Article 59 - AH Affordable Housing Combining District


Sec. 26-59-005. - Purpose.

Purpose: to implement Policy HE-3o of the Sonoma County Housing Element, by identifying under-utilized commercial, industrial, or residential lands, within the County's Urban Service Areas, which could be developed for housing affordable to low and very low income households to increase the supply of affordable housing to county residents.

(Ord. No. 5799 § 2, 2008.)

Sec. 26-59-010. - Permitted uses.

Permitted uses include the following:

(a)
Projects consisting entirely of dwelling units affordable to households with incomes in the very low and low income categories on permanent foundation with residential densities between sixteen (16) and twenty-four (24) dwelling units per acre.
(b)
Home occupation;
(c)
Accessory buildings and uses appurtenant to the primary use; and
(d)
Small family day care.

(Ord. No. 5799 § 2, 2008.)

Sec. 26-59-020. - Permitted building intensity and development criteria.

The use of land and structures within this district is subject to this article, the applicable regulations of this chapter, and the provisions of any district which is combined herewith. Policies and criteria of the general plan and any applicable specific or area plan or local area development guidelines shall supersede the standards herein.

(a)
Maximum Building Height.
(1)
Thirty-five feet (35′) or three (3) stories, whichever is less, provided, that no accessory structure shall be permitted to exceed one (1) story.
(2)
Three (3) story construction may be allowed, provided, a) it does not exceed forty feet (40′) in height, and b), where the majority of resident parking is provided as tuck-under (podium-style) ground floor parking.
(b)
Minimum Lot Size. One half acre.
(c)
Minimum Lot Width. The average minimum lot width is eighty feet (80′).
(d)
Lot Coverage. Not more than sixty percent (60 %) of the total lot area shall be devoted to main and accessory building areas, (i.e. structural lot coverage). The remaining lot area shall be devoted to parking, landscaping and open space areas. The design review committee may approve a ten percent (10%) increase in lot coverage where it is found that due to efficient land utilization, sufficient open space and recreational areas are provided on site.
(e)
Yard Requirements.
(1)
Front Yard. Not less than fifteen feet (15′) provided, however, that no structure shall be located closer than forty-five feet (45′) to the centerline of any public or private road, street or highway. Setbacks may be reduced by five feet (5′) in order to attain an average of fifteen feet (15′). Unenclosed front porches may extend up to 10 feet into the required front yard setback provided that adequate sight distance is maintained from driveways, alleys or roads.
(2)
Side Yard. Not less than five feet (5′) except where the side yard abuts a street in which case such yard shall be the same as a front yard. On lots where access is gained to an interior court by way of a side yard, or where an entrance to a building faces the side line, said side yard shall be not less than ten feet (10′).
(3)
Rear Yard. Not less than ten feet (10′).
(4)
No garage or carport opening facing the street shall be located less than twenty feet (20′) from any exterior property line.
(5)
Where an AH combining district is adjacent to single story development, the height of any portion of the multi-story building shall be stepped to provide an appropriate transition from one story to the proposed multi-story structure. "Stepping" shall consist, at a minimum of the following increased yard setbacks: an additional five feet (5′) to a second story, an additional ten feet (10′) to a third story.
(f)
Parking Requirements.
(1)
Residential Uses.
(i)
Not less than one (1) reserved parking space for each dwelling unit;
(ii)
Not less than one-half (½) uncovered guest parking space for each dwelling unit.
(g)
Site Layout.
(1)
All utility distribution facilities (including but not limited to electric, communication and cable television lines) installed in and for the purpose of supplying service to any residential development shall be placed underground, except equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts. The subdivider is responsible for complying with the requirements of this section, and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies involved for the installation of the facilities.
(2)
Landscaping shall be provided and perpetually maintained in all required yards.
(3)
Adequate drainage shall be required.
(4)
All refuse collection areas shall be enclosed on at least three (3) sides by a five foot (5′) high wall, such wall to be constructed of masonry or other material as specifically approved by the director of planning. Alternate methods of refuse storage and screening thereof may be approved by the planning director.
(5)
To the extent possible, all off-street parking areas shall be screened from view of surrounding residents by a fence not less than four feet (4′) in height, or by landscape materials having a normal growth of not less than four feet (4′) in height.
(6)
All points of vehicular access and vehicular circulation to and from off-street parking areas and driveways and onto public rights of way shall be approved by the director of public works.
(7)
Unless an alternative load-bearing permeable treatment is approved by the Director of Transportation and Public Works and Design Review, all off-street parking areas shall be paved with asphalt or its equivalent, and shall conform to the off-street parking design standards of Article 86. Use of alternative permeable surfaces is strongly encouraged wherever feasible in order to maintain or enhance groundwater absorption and recharge.
(8)
Public utilities and easements shall be provided as required by applicable public utilities and agencies.
(9)
Main buildings shall be placed such that privacy issues are minimized. Building-to-building window placement shall be staggered, or otherwise designed to provide adequate privacy between the units, as determined by design review.
(10)
A landscaped, unified and usable open recreational and leisure area totaling at least two hundred (200) square feet for each dwelling unit is required. Such areas shall be conveniently located and readily accessible to each dwelling unit. Private open space areas (i.e. patios and balconies) may be considered for up to fifty percent (50%) of the required open recreational and leisure area.
(11)
The following areas shall not be considered as contributing to required recreational and leisure areas required above:
(i)
Any required front, or side yard;
(ii)
Any area used for parking or vehicular circulation;
(iii)
Any area with a dimension of less than six feet (6).
(h)
Affordable Housing Agreement. All units shall be affordable to very low and/or low income households, and shall be subject to the terms of an affordable housing agreement pursuant to Article 89.
(i)
Design Review. Design review approval shall be required for all permitted uses in the manner provided in Article 82.

(Ord. No. 5799 § 2, 2008.)