§ 33-1344. Design guidelines. — Escondido Zoning Code

Proposals for transient lodging facilities shall comply with the design guidelines for transient lodging facilities, set forth as in this section, as well as the design review guidelines which have been established for all commercial projects.

DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR TRANSIENT LODGING FACILITIES

These design guidelines are prepared as a checklist of items that affect the physical aspect of hotel/motel developments. They are not intended to restrict creativity or to limit imagination in proposals, but rather, to assist both developers and staff in preparing and reviewing projects for satisfactory design and aesthetics. Refer to the underlying zone for development standards and application requirements.

The overall appearance of a transient lodging facility is a product of the site design and the features offered, the relation of the site to surrounding areas, the relation of the buildings onsite and the bulk and scale of those buildings, the landscaping, lighting and signage of the facility as well as the materials and colors used and the design and location of the parking areas. Often, a creative solution to site-specific constraints results in a project highlight and a benefit to surrounding properties.

I. TYPES OF TRANSIENT LODGING FACILITIES
- A. Definitions and Expected Features. Transient lodging covers a wide spectrum of facilities from budget motels to resort destinations. Economy class, business/ convention facilities and bed and breakfast establishments are also included. A customer chooses a facility to serve a particular need. While features of one type of establishment may be found in another, the following is a breakdown of facilities into three types:
  1. Economy. Hotels and motels located on or near major arterials that serve the more budget-minded tourist and business clientele. Facilities can be generalized as being one or two stories with 200 rooms or fewer and having outdoor corridors and basic recreational amenities such as a pool and/or spa. Adjacent surface parking is typical.
  2. Full Service. Hotels and motels located near business centers, downtowns or other major arterials convenient to major attractions. They generally provide a broader range of amenities and may include health clubs or other recreational facilities, restaurants, lounges, conference and convention facilities, laundry, secretarial and taxi services and business-oriented shopping facilities.
  3. Resort. Hotels and lodgings typically sited on a prominent or otherwise attractive location and/or providing recreational amenities either on-site or within close proximity. They are treated as a destination point and offer a relaxing or vacation-type climate. They often include amenities similar to full service hotels such as restaurants, lounges, meeting facilities and shopping to attract conventions and other businesses.

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City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-1344

B. Minimum Parcel Size. The site for a proposed facility shall meet the minimum lot size requirement for the underlying zone. Refer to the Zoning Ordinance for the minimum setback, height and floor area ratio requirements.
- C. Businesses space and restaurants. Full service and resort hotels and lodging designed, constructed or used for 25 or more guest rooms or more may include a business supportive space use conducted therein for the convenience of the occupants and their guests, a boutique retail space, or a restaurant for use primarily by the hotel occupants and their guests.
  1. The entrance to the business or restaurant shall be from the inside of the hotel.
  2. The floor area used for all the businesses and restaurants in the facility shall not exceed 30% of the total ground floor area of all the buildings comprising the hotel which are on a single lot or contiguous lots.
II. SITE DESIGN
- A. Provide site planning that accomplishes a desirable transition with the streetscape and adequate landscaping, parking and safe pedestrian movement.
- B. Preserve and respect the existing topography by integrating buildings with the hillsides. When grading is required, create several smaller pads rather than one large one.
- C. Utilize building height and scale which is compatible with the site and existing or anticipated adjoining buildings. Cluster buildings to attain village scale. Break up long building expanses with plazas and landscaping.
- D. Maximize view opportunities of distant hills and mountains and other natural and manmade landmarks from the complex.
- E. Ensure that full architectural treatment is provided on all building elevations, particularly those fronting major Circulation Element Streets.
- F. Centrally locate the lobby and office for easy access from streets and hotel units.
- G. Create an individual theme for the project site which is reinforced through architectural, landscaping, signage and streetscape treatments.
- H. Create a sense of arrival with unique focus to the project. Create sense of place and individual identity for each project by appropriate utilization of design treatments.
- I. Provide outdoor-oriented areas and activities such as cafes, kiosks, booths, benches, etc.
- J. Orient buildings around courtyards, arcades and plazas whenever possible.
- K. Avoid parking areas between street and building. Provide parking in rear of buildings.
- L. Consider crime prevention design and ease of surveillance in site planning and access design. Exemplary measures include visual corridors into the project from major roadways, landscaping to maintain views of pedestrian areas from drive aisles, and sufficient night lighting of pedestrian and parking areas.

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-1344

ZONING