Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 5 Interpretations, Exceptions and Calculations

The requirements and regulations specified in this chapter shall be subject to the following exceptions and interpretations.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13.)

Height limitations set forth elsewhere in this Chapter shall not apply to:

a. Barns, silos, water towers or tanks, windmills or other farm buildings or structures on farms, provided these are not less than fifty (50) feet from every lot line; church spires, belfries, cupolas and domes; smokestacks; flag poles; elevator penthouses; cooling towers; grain elevators; and outdoor theater screens, provided said screens contain no advertising matter other than the name of the theater.

b. Places of public assembly in churches, schools and other permitted public and semipublic buildings, provided that these are not more than one (1) story in height, and provided that for each one (1) foot by which the height of such building exceeds the maximum height otherwise permitted in the district, its side and rear yards shall be increased in width or depth by an additional foot over the side and rear yards required for the highest building otherwise permitted in the district.

c. Other structures where the manufacturing process requires a greater height, provided, however, that all such structures above the heights otherwise permitted in the district shall not occupy more than twenty-five (25) percent of the area of the lot and shall be distant not less than twenty-five (25) feet in all parts from every lot line not a street lot line.

d. Antennas and communication facilities on utility poles, utility towers and light standards in all zoning districts, excluding the city's rights-of-way, provided:

1. The applicant submits a development review permit and goes through the review process pursuant to Section 36.44.45;

2. The applicant submits a description of the efforts made to consider alternative sites and demonstrates the proposal for the facility, including all associated equipment (whether or not installed by the applicant), is the least intrusive alternative;

3. The proposed height exception is proven, by the applicant, to be the minimum amount of additional height needed to address a significant gap in coverage;

4. The proposed extension and other changes to the pole or equipment are proven, by the applicant, to be structurally sound and safe; and

5. Equipment associated with the facility does not impede pedestrian or vehicular accessibility along any public or private pathways, sidewalks, driveways or roadways, visually impede any safe use of the same or otherwise present a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular use of the same.

e. Roof screens, parapets or any architectural feature intended to provide screening of rooftop equipment in all zoning districts shall be the minimum necessary height to fully screen rooftop equipment on all sides, not to exceed an additional ten (10) feet beyond the maximum building height, excluding residential structures in all R1 and R2 zones in which roof screens must comply with the maximum building height.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13; Ord. No. 20.19, § 4, 12/10/19; Ord. No. 01.2024, § 4, 1/23/24.)

Where less than one-half (½) the height of a basement or cellar, or ground floor, is below ground level, measured by reference to the average elevation of land within one hundred (100) feet of the building, said basement, cellar or ground floor shall be considered a story and floor area.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13.)