Calabasas Municipal Code Ch. 8.07 Safe Siting of Playgrounds and Outdoor Activity Areas for Children

The purpose of this chapter is to protect children in the community—especially where they congregate and play outdoors, including on playgrounds and other outdoor activity spaces—from undue and potentially hazardous exposure to excessive levels of noise, air pollution and other health hazard exposure risks associated with a major freeway.

(Ord. No. 2019-376, § 1, 9-11-2019)

A. Playground or Other Outdoor Activity Space. As used in this chapter, playground or other outdoor activity space means any outdoor play space designed and constructed for use and enjoyment by groups of children twelve (12) years of age or under for play and recreation (organized or unorganized), and which may include playground equipment and any combination of soft and hard surfaces.

B. Freeway. As used in this chapter, freeway means the Ventura Freeway, which is also known as U.S. Highway 101, for the entire length traversing the city, whether entirely or partially located within the city limits.

C. Freeway Edge. As used in this chapter, the freeway edge means the outside limit of the outermost lane of traffic on the freeway, as delineated by the lane line. Freeway merge lanes, shoulders, walls, slopes and landscape areas fall outside of the freeway edge.

(Ord. No. 2019-376, § 1, 9-11-2019)

• Standards for the safe siting of playgrounds and outdoor activity areas for children.

Any proposal to develop or locate a playground or outdoor activity area for children shall not develop or locate such facility on any site or in any manner that will result in any portion of the playground or outdoor activity area being closer than five hundred (500) feet from the nearest freeway edge.

(Ord. No. 2019-376, § 1, 9-11-2019; Ord. No. 2020-381, § 1, 2-12-2020)

The following types of playgrounds or outdoor activity areas for children shall be excepted from the requirements set out in Section 8.07.030:

A. A playground or outdoor activity area for children twelve (12) years of age or under which is proposed in association with, and on the same property as, a single-family residence or mobile home, and which is accessory to that residence for customary use by household occupants and their guests;

B. A playground or outdoor activity area for children twelve (12) years of age or under which is a component of a land use governed by Section 17.12.070 or Section 17.12.090 of Title 17 in this municipal code.

(Ord. No. 2019-376, § 1, 9-11-2019)