Chapter 19.38 — OPEN SPACE DISTRICTS

Sections:

19.38.010 Existing conditions, desired future, potential changes. 19.38.020 Project planning and design.

A. Existing Conditions. The three open space districts are characterized by large areas of land in public ownership devoted to open space and recreational uses. The Maxwell district has an area of approximately 89 acres, all of which is owned by Sonoma County and dedicated to use as a regional park. The Maxwell Farms Regional Park encompasses a range of recreational uses, including playing fields, a Boys and Girls Club, and natural hiking areas.

The Vallejo district is dominated by the 57-acre Vallejo Home State Park. The historic buildings within this park are set off by expansive vistas. North of the park are several large, vacant parcels, currently used for grazing but having a zoning of Hillside Residential. Other uses within the district include a complex of city buildings (the police station and the city council chambers) and playing fields, a church, and a small amount of residential development.

The third open space district is comprised of the Mountain Cemetery. This city-owned property, which has an area of approximately 60 acres, has been developed with a historic public cemetery on the lower portion, with the remainder devoted to oak woodlands. The property is a key part of the hillside backdrop north of the city.

B. Desired Future. The general objective for the three districts is to preserve and enhance their value as public open space and recreational resources. A secondary objective for these districts is to maintain significant areas within the city with nonhardscape groundcovers to minimize increased quantities of urban runoff and downstream flooding.

C. Intended Changes. Maxwell Farms Regional Park will continue to be managed by the county department of parks and recreation. The city will maintain its partnership with the county to ensure that future improvements address valley recreational needs while preserving the unique environmental features of the park. Similarly, the city will continue to work with the State Parks Department to ensure that historic resources and open space values associated with the Vallejo Home State Park are preserved. If the privately owned hillside properties behind the park cannot be acquired as open space, the city will need to carefully monitor their development through its hillside regulations in order to minimize visual impacts on the backdrop.

Within the Cemetery district, the Old Mountain Cemetery will continue to be operated as a public cemetery and has recently been expanded to include a veterans’ component. The portion of the property that had been used as a landfill will be restored to a natural condition. Within the property, off of Norrbom Road, the development of a water tank has recently been completed. The tank site has been carefully selected to minimize visual impacts. It is intended that the upper portion of the property, which encompasses approximately 60 acres, will be preserved in

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

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its natural condition as an oak woodland, with public access provided through a hiking trail. Portions of this area which have been damaged by illegal four-wheel drive activity will be restored over time. (Ord. 05-2015 § 3, 2015; 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 Standards.

1. Residential Density. The following residential densities and minimum lot sizes apply to new subdivisions within the different zoning districts of the open space planning areas:

Table 3-31. Lot Size and Residential Density Requirements

Notes:

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

2. Caretaker’s residence may be allowed by use permit.

3. Subject to use permit review, a single-family residence may be allowed on an existing legal lot of record, regardless of its size.

2. Setbacks, Site Coverage, and Open Space. Proposed development shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the requirements set forth in Table 3-32, following.

3. Driveways and Parking. Parking areas for public uses shall be appropriately landscaped and screened. See Chapter 19.48 SMC, Parking and Loading Standards. Driveways along collector streets 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 Sonoma Creek and associated riparian areas, wetlands, hillsides, 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.

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

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• B. Building Design.

1. Height and Profile. Proposed residential 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 open space districts will be maintained at their existing width and alignment.

Table 3-32. Open Space Districts: Infill and Additions

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Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-HS R-L
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- 30 ft. 20 ft.
side [1 ]
Side: 30 ft. 7 ft. minimum, 18 ft. total
One-Story
Side: 30 ft. 7 ft. minimum, 18 ft. total
Two-Story
Rear 30 ft. 20 ft.
Garage: Front 30 ft. 20 ft. from primary structure
F.A.R./Site
Coverage
F.A.R. 0.10 0.35
Site Coverage 10% 40%
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The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Table 3-32. Open Space Districts: Infill and Additions

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Requirements by Zoning District
Development
Setbacks, Site Coverage, Open Space and Height
Feature
R-HS R-L
Open Space Minimum open space required for residential component only. See SMC 19.40.070 and
19.40.080 for design requirements.
Residential: No minimum requirement.
Private
Height Ridge height measured from finished grade. See SMC 19.40.040 for applicability and
exceptions.
Primary 30 ft. 30 ft.
Structure
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Notes:

1. In the Pk and P zoning districts, development standards are determined on a case-by-case basis through use permit review.

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

(Ord. 02-2021 § 1(11), 2021; Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).