Laguna Woods Municipal Code Ch. 11.10 Objective Design Standards

The purpose and intent of this chapter is to establish design standards that (i) involve no personal or subjective judgment by the City of Laguna Woods, (ii) are uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available, and (iii) are knowable by development applicants, project proponents, and the City of Laguna Woods before submittal. The design standards set forth herein are specifically intended to foster development within the City of Laguna Woods that enhances the area's aesthetics, character, and sense of place. The design standards are also specifically intended to integrate Crime Prevention through Environmental Design ("CPTED") standards.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

For purposes of this chapter only, the following definitions shall apply, in addition to those set forth in Chapter 1.02 of this Code:

(05) Arched shall mean having a vertical curve where the height of the curve is either (1) exactly half of the width of the curve, or (2) shorter in height than the actual curve.

(10) Awning shall mean an architectural projection that provides weather protection, building identity, or decoration, and is wholly supported by the building to which it is attached. An awning is often comprised of a lightweight frame structure over which a cover is attached.

(15) Balcony shall mean an external extension of an upper floor of a building, enclosed by a screen, balusters, or railings.

(20) Balustrade shall mean multiple balusters supporting a railing on a balcony.

(25) Baluster shall mean a post, upright support, or vertical piece that supports a railing on a balcony.

(30) Building shall have the same meaning as the term is defined in Section 13.06.010(c)(130) of this Code, as amended from time to time or replaced with a successor statute.

(35) Carport shall mean any parking area that is wholly or partially covered by a structure of any kind.

(40) Cavity wall shall mean a wall built of masonry units or of concrete, or a combination of these materials, arranged to provide an airspace within the wall, and in which the inner and outer parts of the wall are tied together with metal ties

(45) Clerestory shall mean an upper story or row of windows rising above the adjoining parts of the roof, designed to admit light into the inner space of a building.

(50) Cornice shall mean the uppermost division of an entablature; a projecting shelf along the top of a wall supported by a series of brackets; the exterior trim at the meeting of a roof and wall, consisting of soffit, fascia, and crown molding.

(55) Dry-stacked, surface-bonded wall shall mean a wall built of concrete masonry units where the units are stacked dry, without mortar on the bed or head joints, and where both sides of the wall are coated with a surface-bonding mortar.

(60) Exterior shall mean any outer surface that is or would be visible from any point outside the parcel on which it is located assuming topography was flat and no other buildings, structures, fences, walls, landscaping, or similar visual obstructions were present.

(65) Façade shall mean any single face of a building.

(70) Glass curtain walls shall mean aluminum- or other metal-framed window systems that are non-structural and house glass panels.

(75) Gross floor area shall have the same meaning as the term is defined in Section 13.06.010(c)(420) of this Code, as amended from time to time or replaced with a successor statute.

(80) Landscape professional shall mean a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape pursuant to California Business and Professions Code §§ 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5, California Code of Regulations Tit. 16, § 832.27, or California Food and Agriculture Code § 6721, as amended from time to time or replaced with a successor statute

(85) Light box sign shall mean an illuminated sign that contains mechanisms to encapsulate, suspend, protect and/or display a discrete sheet of backlit film which may include images and/or text, and which is designed to transmit light through the film for increased image brightness, contrast, and/or color saturation.

(90) Neutral color shall mean a color that is not considered a primary color on any one or more of the following color models: CIE, CMYK, HEX, HSB, HSL, or RGB.

(95) Parapet shall mean a low protective wall or railing along the edge of a roof, balcony, or similar structure; in an exterior wall, the part entirely above the roof.

(100) Pilaster shall mean a partial pier or column, often with a base, shaft, and capital, that is embedded in a flat wall and projects slightly; may be constructed as a projection of the wall itself.

(105) Roof deck shall mean the flat or sloped surface constructed on top of the exterior walls of a building or other supports for the purpose of enclosing the story below, or sheltering an area, to protect it from the elements, not including its supporting members or vertical supports.

(110) Roof covering shall mean the covering applied to the roof deck for weather resistance, fire classification, or appearance.

(115) Structure shall have the same meaning as the term is defined in Section 13.06.010(c)(790) of this Code, as amended from time to time or replaced with a successor statute.

(120) Wall shall mean a vertical element with a horizontal length- to-thickness ratio greater than three, used to enclose space, whether load bearing or not. "Wall" specifically includes, but is not limited to, cavity walls, dry-stacked, surface-bonded walls, and parapets.

(125) Wall plane shall mean the surface area that extends from the ground to the top of each wall. "Wall plane" specifically includes, but is not limited to, portions of walls located under eaves and overhangs. Where a single building has multiple wall planes along a single façade, the wall planes are additive and shall be considered a single wall plane.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

(a) This chapter shall apply to the following projects:

(1) New construction of any building or structure with a gross floor area equal to or in excess of 25 square feet.

(2) New construction of any trash enclosure, or expansion of any existing trash enclosure equal to or in excess of 25 square feet.

(3) New construction of any generator or similar on-site energy source, or expansion of any existing structure housing a generator or similar on-site energy source equal to or in excess of 10 square feet.

(4) "Developments" as that term is used in California Government Code § 65913.4, as amended from time to time or replaced with a successor statute.

(5) "Housing development projects" as that term is used in California Government Code § 65589.5, as amended from time to time or replaced with a successor statute.

(b) This chapter shall not apply to the following projects:

(1) Projects not listed in subsection (a) above.

(2) Wireless facilities subject to Section 13.26.210 of this Code.

(3) Projects undertaken by an independent special district, school district, or other governmental agency when applicable law precludes the applicability of objective design standards.

(4) Projects undertaken by the City, or undertaken on City-owned property, when the plans for such projects are subject to discretionary approval by the City Council.

(5) Projects that received planning approval by the City Council or City staff prior to January 31, 2024.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

(1) Where this chapter references distances between or within parcels, the distance shall be measured from the outermost boundary lines of the closest parcels.

(2) Where this chapter references distances between or within buildings, the distance shall be measured from the outermost wall of the closest points of each building.

(3) Where this chapter identifies a setback from any parcel, the distance shall be measured from the outermost boundary line of the parcel to the closest point of the design feature or equipment setback which, for parking areas, shall be the edge of the asphalt, paving, or other parking surface closest to the parcel.

(4) Where this chapter identifies a setback from any public street easement or right-of-way, the distance shall be measured from the outermost boundary line of the public street easement or right-of-way to the closest point of the design feature or equipment setback which, for parking areas, shall be the edge of the asphalt, paving, or other parking surface closest to the parcel.

(5) Where this chapter identifies a percentage of landscape screening, the percentage shall be calculated by estimating the expected size and growth of the plantings at 12 months (365 days) after the initial date of planting, as attested to by a landscape professional. Fractional values shall be rounded to the next highest whole number.

(6) Where this chapter identifies the height of any wall or fence, the height shall be measured as set forth in Section 13.16.230 of this Code, as amended from time to time or replaced with a successor statute.

(7) Where this chapter identifies the height of any clerestory, the height shall be measured from the exterior base of the wall on which the clerestory is located to the base of the clerestory frame.

(8) Where this chapter identifies the height of any balcony's balustrade or balusters, or openings therein, the height shall be measured from the exterior base of the balustrade or balusters to the top of the balustrade or balusters, or openings therein, as may apply, on the exterior side.

(9) Where this chapter identifies a percentage of roof or wall cover, or number of windows or other design elements, fractional values shall be rounded to the next highest whole number.

(10) Where this chapter identifies a required overhanging eave, the overhang shall be measured from the point the roof extends past the wall plane to the outermost edge of the eave.

(11) Where this chapter identifies a required arched opening, the vertical curve of the arch opening shall be measured from the point the opening begins to curve.

(12) Where this chapter identifies the size of open air gaps in the design of trash enclosures, the gap shall be measured as the area which encloses, with four, six, or eight perpendicular lines, all points from any angle through which an object measuring more than one inch in length by one inch in width can be placed.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023)

The following design elements are prohibited:

(1) Bars installed on the exterior of a building or structure, when such bars (i) are located on or extend over any door, window, gate, or other openable, transparent, semi-transparent, or not fully opaque fixture or surface, and (ii) are spaced less than ten inches apart.

(2) Roll-up or rolling exterior doors, except when used for vehicular points of ingress or egress (e.g., entrances to parking garages) or for facilities located in the Residential Community-Maintenance Overlay Zoning District.

(3) Chain link, plastic, vinyl, or woven wire fencing or gates including, but not limited to, fencing or gates of any kind with plastic or vinyl privacy inserts, except for temporary fencing during construction when permitted by the City.

(4) Barbed tape, barbed wire, wire, razor wire, and similar security treatments on the exterior of a building or structure, or used with or for fencing or gates, except when used in connection with a civic, fire, or police building or structure.

(5) Electrical conduits or raceways visible from the exterior of a building or structure, whether such electrical conduits or raceways are located on the interior or exterior of a building or structure.

(6) Unfinished metal or wood surfaces (e.g., plywood) on the exterior of a building or structure, or used with or for fencing or gates.

(7) Fluorescent, luminescent, neon, or sparkling paint or similar adhesive, dye, or pigment that, after application to a material, adds color, on the exterior of a building or structure, or used with or for fencing or gates.

(8) More than three colors of paint or similar adhesive, dye, or pigment that, after application to a material, adds color, on any single exterior wall pane, including all doors, windows, balustrade, balusters, and surfaces on that wall, or any single fence or gate.

(9) More than one color of glass within any single exterior window on a building or structure (gradients of color shall be considered multiple colors), or more than two colors of glass within all exterior windows on any single exterior wall pane.

(10) Light box signs installed on the exterior of a building or structure, except for light box signs that are not visible from public right-of-way or located within 40 feet of any residential zoned parcel.

(11) Glass curtain walls installed as part of any exterior wall system.

(12) Wood shingle or shake roofs.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

In addition to the objective design standards found elsewhere in this chapter, the following shall apply to all projects:

(1) Driveways; public streets. Driveways providing ingress or egress to public streets, if any, shall be constructed in accordance with County of Orange OC Public Works Department Standard Plan #1209, as may be amended from time to time or replaced with a successor standard plan. To the extent that reconstruction of driveways and/or adjacent sidewalks is required to comply with this subsection, such reconstruction shall be undertaken (i) at no cost to the City, (ii) after obtaining all necessary City permits and permits from other government agencies, and (iii) in accordance with the terms and conditions of all City permits required to conduct work on, or reconstruct, property under the control, operation, or management of the City (if applicable). To the extent that such reconstruction results in any discrepancy between the new driveway and/or new adjacent sidewalk and the City's existing public street easements or right-of-way, such discrepancy shall be resolved prior to occupying any newly constructed or expanded buildings or structures the result of which requires compliance with this chapter.

(2) Elevators. Elevator cabs, the interiors of which are not completely visible when the door is open from a point centered on and 36 inches away from the door, shall have shatter resistant mirrors or other equally reflective material so placed as to make visible the entire elevator cab from this point. Elevator cabs, which serve more than two floors, shall have clear glazing installed in at least 40 percent of one wall to provide visibility into the elevator cab from a common or public area.

(3) Flat roofs. Parapets measuring at least 36 inches in height, shall be provided around the perimeter of flat roofs. Interior sides of parapets shall be finished in the same color and material as the exterior sides thereof.

(4) Pedestrian connectivity. All building entryways and exits, curb ramps, gates, trash enclosures, designated bicycle parking areas, and vehicle parking areas shall be internally connected with a minimum four-foot-wide pedestrian pathway or pathway network that may include use of any public sidewalks. Such pedestrian pathway or pathway network shall be comprised of any one or more of the following: (i) asphalt, concrete, stone, and/or brick pavement or pavers, and/or (ii) stabilized decomposed granite.

(5) Security cameras. Projects that include the addition of any new building(s) shall install and maintain a video surveillance system which shall continuously record the exterior of all new building entry and exit doors, parcel locker and mailbox doors, and designated bicycle parking. Footage from such video surveillance system shall be retained on a cloud-based server or otherwise off-site for at least 90 calendar days. For residential developments and housing developments, this provision shall not apply to roll-up or rolling exterior doors, doors that provide access to balconies, or doors that provide access from a single dwelling unit to a private yard for that same dwelling unit, provided the private yard is enclosed on all sides by fences and/or walls of at least six feet in height and all doors and gates within such fences and walls require the use of a key, code, or other access control technology to gain entry.

(6) Scale. For buildings greater than two stories, the wall planes of the third and subsequent stories shall be recessed at least five feet from the wall plane of the second story.

(7) Skylights. Skylights shall have a flat profile rather than an arched, domed, pyramid, or other profile.

(8) Windows; privacy. Where windows are located within ten feet of one another on separate buildings, they shall be not capable of opening or clerestory with a minimum height of six feet.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

In addition to the objective design standards found elsewhere in this chapter, the following shall apply to balconies:

(1) Opacity. The lowest 36 inches of a balcony's balustrade or balusters shall be opaque, except that permanent openings may exist in the lowest four inches of a balustrade or balusters for the purpose of drainage, provided such openings measure no more than four inches in height.

(2) Setbacks. Balconies shall be set back at least 40 feet from any open space-passive or residential zoned parcel.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023)

In addition to the objective design standards found elsewhere in this chapter, the following shall apply to generators and similar on-site energy sources:

(1) Screening. Generators and similar on-site energy source equipment shall not be visible from public right-of-way. This may be accomplished with the use of landscaping, topography, roofs, or walls.

(2) Setbacks. Generators and similar on-site energy sources shall be set back at least 40 feet from any open space-passive or residential zoned parcel, at least 20 feet from any non-residential zoned parcel, and at least ten feet from any public street easement or right-of-way.

(3) Roofs. Roof coverings shall be the same color and material as any of the other roof on any building or structure on the parcel, or shall be made of solid corrugated metal painted with a single-color rust-inhibitive paint (gradients of colors shall be considered multiple colors).

(4) Walls and Doors. Walls shall be made of solid, split face or stuccoed, concrete masonry units that are the same color and material as any of the fences or other walls on the parcel. When walls are used to enclose all sides of generators or similar on-site energy source equipment, doors that are capable of locking shall be installed to prevent unauthorized entry, and, within three seconds of opening, shall activate an interior (under roof) motion activated light-emitting diode (LED) light. Doors shall be the same color as any of the other exterior doors on the parcel. Landscaping shall be used to screen at least 60 percent of walls over 30 inches in height, except when surrounded on all sides by parking facilities.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023)

Reserved.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023)

In addition to the objective design standards found elsewhere in this chapter, the following shall apply to residential developments and housing developments:

(1) Access control. In buildings containing, or located on a parcel with, two or more dwelling units, doors or gates that provide access from the exterior to any elevator, entryway, hallway, lobby, stairwell, or other common area (e.g., laundry rooms, pools, and recreation facilities), whether inside or outside, shall require the use of a key, code, or other access control technology to gain entry. All doors or gates subject to this provision shall also be subject to the security camera requirements set forth in Section 11.10.060(4), regardless of whether such doors or gates are explicitly specified therein.

(2) Garage doors. Garage doors shall be recessed a minimum of six inches from the wall pane on which they are located.

(3) Roofs. At least 60 percent of roof decks for buildings, carports, and garages shall include a roof covering of clay or terracotta tile in either a Spanish (S-shaped) or Mission (half cylinder) shape, in a color marketed either in whole or in part as a red color, with overhanging eaves of at least 24 inches.

(4) Walls. At least 80 percent of walls for buildings, carports, and garages shall include an outer surface of stucco or plaster siding, in a neutral color, except that colors marketed either in whole or in part as a black or gray color shall not be considered neutral colors for the purpose of this provision. No wall shall extend horizontally more than 30 feet in length without (i) at least a two-foot variation in depth in the wall plane; which may be met through the use of elevation plane changes, insets, bays, notches, or protrusions, and (ii) the use of one or more articulating design features that are projected or recessed from the wall plane by at least one foot; which may be met through the use of design features including, but not limited to, arches, awnings, balconies, canopies, columns, cornices, fireplaces, glazing, overhangs, pilasters, but not lighting fixtures, signs, or trellises.

(5) Windows. Exterior windows shall be recessed at least two inches from the wall plane on which they are located. At least 30 percent of exterior windows (excluding clerestory) on each wall plane shall be contained within arched openings.

(6) Wood elements. The outer surface of wood elements (e.g., rafter tails) shall be in a darker shade of color than any outer surface of the stucco or plaster siding on directly abutting or adjoining walls.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

In addition to the objective design standards found elsewhere in this chapter, the following shall apply to trash enclosures:

(1) Accessible path of travel. An accessible path of travel with a minimum four-foot-width that complies with California Building Standards Code requirements shall be provided between trash enclosures and the buildings served.

(2) Open air gaps. Trash enclosures may have open air gaps between roofs and underlying walls/doors/access points provided any such gap does not exceed 14 inches. For the purpose of this subsection, metal screens and similar stationary, non-opaque elements installed between roofs and underlying walls/door/access points shall not be considered open air gaps when the openings in such stationary, non-opaque elements do not exceed one inch in length by one inch in width.

(3) Roofs. Roof coverings shall be the same color and material as any of the other roof on any building or structure on the parcel, or shall be made of solid corrugated metal painted with a single-color rust- inhibitive paint (gradients of colors shall be considered multiple colors).

(4) Signage. When more than one trash enclosure is located on a single parcel, trash enclosures shall identified by a one or two character number, letter, or combination of letters or numbers assigned by the City and posted in a manner consistent with the requirements for new building address identification in the California Building Standards Code, except that such identification shall only be required to be visible from the exterior of the trash enclosure, not from the street or road fronting the property. When applicable, trash enclosures serving residential developments and housing developments, either in whole or in part, shall include a sign measuring at least eight and one-half inches by 11 inches, or 11 inches by eight and one-half inches, describing how residents can avail themselves of bulky item collection services offered at no additional charge through the City's solid waste handling services franchise.

(5) Screening. Trash enclosures shall be enclosed by a roofed structure with opaque walls and access point(s).

(6) Walls and doors. Walls shall be made of solid, split face or stuccoed, concrete masonry units that are the same color and material as any of the fences or other walls on the parcel. All doors and other access points shall be capable of locking to prevent unauthorized entry and, within three seconds of opening, shall activate an interior (under roof) motion activated light-emitting diode (LED) light. Doors and other access points shall be the same color as any of the other exterior doors on the parcel. Landscaping shall be used to screen at least 60 percent of walls, except when surrounded on all sides by parking facilities.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

In addition to the objective design standards found elsewhere in this chapter, the following shall apply to vehicle parking areas:

(1) Vehicle light intrusion. Where vehicle parking spaces are located within 20 feet of any open space-passive or residential zoned parcel, they shall be screened from the open space-passive or residential zoned parcel by an opaque wall a minimum of six feet in height; which may be met through the use of design features including, but not limited to, carports or garages. Landscaping shall be used to screen at least 60 percent of walls, except when surrounded on all sides by parking facilities.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

Alternative provisions to any of the objective design standards established by this chapter may be permitted subject to the approval of a use permit application approved in compliance with the provisions of this Code or, in the event of a demonstrated financial hardship that would result in a project's infeasibility to construct or operate, by approval of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 24-01, § 3(Exh. A), 1-17-2024)

If there is any conflict between this chapter and any other provision of the Laguna Woods Municipal Code, this chapter shall prevail except in the event of a conflict with any provision of the California Building Standards Code or state law incorporated by reference, in which case the provisions of the California Building Standards Code or state law shall prevail.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023)

This chapter is not intended to be exclusive and compliance with its provisions shall not excuse noncompliance with any federal, state, or other local laws.

(Ord. No. 23-04, § 3(Exh. A), 11-15-2023)