Santa Clara Zoning Code § 7.3 Standards (continued)

• B. Specific to Facades in the Neighborhood Edge Overlay. Massing Increments within the Neighborhood Edge Overlay shall be differentiated in the following ways:

FIGURE 7-4 | MASSING INCREMENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD EDGE OVERLAY

1. Massing Increments shall be separated by a gap ( G in Figure 7-4 ) of no less than 16’ wide by 20’ deep, per Table 7-1

2. No massing increment facade design may be repeated on the same project elevation A massing increment facade design may be repeated up to three times on a project, provided they are on different sides of the block

3. Architectural style variation between massing increments is encouraged to reinforce a pattern of individual, neighborhood-scale buildings, to better fit in with existing buildings in this zone

4. The use of pitched roofs are encouraged to further relate the buildings to the residential neighborhood scale

5. Any other differentiation that meets the intent of the standard is encouraged

6. Gaps between massing increments may—but are not required to—serve as entries to paseos, courts, side yards, or any other on-site open space Gaps may also serve as small courts or yards and be surrounded on all sides by building

7. See Section 7.3.C regarding when Massing Increments shall and shall not appear as distinct buildings

GAP EXAMPLE —This Gap between Massing Increments serves as a small forecourt, surrounded on all sides by building.

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
G
Width of
Gap
Depth of
Gap

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
A
A
A
A
G
G Neighborhood Edge
Overlay
G
Benton Street

GAP EXAMPLE —These Gaps between Massing Increments provide vehicular and pedestrian access into the block.

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
A
A
A
G
Street G

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Publication, Apr 2026

SANTA CLARA CODE

33 | Chapter 7: Building Massing

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18 Attachment 1:124

Publication, Apr 2026

ZONING

34 | City of Santa Clara Downtown Form-Base Code