Santa Clara Zoning Code § 6.3 Standards (continued)

feet; buildings shall not exceed either metric (per Precise Plan Policy 5.1.E ) See Section 6.3.J for exceptions and elements which are allowed above the maximum building height Building height in stories includes all floors (except for subterranean basements below the ground floor), subject to the following:

1. Mezzanines. A mezzanine—a partial floor contained within a tall building story—which constitutes less than 50% of the habitable area of the building story where it is located, does not count as an additional story

2. Parking Liner. One habitable floor lining multiple structured parking levels—as may be common with tall ground floor retail spaces—only counts as one story

• D. Height of Building Elements. All buildings are subject to the standards listed in Table 6-2 (see the following spread), regardless of whether the project has qualified for bonus heights or not

• E. Primary Facade Height. The primary facade is the portion of the facade located within the Front Street Build-To Range along a street and/or open space (see Section 5.3 )

1. For projects which are 4 stories or less, the entire length of the primary facade may be built up to the maximum allowed building height for the location (per Figures 6-1 and 6-2 )

2. For projects which are taller than 4 stories (where permitted by Figures 6-1 and 6-2 ), a maximum of 50% of the primary facade length may be built above 4 stories within the Build-To Range The remainder of the primary facade is limited to 4 stories within the Build-To Range Any other floors above 4 stories shall be set back a minimum of 15 behind the lower primary facade See Figure 6-3

• F. First Floor Level. Except for retail-ready ground floors ( Section 9.4.C ) and accessible ground floors at sidewalk level, all residential ground floors shall be raised between 2 and 4 feet from sidewalk grade

• G. Floor Heights. Floor heights shall meet the standards listed in Table 6-2

1. Retail/Housing Flex. All ground floor residential is subject to the minimum heights listed in Table 6-2 However, ground floor residential throughout the Downtown Zone is encouraged to go well beyond those minimums and be 14’ feet tall, floor to ceiling, and designed so that future compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) for commercial use is not precluded See the Retail/Housing Flex frontage type in Section 9.4.C

FIGURE 6-3 APPLICABLE TO PROJECTS TALLER THAN 4 STORIES* *where permitted by Figures 6-1 and 6-2

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
facade is limited to 4 stories
within the Build-To Range
Neighboring
building
(separate
project)
50% max.
Primary facade
length

A maximum of 50% of the primary facade length may be built above 4 stories within the Build-To Range (see Table 5-2 in Section 5: Building Placement)

The remainder of the primary facade is limited to 4 stories within the Build-To Range

Any other floors above 4 stories shall be set back a minimum of 15 behind the lower primary facade

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SANTA CLARA CODE

25 | Chapter 6: Building Height

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
15’
B
A
E [1] E [2]
F
D [1] D [2]
C

FIGURE 6-4 GROUND FLOOR AT STREET LEVEL

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
FIGURE 6-5
RAISED GROUND
FLOOR
15’
B
A
E [1] E [2]
KEY
F
Property Line
D [1] D [2]
Build-to Line
C
Private Frontage

TABLE 6-2 | HEIGHT OF BUILDING ELEMENTS

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
Standards Applicable to All Character Overlays
Facade and Building Height
A Primary Facade Height See Standard 6.3.E and Figure 6-3
B Maximum Building Height See Figures 6-1 and 6-2
First Floor Level (measured from level of exterior sidewalk) [1]
C General Overlay 0 to 4 feet [2]
C Shopfront and Retail-Ready Overlay 0 feet
Floor Heights (min)
D Ground Floor (Residential) [3] D [1] 10 feet floor-to-ceiling; 11 feet floor-to-floor D [2]
D Ground Floor (Non-residential) [3] D [1] 14' feet floor-to-ceiling; 16' floor-to-floor D [2]
E Upper floor (Residential) E [1] 9 feet floor-to-ceiling; 10' floor-to-floor E [2]
E Upper floor (Non-residential) E [1] 9 feet floor-to-ceiling; 10' floor-to-floor E [2]
Building Base Height (min - may span multiple floors per §6 3 E)
Base on Buildings of 3 Stories Not required;
F
or less 1-story base allowed
1 story base required;
F Base on Buildings of 4 Stories 16 feet minimum
Base on Buildings of 5 Stories 2-story base required;
or more 25 feet minimum

Notes

1 First floor level standards are applicable to the first 30' behind the facade.

• 2 If the first floor level is elevated from the sidewalk, the appropriate frontage and architectural projection(s) must be chosen. See Chapters 9 and 10, respectively, for applicable standards.

• 3 Ground floors in the Shopfront and Retail-Ready Overlays are required to be Non-Residential.

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ZONING

26 | City of Santa Clara Downtown Form-Base Code