Sec. 153.909 - Story poles. — Woodside Zoning Code

Upon the determination that an application requiring a public hearing is complete, the applicant shall install story poles that reasonably indicate the building footprint, plate heights, roof ridges, and setbacks of each proposed structure or addition. Story poles are not required for Architectural and Site Review Board Conceptual Design Review hearings, pursuant to Section 153.913(A).

(A)

Construction. Story poles shall be constructed using poles or wood and brightly colored ribbon, netting, or flags that are at least six inches wide. All story poles shall be erected to withstand weather and remain standing through the scheduled meeting date, any subsequent public hearings, and the associated appeal period.

(B)

Applicability. Story poles shall be installed for all proposed structures and additions. Pools, vehicle gates, new driveway cuts, and minor structures, such as a freestanding trellis, shall be represented using stakes and brightly colored ribbons. Story poles shall not be required for wireless communication facilities, described in Section 153.600.

(C)

Timing. All story poles and staking shall be installed ten days prior to the public hearing in which the application is reviewed. Story poles shall be maintained through the scheduled meeting date, any subsequent public hearings, and the associated appeal period. Story poles shall be removed no later than 14 days after the appeal period ends.

(D)

Exceptions. Exceptions to this section may be granted by the Planning Director, when he or she determines that story poles would pose a potentially pervasive safety risk to the general public (e.g., story poles at an active fire station).

(Am. Ord. 2018-596, § 2(Exh. A, III), effective 10-26-18)

Sec. 153.910 - Architectural and Site Review. Sec. 153.911 - Evaluation criteria.

The evaluation criteria for design review of proposed development, plans for buildings and other structures, and landscape plans are as follows:

SECTION 1: COMMUNITY CHARACTER.

1.

Rural Character and Community Aesthetics. Whether the property is developed in a manner that is in keeping with the rural character and aesthetics of the Town.

2.

Scenic Corridors and Vistas. Whether the property is developed in a manner which respects the character of scenic corridors and vistas.

3.

Natural Environment. Whether the property is developed in a manner that preserves natural features.

4.

Equestrian Lifestyle. Whether the property is developed in a manner which preserves and supports equestrian facilities and the Woodside trails network.

SECTION 2: SITE PLANNING.

1.

Site Constraints and Features. Whether the building location and site improvements are based on a clear understanding of the property's natural features, regulatory constraints, and relationships to adjacent properties.

2.

Natural Feature Conservation. Whether the site development conserves the property's open space, natural features, vegetation, and wildlife by subordinating development to the site's natural conditions.

3.

Site Usage and Building Siting. Whether the residential and accessory uses are located to respect and preserve Woodside's rural residential character, and maintain the visual continuity of natural landforms.

4.

Site Circulation. Whether the driveways, garages, parking areas, trails, and pathways are located and designed to be safe, minimally visible from the roadway, and subordinate to the site's natural features.

5.

Neighborhood and Community Compatibility. Whether the location, scale, and orientation of site improvements complement and are consistent with neighborhood and community development patterns.

6.

Fire Safe Design. Whether the site planning considers the relationship between buildings and high fuel load vegetation.

7.

Sustainability. Whether the site planning incorporates sustainable strategies to conserve and minimize energy consumption in the construction and use of structures.

SECTION 3: BUILDING DESIGN.

1.

Setting and Architectural Style. Whether the architectural design is tailored to lot size, terrain, vegetation, and other natural and neighborhood conditions.

2.

Building Form. Whether the building form is architecturally cohesive and understated.

3.

Materials, Color, and Details. Whether the materials, color, and details enhance the architectural style in a well-composed, understated manner.

4.

Fire Safety. Whether the project adheres to fire safety regulations, while maintaining the rural character of Woodside.

5.

Sustainability. Whether sustainable building practices are considered in project design.

SECTION 4: LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS.

Grading, Drainage, and Hardscape. Whether the landscape design minimizes grading, allows for appropriate drainage, minimizes paving, and preserves the natural and scenic character of Woodside.

2.

Planting Design. Whether the planting design respects and maintains existing native and mature vegetation, is informal in design, and is in keeping with the rural character of Woodside.

3.

Fences. Whether the fencing is open in design and compatible with the rural character of Woodside.

4.

Entry Features. Whether the design of entry features is simple, modest, and understated.

5.

Lighting. Whether the lighting on private property, especially if visible offsite, is minimized to maintain the rural experience.

6.

Fire Safe Design. Whether the landscape design includes fire resistant plantings and the development of a defensible space around structures by elimination of overgrown plant materials with high fuel content while preserving the natural environment.

7.

Sustainability. Whether the landscape design incorporates sustainable strategies to maximize water efficiency and preserve open space.

SECTION 5: NON-RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

1.

In addition to Sections 1-4 above, non-residential development shall be further reviewed, to determine:

a.

Whether the design promotes harmonious transition in scale and character in areas between different designated land uses;

b.

Whether the project expresses an appropriate sense of identity with its function; and,

c.

Whether the design and placement of sign(s) and/or graphics are consistent with Sections 153.501 through 153.506.

(1975 Code, § 9-2.901) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2012-554, effective 8-23-12; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Am. Ord. 2018-596, § 2(Exh. A, § II), effective 10-26-18)

Sec. 153.912 - Required review.

(A)

Definitions.

(1)

SCENIC CORRIDORS. Scenic corridors in Woodside include:

(a)

Lands visible (if currently visible, or if visible if existing vegetation was removed) from the driving surface of the following state-designated scenic highways:

•

Skyline Boulevard (Hwy. 35); and,

•

Interstate 280.

(b)

Lands visible (if currently visible, or if visible if existing vegetation was removed) from the driving surface of the following locally-designated scenic roads:

•

Kings Mountain Road;

•

Mountain Home Road;

•

Woodside Road (Hwy. 84);

•

Whiskey Hill Road;

La Honda Road;

•

Portola Road;

•

Cañada Road; and,

•

Sand Hill Road.

(2)

WESTERN HILLS. All lands west of Kings Mountain Road, Woodside Road (Highway 84), and Portola Road.

(3)

All buildings located on ridge lines visible from the scenic highways and roads set forth in this section.

(B)

No building or other permit shall be issued by the Town for buildings, structures, or uses until approval from the required reviewing bodies is obtained in accordance with Sections 153.911 and 153.915(C) pursuant to the table below.

(C)

When a project includes multiple components and levels of review, the highest review required shall be the final decision-making body for the project.

(D)

Project size and scope shall be considered cumulatively for architectural and site review when building permits are open, except for accessory dwelling units.

(E)

The square footage of proposed accessory dwelling units shall not be included in the square footage review threshold in the table below.

TABLE Q: Required Reviewing Bodies
	Staf	Architectural and Site Review Administrator	Architectural and Site Review Board		Planning Commission
			Conceptual	Formal
Within scenic corridors and Western Hills:
Less than or equal to 1,000 square feet, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required	X

Less than or equal to 1,000 square feet, if a Planning Commission entitlement is required	X			X
Greater than 1,000 square feet, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required	X	X	X
Greater than 1,000 square feet, if a Planning Commission entitlement is required	X	X	X	X
All building locations located on ridge lines visible from the highways and roads set forth in division (A) above of this section	X	X	X
Outside of scenic corridors and Western Hills:
Less than 2,000 square feet and less than 30% maximum TFA, and consistent with the Residential Design Guidelines, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required	X
Less than 2,000 square feet and less than 30% maximum TFA, and consistent with the Residential Design Guidelines, if a Planning Commission entitlement is required	X			X
Greater than 2,000 square feet or greater than 30% maximum TFA, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required	X	X	X
Greater than 2,000 square feet or greater than 30% maximum TFA, if a Planning Commission entitlement is required	X	X	X	X
Other:
Accessory dwelling unit, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required ( § 153.107)	X
Accessory dwelling unit, if a Planning Commission entitlement is required	X			X
All single-family residences and manufactured housing (mobile homes) within the OS District, but limited to: (a) Roof overhangs; (b) Roofng materials; and (c) Siding materials, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required. In reviewing structures within the OS District, the prevailing architectural	X	X	X

character of the surrounding community shall be considered
All single-family residences and manufactured housing (mobile homes) within the OS District, but limited to: (a) Roof overhangs; (b) Roofng materials; and (c) Siding materials, if a Planning Commission entitlement is required. In reviewing structures within the OS District, the prevailing architectural character of the surrounding community shall be considered	X		X	X	X
All building locations within proposed subdivisions, pursuant to Chapter 152, Subdivisions	X			X	X
Gates and entry features (§ 153.212)	X
Fences/walls (§ 153.212)	X
Exceptions to fence, wall, gate, and/or entry feature regulations (§ 153.212(B) (2))		X
Outdoor Lighting, pursuant to § 153.213(E)	X
Any project in the CC District, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required	X		X	X
Any project in the CC District, if a Planning Commission entitlement is required	X		X	X	X
All public and semipublic buildings, including churches in all areas of the Town	X		X	X
Signs	X
Delegation of Authority: All other areas, uses, and structures upon referral by the Council, Planning Commission, or Planning Director when, in their judgment, the project may have a signifcant efect upon the aesthetic or functional character of the Town or surrounding properties. The level of review shall be determined by the referring body.	X	X	X	X	X
MFRD alterations/improvements deemed to be minor by the Planning Director and not visible from a scenic corridor in the Cañada College	X

Residential Overlay Zone, if no Planning Commission entitlement is required
All MFRD development, other than alterations/improvements deemed to be minor by the Planning Director and not visible from a scenic corridor in the Cañada College Residential Overlay Zone	X		X	X	X
Section 6409(a) Modifcation Wireless Communications Facility (WCF) Permit ( § 153.609)	X
Small Cell WCF Permit ( § 153.610)		X
WCF Permits that do not qualify as a Section 6409(a) Modifcation or Small Cell					X
Professional stable, pursuant to § 115.17(B)(13)			X	X	X
Projects not exempt from CEQA (Architectural and Site Review Administrator or ASRB review shall be determined based on scope of project)					X

(1975 Code, § 9-2.902) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2012-554, effective 8-23-12; Am. Ord. 2015-565, effective 2-26-15; Am. Ord. 2015-569, effective 1-7-16; Am. Ord. 2017-585, effective 4-27-17; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Am. Ord. 2017-591, effective 12-14-17; Am. Ord. 2018-596, § 2(Exh. A, § II), effective 10-26-18; Am. Ord. 2019-601, § 2(Exh. A), effective 9-12-2019; Am. Ord. 2019-602, § 2(Exh. A), effective 12-12-19; Am. Ord. 2020-606, § 2(Exh. A), effective 3- 26-20)