Chapter 19.28 — SOUTHWEST PLANNING AREA

Sections:

• 19.28.010 Existing conditions, desired future, potential changes. 19.28.020 Project planning and design.

==> picture [160 x 155] intentionally omitted <==

A. Existing Conditions. The Southwest planning area, which is entirely residential, is marked by sharp contrasts between rural and urban development. Malet Street and Harrington Drive are rural enclaves, developed mainly with older residences. New residential development includes a single-family tract and a series of higher density tracts featuring detached units on small lots. The Southwest area is bounded by rural and agricultural lands outside of the city’s sphere of influence on the south and west, with the Broadway corridor and the gateway at Four Corners to the east, and urban residential development to the north. The Fryer Creek channel bisects the area. No east-west streets traverse the planning area (with the exception of Leveroni Road), due to the presence of the creek, but there is a bicycle/pedestrian connection at the southern end of the channel. This crossing connects bike/pedestrian pathways which run along either side of the channel, providing access to the two neighborhood parks within the planning area.

Existing land uses include:

1. Older, rural density single-family homes;

2. Single-family tract development;

3. Several planned developments;

4. Two neighborhood parks and a wetland preserve; and

5. Scattered vacant parcels, some of them relatively large.

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

Page 123 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

B. Desired Future. The general objectives for this area are to preserve the Harrington and Malet Street areas as rural enclaves and to regulate additions and modifications to existing planned developments. Over time, the unincorporated areas of Malet Street and Harrington Drive will be annexed to the city so that the residents of those areas may have the benefit of reliable water and sewer service. However, these areas are intended to be preserved as pockets of rural development. New development within these areas and future public improvements should be consistent with that goal. Existing and planned single-family developments within the planning area will inevitably contrast with adjacent rural areas. While the general character of development within these areas will be that of urban density single-family residential, transitional design elements should be used, especially at street connections between urban and rural areas. The planned developments within the Southwest area were designed with little room for change. Additions and renovations will be greatly restricted due to the small lot sizes and narrow setbacks associated with these developments.

eas will be that of urban density single-family residential, transitional design elements should be used, especially at street connections between urban and rural areas. The planned developments within the Southwest area were designed with little room for change. Additions and renovations will be greatly restricted due to the small lot sizes and narrow setbacks associated with these developments.

C. Intended Changes. Harrington Drive and Malet Street west of First Street West will require some level of upgrading, but street sections should reflect and reinforce the rural qualities of those areas. Elsewhere in the planning area, gaps in the sidewalk system need to be closed and, in the long term, sidewalks (with planter strips) will probably be extended along Fifth Street West and Leveroni Road. Except for a connection between Newcomb Street and Malet Street and possible improvements to the intersection of Fifth Street West and Leveroni Road, no major street improvements are planned. For health and safety reasons, water and sewer lines will have to be extended along Malet Street and, in the long term, along Fifth Street West and Leveroni Road. (Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

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

Page 124 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

==> picture [480 x 626] intentionally omitted <==

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

Page 125 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

• A. Site Planning Standards.

  1. Residential Density. The following residential densities and minimum lot sizes apply to new subdivisions within the different zoning districts of the Southwest planning area.

Table 3-17. 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 Table 3-18, following.

Table 3-18. Southwest Area: Infill, Additions and Replacement Structures

==> picture [477 x 190] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-R 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- One-story: 20 ft. One-story: 20 ft. 20 ft. 20 ft.
side [1 ] Two-story: [2] 30 ft. Two-story: [2] 30 ft.
----- End of picture text -----

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

Page 126 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

Table 3-18. Southwest Area: Infill, Additions and Replacement Structures

==> picture [477 x 630] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-R R-L R-S R-M
Side: 15 ft. 15 ft. 5 ft. minimum, 12 5 ft. minimum, 12
One-story ft. combined ft. combined
Side: 15 ft. 15 ft. 2 ft. for every 5 ft. 2 ft. for every 5 ft.
Two-story (or fraction thereof) (or fraction thereof)
of height above 15 of height above 15
ft., [2] in addition to ft., [2] in addition to
the normal the normal
requirement for requirement for
one-story one-story
structures. structures.
Rear 30 ft. 30 ft. 20 ft. 20 ft.
Garage: 20 ft. from the front 20 ft. from the front 5 ft. from the front 20 ft. from the front
Front of the primary of the primary of the primary of the primary
structure structure structure structure
F.A.R./Site
Coverage
F.A.R. 0.20 0.35 0.35 0.45
Site Coverage 25% 40% 40% 50%
Open Space See SMC 19.40.070 for design requirements.
Residential: N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Common
Residential: N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Private
Height Ridge height measured from finished grade. See SMC 19.40.040 for applicability and
exceptions.
Primary 30 ft.
Structure
----- End of picture text -----

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

Page 127 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

Notes:

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

2. Measured at wall, not ridge.

3. Driveways and Parking. 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. Multifamily parking areas shall be screened from adjacent residential zoning districts and land uses. See Chapter 19.48 SMC, Parking and Loading Standards. Driveways along collector streets (Fifth Street West, Leveroni Road) shall be minimized when possible, by combining driveways, using alleys, or designing development so that access is provided from local streets.

4. Natural Features. Significant environmental amenities, including Fryer Creek and associated riparian areas, wetlands, and mature oak 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.

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. For structures in excess of 15 feet, side and rear setbacks shall be increased by two feet for each additional five feet in height. 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 Southwest planning area will be maintained at their existing width and alignment with the following exceptions:

1. Malet Street. West of First Street West, Malet Street should be maintained in a rural configuration; however, for safety reasons, it will need to be widened in some areas to provide a consistent two-lane section.

2. Harrington Drive. Harrington Drive should be maintained as a rural street, but widening in some areas may be needed to achieve a safe two-lane section. (Ord. 02-2021 § 1(6), 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.

Page 128 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

==> picture [480 x 588] intentionally omitted <==

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

Page 129 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code