Chapter 16.68 — BUILDINGS

In any district with a height limit of less than seventy-five feet, public buildings, schools, churches, hospitals and communications equipment buildings permitted in such district may be erected to a height not exceeding seventy-five feet, provided that the front, rear and side yards shall be increased one foot for each one foot by which such building exceeds the height limit hereinbefore established by such district. (Prior code § 30.506)

When an application is made for a building permit for the construction, alteration or remodeling of any building other than a single-family dwelling, duplex and accessory building, or for any structure, dwelling or duplex on land designated as a historic landmark site, it shall be accompanied by architectural drawings showing elevations of the proposed building or structure, proposed landscaping or other treatment of the grounds around such building or structure, and proposed design of, and access to, required parking facilities. Such drawings shall be considered by the planning commission, architectural committee, or community development director which shall approve said application if the following findings are made:

• (1) That the general appearance of the structures is in keeping with character of the neighborhood;

• (2) That the development will not be detrimental to the harmonious and orderly growth of the city;

• (3) That the development will not impair the desirability of investment or occupation in the neighborhood;

• (4) That the development provides adequate parking as required in all applicable city ordinances and has made adequate provisions for access to such parking;

• (5) That the development is consistent with any applicable specific plan.

The community development director shall be limited to approving minor modifications to buildings located in the M-2 (general industrial) district, the O (office) district, and the LS (life sciences) district. For purposes of this section, a minor modification is considered one in which there is no increase in gross floor area.

Each request to alter a site or area and each application for a building permit to do work on a historic landmark site shall include plans and specifications showing the proposed landscaping or planting changes, exterior appearance, color and texture of materials, and architectural design and detail; drawings or photographs showing the property or site in the context of its surroundings may also be required. The application shall be considered by the planning commission or architectural committee, which shall approve said application if the following findings are made:

• (1) That the proposed work is appropriate to and consistent with the purposes of Chapter 16.54, historic landmark site district;

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City of Menlo Park, CA § 16.68.020

MENLO PARK CODE

§ 16.68.030

• (2) That the proposed work will preserve, enhance or restore, and shall not damage or destroy, (a) the exterior architectural features of the landmark, and (b) the major interior architectural features of a publicly owned landmark.

No building permit shall be issued in any case hereinabove mentioned until such findings have been made by the planning commission. All buildings, structures, alterations and other improvements shall be constructed in accordance with the approved drawings.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not apply to building permits for the construction of multiple dwelling units in the R-4-S zoning district and no architectural control findings shall be required for any such permit, unless an applicant seeks to modify one or more of the design standards set forth in Section 16.23.070.

(Ord. 576 § 2, 1975; Ord. 931 § 7, 2004; Ord. 979 § 7, 2012; Ord. 992 § 4, 2013; Ord. 1028 § 4, 2016; Prior code § 30.519)

• (a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to set forth regulations to control the development of accessory buildings and accessory structures to ensure their orderly development and compatibility of such uses with surrounding uses and properties, and to minimize impacts associated with such buildings and structures, which are purely ancillary and/or ornamental to the main building or use of the site.

• (b) Requirements Generally. Unless otherwise provided for in a specific zoning district, requirements for accessory buildings and accessory structures in all zoning districts shall be stated in this section; except in nonresidential zoning districts, accessory structures not meeting the development regulations may be permitted through approval of a use permit, architectural control, or other discretionary process as part of the project development, or through the approval of the community development director provided the proposed accessory structure is consistent with the use of the site, is compatible with the site and surrounding land uses, and does not add gross floor area.

• (c) Development Regulations. Development regulations for accessory buildings (living and non-living space) and accessory structures are as follows:

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Accessory Buildings and Accessory Structures
Size Building The combined square footage of all levels of all
accessory buildings and accessory structures shall not
Structure
exceed 25 percent of the square footage of all levels of
the main building or 700 square feet, whichever is
greater. The size may be increased subject to a use
permit and recordation of a condition and covenant
relative to the use of the building.
Minimum Building An accessory building shall be located on the rear half
Yard of the lot, except in the R-4-S zoning district where the
(Front) minimum front setback is 50 feet. A use permit may be
requested to modify the front setback requirement, so
long as the minimum setback established for the main
building as established by the zoning district in which
the building is located is maintained.
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City of Menlo Park, CA

ZONING

§ 16.68.030

§ 16.68.030

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Accessory Buildings and Accessory Structures
Structure Minimum setback established for the main building as
established by the zoning district in which it is located
Minimum Building; Non- Minimum 3 feet; 5 feet if abutting an alley
Yard (Side, Living Space
Interior)
Building; Living Minimum setback established for the main building as
Space established by the zoning district in which it is located.
The minimum setback may be decreased subject to a
use permit and recordation of a condition and covenant
relative to the use of the building.
Structure Front half of lot: minimum setback established for the
main building as established by the zoning district in
which it is located
Rear half of lot: minimum 3 feet; 5 feet if abutting an
alley
Minimum Building Setback of adjacent lot
Yard (Side,
Structure Setback of adjacent lot
Corner)
Minimum Building; Non- Minimum 3 feet; 5 feet if abutting an alley
Yard (Rear) Living Space
Building; Living Minimum 10 feet; 5 feet if abutting an alley. The
Space minimum setback may be decreased subject to a use
permit and recordation of a condition and covenant
relative to the use of the building.
Structure Minimum 3 feet, 5 feet if abutting an alley
Separation Building Minimum 10 feet from any dwelling on lot or adjacent
Between lot, unless attached to a secondary dwelling unit
Buildings
Structure None
Height Building Overall height—14 feet
See also Daylight Plane
Structure
Daylight Building A daylight plane shall begin at a horizontal line 9 feet,
Plane 6 inches above the average natural grade at a line three
Structure
feet from the side property lines and shall slope
inwards at a 45-degree angle. There are no permitted
intrusions into the daylight plane. "Average natural
grade" means the average of the highest and lowest
points of the natural grade of the portion of the lot
directly below a line three feet from the side property
lines.
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(Ord. 694 § 1, 1984; Ord. 734 § 1, 1986; Ord. 992 § 5, 2013; Ord. 1006 § 2, 2014; Prior code § 30.514)

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City of Menlo Park, CA