Part 1 — CONTENT AND PURPOSE

This article shall be known as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City of Agoura Hills."

The city council has initiated a comprehensive planning program in order to ensure that the anticipated growth within the city is organized, planned and coordinated in a manner that will not place an undue burden on the city in its ability to provided municipal services and facilities, and more importantly will be consistent with the rural and residential character of the existing community. This effort has culminated in the preparation and adoption of a comprehensive general plan. The implementation of the general plan requires, among other measures, the development of a regulatory zoning ordinance to govern the uses of land and the density and intensity of development consistent with all the goals, objectives and policies of the city's general plan. This article is the zoning ordinance required by the city's general plan.

The zoning regulations of the city are adopted to protect, promote and enhance the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare; guarantee that development is compatible with the rural and residential character of the community; ensure that development within the city is related to the city's ability to proved essential municipal services and is consistent with the Agoura Hills general plan. More specifically, these regulations are adopted to achieve the following objectives:

A.

Relate proposals for development to the provisions and recommendations of the general plan and ensure consistency of development with the general plan;

B.

Provide the economic and social advantages which result from an orderly, planned use of land resources;

C.

Foster a harmonious, convenient, workable relationship among land uses;

D.

Ensure adequate consideration for urban design in the development process so that new development enhances existing development;

E.

Lessen congestion on the streets, secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers, and promote the health and general welfare;

F.

Provide adequate light and air;

G.

Prevent the overcrowding of land;

H.

Avoid undue concentration of population;

I.

Facilitate adequate provision of transportation, water, schools, parks, natural areas, roads, and other public facilities and improvements;

J.

Establish the most beneficial and convenient relationship among residential, commercial, recreational, natural, and undeveloped areas while having regard to their suitability for the various uses appropriate to each of them and their potentiality for such uses as indicated by existing conditions, community-wide interests, and appropriate development standards;

K.

Ensure that public and private lands ultimately are used for the purposes which are most appropriate and most beneficial to the city as a whole.

9104—9110. - Reserved.

PART 2. - SCOPE, INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION

This article is adopted to accomplish the stated goals, objectives and policies of and to implement the general plan of the city. To accomplish these matters, the city shall:

A.

Regulate the use of buildings, structures and land as between industry, business, residents, open space— including agriculture, recreation, enjoyment of scenic beauty and use of natural resources, and other purposes;

B.

Regulate signs and billboards;

C.

Regulate the location, height, bulk, number of stories and size of buildings and structures; the size and use of lots, yards, courts and other open spaces; the percentage of a lot which may be occupied by a building or structure; and the intensity of land use;

D.

Establish requirements for off-street parking and loading;

E.

Establish and maintain building setback lines;

F.

Preserve and maintain the natural character and visual quality of hillsides as a scenic resource by establishing regulations for hillside development;

G.

And establish other aspects of land use regulation which may be deemed necessary for the public peace, health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the people working and living within the city.

The authority for the regulations contained within this article is based on Section 7, Article XI of the California Constitution; the provisions of the California Planning and Zoning Law which provides for the regulation of land use; and the police power granted to municipalities by the law of the state.

The regulations within this article represent the minimum standards and provisions except as otherwise specified for the development and use of land and structures.

This article is not intended to abrogate or annul any easement, covenant or other agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing when the provisions of this article impose more stringent regulations, restrictions, or limitations than are imposed by other laws, rules and regulations, or by easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of this article shall govern.

For the purposes of this article, the following words, phrases, and terms shall be defined as set forth in this chapter.

The purpose of this part is to implement the general plan requirement that all development be evaluated according to general development standards. Such standards are to ensure that new developments are constructed in a high quality, compatible manner.

The following standards shall apply to all uses, except as hereinafter provided, in all land use districts.

All development shall be compatible with the rural character of the community. The following factors shall be considered in determining whether a proposed development satisfies this standard:

A.

Intensity of use.

B.

Compatibility with existing and proposed surrounding uses.

C.

Preservation of privacy of adjacent residential uses.

D.

Provisions of adequate buffering from adjacent residential uses.

E.

Adequate protection of the quiet enjoyment of existing residential development.

F.

Minimization of conflicts between intensity of uses.

G.

The level of preservation and protection of natural features including terrain and landscaping in the neighborhood and community.

H.

Preservation of views from existing development.

I.

Level of impact of traffic on existing development.

J.

Measures provided for the maintenance of all common areas, including landscaping along streets.

K.

Level of adverse impact on existing homeowners associations, or private property.

L.

Level of impact on community facilities, including schools.

9132.[1.] - Evaluation of design.

All development shall satisfy the following design criteria:

A.

Exterior materials and colors shall harmonize with and compliment the surrounding natural and man-made environment. Where appropriate, dominant exterior colors shall reflect a natural earthtone theme. More brilliant exterior colors shall not be employed in a manner which detracts from the visual continuity of a structure and its surrounding environs. Exterior treatments characterized by an overly bright, shiny, reflective or artificial appearance shall not be permitted.

B.

The architectural expression shall be carried out throughout the project.

C.

The landscaping shall compliment the proposed architecture and shall consist of native materials wherever possible.

D.

The proposed traffic circulation shall be compatible with the proposed development and not adversely impact the neighborhood in which it is located.

E.

All new development shall be adequately buffered from existing development.

F.

Height of structures shall be in relationship to the height of the pad, size and shape of the structure and the proposed setbacks.

G.

No equipment in residentially zoned property shall be mounted, affixed or otherwise attached to a pitched roof, including a hip or gable roof, or to an exterior wall of a building, excluding windows. For the purpose of this section, "equipment" shall be defined as being all materials, fittings, devices, appliances and apparatus systems used for heating, air conditioning and ventilation of the residential units, excluding natural or mechanical attic ventilation systems approved by the director of planning and community development. "Equipment" shall also be defined as being all collector tanks, circulators, pump systems and apparatus other than flat-plate collectors used in connection with solar collecting systems. Equipment may be placed on a flat roof only if the equipment is entirely screened from view from public or private right-ofway by a mansard or parapet roof element and located entirely below the top of such roof elements. The method of screening shall be architecturally integrated and blend with the building design in terms of material, color, shape and size. If such screening is not possible due to elevation or topographic constraints, the equipment shall be placed on the ground and subject to the provisions of section 9606.1 of this article.

(Ord. No. 98-287, § 1, 5-13-98)

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Sec. 3 of Ord. No. 18-438, adopted Oct. 18, 2018, amended § 9133 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 9133 pertained to the same subject matter, consisted of §§ 9133.1—9133.14, and derived from Ord. No. 08-353, adopted July 9, 2008.

In order to classify, regulate, restrict, and separate the use of land, buildings and structures; to regulate and limit the type, height and bulk of buildings and structures in a logical division; to regulate the areas of yards and other open spaces abutting and between the buildings and structures; and to regulate the density of population, the land use districts delineated in sections 9142 through 9142.3 are established.

The following districts are established in the city.