Chapter 17.420 — ALHAMBRA CORRIDOR SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT

The Alhambra Corridor special planning district (SPD) generally consists of properties located between 29th and 34th streets from the Southern Pacific railroad mainline levee to the W/X Freeway. The specific district boundaries are identified on the map in Exhibit A. This district includes a number of different neighborhoods and is intended to assist in the preservation of the neighborhood scale and character, along with providing additional housing opportunities in the area. The goals of the Alhambra Corridor SPD are to:

• A. Maintain and improve the character, quality, and vitality of individual neighborhoods;

• B. Maintain the diverse character and housing opportunities provided in these urban neighborhoods; and

• C. Provide the opportunity for a balanced mixture of uses in neighborhoods adjacent to transit facilities and transportation corridors.

Exhibit A

(Ord. 2018-0014 § 2; Ord. 2018-0004 § 1; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

A. Development within the Alhambra Corridor SPD is subject to the regulations and development standards of this chapter, in addition to the other regulations of this title. The provisions of this chapter prevail over any conflicting provisions of this title.

• B. Residential preservation transition buffer zone.

1. General rule. Except as provided below, development located within 300 feet of a residential zone (measured from the street centerline) shall not exceed 35 feet in height. This restriction is intended to establish a buffer zone to protect residential neighborhoods from visual intrusion by new development that is out of scale with the adjacent residential neighborhood.

2. Exception. The planning and design commission may approve a conditional use permit allowing additional height, provided that the height may not exceed the limits established by the applicable base zoning chapter. To approve the conditional use permit, the planning and design commission must find that the development will not be out of scale with the adjacent residential neighborhood. An example where the intent of the buffer zone is maintained while allowing additional height is a development incorporating design features or step-backs that reduce the walled effect on adjacent smaller-scaled residential development.

C. Restricted limited commercial. Property zoned C-1 and located between Granada Way and Folsom Boulevard on the east side of 32nd Street is subject to the following additional provisions:

1. The total building square footage of any structure in the C-1 zone shall not exceed 6,400 square feet, except that the planning and design commission may issue a conditional use permit to exceed 6,400 square feet, subject to a finding that the proposed building scale is compatible with adjacent residential development.

2. Height. The maximum height for this zone is 35 feet.

D. Drive-through services. Drive-through services are prohibited for parcels that abut Alhambra Boulevard and are located in the Alhambra Corridor SPD. This prohibition includes both drive-through services for restaurants and as an accessory use. (Ord. 2018-0004 § 1; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)