Chapter 2 Land Use Element
Table LU-1 Land Use Designations
Maximum Intensity/
Density Maximum Height
Designation Range FAR Description
Limit
(Residential (Nonresi-
Uses)* dential uses)
Residential
Residential Very This designation allows very low-density residential dwellings, such as Up to 9 n/al
1-3 stories detached single-family homes, detached townhouses and duplexes, Low du/ac and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
This designation allows low-density residential dwellings, such as Residential 9 to 19
n/a 1-3 stories townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, low rise condominium and Low I du/ac
apartment buildings, and ADUs.
Residential This designation allows lower-density residential and multifamily 20 to 35
n/a 2-4 stories dwellings, such as townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, Low ll du/ac
condominiums, and apartments.
Residential 36 to 50 This designation allows medium-density multifamily dwellings, such as n/a 3-5 stories
Medium 1 du/ac townhomes, condominiums, and apartments.
This designation allows medium-density multifamily residential Residential 51 to 99 dwellings, such as condominiums and apartments, near mixed-use, Medium lI n/a 4-6 stories office, and/or commercial areas. This designation can also be found du/ac
along major streets, such as El Camino Real and near residential low or residential high areas of the city.
This designation allows higher-density multifamily residential Residential High 100 to 130 dwellings, such as condominiums and apartments, in Downtown, n/a 5-8 stories
du/ac in proximity to Caltrain stations, and along major streets, such as El Camino Real.
Mixed-Use
This designation allows low-density mixed-use buildings that provide Mixed-Use 10 to 35 a mix of commercial, office, and/or residential uses within the same
2.0 2-4 stories
Low du/ac site or building. It is intended to allow a mix of uses that encourages people to live, work, play, and shop in close proximity.
This designation allows medium-density mixed-use buildings that Mixed-Use 15 to 50 provide a mix of commercial, office, and/or residential uses within Medium I 3.0 3-5 stories
du/ac the same site or building. It is intended to allow a mix of uses that encourages people to live, work, play, and shop in close proximity.
This designation allows medium-density mixed-use buildings that Mixed-Use 51 to 99 4.0 provide a mix of commercial, office, and/or residential uses within the 4-6 stories
Medium lI du/ac same site or building. It is intended to allow a mix of uses near other mixed-use, commercial, or residential areas, and within Downtown.
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Chapter 2 Land Use Element
Maximum Intensity/
Density Maximum Height
Designation Range FAR Description
Limit
(Residential (Nonresi-
Uses)* dential uses)
This designation allows high-density mixed-use buildings that provide 100 to 130 4.5 5-8 stories a mix of commercial, office, and/or residential uses within the same Mixed-Use High du/ac site or building, It is intended to allow a mix of uses near major streets, train stations, and shopping centers, and within Downtown.
Commercial
This designation is intended for a mix of neighborhood-serving commercial uses that include small-scale retail stores and other commercial uses that serve the immediate neighborhood, such as Neighborhood Up to 19 1.0 grocery stores and pharmacies. Typical commercial uses include 1-3 stories
Commercial du/ac supermarkets, bakeries, drugstores, restaurants, delicatessens, barber shops, hair salons, laundromats, hardware stores, dry cleaners, small offices, and other personal services. Residential may also be allowed above the ground floor.
This designation is intended for a wide range of service commercial and light industrial facilities. Examples of uses in this land use include facilities that provide city-wide and regional services, such as auto repair services, building material yards, overnight boarding of animals, Service
and industrial uses with light manufacturing, warehousing, and/ Commercial/ n/a 1.0 1-3 stories
or distribution facilities. These uses do not necessarily benefit from Light Industrial
being in high-volume pedestrian areas, such as shopping centers or Downtown and can instead be found along North and South Amphlett Ave, and portions of South Claremont St, Railroad Ave and Palm Ave.
New residential uses are not allowed.
This designation is intended for large-scale commercial developments that serve residents and visitors from the surrounding region, such Regional Up to 50 as the Hillsdale Mall and Bridgepointe Shopping Center. Examples
1.5 1-3 stories
Commercial du/ac of commercial uses in this land use include shopping centers, large-format retail, auto sales, and travel-related services, such as hotels, gas stations, and restaurants. Residential may also be allowed.
Office
This designation is intended for low-density office uses, such as medical, administrative, or professional offices. Supportive uses, including personal services, restaurants, health clubs, residential, Up to 35 1.0 day care, and limited retail sales are permitted. Research facilities Office Low 1-2 stories
du/ac that support the development of new products and may include professional uses, manufacturing, laboratories, and/or maker's spaces in the same building or site may be permitted depending on the type and intensity of the use.
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Maximum Intensity/
Density Maximum
Height
Designation Range FAR Limit Description
(Residential (Nonresi-
Uses)* dential uses)
This designation is intended for medium-density office uses, such as medical, administrative, or professional offices. Supportive uses, including personal services, restaurants, health clubs, residential, Office Medium Up to 50 day care, and limited retail sales are permitted. Research facilities
2.0 2-4 stories
du/ac that support the development of new products and may include professional uses, manufacturing, laboratories, and/or maker's spaces in the same building or site may be permitted depending on the type and intensity of the use.
This designation is intended for high-density office uses, such as medical, administrative, or professional offices, and for research and science facilities that support the development of new products and Up to 130
Office High du/ac 3.0 3-5 stories may include professional uses, manufacturing, laboratories, and/or maker's spaces in the same building or site. Supportive uses including personal services, restaurants, health clubs, residential, day care, and limited retail sales are permitted.
Other Designations
This designation is intended for public parks, City-owned conservation lands, and private open space or recreation facilities. Parks and open Parks and Open n/a n/a space areas can be found throughout the city and are important to n/a
Space preserve because they provide community members with access to nature, encourage healthy lifestyles, and support a mixture of active and passive recreation opportunities.
See Zoning
District or This designation is intended for facilities owned and/or operated by the City or other governmental agencies, such as City Hall, libraries, public Public Facilities n/a Specific Plans n/a
for maximum school sites, San Mateo County's Event Center, and the public parking lots in Downtown.
FAR
This designation is intended for facilities owned and/or operated by See Zoning
quasi-public agencies and organizations, such as schools and faith-based District or
Up to 20 organization facilities. Examples of these facilities include St. Matthew Quasi-Public Specific Plans 1-3 stories
du/ac for maximum Catholic Church and the Nueva School. Ancillary residential uses, with a focus on affordable housing, may also be allowed when aligned with the FAR
organization's mission or to provide employee housing.
This designation is intended for facilities owned and/or operated Utilities n/a n/a n/a by public utilities to serve the public with electricity, gas, water, and communications. Examples of uses in this designation include electricity substations, water tank sites, and the sewer treatment plant.
Transportation Fixed transit lines along the railroad corridor that provide mass n/a n/a n/a transportation. Portions of the railroad corridor not required for Corridor
transportation purposes may be considered for other uses. *Note: Table LU-1 establishes the maximum allowed density range for this land use designation, with associated Zoning district setting a maximum density within this range; but this range does not set a minimum required density.
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