Chapter 19.16 — PLANNING AREA STANDARDS

Sections:

• 19.16.010 Purpose of division. 19.16.020 Planning areas established. 19.16.030 Organization and intent of planning area chapters. 19.16.040 Applicability of area standards and guidelines.

1 Code reviser’s note: The development code document adopted by Ordinance 2003-02 contains color foldout maps of all of the planning areas, maps that are not included in this title. Copies are on file in the office of the city clerk.

This division establishes 13 planning areas within the city, based on the time periods and types of development and land uses that characterize each area. This division also establishes site planning and design standards for each area to ensure that proposed projects are designed to enhance and maintain the most desirable development and environmental characteristics of each unique area of the city. The planning areas are described in terms of three subtypes – areas, districts, and corridors – depending upon their function, their geography, and the range of land uses within them. (Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

The provisions of this division are applicable to specific sites within the city based on the area where the site is located. The following planning areas are hereby established (see Table 3-1). The overall structure of the planning areas is depicted on Figure 1 and the location and boundaries of each area are shown on Figure 3-2[1] .

Table 3-1. Planning Areas

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Table 3-1. Planning Areas

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(Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Each planning area is the subject of a separate chapter containing standards, guidelines, and background information specific to that area, divided between three sections.

A. Overview and Objectives. The first section (“Existing Conditions, Desired Future, Potential Changes”) contains a general overview of the planning area, a statement of broad planning objectives, and a description of likely public improvements and other potential changes, as follows:

1. Existing Conditions. The discussion of existing conditions which opens each chapter is intended to briefly set forth the unique characteristics of each planning area in terms of natural and built features. A primary purpose of this section is to provide a context for the regulations and guidelines that follow.

2. Desired Future. This subsection contains a discussion of the general planning objectives for the area as derived from relevant General Plan policies and the particular conditions of the planning area. It is to be used by decision-making bodies, including the city council, the historic preservation commission, and the planning commission, as a reference to the larger intent of specific development regulations and as guidelines in the review of discretionary development applications within each planning area.

3. Potential Changes. In this subsection, specific public improvements relevant to each planning area are described, including street extensions, new bicycle and pedestrian paths, drainage improvements, and street tree plantings. Also described are approved or anticipated private development projects of significance to the planning area. Projects and improvements are drawn from General Plan policies and implementation measures, the city’s five-year capital improvement program, other project objectives identified by the city council, approved and anticipated development proposals, and projects identified by other agencies (e.g., the Sonoma Valley Unified School District). The purposes of this section are to:

a. Provide decision-makers and the general public with a common frame of reference as to potential public improvements and other changes relevant to development conditions;

b. Provide a basis for requiring new development to participate in the provision of public improvements when such participation is warranted due to the impacts of development;

c. Ensure that known and prospective public improvements are considered in the review of development applications.

B. Development Standards and Guidelines. The second section (“Project Planning and Design Standards”) sets forth specific development standards and guidelines applicable to new development. The specific provisions of this section are as follows:

1. Zoning Map. A zoning map is provided for each planning area depicting the zoning districts within it, as well as the zoning designations which would apply to areas outside of the city limits but within the sphere of influence.

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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2. Site Planning. The physical standards, requirements, and guidelines applicable to new development are set forth in this subsection, including limitations on density and regulations pertaining to building setbacks, coverage, open space and parking design. Environmental features and screening and buffering requirements are also addressed.

3. Building Design. In this subsection, standards and guidelines regarding building heights, types, and profiles are provided.

4. Design Map and Guidelines. Concluding the chapter for each planning area is a design map and accompanying design guidelines. The map and guidelines are intended to highlight key planning issues facing each planning area.

C. Overview of Conditions. The concluding section is a map in which the major physical features of each planning area are identified, including streets, building envelopes, creeks, and contour lines. The balance of land uses and the number of units within each planning area are summarized as well. (Ord. 06-2013 § 3, 2013; amended during June 2011 supplement; Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

New land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements of this division for the applicable planning area, in addition to the applicable development standards in Division IV, General Site Planning and Development Standards. (Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).