9663.6. - Site design.

A.

Building layout and orientation. The primary orientation of a building or unit entrance in multi-family residential development or residential component of a mixed-use development shall be designed in accordance with the following standards:

1.

Buildings facing a public or private street shall have front entry features oriented to such street.

2.

The nonresidential components of a mixed-use development shall face primary street frontages and public sidewalks.

3.

Where a site is located along two (2) or more public streets, the primary building entry shall be oriented toward the street with the highest classification. If a parcel fronts two (2) public streets of equal classification, either frontage may be used to meet the standard.

4.

Buildings that are not adjacent to a public or private street shall have front entries that are oriented to interior common areas such as paseos, courtyards, and useable open space.

B.

Cul-de-sacs. Any cul-de-sac or other dead-end street—either public or private—longer than three hundred (300) feet shall be connected to other internal or external streets by a pedestrian pathway.

C.

Parking and driveways.

Parking areas shall be designed to provide direct and separate pedestrian and handicap access from all building to the parking areas. This can be accomplished by using design features such as ramps, walkways with district paving, plazas, arcades, courtyards, and/or special landscape treatment areas and street sidewalks as an extension of the pedestrian circulation system within the project.

2.

Surface parking lots shall not be located between a building and a public street.

3.

Where parking standards per article IX, chapter 6, division 4, off-street parking, loading, and landscaping parking require provision of seventy-five (75) or more parking spaces, parking areas shall be divided into a series of connected small lots, with each lot containing no more than seventy-five (75) spaces.

4.

In all parking lots, the color and texture of paving materials for pedestrian pathways shall be different from the color and texture of paved vehicular areas. The purpose is to provide a clear distinction between pedestrian and vehicular travelways.

D.

Parking structures.

1.

Parking structures shall not occupy more than forty (40) percent of project site frontage onto a primary or secondary arterial street.

2.

All parking structure walls facing a public right-of-way and any other parking structure wall greater than twenty-five (25) feet in length shall include design features consisting of textured surfaces, articulation, murals, and/or landscaping covering a minimum of fifty (50) percent of the wall surface area at full growth. The design of all parking structure walls shall include the same materials, colors, and surfaces as other buildings associated with the development. For the purpose of this subsection, articulation includes faux windows, arches, grillwork, building offsets, and stone/tile building materials.

3.

Where landscaping is used on the parking structure surface, the landscaping shall be established and maintained to cover at least the lower twelve (12) feet of the parking structure wall(s).

4.

Mechanically or person-controlled entrances to structured parking shall be located a minimum of twenty (20) feet from the back of sidewalk, and the use of controlled entrances shall be limited to the portion of structured parking that provides resident-only parking spaces. At controlled residential entrances, space

shall be provided to allow a vehicle to turn around without backing into the street. Access to residential guest and delivery parking spaces shall be located in an area outside of any controlled entrance point.

E.

Loading areas. Loading areas for the commercial components of mixed-use developments shall be located out of view of any public right-of-way and shall be shielded or enclosed to ensure compliance with the noise standards set forth in article IX, chapter 6, division 6 (noise regulations).

F.

Landscaping. In addition to the open space requirements of each zoning district, all multi-family residential and mixed-use developments shall design landscaped areas subject to the following standards:

1.

Landscaping shall be provided in all outdoor areas that are not specifically used for parking, driveways, walkways, patios, or required amenities. Existing native planting can be used to satisfy this standard.

2.

At least five (5) different species of shrubs and groundcovers shall be used.

3.

Where not otherwise specified in this article for the zoning district in which a project is located, trees within landscaped areas shall be provided at a minimum size of 24-inch box.

4.

Trees shall consist of both evergreen and deciduous varieties, the distribution of which shall be the applicant's choice.

5.

75 percent of all landscape plantings shall consist of native, drought-tolerant species selected from those listed by the California Native Plant Society in the Calscape website specific to Agoura Hills.

6.

For established oak trees, no planting, soil disturbance, or irrigation shall occur within a distance of six (6) feet or twenty-five (25) percent of the total canopy width from the trunk in any direction, whichever is greater. For newly planted oak trees, no planting shall occur within four (4) feet of the tree trunk.

7.

Landscape and irrigation plans subject to the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance shall conform to the requirements of the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance to achieve water efficient landscaping.

(Ord. No. 22-461, § 8, 8-24-2022)

9663.7. - Building design.

A.

Building design reference guide. For the purpose of defining architectural styles as set forth in this section, the reference guide shall be the most currently published version of A Field Guide to American Houses: the definitive guide to identifying and understanding America's domestic architecture by Virginia Savage McAlester.

B.

Massing and Articulation.

1.

Starting with the second floor, each building floor on the sides and front of a building shall be stepped back from the previous floor a minimum of six (6) feet starting with the first floor building plane, as shown on figures 9663.7A and 9663.7B.

2.

Intrusion into the step-back plane is allowed for up to twenty-five (25) percent of the façade plane, up to the maximum allowed building height, as shown in figure 9663.7C.

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Figure 9663.7A

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Figure 9663.7B

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Figure 9663.7C

3.

Intrusion into the step-back plane is allowed for up to twenty-five (25) percent of the façade plane, up to the maximum allowed building height, as shown in figure 9663.7C.

4.

All building façades facing a public or private street shall be articulated for at least eighty (80) percent of each façade length. All other building façades shall be articulated for at least sixty (60) percent of each façade length. The massing of facades shall be broken up using a combination of at least three (3) of the following approaches:

a.

Use of recessed and/or protruding window openings and entrances and similar relief.

b.

Balconies.

c.

Bay windows.

d.

Recessed glazing and storefronts by at least six (6) inches.

e.

Vertical pilasters that reflect internal building structure and/or are integral to the selected architectural style.

f.

At least two (2) changes in color and texture along wall surfaces.

g.

Indented portions of walls that articulate masses in the facade.

h.

Trims, projections, and reveals along different levels of wall surfaces.

i.

Cantilevers.

5.

All side and rear building facades shall incorporate architectural detailing consisting of at least three (3) of the approaches itemized in 3.a above.

6.

Bay windows shall project at least two (2) feet but no more than three (3) feet.

7.

Balconies shall have a minimum depth of four (4) feet.

8.

The vertical emphasis of architectural design elements shall be minimized by use of a minimum of three (3) of the following approaches:

a.

Incorporate elements such as horizontal bands, reveals, trims, and overhangs along different levels of the wall surface.

b.

Limit towers or pilasters to a maximum of one (1) story in height.

c.

Limit tower elements to one (1) per building.

d.

Vary the spacing and distribution of architectural elements and details along building facades.

e.

Entry treatments should not extend above the first story of the building.

9.

Using the building design reference document identified in subsection 9663.7A, projects shall identify an architectural design style and include at least five (5) of following features consistent with the descriptions of following elements of a single specific style, with roof type and characteristic pitch required to be at least one (1) of the five (5) features:

a.

Roof type and characteristic pitch;

b.

Roof rake, eve overhang and cornice detail;

c.

Wall façade symmetry or asymmetry and detail;

d.

Wall material and arrangement relative to roof;

e.

Window type, relative proportion, shape, and detail;

f.

Door type, relative proportion, shape, and detail;

g.

Porch type, relative proportion, shape, and detail.

C.

Roof treatments.

1.

Visual interest shall be created through the integration of a minimum of two (2) different roof forms (orientation, pitch, height) and designs along a building facade. Such roof forms shall be used on all sides of the building.

2.

Mansard roofs shall be prohibited.

3.

Flat roof areas shall not be used on more than twenty-five (25) percent of the overall roof area and where used, shall match the color of the roofing material. Green roofs are exempt from this requirement and shall have no maximum limit on the overall extent of the flat roof area, and green roofs shall be of a color typical of healthy, low maintenance planting material.

4.

Barrel-shaped red tile roof materials are prohibited.

5.

Roof lines shall be vertically articulated along the street frontage by at least two (2) of the following architectural elements:

a.

Varying cornices;

b.

Clerestory windows;

c.

Varying roof height;

d.

Varying roof form.

6.

Roof-mounted mechanical units shall be incorporated into the design of roof through increased slope, screening, or enclosures. Roof-mounted equipment shall be fully screened. Screening and enclosures must match the materials, colors, and style of the building architecture.

Gutters and other means to collect rainwater from roof runoff shall be integrated into roofing design and in colors and styles consistent with the roofing materials.

8.

Exterior roof ladders shall be prohibited. Access to the roof shall only be provided from the interior of a building.

9.

Green roofs may be used as described in section 9663.8 (sustainable design).

D.

Mixed-use ground floor.

1.

Mixed use buildings with ground-floor retail/commercial use.

a.

Floor-to-ceiling heights of ground-floor commercial spaces shall be at least twelve (12) feet.

b.

Ground-floor entrances for commercial uses shall be designed to be level with the elevation of the adjacent public sidewalk or at least not more than two (2) feet above or below the immediately adjacent sidewalk grade.

c.

Entries to stores and ground-floor commercial uses shall be distinct from the rest of the building façade using at least two (2) of the following:

1.

Change in scale;

2.

Contrasting materials, glazing and color;

3.

Projecting or recessed forms and awnings.

d.

Any street level façade where retail, recreational, or civic uses are planned shall consist of at least sixty (60) percent window area. Tint lower than seventy (70) percent visible light transmission (VLT), mirrored, or

reflective glass shall be prohibited.

2.

Ground-floor residential use.

a.

Within mixed-use developments, ground-floor residential uses immediately adjacent to the sidewalk shall be separated from the public sidewalk by a minimum of two (2) feet and not more than three (3) feet. If the ground floor residential uses are setback at least ten (10) feet, this requirement does not apply.

b.

Where ground-floor porches are provided, the depth of the porch shall be at least three (3) feet.

c.

Residential uses on the ground floor along a primary roadway, other than residential entries and associated porches/stoops/patios, shall be prohibited.

E.

Doors and windows.

1.

Horizontal window bands greater than forty (40) feet shall be prohibited.

2.

Windows within forty (40) feet and facing a residential use on an adjacent property, shall be placed to avoid direct lines of site to windows on the adjacent property. Exceptions are allowed where the windows on the proposed development are opaque or otherwise treated to obscure views (see exhibit).

==> picture [348 x 301] intentionally omitted <==

3.

Weather protection shall be provided at individual residential unit entries and primary entrances to commercial uses by providing a minimum of one (1) of the following treatments:

a.

Overhangs;

b.

Awnings;

c.

Porch roofs;

d.

Trellis;

e.

Canopy.

4.

Garage doors shall include at least one (1) detail treatments such as:

a.

Windows;

b.

Paneled surface;

c.

Use of a minimum of two (2) colors;

d.

Use of a minimum of two (2) textured surfaces.

F.

Façade materials treatments.

1.

Material transitions along any façade shall only occur on the inside corner of plane change. When material changes need to happen in the same plane, trims, cornices, or other architectural elements shall be used to create a corner for material transition.

2.

For buildings taller than two (2) stories, the use of stucco shall be limited to a maximum of sixty (60) percent of any façade that faces a street or open space.

3.

For buildings that are two (2) stories or taller, unbroken multi-story sections of the same material, texture, or color shall not be used for more than sixty-five(65) feet of façade length and more than two-thirds (⅔) of the number of floors in height, as illustrated in Figure 9663.7D.

==> picture [360 x 177] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 9663.7D

The following materials are permitted for exterior façades and considered primary, secondary, or accent and can be used in relation to their designation (see section 9663.3, definitions). Materials listed as prohibited or omitted altogether shall be prohibited.

KEY

• P: Primary or Secondary Material

• S: Secondary Material Only

• A: Accent Material

N: Prohibited

At least two (2) materials shall be used on any building façade, in addition to glazing, railings, and trim. A primary material must constitute at a minimum of twenty (20) percent of any building façade, excluding windows and railings.

6.

Buildings with false facades or false fronts, exclusive of parapets used to shield rooftop equipment, are prohibited.

G.

Color and materials.

1.

An earth-tone color palette shall be required for all structures.

2.

The use of fluorescent or neon colors is prohibited.

3.

The number of colors appearing on the entire building exterior shall be limited to a maximum of four (4) colors (or four (4) tones of the same color), including trim and accent colors.

4.

Buildings shall utilize a minimum of two (2) colors on all facades, inclusive of trim. Changes in color due to a change in building material are not considered an additional color.

H.

Security Considerations. New development shall use each of the following crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) standards:

1.

Lighting shall be provided within all parking lots, along pathways, at entrances, and within common open space areas so that these areas are visible to on-site residents at night. All lighting shall comply with the provisions of section 9663.9.D (lighting).

2.

Building entrances shall be located to be visible from parking lots and sidewalks.

I.

Relationship to adjacent properties.

Fencing shall be used to enclose and/or screen private outdoor gathering spaces and utility and service use areas adjacent to buildings. Compliance with section 9606.2 (fences and walls) shall be required.

2.

All fences and walls designed for screening purposes shall be of a solid material. Gaps of up to one-quarter (¼) inch will be allowed at material joints.

3.

Use of untreated chain link fence and barbed wire is prohibited. Vinyl and plastic fencing materials are prohibited unless they are made to simulate the appearance of wood.

(Ord. No. 22-461, § 8, 8-24-2022)