§ 106.42.150. Multi-Unit Dwelling and Group Quarters Projects

This Section provides standards for the design of multi-unit dwelling and group quarters projects, where allowed by Article 2 (Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses). See also the design standards for multi-unit residential development in Section 106.31.030.C (Multi-unit housing and small lot design).

A.

Height limits. Each structure shall be limited to a maximum height of 20 feet and one story when located within 50 feet of an RD1-10 zoning district.

B.

Building separation. Buildings proposed on the site of a multi-unit project shall be located so as to be separated by the following minimum distances. Where two adjacent buildings are of differing height, the separation required for the highest building shall be provided.

Building Height	Minimum Separation
1 story	10 ft
2 stories	15 ft
3 stories	20 ft

 

C.

Recreation area. Recreation areas, landscaped and maintained in a dust free condition, shall be provided as follows, in addition to required setback areas.

1.

Family project. A multi-unit project without age restrictions on residents shall be designed to provide 250 square feet of recreational area per dwelling unit for the first through 100th units and 200 square feet of recreational area per dwelling unit for each unit in excess of the 100th unit. The review authority may reduce these requirements where necessary to accommodate the minimum density identified for the site by the Housing Element, provided that project design has first incorporated smaller unit sizes.

2.

Senior citizen project. A multi-unit project that is restricted to senior citizens shall be designed to provide 200 square feet of recreational area per unit.

D.

Fence requirements. A six-foot high wrought-iron/tubular steel fence or decorative masonry wall shall be provided and maintained along all interior property lines; a masonry wall is required at a property line adjacent to a single-family residential zone or use. All fences and walls shall also comply with the requirements of Section 106.30.050 (Fences and Walls).

1.

A fence located between a building and a street shall comply with the Section 106.30.060.E (Height limit at street corners), where applicable.

2.

Fence height may be modified where the review authority finds that, due to a significant difference in elevation between parcels, different screening requirements are necessary.

3.

The fence/wall requirement of this Subsection may be waived or modified by the review authority where the adjacent site is developed with a commercial structure with a property line wall, or if the review authority determines that other effective security/screening barriers exist.

No front yard wall or fence is required; if proposed the fence or wall shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the front property line, unless another location is authorized through Design Review.

E.

Access drive and parking space location.

1.

Each access drive shall be located at least 10 feet from any dwelling unit, measured in any direction from the edge of the drive (including vertical angle measurement), and no closer than three feet from a fence, patio, trellis, etc.

2.

Parking spaces shall be located at least six feet from any dwelling unit measured in any direction from the edge of parking space (including vertical angle measurement).

3.

Garage doors shall either be four to six feet from the edge of the access drive or 20 or more feet from the access drive. If the driveway to the garage is 20 or more feet in depth, the driveway may be counted as a tandem parking space.

F.

Entrance turnout and project directory. Each project shall be provided a turnout at the primary site entrance with a directory board and building number and addresses. This requirement may be waived by the review authority, based on a recommendation from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, for a project of less than 20 units.

G.

Pedestrian access. Each unit shall be provided direct, convenient, and safe pedestrian connections to common areas within the site and walkways on adjoining public streets or parks.