
• Setbacks
17 Height/Bulk on Sloping Lots
• Setbacks – mezzanine not visible from street
18 Height/Bulk on Sloping Lots
• Setbacks – mezzanine not visible from street
Commission Action Needed Tonight
• Questions and Discussion on Final Draft Document
• At June 15th meeting, make final recommendations to
City Council in resolution to recommend zoning
implementation language
19 Thank you!