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RESOLUTION NO. _____
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SAN JOSE AMENDING THE “SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN
DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES” BY ADDING AN
ADDITIONAL SET OF FINDINGS TO THE EXCEPTIONS TO
THE STANDARDS SECTION AND TO MAKE OTHER
TECHNICAL OR NON-SUBSTANTIVE TEXT CHANGES
File No. PP22-006
WHEREAS, on April 23, 2019, the Council of the City of San José (“City Council”), adopted the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines” (Resolution No. 79060) to replace the 2004 “Downtown Design Guidelines”; and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2019, the City Council amended the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines” (Resolution No. 79094) to include Section 4.2.2.b. related to bird safety; and
WHEREAS, the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines” set forth “guidelines” as best practices and overarching design guidance and “standards” as objective requirements that are numeric and verifiable; and
WHEREAS, development projects must comply with the design standards identified within the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines”; and
WHEREAS, the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines” include a process by which a project applicant may request an exception or exceptions to one or more design standards by which the decision maker (Planning Director, Planning Commission or City Council) must make findings to approve or deny the request based on physical constraint or a unique situation that is not created by the project applicant or property owner and is not caused by financial or economic considerations; approving NVF:JVP:JMD
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the waiver will not create a safety hazard or impair the integrity and character of the neighborhood in which the subject property is located; the proposed project meets the intent of the design standard under consideration to the extent physically feasible; and the proposed project meets all other guidelines and standards in the Design Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the updated Exceptions to the Design Standards in Section 1.4 of the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines” adds an additional set of findings that if the decision maker cannot make the aforementioned exception findings, the decision maker may still grant the exception based on other consistencies with the Envision San José 2040 General Plan, the Design Guidelines, and unique circumstances and counterbalancing considerations; and
WHEREAS, on September 14, 2022, the Planning Commission for the City of San José (“Planning Commission”) conducted a hearing on said amendment to the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines,” notice of which was duly given; and
WHEREAS, at said hearing, the Planning Commission gave all persons full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence and testimony respecting said matter; and
WHEREAS, at said hearing, the Planning Commission made a recommendation to the City Council respecting said matter based on the evidence and testimony; and
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2022, this City Council conducted a hearing on said amendments to the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines,” notice of which was duly given; and
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WHEREAS, at said hearing, this City Council gave all persons full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence and testimony respecting said matter; and
WHEREAS, at said hearing, this City Council received and considered the reports and recommendations of the City’s Planning Commission and City’s Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement; and
WHEREAS, said public hearing before the City Council was conducted in all respects as required by the San José Municipal Code and the rules of this City Council; and
WHEREAS, prior to making its determination on this Resolution, the Council reviewed and considered the Determination of Consistency with the Envision San José 2040 General Plan Final Program Environmental Impact Report (Resolution No. 76041), the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report to the Envision San José 2040 General Plan Final Program Environmental Impact Report (Resolution No. 77617), and Addenda thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JOSE:
1. The above recitals are incorporated herein as findings for approval of the amended Exceptions to Standards under Section 1.4 of the “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines.”
2. The “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines” are hereby amended to revise the Exceptions to Standards under Section 1.4. The amended Exceptions to Standards is attached hereto as Exhibit “A.” The entire “San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines,” including the amended Exceptions to Standards is attached hereto as Exhibit “B.” This amended “San José Downtown NVF:JVP:JMD
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Design Standards and Guidelines” will apply to all applicable Planning applications that are on file and deemed complete prior to and after the Effective Date.
3. This Resolution is effective upon approval by the City Council (“Effective Date”).
ADOPTED this _____ day of _____________, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
SAM LICCARDO
Mayor
ATTEST:
TONI J. TABER, CMC
City Clerk
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EXHIBIT A
AMENDMENTS TO THE
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
File No. PP22-006: Page 6 of the San José Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines is amended as follows:
1.4 HOW TO USE THE GUIDELINES
Exceptions to the Standards
The Design Guidelines include an exception process. A project applicant may request an exception to the design standards contained in the Design Guidelines. The exception process set forth in the Design Standards and Guidelines is in addition to concessions or waivers possible under State Density Bonus laws or other applicable state laws. The request must be made in writing as part of the Planning application for the proposed project. The application for an exception must contain detailed information on the design standard that is requested to be waived; how the physical constraints and unique situations of the project site make it infeasible to comply with the design standard; how the proposed project meets the design standard at issue to the extent feasible; and how the request meets each exception requirements.
The decision-maker (Planning Director, Planning Commission, or City Council, as applicable) would need to shall consider the request and information provided and make certain findings to either approve or deny the request. The decision-maker (Planning Director, Planning Commission, or City Council, as applicable) shall may only grant an exception if all the following findings are made:
a. There is a physical constraint or unique situation that:
1. iIs not created by the project applicant or property owner; and
2. iIs not caused by financial or economic constraints considerations.
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b. Approving the waiver exception will not create a safety hazard or impair the integrity and character of the neighborhood in which the subject property is located or create a safety hazard.
c. The proposed project meets the intent of the design standard at issue to the extent physically feasible.
d. The proposed project meets all other guidelines and standards in the Design Guidelines.
If any of above findings cannot be made, the decision-maker may still grant the exception if all the following findings are made:
a. The project advances the Major Strategies of Chapter 1 the General Plan; b. The project is consistent with the Values and Guiding Principles of Chapter 1.3 of the Design Guidelines;
c. The project achieves the stated Rationale of the section of the Design Guidelines as set forth for each applicable Standard; and
d. There are counterbalancing considerations that justify the inconsistency.
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EXHIBIT B
AMENDED SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES Adopted
April 23, 2019
Amended
May 21, 2019
Planning Director's
Update
May 1, 2020
Amended
October 4, 2022
SAN JOSE
DOWNTOWN
DESIGN GUIDELINES
AND STANDARDS
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Cover photo credit: pikappa51 / Shutterstock.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
City Council
Sam Liccardo, Mayor
Charles Jones, Vice Mayor
Sylvia Arenas
Magdalena Carrasco
Devora Davis
Lan Diep
Maya Esparza
Pam Foley
Sergio Jimenez
Johnny Khamis
Raul Peralez
Planning Commission
Peter Allen, Chair
Shiloh Ballard,
Vice Chair
Melanie Griswold
John Leyb
a
Pierluigi Oliverio
Namrat
a Vora
Michelle Y esne
y
Historic L
andmark Commission
Edward Saum, Chair
Paul Boehm, Vice Chair
Harriett Arnold
Eric Hirst
Stephen Polcyn
Anthony Raynsford
Rachel Royer
City Attorney
Johnny Phan
Vera T odorov
Project Staff
Leila Hakimizadeh, Lead Project Manager
Timothy Rood, Division Manager
Other Participating Staff
Kerry Adams-Hapner
Juliet Arroyo
Theresa Chung
Ruth Cueto
Martina Davis
Eric Eidlin
Bill Ekern
Stefanie Farmer
Bradley Fox
Marc Garcia
Peggy Horning
Lisa Joiner
Patrick Kelly
Emily Lipoma
Adam Marcus
Shaunn Mendrin
Doug Moody
Michael Ogilvie
Rebekah Ross
Lori Severino
Jeff Sinclair
Nizar Slim
Vivian T om
Cassandra Van Der Zweep
Cheryl Wessling
Blage Zelalich
Intern
Camille Frace
Other Organizations
Melissa R. Cerezo, Santa Clara Valley
T ransportation Authority
Thang Do, Aedis Architects
Barbara Goldstein, Barbara Goldstein &
Associates
Ben Grant, SPUR
Scott Knies, San José Downtown
Association
Nate LeBlanc, San José Downtown
Association
Consultant
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Special Thanks
The City of San José would like to thank all
those who participated in the community
workshops and who otherwise contributed
to the development of this document.
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Adopted
April 23, 2019
Amended
May 21, 2019
Planning Director's
Update
May 1, 2020
Amended
October 4, 2022
SAN JOSE
DOWNTOWN
DESIGN GUIDELINES
AND STANDARDS
These Design Guidelines were made
possible with funding from the John S.
and James L. Knight Foundation. Knight
Foundation works to foster informed and
engaged communities, as essential for a
healthy democracy. It supports the success
of cities where brothers John S. and James
L. Knight once published newspapers,
working to help those communities attract
and nurture talent, enhance opportunity, and
foster civic engagement.
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background and Applicability 2
1.2 Purpo
se 4
1.3 Values and Guiding P
rinciples 5
1.4 How to us
e the Guidelines 6
2.0 FRAMEWORK PLANS 7
2.1 Prominent Sit es and Frontages 8
2.2 Podium Le
vel and Pedestrian Level 10
2.3 Historic Sit
es and Districts 12
2.4 Civic Icon Buildings 14
2.5 Street Le
vel View Corridors 15
2.6 Special Lighting 16
2.7 Block Structure 18
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
3.0 SITE 19
3.1 Importance o f the Site 20
3.2 Site Cont
ext
3.2.1 Block Size 21
3.2.2 Building Placement 22
3.3 Site Or
ganization
3.3.1 Arrangement
of Activities 23
3.3.2 Relationship t
o T ransit 24
3.3.3 Paseo / Mid-Block C
onnection Location 25
3.4 Site Element Loc
ations
3.4 .1 Locating P
rivately-Owned
Public Open Sp
ace 26
3.4 .2 Locating Gr
ound Level Semi-Private
Open Spac
e 27
3.4 .3 Locating Gr
ound Level
Building Open Spac
e 28
3.4 .4 Vehicle and Bicy
cle Parking Location 29
3.5 Site Ac
cess Locations
3.5.1 Pedes
trian and Bicycle Entrance Location 30
3.5.2 Servic
e Entrance Location 31
3.5.3 Parking and V
ehicular Access Location 32
1 3
5 2
4 6
7 EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
5.0 PEDESTRIAN LE VEL 63
5.1 Street Life , Commerce, and the Public Realm 64
5.2 Public Art in P
rivate Development 65
5.3 Ground Floor T
reatments and Uses
5.3.1 a. Activ
e Frontages 66
b. Mitig
ating Blank Walls 68
c. S
ervice and Utility Design 69
5.3.2 Ground Floor Non-Re
sidential Space 70
5.3.3 Ground Floor Re
sidential Space 71
5.3. 4 Lighting - Pedes
trian Level 72
5.3.5 Signage - Podium L
evel and
Pedes
trian Level 74
5.4 Surface Parking Lots 75
5.5 Entr
ances
5.5.1 Pedes
trian and Bicycle Entry Design 76
5.5.2 Vehicle and Ser
vice Entry Design 78
5.6 Paseo D
esign 79
5.7 Privat
ely-Owned Public Open Space Design 80
A.0 APPENDIX 81
A.1 Glos sary 82
A.2 Background Studie
s
A.2.1 Skyline Studies 86
A.2.2 Paseo P
recedents 90
A.3 Res
ources and References 92
4.0 BUILDING 33
4.1 Buildings and the City 34
4.2 Context
4.2.1 Form, Proportion, and Organizing Idea 35
4.2.2 Massing Relationship to Context 36
4.2.3 Civic Icon Adjacency 37
4.2.4 Historic Adjacency 38
4.3 Massing
4.3.1 Podium Level Massing (Below 70 Feet) 40
4.3.2 Skyline Level Massing (Above 70 Feet) 41
4.3.3 Streetwall 42
4.3.4 Sunlight 44
4.3.5 Wind 45
4.4 Building Elements
4.4.1 Facade Pattern and Articulation 46
4.4.2 a. Windows and Glazing 48
b. Bird Safety 49
c. Balconies (Private Open Space) 50
4.4.3 Materials and Colors 51
4.4.4 Mitigating Blank Facades 52
4.4.5 Vertical Circulation 53
4.4.6 Parking Garages 54
4.4.7 Roofs
a. Rooftops and Mechanical Equipment 56
b. Green Roofs and Decks
(Building Open Space) 57
4.4.8 Pedestrian Bridges 58
4.4.9 Lighting
a. Lighting - Podium Level 59
b. Lighting - Skyline Level 60
4.4.10 Signage - Skyline Level 61
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
vi
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.1 Background and Applicability
1.2 Purpo
se
1.3 Values and Guiding P
rinciples
1.4 How to us
e the Guidelines
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Photo credit: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.1 Background and Applicability
San José’s Downtown is the largest urban
center in Silicon Valley and is a unique place
to work, live, and play. Downtown is a center
of business, culture, history, living, enter -
tainment, and transportation. This area is
rapidly developing and affords opportunities
to develop great civic spaces and for place-
making that will further define San José as
the capital of Silicon Valley.
Downtown’s urban design constraints are
also unique. These include:
•
A low
airport flight path that limits building
height
• A high groundw
ater table that favors
placement of parking and other basement
utilities above ground.
• Nearby high
ways that provide access yet
also limit and divide the area.
The San José Downtown Design Guidelines
and Standards (referred to in the document
as the Downtown Design Guidelines or
the Design Guidelines) provide guidance
for the form and design of buildings in
Downtown, their appearance in the larger
cityscape, and their interface with the street
level Public Realm. The Design Guidelines
document defines the design objectives for
the elements that determine the image of
Downtown and refines the concepts of other
plans, translating them into an operational
document that increases predictability for
developers and their architects for develop-
ment in Downtown.
APPLICABILITY
The Downtown Design Guidelines are
effective thirty (30) days after approval
by the City Council ("Effective Date"). Any
Planning application submitted after the
Effective Date for a new permit or permit
amendment is required to comply with the
Downtown Design Guidelines. The San José
Downtown Design Guidelines and Standards
fully replace the 2004 Downtown Design
Guidelines.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO
CONSULT
There are additional expectations for devel-
opment in some areas of Downtown. Refer
to the specific area document for more
information, listed below. All of these docu-
ments can be found at www.sanjoseca.gov/
planning.
F Downt
own Street and Pedestrian
Lighting Master Plan
F Diridon Station Ar
ea Plan
F Market Almaden Neighborhood
Impr
ovement Plan
F Downt
own San José Historic District
Design Guidelines
F St.
James Square Historic District
Design Guidelines
F Public Art NEX
T! San José’s New Public
Art Master Plan
F Downt
own Next! A Public Art Focus
Plan for Downtown San José
F Draft Diridon St
ation Area Art Master
Plan
F Cultural Connection: Cit
y of San José's
Cultural Plan
F San Jo
sé Complete Streets Design
Standards and Guidelines
F San Jo
sé Green Stormwater
Infrastructure Plan (2019)
F Chapter 20
.70 - Downtown Regulations
of the San José Municipal Code
DESIGN GUIDELINES SCOPE
The San José Downtown Design Guidelines
and Standards provide guidance for the
site planning, access, form, and design of
buildings in Downtown, their appearance in
the larger cityscape, and their interface with
the Pedestrian Level. The Design Guidelines
define the design objectives for the elements
that determine the image of the general area
of Downtown, translating them into an oper-
ational document that increases predictabil-
ity for various stakeholders.
The Design Guidelines document includes
design guidelines for buildings adjacent
to historic buildings but does not include
guidelines for rehabilitation or modifications
to historic buildings or adaptive reuse of
historic buildings. Furthermore, the Design
Guidelines do not update or change the
1989 Saint James Square Historic District
Design Guidelines, the 2003 Downtown San
José Historic District Guidelines, the 2004
Downtown Historic Design Guidelines, or any
other applicable historic review guidelines
and standards. These existing historic guide-
lines will remain in use as applicable until the
City updates those documents.
RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS
The Diridon Station Area is envisioned as a
vibrant and critical component of the overall
Downtown. At the time of approval of the
Downtown Design Guidelines by the Planning
Commission and City Council, Planning staff
was also in the beginning stage of updating
the Diridon Station Area Plan (DSAP). On
May 25, 2021, the City Council unanimously
approved the Amended Diridon Station Area
Plan (DSAP) along with Google's Downtown
West Project and the Diridon Affordable
Housing Implementation Plan.
280
680
880
87 San José
Airport
SANTA CLARA STREET
Kelley
Park
101
Downtown Context
Coyote Creek
Los Gatos Creek
Guadalupe River
Santa
Clara
Guadalupe
Gardens
2 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Guidelines Boundary
Previous Plans and Guidelines
Light Rail
Caltrain/Future High Speed Rail
Planned BART
Altamont Commuter Express
Amtrak
Guidelines Boundary
San José State
University
General Plan Down-
town Growth Area
Diridon Station Area
Plan Boundary
Light Rail
Planned BART
Caltrain/Future High
Speed Rail
Amtrak
Altamont Commuter
Express
Guidelines Boundary
Previous Plans and
Guidelines
Light Rail
Planned BART
Caltrain/Future High
Speed Rail
Amtrak
Altamont Commuter
Express
Guidelines Boundary
Previous Plans and Guidelines
Light Rail
Caltrain/Future High Speed Rail
Planned BART
Altamont Commuter Express
Amtrak
Guidelines Boundary
San José State
University
General Plan Down-
town Growth Area
Diridon Station Area
Plan Boundary
Light Rail
Planned BART
Caltrain/Future High
Speed Rail
Amtrak
Altamont Commuter
Express
Guidelines Boundary
Previous Plans and
Guidelines
Light Rail
Planned BART
Caltrain/Future High
Speed Rail
Amtrak
Altamont Commuter
Express
Future
BART
Station
Future
BART
Station
SAP
Center
280
87 GUIDELINES BOUNDARY
The proposed Downtown Design Guidelines
apply generally to the General Plan
Downtown Growth Area and the Diridon
Station Area Plan Area. The area is generally
bounded in the south by Highway 280, on
the north by Coleman Avenue, on the west
by Diridon Station, and on the east by San
José State University. While the San José
State University (SJSU) campus is not within
the boundary of the Downtown Growth Area,
SJSU contributes significantly to the vitality
of Downtown and is part of its larger context.
Therefore, SJSU is included within the
proposed Design Guidelines boundary.
REVISIONS
As a part of the approval of the Downtown
Design Guidelines on April 23, 2019, City
St. James
Park
Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Discovery
Meadow
Plaza de
Cesar
Chavez
Convention
CenterLos Gatos Creek
Guadalupe River
AUTUMN PARKWAY
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
REED STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SUNOL STREET
PARK AVENUE
1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
THE ALAMEDA
2ND STREET
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .
MONTGOMERY ST .
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
SAN PEDRO STREET
STOCKTON AVENUE
TAYLOR STREET
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
DEVINE STREET
COLEMAN AVENUE 7TH STREET
JULIAN STREET
ST. JOHN STREET
City
Hall
Diridon
Station
General Plan
Downtown Growth Area
Diridon
Station Area
Plan (2021)
San José
State
University
GUIDELINE BOUNDARY
1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
Council delegated authority to the Director
of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement
to make minor clarifications, corrections, or
technical changes to the text and diagrams
of the San José Downtown Design Guidelines
and Standards. These revisions are also to
be published on the Planning, Building, and
Code Enforcement webpage at www.sanjo-
seca.gov/planning.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS 3
4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.2 Purpose
AN IMPLEMENTATION TOOL
The vision for the future of Downtown San
José has come from a variety of plans and
public involvement over multiple years.
Implementing the vision will require both
public and private investment and action,
and the Downtown Design Guidelines
document is a tool to help achieve the vision.
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
An inviting Public Realm forms the setting for Public Life - of strolling, shopping, civic cele- bration, and activism. Memorable buildings, pedestrian paseos, Public Spaces and the social and physical environment in which to enjoy them form the backbone of a livable community.
As a regional job, entertainment, and cultural destination, Downtown San José is the South Bay region’s primary and most intensive employment center, providing a distinctive work environment for large and small companies at high densities that generates business devel- opment and contributes to the City’s culture of innovation. Urban areas such as this require thoughtful design, and Downtown's high design quality will support these elements of Public Life and economic health.
SENSE OF PLACE
Downtown is San Jose’s largest and most vibrant urban center for living, working and enter- taining and the center of the City’s arts, entertainment, culinary, and professional sports activ- ities. Downtown has a vitality that makes it "home" to all of San Jose's citizens, workers, and visitors. It is the symbolic, economic, and cultural heart of San José and the cultural center of Silicon Valley. With the South Bay’s largest and most intensive concentration of civic and cultural facilities, including San José State University, the largest university library building in the western United States, and world-class performing arts institutions, Downtown contrib- utes to the City’s positive identity and establishes San José's prominent place in the region.
High-quality buildings and urban spaces will knit these facilities and activities together into a unified and welcoming place for all.
SUSTAINABLE URBANISM
Downtown San José includes unique and growing residential neighborhoods with convenient access to urban activities and amenities, inviting families, young professionals, empty-nest- ers, youth, and elderly to live Downtown. Development in Downtown San José is urban, compact, and resource efficient, with historic architecture side by side with contemporary high-rise development. Sustainable transportation works well in this pedestrian-oriented environment, with facilities to support walking, bicycling, and transit use, and with vehicles carefully managed. For long trips, public transit is the mode of choice, providing an advantage in accessibility to the region, moving past vehicle dependence. These factors require good design to create a vital, resilient urban area with environmental and economic sustainability.
Many key elements of Downtown will be
governed by other documents and public
investments and actions. The Design
Guidelines, in coordination with other plans,
work toward the vision with specific require-
ments and clear direction for new buildings
and major exterior modification to existing
buildings. The Downtown Design Guidelines
are intended to guide buildings toward
design excellence, sustainable urbanism,
and a sense of place that is unique to San
José.
“Sensing Y ou” by Dan Corson; photo by Adrien Le Biavant 4 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.3 Values and Guiding Principles
The Values and Guiding Principles have
guided the creation of the Design Guidelines
and provide the rationale for their guidance
of Downtown development. They flow from
the values and principles expressed by the
community and City in previous San José
plans as well as from community outreach.
Plans consulted include (but were not
limited to):
•
Envision S an José 2040 General
Plan (2011)
• Great
er Downtown Strategy for
Development
• Diridon Station Ar
ea Plan (2014)
• Downt
own Design Guidelines (2004)
• St.
James Square Historic District
Guidelines (1989)
PROSPERITY ENHANCE THE LOCAL, CITY, AND REGIONAL ECONOMY.
Innovate and Support Creativity Encourage innovation in a built environment that supports the flexibility to enable creativity and innovation, public art, and cultural engagement.
Promote High Quality Architecture Create an attractive and functional urban environment through the positive addition of each new building or exterior modification of a non-historic building.
Focus on the Ground Floor Promote a diverse, active, and attractive pedestrian environment at the ground level including flexible, multi-purpose spaces suitable for arts as well as commercial and residential uses.
Mix Uses and Activities Enable positive interaction between a diverse and fine-grained mix of uses.
HEALTH PROMOTE HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
Design for Sustainability Use new development to make the area more environmentally and economically sustainable through building quality and multimodal connectivity.
Put People First Promote health and activity with safe, attractive, functional, and comfortable urban spaces and buildings.
Create Connection and Accessibility Use new development to enhance individual health through Downtown's multimodal accessibility and enhance pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.
Generate Resilience Create a physical infrastructure that enables human, economic, environmental, and social resilience.
IDENTITY AND HISTORY ACCENTUATE THE AREA'S UNIQUE CHARACTER AND CULTURE.
Create Legibility Promote Downtown as a cohesive and unified district with citywide and regional importance while celebrating unique sub-areas and using public art as a placemaking method.
Create a Memorable Destination Build on Downtown’s unique strengths as the cultural, artistic, and creative center of the South Bay and support residents' active, personal participation in arts and culture.
Be Authentic to San José Build upon the cultural, historic, and environmental characteristics of San José.
Welcome All of San José Strengthen the area as a center for the City and the region for people of all abilities, ages, genders, and income levels.
VALUE
Guiding Principle
• Downt
own Streetscape Master
Plan (2003)
• Guadalupe River Park & Gar
dens Urban
Design Guidelines (2003)
The Design Guidelines are intended to help
Downtown realize its greatest potential as
a livable, pedestrian-oriented, sustainable
City core.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
5 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Chapter 3 – Site discusses the arrangement
of activities on the site, primarily in relation
to the adjacent public space.
Chapter 4 – Building discusses architec-
ture, including issues of massing at the lower
and upper levels and design of facades.
Chapter 5 – Pedestrian Level discusses the
building’s interaction with sidewalks, paseos,
or open space. Issues such as transparency,
types of access, and service are essential to
this topic, appropriate in approximately the
lowest 20 feet of the building.
DESIGN GUIDELINES STRUCTURE
The Design Guidelines document is orga-
nized into five chapters and an appendix:
Chapter 1 – Introduction lays out how to use
the Design Guidelines, includes the Design
Guidelines boundary, and has sections for
Purpose, Values and Guiding Principles. The
Values and Guiding Principles have guided
the creation of the document. They flow
from the values and principles expressed by
the community and City in previous San José
plans as well as from community outreach
for this project.
Chapter 2 – Framework Plans identi-
fies several different characteristics of
Downtown that create guidance for a devel-
opment project. The Framework Plans assign
characteristics to various streets, blocks,
and parcels in Downtown. These character -
istics affect the treatment of urban design
elements in Chapters 3-5.
Appendix include a glossary, skyline studies,
paseo precedents studies, and a resources
and references section.
GUIDELINE STRUCTURE
Guideline Title starts with a number and is
typically limited to one subject.
Value correlates this section to one of the
values in the Introduction Chapter.
Statement summarizes the intent of the
guideline in one sentence.
Rationale describes the design principle
addressed in the guideline and the reason for
its importance.
Guidelines describe best practices, are typi-
cally qualitative, and serve as overarching
design guidance. Proposed projects located
in the Design Guidelines boundary (Section
1.1) must be in substantial conformance to
the intent of the guidelines contained in the
document.
Standards provide design guidance that is
numeric and verifiable. Proposed projects
located in the Design Guidelines boundary
must meet the minimum standards set forth
in the document. Standards are binding and
considered City of San José policies.
General Plan Reference provides references
to sections of the San José General Plan that
cover related topics and requirements.
Related Guidelines lists similar guidelines or
standards within the Design Guidelines. For
example, there are guidelines regarding the
location of paseos in Chapter 3 - Site and the
design of paseos in Chapter 5 - Pedestrian
Level. The references to related guidelines
make it easier for users to navigate through
the Design Guidelines.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE STANDARDS
A project applicant may request an excep-
tion to the design standards contained in the
Design Guidelines. The exception process set
forth in the Design Standards and Guidelines
is in addition to concessions or waivers
possible under State Density Bonus laws or
other applicable state laws. The request must
be made in writing as part of the Planning
application for the proposed project. The
application for an exception must contain
detailed information on the design standard
that is requested to be waived; how the
physical constraints and unique situations of
the project site make it infeasible to comply
with the design standard; how the proposed
project meets the design standard at issue
to the extent feasible; and how the request
meets each exception requirements.
The decision-maker (Planning Director,
Planning Commission, or City Council, as
Framework
Plan
Site Characteristic
Image-Defining Frontage
Gateway Site
Primary Addressing Street
SoFA Addressing Street
Secondary Addressing Street
Paseo
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage
Open Space Frontage
T ransit Gateway
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Gateway
Within a Historic or Landmark
District
Adjacent to a Historic Building
or Civic Icon building
Natural or Urban View Corridor
Lighting Gateway
Enhanced Lighting Corridor
Special Block Size Zone
1 1
3 3
5 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 4
6 6
7 1.4 How T o Use the Guidelines
applicable) shall consider the request and
information provided and make certain
findings to either approve or deny the
request. The decision-maker may only grant
an exception if all the following findings are
made:
a.
There is a phy
sical constraint or unique
situation that:
1. is not creat
ed by the project applicant
or property owner; and
2. is not caused b
y financial or economic
constraints considerations.
b. Approving the e
xception will not create a
safety hazard or impair the integrity and
character of the neighborhood in which
the subject property is located.
c.
The propo
sed project meets the intent of
the design standard to the extent physi-
cally feasible.
If any of above findings cannot be made, the
decision-maker may still grant the exception
if all the following findings are made:
a.
The project advanc
es the Major Strategies
of Chapter 1 of the General Plan; and
b. The project is consis
tent with the Values
and Guiding Principles of Chapter 1.3 of
the Design Guidelines;
c. The project achiev
es the stated Rationale
of the section of the Design Guidelines as
set forth for each applicable Standard;
and
d.
There are c
ounterbalancing consider -
ations that justify the inconsistency.
STEPS FOR USING THE GUIDELINES
Step 1. Framework Plans
First, consult the Framework Plans in
Chapter 2 to find the location of the devel-
opment parcel to determine characteristics
that will affect building design. For example,
if the parcel is adjacent to a View Corridor
in Framework Plan 5, the rules for block
sizes and pedestrian bridges (Sections 3.2.1
and 4.4.8) are different than these rules for
other parcels.
Step 2. Guidelines
Next, consult Chapters 3 - 5 to determine
the guidelines and standards for the property
related to the Site, Skyline Level, Podium
Level, and Pedestrian Level.
Note: Diagrams and photos in the Design
Guidelines are for illustrative purposes.
Proposing a similar design would not guar -
antee City acceptance. Image and diagram
captions are explanatory only and are not
guidelines or standards. Measurements
are straight line distance unless otherwise
noted.
6 EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.1 Prominent Sites and Frontages
2.2 Podium Le
vel and Pedestrian Level
2.3 Historic Sit
es and Districts
2.4 Civic Icon Buildings
2.5 Street Le
vel View Corridors
2.6 Special Lighting
2.7 Block Structure
2.0 FRAMEWORK PLANS
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
View Locations
Image-De/f_ining Frontage
Gateway Site
Height Level Changes
2.1 Prominent Sites and Frontages
PROMINENT SITES AND FRONTAGES FRAMEWORK PLAN
280
87 St. James
Park
Plaza de
Cesar
Chavez
Diridon
Station
San José
State
University
Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Discovery
Meadow
City
Hall
Convention
Center
Market
Center
Los Gatos Creek
Guadalupe River
THE ALAMEDA
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
REED STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SUNOL STREETPARK AVENUE
1ST STREET
1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
2ND STREET
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .MONTGOMERY STREET
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
STOCKTON AVENUE
TAYLOR STREET
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
DEVINE STREET
COLEMAN AVENUE 7TH STREET
AUTUMN PARKWAY
JULIAN STREET
ST. JOHN STREET
The Framework Plans in this chapter identify
characteristics of development sites that
have specific guideline requirements in
addition to the requirements for all parcels.
WHAT TO DO IN THIS SECTION
Locate the proposed development site to
determine if it:
1. Has an Image-D
efining Frontage
2. Is a Gate
way Site
This will affect its treatment in the Relevant
Guidelines (see below) in chapters 3 - 5.
RELEVANT GUIDELINES
Designations in this Framework Plan affect
the following guidelines:
4.2.1 - Form, Proportion, and Organizing Idea
4.3.2 - Skyline Level Massing (Above 70’)
4.4.1 - Facade Pattern and Articulation
4.4.3 - Materials and Colors
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
SAN PEDRO STREET
1 Note: Height Level Changes are relatively
large differences in allowed height result -
ing from the interaction of Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) rules for airport clear -
ances and City of San José zoning.
Note: View Locations are approximate loca-
tions of important views of Downtown, shown
to illustrate the importance of the designated
Image-Defining Frontages and Gateway Sites.
1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
8 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
RATIONALE
The skyline and highly visible building facades
create the first impression of Downtown from
other locations within San José and beyond.
The skyline is also visible inside Downtown
from certain vantage points.
The skyline is shaped by many factors,
but one of the foremost is the limitation
of building height by the Mineta-San José
International Airport, located north of
Downtown. This limit, in combination with
zoning height standards, has created a
“mesa” (table) shaped skyline, with most
buildings at similar heights.
Among the most memorable Downtown
skyline views are those from parks such
as Arena Green, from highways that pass
through and adjacent to the site, and from
some major streets, such as the Alameda.
PROMINENT LOCATIONS
Due to the flat shape of the skyline and
limited view locations, some sites have
more impact on the Downtown skyline. From
an analysis of this pattern (see Appendix
A.2.1), the derived Gateway Sites and Image-
Defining Frontages are shown in the plan at
left. Buildings on these sites will have a large
impact on the image of the City. For this
reason, their design receives special atten-
tion in the Design Guidelines in the following
chapters.
The Downtown skyline has a mesa shape due to height limits (Photo © Google) The simulation above left shows the importance
of development on Gateway Sites and Image-
Defining Frontages to the first impression of
Downtown while entering from the north on
Highway 87 (Photo © Google). The simulated view
at bottom left from the Highway 87 ramp looking
northeast toward Downtown demonstrates the
visual prominence of the Gateway Sites (Photo
© Google). Note: both images show massing
simulations and do not represent actual building
designs.
Above, local open spaces like Arena Green provide
views of the skyline.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
9 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage
Open Space Frontage
T ransit Gateway
Pedestrian and Bicycle Gateway
Primary Addressing Street
SoFA Addressing Street
Secondary Addressing Street
Paseo - Existing
Paseo - From Diridon Plan*
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage
Open Space Frontage
T ransit Gateway
Pedestrian and Bicycle Gateway
* Diridon Station Area Plan (2014), /f_igure 3-3-1:
Public Open Space Network
Earlier Version
Primary Addressing Street
SoFA Addressing Street
Secondary Addressing Street
Other Street (white)
Paseo - Existing
Paseo - From Diridon Plan*
* Diridon Station Area Plan (2014), /f_igure 3-3-1:
Public Open Space Network
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage
Open Space Frontage
T ransit Gateway
Pedestrian and Bicycle Gateway
Primary Addressing Street
SoFA Addressing Street
Secondary Addressing Street
Paseo - Existing
Paseo - From Diridon Plan*
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage
Open Space Frontage
T ransit Gateway
Pedestrian and Bicycle Gateway
* Diridon Station Area Plan (2014), /f_igure 3-3-1:
Public Open Space Network
Earlier Version
Primary Addressing Street
SoFA Addressing Street
Secondary Addressing Street
Other Street (white)
Paseo - Existing
Paseo - From Diridon Plan*
* Diridon Station Area Plan (2014), /f_igure 3-3-1:
Public Open Space Network
2.2 Podium Level and Pedestrian Level
WHAT TO DO IN THIS SECTION
Locate the proposed development site to
determine if it is adjacent to a:
1. Primary A
ddressing Street
2. SoFA
Addressing Street
3. Secondar
y Addressing Street
4. Paseo
5 . Urban Park/Plaz
a Frontage
6. Open Spac
e Frontage
7. T ransit Gat
eway
8. Pedes
trian and Bicycle Gateway
This will affect its treatment in the Relevant
Guidelines (see below) in chapters 3 - 5.
RELEVANT GUIDELINES
Designations in this Framework Plan affect
the following guidelines:
3.3.2 - Relationship to T ransit
3.4.4 - Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Location
3.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance
Location
3.5.2 - Service Entrance Location
3.5.3 - Parking and Vehicular Access Location
4.3.1 - Podium Level Massing
4.3.3 - Streetwall
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
5.2 - Public Art in Private Development
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.3.2 - Ground Floor Non-Residential Space
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
5.3.5 - Signage - Podium Level and Pedestrian
Level
280Los Gatos Creek
Guadalupe River
AUTUMN PARKWAY
St. James
Park
Plaza de
Cesar
Chavez
Diridon
Station
San José
State
University
STOCKTON AVENUE
7TH STREET
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
REED STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREETSAN CARLOS STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
PARK AVENUE
1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
THE ALAMEDA 2ND STREET
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .MONTGOMERY STREET
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
TAYLOR STREET
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
DEVINE STREET
COLEMAN AVENUE
JULIAN STREET
ST. JOHN STREET
SoFA
District
Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Discovery
Meadow
City
Hall
Convention
Center
Market
Center
SAN PEDRO STREET
PODIUM LEVEL AND PEDESTRIAN LEVEL FRAMEWORK PLAN2
87 Note: Urban Park/Plaza Frontage and Open
Space Frontage are special designations.
These classifications do not apply to parks,
plazas, or open spaces not so designated on
this Framework Plan.
1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
10 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
RATIONALE
The interface with the street is the primary
organizing element at the base of a building.
The design should be attractive and engage
pedestrians with the activities within the
building.
The Public Realm treatment of streets varies
by their location, land uses, and commercial
and symbolic importance within Downtown.
Street design is governed by the San José
Complete Streets Design Standards &
Guidelines (2018).
STREET FRONTAGE
CLASSIFICATION
There are no unimportant streets. However,
the built form treatment along streets can
vary. Street frontage classification indi-
cates the role of the street in the Downtown
urban fabric. These classifications and
related requirements are in addition to the
requirements of the Downtown Groundfloor
Space Area (DG Overlay Area) in the Zoning
Ordinance. Other City rules may also require
specific locations for some retail uses.
Primary Addressing Street: This is a
primary commercial street that includes
retail and other active ground floor uses.
SoFA (South of First Area) Addressing
Street: This is a variant of the Primary
Addressing Street that addresses the charac-
ter of the SoFA district. SoFA's 1st Street is a
historic retail street consisting of mostly one
or two-story buildings and a mix of cultural,
commercial, and residential uses. The desig-
nation extends between San Carlos and
Reed Streets.
Secondary Addressing Street: This is a
street with a commercial or residential focus.
While it may provide some active ground
floor uses, retail is not the primary function
of the street.
Paseo: Paseos are pedestrian connections
that can have a variety of uses (see Glossary).
Alleys: Alleys have no Streetwall require-
ments. An alley should always be the location
of services, if one is available.
Other Streets: Other Streets are streets
within the Guidelines boundary without the
designations stated above.
PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
Urban parks and natural open spaces are
amenities that form part of Downtown’s
ecological systems and address the need
for natural spaces that support mental and
physical health.
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage: These facades
form the urban framework for the existing
civic spaces in Downtown. They should
create a sense of enclosure for the spaces.
Open Space Frontage: These facades define
the experience within Downtown's natural
spaces and should have an urban form that
provides visual permeability toward the open
space.
GATEWAYS
Entry points into Downtown from transit and
for pedestrians and bicyclists create special
opportunities for high levels of amenity and
safety at the small scale. These are different
from Gateway Sites (see section 2.1) which
relate to the visual entry experience at the
larger scale and for longer views.
T ransit Gateway: Rail transit stations are key
permanent locations for entry into and exit
from Downtown (See 3.3.2 - Relationship to
T ransit for information on buildings at both
rail stations and bus stops on the Frequent
Network).
Pedestrian and Bicycle Gateway: Certain
pedestrian and bicycle routes take on
additional importance at entry points into
Downtown.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
11 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Historic or Landmark District or Area
San José City Landmark
California Register of Historical
Resources or Other State Designation
National Register of Historic Places
2.3 Historic Sites and Districts
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
REED STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SUNOL STREETPARK AVENUE
1ST STREET
1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
THE ALAMEDA
2ND STREET
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .MONTGOMERY STREET
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
TAYLOR STREET
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
DEVINE STREET
COLEMAN AVENUE
7TH STREET
AUTUMN PARKWAY
JULIAN STREET
ST. JOHN STREET
WHAT TO DO IN THIS SECTION
Locate the proposed development site to
determine if it:
1. Is within any
of the districts or areas
on the map on this page. If so, consult
the appropriate design guideline as
listed in the Other Guidelines table in this
section. In case of a conflict between the
Design Guidelines and guidelines for a
site's historic district or area, the historic
district or area guidelines take prece-
dence.
2. Qualifies f
or Historic Adjacency, as defined
on the next page. If so, refer to Sections
4.2.2 and 4.2.4. Note that some historic
buildings are also Civic Icon Buildings,
and there is additional guidance for build-
ings in the Affected Areas; see section 2.4.
As noted in Section 1.1, the Design Guidelines
do not apply to historic buildings themselves.
RELEVANT GUIDELINES
Designations in this Framework Plan affect
the following guidelines:
4.2.2 - Massing Relationship to Context
4.2.3 - Civic Icon Adjacency
4.2.4 - Historic Adjacency
280
87 STOCKTON AVENUE
St. James
ParkRiver Street
City Landmark
Historic District
“Little Italy”
The Alameda
(right of way) City
Landmark District
Lakehouse
City Landmark
Historic District
Saint James
Square City
Landmark District
and National
Register Historic
District
Hensley City Landmark
and National Register
Historic District
Downtown
Commercial
National
Register
District
Market-
Almaden
Conservation
Area
Guadalupe/
Washington
Conservation
Area
Martha
Gardens
Conservation
Area
Reed City
Landmark
Historic
District
Naglee Park
Conservation
Area
Hanchett and
Hester Park
Conservation
Area
City
Hall
Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Convention
Center
Los Gatos Creek
Guadalupe River
Market
Center
San José
State
University
Note: This historic inventory map is provided
for convenience. For the most updated infor -
mation refer to the City of San José Historic
Resources Inventory or consult the City of San
José Historic Preservation Officer.
Proposed
Gardner
Conservation
Area
SAN PEDRO STREET
HISTORIC SITES AND DISTRICTS
FRAMEWORK PLAN
3 1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
12 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
RATIONALE
San José has many unique historic resources
and a building’s design should respond to
this historic context.
OTHER GUIDELINES TO CONSULT
Historic and landmark district and conserva-
tion area boundaries appear on the map in
this section. For projects within the National
Register Districts, consult the applicable
guidelines - “Downtown San Jose Historic
District Design Guidelines” or the “Saint
James Square Historic District Design
Guidelines. ” Other districts and areas and
their associated guidelines are listed in the
Other Guidelines table below. Guidelines
documents are available at www.sanjoseca.
gov/planning.
DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES
GUIDANCE
In addition to the other guidelines, the
Downtown Design Guidelines set rules for
new buildings and external alterations to
non-historic buildings being built near and
adjacent to historic and other key structures
within the Design Guidelines boundary.
1. Historic A
djacency - A site has Historic
Adjacency when any of the these are true:
a. At leas
t 50% of buildings fully or
partially within 200 feet are on the
San José Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI) or are eligible for HRI listing
b.
The site is within 1
00 feet of a
Designated or Candidate City
Landmark or contributor to a district
or conservation area
c.
The site
is adjacent to a historic
building on the Historic Resources
Inventory (HRI) or eligible for HRI
listing
The building(s) within the categories
above that cause a new building to have
Historic Adjacency are the new building's
Historic Context.
For sites with Historic Adjacency, refer to
Section 4.2.4.
2. Massing R
elationship to Context - A
new building adjacent to historic build-
ings may have additional guidance for
massing (see Section 4.2.2).
3. Civic Icon Building
s - If a historic building
is also a Civic Icon Building, it receives
additional guidance for buildings within
the Affected Area (see sections 2.4 and
4.2.3).
GENERAL NOTE ABOUT HISTORIC
RESOURCES
The City’s General Plan includes goals
and objectives for historic preservation,
including public awareness efforts coor -
dinated with neighborhood and advocacy
groups. The Planning Division maintains an
inventory of both designated and surveyed
historic properties. The Historic Preservation
Ordinance (Chapter 13.48 of the Municipal
Code) provides the local historic designa-
tion process and the development review
process for individual historic properties and
historic areas.
The City Council adopted the Preservation
of Historic Landmarks policy (amended in
2006; potential future amendments) about
the preservation of historic resources. The
local Historic Landmarks Commission and
staff help to administer the City’s Historic
Resources Program.
Administration and planning for historic
resources includes compliance with local,
state, and national rules, including the
California Environmental Quality Act. For
projects proposing changes to historic prop-
erties and areas, the City generally reviews
for compatibility and compliance with the
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and
Guidelines for the T reatment of Historic
Properties as published by the National Park
Service.
As of 2018, there are seven designated
Historic Districts and Conservation Areas
in the Downtown area and several historic
properties designated at the local, State,
and/or National level. Additionally, there
are many properties on the City’s Historic
Resources Inventory (HRI) as well as poten-
tial historic districts and potentially eligible
individual properties. The City is in the
process of updating the HRI through survey
work as of the date of the Design Guidelines,
and not all areas of the Downtown and City
have been surveyed.
OTHER GUIDELINES
NAME OF DISTRICT OR AREA NAME OF APPLICABLE DESIGN GUIDELINES Saint James Square City Landmark District/Saint James Square National Register District Saint James Square Historic District Design Guidelines Downtown Commercial National Register District Downtown San Jose Historic District Design Guidelines Hensley City Landmark District/Hensley National Register Historic District Y our Old House, Guide for Preserving San Jose Homes City Landmark Districts: Lakehouse, River Street (Little Italy), Reed Y our Old House, Guide for Preserving San Jose Homes Conservation Areas: Martha Gardens, Guadalupe/Washington, Market Almaden, Hanchett and Hester Park, and Naglee Park Y our Old House, Guide for Preserving San Jose Homes
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
13 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Historic Civic Icon Buildings
Other Civic Icon Buildings
Affected Area
Important View Angle
2.4 Civic Icon Buildings
WHAT TO DO IN THIS SECTION
Locate the proposed development site
to determine if it is in the Affected Area
of a Civic Icon Building. This will affect its
treatment in the Relevant Guidelines (see
below) in chapters 3 - 5.
RELEVANT GUIDELINES
Designations in this Framework Plan affect
the following guidelines:
4.2.2 - Massing Relationship to Context (for
Historic Civic Icon Buildings)
4.2.3 - Civic Icon Adjacency
4.2.4 - Historic Adjacency (for Historic Civic
Icon Buildings)
280
87 1ST STREET
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
REED STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
THE ALAMEDA
2ND STREET
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .MONTGOMERY STREET
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
STOCKTON AVENUE
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
DEVINE STREET
COLEMAN AVENUE
AUTUMN PARKWAY
JULIAN STREET
ST. JOHN STREET
Guadalupe River
Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Convention
Center
Los Gatos Creek
Market
Center
St. James
Park
San José
State
University
15 12
6 13
9 8
4 2
17 14
10 5
11 7
3 1
19 18
20 21
16 RATIONALE
Some buildings in San José have become
cultural symbols or landmarks within the
City. This is typically due to their history,
height, special location, or distinctive
profile. Buildings built in certain locations
near these Civic Icon buildings have specific
requirements so that their designs comple-
ment the Icon structures.
SAN PEDRO STREET
CIVIC ICON BUILDINGS FRAMEWORK PLAN4
1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
Bank of Italy
California Theater
Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
Children’s Discovery Museum
City National Civic
Diridon Station
First Unitarian Church of San Jose
Hammer Theater Center
Hotel De Anza
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library
Post Office
Peralta Adobe
San José City Hall Rotunda
San José Museum of Art
Santa Clara Superior Court
SAP Center
T ech Museum of Innovation
Thomas Fallon House
T ower Hall (SJSU)
T rinity Episcopal Cathedral
Westin San José
15 12
6 13
9 8
4 2
14 16
18 17
19 20
10 5
11 7
3 1
21 14
1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
View Corridor - Natural View
View Corridor - Urban View
87 2.5 Street Level View Corridors
WHAT TO DO IN THIS SECTION
Locate the proposed development site to
determine if it is adjacent to a:
1. View C
orridor - Natural View
2. View C
orridor - Urban View
This will affect its treatment in the Relevant
Guidelines (see below) in chapters 3 - 5.
RELEVANT GUIDELINES
Designations in this Framework Plan affect
the following guidelines:
3.2.1 - Block Size
3.2.2 - Building Placement
4.3.1 - Podium Level Massing
4.4.8 - Pedestrian Bridges
RATIONALE
Street level views are essential to orientation
within Downtown and a way to connect to
280
STOCKTON AVENUE
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREET
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
7TH STREET
1ST STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SUNOL STREETPARK AVENUE
REED STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
PARK AVENUE 1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
THE ALAMEDA
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .
MONTGOMERY STREET
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
DEVINE ST .
COLEMAN AVENUE
AUTUMN PARKWAY
JULIAN STREET
ST. JOHN STREET
Views
to
PlazaViews of
Downtown
View to
Hammer
Theater
Historic
1st Street
Commercial
Corridor
Views of
Eastern
Hills
Views of
Western
Hills
View of
Eastern
Hills
St. James
Park
Plaza
de Cesar
Chavez
Diridon
Station
San José
State
University
Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Discovery
Meadow
City
Hall
Convention
Center
Los Gatos Creek
Guadalupe River
Market
Center
the surrounding landscape. Level topogra-
phy makes these corridors crucial because
there are few high public vantage points.
Within Downtown there are two types of
street level view corridors to be protected:
•
Urban Vie
w - Distinctive views to build-
ings and along corridors within the
district
• Natural Vie
w - Dramatic or characteris-
tic views from the district to the eastern
and western hills
STREET LEVEL VIEW CORRIDORS FRAMEWORK PLAN5
1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
15 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Lighting Gateway
Enhanced Lighting Corridor
Image-De/f_ining Frontage
Image-De/f_ining Frontage excluded
from lighting requirements
Gateway Site
2.6 Special Lighting
WHAT TO DO IN THIS SECTION
Locate the proposed development site to
determine if it is:
1. Adjacent t
o an Enhanced Lighting
Corridor
2. Adjacent t
o a Lighting Gateway
3. Has an Image-D
efining Frontage
4. Is a Gate way Site
This will affect its treatment in the Relevant
Guidelines (see below) in chapters 3 - 5.
Note that lighting guidelines apply to all loca-
tions in Downtown, but locations noted in
this Framework Plan have specific guidance.
280
87 Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Discovery
Meadow
City
Hall
Convention
Center
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
REED STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SUNOL STREETPARK AVENUE
1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
THE ALAMEDA 2ND STREET
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .
MONTGOMERY STREET
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
SAN PEDRO STREET
STOCKTON AVENUE
TAYLOR STREET
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
DEVINE STREET
Los Gatos Creek
Guadalupe River
COLEMAN AVENUE
7TH STREET
AUTUMN PARKWAY
JULIAN STREET
ST. JOHN STREET
St. James
Park
Plaza
de Cesar
Chave
z
Diridon
Station
San José
State
Universit
y
RELEVANT GUIDELINES
Designations in this Framework Plan affect
the following guidelines:
4.4.9.a - Lighting - Podium Level
4.4.9.b - Lighting - Skyline Level
5.2 - Public Art in Private Development
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
PODIUM LEVEL AND PEDESTRIAN LEVEL LIGHTING FRAMEWORK PLAN6 Note: Image-Defining Frontages as shown
on this plan which are within 300 feet of the
Guadalupe River or Los Gatos Creek and are
visible from the River or Creek (i.e. not facing
the other direction), where Highway 87 or
Interstate 280 is not between the Frontage
and the River or Creek, are excluded from
lighting requirements. See also Section 4.4.9.a
- Lighting - Podium Level.
1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
16 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
RATIONALE
Lighting at all levels of a building is a place-
making quality that provides around-the-
clock legibility to Downtown. Lighting that
illuminates the pedestrian space without
creating glare makes that space more
comfortable and safe. Lighting on the
building can emphasize interesting architec-
tural features and create a more distinctive
and memorable urban fabric.
This framework plan creates lighting to
enhance the experience of pedestrians as
well as Downtown's Skyline Level and distant
image. See the Relevant Guidelines for
specific information.
LIGHTING GATEWAYS
These special points aid orientation by
serving as markers for specific areas and
as points of transition at the ground level
as people pass through and experience
Downtown.
ENHANCED LIGHTING CORRIDORS
These corridors form the core commercial
and active districts in Downtown. Employing
distinctive lighting techniques or artistic illu-
mination along these streets will contribute
to the creation of more interesting nighttime
urban spaces for pedestrians and other
occupants of the spaces.
Lighting Gateways are prime locations for light-based artworks. 350 Mission, San Francisco, Photo © SOM | Lawrence Anderson
IMAGE-DEFINING FRONTAGES
These frontages, also noted in Framework
Plan 2 in Section 2.1, offer opportunities
to create interesting and dramatic facade
lighting in prominent locations.
GATEWAY SITES
These sites are particularly prominent in long
views of Downtown. As noted in the relevant
guidelines, they are good locations for
special lighting in buildings' Skyline Levels.
Gateway Sites can feature distinctive lighting.
Pan Peninsula, London, Photo © SOM | Bernard
McDonagh
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
17 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Special Block Size Zone
Special Block Size Zone
Earlier Version
87 2.7 Block Structure
WHAT TO DO IN THIS SECTION
Locate the proposed development site to
determine if it is within a Special Block Size
Zone. This will affect its treatment in the
Relevant Guidelines (see below) in chapters
3 - 5.
RELEVANT GUIDELINES
Designations in this Framework Plan affect
the following guidelines:
3.2.1 - Block Size
3.3.3 - Paseo / Mid-Block Connection Location
RATIONALE
Block size and orientation affects walk -
ability, building size, views, street patterns,
and circulation. Thus, block structure is a
key element of the livability and efficiency
of both built form and the transportation
network, and helps relate new development
to Downtown's historic development pattern.
The Diridon Station Area Plan (2014) created
zones corresponding to the intended uses
within each zone to regulate block size.
The Design Guidelines include the Diridon
Station Area Plan's block size guidance in
Section 3.2.1 and set block size limits for the
rest of the Guidelines area.
Note: Block sizes maximums cannot be
satisfied by the creation of a paseo. Paseos
do not count as divisions between blocks.
280
7TH STREET
SANTA CLARA STREET
SAN FERNANDO STREET
REED STREET
SAN SALVADOR STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
ST . JOHN STREET
4TH STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SAN CARLOS STREET
SUNOL STREET
PARK AVENUE
1ST STREET
MARKET STREET
THE ALAMEDA
2ND STREET
ALMADEN BOULEVARD
AUTUMN ST .MONTGOMERY STREET
4TH STREET
MARKET STREET
STOCKTON AVENUE
JULIAN STREET
ST . JAMES STREET
DEVINE STREET
Los Gatos Creek
COLEMAN AVENUE
AUTUMN PARKWAY
JULIAN STREET
Discovery
Meadow
City
Hall
Guadalupe River
Market
Center
St. James
Park
Guadalupe
Gardens
Arena
Green
Convention
Center
San José
State
UniversityNorthern
Station
Zone
Southern
Station
Zone
Central
Station
Zone
Plaza de
Cesar
Chavez
1ST STREET
BLOCK STRUCTURE FRAMEWORK PLAN7
1”=1,600’
0 1,600’800’ 3,200’
18 EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.1 Importance o f the Site
3.2 Site Cont
ext
3.2.1 Block Size
3.2.2 Building Placement
3.3 Site Organization
3.3.1 Arrangement of Activities
3.3 .2 Relationship t
o T ransit
3.3.3 Paseo / Mid-Block C
onnection Location
3.4 Site Element Locations
3.4.1 Locating Privately-Owned Public Open Space
3. 4.2 Locating Gr
ound Level Semi-Private Open Space
3.4.3 Locating Gr
ound Level Building Open Space
3.4.4 Vehicle and Bicy
cle Parking Location
3.5 Site Access Locations
3.5.1 Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance Location
3.5 .2 Servic
e Entrance Location
3.5.3 Parking and V
ehicular Access Location
3.0 SITE
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.1- Site, Skyline Level, Street Level and Public Realm Building
3.1 Importance of the Site
The design of the site and the arrangement
of activities on it are critical to the quality of
a building’s interaction with the Downtown
urban environment. Some guidelines in this
chapter relate to the site’s characteristics
as discussed in Chapter 2 - Framework
Plans. Other requirements apply to all sites.
Appropriately-scaled blocks and fine-
grained Public Spaces that respond to
their context create the urban structure.
Organizing the development by placing
activities in the best locations in relation to
Public Space enables interactions between
public and private. Well-scaled and frequent
open spaces create high-quality ameni-
ties for building occupants, neighbors, and
visitors.
Access through new paseos , as needed,
can break down large blocks and provide
essential connections to nearby amenities
and transit. Well-located entries for pedes-
trians, bicyclists, passenger vehicles, and
service vehicles can reduce use conflicts
and preserve the continuity of activity.
Site
Framework
Plans
Chapter 2
Pedestrian
Level
(bottom 20')
Chapter 5
Skyline Level
(above 70')
Chapter 4
Podium Level
(below 70')
Chapter 4
Image © Google Earth
20 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.2- Site context- Block size SCALED LINEWEIGHT
2.2- Site context- Block size SCALED LINEWEIGHT
3.2.1 Block Size
Keep urban block size small to promote better
architecture, increase views and wind flows,
and create multiple transportation routes for
pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles.
CREATE CONNECTION AND ACCESSIBILITY
RATIONALE
Blocks are the foundation of urban devel-
opment. Small human-scale blocks are
preferable because they improve mobility
by providing shorter routes for vehicles,
bicycles, and pedestrians and multiple
route choices. Small blocks also promote
narrower buildings which provide greater
view opportunities and may increase wind
flows.
Blocks are defined as the area bounded by
public street right-of-ways, by publicly-owned
open space, or by utility or transportation
parcels (such as railroads). Downtown has
a variety of block sizes and orientations, and
most existing blocks are small enough to
promote high-quality urban development.
GUIDELINES
• While there is a maximum allow able
block size established in the Standards
below, smaller block sizes are prefera-
ble. For this reason, do not join multiple
existing blocks by vacating (selling or
giving away) streets even if the new
consolidated block(s) would be smaller
than the maximum block size.
Existing
Street
DO - Align new streets or paseos
with existing ones
STANDARDS
a. When developing an ar ea larger than
the relevant maximum block size below,
divide the area with new streets such
that all resulting blocks are less than the
maximum allowed size. Maximums are
based on the location of the parcel or
block, as defined in Section 2.7 - Block
Structure Plan. The maximum sizes by
location are:
1. Central
Station Zone - 250 feet on
a side
2. Northern Station Z
one - 350 feet
on a side
3. Southern St
ation Zone - 300 feet
on a side
4. All other areas
- 500 feet in length
or 4 acres total area
Maximum lengths may be e
xceeded for
edges of blocks adjacent to railroads and
utilities, highways, and highway ramps
in the direction parallel to the railroad,
utility, highway, or highway ramp. The
maximum area may be exceeded for
the portions of blocks within 150 feet
of railroads and utilities, highways, and
highway ramps.
b.
Connect the ends of ne
w streets or
paseos with existing streets and paseos
in adjacent blocks.
c. Do not vac
ate (sell or give away) or
construct buildings upon an existing
public street right-of-way that lies
along a view corridor (see Section 2.5).
Structures for use in outdoor recreation
such as parklet seating or play structures
are not covered by this Standard.
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-3.6, CD-2.1, TR-5.4, TR-5.5, LU-1.2,
CD-2.3,
CD-3.1
• Diridon Station Ar
ea Plan (2014)
DO - A paseo that creates connections is more
active and useful. Photo © Sergio Ruiz for SPUR
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
21 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Scale 1”=200’Scale 1”=200’3.2.2 Building Placement
Line the edges of blocks with buildings to
frame the surrounding Public Space.
CREATE LEGIBILITY
RATIONALE
The purpose of an urban environment is
to enable connection between people and
activities. Buildings need to be near each
other, not placed at a distance behind
parking or vegetation. Greater separa-
tion of buildings and more landscaping at
block edges may appear “green” but are
unsustainable and unhealthy because they
cause people to walk less and drive more.
Buildings placed at block edges also create
an attractive urban space by defining the
space of the street, and a public face of
the building distinct from interior facades.
A close connection between buildings and
Public Space also creates a safer urban area
through casual surveillance and eyes on the
street.
For most of Downtown, a pattern of build-
ings lining the edges of streets and other
Public Spaces is already set. New buildings
in these areas can fit in by following this
configuration. This pattern is not as firmly
set for parcels and blocks within the Diridon
area, and it is critical to establish it with new
development.
GUIDELINES
a. Use buildings to create edges for streets
and public park
s.
b. Place buildings t
o preserve any desig -
nated view corridors crossing the site
(see Section 2.5).
STANDARDS
• Place a ground level building facade
along 70% o
f each parcel's Public-Space-
facing property lines (within 10 feet) or
setback lines (within 3 feet). Streets for
this standard do not include Highways
87 or 280, highway ramps, or railroad
alignments. For a project located within
a historic district or context, refer to
adopted historic district guidelines and
to Guideline (f) in Section 4.2.4.
a. DO - Buildings lining the streets frame the
Public Realm and create private space in the
block interior. Small gaps in the built form do not
diminish the overall structure.
b. DO NOT - Buildings set back from adjacent
streets leave undefined open spaces and have a
poor visual relationship to the Public Realm.
Public
Park
Semi-
Private or
Private
Open Space
Street
Street
Street
Street
Street
Street
Street
Street
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.1 - Locating Privately-Owned Public
Open Space
3.4.2 - Locating Ground Level Semi-Private
Open Space
4.3.1 - Podium Level Massing
4.3.3 - Streetwall
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• MS-2.3, CD-1.9, CD-2.3, H3.2, LU-11.4,
LU-
13.2, CD-4.10
Private spaces in
block interior
DO - Bring buildings to the sidewalk to frame
the street.
22 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.1- Site organization- Arrangement of Activities SCALED LINEWEIGHT
2.3.1- Site organization- Arrangement of Activities SCALED LINEWEIGHT
3.3.1 Arrangement of Activities
Enhance the vitality of Downtown by placing
activities to support a vibrant Public Realm and by
internalizing activities and uses that detract from
the Public Realm.
FOCUS ON THE GROUND FLOOR
RATIONALE
The arrangement of activities on a site
should support its surroundings by respond-
ing to patterns of land use and Public Space.
Placing the most active, least private, and
least disruptive activities (Active Uses) such
as lobbies, hallways, cafeterias, work-out
areas, and meeting rooms near Public Space
keeps the Streetscape visually active, even
if they are not open to the public. Counter
examples are utility rooms, bathrooms, and
ground floor bedrooms.
Activities in the space above the Pedestrian
Level also contribute to the attractiveness
and safety of Public Space. Upper-level uses
with visible activity such as residential or
office uses or vertical or horizontal circu-
lation contribute to street safety with eyes
on the street and make Public Space more
interesting.
Whether a Pedestrian Level frontage is an
Active Frontage or a Blank Wall (see the
diagram below) depends on the design
treatment of the frontage. See Section
5.3.1.a for guidance on Active Frontages and
Section 5.3.1.b for rules about mitigation of
Blank Walls.
GUIDELINES
a. Arrange activities in new development
to support e
xisting or planned context.
Examples are to continue an existing
retail corridor, face Active Uses toward an
existing park, or avoid the disruption of a
quiet residential area with noisy activity.
b.
Locat
e Active Uses to support the
creation of Active Frontages (see Section
5.3.1.a) to respond to the pattern of
surrounding streets and pathways (e.g.,
across from a mid-block street intersec-
tion).
c.
Minimize disruption of activ
e pedestrian
areas by placing uses that are not Active
Uses, such as loading docks and service
areas, away from Public Space.a. Active Uses in the building may support the creation of Active Frontages, depending on
building design (see Section 5.3.1.a).
b. DO - Place Active Uses toward
Public Space to respond to context
and transit.
Existing Active
Frontages
New
Building
Active Use
Other Building Activities
Active Frontage
Public Space
Blank Wall
Public Space
Public
T ransit
STANDARDS
a. Place Activ e Uses along the edges of
Public Space at the Pedestrian Level and
not toward internal site spaces, unless
all requirements for Active Frontages on
Public Space have been met (see Section
5.3.1.a).
b.
Prioritize plac
ement of Active Uses to
support Active Frontages near street
intersections, paseo intersections, parks,
plazas, and transit stops.
RELATED GUIDELINES
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.3.1.b - Mitigating Blank Walls
5.3.1.c. - Service and Utility Design
5.3.2 - Ground Floor Non-Residential Space
5.3.3 - Ground Floor Residential Space
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.9, CD-1.18, CD-5.3, CD-2.10, IE-5.3,
CD-1.
6, CD-1.11, CD-2.3(4), LU-5.7 ,
MS-10.6, LU-5.6, VN-1.6
DO - Arrange activities to support creation of
Active Frontages along Public Space.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
23 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.4- Site organization- Relationship to Transit
2.3.4- Site organization- Relationship to Transit
3.3.2 Relationship to T ransit
Emphasize transit by orienting activities and
amenities to stations.
CREATE CONNECTION AND ACCESSIBILITY
RATIONALE
Downtown is a growing center of transit
infrastructure. Existing transit at Diridon
Station, multiple light rail lines, and a robust
Frequent Network will be joined by two
Bay Area Rapid T ransit (BART) stations
and California High Speed Rail at Diridon
Station. Development near transit has a
great accessibility advantage and should
use this location to its fullest. Clustering
density and activity near stations improves
the likelihood of residents, workers, and
visitors using transit. The stations will
be safer and more pleasant with Active
Frontages and amenities nearby, improving
the experience of transit users as well.
GUIDELINES
a. Place the highest density of develop-
ment near tr
ansit, particularly rail transit
stations and stops in the Frequent
Network, to facilitate transit use.
b.
Keep transit s
tops and station areas
active to promote safety and integrate
transit into the activity of nearby devel-
opment.
c.
Locat
e commercial building lobbies near
transit stops and stations.
d. Add benches and lands
caping to benefit
transit patrons and others near transit
stops, stations, and entrances.
e.
Design building f
acades near transit
stops and stations to reinforce pedes-
trian orientation.
f.
Do not cre
ate parking or vehicular access
on streets with light rail or bus rapid
transit.
STANDARDS
a. Place a building’s Active Frontages
(particularly r
etail) and amenities such
as Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces
(POPOS) near rail transit stations and
bus stops on the Frequent Network.
b.
Locat
e vehicular curb cuts away from
bus stops, rail stations, and light rail
corridors.
RELATED GUIDELINES
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• IE-1.5, CD-3.2, CD-3.4, CD-1.9, MS-10.5,
MS-1
0.6, CD-1.3, CD-1.12, CD-2.3(7),
CD-6.8, H-3.2, ES-6.5, LU-3.5, TR-3.3,
TR-6.7
a. DO - Place Active
Frontages and open space
near a transit station.
b. DO - Place a pedestrian
entrance near transit.
Active Active
FrontageFrontage
POPOS
DO - Active Frontages can have beneficial
adjacencies with transit stations by making both
more active and visible.
24 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.5- Site organization- Paseos/ Mid-Block Connections
3.3.3 Paseo / Mid-Block Connection Location
Mid-block pedestrian and bicycle connections
are helpful additions to the Downtown
circulation network.
CREATE CONNECTION AND ACCESSIBILITY
Connection
to transitAlign to
street
End-to-end
visibility
RATIONALE
The paseo network is a unique element
of Downtown. These walkways provide
shortcuts for pedestrians through a block
between Public Spaces, increasing visibility
and accessibility between different areas.
Paseos also provide open space separated
from vehicular traffic and parking.
Successful paseos have enough pedestrians
to be safe and inviting without absorbing so
much activity that they reduce the viability
of retail on public sidewalks. They are safe
and open 24 hours per day every day to
avoid forcing pedestrians to travel circuitous
routes in off hours (an issue in some cities,
e.g., Melbourne laneways and Minneapolis
skyways).
GUIDELINES
a. Keep pas eos within four vertical feet of
sidewalk level to ensure visibility and
accessibility.
b.
A paseo
may have built space above or
below the pedestrian surface as long
as the paseo appears public and safe,
and has lighting equal to the level of the
connecting Public Space.
c.
Use pa
seos to create routes to transit
stations.
d. Design pa
seos with end-to-end visibility
from connecting Public Space.
STANDARDS
a. A new paseo may be created only on
a block that meets at le
ast one of the
following conditions:
1. The block is over 3 acr
es in size with
over 400 feet between streets on the
longest side, or
2. The paseo
will connect to a block
containing part of the Guadalupe
River park system, or
3. The paseo
will connect directly to a
rail transit stop or station.
A walkway cannot connect two or more
different Public Spaces (e.g. two different
streets) unless it qualifies as a paseo.
b.
Make pas
eos accessible to people with
disabilities.
c. Meet requirement
s for floor level and
width for any paseo that is to be used for
building egress.
d.
Align and connect the ends of
paseos
with streets, other paseos , or paths
in Public Open Spaces such as the
Guadalupe River T rail.
e. Pre
serve public access at all times in
paseos.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.2.1 - Block Size
3.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance
Location
4.3.4 - Sunlight
5.6 - Paseo Design
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-3.6, CD-2.1(2), CD-2.3(5), CD-3.2,
CD-3
.4, PR-7 .1, TR-3.8
DO NOT - A paseo above or below grade is less
useful or obvious for connections.
DO - Narrow paseos can create intimate and
unexpected spaces as well as connections.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
25 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.6- Site organization- Publicly-Accessible Open Spaces Do Don’t
2.3.6- Site organization- Publicly-Accessible Open Spaces Do Don’t
3.4.1 Locating Privately-Owned Public Open Space (POPOS) Use Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces to
provide locations for repose, relaxation, and
gathering.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
a. DO - Place a POPOS where it can
receive good sunlight, adjacent to an
active pedestrian route.
b. DO NOT place a POPOS in a
location that remains shady much
of the time.
RATIONALE
Downtown has expansive open spaces
(green or hardscaped outdoor spaces) with
major urban parks and plazas. Privately-
Owned Public Open Spaces (POPOS) fill the
need for smaller spaces for repose, informal
dining, people watching, and small gather -
ings. Private development is encouraged
to provide these small ground or roof level
plazas and pocket parks, ranging from a few
to hundreds of square feet.
Successful POPOS promote a visually
pleasing, safe, and active environment
and emphasize views and solar access.
Connections to adjacent Public Spaces
increase safety and access.
Note: POPOS may be eligible for private
recreation credits under the City’s Park
Impact and Park Dedication Ordinances if
they are open to the public at least 360 days
per year and meet certain design criteria.
Consult the City’s Department of Parks,
Recreation and Neighborhood Services
(PRNS) for the latest information.
GUIDELINES
a. Locate a ground level POPOS to be
complet
ely visible from at least one
street.
b. Locat
e a ground level POPOS near at
least one building entry.
c. POPOS may be loc
ated within a
building cluster if visually and physically
connected to a pedestrian route and
Public Space.
d.
Where the public sidew
alk is narrow,
a building may set back up to 10 feet
to create a wider sidewalk. Design this
space as a part of the sidewalk, open and
accessible at all times.
STANDARDS
a. Locate a ground level POPOS adjacent to
at leas
t one street, paseo, or public park
edge.
b. Locat
e a ground level POPOS within four
vertical feet of the sidewalk level with a
clear route of entry.
c.
Place a POPOS t
o receive direct sunlight.
d. Locat
e a POPOS to take advantage
of views of historic structures when
possible.
e.
When near a transit s
tation, locate a
ground level POPOS to provide transit
patrons with shade and benches.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.3.4 - Sunlight
5.7 - Privately-Owned Public Open Space
(POPOS) Design
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-5.3, CD-6.3, CD-6.4, H-3.2(6), CD-1.5,
CD-2.4
, CD-7 .8, PR-8.2, PR1.7 , CD-1.6,
MS-3.4
T ower
Pedestrian route
T ower
DO - Amenities like shade and seating can make
a POPOS more useful. Photo © Sergio Ruiz for
SPUR
DO - A small POPOS can provide space for
sitting, eating lunch, and enjoying the city.
26 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.2- Site organization- Building Placement SCALED LINEWEIGHT Don’ tDo
2.3.2- Site organization- Building Placement SCALED LINEWEIGHT Don’ tDo
3.4.2 Locating Ground Level Semi-Private Open Space
Use small ground level Semi-Private Open
Spaces to provide visual relief but do not
create divisions between buildings and Public
Space.
CREATE LEGIBILITY
a. DO - Create semi-private green
spaces such as small gardens near
building lobbies that are less than
25% of the Streetwall length.
b. DO NOT - A continuous
non-residential vegetated setback
from the sidewalk divides the
building from Public Space.
Space
occupies full
frontage
Space as a
small part of
frontage
Sidewalk Sidewalk
RATIONALE
A large area of semi-private vegetated
open space (not meant for public access)
between a building and the adjacent Public
Space reduces the connection between the
building and Public Realm. This green model
is not appropriate in an urban district such
as Downtown.
Development should line the Public Realm,
creating enclosed urban spaces that are
appropriate to an urban district and contrib-
ute to an active street environment. Small
semi-private green spaces can serve to
break down building massing and provide
visual relief, but should not form a continu-
ous setback from the street (see "DO NOT"
diagram at right) except where a setback
provides stoop entries for ground floor resi-
dential units.
GUIDELINES
a. Do not create non-residential vegetated
ground le
vel Semi-Private Open Space
except as small areas of visual relief.
b. Use gr
ound level Semi-Private Open
Space to create a buffer and transition
zone between Public Space and ground
floor residential units.
STANDARDS
• Do not create ground level vegetated
Semi-P
rivate Open Space between a
building and Public Space that occupies
more than 25 percent of the Streetwall
length along a Primary Addressing Street
or SoFA Addressing Street except for
stoop entries and front yards for ground
floor residential units.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.3 - Locating Ground Level Building Open
Space
4.4.2.c - Balconies (Private Open Space)
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.3.3 - Ground Floor Residential Space
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• VN-1.10, CD-6.5, H-3.2(6), VN-1.8,
CD-1.2,
CD-1.8, CD-2.3(1)
DO - Small vegetated open spaces for ground
floor residential units provide amenity and
transition space between units and the sidewalk.
DO NOT - Unused green space between a
building and the sidewalk reduces visibility and
spreads out activities.
DO NOT - Even if paved, Semi-Private Open
Space can divide building and Public Space,
reducing the potential for Active Frontages.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
27 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.7- Site organization- Private Open Spaces
view
2.3.7- Site organization- Private Open Spaces
view
3.4.3 Locating Ground Level Building Open Space
Locate ground level Building Open
Space to avoid interfering with
Public Space and public activities.
CREATE LEGIBILITY
Sidewalk
b. DO - Provide entries, but not
primary building entries, directly
from the building into associated
Building Open Space.
Primary
building
entry
Building
Open Space
Public Space
a. DO NOT - Building Open Space
at the sidewalk creates a barrier
between the building and the
Public Realm.
RATIONALE
Building Open Spaces include both Common
Open Space for all building occupants, typi-
cally rear yards, courtyards, and Roof Decks,
and Private Open Space for a single dwelling
or business. Poorly located ground level
Building Open Space can create a buffer
between a building and Public Space, enliv -
ening private areas but deadening public
ones.
High quality, usable, and accessible Building
Open Space for residents, workers, and
visitors contributes to the livability of
Downtown’s dense urban environment.
Placing ground level Building Open Spaces
away from the Public Realm and creating
direct access from the building increases the
privacy and usability of the space. Allowing
visual connection between the Building
Open Space and nearby Public Space
through a break in the building massing
increases the vitality of both spaces.
GUIDELINES
a. Maintain visual connection from Public
Spac
e to a Building Open Space.
b. Locat
e Building Open Space to maximize
sunlight exposure, particularly in areas
for seating.
STANDARDS
a. Locate ground level Building Open Space
internal t
o the site, away from Public
Space.
b. Do not locat
e ground level Building Open
Space that is accessible only from inside
the building between a building and the
sidewalk.
c.
Creat
e direct access for building occu-
pants from the building to the Building
Open Space, not requiring travel through
Public Space.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.2 - Locating Ground Level Semi-Private
Open Space
4.4.2.c - Balconies (Private Open Space)
5.3.3 - Ground Floor Residential Space
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• H-3.2(6), CD-3.8, LU-9.6, LU-14.9
DO NOT - Building Open Space adjacent to
the sidewalk reduces the interaction between
the building and the street, creating a green
(potentially) but visually sterile environment.
DO - Glimpses into Building Open Space create
interest at the sidewalk level.
28 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.9- Site organization- Bicycle Parking
3.4.4 Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Location
Locate vehicle parking away from Public Space
while placing bicycle parking in a safe, pleasant, and
convenient place.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST , DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Building
Addressing Street
Secondary
StreetRATIONALE
Parking lots and structured parking can
deaden Public Space if located between the
building and the sidewalk. Parking located
away from Public Space or adjacent to a
street or space of secondary importance
reduces this negative effect.
Accessible, secure, and protected bicycle
parking helps improve the viability of bicycle
transportation. Bicycle parking should be
more connected to pedestrian spaces in
the building than to the vehicular network.
Note: Refer to San José Municipal Code Title
20 and the San José Valley T ransportation
Authority Bicycle T echnical Guidelines for
further definitions and guidance for bicycle
facilities and parking.
New transportation devices such as electric
skateboards and scooters can be parked
safely on the public sidewalk in most cases.
If off-street parking becomes necessary
for these devices, the parking areas should
follow the same guidelines and standards
as listed in this section relating to bicycle
parking.
GUIDELINES
a. Locate bicycle parking to be part of the
pedes
trian network, not as part of vehic-
ular parking.
b. Route primar
y pedestrian access from
vehicle parking into the building through
the same lobby that is used for pedes-
trian access from the sidewalk.
c.
Locat
e structured vehicle parking under-
ground, inside the building, or behind the
building away from any street.
d.
Locat
e a surface vehicle parking lot at the
side or rear of a building, away from the
street.
DO - Place surface vehicle parking away from
any Addressing Street. Allow bicyclists to enter
parking without crossing vehicular space.
Bicycle
Parking
Surface
Vehicle
Parking
Public Space
DO - Place a parking garage behind the main
building to reduce its effect on the Streetscape.
DO NOT - A separate entry for bicycles is safer
than joint entry with vehicles.
STANDARDS
a. Do not place a surface vehicle parking
lot adjacent t
o any Addressing Street or
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage (see Section
2.2).
b.
Place bicy
cle parking so that bicyclists
do not have to cross vehicular parking or
drive aisles to enter the building.
c.
Locat
e bicycle parking near street edges
and building entrances.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.5.3 - Parking and Vehicular Access
Location
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
5.5.2 - Vehicle and Service Entry Design
5.4 - Surface Parking Lots
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• VN-1.9, LU-5.5, CD-1.17 , CD-1.9, CD-1.10,
CD-1.18
, CD-2.5, CD-2.11, LU-5.6, LU-11.4,
LU-3.5, VN-1.8, LU-5.4, TR-2.8, TR-3.8
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
29 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.4.1- Site Access- Pedestrian Entrances
2.4.1- Site Access- Pedestrian Entrances
2.3.3- Site organization- Connection to Streets and Open Space Do Don’t
3.5.1 Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance Location
Make pedestrian entries from
Public Space the primary entry and
identity points for the building.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
Retail
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage
Parking
Other Street
Lobby
c. DO - Place the main pedestrian entry on a
street or Public Open Space.
b. DO - Entry to the building lobby for access to
upper floors should be from mid-block, leaving
the corner space for retail.
RATIONALE
Building entries that are well-defined and
visible from the street are easily accessible
and inviting to pedestrians.
The orientation of pedestrian entries to
Public Space creates activity on the sidewalk
and easy access. Buildings where people
can easily arrive and depart by vehicle
without interacting with Public Space do not
promote a vibrant urban area. Easy-to-find
pedestrian entries link the building to the
district and encourage activity.
GUIDELINES
a. Orient buildings and uses to connect to
the str
eet and Public Realm.
b. Design entrie
s and associated open
spaces to avoid the creation of isolated
areas and to maintain lines of sight into
and out of the space.
c.
Do not cre
ate a main pedestrian entrance
from an internal private courtyard.
STANDARDS
a. Connect the primary pedestrian and
bicy
cle building access directly to a
public sidewalk, Public Open Space, or
paseo, uninterrupted by a parking lot or
vehicular circulation. See Section 5.5.2
Vehicle and Service Entry Design for
information about Porte Cocheres and
primary pedestrian entries.
b.
For buildings with multiple
frontages,
locate main pedestrian and bicycle
entrances and retail entrances on front-
ages defined in Section 2.2 based on the
hierarchy as follows:
1. Urban Park/Plaz
a Frontage
2. Primary or S
oFA Addressing Street
3. Secondar
y Addressing Street
4. Paseo
5 . Open Spac
e Frontage or Other
Street
A building with Active Frontage on 100%
of the length of higher-level frontages
may place retail entrances the next lower
level frontage.
c.
Pro
vide retail spaces with direct entry
from a street, Public Open Space or
paseo, not an interior hall (as in a mall),
walkway, courtyard, parking lot, or
parking garage.
d.
In a multi-stor
y mixed-use building with
retail, place retail at the street intersec-
tion if the building is at an intersection,
with the residential or commercial lobby
entry toward mid-block.
e.
Ground floor str
eet- or paseo-fronting
residential units must have a primary
“front door” access from the street or
paseo, rather than solely entering from
interior corridors, lobbies, or the garage.
Accessible access may be provided from
the building interior.
a. DO NOT place primary entries from internal
courtyards, parking lots, or parking structures.
Courtyard
DO NOT - Internalized shop entries pull activity
away from Public Space.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.3.3 - Paseo / Mid-Block Connection
Location
4.4.2.a - Windows and Glazing
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entry Design
5.5.2 - Vehicle and Service Entry Design
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• H-3.2, CD-1.9, CD-2.3 (5), CD-2.8 ,
CD-1.11,
CD-1.17 , CD-3.3
30 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.4.2- Site Access- Service
2.4.2- Site Access- Service
3.5.2 Service Entrance Location
Locate service, utilities, and access points
including curb cuts where they do not
interfere with the actions of pedestrians,
bicycles, and transit.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
25’ min
Primary Street
Secondary
Street
a. DO - Locate a service entry as far
away as possible from the primary
street.
b. DO - Locate a service entry
away from the primary building
pedestrian entry.
RATIONALE
Service areas and elements such as trash
enclosures may impact Public Space for
pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit. Services
located away from building frontages or on
secondary frontages avoid interfering with
the potential for Active Frontages. Service
entrances in less visible locations for pedes-
trians and further from adjacent buildings
and Public Open Space are ideal.
Thoughtful location of service functions
will lead to more pleasant and safe Public
Spaces, more amenable to retail and restau-
rants or simply for walking, bicycling, and
taking transit.
GUIDELINES
a. Locate services including loading docks,
deliver
y, and infrastructure inside the
building structure.
b. Locat
e trash and recycling bins within the
building or in an outdoor trash enclosure.
STANDARDS
a. For a development with multiple front-
age
s, place service entries on a separate
frontage from the primary pedestrian
and bicycle entrance.
b.
Locat
e service entrances at least 25 feet
from the primary pedestrian and bicycle
entrance (see Section 3.5.3 for parking
and vehicular entries).
c.
For buildings with multiple
frontages,
locate service doors and entrances on
the frontages as defined in Section 2.2
based on the hierarchy as follows:
1. Other Street
2 . Open Spac
e Frontage (if the
frontage has vehicle access)
3. Secondar
y Addressing Street
4. Urban Park/Plaz
a Frontage
5. Any str
eet with at-grade light rail
transit
6. Primary or S
oFA Addressing
Street
RELATED GUIDELINES
5.5.2 - Vehicle and Service Entry Design
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.18, CD-2.3
DO NOT - A service entry can create poor
conditions on the sidewalk.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
31 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.4.3- Parking & Vehicular Access
2.4.3- Parking & Vehicular Access
3.5.3 Parking and Vehicular Access Location
T o promote Public Life, separate vehicular
parking access from the pedestrian realm
and other transportation modes.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
20’ min
Primary Street
Secondary
Street
a. DO - Locate a vehicle entry
away from the primary street.
b. DO - Locate a vehicle entry away
from the primary pedestrian entry.
RATIONALE
Vehicular entries can create large gaps in
the Streetwall, in some cases essentially
creating another street intersection. This
puts pedestrians and bicyclists at risk and
threatens the continuity and success of
street-fronting activities such as retail.
A building with facades on more than one
street or Public Open Space creates less
pedestrian realm disruption if vehicle access
is on the secondary street or open space.
Likewise, narrow vehicular entries and ones
distant from pedestrian entries minimize
interruption of the pedestrian space.
GUIDELINES
a. Use shared driveways between parcels
and use
s to minimize curb cuts and site
area dedicated to vehicles.
b. Where pedes
trians and bicyclists need
access to parking areas, provide clear,
convenient, and safe routes from the
sidewalk and street.
STANDARDS
a. Locate parking and vehicle entries
at le
ast 20 feet away from primary
pedestrian entries (except within Porte
Cocheres) (see Section 3.5.2 for service
entrances).
b.
For buildings with multiple
frontages,
locate vehicular and parking entrances
on the frontages as defined in Section 2.2
based on the hierarchy as follows:
1. Other Street
2 . Open Spac
e Frontage
3. Secondar
y Addressing Street
4. Urban Park/Plaz
a Frontage
5. Any str
eet with at-grade light rail
transit lines or stops
6. Primary or S
oFA Addressing Street
c. Porte
Cocheres are not permitted on any
Addressing Street.
d. A pede
strian entry into a hotel lobby from
an internal vehicular drive (for instance,
inside a parking garage) is allowed as
long as the vehicular entry to and exit
from the building meet other Standards
of the Design Guidelines and the primary
pedestrian access to the hotel lobby is
directly from the sidewalk, not through
the vehicular entry.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.3.2 - Relationship to T ransit
3.4.4 - Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Location
3.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance
Location
3.5.2 - Service Entrance Location
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
5.5.2 - Vehicle and Service Entry Design
5.4 - Surface Parking Lots
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• VN-1.9, CD-1.10, CD-3.5, LU-5.5, CD-3.9
DO - Place vehicular entries away from
intersections and on lower status streets to
avoid disruption of primary frontage.
DO NOT - Locate vehicular entrances near
pedestrian entries.
32 EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.0 BUILDING
4.1 Buildings and the City
4.2 Cont
ext
4.2.1 Form, Proportion, and Organizing Idea
4.2.2 Massing Relationship t
o Context
4.2.3 Civic Icon A
djacency
4.2.4 Historic A
djacency
4.3 Massing
4.3.1 Podium Level Massing (Below 70 Feet)
4.3 .2 Skyline Le
vel Massing (Above 70 Feet)
4.3.3 Street
wall
4.3.4 Sunlight
4.3 .5 Wind
4.4 Building Elements
4.4.1 Facade Pattern and Articulation
4. 4.2 a. W
indows and Glazing
b. Bir
d Safety
c. B
alconies (Private Open Space)
4.4.3 Materials and Color
s
4.4.4 Mitigating Blank Fac
ades
4.4.5 Vertical Cir
culation
4.4.6 Parking Garag
es
4.4.7 Ro
ofs
a. Roo
ftops and Mechanical Equipment
b. Gr
een Roofs and Decks (Building Open Space)
4.4.8 Pedes
trian Bridges
4.4.9 Lighting
a. Lighting - Podium L
evel
b. Lighting - Sk
yline Level
4.4.10 Signage - Skyline L
evel
Photo credit: Arvind Balaraman / Shutterstock.com
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.1- Site, Skyline Level, Street Level and Public Realm
4.1 Buildings and the City
The long-term vibrancy of Downtown
depends on buildings that are exciting but
timeless, technologically advanced and
daring but nurturing of Public Life, and inspir-
ing from views both near and far.
This chapter considers building architec-
ture, overall massing, building exteriors, and
materials and colors. It discusses relation-
ships between buildings, to the Public Realm,
and to historic buildings.
Building
Site
Chapter 3
Framework
Plans
Chapter 2
Pedestrian
Level
(bottom 20')
Chapter 5
Skyline Level
(above 70')
Podium Level
(below 70')
34 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
A building with presence at the Skyline Level must also have human scale at the Pedestrian Level. 111 Main, Salt Lake City, Photo © SOM | Cesar Rubio
A building top can create drama in the skyline
and increase verticality.
4.2.1 Form, Proportion, and Organizing Idea
Make a building’s architectural forms
and massing clear and coherent.
PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY ARCHITECTURE
RATIONALE
By responding to context buildings, nearby
activities, and site conditions, and express-
ing a unified architectural vision, each new
building can be distinctive and a good fit for
Downtown. Whether visible in the skyline
or experienced at the street level, buildings
require both restraint and daring to form a
coherent yet exciting cityscape.
GUIDELINES
Overall
a. Use a strong and harmonious architec-
tural c
oncept and organizing idea.
b. Acc
entuate vertical orientation to reduce
the apparent bulk that may originate with
local height limits.
c.
Design a building t
o maintain consis-
tency with its own rules for massing and
facade organization.
Relationship of Parts
d. Differentiate the top of a building over 70
feet t
all with massing and facade strate-
gies to add interest to the skyline.
Relationship to Context
e. Shape building massing, ar chitectural
details, and activity locations to empha-
size Pedestrian Level frontages and
connection to the Downtown street envi-
ronment.
f.
Use building mat
erials and details that
respond to neighborhood context and
are consistent with the architectural
concept.
g.
Respond t
o context and site conditions
such as adjacencies and views to accen-
tuate neighborhood assets, make a
building unique, and add identity.
STANDARDS
a. Coordinate and link the building’s Skyline
Leve
l, Podium Level, and Pedestrian Level
with vertical elements.
b. Design Imag
e-Defining Frontages (see
Section 2.1) with the same level of detail
and quality as the primary building
frontage (if they are not the same
frontage).
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.2.2 - Massing Relationship to Context
4.3.1 - Podium Level Massing
4.3.2 - Skyline Level Massing
4.4.1 - Facade Pattern and Articulation
4.4.5 - Vertical Circulation
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.1, CD-1.15, LU-11.6, CD-4.5, IE-1.16
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
35 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.3.4.- Massing Relationship to context
3.3.4.- Massing Relationship to context
3.3.4.- Massing Relationship to context
4.2.2 Massing Relationship to Context
Create massing transitions
between high-rises and lower-scale
development.
BE AUTHENTIC TO SAN JOSE
c. Rear T ransition - Height maximum 70'
within 20’ of property line
b. Width T ransition - Facade segments no
more than 30’ wider than historic buildings
a. Height T ransition - Five foot stepback at
an elevation between 25 and 50 feet high
5’ minimum
stepback
between
25-50' high
New New
buildingbuilding
New New
buildingbuilding
New New
buildingbuilding
Podium facade
segmentation
above ground
level with 5'
min. gap
Rear
height
transition
Max. 70'
height
Min. 20'
from
property
line
RATIONALE
In some Downtown locations, tall new build-
ings will be adjacent to historic buildings of
lower height and to properties at the edge of
Downtown where the General Plan land use
designation limits buildings to lower heights.
In these conditions, a massing transition for
the tall buildings to the lower height context
creates compatibility between new and old.
GUIDELINES
• Use horizontal and vertical massing
elements t
o complement existing context
buildings.
STANDARDS
a. Height T ransition (see Illustration a): If a
new building 1
00 feet tall or more is across
the street from or adjacent to either:
1. A hist
oric building 45 feet tall or less
2. A site f
or residential use that is
limited to a building 45 feet tall or
less
The new building must step back its
street-facing facade 5 feet minimum from
the front parcel or setback line at an eleva-
tion between 25 and 50 feet.
b.
Width T
ransition (see Illustration b): If a
new building is across the street from or
adjacent to a historic building that is both:
1. 45 feet tall or le
ss
2. More than 30 feet narr
ower than the
new building
The new building must create gaps in
the Podium Level above the ground floor
to divide its street-facing massing into
segments no more than 30 feet wider
than the widest of the applicable historic
buildings. Gaps must be 5 feet minimum
width and depth.
Note: There is no need to limit the
massing width of a building adjacent to
historic buildings that occupy their full
lot width, such as historic storefronts.
Thus, if a historic building's street-facing
facade continues to within 5 feet of its
parcel edges, it does not trigger the Width
T ransition requirement.
c.
Rear
T ransition (see Illustration c): If a
new building 100 feet tall or more is across
a parcel line interior to a block from either:
1. A hist
oric building 45 feet tall or less
2. A site f
or residential use that is
limited to a building 45 feet tall or
less
The rear portion of new building must
maintain a transitional height of 70 feet
or less within the first 20 feet from the
property line.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.2.3 - Civic Icon Adjacency
4.2.4 - Historic Adjacency
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-5.3, LU-9.6, LU-14.9, CD-1.14, CD-2.3,
CD-4.5
, CD-4.8, CD-1.12DO - A lower massing element creates a transition to shorter buildings nearby.
36 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.2.3 Civic Icon Adjacency
Design a building within the affected
area of a Civic Icon to enhance the
Icon's visibility and importance.
BE AUTHENTIC TO SAN JOSE
RATIONALE
Civic Icon buildings (see Section 2.4) are
landmarks and civic markers in Downtown.
New buildings within the Affected Area,
because of their locations, will have a strong
effect on Civic Icons. If done well, the juxta-
position of the two structures will enhance
the look of both.
Civic Icons contribute to the identity of
Downtown. By enhancing the visibility and
distinctiveness of Civic Icons, new devel-
opment enhances Downtown's unique
character.
GUIDELINES
a. Use a Streetscape and landscape design
that helps t
o unify the new and existing
structure.
b. Design a ne
w building in the Civic Icon
building Affected Area (see Section 2.4
for the boundaries of Affected Areas) to
avoid dominating the icon to allow the
icon to stand out.
c.
Prot
ect and enhance views to the Civic
Icon building.
STANDARDS
None
Civic Icons are historic and contemporary buildings with distinctive features and civic importance.Civic Icons often have distinctive silhouettes.
RELATED GUIDELINES
2.4 - Civic Icon Buildings Framework Plan
4.2.2 - Massing Relationship to Context
4.2.4 - Historic Adjacency
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• LU-2.2, LU-13.2, LU-13.3, LU-13.6,
LU-
13.9, LU-15.3
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
37 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
x.x - Transition Massing
4.2.4 Historic Adjacency
Incorporate essential urban and
architectural characteristics of historic
context.
BE AUTHENTIC TO SAN JOSE
RATIONALE
Historic buildings are a unique and irre-
placeable feature of Downtown. New
adjacent buildings should respect and
enhance historic structures, not overwhelm
them. A building with Historic Adjacency
should respond to prominent characteristics
and patterns of Historic Context buildings to
improve the building's fit within the context.
Applicability
A site has Historic Adjacency when any of the
these are true:
a.
At leas
t 50% of buildings fully or partially
within 200 feet are on the San José
Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) or are
eligible for HRI listing.
b.
The site is within 100 f
eet of a Designated
or Candidate City Landmark or contribu-
tor to a district or conservation area.
c.
The site is adjacent t
o a historic building
on the Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI) or eligible for HRI listing.
The building(s) within the categories above
that cause a new building to have Historic
Adjacency are the new building's Historic
Context.
GUIDELINES
General
a. Design a building with Historic Adjacency
to s
tand on the quality of its own archi-
tecture, not as a backdrop for historic
buildings.
b.
Use a
Streetscape and landscape design
that helps to unify the new and old struc-
tures.
Massing
c. Use a transition massing element to
relat
e a new building to Historic Context
buildings below 40 feet in height on
the same side of the same block. This
massing may be a lower building mass
forming the street wall that has a similar
height to Historic Context buildings, with
a step back to the upper Podium Level
and Skyline Level. See also Section 4.2.2.
Facade
d. Design the Skyline Level with massing
and fac
ade elements that reduce
contrast to Historic Context structures.
e. Design ne
w buildings to be compatible
with rear facade features and circulation
patterns such as loading access and
alleys established by Historic Context
buildings.
f.
Use f
acade elements with a scale that
creates visual correlation with nearby
Historic Context building facades.
Elements
g. Use distinctive architectural features in
the Podium L
evel that relate to those in
nearby Historic Context buildings.
h. Place window
s and doors in a rhythm
that responds to the established rhythm
of windows and doors of Historic Context
buildings.
DO - The new building at rear responds to Historic Adjacency through materials and fenestration.DO - T ransition massing creates a relationship between buildings of different scales.
38 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
DO - A new building can fit into a historic context using materials, massing, and facade treatments that respond to existing buildings.
STANDARDS
Massing
a. Relate Podium Le vel building massing to
the scale of Historic Context buildings by
breaking a large building into masses of
similar scale to Historic Context build-
ings.
b.
Design building
s with rectilinear rather
than curved and diagonal forms where
rectilinear forms are typical of the
Historic Context buildings.
c.
Use c
ornice articulation at the Podium
Level at a height comparable to the
heights of Historic Context buildings.
d. Maintain Street
wall continuity with
Historic Context buildings that are on the
same side of the same street by placing
the street-side facade of a new building
within 5 feet of the average Historic
Context building Streetwall distance from
the front property line.
Facade
e. Use articulation that creates facade
divisions with widths similar to
Historic
Context buildings on the same side of the
same block (if the new building is wider).
A variety of techniques can achieve this
articulation, including facade design,
material variations, and color variations.
For example, if the street facades of most
nearby Historic Context buildings are
vertical in proportion, taller than they are
wide, then maintaining the vertical orien-
tation of the building facade will result in
a more compatible design.
f.
Do not simulate his
toric architecture to
achieve these guidelines and standards.
Do not design new facades to create a
false historic appearance or copy historic
architectural features unless such
features are integral to the design of the
new construction.
g.
Place window
s on facades visible from
the windows of the adjacent Historic
Context structure even if this requir es
that the facade be set back from the
property line.
Elements
h. Use some building materials that
re
spond to Historic Context building
materials, such as masonry, terra cotta,
limestone, stucco, glass, mosaic, cast
stone, concrete, metal, glass, and wood
(trim, finishes and ornament only).
i.
The new materials should be c
ompatible
with historic materials in scale, propor -
tion, design, finish, texture, and durability.
Ground Floor
j. Space pedestrian entries at similar
dist
ances to Historic Context building
entries.
k. Creat
e a ground floor with a similar
floor to ceiling height as nearby Historic
Context buildings, provided the ground
floor finish ceiling is no lower than
the minimum height identified in this
document.
RELATED GUIDELINES
2.3 - Historic Sites and Districts Plan
4.2.2 - Massing Relationship to Context
4.2.3 - Civic Icon Adjacency
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• Chapter 6 - Historic Preservation
• LU-1
3.5, LU-13.15, LU-15.1, VN-1.10
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
39 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.2.2- Architectural Quality- Street- Level Massing (Below 70ft)
3.2.2- Architectural Quality- Street- Level Massing (Below 70ft) DO - Bring tower massing to ground level and
use Skyline Level articulation (see Section 4.3.2)
to reduce bulk and increase verticality.
4.3.1 Podium Level Massing (Below 70 Feet in Height)
Engage the Podium Level massing with the
Public Realm and help support a human-
scale Streetscape.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
b. DO - Divide a building over 100’ in width with
breaks in massing and architectural articulation.
< 80'
< 80'
< 80'
>100'
Long,
unbroken
facades
c. DO NOT leave
the Skyline Level
unanchored to the
ground.
d. DO - Extend Skyline
Level tower massing
to ground level. See
photo example in
Section 4.4.6.
a. DO NOT create a long building that breaks the
human scale rhythm of the street.
RATIONALE
As the tower forms of the Skyline Level
define the city image from distant views,
Podium Level massing defines the experi-
ence at the ground level.
Podium Level massing requires articulation
and scaled elements. Height limits and
upper level setbacks are used to create tran-
sitions in height, bulk, and scale. Extending
towers to the ground (while acknowledging
the lower levels) aids in creating verticality
and visual lightness. Podium Levels with
towers on top, like candles on a cake, leave
the skyline unanchored to the ground,
reducing legibility and creating wide, stubby
forms.
GUIDELINES
a. Emphasize the intersection of any two
Addr
essing Streets (see Section 2.2)
through corner building form and detail.
b. Use P
odium Level massing to frame
on-site open spaces.
c. Use mas
sing to enhance access to
daylight and ventilation in interior spaces.
d. Shape massing to pr
otect any view corri-
dors running across the site (see Section
2.5).
e.
Continue the Sk
yline Level massing to
the ground through the Podium Level for
at least 30 percent of the Skyline Level’s
facade length on the side of the building
that contains the primary pedestrian
entrance.
STANDARDS
• Divide Podium Le vel building massing
facing Public Space that creates a facade
wider than 100 feet into visibly articu-
lated smaller masses no wider than 80
feet using projections and recesses,
materials, shadow relief, or other archi-
tectural elements (refer to diagram).
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.2.2 - Building Placement
4.3.3 - Streetwall
4.3.4 - Sunlight
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• MS-2.11, CD-4.5
40 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.2.3- Architectural Quality- Skyline-Level Height & Massing (Above 70ft)
3.2.3- Architectural Quality- Skyline-Level Height & Massing (Above 70ft)
3.2.3- Architectural Quality- Skyline-Level Height & Massing (Above 70ft)
4.3.2 Skyline Level Massing (Above 70 Feet in Height)
Create interesting and compelling Skyline Level
massing for a cityscape that is memorable and
distinctive.
PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY ARCHITECTURE
60’ gap
>450’>450’
Notch
breaks down
long facade
b. DO - Divide massing wider
than 450' into towers and
emphasize verticality
c. DO - Preserve a street view
corridor at a “T” intersection
with tower spacing
Wide
L-shaped
tower
Wide,
unrelieved
facade
a. DO NOT create wide
building masses
RATIONALE
Compelling skyline massing will emphasize
verticality to create interest from nearby
and long distance views. Slender, vertical
Skyline Level massing also preserves access
to sunlight and wind for pedestrians and
occupants of other buildings. Thus, towers
should both be slender to the extent
possible and convey slenderness through
means such as shifts of the facade plane,
articulating tower massing, and preserving
sky view corridors.
The presence of iconic buildings with unique
shapes at Gateway Sites (see Section 2.1)
will create distinction and orientation. This
distinction can come from massing strate-
gies such as articulated forms.
GUIDELINES
a. Increase perceived tower separation by
av
oiding direct face to face views (e.g.
residential unit living rooms) and using
non-rectangular tower shapes.
b.
Place to
wers at the short ends of blocks
and near corners to emphasize inter -
sections, to preserve sun exposure in
mid-block, and to frame views along
streets.
STANDARDS
a. Design separate Skyline Level masses
(to
wers) instead of very wide buildings.
Use a maximum of 450 feet for any hori-
zontal dimension, including diagonally, in
Skyline Level massing.
Measure connected towers separately if:
1. The connection is a bridge (not
c
onnected at the base of the Skyline
Level), and
2. The total v
ertical connection(s)
between any two towers occupy less
than 25 percent of the Skyline Level
height of the shortest tower, and
3. The connection’s f
acade is set at
least 20 feet behind the towers’
parallel facades at the same height.
b.
Keep a minimum sp
acing of 60 feet
between any portions of Skyline Level
building masses (towers).
c. For Skyline L
evel facades over 200 feet
in width, use changes in massing such
as stepbacks or notches greater than
30 feet wide and 20 feet deep to reduce
apparent building bulk.
d.
If a development sit
e is at the head of a
“T” intersection, align the location of the
required spacing between Skyline Level
masses along the visual extension of the
facing street centerline to preserve sky
view from the street.
e.
For buildings on
Gateway Sites (section
2.1), for approximately the top 25% of
the Skyline Level massing, use sculpted
massing such as shifts in building planes,
a gradual subtraction of mass toward the
top, or a stepped or varied pitch roofline
to lend a distinctive identity to orient
people as they approach and move
around Downtown. See Appendix A.2.1
for examples.
f.
For buildings on sit
es other than defined
Gateway Sites (section 2.1), use massing
for the tower top that generally maintains
the overall tower form.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.3.4 - Sunlight
4.4.7 .a - Rooftops and Mechanical
Equipment
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-6.6
DO - Use articulation and subtraction of mass at
the building top.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
41 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.3.3 Streetwall
Use the Streetwall to define the
adjacent Public Realm and create
an enclosed urban space.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
a. Primary Addressing Street
(minimum 70% Streetwall)
b. Secondary Addressing Street
(minimum 50% Streetwall)
c. DO - Use encroachments above Public Space to
add visual interest.
Surfaces within 10 feet
of the property or along
the setback line are part
of the Streetwall
20'
20'
min.
3' 3'
min.min.
4' max.
depth
25' 25'
max. max.
widthwidth
Encroachment
separation
min. 50% of
encroachment
width
20'
Maintain
Streetwall within
20’ of corner for
all street types
RATIONALE
The Streetwall is the building facade along
a public street, Public Open Space, or paseo
from ground level to 70 feet. Urban streets
and open spaces benefit from more linear
and visually defined Streetwalls and a more
urban treatment. Natural open spaces
require less urban treatments, with greater
permeability between the open space and
the adjacent built form. Breaks in the street
wall are opportunities for mid-block pedes-
trian connections and Privately-Owned
Public Open Spaces (see section 3.4.1).
Encroachments of Occupied Space such as
balconies or bay windows over Public Space
can create a more interesting and varied
Streetwall. The Design Guidelines document
gives guidance for encroachments, but
also refer to Section 13.37 of the San José
Municipal Code and Section 3202 of the
Building Code, as may be amended, for
encroachment permit requirements.
GUIDELINES
a. Orient buildings parallel to adjacent
str
eets.
b. Enhance Str
eetwall facades with architec-
tural details to create interest and variety
for pedestrians.
c.
Use tr
ansparency and high quality, durable
materials in Streetwall facades.
STANDARDS
a. For a portion of the facade to be a
Street
wall, it must lie within 10 feet of the
property line or within 3 feet of the setback
line for at least 60% of the distance from
ground level to the top of that portion of
the building, to a maximum of 70 feet.
b.
Creat
e a Streetwall along a Primary
Addressing Street or SoFA Addressing
Street (see Section 2.2) along at least 70%
of the property or setback line.
c. Creat
e a Streetwall along a Secondary
Addressing Street (see Section 2.2) along
at least 50% of the property or setback
line.
d.
Creat
e a Streetwall along an Urban Park/
Plaza Frontage (see Section 2.2) along at
least 70% of the property or setback line.
e. Creat
e a Streetwall along an Open Space
Frontage (see Section 2.2) along at most
60% of the property or setback line.
f. Creat
e a Streetwall along an Other Street
(see Section 2.2) for at least 30% of the
property or setback line.
g.
At the corner o f intersecting streets,
(excluding alleys), emphasize the inter -
section by maintaining the Streetwall
along both streets for at least 20 feet.
h.
Maintain a 20 f
oot minimum clearance
above Public Space for an encroachment
of Occupied Space.
42 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
d. Urban Park/Plaza Frontage (minimum 70% Streetwall) - St. James Park, Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Arena Green, or City Hall Plaza (see Section 2.1 for Urban Park/Plaza Frontage locations) e. Open Space Frontage (maximum 60% Streetwall) - Guadalupe River or Los Gatos Creek corridor (see Section 2.1 for Open Space Frontage locations) i. Limit encroachment abo ve Public Space to
a maximum depth of 4 feet.
j. Limit any
individual encroachment of
enclosed spaces to maximum 25 feet
width, with spacing between encroach-
ments no less than 50% of the width of the
widest adjacent enclosed encroachment,
with a minimum spacing of 5 feet (see
diagram c).
k.
Creat
e an encroachment no closer than 3
feet to an adjacent property.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.2.2 - Building Placement
4.3.1 - Podium Level Massing
4.4.2.c - Balconies
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.3.1.b - Mitigating Blank Walls
5.3.2 - Ground Floor Non-Residential Space
5.3.3 - Ground Floor Residential Space
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-2.3, CD-4.5, CD-4.8, IP-8.6
DO - An attractive Streetwall with ground floor
transparency creates a welcoming outdoor Public
Realm. Photo © Sergio Ruiz for SPUR
DO - Limited gaps in the Streetwall can provide visual relief and locations for POPOS.
More than 10 feet
from the property
line and not along
the setback line
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
43 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.2- Site context- Sunlight SCALED LINEWEIGHT
Do Don’t
2.2- Site context- Sunlight SCALED LINEWEIGHTDo Don’t
2.2- Site context- Sunlight SCALED LINEWEIGHT
Do Don’t
4.3.4 Sunlight
Avoid casting building shadows on public
parks and plazas during mid-day and
afternoon.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
Public
Park
c. DO - Locate and shape towers to minimize
shadows on public parks and plazas.
DO NOT - A tower southwest of a plaza may
create large areas of shade, reducing the ability
of users to choose the amount of shade based
on comfort.
a. DO - Place tower to minimize
shade on open space
b. DO NOT - Place tower directly
south or west of open space
RATIONALE
San José has a warm and sunny summer
climate and cool weather in winter, with July
high temperatures averaging in the 80s and
January highs in the 50s. The presence of
sunlight in Public Open Spaces may have a
large effect on their usability. The need for
sunlight is true especially in cooler periods.
Shade provided by trees has a different
and generally preferable quality than shade
cast by buildings, which creates a flat, gray
appearance. Building massing that balances
shade, adequate sunlight access, views of
the sky, and a sense of enclosure is prefera-
ble to highly-shaded parks and plazas.
GUIDELINES
a. Maximize thermal comf ort and extend
the usable time for Public Spaces and
Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces
by providing a range of sun exposures,
maintaining sunlight in Public Open
Space during highest usage periods.
Locate taller buildings selectively on one
or two sides of open space to maintain
sunlight exposure.
b.
Use s
ensitive open space and plaza
design to provide sufficient tree cover for
shelter from the sun in periods of warmer
temperatures.
c.
Use slender building f
orms and articu-
lated shapes, particularly at the Skyline
Level, to avoid wide shadows on Public
Space, including streets, that leave areas
without direct sunlight for long periods.
Orient long building forms, including
at the Podium Level, in the north-south
direction to limit shadows on city streets.
STANDARDS
None
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.3.3 - Paseo / Mid-Block Connection
Location
3.4.1 - Locating Privately-Owned Public
Open Space
4.3.1 - Podium-Level Massing
4.3.2 - Skyline-Level Massing
T ower Open
Space
Open
Space
T ower
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-4.5, CD-7 .8, MS-2.3, CD-6.6
44 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.3.5 Wind
Preserve and improve wind circulation without
creating areas of high wind speed.
DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY, GENERATE RESILIENCE
DO - Orient Skyline Level massing to preserve
wind flow.
a. DO - Stagger towers to preserve
wind flow
b. DO - Create 15’-20’ gaps in
massing to allow wind flow
c. DO - Align the longest Skyline Level
dimension within 30 degrees of the
prevailing wind direction.
Max
30°
Max
30°
RATIONALE
The presence of too much or little wind is
bad for health, comfort, and safety. While
comfortable wind speed varies by personal
preference, air temperature, shade, and
other factors, there is an optimum range of
wind speeds in an urban environment.
Very low wind speeds can be unpleasant,
particularly in warm weather, and unhealthy
because the lack of air movement allows
pollution to accumulate. Wide building
masses turned perpendicular to the prevail-
ing wind direction slow the flow of air, poten-
tially leaving it stagnant.
Groups of tall buildings with uniform heights
slow wind and leave ground level air still.
Staggered tall building height and location
that creates an irregular overall massing
allows the wind to regain velocity. Breaks
in block perimeter Podium Level massing
in the prevailing wind direction allow wind
to enter and circulate through the internal
space of the block.
GUIDELINES
a. Stagger the heights and locations of tall
buildings in
and between blocks to avoid
blocking wind flows.
b. Creat
e gaps of 15-20 feet width in
Podium Level massing in the prevailing
wind direction, defined as the alignment
of the runways at Norman Y. Mineta-San
José International Airport, approximately
319 degrees clockwise from true north.
c.
Orient the wides
t Skyline Level building
dimension within 30 degrees of the
prevailing wind direction, defined here as
the alignment of the runways at Norman
Y. Mineta-San José International Airport,
approximately 319 degrees clockwise
from true north.
STANDARDS
None
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.2.2 - Building Placement
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• LU-17 .4 (4)
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
45 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.3.1- Building Elements- Facade Pattern & Articulation
4.4.1 Facade Pattern and Articulation
The buildings of Downtown should
rely on simple, sophisticated design
using contemporary architecture to
achieve timeless appeal.
PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY ARCHITECTURE
a. DO NOT - Do not create visually busy facades
with elements that do not relate to the building's
form, structure, use, or scale, or use multiple
visual organizing systems with little relationship
to the building’s structure or human context.
Do not include facade elements with no specific
function. Do not leave Podium Levels and Skyline
Levels uncoordinated, reducing verticality and
making the building appear squat and bulky.
RATIONALE
A cohesive facade organization, varied human
scale horizontal and vertical elements,
texture and depth, and variations to enrich
individual facades create a rich visual envi-
ronment while also relating a building to the
surrounding city. Associating scale elements
and facade materials to context, particularly
at the Podium Level and Pedestrian Level,
creates a harmonious urban environment
and helps a building fit into its surroundings.
A key element of Podium Level and Pedestrian
Level facades is repeated reference to human
scale and interior activities with architectural
features, fenestration patterns, and material
compositions.
GUIDELINES
Overall
a. Design a harmonious, internally consis-
tent
, and unified facade using elements
such as fenestration and horizontal and
vertical scale definition that relate to
human scale.
b.
Incorporat
e facade elements to create
horizontal and vertical scale definition
that conveys information about the build-
ing's structural framework and scale.
c.
Avoid flat
facades by using recessed or
projected entryways, windows, bays,
canopies, awnings, balconies, step -
backs, and other architectural elements
to create visual interest and changing
effects of light and shadow.
d.
Do not design long f
eatureless expanses
of facade that eliminate the sense of
building scale.
Relationship of Parts
e. Coordinate the Podium Level and Skyline
L
evel to increase verticality, avoiding the
appearance of a squat and bulky building.
f. Do not
create visually busy facades with
decorative elements that do not relate
to the building's form, structure, use, or
scale.
g.
Do not use multiple visual or
ganizing
systems with little relationship to the
building’s structure or human context,
particularly at the Skyline Level.
h.
Use wide ar
eas of balconies on the Skyline
Level facades of a residential building
to break down the bulk and scale of the
tower.
DO - Horizontal and vertical elements add human
scale to the facade.
46 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.3.1- Building Elements- Facade Pattern & Articulation b. DO - Design a harmonious and unified
concept using human scale elements, horizontal
and vertical scale definition, Pedestrian Level
transparency, definition of the building top, and
elements to reduce the apparent building bulk
and increase verticality.
Relationship to Context
i. Create comp atibility with context by
continuing essential aspects of adjacent
and nearby building designs such as
entrance location and design, cornice
line, massing, setback, color, materials,
and fenestration. For corner sites, this
includes buildings on both intersecting
streets.
j.
For building
s on Gateway Sites (see
Section 2.2), use more innovative and
distinctive design, including more elabo-
rate building tops.
k.
Design f
or solar conditions to promote
sustainability in building operations and
occupant comfort, such as providing
shading on facades exposed to strong
sun.
l.
Maximize the number of windo
ws facing
public streets at the Podium Level and
create Pedestrian Level transparency to
increase safety.
m.
Include facade
elements to promote
indoor-outdoor working and living.
STANDARDS
a. Design all buildings to include a top distin-
guishable from the r
est of the facade. The
building top may consist of the special
facade treatment of one or more full
floors, among other possible treatments.
b.
Do not use s
trong expressions of horizon-
tal or vertical elements that emphasize
the facade more than the overall building
form or structure, such as a projecting fin
that does not serve a function like shading
or control of the wind.
c.
Reflect the sc
ale of neighboring buildings
in the facade at the Podium Level and
Pedestrian Level.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.2.1 - Form, Proportion, and Organizing Idea
4.2.2 - Massing Relationship to Context
4.2.3 - Civic Icon Adjacency
4.2.4 - Historic Adjacency
4.4.2.a - Windows and Glazing
4.4.3 - Materials and Colors
5.2 - Public Art in Private Development
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.11, CD-6.5, CD-1.12, CD-1.9, CD-4.8
DO - Wide areas of balconies help to break down
the scale of the facade.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
47 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Use window type and design to create
a building that is more sustainable,
efficient, and pleasant for its occupants.
4.4.2.a Windows and Glazing
DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY, BE AUTHENTIC TO SAN JOSE, PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY ARCHITECTURE
RATIONALE
The use of facades with no response to
solar and wind conditions creates a building
unsuited to its environment. Such a building
is over-reliant on mechanical systems, envi-
ronmentally wasteful, and unsustainable.
Sealed off spaces can be less healthy due to
poor air quality. They can also foster lower
worker productivity. Responding to context,
climate and orientation will create a city -
scape that is interesting and sustainable.
Individual in-window and through-wall
air conditioning units are undesirable.
Units frequently become dirty and lack
external maintenance. Replacement with
mismatched units creates a haphazard
appearance. Noise and water condensation
reduce the enjoyment of balcony space and
adjacent ground level Public Space. The
energy efficiency of individual units is typi-
cally poor compared to centralized systems.
GUIDELINES
a. Design the building’s window size and
location and the
facade treatment to
respond to nearby buildings and interest-
ing elements of the ground level Public
Realm.
b.
Pre
serve, acknowledge, and exploit long
distance and near views of noteworthy
structures or natural features. See also
Section 4.2.3 on Civic Icon Adjacency.
c.
Use oper
able windows to allow occu-
pants to take advantage of San José’s
typically warm, sunny climate and poten-
tially reduce the need for mechanical
heating and cooling.
d.
Respond t
o the building’s orientation
by varying the fenestration on differ -
ent facades. Use passive solar design
elements such as shading devices or
balconies to regulate solar gain on
southern and western facades or use
technological solutions such as windows
with variable opacity.
e.
Creat
e a balance between window and
wall, especially in the Podium Level, to
give the facade character and weight.
Combine windows where needed to
reduce busyness in the facade.
f.
Orient window
s vertically near building
corners to emphasize verticality.
g. Do not use individual thr
ough-window or
through-wall air conditioning units.
STANDARDS
a. Do not use individual through-window
or through-
wall air conditioning units on
buildings over three stories tall.
b. When individual air conditioning units
ar
e present, shield them from view with
uniform facade elements.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance
Location
4.2.3 - Civic Icon Adjacency
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entry Design
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• Climate Smart San José
• CD-2.8,
CD-1.11, MS-4.1, MS-4.2
DO - Vary fenestration by building facade,
placing windows to take advantage of solar
conditions and views to the nearby ground level
Public Realm.
DO and DO NOT - Operable windows enhance
livability and sustainability. Shading devices
would have reduced the potential for glare.
DO NOT - While present on some historic
buildings and others, window air conditioning
units do not create an attractive facade and
should be avoided.
48 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
x.x - Bird Safety
Live transparency
4.4.2.b Bird Safety
DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Consider bird safety in building design
and landscaping.
DO NOT - Highly reflective glass can be
dangerous for birds, which may mistake it for sky
and collide with the building.
DO - Add bird-safe patterns to parallel glass less
than 30 feet apart.
Glass
Glass
< 30'
RATIONALE
The City of San José has design guidance in
place for areas of the City where birds are
most common. These requirements apply
specifically to areas north of Highway 237
according to the Envision San José 2040
General Plan (Goal ER-7 .1) and City Council
Policy 6-34 - Riparian Corridor Protection
and Bird-Safe Design.
Bird safety is a vital consideration in
Downtown as well, particularly given the size
and number of buildings and the presence
of riparian corridors. Bird safety may also
become an issue in the environmental
review process.
There are a variety of techniques to reduce
bird deaths due to building collisions. These
involve material choice, material patterning,
landscaping, and building design. These are
particularly important for buildings near
bird habitat, such as open spaces and water.
Multiple sections of this document consider
bird safety, including this section, 4.4.2.c
Balconies, 4.4.8 Pedestrian Bridges, 4.4.9.a
Lighting - Podium Level, 4.4.9.b Lighting
- Skyline Level, and the Glossary, which
includes definitions of bird safety treat -
ment, bird-safe pattern, mirrored glass and
riparian corridor.
The requirements of the Design Guidelines
are in addition to any resulting from City
rules or regulations about bird safety.
GUIDELINES
a. For projects within 300 feet of a riparian
c
orridor, treat all glass that is visible
from a riparian corridor with a bird safety
treatment.
b.
Do not cre
ate areas of glass through
which trees, landscape areas, water
features or the sky is visible from the
exterior unless a bird safety treatment is
used.
c.
Reduce or eliminat
e upward-facing spot-
lights on buildings.
d. For project
s within 300 feet of a riparian
corridor, turn off decorative exterior
lighting between 2:00AM and 6:00AM
except during June, July, December, and
January due to bird migration.
e.
Do not plant landsc
aping tree lines that
are perpendicular to glass facades.
STANDARDS
a. Do not use mirrored glass.
b. Use a
bird safety treatment on facades
within 300 feet of a riparian corridor that
have 50% or more glazed surface.
c.
Use a
bird safety treatment on the facade
of any floor of the building within 15
vertical feet of the level of and visible
from a green roof, including a green
roof on an adjacent building within 20
horizontal feet, if the facade has 50% or
more glazed surface.
d.
Use
a bird safety treatment on areas
of glass through which sky or foliage is
visible on the other side of parallel panes
of glass less than 30 feet apart.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.2.c - Balconies
4.4.3 - Materials and Colors
4.4.8 - Pedestrian Bridges
4.4.9.a - Lighting - Podium Level
4.4.9.b - Lighting - Skyline Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• ER 7 .1, ER-7 .6
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
49 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Improve appearance, increase occupant
comfort and enjoyment, and make a
building more efficient through well-
designed balconies.
4.4.2.c Balconies (Private Open Space)
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
RATIONALE
Balconies create positive effects for both
residential and commercial buildings.
Balconies break down the visual size of
large facades and their shadows create a
shifting appearance during a day. Balconies'
shade can enhance the efficiency of interior
cooling, improve opportunities for natural
ventilation, and provide valuable outdoor
space. Balconies increase security through
casual surveillance of the street by occu-
pants, particularly at a building's lower
levels.
Balconies may encroach on street rights of
way with appropriate permits (Refer to San
José Municipal Code Section 13.37 .230.C
and Building Code Section 3202 for require-
ments). See Section 4.3.3 for Streetwall
guidance.
GUIDELINES
a. Create balconies for at least 50 percent
of s
treet-facing residential units in the
Podium Level.
b. Avoid aluminum me
sh railings with a
galvanized or anodized finish. Powder-
coated finishes are preferred.
c.
Integrat
e balconies, including the under -
sides, into the overall facade design
including materials and colors.
STANDARDS
a. Create residential balconies and solar -
iums of minimum o
f 4 feet deep (6 feet
preferred), except for Juliet balconies
with a maximum depth of 1 foot. See
section 4.3.3 for encroachment rules.
b.
Creat
e residential balconies of a
minimum 20 square feet to be usable for
typical activities such as dining.
c.
Use a
bird-safe pattern on glass railings.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.2 - Locating Ground Level Semi-Private
Open Space
3.4.3 - Locating Ground Level Building Open
Space
4.3.3 - Streetwall
5.3.3 - Ground Floor Residential Space
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• H-3.2, LU-14.9
DO and DO NOT - Balconies provide Private Open Space and connect a building to its surroundings.
Glass railings can be problematic for bird safety.
Balconies with sufficient dimensions and area
may serve a variety of activities.
50 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.4.3 Materials and Colors
Use high quality materials on building exteriors and
use materials and colors to indicate the building’s
role in the Downtown skyline.
CREATE A MEMORABLE DESTINATION
RATIONALE
Building materials and colors inform
Downtown's look and feel. Simple, local,
quality materials are more economically
and environmentally sustainable and
more timeless in appearance. Distinctive,
contrasting colors and materials can add to
a building's prominence on the skyline.
GUIDELINES
a. Use materials that are durable, low main-
tenanc
e, and resistant to wear and vandal-
ism, selected and designed for a 50-year
life span (minimum 20 years for roofs),
and 20 years of deferred maintenance.
b.
Do not
create highly-reflective facades
or use glass that will cause glare at the
street level and for neighboring struc-
tures.
Facade Composition
c. Integrate Skyline L evel, Podium Level,
and Pedestrian Level materials to create
a coordinated composition.
d. Use high-qualit
y and interesting facade
materials such as stone at the building
base to relate to the pedestrian, energize
the street, and enhance the experience
of building occupants and pedestrians.
e.
Creat
e a composition of solid and
transparent materials with at least 15%
non-glass materials on every facade.
f.
Creat
e an appearance of building slen-
derness with changes of textures, mate-
rials, and colors.
g.
Use c
olors and cladding materials to
articulate the building’s facades in
intervals to provide a desirable scale in
relation to building context.
Sustainability
h. Use high quality materials derived from
local,
renewable sources which reference
the Bay Area’s natural material colors
and textures. Give preference to natural
materials like stone, brick, terra cotta,
and wood, and those manufactured
within 100 miles of San José.
i.
Use mat
erials with low embodied energy
and low or no chemical emissions.
j. Use
materials with recycled content
(both post-consumer and post-indus-
trial).
Major and Accent Colors
k. Use two basic categories of building
color
s: major and accent. Major colors
cover the majority of the building’s
opaque surfaces and accent colors are
in smaller quantities in specific locations.
l.
Major colors should be pr
edominately light.
Avoid dark major building colors, including
black, dark red, dark gray, and dark natural
stone colors. Greater variation of color
from light to dark may be appropriate
for major colors on buildings on Gateway
Sites (see Section 2.1).
m.
Use ac
cent colors on up to 30% of the
opaque facade surface area. Greater
freedom of color range from light to dark
is appropriate for accent colors. Less
than 5% of the building's opaque facade
surface may have intense colors for
visual interest.
n.
For buildings on Gat
eway Sites (see
Section 2.1), use colors with a higher
level of contrast with surrounding build-
ings and use accent colors with a higher
level of contrast with the major color.
STANDARDS
a. At the Pedestrian Level, use elements
of s
tone, pre-cast concrete, terra cotta,
masonry, or cast stone in addition to any
other materials such as metal and glass.
b.
Use
materials that are graffiti resistant or
easily repainted.
c. Do not use E
xterior Insulation Finishing
Systems (EIFS - see Glossary for defini-
tion) below the second floor.
d.
Use highly
-transparent glass at the
ground floor. See Section 5.3.1.a about
Active Frontages.
e.
Use glas
s above the ground floor that is
clear in color or with a subtle cool (blue,
green, or gray) tint.
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• LU-17 .5, MS-4.1, MS-4.3, MS-2.5,
MS-2.10
, MS-3.3, MS-3.4
DO - As in downtown T oronto, color may
differentiate and highlight important buildings.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
51 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.3.4- Building Elements- Mitigating blank facades
4.4.4 Mitigating Blank Facades
Avoid creating Blank Facades if possible. If it is necessary to create one, use interventions to enliven the Blank Facade to make it into an asset to the look of Downtown, providing visual interest and relief.
CREATE A MEMORABLE DESTINATION
RATIONALE
Large blank building facades above the
Pedestrian Level deaden the cityscape (see
Section 5.3.1.b - Mitigating Blank Walls for
guidance about the Pedestrian Level and
4.4.6 for guidance about parking garages).
Windows and balconies enable interaction
between activities inside and outside the
building and are preferable to the unchang -
ing aspect of a Blank Facade.
GUIDELINES
a. Avoid the creation of a Blank Facade
with the insertion o
f windows and balco-
nies. When this is not possible, such as
with zero-lot-line development, make
the Blank Facade more attractive and
visually interesting.
b.
Break
down a Blank Facade into smaller
areas by changing building massing.
STANDARDS
a. A Blank Facade is a portion of a facade
above the ground level without a window
(including into parking) or balcony 15
feet in any direction (see diagram).
b.
Use ar
chitectural treatments (such as
trellises, screens, or changes in mate-
rials) or art to create visual interest in a
Blank Facade. Cover at least 50 percent
of the Blank Facade surface. Commercial
advertising or building-related signage
does not count as an intervention.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
5.2 - Public Art in Private Development
5.3.1.b - Mitigating Blank Walls
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.9, CD-1.11, CD-1.2, CD-1.8, CD-1.12
DO - A Blank Facade mitigation can become an attraction in its own right, like this wall that serves as a backdrop for selfies and other photos.
DO - Break up a facade with windows and
balconies, even away from the primary frontage.
DO - T reat the portion of a facade without a
window or balcony for 15' in any direction.
15'
15'
15'
Blank
Facade
52 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
3.3.5- Building Elements- Vertical Circulation
4.4.5 Vertical Circulation
Locate and design stairs to be attractive
and invite use.
GENERATE RESILIENCE
DO - Locate stairs near the lobby and visible
from outside to make stair access easy and
obvious.
RATIONALE
Inviting, convenient stairs attract frequent
use and bring more physical activity into
people's daily routines, improving health.
Stairs in a prominent location, accessible
from primary circulation routes and visible
from main building entries, are convenient
to use and remind people that stairs are an
available option.
Likewise, a prominent stairway visible on
the building facade creates a safer, more
pleasant experience for stair users and
helps those outside the building understand
where the stairway is located.
GUIDELINES
a. Locate a primary stairway along the
building ext
erior at the Podium Level.
Create transparency from the stairs to
the exterior to give stair users interesting
views and to make the location of stairs
apparent from outside the building.
b.
Design t
all buildings such that stairs are
convenient to use for vertical circulation
of four floors or less.
c.
Place a st
airway near a building corner
visible to the building exterior to increase
the building's appearance of verticality.
STANDARDS
a. Locate stairwells to be visible and acces-
sible to s
omeone entering the building.
b. Design a primar
y stairway with materi-
als and lighting similar in quality to the
building lobby.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.2.1 - Form, Proportion, and Organizing
Idea
4.3.1 - Podium Level Massing
4.3.2 - Skyline Level Massing
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-3.3
DO - Visible stairs add movement and activity to
the building facade.
Lobby
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
53 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
c. DO - Future proof garages with sufficient
height to accommodate other potential uses.
9’
min.
4.4.6 Parking Garages
Minimize the negative effects of parking
garages through placement, design, and
screening.
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
a. DO - Line a parking garage within the
building mass (Section 3.4.4) with Occupied
Space along a Primary or SoFA Addressing
Street or Urban Park/Plaza Frontage.
b. DO - “Future proof” parking garages by
planning for transition to other uses, such as
with structurally-separate vehicle ramps, flat
floors, and sufficient floor-to-ceiling heights.
DO and DO NOT - This parking garage allows
harsh light to intrude onto the street. However,
the building also uses creative Podium Level
lighting to create distinction (see Section 4.4.9.a).
RATIONALE
Even parking garages with good architec-
ture can create deadening effects on the
surrounding urban fabric. Their size and
location can separate uses and Active
Frontages, making the city less walkable.
They can also become locations for undesir-
able activities.
T o make parking into a good neighbor, reduce
the visibility of a garage and use Occupied
Space to bridge gaps in the urban fabric.
Lining parking garages with Active Frontages
and Occupied Space puts the parking garage
in the back and brings life to the street.
Planning ahead for garage conversion into
other uses may avoid the need for expensive
and disruptive demolition in case parking is
no longer needed due to changes in trans-
portation technology and usage.
GUIDELINES
a. Place landscaping, green roofs, decks,
Green St
ormwater Infrastructure, patios,
gardens, solar power generation, or
other mitigating elements on an exposed
parking garage roof to reduce the heat
island effect and water runoff.
b.
Pro
vide a canopy, overhang, trellis or other
element to mark the top of a standalone
parking garage to soften the appearance.
c.
Use p
arking garage lighting of similar
light color to that of regular building uses
so that the parking garage lighting is not
clearly differentiable from regular lighting
to avoid an institutional appearance.
d.
Place vehicle r
amping on the interior of a
parking garage, not near any facade.
e. Future
proof parking garages to be
convertible to other uses in the future.
Design structured parking with:
1. Flat floors
2. Minimum 9 foot floor-t
o-finished-
ceiling clear heights
3. Structurally sep
arate vehicle ramps
to allow for total or partial removal
4. Sufficient structural s
trength to allow
conversion to other uses
5. Structural depth that
is shallow
enough to allow necessary daylight
access if converted to another use
(such as residential, which requires
natural light in certain rooms per
code), or a plan to reduce the
structural depth to the necessary
amount
54 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
DO - Line a parking garage within 50 feet of a
Primary Addressing Street, SoFA Addressing
Street, or Urban Park/Plaza Frontage with
Occupied Space.
DO NOT - Exposed parking diminishes the Public
Realm even if the garage is decorated.
DO - Design the facade of a parking garage
with high quality materials and architectural
treatments.
DO - T reat the facade of an exposed parking
garage with materials and design similar to the
rest of the building and extend the tower facade
to ground level (see Section 4.3.1).
Garage less than Garage less than
50’ from the street50’ from the street
Occupied
Space
Street
STANDARDS
a. If a parking garage facade is within 50
feet o
f a Primary Addressing Street, SoFA
Addressing Street, or Urban Park/Plaza
Frontage (see Section 2.2), line the side(s)
of the structure that face those street(s)
with Occupied Space of at least the same
height as the parking garage and of at
least 20 feet depth.
b.
T re
at the facade of any exposed garage
along an Image-Defining Frontage (see
Section 2.1) with materials and design of
at least comparable quality to the rest of
the building, integrated with the building
architecture.
c.
Design the
facade of any exposed or
standalone parking garage that faces
any Public Space (but not alley) with an
appearance similar to the facade of a
commercial or residential building. Use
window openings or glazing modules of
a similar size and shape as those of an
office or residential building (typically
with a vertical rather than horizontal
orientation), and use facade materials of
similar quality.
d.
Screen building lighting o
f a parking lot or
parking garage such that it does not cast
direct light on Public Space or on nearby
buildings. Note that zoning also regulates
light trespass from parking lot lighting,
particularly onto residential properties.
See the San José Zoning Code for details.
e.
Screen a p
arking garage so that vehicle
headlights do not shine onto windows of
neighboring buildings or buildings across
a street or other public space, including
when vehicles are traveling up or down a
ramp.
f.
Pro
vide vehicles a place to stop while
exiting a parking garage that gives
drivers a clear view of pedestrians on the
sidewalk and pedestrians a clear view of
approaching vehicles.
g.
Design a g
arage entry so that anticipated
vehicle queuing does not cross any Public
Space.
h.
Exhaust g
arage venting to the top of
the garage or, if not possible, above the
second level and directed away from
Public Space and neighboring structures.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.4 - Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Location
3.5.3 - Parking and Vehicular Access Location
4.4.4 - Mitigating Blank Facades
5.3.1.b - Mitigating Blank Walls
5.4 - Surface Parking Lots
5.5.2 - Vehicle and Service Entry Design
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• MS-2.6, MS-2.7 , CD-4.12, CD-1.17 , CD-2.11
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
55 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.4.7.a Rooftops and Mechanical Equipment
Design roofs to provide attractive views from other
buildings and minimize the negative visual impact of
mechanical and window washing equipment.
PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY ARCHITECTURE
RATIONALE
Although mostly invisible from the street,
rooftops are prominent features of the
cityscape from neighboring buildings.
Items such as vents, tanks, wiring, rooftop
rooms, and stored window washing equip-
ment can create an unattractive view and
give an impression of poor maintenance.
High-quality materials, occupiable outdoor
space, and rooftop mechanical equipment
shielded or arranged with care can make
the roof a neutral or attractive part of the
urban view.
GUIDELINES
a. Design roofs that may be seen from
higher building
s consistent with the
architecture of the building.
b. Group v
ents, exhaust fans, and other roof
penetrations so that they do not create
visual clutter.
STANDARDS
a. Use non-reflective, low intensity (dull, not
bright) roo
f colors.
b. Org
anize and design rooftop equipment
as a component of the roofscape and not
as a leftover or add-on element.
c.
Screen v
ents, mechanical rooms and
equipment, elevator houses, cooling
towers, large vent projections, water
tanks, or storage areas on the building
elevation and rooftop from street level
view with enclosures, parapets, setbacks,
plant materials, or other means. Use
similar means to obscure these items
from neighboring buildings, if visible, or
design and arrange them to present an
ordered and attractive view.
d.
Design enclo
sures or screening as a
logical extension of the building, using
similar materials and detailing.
e.
Incorporat
e window washing equipment
into the building design, or design it so
when not in use it is fully hidden from
view from horizontally and below.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
4.4.7 .b. - Green Roofs and Decks
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• MS-3.4, CD-4.12, CD-6.9, LU-12.2,
ES-
3.2, MS-2.6
DO NOT - A cluttered, disorganized-appearing
rooftop diminishes views from nearby buildings.
DO - Plan for the rooftop to be visible from nearby buildings. 56 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.4.7.b Green Roofs and Decks (Building Open Space)
Include green roofs and occupiable decks
for aesthetics, environmental benefits,
and as building occupant amenities.
DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY, GENERATE RESILIENCE
RATIONALE
The benefits of green roofs include storm-
water runoff reduction, energy conserva-
tion, and reducing urban heat island effects.
They can also provide habitat for urban
wildlife, improve views and air quality, and
reduce noise pollution. Roof decks add life
to the cityscape and create additional open
space for building occupants or the public.
Creating a roof deck in combination with
a green roof allows these two elements to
work together.
GUIDELINES
a. Use green roofs to reduce building heat
loads and manag
e stormwater runoff.
b. Use nativ
e plant species in green roofs to
ensure longevity and to minimize mainte-
nance requirements.
c.
Pro
vide usable space such as terraces,
gardens, restaurants, pools, and decks
on top of the building’s Podium Level as
an amenity for tower occupants.
d.
Make roo
ftop gardens open to the public
as an amenity.
STANDARDS
• Cover at least 20% of the area of a roof
that is les
s than 150 feet above ground
and that is larger than 2,500 square feet
in area with a green roof, solar panels, or
a combination of these.
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• MS-2.6, MS-3.4, CD-4.12, LU-12.2,
CD-6.9
DO - Green roofs and Roof Decks provide
amenity and visual relief.
DO - Green roofs (including food production) and Roof Decks for residents’ use top the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of Garden Village in Berkeley.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
57 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
2.3.8- Building Elements- Pedestrian Bridges
20’
maximum
25’
minimum
4.4.8 Pedestrian Bridges
Avoid creating pedestrian bridges across public
rights of way. Where unavoidable, design them to
reduce their impact on the Public Realm.
FOCUS ON THE GROUND FLOOR
DO - Limit the size of a pedestrian bridge, and
place it high above the street to avoid creating a
dark space below.
RATIONALE
Pedestrian bridges de-emphasize public
streets and sidewalks. Sidewalk pedestrian
activity helps to create a more vibrant area,
and supports retail and Public Spaces.
In a place with a typically warm, sunny
climate like San José, pedestrian bridges are
usually unnecessary. They should only be
used between secured areas, such as behind
security check points in an office complex or
hospital.
Note: If a project demonstrates the need for
a pedestrian bridge over public right-of-way
(typically due to safety concerns), an encroach-
ment permit may be required pursuant to
Chapter 13.27 of the San José Municipal Code.
GUIDELINES
a. Do not create pedestrian bridges in
Do
wntown. Plan for movement between
buildings on the public sidewalk.
b. Design a pede
strian bridge to be as short
as possible, ideally perpendicular to the
street.
c.
Use lighting,
art, landscaping, stormwater
treatments, and architectural elements to
make a pedestrian bridge interesting and
functional.
STANDARDS
a. Do not create pedestrian bridges across
designat
ed View Corridors (see Section
2.5 - View Corridors Plan).
b. Design a pede
strian bridge a minimum
of 25 feet clear above street pavement
level.
c.
Design a pede
strian bridge a maximum
of 20 feet in width in the greatest outside
dimension.
d.
Make the side elev
ations of a pedestrian
bridge at least 50 percent transparent to
provide views into and out of the bridge.
Ensure bird safety through glass pattern-
ing or other techniques (see section
4.4.2.b - Bird Safety).
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• TN-3.3, TR-2.3, TR-2.12
DO NOT - Pedestrian bridges are not recommended. They keep activity within buildings that could be on the street, and can block views. 58 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.4.9.a Lighting - Podium Level
Create safe, inviting Public Spaces and
highlight distinctive architecture and features
with building lighting at the Podium Level.
CREATE LEGIBILITY
RATIONALE
Architectural lighting at the Podium Level can
enhance public safety and enjoyment, create
local identity at the street level, and accen-
tuate the district identity of places like SoFA
and San Pedro Square. Lighting helps to
create a feeling of safety and enables casual
surveillance of Public Space, or eyes on the
street.
Buildings along Highway 87 and Interstate
280 have high visibility in Downtown,
and several large parks and open spaces
provide good views of surrounding build-
ings. Buildings in these locations have an
opportunity to help define the image of the
area with accentuated lighting.
GUIDELINES
a. Illuminate distinctiv e features of the
building, including entries, signage,
canopies, and areas of architectural
detail and interest.
b.
Illuminate distinctiv
e features inside the
building so they are visible from outside.
c. For buildings in loc
ations not covered in
Standards d., e., or f., use soft and under-
stated Podium Level exterior lighting.
STANDARDS
a. Provide outdoor lighting using fixtures
that yield low light pollution and glar
e.
b. Orient ext
erior lighting fixtures down-
ward.
c. Shield all lighting to pre
vent light intru-
sion into private and public building uses,
especially residential units.
d.
For Image-D
efining Frontages, accen -
tuate Podium Level lighting, including
the use of Wall Washing. Image-Defining
Frontages within 300 feet of the center -
line of the Guadalupe River or Los Gatos
Creek that are visible from the River or
Creek, where Highway 87 or Interstate
280 is not between the Frontage and
the River or Creek, are excluded from
requirements of this section for reasons
of bird safety. See also Section 2.6.
e.
For fac
ades along Lighting Corridors
(see Section 2.6) accentuate the Podium
Level with lighting to illuminate architec-
tural features and Wall Washing.
f.
For fac
ades at Lighting Gateways (see
Section 2.6) accentuate Podium Level
lighting from ground level to the top
of the Podium Level, including the use
of Wall Washing, lighting to accentu-
ate architectural features, and artistic
lighting or a light-based artwork that
marks the location.
RELATED GUIDELINES
2.6 - Special Lighting
4.4.9.b - Lighting - Skyline Level
5.2 - Public Art in Private Development
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.2, CD-1.7 , CD-2.1 (2), CD-5.6, IP-15.1
DO - Lighting of architectural features can create
dramatic and distinctive views.
DO - Even interior Podium lighting can create
drama and interest in the streets.
Willis T ower, Chicago, Photo © SOM | Timothy
Hursley
DO - Use Wall Washing to accentuate the Podium
Level. If lights are pointed upward, avoid spilling
extra light away from the building.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
59 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Use lighting to make Downtown’s skyline recognizable in the wider City. Add selected landmarks to make views of the skyline into a source of orientation both within and from outside Downtown.
4.4.9.b Lighting - Skyline Level
CREATE A MEMORABLE DESTINATION
RATIONALE
The low mesa (table) shape and few
dramatic views mean the Downtown skyline
does not create identity and orientation
as it could. Special architectural lighting
design on a limited number of buildings
could create a nighttime identity, animate
the City at night, create visual excitement,
and enhance the skyline. T oo many iconic
buildings would create visual noise, so only
those located such that they have higher
prominence in the skyline are needed (see
Section 2.1). Elaboration of the skyline can
be accomplished while respecting dark sky
principles to minimize interference with
astronomical research at Lick Observatory.
SKYLINE LEVEL LIGHTING
TECHNIQUES
Multiple techniques exist for lighting design
that can accentuate a building’s Skyline
Level. These can be used by themselves or
together on buildings on appropriate sites
(see Standards).
•
Beacon
- A Beacon is a small area of light
or a single point that creates a punctua-
tion of the building top.
• Lantern
- A Lantern is an area of rela-
tively uniform illumination, large enough
in comparison to the rest of the building
to seem like an independent element and
not a simple light.
•
Outline -
An Outline is a series of lights
that outlines all or part of a building and
key building massing elements.
•
Color -
A Color technique uses lighting
of unusual color to create individuality in
the building’s appearance.
•
Artistic –
An Artistic technique includes
working with an artist or artist team to
combine art and high-tech to create a
unique illumination platform.
GUIDELINES
a. Use Skyline L evel lighting to create
memorable features in the skyline while
avoiding overwhelming or out-of-scale
elements.
b.
Buildings on Gat
eway Sites (see Section
2.1) should use Skyline Level lighting
techniques to mark their special loca-
tions in the area.
c.
Buildings not on Gat
eway Sites (see
Section 2.1) should maintain simple
lighting at the Skyline Level, with lighting
visible at night mostly coming from the
building’s internal lighting and activities.
STANDARDS
a. Coordinate Skyline L evel lighting with
Podium Level and Pedestrian Level
lighting to create a unified composition.
b.
Creat
e Skyline Level lighting that is bird
safe, including the potential to reduce
or shield lighting visible to birds during
migration season (February to May and
August to November).
RELATED GUIDELINES
2.6 - Special Lighting
4.3.2 - Skyline Level Massing
4.4.9.a - Lighting - Podium Level
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-6.9
DO - A lantern building top creates a memorable
element on the skyline without dominating the
view.
St. Regis, San Francisco, Photo © SOM
Artistic lighting (“Voxel Cloud” by artist Brian
Brush)
This lighting combines Color and Outlines
AIA T ower, Hong Kong, Photo © SOM
60 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Use signage at the Skyline Level carefully
to enhance the unified image of Downtown.
4.4.10 Signage - Skyline Level
BE AUTHENTIC TO SAN JOSE
RATIONALE
A sign at Skyline Level is not useful as direc-
tion to an individual business as much as
it is a form of general advertising like a bill-
board. Such advertising does not further the
identity of Downtown but can diminish it by
allowing the creation of multiple competing
messages and visual discord.
Buildings and businesses that seek a strong
identity may more appropriately use high
quality Skyline Level architecture and
lighting as noted in the Design Guidelines.
GUIDELINES
a. Use lighting and building shape instead
of signag
e to create building distinc-
tion where warranted. Examples of this
technique are the Empire State Building
in New Y ork City and the T ransamerica
Pyramid in San Francisco.
b.
Emphasize a gr
aphic logo within a sign
and de-emphasize text.
STANDARDS
• Place Skyline Level signs on an integral
part of the building architecture rather
than on an add-on shape.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.3.2 - Skyline Level Massing
4.4.9.b - Lighting - Skyline Level
5.3.5 - Signage - Podium Level and
Pedestrian Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-6.9
DO NOT - Skyline Level signage integrates best with Downtown when placed on a building surface integrated with the architecture, not an add-on shape.
DO - Install signage on the building to maintain visibility while avoiding visual disruption.
Left: 680 Folsom, San Francisco, Photo © SOM | Cesar Rubio
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
61 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
62 EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
5.1 Street Life, Commerce, and the Public Realm
5.2 Public Art in P
rivate Development
5.3 Ground Floor T
reatments and Uses
5.3.1 a. Active Frontages
b. Mitig
ating Blank Walls
c. S
ervice and Utility Design
5.3.2 Ground Floor Non-Re
sidential Space
5.3.3 Ground Floor Re
sidential Space
5.3.4 Lighting - Pedes
trian Level
5.3.5 Signage - Podium L
evel and Pedestrian Level
5.4 Surface P arking Lots
5.5 Entranc
es
5.5.1 Pedestrian and Bicycle Entry Design
5.5 .2 Vehicle and Ser
vice Entry Design
5.6 Paseo Design
5.7 Privat
ely-Owned Public Open Space Design
5.0 PEDESTRIAN LEVEL
Photo credit: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
1.1- Site, Skyline Level, Street Level and Public Realm
5.1 Street Life, Commerce, and the Public Realm
A sidewalk bustling with people is a mark of a
vibrant Downtown. Building condition, design,
and the activities facing the sidewalk are the
factors that draw people to the Public Realm.
The most important portion of the building
for pedestrian activity is the Pedestrian
Level, the area within 20 feet above ground.
The elements necessary for a successful
Public Realm are safety, comfort, and an
interesting human scale environment. The
guidelines in this section help create these
factors in Downtown.
Building
Site
Chapter 3
Framework
Plans
Chapter 2
Pedestrian
Level
(bottom 20')
Skyline Level
(above 70')
Chapter 4
Podium Level
(below 70')
Chapter 4
64 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
5.2 Public Art in Private Development
Incorporate public art within private
development to enrich Downtown and
build the area's reputation as a center of
innovation and culture.
CREATE A MEMORABLE DESTINATION, BE AUTHENTIC TO SAN JOSE
RATIONALE
San José values public art as part of the
City’s creative character. Public art is an
essential element of placemaking and the
creation of a memorable district.
Public art ranges from monumental
works to intimate Streetscape elements.
Opportunities exist in interior and exterior
spaces, plazas, storefronts, water features,
entryways, temporary exhibition sites, and
landscaping.
PUBLIC ART TYPOLOGIES
Art within Downtown can be categorized in
three ways:
Elements of Distinction - These are unique,
memorable features. T ypically large in scale,
they may provide an identifying view or
“selfie spot” to visitors. They may also be
physically interactive, providing an opportu-
nity for play.
Elements of Continuity - These are
repeated elements that create a unified
character, unifying theme, or branding. If
coordinated between properties, Elements
of Continuity can visually unify an area.
Elements with variations can take on a
sequential character.
Elements of Change - These are tempo-
rary art works, potentially repeating at
significant dates or seasons, or works that
are changeable such as light features. Over
time, a repeating element can add a feeling
of continuity and memory to a location.
Non-repeating works become markers of
time in memory and photographs.
GUIDELINES
a. Place public art in Public Spaces (such
as ext
eriors) or semi-public zones (such
as lobbies) or integrate the artwork with
building architecture at the building top,
middle, or base.
b.
Integrat
e permanent and temporary
public art into communal and gathering
spaces at commercial and residential
development projects.
c.
T o aid in rec
ognition and wayfinding,
create artwork to mark the end points of
a paseo where it meets Public Space.
d.
Use Element
s of Continuity to lead
people through a paseo.
e. Integrat
e lighting into public art that
is supportive of the Podium Level and
Pedestrian Level lighting strategy (see
Sections 4.4.9.a and 5.3.4).
f.
Use int
eractive elements in public art
that engage audiences actively and
passively.
g.
Incorporat
e art displaced by develop-
ment (such as an existing mural) into the
new building.
h.
Use an Element o
f Distinction or Element
of Change to create a focal point within
a POPOS.
STANDARDS
a. For a development project at a T ransit
Gate
way or Pedestrian and Bicycle
Gateway (see Section 2.2), create an
Element of Distinction related to the
gateway location, visible from the transit
stop or pedestrian and bicycle route, and
ideally including a reference to the site’s
neighborhood location in Downtown and
status as a gateway.
b.
At
a Lighting Gateway (Section 2.6),
create an Element of Distinction or
Element of Change with lighting art.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.4 - Mitigating Blank Facades
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• Public Art NEXT! San José’s New Public
Art Mast
er Plan
• Downt
own Next! A Public Art Focus Plan
for Downtown San José
• AC-2.1,
AC-2.3, PR-4.6, CD-1.2, CD-2.1
(2), CD-2.3 (1), TN-1.4, CD-1.2, PR-4.6
DO - Elements of Change (in this case on a
public plaza) add a sense of place and time.
(“Ursa Mater” by Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson Art;
photo by Adrien Le Biavant)
DO - Elements of Distinction relieve Blank
Facades and Blank Walls while enlivening an area.
(“A Chance to Grow” by Mona Caron)
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
65 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.3.1- Ground /f_loor treatments & uses: active frontage
4.1- Street Life, Commerce, and the Public Realm
4.1- Street Life, Commerce, and the Public Realm
Attract people using Active
Frontages facing the Public Realm.
5.3.1.a Active Frontages
WELCOME ALL OF SAN JOSE
a. Active Frontage length extends to the last
window or door into the applicable Active Use.
RATIONALE
Active, vibrant street life comes from activity
related to both Public Space and the uses in
adjacent buildings. Entrances, storefronts,
and other visual and physical interaction
between the building and Public Space make
the street more safe, interesting, and lively.
At the Pedestrian Level, connection to the
Public Realm creates Active Frontages. A gap
in Active Frontage is a Blank Wall.
This Design Guidelines document addresses
the design of a building and the locations of
different uses within the building but does
not govern land use.
GUIDELINES
a. Create visual transparency at corners.
b. Use glazing that doe
s not obscure
commercial activity from the sidewalk.
STANDARDS
Definition
Active Frontage is a Pedestrian Level building
frontage that allows visual or physical access
to Active Use within the building via windows,
doors, or both. As in the sections below:
•
Active F
rontage is required based on the
adjacent Street T ype to be a percentage
of total frontage.
• Some type
s of Active Frontage receive
additional length credit.
• General requir
ements set the baseline
characteristics for all Active Frontages.
Active Frontage Requirements by
Street Type
a. Place Active Frontages along at least
80% of the
Pedestrian Level Streetwall
on a Primary Addressing Street, SoFA
Addressing Street, Secondary Addressing
Street, Urban Park/Plaza Frontage, or
Open Space Frontage (see Section 2.2).
b.
Place Activ
e Frontages along at least 40%
of the Pedestrian Level Streetwall on a
street that is not an Addressing Street or
Frontage from Standard a. above (includ-
ing a paseo but not including an alley).
c.
On an A
ddressing Street of any type, do
not create a Blank Wall longer than 30
feet, or more than 15 feet in the 50 feet
closest to a street intersection.
d.
On a non-A
ddressing street (including a
paseo but not including an alley), do not
create a Blank Wall longer than 50 feet, or
more than 25 feet in the 50 feet closest to
a street intersection.
Blank
Wall
Active
Frontage
DO NOT - Opaque and translucent windows do
not contribute to the vitality of the sidewalk.
c. DO -
Use transparent material on at least 60%
of the commercial ground floor facade between 3
and 7 feet above ground level.
Visual
ConnectionDirect
access at
grade
3’ max.
fence
height
Property Line
b. DO - Create a residential frontage with
individual unit entries. The ground floor must be
within 3 feet of ground level.
Ground
floor
Ground
floor
Building
setback
DO - Small retail spaces such as these on the San
Pedro Market Parking Garage create Active Front-
age and reduce the length of a Blank Wall.
66 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Types of Active Frontage
Different Active Frontages contribute more or
less to the vibrancy of a street based on their
level of activity. For instance, a retail shop
typically creates higher levels of activity for
longer periods than an individual residential
unit. Thus, the more active Active Frontages
are counted at double or triple their actual
width, as below, for calculations to meet the
Active Frontage requirements by Street T ype.
Type 1 Active Frontage - counts triple the
Active Frontage width:
•
Retail shop fr
ontage
• Front
age of an office under 5,000 square
feet
• Res
taurant or cafe frontage
• Hotel lobby fr
ontage
• Fitness c
enter frontage (open to the
public)
• Other lobby of a f
acility open to the public
such as a museum, library, or movie
theater.
Type 2 Active Frontage - counts double the
Active Frontage width:
•
Commercial o
ffice windows, including
educational use, whether the office is
entered from Public Space or inside the
building
•
Office lobby or r
esidential lobby frontage
• Individual residential fr
ontage with direct
entry or stoop to the unit
• Residential b
alcony with a floor height 10
feet or less above the sidewalk level (direct
entry from Public Space not required)
•
Day
care center frontage
• Community sp
ace frontage, such as exhi-
bition or meeting space
• Residential amenit
y frontage, whether
entered from Public Space or inside
the building. Examples: laundry, fitness
center, or library
•
Commercial o
ffice amenity frontage such
as a fitness center, cafeteria, daycare
center, bike kitchen, clinic, etc. entered
from Public Space or inside the building
Type 3 Active Frontage - counts the Active
Frontage width:
•
Building entrance or e
xit with at least
3 square feet of transparent glass or
unglazed openings.
• Window o
f at least 5 square feet of trans-
parent glass or unglazed openings.
Frontages along these building uses cannot
be Active Frontage:
•
Structured parking
• Drive
way or garage entrance
• Servic
e entrance
• Fire exit
• Utility c
onnections
General Requirements
Unless otherwise stated elsewhere, all Active
Frontages:
e. Must hav
e a floor level within three vertical
feet of ground level.
f. Must be visible from
Public Space.
g. Must hav
e an entry directly from Public
Space.
h. If non-residential,
must use transparent
materials for at least 60% of ground floor
between 3 and 7 feet above ground level
and use panes of glass no less than 3 feet
wide and 4 feet high.
i.
If retail,
between 3 and 10 feet above
ground must use mullions no wider than
1 inch when using panes of glass less than
5 feet in width or height.
j.
Must not block more than 25% o
f
commercial window area with signage or
other opaque or semi-opaque elements
between 3 and 7 feet above ground level.
k.
If security g
ates are used for Commercial
Space, must use gates at least 50% trans-
parent to maintain pedestrian interest
during non-business hours.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance
Location
4.4.2.a - Windows and Glazing
4.4.3 - Materials and Colors
5.3.1.b - Mitigating Blank Walls
5.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entry Design
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• VN-1.10, CD-2.8, CD-1.11, CD-2.3(3),
LU-5
.7
DO NOT - Highly-reflective glass with small panes
and wide, deep mullions reduces transparency
and the interaction between sidewalk and shop.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
67 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Avoid long Blank Walls facing the Public
Realm. Where a Blank Wall is unavoidable,
work to mitigate its impact.
5.3.1.b Mitigating Blank Walls
FOCUS ON THE GROUND FLOOR
DO NOT - Long Blank Walls are discouraged. Architectural treatments may provide some relief but reducing the length of Blank Walls is of primary importance.
DO - Art can have local meaning as well as
reduce the impact of a Blank Wall.
DO - Mitigate Blank Walls with features to add
interest at the Pedestrian Level.
RATIONALE
A ground floor Blank Wall has no Active
Frontage. This includes walls with windows
to non-Occupied Space, such as a parking
garage. Note that windows to parking above
the ground level do count to avoid creation
of a Blank Facade (see Section 4.4.4).
Blank Walls deaden the street environment,
make Public Space less safe and inviting,
and reduce a retail area's potential by
creating breaks between activities. They
provide opportunities for undesirable activi-
ties such as graffiti.
Where a building has a Blank Wall for
unavoidable reasons, use design treatments
to increase pedestrian safety, comfort, and
interest. Preference is given to treatments
that reduce the length of Blank Wall, such
as small retail spaces for food bars, news-
stands, and other specialized retail tenants.
Architectural treatments make the space
more interesting for pedestrians but do not
create the safety and usefulness that comes
with an Active Frontage.
GUIDELINES
a. Use architectural treatments such as
re
veals, small setbacks, indentations,
or other means to break up a Blank
Wall along Public Space. Avoid creation
of blind spots that may feel unsafe to
pedestrians when the street is less busy.
Use these treatments for Blank Walls
along property lines as well where they
are exposed without an abutting building.
b.
Use diff
erent textures, colors, or materi-
als to break up a Blank Wall’s surface.
STANDARDS
• Mitigate a Blank Wall longer than 30 feet
with one or more o
f the following:
• Public (pre
ferably interactive) art on
at least 100 square feet and 10 linear
feet of the wall
•
Art exhibition display windo
w
• Merchandising or regularly
-changing
public information display case or
window
•
Special lighting, canop
y, awning,
trellis, planter, or other pedestri-
an-oriented feature.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.4 - Mitigating Blank Facades
5.2 - Public Art in Private Development
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• TN-1.4, VN-1.7 , CD-1.11, CD-2.3
68 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Design service functions for efficient operations
with minimal impact to Public Life and building
operations.
5.3.1.c Service and Utility Design
FOCUS ON THE GROUND FLOOR
DO - Internal access to trash, recycling, and
loading through a narrow doorway (16' in this
photo) reduces impact on the sidewalk.
DO NOT - Even screened, utility equipment
along the sidewalk reduces connection to
Public Space.
RATIONALE
Service functions, including trash and
recycling, deliveries, loading, utilities, infra-
structure, and mechanical systems are
essential to the operation of a building but
may diminish the quality of the adjacent
Public Realm. The size and architectural
treatment of service facilities, equipment,
and access can affect their impact.
GUIDELINES
a. Minimize front ages used for services
and utilities and integrate them into the
overall articulation and fenestration of the
facade by continuing design elements
across these areas or by otherwise
enhancing visual interest for pedestrians.
b.
Integrat
e services and utilities into the
building envelope.
c. Place ser
vices and utilities that are not
integrated into the building envelope
behind the building, away from Public
Space.
d.
Integrat
e publicly-owned infrastructure
such as communications and security
equipment, electrical transformers, and
meters within the building and make
them as unobtrusive as possible, and not
at a corner.
STANDARDS
a. In a commercial development, place
horizont
al, through-the-wall venting to
the street above the third building story.
For buildings three stories or fewer, vent
to the roof.
b.
In a residential de
velopment, integrate
any horizontal venting with the architec-
tural design in a pattern that will not draw
attention.
c.
Screen s
ervices and utilities that cannot
be located within the building envelope
and are located within 30 feet of and
otherwise visible to Public Space from
view from Public Space.
d.
Use enclo
sures or doors to confine odors
from trash and recycling and use vents to
direct odors away from the sidewalk.
e.
Pro
vide internal building access to
loading, trash and recycling areas, not
across Public Space.
f.
Enclos
e equipment for power, utilities,
and waste within the building envelope.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.5.2 - Service Entrance Location
5.3.1.b - Mitigating Blank Walls
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.18
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
69 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.3.2- Ground Floor Treatments & Uses- Ground Floor and Non-Residential Space
4.3.2- Ground Floor Treatments & Uses- Ground Floor and Non-Residential Space Configure non-residential ground floor space
for Active Frontage, character, and human
scale.
5.3.2 Ground Floor Non-Residential Space
MIX USES AND ACTIVITIES
a. Frequent entries into leasable space and high
floor-to-ceiling clear heights create a flexible
space able to host many potential users.
b.
DO - Use 50 foot minimum depth for 50% of
Commercial Space along a Primary Addressing
Street and SoFA Addressing street.
DO - Create frequent commercial entries even if
the space is initially occupied by a single tenant.
50' Example: Office
50' Example: Retail
RATIONALE
Because of the importance of Active
Frontages and the long life spans of most
buildings, a building's Pedestrian Level
should include a high level of flexibility to
accommodate not only present but future
needs for high quality Commercial Space.
GUIDELINES
a. Create retail bays and entries at least
ev
ery 25 to 35 feet to allow multiple
storefronts, even if initial retail tenants
occupy more than one bay.
b.
Design ac
commodation for restaurant
sewerage utilities into the building, such
as grease traps and interceptors.
c.
For flexibilit
y, anticipate restaurant
requirements in the design of ground
floor retail space, including incorporat -
ing venting in the design, even if it is not
actually installed during construction.
d.
T o pre
serve transparency, do not place
a structural column over two feet wide
within 8 feet of a street corner.
e.
Design building
s along any Addressing
Street (see Section 2.2) without struc-
tural features that would prevent the
reconfiguration of the ground floor to
at-grade retail use at some future time.
f.
Creat
e a distinctive architectural char -
acter with features like higher arcade
height, cornice line height, and ceiling
height at street corners.
g.
Incorporat
e elements of nearby buildings
such as recessed doorways or distinctive
fenestration patterns.
h.
If used, int
egrate a security gate archi-
tecturally with the ground floor facade.
i. Creat
e vertical and horizontal human-
scale with elements such as window
proportions, facade articulation,
canopies, and awnings.
STANDARDS
a. Create entries every 35 feet or less along
the SoF
A Addressing Street (see Section
2.2).
b. Pro
vide a minimum 16 feet clear height
(18 feet optimal) to finished ceiling in
ground floor Commercial Space except
along the SoFA Addressing Street (see
Section 2.2).
c.
Pro
vide a minimum 20 feet clear height
to finished ceiling in ground floor
Commercial Space along the SoFA
Addressing Street (see Section 2.2).
d.
Maintain cle
arance of at least 4 feet
between a dropped ceiling and a clere-
story window (see Diagram a).
e.
Design at le
ast 50 percent of a build-
ing’s Commercial Space along a Primary
Addressing Street or SoFA Addressing
Street a minimum of 50 feet deep (60 feet
preferred) behind the building facade.
Design the remaining Commercial Space
a minimum of 25 feet deep.
f.
Do not use permanent f
ences between the
building and Public Realm except to screen
service functions and equipment.
g.
Fence
s and plantings (except those
screening garbage and utilities) may not
be greater than 3 feet tall.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.3 - Materials and Colors
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-2.8, CD-1.11, CD-1.12, LU-5.7
16'
min.
Finished ceiling
Minimum ceiling
distance from
clerestory window
Clerestory
window
4'
70 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.3.3- Ground Floor Residential space
Design ground floor residential space to provide
privacy and access and create a 24-hour presence
on the street.
5.3.3 Ground Floor Residential Space
FOCUS ON THE GROUND FLOOR
RATIONALE
The presence of residential units with a
close physical and visual relationship to
the street keeps the street safer and more
active through activities of residents and
visitors. Residential windows, porches, and
balconies overlooking the street create the
opportunity for observation of the street
and for interaction with neighbors, shop-
keepers, and passerby.
As noted in Section 3.5.1, a ground floor
residential unit must have its primary entry
directly from the street. This ground floor
residential space should create a consistent
residential edge along the street or paseo,
with the potential for small setbacks for
stoops, porches, and front gardens.
GUIDELINES
a. Incorporate residential uses and ameni-
ties that activ
ate the street into the
ground floor of a residential building
fronting any Addressing Street (see
Section 2.2). Examples are a library,
fitness center, community space, exhibi-
tion space, or bike kitchen.
b.
Design t
ownhouse unit facades to high-
light their individual identity.
c. Use
porches (with direct entry from the
street), balconies (without direct entry
from the street), and windows to allow
residents to view the street while protect-
ing resident privacy.
d.
For units with s
toops, use setbacks
between 6 and 10 feet to transition
between the public and private realms.
Include human-scaled elements that
contribute to the residential and urban
character of the street, such as porches,
seating, and gardens.
e.
Do not expo
se partially below-grade
parking toward the street-facing side of a
residential building.
STANDARDS
a. Use a maximum width of 30 feet for each
ground floor r
esidential unit.
b. Elevat
e a residential unit ground floor
between 2 and 3 feet above grade to
provide adequate separation from Public
Space while maintaining a visual connec-
tion to the street. A unit may be elevated
higher if required due to a designated
flood zone or other safety or engineer -
ing requirements. Accessibility require-
ments may be met with unit entries from
the building interior.
30’ max. width
Elevated
residential
floor level
Edge of public
sidewalk
Ground floor residential units humanize the
Streetscape and add activity and visual connec-
tion. Narrow unit widths promote the creation of
multiple unit entries.
DO - An elevated floor level creates additional
privacy for ground floor residential units.
c. Do not use permanent fences in any space
betw
een the building and Public Realm
except for ground floor residential Semi-
Private Open Space (see section 3.4.2) or
to screen service functions and equipment.
d.
Fence
s and plantings between a building
and Public Space (except those screen-
ing garbage and utilities) shall not be
greater than 3 feet tall.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.2 - Locating Ground Level Semi-Private
Open Space
3.4.3 - Locating Ground Level Building Open
Space
3.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance
Location
4.4.2.c - Balconies (Private Open Space)
4.4.3 - Materials and Colors
5.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entry Design
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-3.9, LU-3.1, VN-1.7
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
71 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.8- Street-Level & Public Realm Lighting
Create distinctive, safe, and inviting
Public Spaces with building lighting at
the Pedestrian Level.
5.3.4 Lighting - Pedestrian Level
FOCUS ON THE GROUND FLOOR
RATIONALE
While public street lighting within the City’s
Public Spaces is crucial, building lighting
near the street can add additional illumi-
nation and clarity, encouraging pedestrian
activity. Lighting can also create points of
interest in the broader cityscape.
GUIDELINES
a. Use pedestrian-scaled lighting as an
integr
al element of all building facades,
designed and located to accentuate
ground floor uses.
b.
Orient outside lighting t
oward building
surfaces or directly downward and shield
exposed bulbs to minimize glare within
Public Space.
c.
Install lighting in displa
y windows that
spills onto and illuminates the sidewalk.
DO - Pedestrian scale lighting and transparency make this sidewalk inviting and interesting.
DO - Pleasant lighting at the Pedestrian Level makes stores and restaurants inviting and creates a feeling of increased safety. Photo © Sergio Ruiz for SPUR
Light Light
spacing spacing
varies by varies by
locationlocation
DO - Place pedestrian-scale lighting at a maxi-
mum separation based on the street typology.
Illuminate the adjacent sidewalk as required.
72 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
STANDARDS
a. Use lighting to accentuate pedestrian and
bicy
cle entries.
b. For a s
torefront, light a minimum zone of
4 feet in front of the building and a zone
of 2 feet within the building with build-
ing-mounted lighting.
c.
Pro
vide separate power switches for
interior and exterior lighting of active
ground floor uses so that these can
remain lit after hours, including for retail
tenant signage and storefront areas.
d.
For a f
acade at a T ransit Gateway or a
Pedestrian and Bicycle Gateway (see
Section 2.2), provide pedestrian-scale
lighting that creates an overall illumina-
tion of the building-adjacent sidewalk,
with a lighting fixture every 25 feet or less.
e.
For a f
acade along an Enhanced Lighting
Corridor (see Section 2.6), provide pedes-
trian-scale lighting that creates an overall
illumination of the building-adjacent
sidewalk regardless of the use within the
building at that location, with a lighting
fixture every 30 feet or less.
f.
For a f
acade facing any paseo, provide
pedestrian-scale lighting with a lighting
fixture every 30 feet or less.
g.
For a f
acade that is a Blank Wall (see
Section 5.3.1.b), provide pedestrian-scale
lighting with a lighting fixture every 20
feet or less.
h.
Pro
vide outdoor lighting using fixtures
that yield low light pollution and glare.
i. Orient lighting fixture
s primarily
downward.
j. Shield all lighting
to prevent light intru-
sion into private and public building uses,
especially residential units.
k.
Fully light ser
vice areas and service
entries.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.9.a - Lighting - Podium Level
4.4.9.b - Lighting - Skyline Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.2, CD-1.7 , CD-2.1 (2), CD-2.3,
CD-5.
6, IP-15.1
DO - Lighting at the Pedestrian Level creates a sense of refuge and welcome around large Public Spaces.
DO - Provide frequent light fixtures to create
additional, more pedestrian-scale lighting than
that from street lamps.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
73 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Inform and attract while enhancing the
appearance of Downtown with well-
designed and located Podium Level and
Pedestrian Level signage.
5.3.5 Signage - Podium Level and Pedestrian Level
CREATE LEGIBILITY, PUT PEOPLE FIRST
RATIONALE
The best building signage strikes a balance
between attracting attention and contribut-
ing to a unified Streetscape. Signs can be a
visually unifying element and an attractor to
a commercial area.
Signs at the Podium Level and Pedestrian
Level should be oriented to pedestrians and
other people nearby. Signs in Downtown
retail corridors should be larger, more prom-
inently located, of brighter colors, and more
brightly lit than in other areas to visually
activate Public Space and inform people
of the presence of higher levels of public
activity. Other areas of Downtown will have
signage that is more subdued, with smaller
sizes, less intense colors, and lower light
levels.
Signage in San José, including historic signs,
is regulated by the San José Zoning Code,
Chapter 23.04 - Sign Regulations. Much of
Downtown is covered by Part 2 - Downtown
Sign Zone. The guidelines and standards in
this section are in addition to the rules of the
Zoning Code.
GUIDELINES
a. Use neon signs on Primary Addressing
Street
s and the SoFA Addressing Street
(see Section 2.2) to create visually
vibrant Streetscapes.
b.
Do not use int
ernally illuminated signs at
the Podium Level and Pedestrian Level.
c. Do not
cover or obscure a building’s
architectural features with a sign.
d. Use mat
erials and colors for signs that
are compatible with the building’s mate-
rials and colors.
e.
Minimize light impact
s from signs on
residential windows, particularly from
flashing or otherwise changing lights.
STANDARDS
a. Create signage that is perpendicular to
the adjacent side
walk, and thus more
visible to pedestrians.
b. Signage oriented p
arallel to the street,
more visible to vehicles and people on
the opposite sidewalk, is allowed but not
required.
c.
Use signag
e and addressing to make clear
the location of the primary entrance for
pedestrians, bicyclists, bicycle parking,
and emergency responders.
RELATED GUIDELINES
4.4.10 - Signage - Skyline Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.20, CD-1.29, CD-6.5, CD-2.3 (1),
LU
-13.7
DO NOT use internally illuminated signs at the
Podium Level or Pedestrian Level.
DO - Pedestrian-oriented signage creates
an interesting Streetscape and facilitates
wayfinding.
DO - Neon signs are preferred in Primary
Addressing Streets.
DO - Use signage perpendicular to the sidewalk.
Signage parallel to the street is allowed but not
required.
74 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.4.3- Entrances- Parking and Vehicle Entries + xx.6 Surface parking lot Avoid creating surface parking lots. Where created,
ensure they are not large inactive areas that form
barriers to walkability and urban vitality.
5.4 Surface Parking Lots
INNOVATE AND SUPPORT CREATIVITY
DO NOT - Large surface parking lots deaden
and divide the cityscape.
RATIONALE
Surface parking lots are inappropriate in
dense urban environments like Downtown.
They can become unsafe and unpleasant
in the urban fabric, and they reduce the
amount of activity taking place by occupy -
ing land and dividing uses from each other.
When a small surface parking lot is needed
for accessible, short-term, or other parking,
reduce the negative impacts with good
design.
Strategies for creating better surface
parking include reducing the real and
perceived size of the lot, creating visual relief
from the large expanse of cars or vacant
spaces, reducing the local environmental
effects through landscaping, and providing
Active Frontages at edges of parking lots
that are visible to the Public Realm.
GUIDELINES
a. Screen at least two sides of a parking lot
with buildings t
o reduce visibility from
streets, while incorporating consideration
of ingress and egress for trucks and other
large vehicles.
b.
Use w
ater-permeable pavers or pavement
and landscaping to reduce stormwater
runoff, and use landscaping to filter surface
water runoff.
STANDARDS
a. Divide any surfac e parking area length
exceeding 240 feet into multiple zones
divided by a drive aisle designed as a street,
including sidewalks and parallel parking
on both sides. This improves pedestrian,
bicycle, and vehicular circulation in and
across the site. These divisions will make it
easier to redevelop portions of the parking
lot at a later date.
b.
Creat
e pedestrian walks at least every
120 feet within a parking lot to provide
safe pedestrian travel to either the
building entrance or a public sidewalk.
c.
Screen with lands
caping any surface
parking lot within 50 feet of and visible
from a street or paseo. Do not create
unsafe blind spots.
d.
T o impr
ove comfort and environmental
quality and reduce the heat island effect,
plant a minimum of one shade tree per
eight parking spaces or one coniferous or
ornamental tree per four parking spaces. A
mix of tree types at these ratios is allowed.
The center of the tree must be at least 15
feet from the center of the nearest tree to
count under this standard.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.4 - Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Location
3.5.3 - Parking and Vehicular Access
Location
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
5.5.2 - Vehicle and Service Entry Design
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• MS-1.6, MS-3.5, VN-1.9, CD-2.11, CD-3.9
Public
Street
Drive aisle formatted
like a street reduces
apparent parking
lot size
> 240’
lot length
< 50’
Vegetation screens
parking lot closer
than 50' to street
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
75 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.4.1- Entrances- Pedestrian and Bicycle Entries
4.4.2- Entrances- Service Entries
4.4.1- Entrances- Pedestrian and Bicycle Entries
Make walking and bicycling pleasant, convenient, and
safe with pedestrian and bicycle entrances that are high quality, easy to access, and easy to find.
5.5.1 Pedestrian and Bicycle Entry Design
DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY, WELCOME ALL OF SAN JOSE
Parking or
service entry
subordinated on
the secondary
facade
Primary building
entrance through
sidewalk-facing
lobby
Projecting elements Projecting elements
alert pedestrians to alert pedestrians to
the lobby locationthe lobby location
a. Place a building’s primary entry to activate Public Space and allow building occupants easy access to the Public Realm.
DO - Stoops and porches create outdoor open
space for ground level units.
b. DO - Stoops create a transition between
private residential unit entries and Public Space.
See Section 3.4.2 for guidance on Ground Level
Semi-Private Open Space.
c. DO - An alternative to stoops for ground floor
residential units is an at grade entry and internal
stairs to the elevated ground floor level. Note the
ground floor must still be elevated per Section
5.3.3. RATIONALE
Walking and bicycling are sustainable,
healthy ways to travel to and around
Downtown. Building entry design should
recognize their importance.
Lobbies should be clearly identifiable and
visible from the street, easily accessible, and
inviting to pedestrians. Private entries to indi-
vidual residential units should help create an
inviting and active Streetscape, while provid-
ing residents with privacy and security.
76 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
GUIDELINES
a. Provide a formal lobby entered directly
from a s
treet for each building.
b. Identify privat
e residential unit entrances
with recessed doorways, changes in color
and materials, and alternative paving.
c.
Use siz
e, prominence on the Streetscape,
location, and design emphasis to make
the pedestrian entrance more prominent
than the garage entrance.
d.
Place the building str
eet number near the
main entrance and easily visible from the
sidewalk.
e.
Integrat
e Green Stormwater Infrastruc-
ture such as bioswales or other storm-
water management into residential entry
landscaping.
STANDARDS
a. Emphasize common entries for pedes-
trians and bicy
clists with architectural
features such as:
• Extra-height lobb
y space
• Distinctive door
way
• Distinctive entr
y canopy
• Project
ed or recessed entry bay
• Artwork int
egrated into the facade or
sidewalk
• A change in p
aving material, texture,
or color within the property line
• Distinctive lands
caping, including
plants, water features, and seating
• Ornamental glazing,
railings, and
balustrades
• Visibility fr
om the street into the
lobby
b. Clearly identify the primar
y building
entry by a horizontal projection (such as
a canopy) visible from 100 feet along the
adjacent sidewalk.
c.
Pro
vide internal access between bicycle
parking and the building lobby when
indoor bicycle parking is provided.
d.
Creat
e transition space between ground
level private residential unit entries and
Public Space with features such as stoops,
porches, and landscaping. An alternative
to a stoop is an at-grade entry with an
internal stair to the elevated floor level.
e.
Design fir
st floor loft or live/work units
with at-grade (accessible) access to the
street.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.2 - Locating Ground Level Semi-Private
Open Space
3.5.1 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Entrance
Location
4.4.2.a - Windows and Glazing
5.3.1.a - Active Frontages
5.3.2 - Ground Floor Non-Residential Space
5.3.3 - Ground Floor Residential Space
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.11, CD-1.9, CD-3.9, CD-1.12, CD-6.8,
CD-2.3,
CD-6.8DO - Celebrating common entries with distinctive
features identifies the primary entry from along
the sidewalk. Photo © Sergio Ruiz for SPUR
DO - Create visibility into the lobby to welcome
pedestrians. A recessed entry and canopy provide
protection from the elements.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS 77
4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.4.2- Entrances- Service Entries
4.4.2- Entrances- Service Entries
Design parking and vehicular entries to avoid degrading the quality of the Streetscape and creating gaps
between uses that reduce walkability.
5.5.2 Vehicle and Service Entry Design
PUT PEOPLE FIRST
a. DO NOT - Adjacent service and vehicular
doors create severe impacts on Public Space.
b. DO - Properly sized and spaced service
and vehicular entries minimize impact.
DO NOT - Adjacent entry and loading doors create a long zone where pedestrians are in danger from vehicles and with no Active Frontage.
RATIONALE
Vehicle entries can create negative effects on
building facades and Streetscapes. Vehicle
entries create gaps in Active Frontages,
intimidate pedestrians and bicyclists,
degrade the sidewalk with additional slope,
and create soiling through oil drips and tire
marks. Minimizing these effects promotes
livability and safety. Building design should
limit the number of sidewalk interruptions
and reduce the size and visual disruption of
vehicle entries. Minimum spacing between
entries avoids long visually-inactive zones
and maintains space for Active Frontages.
GUIDELINES
None
STANDARDS
a. Provide a single access for both service
and vehicle
s. Separate driveways may be
accepted with a minimum separation of
10 feet, subject to City review.
b.
Limit a vehicle or ser
vice entry width to
a maximum of 26 feet, including both an
entry into a building and a drive aisle to
a parking garage or parking lot. Subject
to City review, wider driveways may be
permitted for non-residential buildings
with larger vehicles, for driveways that
are used by trucks, or for driveways that
are signalized.
c.
Limit vehicle and ser
vice building entry
height to a maximum of 20 feet.
d. Locat
e passenger loading and unloading
areas, including space for passengers
awaiting rides, so these activities do not
block the sidewalk.
e.
Locat
e service loading and unloading
areas, such as for garbage, so these
activities do not block the sidewalk.
f.
Do not cre
ate a Porte Cochere along any
street except as part of a hotel or medical
use.
g. A Porte C
ochere cannot be the primary
pedestrian entrance. Create a separate
entrance from the sidewalk that does not
require pedestrians or bicyclists to pass
through the Porte Cochere to enter the
building.
h.
Do not locat
e a driveway where it will
create a new crossing of the light rail
tracks on First or Second streets.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.3.2 - Relationship to T ransit
3.5.2 - Service Entrance Location
3.5.3 - Parking and Vehicular Access
Location
4.4.6 - Parking Garages
5.4 - Surface Parking Lots
5.3.4 - Lighting - Pedestrian Level
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• CD-1.18, CD-1.17 , CD-2.3 (5)
Max.Max.
26'26'
Minimum Minimum
10'10'
Max.
20'20'
Utilities
Service Entry
Vehicular
Entry Vehicular
Entry
Utility and
service
combined
entry
78 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.5- Paseos
Provide interesting and active building frontages along paseos to maintain and promote pedestrian activity
and safety.
5.6 Paseo Design
CREATE CONNECTIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY
DO - A paseo should be active for safety and
have interesting architecture and landscaping.
DO - Graffiti Alley in T oronto has become
a tourist attraction through a collection of
informal art. See also the image of public art in
a plaza in Section 5.2.
DO - Paseos can provide interesting small
spaces for relaxation and can have integration
into a retail or cafe experience.
DO - Buildings should form continuous edges
along a paseo. Photo © Sergio Ruiz for SPUR
Active Frontages
and ground floor
transparency
Continuous
building edges
Retail
rounds
corner
RATIONALE
Paseos are typically more informal Public
Spaces than streets, in some cases evolving
from alleys or service lanes. Paseos create
additional pedestrian routes and the loca-
tions for exciting small Public Spaces within
an urban area.
The articulation and detailing of adjacent
buildings help create appropriate scale and
should avoid creating isolated areas. Efforts
at activation such as programming and
temporary and permanent art bring life to
paseos. The character, width, and shape of
a paseo may vary, but it must remain a safe
and well-lit route throughout.
GUIDELINES
a. Incorporate pedestrian-scale public art
into amenitie
s, building enhancements,
wayfinding, and the paseo ground
surface, and as standalone artworks in
paseos.
b.
Include pedestrian amenitie
s and street
furniture such as benches.
c. Extend the
fenestration and facade treat-
ment of street-facing retail space around
the corner into the paseo.
d.
Creat
e interesting facade treatments
along the paseo frontage, treating the
paseo as a building front and not a
subsidiary elevation.
e.
Use w
ater-permeable paving surfaces in
paseos and design them to collect storm-
water runoff to increase natural percola-
tion and on-site drainage.
STANDARDS
a. Shape buildings along a p aseo to form
continuous edges. No more than 20% of
a parcel's boundary along a paseo should
consist of a freestanding wall or fence.
b.
A paseo
that does not serve as emer -
gency access may be any width greater
than 5 feet. A paseo that serves as
emergency access must comply with
minimum requirements of the City's
Public Works and Fire departments.
c.
A paseo’
s pedestrian through zone must
be at least 5 feet wide.
d. Lighting within pas
eos is important for
safety. Ensure that lighting is bright
enough for safe access in all parts of the
paseo. See also Section 5.3.4.
RELATED GUIDELINE
3.3.3 - Paseo / Mid-Block Connection
Location
5.2 - Public Art in Private Development
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• AC-2.1, CD-1.2, CD-2.3 (5), CD-1.7 ,
CD-1.9
, CD-1.11, CD-6.8, TR-3.8
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
79 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
4.6- Privately-Owned Public Open Space (POPOS)
Create Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces
(POPOS) that are interesting, useful, flexible,
active, safe, and durable common spaces for
Downtown.
5.7 Privately-Owned Public Open Space (POPOS) Design
WELCOME ALL OF SAN JOSE
DO - A POPOS should be active and visible from
the street.
DO - Mobile seating and a mix of sun and shade
allows POPOS users to find a comfortable spot
in a variety of weather conditions.
Visibility from
the sidewalk and
easy access
Lined by
Active
Frontages
Pedestrian Route
RATIONALE
A dense and interesting area requires a variety
of Public Spaces to thrive. POPOS can provide
amenity, flexibility of use, and proximity to
residents, workers, and visitors in Downtown.
POPOS are for both occupation and visual
amenity. Smaller, better-designed, hard-
scaped, bright spaces are preferable to larger,
green-but-uninhabited, poorly-placed ones.
POPOS can feature art work, street furniture,
and landscaping that invite users or enhance
the building’s setting.
The primary function of any Downtown open
space between buildings and the sidewalk
is to provide access into the building and
opportunities for outdoor activities such
as resting, sitting, or dining, not to create a
visual and physical barrier.
GUIDELINES
a. Where a commercial or mixed-use
building is set b
ack from the property
line, treat the resulting space as an
integral part of the Public Realm.
b.
Design POPO
S for passive and active use
with a variety of elements such as water
features, canopies, trees, planting, public
art installations, and play facilities.
c.
Avoid cr
eating “leftover” spaces which
serve only as underused buffer space and
spread out urban activity.
d.
Distinguish betw
een parts of the POPOS
used for through traffic (paths) and parts
that are destination spaces (nodes).
e.
Define sub-are
as within a POPOS to
enable multiple uses of the space.
f. Use tr
ees, overhangs, and umbrellas to
provide shade in the warmest months. For
guidance on trees, refer to the San José
T ree Policy Manual and Recommended
Best Management Practices (2013).
g.
Pro
vide mobile seating to allow users of
the space to find a comfortable combi-
nation of sun and shade and to create
flexible and multifunctional spaces.
h.
Enliven
a POPOS with art work, amenities
such as fountains, and kiosks.
i. Creat
e areas for vendors (in ground level
POPOS) and outdoor dining, including
facilities to accommodate pop-up retail
such as removable bollards and power
outlets.
j.
In rooft
op POPOS, create visual connec-
tion to the surroundings, including to the
street level.
k.
Incorporat
e attractive and artistic
natural drainage designs with functions
of Green Stormwater Infrastructure such
as bioretention in POPOS to retain and
filter stormwater runoff.
STANDARDS
a. A ground level POPOS must be lined by
an A
ctive Frontage on at least 25% of the
building frontages forming its perimeter.
b. Include temporar
y or permanent seating.
c. Design
landscaping, walls, railings, and
other street elements to retain visibility
into and out of a ground level POPOS.
d.
Make the entry t
o a rooftop POPOS
clear and apparent from Public Space
and make obvious that the POPOS is
intended for public use.
RELATED GUIDELINES
3.4.1 - Locating Privately-Owned Public Open
Space
3.4.2 - Locating Ground Level Semi-Private
Open Space
GENERAL PLAN REFERENCE
• PR-1.7 , CD-2.3, AC-1.9, AC-2.3, CD-2.7 ,
MS-3
.4, CD-2.4
80 EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
A.0
APPENDIX
Photo credit: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com
A.1 Glossary
A.2 Background Studie
s
A.2.1 Skyline Studies
A.2.2 Paseo P
recedents
A.3 Resources and References
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
A.1 Glossary
Active Frontage - A building frontage that
meets the requirements of Section 5.3.1.a.
Generally, these are ground level building
facades that have visible activity inside and
that help to create activity on the street, such
as restaurants, stores, and building lobbies.
Active Use - Activities in Pedestrian Level
Occupied Space that support the creation of
an Active Frontage.
Addressing Street, Primary - See Primary
Addressing Streets
Addressing Street, Secondary - See
Secondary Addressing Streets
Articulation - The manner in which portions
of a building form are expressed (materials,
color, texture, pattern, modulation, etc.) and
come together to define the structure.
Bird-safe Pattern - A pattern on glass
intended to reduce bird collisions. The
pattern must have circular or square markers
at least 0.25” in diameter, spaced at most 4”
apart horizontally and 2” apart vertically.
Bird Safety T reatment - T reatments may
include exterior screens, louvers, grilles,
shutters, sunshades, bird-safe patterns, or
other methods to reduce the likelihood of
bird collisions as suggested by the American
Bird Conservancy.
Blank Wall - A wall at the Pedestrian Level
that is not Active Frontage.
Blank Facade - A wall above the Pedestrian
Level that has a large area without windows
or balconies. See Section 4.4.4 for detailed
size and mitigation information.
Block - The area bounded by public street
right-of-ways, by publicly-owned open space,
or by utility or transportation parcels (such
as railroads).
Block Face - The row of front facades, facing
the street, for the length of one block.
Building Open Space - Open space usable
only by building residents, businesses, or
customers, with secure access. Includes
both Common Open Space and Private Open
Space.
California Register of Historical Resources
- See subsection under Eligible for Historic
Resources Inventory (HRI) listing.
California Points of Historical Interest -
See subsection under Eligible for Historic
Resources Inventory (HRI) listing.
California Historical Landmarks - See
subsection under Eligible for Historic
Resources Inventory (HRI) listing.
City Landmark - See subsection under
Eligible for Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI) listing.
City Landmark District - See subsec-
tion under Eligible for Historic Resources
Inventory (HRI) listing.
Clerestory Window - A window in a high
section of wall, above eye level.
Commercial Space - Any Occupied Space
that is not used as private or common resi-
dential space (such as a residential building
hallway).
Common Open Space - Privately owned or
controlled outdoor space for shared use by
building residents, workers, or customers,
accessible by secured access only. Common
configurations are rear yards, courtyards,
and Roof Decks.
Compatibility - The size and character of a
building element relative to other elements
around it. For example, the size and propor -
tion of windows in a building facade are
usually related to one another, the spaces
between them, and the scale of surrounding
buildings.
Conservation Area - See subsection under
Eligible for Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI) listing.
Context - The characteristics of the build-
ings, Streetscape, and landscape that
supports or surrounds a given building, site,
or area such as a predominance of period
architecture or materials, wide sidewalks,
continuous overhead weather protection, or
consistent street trees.
Contributor - See subsection under Eligible
for Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) listing.
Cornice - A projecting horizontal feature that
crowns a facade.
EIFS - A generic product name standing for
Exterior Insulating Finish System, which
consists of an acrylic finish applied to a foam
base anchored to a building facade. Brand
names include Dryvit.
Eligible for Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI) listing - A property, object, site, or
structure that meets the criteria or definition
of one or more of the classifications listed
in the City of San Jose’s Historic Resources
Inventory.
Contributor - A resource that contrib-
utes to the significance of a district,
grouping, context, or theme. See defini-
tion in the Historic Preservation section
of Chapter 6 of the City’s General Plan.
Local, State, and National level historic
resource identification.
82 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Identified Structure - A resource iden-
tified through historic resource survey
work. See definition in the Historic
Preservation section of Chapter 6 of the
City’s General Plan. Local, City of San
José, historic resource identification.
Structure of Merit - A resource of lesser
significance. See definition in the Historic
Preservation section of Chapter 6 of the
City’s General Plan. Local, City of San
José, historic resource identification.
City Landmark - A resource that meets
the definition and criteria of the San José
Municipal Code. See criteria in the San
José Municipal Code, Title 13, Historic
Preservation Ordinance. Local, City of
San Jose, historic resource identification.
Conservation Area - A geographical
area or thematic grouping with cohesion
that meets the definition in the San José
Municipal Code. See criteria in the San
José Municipal Code, Title 13, Chapter
13.48 (Part 5), Historic Preservation
Ordinance. Local, City of San José,
historic resource identification.
City Landmark District - A geographical
area or thematic grouping with cohesion
that meets the definition and criteria of
the San José Municipal Code. See criteria
in the San José Municipal Code, Title 13,
Chapter 13.48, Historic Preservation
Ordinance. Local, City of San José,
historic resource identification.
California Register of Historical
Resources, California Points of
Historical Interest, and California
Historical Landmarks - A property,
object, or district that meets the criteria
of the applicable State historic register
program. See California Office of
Historic Preservation. State level historic
resource identification.
National Register of Historic Places,
National Historic Landmarks - A
property, object, or district that meets
the criteria of the applicable National
historic register program. See U.S.
National Parks Service. National level
historic resource identification.
Eyes on the street - The concept that streets
with a density of activity and people at many
times of day and that are overlooked by
windows of nearby buildings will naturally be
safe. Popularized by Jane Jacobs, journalist
and advocate, in her book The Death and Life
of Great American Cities.
Facade - Any vertical, exterior face or wall of
a building.
Fenestration - The arrangement and design
of windows and other openings on a build-
ing’s facade.
Finished Ceiling - The lowest ceiling surface,
typically hanging below the structural
elements of the floor or roof above, not
including light fixtures, fans, ducts, or elec-
trical fixtures. The finished ceiling would not
include small lower sections of the ceiling, to
cover a beam for instance, if that section is
less than 5% of the total ceiling area.
Frequent Network - The Santa Clara Valley
T ransportation Authority (VTA) core transit
routes that provide scheduled service every
15 or fewer minutes all day on weekdays.
VTA’s Frequent Network includes all light rail
lines, Rapid lines, and routes 22, 23, 25, 26,
57 , 60, 61, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 73, and 77 .
Frontage - The building facade facing a
street or other Public Space.
Gateway - A principal or ceremonial point of
entrance into a district or neighborhood.
Gateway Site - A site, as defined in Section
2.1, located in a highly-visible location that
serves as a gateway into Downtown.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure - Land-
scape elements such as bioswales that
retain rainwater near where it falls rather
than immediately conveying it away from the
site. This creates benefits such as improved
water quality due to on-site filtering, reduced
flooding, and improved aesthetics.
Historic Context - The building(s) that cause
a new building to have Historic Adjacency.
See 4.2.4 Historic Adjacency for details.
Historic Property - A building or struc-
ture listed on the City of San José Historic
Resource Inventory (HRI) or found to be
eligible for the HRI based on an updated
evaluation.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
83 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Human Scale - Either of the below:
1. The presence of building components or
other environmental elements that suggests
a relationship to human size. For instance,
most doors are of similar dimensions, so the
presence of a door in a building facade gives
an observer a superficial understanding of
the scale of the facade based on the implied
relationship to the typical size of a human
being.
2. The use of materials and elements in
buildings and the built environment that
suggest the expectation of human presence
and human interaction. For instance, the
presence of fine levels of detail and high
quality in materials and building detailing
(on a storefront, for example) suggest the
expected presence of people in close prox -
imity.
Identified Structure - See subsection under
Eligible for Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI) listing.
Image-defining Frontage - A building
frontage, as defined in Section 2.1, located in
a highly-visible location that helps to define
the image of Downtown.
Level, Pedestrian - See Pedestrian Level
Level, Podium - See Podium Level
Level, Skyline - See Skyline Level
Massing - The three dimensional bulk of a
structure: height, width, and depth.
Mirrored Glass - Glass with greater than
30% reflectivity.
National Register of Historic Places -
See subsection under Eligible for Historic
Resources Inventory (HRI) listing.
National Historic Landmarks - See subsec-
tion under Eligible for Historic Resources
Inventory (HRI) listing.
Occupied Space - An enclosed space in
a building intended for human activities,
including bathrooms and circulation, but
not including vehicle parking or space for
supportive functions such as storage, trash
storage, equipment, or computer servers.
Open Space, Building - See Building Open
Space
Open Space, Common - See Common Open
Space
Open Space Frontage - A building frontage,
as defined in Section 2.2, that faces a natural
open space.
Open Space, Private - See Private Open
Space
Open Space, Privately-Owned Public - See
Privately-Owned Public Open Space
Open Space, Public - See Public Open Space
Other Streets - Streets within the Design
Guidelines area without the designation of
Primary Addressing Street, SoFA Addressing
Street, Secondary Addressing Street, Paseo,
Alley, Urban Park/Plaza Frontage, or Open
Space Frontage, as defined in Section 2.2.
Service functions such as loading and vehic-
ular entries are most appropriate on these
streets.
Paseo - A through-block walkway desig -
nated as a Paseo on Framework Plan 2 in
Section 2.2 or that meets the requirements
of Standard A in Section 3.3.3.
Pedestrian Level - The first 20’ of a building
above grade. This part is the most critical for
creating a good pedestrian environment.
Placemaking - A process and philosophy
that makes use of urban design principles in
planning, design, and programming to create
unique, community-centered, and active
Public Spaces.
Podium Level - The portion of a building
below the Skyline Level. This part of a building
helps to create the relationship between the
upper-level activities of the building and the
street and forms the wall of the City’s Public
Space.
POPOS - See Privately-Owned Public Open
Space
Porte Cochere - A covered structure at a
building entrance through which a motor
vehicle can pass to load or unload passen-
gers, frequently used at hotels.
Primary Addressing Streets - Streets, as
defined in Section 2.2, intended to have
a high volume of pedestrian traffic and to
support public activity throughout the day
and evening. Buildings along these streets
may include both commercial and residen-
tial uses on upper floors, with retail strongly
encouraged on the ground floor.
Private Open Space - Privately owned
or controlled outdoor space for use by a
single unit's residents or a single business's
workers or customers, accessible by secured
access only. Common configurations are
rear yards and balconies.
Privately-Owned Public Open Space
(POPOS) - A privately-owned outdoor space
that functions as a Public Space, but may
have limited hours of availability, e.g., plaza,
sidewalk extension.
Public Life - Social life and activity that
happens in the Public Realm.
A.1 Glossary (continued)
84 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Public Open Space - Publicly-owned parks,
plazas, and other spaces meant for repose
and recreation.
Public Realm - The area outside buildings
accessible or visible to the public including
streets and open spaces.
Public Space - All publicly-owned, public-
ly-accessible space, including but not limited
to streets and parks, also including paseos
but not including Highways 87 and 280 and
their associated ramps.
Riparian Corridor - Defined in the San José
Municipal Code 20.200.1054: any defined
stream channel, including the area up to
the bank full-flow line, as well as all charac-
teristic streamside vegetation in contiguous
adjacent uplands. Stream channels include
perennial and intermittent streams shown
as a solid or dashed blue line on USGS topo-
graphic maps. (Ord. 29785.)
Roof Deck - Privately owned outdoor space
not at ground level, above habitable indoor
space or other built space (such as a parking
garage), and accessible to the public or a
defined group (such as building occupants,
restaurant patrons, or occupants of a single
dwelling unit).
Secondary Addressing Streets - Streets, as
defined in Section 2.2, with a commercial or
residential focus, primarily lined with non-re-
tail commercial uses or with housing. Retail
may also occur on these streets, and corner
retail is encouraged.
Semi-Private Open Space - Privately owned
or controlled outdoor space accessible from
Public Space but not intended for public
use, e.g., setback to ground floor residential
space; landscaped setback to ground floor
office space.
Semi-Public Open Space - Privately owned
or controlled outdoor space accessible to
limited subset of the public, e.g., cafe.
Setback - The required or actual placement
of a building a specified distance away from a
road, property line, or other structure.
Skyline Level - The portion of a building
higher than 70’ above grade. This part of a
building relates less to the adjacent street
and more to the overall Downtown skyline.
SoFA Addressing Street - Street, as defined
in Section 2.2, within the SoFA District and
intended to have a high volume of pedestrian
traffic and to support public activity through-
out the day and evening. Buildings along this
street may include both commercial and
residential uses on upper floors, with retail
strongly encouraged on the ground floor.
Stepback - The required or actual placement
of a building a specified distance away from
a road, property line, or other structure at a
level above the first floor level.
Street - The publicly-accessible space within
a street right of way, including space dedi-
cated for vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, and
any other activity. A paseo is not a street.
Streetscape - The visual character of a
public street as determined by elements
such as structures, access, greenery, open
space, view, paving, street hardware, etc.
Streetwall - The building facade(s) along a
public street, Public Open Space, or a paseo
from ground level to 70 feet above. See
Section 4.3.3 for detailed requirements.
Structure of Merit - See subsection under
Eligible for Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI) listing.
T ransparency - Pedestrian Level design that
creates visibility and permeability between
the building and the adjacent sidewalk or
other Public Space.
Urban Park/Plaza Frontage - A building
frontage, as defined in Section 2.2, that faces
a major park or other civic space, as defined
in this Design Guidelines document.
Walkway - A pedestrian path on private land.
Wall Washing - Lighting that bathes a
building facade in a relatively even level
of light, emphasizing its materiality and
massing.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
85 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Landmark
Marker
Low Icon
Context
A.2.1 Skyline Studies
BUILDING ROLES IN THE SKYLINE
T all buildings play a role in a city's skyline
and together with other buildings may create
something that is unique and memorable.
Among American downtowns, few have a
height limitation similar to San José, and
many are on waterfronts, but a study of their
different conditions provides useful lessons
nonetheless.
Cities like Chicago, pictured and diagrammed
above, have four overall building types.
Landmarks are the most memorable build-
ings in the skyline, distinguished by their
height, shape, or both (see examples below
of building top design). Markers provide
localized orientation, but stand out for some
feature such as height, design, or location.
Low Icons are buildings of lower heights,
distinguished by their civic importance (such
as a museum), design, location, or color.
101 Second, San Francisco
Photo © SOM | Hedrich Blessing
50 South 6th, Minneapolis
Photo © SOM
One Canada Square (Pelli Clark Pelli),
London, Photo © SOM
86 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Bridges
Landmarks
and Low Icons
River
Facades
Hill
Distant
T owers
Unlike Chicago, San José will retain a low
overall form. A few American cities such as
Washington, DC provide similar examples of
low heights, and many European cities have
low skylines. An instructive example is Paris,
pictured above. For these cities, landmarks,
assemblies of building facades in Public
Spaces and along transportation routes
(such as rivers), and infrastructure all play a
role in the image of the city.
DERIVED LESSONS
These and other studies provided many
lessons and ideas for San José’s Downtown
Design Guidelines. Some apply to private
development, and some may instruct actions
of the City. Among these are:
•
Use the ic
onic value of infrastructure
(e.g., bridges, highway gateways).
• Creat
e identity with well-designed building
facades along urban edges (e.g., parks).
• Recogniz
able landmarks are extremely
significant in a “flat” skyline.
• Low ic
ons also help create a memorable
skyline and retaining their visibility and
emphasis is key.
• Uniform buildings c
an create a high
quality cityscape but not, by themselves,
a memorable one.
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
87 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
A.2.1 Skyline Studies (continued)
The design guidelines for building form and
massing use the information and lessons
learned from the skyline studies to create
a memorable skyline for Downtown. Image
pairs on the pages below model potential
development scenarios for two notable
views, from the north along Highway 87 and
from the highway ramp entering Highway 87
from the south. In absence of an adjacent
waterfront, these views will be among the
most memorable ones of Downtown for
many people.
Downtown from Highway 87 facing south (Photo © Google)
Simulation of towers on Gateway Sites (light gray) and of Image-Defining Frontages (dark gray) (Photo © Google) 88 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Downtown San José from the highway ramp to Highway 87 , facing northeast (Photo © Google) Simulation of towers on Gateway Sites (light gray) and of Image-Defining Frontages (dark gray) (Photo © Google)
SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS
89 4.0 Buildings 5.0 Pedestrian Level A.0 Appendix
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
200 0
1cm = 63.6m
200 m
6,070’
A.2.2 Paseo Precedents
Level 1 and 2 laneways (dark and light orange) in Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid (above). The system is dense in many locations, which is enabled by a highly dense downtown core (below) Images © Google Earth Paseos are a unique part of Downtown San
José and several city planning documents
propose their expansion within Downtown
and into the Diridon area. Paseos can help
to create a fine grained pedestrian network
and provide interesting alternative paths
that are away from the dominating influence
of vehicles.
However, it is critical that paseos remain safe
and active. Because retail shops are suffer -
ing from competition with online shopping
and are in many places declining in number,
there may not be enough retail available to
activate new paseos. Paseos should not take
activity away from existing street frontages,
which also need activation.
Thus, alternative methods are required to
create interesting and safe paseos . A study
of several other cities’ pedestrian routes
provided some instruction.
A RATING SYSTEM - MELBOURNE,
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne has a system of “laneways” in its
downtown core. These are part of a network
of alleys through long blocks, and have come
to be a large pedestrian system over time as
they have been improved and repurposed
from service functions.
T o understand the importance of the differ -
ent laneways, the City uses four core value
characteristics of laneways as pedestrian
environments:
•
Connectivity
– physical connection
through a city block.
• Active fr
ontages – frontages that
provide for visual and physical interaction
between the Public Space of the lane and
the ground floors of the buildings.
Flagstaff
Gardens
FLINDERS STREET
LONSDALE STREET
Yarra River
Yarra River
90 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
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Small interventions such as food windows activate T rinity Place.
Graffiti Alley in T oronto is full of graffiti art and people. • Elevational articulation – architectural
charact
er of the buildings adjoining the
lane and the degree to which this provides
aesthetic and spatial interest.
•
View
s – views towards a connecting lane,
street or landmark.
Using these values, the laneways may be
graded into classes 1 through 3:
•
Class 1
lanes show signs of all four core
value characteristics and support a high
level of pedestrian activity.
• Class 2 lane
s show signs of three out of
the four core value characteristics.
• Class 3 lane
s show sign of two or less of
the four core value characteristics. These
lanes generally provide vehicular access
to the rear of buildings for loading and
service requirements or access to car
parking areas.
(Local Planning Policies, Melbourne Planning
Scheme)
ACTIVATION WITH ART - TORONTO,
CANADA
Graffiti Alley in T oronto, Canada is a short
series of alleys which have an impressive
collection of graffiti. While the alley still
serves its service functions and has received
little improvement of the Public Realm, it
has become an attraction in its own right.
Groups of people visit the alley to enjoy the
graffiti and to take photos of the art and of
themselves. Contrary to those of some more
formal art installations, the demographic of
alley visitors appears to be quite young.
INFORMAL OPEN SPACE AND
FOOD - SAN FRANCISCO
T rinity Place in San Francisco is a one block
alley connection between two streets. Its
function as a short cut brings some foot
traffic through, as do several window food
stands and cafes. Vehicular traffic is allowed,
but the surface makes clear that the area is
for pedestrian priority. And the presence of
secondary entries to several office buildings
makes the alley a good place to come outside
to make a phone call or smoke.
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A.3 Resources and References
OTHER CITY PLANS
• Los Angeles Downtown Design Guide
(201
7)
• San Fr
ancisco Ground Floor Residential
Design (undated)
• San Fr
ancisco Standards for Storefront
T ransparency (2013)
• San Fr
ancisco Urban Design Guidelines
(2018)
• Seattle D
esign Guidelines (2013)
• T oront
o T all Building Design Guidelines
(2013)
• T ransb
ay Redevelopment Project
Development Controls and Design
Guidelines (2005)
REPORTS AND STUDIES
• Active Design Guidelines (New Y ork City,
2010
)
• Active D
esign: Shaping the Sidewalk
Experience (New Y ork City, 2013)
• Bird-Friendly Building D
esign (American
Bird Conservancy, undated)
• Cracking the Code (SP
UR, 2015)
• The Future o
f Downtown San Jose
(SPUR, 2014)
• Getting to Gre
at Places (SPUR, 2013)
PRIMARY SAN JOSE PLAN
SOURCES
• Diridon Station Ar ea Plan (2014)
• Downt
own Design Guidelines (2004)
• Great
er Downtown Strategy for
Development (2000)
OTHER SAN JOSE PLANS
• Bike Plan 2020 (2009)
• Downt
own Historic District Design
Guidelines (2003)
• Downt
own Street and Pedestrian Lighting
Plan
• Downt
own Streetscape Master Plan
(2003)
• Draft D
owntown Historic Design Guidelines
(2004)
• Envision S
an José 2040 General Plan
(2011)
• Guadalupe River Park & Gar
dens Urban
Design Guidelines (2003)
• North San Jo
sé Urban Design Guidelines
(2010)
• St.
James Square Historic District Design
Guidelines (1989)
• Santana R
ow / Valley Fair Urban Village
Plan
• South Firs
t Area Strategic Development
Plan (2002)
• T ree P
olicy Manual and Recommended
Best Management Practices (2013)
92 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Framework Plans 3.0 Site
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
Prepared by:
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
San Francisco, California
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)
DOCUMENT VERSION OCTOBER 4, 2022
EXHIBIT "B" (File No. PP22-006)