§131.0718 Supplemental Regulations for Premises Greater Than Five Acres

The purpose and intent of these regulations is to break down sites larger than 5 acres into two-acre segments to enhance a sense of place; facilitate pedestrian circulation; reduce walking distances; improve connections to the public right-of-way or private drives, transit, and adjoining neighborhoods; and promote the livability and vitality of such development . These requirements shall apply even in the event of the approval of a Lot Line Adjustment which reduces the size of the premises to less than 5 acres.

• (a) Connectivity. A minimum of one paseo and one bicycle access way into the development shall be provided for every two acres of developable area, as shown in Diagram 131-07B. Two paseos are required on corner sites.

Ch. Art. Div. 13 1 7 26

San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

• (b) Pedestrian Paths. Pedestrian paths shall be provided in accordance with Section 131.0550.

• (c) Private Drives. For the purposes of this Section, a private drive is a nonpublic thoroughfare. Private drives shall connect public rights-of-way to multiple locations within a development . Where private drives are provided, they shall comply with the following:

  • (1) Private drives shall be designed to reduce conflicts between vehicles and pedestrian and bicycle circulation.

  • (2) Non-contiguous sidewalks shall be provided along both sides of private drives.

  • (3) The alignment of private drives shall be coordinated and connected to the public right-of-way , emphasizing interconnected streets and the ability to reach local destinations through multiple routes.

  • (4) The number of trees required for each private drive frontage shall be calculated at the average rate of one 24-inch box canopy tree for every 40 feet of private drive frontage. Tree spacing may be varied to accommodate site conditions or design considerations.

  • (5) Trees shall be planted between the curb and the internal street wall . Where there is no street wall , trees shall be located within 12 feet of the curb-line along the private drive frontage.

• (d) Pedestrian Circulation Space. The pedestrian circulation system shall be ungated and publicly accessible. The pedestrian circulation shall include three or more of the following features:

  • (1) Artwork that is integrated with the design of the pedestrian circulation space. Qualifying artwork may not incorporate addresses, text or logos related to the adjacent building or tenants of such buildings. Artwork may satisfy the Civic Enhancement Allocation regulations, in accordance with Chapter 2, Article 6, Division 7.

  • (2) Food service, including service in a retail space directly accessible from the major portion of the plaza or an open-air café.

Arcades. For the purposes of this Section, an arcade is a space located along a street frontage or an interior pathway or plaza that is free of obstructions. Driveways, parking spaces, passenger drop-offs, loading berths, or trash storage facilities are not permitted within an arcade. Arcades shall comply with the following:

Ch. Art. Div. 13 1 7 27

San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

• (A) Minimum depth (ft.): 10

• (B) Maximum depth (ft.): 15

• (C) Minimum height (ft.): 12

• (D) Maximum height (ft.): 30

• (3) Building entrance recess area. For the purposes of this Section, a building entrance recess area is a space adjoining a sidewalk for the entire length of the building entrance area that provides unobstructed access to a building lobby or ground floor use. It may overlap with an arcade. Building entrance recess areas shall comply with the following:

  • (A) Minimum width (ft.): 10

  • (B) Maximum width (ft.): 50

  • (C) Maximum height (ft.): 30

• (4) Sidewalk Widening. A sidewalk widening enlarges a pre-existing or required sidewalk by at least five additional feet, but no more than 10 additional feet, measured perpendicular to the street .

• (5) Pedestrian Through-block Connections. For the purposes of this Section, a pedestrian through-block connection is a paved, open or enclosed space providing unobstructed pedestrian access to a building entrance or lobby. Driveways, parking spaces, passenger drop-offs, loading berths, and trash storage facilities are not permitted within a pedestrian through-block connection. Pedestrian through-block connections shall comply with the following:

  • (A) Location: at least 150 feet from the intersection of two streets

  • (B) Minimum width (ft.): 10, which can include landscaping (C) Maximum width (ft.): 20, which can include landscaping

Ch. Art. Div. 13 1 7 28

San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

• (6) Plazas. For the purposes of this Section, a plaza is an open space that adjoins or is visible from a public right-of-way or private drive. A plaza may be public or private and can include play areas, pedestrian pathways, seating area, game tables, performance areas, water features, useable lawn areas, paving, shrub beds, and plants in containers. Garage entrances, driveways, parking spaces, passenger drop-offs, loading berths, trash storage facilities, as well as the access or service for these facilities, are not permitted within a plaza.

Plazas must comply with the following:

• (A) Minimum width (ft.): 40

• (B) Circulation paths within a plaza shall connect to all streets and building entrances that front the plaza.

• (C) A minimum of 50 percent of a plaza shall be free of obstructions.

• (D) Seating shall be provided by movable seating, fixed individual seats, benches with or without backs, and design feature seating, such as seat walls, ledges and seating steps.

• (E) Trees and Planting

  • (i) Four, 24-inch box canopy trees are required for plazas that are 6,000 square feet or less.

• (ii) For each 1,000 square feet of plaza area over 6,000 square feet, an additional tree is required.

  • (iii) Fifteen percent of the plaza area shall be comprised of plants. This can include hanging plants, beds with plants, or living walls.

• (F) Multi-Modal Parking.

  • (i) A combination of six parking spaces for bicycle or micro-mobility equipment shall be provided.

  • (ii) If the plaza is greater than 10,000 square feet, a combination of ten parking spaces for bicycle or micromobility devices shall be provided.

Ch. Art. Div. 13 1 7 29

San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

• (iii) For the purposes of this Section, micro-mobility means a compact sized device designed for personal mobility with one or two passengers that is powered by a rechargeable electric battery. For example, micromobility devices include electric scooters, electric bicycles, or other similar sized personal compact devices.

• (G) Food services, including food service in a retail space, shall be directly accessible from the plaza.

• (H) Abutting Frontages . For residential uses fronting a plaza, at least 40 percent of the exterior walls facing the plaza shall be transparent or glazed.

Diagram 131-07B Example of Connectivity for Premises Greater than Five Acres

==> picture [324 x 197] intentionally omitted <==

LEGEND

• Reduce block size through pedestrian and vehicular accessways. Provide a minimum of one pedestrian and one bicycle access way or one paseo into the development for every two acres of developable area.

• - - - - A minimum of three pedestrian circulation space features per Section 131.0718(d).

Ch. Art. Div. 13 1 7 30

San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

(“Supplemental Regulations for Premises Greater Than Five Acres” added 9-12-2019 by O-21118 N.S.; effective 10-12-2019.) (Amended 1-27-2022 by O-21416 N.S.; effective 2-26-2022.) (Amended 3-7-2023 by O-21618 N.S.; effective 5-6-2023.)