Chapter 19.20 — CENTRAL-EAST PLANNING AREA

Sections:

• 19.20.010 Existing conditions, desired future, potential changes. 19.20.020 Project planning and design.

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A. Existing Conditions. The Central-East planning area is located at the eastern edge of the city, between East Napa Street and East MacArthur Street, and includes some of the oldest residential areas in the community, with mature landscaping and street trees. The streets primarily follow a grid pattern with variable widths, supporting slower traffic. Some streets have sidewalks and/or parkway landscaping strips and many homes have tall, mature hedges along the front property line, which create well defined street edges. Setbacks tend to be large, but vary widely.

The area includes a variety of architectural styles, representative of individual home subdivision and construction. Nathanson Creek meanders from the northern boundary of the planning area along its west edge, where it crosses East MacArthur Street. The east edge of the planning area is adjacent to open fields outside of the city, and the planning area also has views of the hillsides to the north.

Existing land uses include:

1. Low density single-family homes;

2. Four neighborhood parks;

3. The Sonoma Community Center;

4. Undeveloped, Sonoma residential property in the sphere of influence; and

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

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5. A cemetery.

B. Desired Future. The general objective for this area, as expressed in SMC 19.20.020, Project planning and design, is to preserve the existing quality and fabric of residential neighborhoods in the Central-East planning area. Two key issues that could affect efforts to maintain the character of the area include a significant number of parcels that could be subdivided as infill lots, and the site planning and building design techniques employed in their development. Development of the potential infill parcels will mainly need to focus on visual compatibility with the adjacent patterns of site design, building scale, and architectural context.

C. Potential Changes. The future development of the parcels east of Armstrong Estates will lead to the extension of Charles Van Damme Way and William Cunningham Avenue, and perhaps to the connection of Appleton Way with East Napa Street. This area, portions of which are currently outside of city limits, has an R-S designation, which calls for somewhat higher densities and a greater variety in lot sizes than what is found in the development to the west (Armstrong Estates), which features lots having a minimum area of 20,000 square feet. (Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

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

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

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• A. Site Planning.

  1. Residential Density. The following residential densities and minimum lot size requirements apply to proposed subdivisions and multifamily projects within the Central-East planning area.

Table 3-5. Lot Size and Residential Density Requirements

Notes:

1. Densities do not include density bonus. See Chapter 19.44 SMC.

2. Setbacks, Site Coverage, and Open Space. Proposed development shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the requirements set forth in Tables 3-6 and 3-7, following.

3. Driveways and Parking. Driveways and parking areas for multifamily projects shall not be located in a front setback, but shall be provided at the rear or along the side of the site. Nonresidential and multifamily parking areas shall be screened from adjacent residential zoning districts and land uses. See Chapter 19.48 SMC, Parking and Loading Standards.

4. Natural Features. Significant environmental amenities including Nathanson Creek, related riparian areas, and mature trees, shall be preserved by being incorporated into site plan design and layout. Appropriate enhancement or protective measures shall be included in plans where determined necessary by the planning commission. See landscaping standards and design guidelines (SMC 19.40.060), and the tree preservation ordinance for specific tree preservation requirements and guidelines. Environmental features of lesser significance should be incorporated into project site plans when appropriate if justified by the quality of the feature and its relation to the site.

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

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Table 3-6. Central-East Area: Infill and Additions

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Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-L R-S R-M
Setbacks Minimum setbacks required for primary structures. See SMC 19.40.110 for setback
measurement, allowed projections into setbacks, exceptions, and design guidelines for
setbacks.
Front/Street- New structures on vacant parcels: 25 ft. or the same as 20 ft.
side [1 ] the average of structures to the street on either side,
whichever is greater. [2 ]
Additions: 20 ft.
Nonconforming replacement structures: The same
location as the original structure.
Side: 7 ft. minimum, 18 ft. 5 ft. minimum, 15 ft. 5 ft. minimum, 15 ft.
One-story combined combined combined
Side: 3 ft. for every 5 ft. (or 2 ft. for every 5 ft. (or 8 ft. minimum on two-
Two-story fraction thereof) of height fraction thereof) of height story side
above 15 ft., [4] in addition above 15 ft., [4] in addition
to the normal requirement to the normal requirement
for one-story structures. for one-story structures.
Rear 20 ft. 15 ft.
Garage: 20 ft. from the front of the 20 ft. from the front of the 20 ft. from the front of the
Front primary structure primary structure primary structure
F.A.R./ Site
Coverage
F.A.R. 0.35 0.35 0.50
Site Coverage 40% 40% 60%
Open Space See SMC 19.40.070 for design requirements.
Residential: N.A. N.A. 300 sq. ft. per unit
Common
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The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Table 3-6. Central-East Area: Infill and Additions

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Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-L R-S R-M
Residential: N.A. N.A. 75 – 225 sq. ft. per unit
Private
Height Ridge height measured from finished grade. See SMC 19.40.040 for applicability and
exceptions.
Primary 35 ft. on parcels of 20,000 30 ft. 30 ft.
Structure sq. ft. or greater,
otherwise 30 ft.
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Notes:

1. Front porches may extend up to 10 feet into front setback (or street-side setback for wrap-around porches).

2. Where averaging adjacent structures results in a setback of greater than 30 feet, a 30-foot setback shall be allowed.

3. A nonconforming replacement structure shall not exceed 10 percent of the height or area of the original structure, unless a use permit is obtained.

4. Measured at building wall, not ridge.

Table 3-7. Central-East Area: New Subdivisions of 5+ Lots

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Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-L R-S R-M
Setbacks Minimum setbacks required for primary structures. See SMC 19.40.110 for setback
measurement, allowed projections into setbacks, exceptions, and design guidelines for
setbacks.
Front/Street- A variety of setbacks, compatible with neighborhood 20 ft.
side [1 ] conditions, shall normally be required at the discretion of
the planning commission. An average setback of 25 ft. shall
be maintained.
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The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Table 3-7. Central-East Area: New Subdivisions of 5+ Lots

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Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-L R-S R-M
Side: 7 ft. minimum, 18 ft. As approved by the 5 ft. minimum, 15 ft.
One-story combined planning commission, combined
except that in no case shall
Side: 3 ft. for every 5 ft. (or a setback of less than 3 ft. 8 ft. minimum on two-story
Two-story fraction thereof) of height be allowed. side
above 15 ft., [2] in addition to
the normal requirement for
one-story structures.
Rear 20 ft. 15 ft.
Garage: 20 ft. from the front of the 20 ft. from the front of the 20 ft. from the front of the
Front primary structure primary structure primary structure
F.A.R./Site
Coverage
F.A.R. 0.35 0.35 0.50
Site Coverage 40% 40% 60%
Open Space See SMC 19.40.070 for design requirements.
Residential: N.A. 500 sq. ft. per unit, any 300 sq. ft. per unit
Common combination of shared or
private
Residential: N.A. 75 – 225 sq. ft. per unit
Private
Height Ridge height measured from finished grade. See SMC 19.40.040 for applicability and
exceptions.
Primary 35 ft. on parcels of 20,000 30 ft. 30 ft.
Structure sq. ft. or greater; otherwise
30 ft.
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Notes:

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

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1. Front porches may extend up to 10 feet into front setback (or street-side setback for wrap-around porches).

2. Measured at building wall, not ridge.

5. Screening and Buffering. Multifamily developments shall require screening and buffering of parking and driveway areas, and noise and light sources. See Chapter 19.46 SMC, Fences, Hedges and Walls, and landscape standards and guidelines (SMC 19.40.060).

• B. Building Design.

1. Height and Profile. Proposed structures shall not exceed a maximum height of 30 feet. Structures may exceed the height standard by increasing side and rear setbacks by two feet for each additional five feet in height. Second stories must be set back an additional 10 feet from the front setback, and five feet on the sides and rear setbacks. See the following design guidelines, and SMC 19.40.040 for height measurement and exceptions.

   2. Building Types – Guidelines for Residential Structures. Proposed dwellings should be placed on their sites so that the most narrow dimension of the structure is parallel to the most narrow dimension of the parcel, and so that the primary entrance to the dwelling faces the public street, or is accessible from a porch or other entry element which faces the street.

C. Street and Block Layout. It is intended that streets within the Central-East planning area will be maintained at their existing width and alignment. (Ord. 02-2021 § 1(2), 2021; Ord. 03-2004 § 3, 2004; Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

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

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

Page 95 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code