7.120 Objective Design Standards for Qualifying Residential Projects

7.120 Objective Design Standards for Qualifying Residential Projects.

A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide objective design standards for the review of residential developments that qualify for streamlined or ministerial planning permit review pursuant to the laws of the State of California and/or regulations of the City of Petaluma. These standards contain concise and quantifiable language that is designed for consistent interpretation by applicants, reviewers, and approval bodies alike.

The objective standards herein are intended to achieve five core goals in the development of qualifying residential projects:

1. Strengthen Community Character and the Public Realm. Design developments that reflect the Petaluma community and contribute to its physical, economic, social, and cultural character.

2. Design for People. Emphasize a pedestrian-oriented environment where buildings and public realm design are cohesive and complementary to a diverse range of uses.

3. Design Equitable Places. Make spaces that recognize and support residents’ and workers’ activities across age, ability, culture, race, gender, and income.

4. Support Connectivity. Design safe, functional, and comfortable multimodal connections between activities that are accessible and easy to navigate by walking, bicycling, and public transit.

5. Design for Sustainability. Support sustainable building practices and site design approaches to enhance Petaluma’s resilience and resource stewardship - now and into the future.

B. Applicability. The City of Petaluma’s Objective Design Standards apply to qualifying residential projects for which the state requires review for compliance using only objective standards. This includes residential projects, which upon applicant request and demonstration of eligibility, qualify for streamlined and/or ministerial processing. Alternatively, projects subject to these objective standards may opt to apply for permit processing under discretionary site plan and architectural review (SPAR) in accordance with Section 24.050.

The standards in this section apply in addition to any applicable objective standards in the adopted City documents, including but not limited to the documents referenced in subsection (F) of this section. Should there be any conflicting objective standards in the SmartCode or IZO Historic District Standards, the SmartCode and Historic District standards shall take precedence over the standards within this section. Unless expressly prohibited by or in conflict with the standards in this or another applicable regulatory plan or code, additional architectural or design features are allowable.

C. Definitions. The definitions in this subsection (C) are intended to apply specifically to the objective standards in this section. If a definition is not in this section, the definition in Chapter 28, Glossary, shall apply. If a definition is not listed in this section or the glossary, the commonly used definition shall apply.

Accent Materials. Distinct materials used to provide emphasis of architectural features or areas of the building. Qualifying accent materials must either be a different material type, have a different cut size, or use a different installation technique.

Arterial Street. Streets designated as an arterial street in the City’s General Plan Mobility Element and which provide relatively high-capacity access to regional transportation facilities. Access to arterials is generally from collector and local streets.

Articulation. Dividing a building’s mass into smaller parts through the placement of architectural features such as windows, doors, molding, columns, or other three-dimensional façade enhancements that create a clear and distinct section of the building.

Artificial Turf. A surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass.

Class I Bikeway (Bike Path). Provides a completely separated right-of-way for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflow traffic minimized.

Class II Bikeway (Bike Lane). Provides a striped lane for one-way bicycle travel on a street or highway.

Class III Bikeway (Bike Route). Provides for shared use with pedestrian or motor vehicle traffic.

Class IV Separated Bikeway. A bikeway for the exclusive use of bicycles and includes a separation required between the separated bikeway and the through vehicular traffic.

Common Open Space. Restricted access outdoor space available for all residents in the development.

Creeks. For the purposes of this section creeks means a creek with a proposed or existing public pathway as identified in the General Plan on Figure 5-2, Proposed and Existing Bicycle Facilities, or as updated from time to time.

Cupola. A relatively small, most often rounded or dome-like structure on top of a building.

Full Cutoff Downcast Lighting. Lighting fixtures that have no direct uplight (no light emitted above horizontal) and limited intensity of light from the fixture in the region between 80 degrees and 90 degrees.

Ground Floor Activating Strategies. Uses that generate daily pedestrian activity. These may include but are not limited to retail, restaurants, personal services, offices (including medical), residential entryways, fitness centers, lobbies, resident services, etc. Ground floor activating strategies shall be compatible with residential uses.

Inactive Frontages. Sections of the building with no active use, including blank walls, service entrances with access to trash, utilities, service areas, and garage entrances.

Internal Road. See: Private Street.

Landscape Area. All the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan are subject to the maximum applied water allowance calculation. The landscape area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or nonpervious hardscapes, and other nonirrigated areas designated for nondevelopment (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).

Multi-Use Path. See: Class I Bikeway.

Natural Habitat. The natural environment of a plant or animal.

Occupied Roofs. Roofs planned for occupancy as either open space, assembly or other functional purpose beyond maintenance or repair access.

Open Space. Any park, right-of-way, City-owned property, utility corridor, publicly used land, school yard, or natural habitat area which is open land on which there is no structure.

Planting Area (Landscaping). Unpaved areas of the site with prepared soils and irrigation systems intended to support the establishment and long-term health of intentionally selected and installed plant materials.

Primary Building Façade. The side of the building oriented toward the front lot line.

Primary Entrance. The entrance to the building through which most users are expected to travel and which shall be located on the primary building façade.

Primary Street Frontage. The area between the primary building façade and the front lot line.

Private Open Space. A private outdoor space designated for no more than one residential unit and not accessible to other units. A private balcony also qualifies as private open space.

Private Pathway. A thoroughfare on private property designed for pedestrians and bicyclists where access is limited to residents or individuals with specific permission.

Private Street. A street located solely on private property, owned and maintained by either a property owner or homeowners association.

Public Open Space. The area outside the footprint of the building on a site that may include parks, green spaces, squares, plazas, playgrounds, and/or trails, and which are accessible to all members of the public. The Petaluma River is considered public open space.

Public Pathway. A thoroughfare designed for pedestrians and bicyclists and accessible to the public. This includes bike paths, walking paths, trails, and sidewalks.

Public Realm. The area fronting or physically accessible to the public, including the street, sidewalk, and adjacent parks and building frontages.

Public Street. A street owned and maintained by the City of Petaluma or another public agency.

Qualifying Residential Development. Residential development that, under state law, is required to be processed through ministerial review using only objective standards.

Secondary Entrance. Any entrance, other than a service entrance, to a building not designated as the primary entrance.

Secondary Building Façade. Any side of a building facing a public street (not including alleys) that is not the primary façade.

Secondary Street Frontage. The area between a secondary building façade and a public street that is not the primary street or alley.

Sensitive Habitat. Sensitive habitats are those areas in which plant or animal life or their habitats are either rare or especially valuable because of their special nature or role in the ecosystem.

Turret. A small tower at the corner of a building.

Unused Area. A vacant or nonfunctional area of a site that does not have a structure, sidewalk, roadway, parking stall, aisle, or other function. There is no minimum size and unused areas may include spaces between buildings, spaces between pathways and structures, or similar locations.

a. Orientation. The primary building façade, which includes the primary entrance and the primary street frontage, shall be oriented to the front lot line as defined by Chapter 28.

b. Activation. At least one ground floor activating strategy shall be integrated into the primary building façade and secondary building façade.

a. Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Routes. For projects with more than two separate dwelling structures, all structures shall be internally connected by pedestrian pathways and each building shall have a pedestrian pathway that connects to the public sidewalk.

Figure 2 Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Routes

b. Crosswalks. For mixed-use or residential projects with internal streets or surface parking areas, a crosswalk shall be provided at a maximum distance of 190 feet between crosswalks along internal streets or drive aisles and comply with Caltrans and Federal Accessibility Standards.

c. Driveway Location. Driveways shall not be located adjacent to the Petaluma River or a creek.

d. Short-Term Parking. For developments with 10 or more units, a passenger loading and residential delivery zone (yellow curb marking) shall be designated at the curb along the primary frontage and shall comply with Petaluma Municipal Code Sections 11.48.030 and 11.48.070. This requirement shall be waived if there is not sufficient space to accommodate both short-term parking and emergency vehicle access. A waiver will be granted based on a written communication from the Fire Marshal stating that short-term parking would inhibit emergency vehicle access and no other alternatives are available.

a. Parking Location. Parking lots and structures are prohibited in the following locations:

1) Between the building and the primary street frontage.

2) Between the building and an adjacent river or creek unless no other feasible location for parking exists.

3) For multifamily dwelling structures containing more than two units, parking within a front or side street setback is prohibited.

1) The width of a parking space shall be increased by one foot if either side of the space is adjacent to a wall, fence, support column or other structure.

2) Two feet of the parking stall depth may be landscaped with low-growth, hearty materials in lieu of paving, allowing a two-foot bumper overhang while maintaining the required parking dimensions.

3) Electric vehicle parking, and charging infrastructure, shall be provided as required by the City of Petaluma Building Code; provided, that at least 50 percent of minimum required parking spaces are Level 2 Electric Vehicle Ready as defined by CalGreen regulations.

4) The size of parking spaces shall comply with the following dimensions based on angle of parking and standard or compact in Table 1.

Table 1. Parking Space Size Requirements
Angle of Parking Space	Width of Space (ft)	Length of Space (ft)	Width of Angled Space (ft)	Length of Angled Space (ft)	Minimum Back up Length (ft)
Standard Cars
Parallel Parking	9	22	-	-	-
30 Degree Angle Parking	9 9.5 10	19 19 19	18 19 20	17.3 17.7 18.2	11.5 11.5 11.5
45 Degree Angle Parking	9 9.5 10	19 19 19	12.7 13.4 14.1	19.8 20.2 20.5	13 13 13
60 Degree Angle Parking	9 9.5 10	19 19 19	10.4 11 11.5	20.9 21.2 21.4	17.5 17.5 17.5
90 Degree Angle Parking	9 9.5 10	19 19 19	9 9.5 10	19 19 19	26 24 23
Compact Cars
Parallel Parking	8	20	-	-	-
30 Degree Angle Parking	8	16	15.9	14.1	12
45 Degree Angle Parking	8	16	11.2	16.9	12
60 Degree Angle Parking	8	16	9.2	18.4	14
90 Degree Angle Parking	8	16	8	16	22
Unistall 60 Degree Parking	8.5	18	8.5	18	26
Unistall 90 Degree Parking	8.5	18	8.5	18	26

c. Parking Screening. Parking lots or structures shall be screened by 42 inches high solid fencing that complies with subsection (D)(5) of this section or plants with a minimum expected height of 42 inches at maturity.

d. Parking Structure Massing and Façade Articulation. Parking structures facing the primary or secondary street frontage shall comply with the façade design requirements in subsection (E)(1) of this section.

e. Landscaping. Surface parking areas shall be landscaped in accordance with site design landscaping subsection (D)(7) of this section and as follows:

1) Residential parking areas for more than four cars and parking lots in all commercial and industrial zones shall be screened from the street right-of-way through the use of decorative walls, fences, and/or landscaping with a height of at least 42 inches at maturity.

2) Parking areas shall include 100 square feet of planting area for every six parking spaces. This may be accomplished through landscape strips that are no less than 100 square feet, or through a larger landscaped area within the parking lot. Vehicle overhang space (see subsection (D)(3)(b)(2) of this section) shall not be used to fill this requirement. Parking lot landscaping does not count toward open space requirements.

3) Shade trees shall be provided in parking lots so that the average estimated canopy diameter at 15 years of age covers 50 percent of the parking surface when viewed directly from above. The estimated canopy size shall be determined using the City of Petaluma List of Approved Street Trees.

Figure 3 Parking Lot Landscaping and Shade Trees

4) Shade structures with integrated solar panels may be used to provide up to 100 percent of required shading as long as trees are planted around the perimeter of the parking area at a ratio of one tree per 30 linear feet.

Figure 4 Solar Carports with Shade Trees

5) All exterior areas that are not used for parking stalls, walkways, or driveways shall be planted with ground cover or topdressed mulch.

a. Residential Bicycle Parking. Long-term bicycle parking shall be located in a secure weather-protected area on-site.

1) Acceptable parking facilities include:

a) Controlled Access Fenced Area. Covered, lockable enclosures with permanently anchored racks for bicycles using allowable short-term designs in the section below; or

b) Controlled Access Bike Room. Lockable bicycle room with permanently anchored racks; or

c) Bike Lockers. Lockable, permanently anchored individual bicycle lockers;

d) An area of a parking garage that is separated from vehicle traffic and that has a pedestrian/bike walkway between the storage area and the public street.

2) Electric bicycle charging ports shall be provided for a minimum of 25 percent of the required number of bicycle spaces.

b. Access. Racks shall not be located in a place that requires the use of stairs or lifting of the bicycle in order to access the racks.

c. Number of Residential Bicycle Parking Spaces Required. At least one bicycle parking space shall be required for all units with up to two bedrooms. Two bicycle parking spaces shall be required for each unit with more than two bedrooms. Each bicycle parking space may be located on a shared rack that accommodates more than one parking space.

d. Size of Bicycle Parking Spaces. Bicycle parking spaces shall have a minimum of the following sizes:

Table 2. Bicycle Parking Dimensions
Spacing	Minimum Space (in inches)
Length of parking space for each bike	72"
Distance from a bike rack to a wall	24"
Distance between two racks (horizontal)	36"
Distance between two bike racks (length)	72"

e. Age-Restricted Developments. In developments where age is restricted to senior citizens, the minimum number of required bicycle parking spaces may be reduced by up to 25 percent. At least 50 percent of spaces shall be sized as follows:

Table 3. Bicycle Parking Dimensions for Age Restricted Development
Spacing	Minimum Space (in inches)
Length of parking space for each bike	72"
Distance from a bike rack to a wall	36"
Distance between two racks (horizontal)	60"
Distance between two bike racks (length)	72"

f. Aisle. An aisle or other space shall be provided for bicycles to enter and leave the facility. This aisle shall have a width of at least five feet to the front or rear of a standard six-foot bicycle parked in a facility.

g. Surface Material. Areas containing bicycle spaces shall be surfaced with durable surfaces such as concrete or permeable pavers.

h. Buffer. When located within or adjacent to a vehicle parking area, barriers such as curbs, fences, planter areas, or wheel stops shall be installed and maintained between bicycle and automobile parking.

i. Means of Securing. Except in the case of individual locking bicycle lockers and attended bicycle parking, all bicycle parking spaces shall have a closed loop to allow a single u-lock to capture one wheel and one closed section of the bike frame to attach to a securely anchored tamper-resistant rack. The loop shall have a minimum outside diameter of two inches and be constructed from a minimum of 11-gauge steel tubing.

j. Mounting. Bicycle racks shall be surface-mounted to the ground with security fasteners, such as concrete spikes, or tamper-resistant nuts on wedge anchors.

k. Rack Shape. Bicycle racks shall use one of the following designs and be constructed from steel, stainless steel, or another equivalent material with equal strength, longevity, and tamper-resistance:

1) Alternative bike racks are allowed provided that they meet the criteria in subsections (D)(4)(i), (j), and (k) of this section, and do not use any of the prohibited styles listed below. Bicycle racks that require lifting the bicycle or any portion thereof, shall not be used.

2) The following designs are prohibited:

a. Prohibited Materials. The use of chain link with more than a one-inch opening, vinyl, barbed wire, and razor wire fencing is prohibited.

b. Design. Solid fences more than 42 inches high and more than 25 feet long that are located adjacent to the public right-of-way shall incorporate one or more of the following:

1) Vertical change in pattern or material along the entire horizontal length of the fence.

2) A post or column every 25 feet that projects at least two inches from the face of the fence.

3) Stucco or concrete fences shall not have an unarticulated surface for more than 25 linear feet.

4) Murals or public art covering a minimum of 50 percent of the area of the fence.

5) Horizontal members or courses.

6) Laser-cut metal panels.

a. Screening. All exterior utility facilities and equipment shall be screened. This includes:

1) Garbage, compost, and recycling areas or receptacles.

2) Utility boxes, electric and gas meters, transformers, and similar equipment.

3) Rooftop mechanical equipment, not including solar panels or other green infrastructure that relies on access to the sun or wind for power generation.

4) Air conditioning units, heat pumps, and similar equipment.

b. Coverage. All equipment shall be fully screened from view by an architectural or landscape screen.

1) The point of view for determining visibility on the roof shall be five feet above grade at a distance of 200 feet.

2) The point of view for determining visibility at street level shall be five feet above grade at a distance of 50 feet.

c. Specific Waste, Compost, and Recycling Enclosure Requirements. An enclosure for waste, compost, and recycling collection shall be provided and screened. The enclosure(s) shall have the following characteristics and design standards:

1) A concrete slab that extends through the full area of the enclosure, including the access through the service gates.

2) Fully enclosed in a wood or concrete structure with walls at least seven feet in height on three sides connected to a solid roof.

3) A solid metal gated entry painted to match the other materials of the enclosure.

4) Water outlets (hose bibs) for fire safety and sanitation within 40 feet of enclosures for refuse containers of total capacity greater than five 30-gallon cans.

5) The enclosure shall incorporate a sewer drain to allow the enclosure to be washed down. Storm water shall be prevented from getting into the sewer system.

6) Enclosures shall be designed and managed to prevent animal entry and shall be screened to prevent odors, flies, and other nuisance conditions from disturbing residents and the public.

7) Screening and gates shall be of a durable construction; fences, walls, footings, slabs and curbs shall meet City Building Code requirements. Gates shall be constructed of heavy-gauge metal or of a heavy-gauge metal frame with covering of wood or other suitable material. Gates shall be secured with sturdy hinges or sliders, and latches. For enclosures of six cans or more and for bins, the screening shall be protected at its base by curbs. If screening is to be situated directly adjacent to parking spaces or drives, it shall be protected by a concrete-curbed buffer strip (minimum three feet wide) of landscaping or pavement.

8) The location of waste, compost, recycling collection shall not conflict with circulation or parking conditions on site. If exterior facilities are used, a clear pathway that does not cross traffic, with a minimum width of five feet shall be provided for tenant access to the disposal location.

9) Enclosures shall comply with the following dimensions:

Table 4. Waste, Recycling, and Compost Enclosure Dimensions
Bin Size (in cubic yards)	Height of Enclosure	Depth of Enclosure	Width of Enclosure
1.5	43 inches	36 inches	80 inches
2.0	47 inches	39 inches
3.0	58 inches	48.5 inches
4.0	64 inches	53.5 inches

d. Above-Ground Equipment. Utility transformers, telecommunications equipment, back-flow preventers, HVAC equipment, water or sewer lifts or pumps, and large utility devices shall not be located in front of buildings on primary frontages, unless fully enclosed by an enclosure that uses the same materials and style as the building façade.

7. Landscaping. These standards are in addition to any applicable objective landscaping standards in the Chapter 14, Landscaping and Screening. Landscaping within the public right-of-way shall comply with the City’s Landscape and Irrigation Standards (series 100).

a. Landscape Standards. Landscaping shall comply with Petaluma’s List of Approved Street Trees, Petaluma’s Tree Technical Manual as referenced in Section 17.035 and with the City’s Landscape Water Use Efficiency Standards in the City of Petaluma Municipal Code Section 15.17.050.

b. Placement/Location. The following areas shall be landscaped:

1) Any unused area of the site shall be topdressed with bark mulch or have ground cover. Bare ground is not permitted.

2) A minimum five-foot-wide planting area shall be installed between parking areas and adjacent public rights of way (not including alleys).

3) Comply with subsection (D)(3)(e) of this section for additional landscaping requirements for parking areas.

c. Plant Material. The following materials are prohibited:

1) The use of plants identified as invasive by the California Invasive Plant Council are prohibited.¹

2) Artificial plants and turf are prohibited.

d. River and Creek Adjacent. For properties adjacent to the Petaluma River, or a creek, the landscaping shall only use plants identified as native to Petaluma on the California Native Plant Society’s Calscape website, within 50 feet of the sensitive habitat area.

e. Tree Planting. Trees planted as part of the project shall comply with the following:

1) Trees shall be planted so that the average estimated canopy diameter after 15 years of age covers 30 percent of the combined ground level common open space and landscape areas when viewed directly from above. Estimated canopy size shall be determined using the City of Petaluma’s List of Approved Street Trees.

2) Place trees in a planting area with a minimum size of 36 square feet unless otherwise specified in the SmartCode.

3) Tree planters that are outside of the public right-of-way and within six feet of public or private sidewalks or paved areas shall be planted with root barriers. An alternative method of sidewalk/pavement protection may be used provided that it is equally or more effective than root barriers.

4) Trees planted under powerlines shall have a maximum expected height of no less than five feet below the existing power lines and shall use only trees from the City of Petaluma List of Trees Approved for Planting Adjacent to Public Streets and Sidewalks.

f. Open Space Separation. Private open space on the ground level shall be separated from public or common open space by either a landscaping strip or a fence in compliance with subsection (D)(5) of this section.

g. Integrated Pest Management. An Integrated Pest Management Plan that provides for zero use of chemical pesticides herbicides, fertilizers, or other synthetic chemicals shall be included with the landscaping plan and implemented.

h. Groundcover. All planting areas shall be top-dressed with a minimum layer of three inches of either bark mulch or a natural low carbon alternative or groundcover. Crushed rock, mulch, pebbles, stones, or similar nonplant material may be used on up to 10 percent of the landscaped areas. Landscaped areas adjacent to and up-slope from pedestrian pathways shall include edging to prevent materials from encroaching onto the pathways.

i. High Maintenance Plants and Trees. The mature canopy dripline of plants or trees which drop seed pods or fruit shall not extend over a sidewalk, pathway, or street.

j. Planting Size. To achieve the maximum plant survival and efficiency in landscape growth, the following minimum sizes are required:

Table 5. New Planting Container Size Requirements
Plant Type	Minimum Size at Planting
Shrubs and perennials	1 gallon
Plants required for screening	5 gallons
Trees	15 gallons
Grasses and annual herbaceous plants	No minimum

8. Open Space. Open space shall be provided as required in the Chapter 4 tables.

a. Usable Common Open Space. At least 25 square feet per unit of the open space required by the Chapter 4 tables shall be used for a common open space area which shall have a minimum length of 10 feet on any side.

b. Outdoor Seating. Outdoor seating shall be provided at a ratio of one six-foot-long bench or two seats per every 200 square feet of required common usable open space or fraction thereof. Seats and benches shall be constructed of stainless steel, wood or a recycled material of comparable quality and durability. Seats shall be either a single chair or stool. Benches shall accommodate at least two seated adults.

c. Required Play Areas. Developments that include 25 or more dwelling units shall include at least one play area for children unless the development is located within 0.25 mile of a public park with play structure(s). Such play area shall:

1) Have a minimum dimension of 15 feet in any direction and a minimum area of 600 square feet with a pour-in-place recycled rubber surface or similar surface with a minimum projected lifespan of at least 10 years.

2) Contain play equipment, including equipment designed for children five years and younger and for all abilities.

3) Be protected from any adjacent streets or parking lots with a fence or other barrier at least four feet in height. Fencing shall allow visibility into the play area.

d. Senior Citizen Developments. For developments with 25 or more dwelling units and age-restricted to senior citizens, the play area shall be replaced with a communal garden area or an outdoor recreational area of the same size and dimensions.

a. Lighting Location. Lighting shall be provided in the following locations:

1) All parking areas and structures.

2) All pedestrian paths of travel.

3) Points of conflict where vehicular traffic flow crosses paths with pedestrian and/or bicycle facilities.

4) All service yards and access to services and utilities including waste enclosures.

b. Fixtures. All lighting shall use full cutoff downcast lighting fixtures that horizontally shield the light source. Spotlights are prohibited.

1) Lighting for parking and internal circulation shall be no taller than 20 feet.

2) The primary bicycle and pedestrian pathways within the development shall be lit by fixtures no taller than 36 inches.

3) Lighting used to illuminate landscaped areas or other open areas shall be placed at a maximum height of 36 inches.

4) Lighting for the public right-of-way shall comply with the City’s Street Standards.

c. Lighting Brightness. Where required, lighting shall provide a minimum average of 0.5 foot candles and a maximum of three foot candles at ground level. Lighting shall not exceed one foot-candle at the property line unless required for street lighting by the City’s street light standards.

d. Lighting Color. Exterior lighting fixtures shall not exceed 3,500K.

10. Parcels Fronting the Petaluma River and City Creeks. The following standards apply to parcels that are fronting either the Petaluma River or a creek where a public pathway is identified or proposed in the City’s General Plan in Figure “Proposed and Existing Bicycle Facilities” or Active Transportation Plan as updated from time to time.

a. Riverfront Building Façade Detailing. Building façades facing the Petaluma River or a creek with an existing or proposed public pathway shall comply with the building design requirements for a primary frontage in subsection (E)(1) of this section.

b. Lighting. Lighting along the river or creek shall be placed to face away from the waterway and shall comply with above lighting requirements in subsection (D)(9) of this section.

c. Views of River and Creeks. Fencing between the public right-of-way and the river over 42 inches shall be transparent using either open wire or wrought iron.

1) A public pathway is required for the entire river/creek frontage of the parcel if a pathway does not exist and is identified in General Plan Figure 5-2 “Proposed and Existing Bicycle Facilities” on Page 5-15 or as updated from time to time in the future.

2) The pathway shall be constructed as the class of trail identified on the General Plan “Proposed and Existing Bicycle Facilities Map” using the standards in the CalTrans Highway Design Manual Chapter 1000, Topic 1003.

3) If there is no existing pathway up or down river from the project site, the new pathway shall be connected to the publicly accessible sidewalk via a public pathway on the site.

4) The public pathway shall be recorded as a public access easement on the property deed and maintained by the property owner or homeowners association as applicable.

5) If sensitive habitat would be impacted by operation of the pathway and not by any other site element, an alternative public pathway location shall be permitted; provided, that the applicant provides all of the following:

a) A wetland delineation and a biologist’s report demonstrating that the pathway and no other element of the project would be within the buffer zone of a sensitive habitat area.

b) A preservation and protection plan for the habitat area.

c) Alternative design for an equivalent pathway with a minimum separation of a six-foot-wide planter strip between the pathway and the street.

6) A raised boardwalk may be used in place of a paved pathway for sections of the pathway located within the buffer zone of an environmentally sensitive habitat area. The boardwalk shall have the following characteristics:

a) Shall be a minimum of six feet wide.

b) Shall be raised a minimum of 12 inches above the natural grade.

c) Shall be constructed from ADA compliant materials with a projected minimum longevity of 50 years and shall not contain creosote, formaldehyde or other chemicals that could leach into the habitat area.

d) Handrails shall be installed on both sides of the boardwalk for the entire length.

e) Signs requiring bicyclists to dismount and walk bicycles on the boardwalk shall be installed on both sides of both entrances to the boardwalk.

f) Permanent habitat protection fencing with a six-inch bottom clearance shall be installed to prevent the public from walking/riding in sensitive habitat areas.

g) Any habitat disturbed during construction shall be restored in compliance with state and federal regulations.

a. Length. The maximum length of a primary façade shall not exceed 250 linear feet.

b. Façade. All exterior walls must incorporate changes of plane representing 30 percent of wall surface area on primary façade, 20 percent of the wall surface area on all other facades. This may be achieved through any of the following methods or combination of methods:

1) Balconies that either project at least three feet from the façade or balconies that are recessed at least four feet from the façade.

2) Box/bay windows with a minimum depth of 18 inches on all facets.

3) Ground floor street-facing courtyard(s).

4) Architectural stepbacks or projections that are a minimum of 24 inches.

5) Front porches.

6) Colonnade, arcade, or covered walkway along the ground floor with a minimum depth of five feet.

Figure 10 Change of Plane on Primary Façade

c. Windows. Windows ion facades made of stucco, whether cement plaster or EIFS, shall be recessed a minimum of two inches.

d. Vinyl Materials. Vinyl materials are prohibited and shall not be used on the façade of the building.

1) For residential buildings, including live/work and work/live, along any façade facing a public or private street, public open space, the Petaluma River, or a creek designated for a public pathway in the General Plan, shall provide doors and/or windows for a minimum of 25 percent of the linear frontage on the ground floor.

2) For mixed-use buildings, along any façade facing a public or private street, public open space, river, or creek with a proposed or existing public pathway, shall provide doors and/or windows for a minimum of 50 percent of the ground-floor façade.

f. Ground Floor Residential on Arterial Roadways. Ground floor residential units with entrances on an arterial street shall have a separation to visually delineate public versus private space along the arterial frontage through one of the following design elements:

1) Finished floor height of at least 24 inches above the grade of the public sidewalk.

2) Low wall no more than 42 inches in height.

3) A three-foot-wide landscaping strip.

4) Permanent above-ground planters no less than three feet wide.

5) A change in paving surface material.

g. Inactive Frontages. No more than 50 feet along the primary façade shall be occupied by inactive frontages.

a. Location. Buildings must have a primary entrance on a street-facing façade but may also have an articulated entrance on each street facing façade. The primary building entrance and associated access path shall be directly accessible from the public street.

b. Entrance Emphasis. The primary building entrance shall be articulated, using at least three of the following design features:

1) Accent materials.

2) Public art.

3) Non-membrane and nonvinyl awnings.

4) Sidelights or accent lighting.

5) Arches.

6) Columns.

7) Insets in the façade around the door frame.

8) Transom windows above or to the sides of the door.

9) Porch or stoop.

10) Entrance doors recessed from the wall plane at least six inches.

11) Change in pavement surfacing.

a. Building corners at a street intersection shall incorporate at least one of the following corner treatments:

1) Turret or cupola at least two feet higher than the highest roof point.

2) Roof variation.

3) Building recess.

4) Variance in building materials.

5) Corner plaza or public space.

6) Corner entryway.

7) Curved corner wall with windows.

a. Rooftop Planters. Ten percent of occupied rooftops shall be landscaped with rooftop planters.

b. Rooftop Open Space. If an occupied roof will be used to meet the common usable open space requirement, the following shall apply:

1) At least 30 percent of the open space shall incorporate above-ground planters that are no less than three feet wide and three feet long.

2) Permanent nonmembrane shading devices shall be installed to cover at least 15 percent of the required open space square footage.

3) Seating shall be provided in compliance with subsection (D)(8)(b) of this section.

F. Other Applicable Objective Standards. All projects subject to this chapter shall comply with the objective design, development, and subdivision standards within the Implementing Zoning Ordinance or SmartCode (as applicable), the General Plan (or applicable Specific Plan), and the Municipal Code as well as any adopted standards in supplemental documents including but not limited to:

1. Chapter 4, Zone Districts and Allowable Land Uses.

2. Chapter 6, Floodway and Flood Plain Districts.

3. Chapter 11, Parking and Loading Facilities, Off-Street, or SmartCode Section 6, Parking Standards and Procedures.

4. Chapter 13, Placement of Fences and Walls.

5. Chapter 14, Landscaping and Screening.

6. Chapter 15, Preservation of the Cultural and Historic Environment.

7. Chapter 16, Hillside Protection.

8. Chapter 17, Tree Preservation.

9. Chapter 21, Performance Standards.

10. City of Petaluma Municipal Code Section 15.17.050, Landscape water use efficiency standards.

11. City of Petaluma Municipal Code Title 17, Building and Construction.

12. City of Petaluma Municipal Code Title 20, Subdivisions.

13. City of Petaluma Landscape and Irrigation Standards.

14. City of Petaluma Street Light Standards.

15. City of Petaluma Street Standards.

1California Invasive Plant Council https://www.invasive.org/species/list.cfm?id=64

(Ord. 2879 § 3 (Exh. A), 2024.)