HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 293 Impervious Surface Definition 6-20-2012ORDINANCE NO. 293
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SARATOGA CITY CODE
ARTICLES 15-06,15-11,15-12,15-13,15-17 AND 15-20
CONCERNING IMPERVIOUS SURFACES
ZOA 12-0002
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings.
The City Council finds and declares as follows:
a. The City of Saratoga wishes to amend the City Code to correlate the impervious surface
defmition in the zoning code with the City's Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (Article
15-47 of the Saratoga City Code) and to provide consistency among site coverage exemptions
for driveways and related emergency vehicle turnarounds within the Hillside Residential (HR),
Residential Open Space (R -OS), and Agricultural (A) zoning districts.
b. The amendments affect provisions of the City's zoning regulations in Chapter 15 of the
Code. These amendments were considered by the Planning Commission of the City of
Saratoga and the Commission, after a duly noticed public hearing on March 28 2012 and as
continued on May 9 2012, recommended adoption of the updates to Chapter 15.
c. The City Council of the City of Saratoga held a duly noticed public hearing on June 6, 2012,
and after considering all testimony and written materials provided in connection with that
hearing introduced this ordinance.
Section 2. Adoption.
The Saratoga City Code is hereby amended by adding the text shown in bold double
underline (example) and deleting the text shown in strikeout (example) in the sections listed below.
Text in standard font is adopted without change. Sections within an Article that are not included
below are unchanged from the existing City Code.
A. Article 15-06 - Definitions
15-06.370 - Impervious surface. "Impervious surface" means any structure or constructed surface
that prevents the passage of water into the underlyinor i he i • inifi ,n 1
increases runoff and disrupts the natural -aesthetic of the landscape. Common impervious
surfaces include but are not limited to concrete, asphalt, roofs, and brick or other stone
materials set in sand or concrete. Porous materials may receive certain exceptions from site
coverage as provided for in this chapter. including, but not limited to, solid surface decks and
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concrete.
B. Article 15-11 — A: Agricultural District
15-11.080 - Site coverage. The maximum site coverage on any lot in an A district shall be as
shall not exceed twenty-five percent or fifteen
thousand square feet, whichever is less. V(b) In determining the amount of impervious surface,
tThe area of a single driveway providing vehicular access from the street to the required enclosed
parking spaces on the site, and any related emergency vehicle turnaround areas determined to be
necessary for safety purposes, shall may be excluded exempted, in whole or in part, from the
calculation of site coverage, to the extent necessary, in order to meet one or more of the
f i llo . indesi' n ob. ctives• • void lacin' tructures in • e i to' icall unstable areas i r on
ma' or or minor rid t clines. reservin t tr
• reducin
an visual im s act • meetin
u.lic
afe i r emer ' enc vehicle acce
chan;,es in sl i • , a determined and a I proved by the Planning Commission, sub'ect to the
findings described in Section 15-45.080.
re . uirement • or red cin ' i erall
ro'ect
radio or
C. Article 15-12 - R-1: Single -Family Residential Districts
15-12.080 - Site coverage. The maximum site coverage, as defined in Section 15-06.620(1), in
each R-1 district shall be as set forth in the following table. Solid surface decks and compacted
surfaces made of porous materials used for walkways, driveways and satios will be counted
at only 50% of the total area of such surfaces for determinin • the calculation of site
coverage within this Section.
District
Coverage
(percent)
R-1-10,000
60
R-1-12,500
55
R-1-15,000
50
R-1-20,000
R-1-40,000
45
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D. Article 15-12 — HR: Hillside Residential District
15-13.080 - Site coverage. The maximum site coverage on any lot in the HR district shall be not
exceed twenty-five percent, or fifteen thousand square feet, whichever is less. Solid surface
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decks and compacted surfaces made of porous materials used for walkways, driveways and
patios will be counted at only 50% of the total area of such surfaces for determining the
calculation of site coverage within this Section. The area of a single driveway providing
vehicular access from the street to the required enclosed parking spaces on the site, and
any related emergency vehicle turnaround areas may be exexempted, in whole or in
part, from the calculation of site coverage, to the extent necessary, in order to meet one or
more of the following design objectives: avoid placing structures in geologically unstable
areas or major or on minor ridgelines; preserving trees; reducing any visual impacts;
meeting public safety or emergency vehicle access requirements; or reducing overall
project grading or changes in slope, as determined and approved by the Planning
Commission, subject to the findings described in Section 15-45.080.
E. Article 15-17 — R -M: Multi -Family Residential Districts
15-17.070 - Site coverage. The maximum net site area covered by structures in each R -M district
shall be forty percent. Solid surface decks and compacted surfaces made of porous materials
used for walkways, driveways and patios will be counted at only 50% of the total area of
such surfaces for determining the calculation of site coverage within this Section.
F. Article 15-20 — Residential Open Space District
15-20.080 - Site coverage. The maximum site impervious coverage on any lot in the R -OS
district shall not exceed either twenty-five percent or twelve thousand square feet, whichever is
less. Solid surface decks and compacted surfaces made of porous materials used for
walkways, driveways and patios will be counted at only 50% of the total area of such
surfaces for determining the calculation of site coverage within this Section. The area of a
single Ddriveways providing vehicular access from the street to the required enclosed
parking spaces on the site, and any related emergency vehicle turnaround areas may be
excluded exempted, in whole or in part, from the calculation of site coverage, to the extent
necessary, in order to meet one or more of the following design objectives: avoid placing
structures in geolo icall unstable areas or on major or minor rid. clines• reservin s rees•
reducing any visual impacts; meeting public safety or emergency vehicle access
requirements; or reducing overall project grading or changes in slope, as determined and
approved by the Planning Commission, subject to the findings described in Section 15-45.080
15 20.50(1), except for when a conditional use permit is granted by the Planning Commission for
clustering development.
Section 3. Severance Clause.
The City Council declares that each section, sub -section, paragraph, sub -paragraph, sentence,
clause and phrase of this ordinance is severable and independent of every other section, sub -section,
paragraph, sub -paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance. If any section, sub -section,
paragraph, sub -paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is held invalid, the City
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Council declares that it would have adopted the remaining provisions of this ordinance irrespective
of the portion held invalid, and further declares its express intent that the remaining portions of this
ordinance should remain in effect after the invalid portion has been eliminated.
Section 4. California Environmental Quality Act
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the amendments are exempt under CEQA
Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the
activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to
CEQA. In this circumstance the amendments and additions would have minimal impact on the
environment.
Section 5. Publication.
This ordinance or a comprehensive summary thereof shall be published once in a newspaper
of general circulation of the City of Saratoga within fifteen days after its adoption.
[The Remainder of This Page is Intentionally Blank]
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The foregoing ordinance was introduced and read at the regular meeting of the City Council
of the City of Saratoga held on the 6th day of June, 2012, and was adopted by the following vote
following a second reading on the 20th of June, 2012:
AYES: Council Member Manny Cappello, Emily Lo, Howard Miller, Vice Mayor Jill
Hunter, Mayor Chuck Page
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
Chuck Page
MAYOR, CITY OF SARATOGA, CAL
0-7/4 IV V On DATE: C°16'-7
Crystal Morrow
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Richard Taylor
CITY ATTORNEY
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