Livermore Municipal Code Part 8 Civic Space Types

LDC Chapter 8.01. CIVIC SPACES

LDC § 8.01.010. Intent.

A. The intent of this part is to provide a catalog of pre-approved Civic Space types that are appropriate to use within walkable urban environments.

LDC § 8.01.020. Applicability.

A. This part describes the guidelines for development of Civic Spaces throughout the City. Where these guidelines conflict with the Design Standards Guidelines, Standards Details and Standard Specifications, the standards of the Design Standards Guidelines, Standards Details and Standard Specifications shall apply.

B. The Standards of this chapter shall apply to all proposed development within Transect-based zones, and shall be considered in combination with the standards for the applicable zone in Part 3 (Specific to Zones), Part 4 (General to Zones) and those in Part 6 (Specific to Uses).

C. Additional Civic Spaces can be integrated into this part as they are approved by the City.

LDC § 8.01.030. General Description.

The Civic Spaces of a city are an important public element in providing open space and recreational opportunities. The best Civic Spaces become the "living rooms" of the City, places where the community can come together to celebrate events. Civic Spaces play an important role in placemaking. Their standards must be considered alongside building form, building types, frontage types, and thoroughfares in creating urban environments. The diverse palette of parks and other publicly accessible open spaces are assigned to one or more Transect zones.

LDC § 8.01.040. Civic Space Types Overview.

The standards in this chapter provide the Form-Based Code areas with a diverse palette of parks and other publicly accessible open spaces that are essential components of mixed-use neighborhoods.

There are four different open space types, along with supplementary standards for playgrounds and community gardens that may be incorporated into any of these four types or be free standing.

The dimensional requirements of each open space are regulatory in nature. The descriptions of each type, along with the character, allowed/typical uses, and stormwater management techniques, are descriptive in nature, delineating a broad range of possible characteristics and uses that are allowed within the open spaces. It is not intended that each open space provide the full range of typical uses and characteristics, but that the entire network of open spaces within the Form-Based Code areas provide a wide range of open spaces that can accommodate a variety of places and activities.

The following types shall provide open space and recreational opportunities that are appropriate for the City.

A. Open Space Types.

1. Plazas add to the vibrancy of streets within more urban sub-areas and create formal open spaces available for civic purposes and commercial activity. These spaces are defined by building frontages and are primarily hardscaped with formally arranged trees. See LDC Section 8.01.050 (Plazas) for standards.

2. Pocket Plazas include small-scaled open spaces that function in a similar manner to and follow the same rules as the larger plazas. These smaller-scaled spaces create more intimate places for seating or dining and provide a place into which commercial and neighborhood activity can spill out. These plazas can also be used to create a formal space in front of a prominent building entrance. See LDC Section 8.01.060 (Pocket Plazas) for standards.

3. Urban Parks provide a central open-space focus for neighborhoods or groups of neighborhoods, useful for unstructured recreation and smaller structured recreational facilities. These larger spaces may also serve as civic amenities for the larger community. They are spatially defined by building frontages or landscaping, and typically consist of formal and naturalistic landscape, combining paths, lawn, and tree planting. See LDC Section 8.01.070 (Urban Parks) for standards.

4. Neighborhood Pocket Parks provide smaller open spaces in close proximity to neighborhood residences. These parks accommodate a wide range of activities and vary in character in response to specific needs and surroundings. The landscape is formal or informal with arrangements of trees and shrubs, utilizing the natural landscape of both open and wooded areas. See LDC Section 8.01.080 (Neighborhood Pocket Parks) for standards.

B. Supplemental Open Space Types.

1. Community Gardens provide groupings of garden plots in a publicly accessible area that are available to nearby residents for small-scale cultivation. Such gardens may be provided as a component of other publicly accessible open spaces and/or civic uses, or may be provided as freestanding open spaces. See LDC Section 8.01.090 (Community Gardens) for standards.

2. Playgrounds provide an enclosed open space designed and equipped for children's recreation. They are interspersed within residential areas and may be freestanding or located within larger parks and open spaces. See LDC Section 8.01.100 (Playgrounds) for standards.

C. Additional Standards.

1. Ancillary Structures within parks and open space, including but not limited to open-air pavilions, gazebos, picnic shelters, and outdoor theaters, shall not be subject to the physical requirements of the Building Form Standards in Part 3 (Specific to Zones). They shall be designed and furnished to be consistent with the character of the Transect zone in which they are located. Such consistency may require ancillary structures to maintain building setbacks, frontage, massing, disposition and character similar to adjacent development.

2. Civic buildings located in larger parks and open spaces including but not limited to Community Centers, Meeting Rooms, Public Safety Facilities, Houses of Worship, and Schools, shall not be subject to the physical requirements of the Building Form Standards in Part 3 (Specific to Zones). Such consistency may require civic buildings to maintain building setbacks, frontage, massing, disposition and character similar to adjacent development.

LDC § 8.01.050. Plazas.