§ 17.22.080. RM District Garden Requirements

The presence of gardens and landscaped areas creates the ambiance of Pasadena more than any other factor. Neighborhood character and quality depend on the coherence, embellishment, and visibility of courts and gardens, on the size and consistency of front yards, and on the frequency and uniformity of street trees. Mandatory requirements regulating the size and configuration of yards and gardens are therefore a central feature of these provisions.

A.

Main garden requirements. Each multi-family project shall have a landscaped open space as its central focus. This space may take the form of a main garden, private garden or landscaped court. It shall be a well-defined, coherent area that is an essential component of the project design, not merely space left over after the building mass is placed.

1.

Main garden location. The placement of a main garden shall comply with at least one of the following standards. Additional alternatives may be approved through the Design Review process.

a.

The main garden may be placed so that it and an existing garden on an adjacent lot work together to create the effect of one large garden or a wide connection between two spaces.

b.

The main garden may adjoin the minimum front setback line creating a deep, combined garden on the street. Decorative fences or other landscape elements shall be constructed so that the main garden is visible from the street.

c.

The main garden may be an internal courtyard, entirely contained within the site, but visible from the street.

d.

When a site contains a large, healthy tree or some other exceptional feature, the main garden may be placed to retain and take advantage of that feature. See also Chapter 17.44 (Landscaping).

e.

When an existing development on an adjoining site has entrances which face the proposed project and are close to the property line, the main garden may be placed so that those entrances are on the edge of a large contiguous space.

f.

When the adjoining lot contains a single-family house, the main garden may be placed so that there is a large space next to the house.

g.

In the RM-16 district, 50 percent of the required main garden area shall be provided as a main garden, and shall meet one of the location requirements described in a through f, above, including the required dimension. The balance of the required main garden area may be provided in the form of private gardens (not including balconies) adjoining and directly accessible from each unit (not including the required front setback); no minimum dimension is required. The private garden shall not be paved over more than 50 percent of its surface area.

h.

In the RM-32 and 48 districts, when the required garden area is 2,500 square feet or greater, 50 percent of the required main garden area shall be provided as a main garden meeting one of the location requirements described in a through f, above, including the required minimum dimension. The balance of the required main garden area may be provided in the form of ancillary gardens throughout the project site (not including the required front setback), and shall meet the minimum dimension of 20 feet in both directions. A minimum of 80 percent of the ancillary garden shall be landscaped.

2.

Minimum garden area. The main garden rectangle and total area of garden on each site shall comply with the following minimum area requirements, based on the width of the lot.

Lot Width	Requirement by Zoning District
	RM-16	RM-16-1	RM-32	RM-48
Minimum area of main garden rectangle (% of site area)
Less than 80 ft	19%	19%	19%	19%
Between 80 and 160 ft	17%	17%	17%	17%
More than 160 ft	20%	20%	20%	20%
Minimum total garden space on site (% of site area)
Less than 80 ft	35%	35%	N.A.	N.A.
Between 80 and 160 ft	32%	32%	N.A.	N.A.
More than 160 ft	37%	37%	N.A.	N.A.
Minimum total garden space for surface parking and parking with dwelling above (% of site area)
Less than 80 ft	N.A.	N.A.	32%	32%
Between 80 and 160 ft	N.A.	N.A.	29%	29%
More than 160 ft	N.A.	N.A.	34%	34%
Minimum total garden space for fully and partially subterranean parking (% of site area)
Less than 80 ft	N.A.	N.A.	35%	35%
Between 80 and 160 ft	N.A.	N.A.	32%	32%
More than 160 ft	N.A.	N.A.	37%	37%

 

3.

Minimum main garden dimensions. The main garden shall be a rectangular shape and shall have a minimum dimension of 20 feet in either direction. With approval through the Design Review process, an alternative shape for the main garden, private gardens, and ancillary gardens may be approved as long as the minimum total garden area and dimensions are met.

4.

Main garden enclosure requirements.  

a.

On sites with 60 feet or more of street frontage, buildings shall enclose the garden for at least 50 percent of its perimeter.

b.

On sites with less than 60 feet of street frontage, buildings shall enclose the garden for at least 40 percent of its perimeter.

c.

On all sites, at least 75 percent of the main garden's perimeter shall be bounded by building walls, architectural elements such as low walls or trellises, or linear landscape elements such as hedges or rows of trees.

d.

As long as at least 75 percent of the main garden's perimeter is bounded, building walls and landscape elements may overlap.

e.

A segment of the main garden rectangle may be bounded by a building wall or a linear landscape element on an adjoining property provided that the wall or element is within 15 feet of the property line.

f.

Driveways located adjacent to a main garden shall be screened by linear landscape elements such as hedges or rows of trees, or by architectural elements such as low walls or trellises. The screening shall count towards the required enclosure of the main garden.

5.

Main garden visibility.  

a.

On lots with more than 60 feet of street frontage, an opening at least 10 feet wide and 10 feet high shall provide a view to the main garden from the street. All fencing across the opening shall be partially open or perforated; fence or wall openings shall constitute a minimum of 80 percent of the screening surface and be evenly distributed throughout the fencing or wall. Gates, fences and landscaping across the opening or leading to the main garden shall not exceed 6 feet in height.

b.

For openings into the main garden of less than 20 feet in width, the depth shall not exceed twice the width. The height of the opening shall not be less than 10 feet.

c.

Openings 20 feet wide or more shall be open to the sky.

6.

Main garden planting and paving standards. The main garden may only occur under the following three conditions, either alone or in combination.

a.

The main garden may be at existing grade with no parking structure below. For gardens or parts of gardens at existing grade with no parking below, the following requirements apply:

(1)

At least 50 percent of the main garden shall be planted;

(2)

A main garden with a required area of 1,500 square feet or more shall have at least one canopy tree with a mature height of 35 feet or more. When the main garden is over subterranean parking, for each canopy tree required, a tree with a mature height of 25 feet shall extend down to natural soil. An additional canopy tree of this size shall be included for each additional 1,000 square feet of required area. Minimum tree well size at planting shall be 15 gallons.

(3)

Concrete may be used for walkways up to four feet in width but is not acceptable for area paving unless mandated by the Uniform Building Code. Unplanted areas with a minimum dimension of five feet or more shall be paved with unit pavers such as brick, tile or concrete or covered with decomposed granite or garden gravel.

(4)

The maximum dimension of unit pavers shall be 24 inches. Colored concrete is not an acceptable substitute for unit pavers. Fifty percent of the main garden are may be paved with an architectural grade finish, including embossed and or patterned concrete.

(5)

All planting shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 17.44 (Landscaping).

b.

The main garden may be at existing grade on two feet minimum of soil over a fully subterranean parking structure. For gardens or parts of gardens over fully subterranean parking, the following requirements shall be met in addition to the requirements listed above for gardens at existing grade.

(1)

Planting shall be at finished grade or in permanent planters. The top of walls of such planters may be no more than 18 inches above the finished grade at the main garden. Planter walls may step up. Where aesthetic considerations warrant an alternative to this requirement, the applicant may request Planning Director approval of this alternative. The review authority may approve up to 25 percent of the garden walls to be up to 28 inches in height to provide better tree growth.

(2)

For each canopy tree required, one tree well extending down through the parking structure shall be provided. Tree wells shall have a minimum inside diameter of six feet. A tree well area shall be counted as part of the required planting area.

(3)

Appropriate drainage shall be provided for planters, tree wells, and the soil covering the parking structure.

c.

The main garden may be up to two feet, eight inches above existing grade over a partially subterranean parking structure. Gardens or parts of gardens over partially subterranean parking shall comply with the following requirements in addition to the requirements listed above for gardens at existing grade and over fully subterranean parking.

(1)

Except for tree wells, planters and decorative garden elements such as fountains, the surface of the main garden shall be covered with a minimum of eight inches of well-draining soil for groundcover and grass areas, or unit pavers set in sand or soil with a total depth of eight inches. A minimum of 18 inches of soil will be required for shrubs. Trees shall be planted in tree wells.

(2)

Existing grade at the centerline of the site on the sidewalk side of the front property line shall be used in determining the height of the main garden above existing grade.

7.

Allowed encroachments into a main garden.  

a.

Eaves may project up to three feet and fireplaces or chimneys may project up to two feet for a length of 10 feet measured parallel to the building into the main garden without having to maintain the minimum 20-foot dimension. The following encroachments may occur within the main or ancillary garden (but not private gardens) as long as the minimum dimension in any direction of the main garden is not reduced to less than 20 feet.

(1)

Exterior, unenclosed building elements such as stoops, balconies and open stairs may encroach into the main garden subject to the following limitations:

(a)

Encroaching balconies shall be supported by brackets or by columns at the ground floor.

(b)

Encroaching stairs shall be either wood or masonry and have closed risers.

(c)

Unenclosed encroachments shall have a maximum depth of four feet, measured perpendicular to the line defining the main garden rectangle, and an unlimited width, measured parallel to the line defining the main garden rectangle.

(d)

The total area of unenclosed encroachments shall not exceed seven percent of the area of the main garden rectangle.

(2)

Enclosed living space may encroach into the main yard subject to the following limitations:

(a)

Enclosed encroachments shall have a maximum depth of four feet, measured perpendicular to the line defining the main garden rectangle, and maximum width of 15 feet, measured parallel to the line defining the garden rectangle.

(b)

There shall be a minimum separation of four feet, measured parallel to the line defining the main garden rectangle, between enclosed encroachments.

(c)

The ground floor area of all enclosed encroachments shall not exceed 13 percent of the main garden rectangle.

B.

Total garden space required. The following requirements have been specifically designed to provide an incentive for assembling sites which permit gardens similar in size to historic examples. Site assemblies that are larger than the following dimensions, which would begin to reduce architectural diversity and fundamentally alter the scale and character of the city, are not eligible for this incentive.

1.

Eligible open space. The categories of open space that shall contribute to total garden space are:

a.

The main garden (see Subsection A.).

b.

The front yard.

c.

Side yards that are within 40 feet of the front setback line and meet the planting and paving requirements of the main garden.

d.

Common open space that has a minimum dimension of 10 feet and meets the planting and paving requirements of the main garden.

e.

Swimming pools, spas, tennis courts and other amenities.

2.

Reduction of main garden area. When the required main garden area plus the required front yard area exceed the total garden space requirement, the main garden proportion may be reduced subject to the following provisions:

a.

If the main garden is reduced under these rules, then the total garden reduction shall not exceed the amount of square footage by which the main garden is reduced.

b.

The main garden shall not be reduced to less than 75 percent of the required area.

c.

On corner sites, the main garden shall not be reduced to less than 50 percent of the required area.

3.

Overlapping not permitted. Space counted in one category cannot be counted again in another.

4.

On-site compliance required. All garden area requirements must be met within the site boundaries.

5.

Waiver of main garden requirement. When front yard setback required by the applicable zoning district exceeds the total garden space requirement, no main garden shall be required. No reduction to the front yard setback shall be allowed. No voluntary enlargement of the front yard shall qualify a project for elimination of the main garden.

6.

Residual open space. Open space in addition to required garden space shall be attractively finished with landscaping or decorative paving. When landscaped, it shall meet the requirements of Chapter 17.44 (Landscaping).

C.

Incentives for the preservation of historic resources. In developments that preserve historic resources and structures with a California Historical Resources Status Code of 6L (determined ineligible for local listings or designation through local government review process; may warrant special consideration in local planning) or Status Codes of 1-5 (properties with a historic designation or eligible for historic designation), a decision may be made through the Design Review process to waive development standards or accept alternative solutions to assist in the preservation of these structures. The decisionmaker may waive or grant up to a 50 percent reduction to the main garden (and thereby accordingly reduce the total garden requirement), waive some or all of the required architectural elements and modulation requirements, if such action is reasonably necessary to accommodate such preservation. The total garden requirement may not be reduced by more than the amount of square footage reduction of the main garden.

D.

Front yard garden features. The front yard and the main garden are considered separate for the purpose of calculating total garden space. Their required areas cannot overlap. They may join one another, however, to create a continuous whole.

1.

Front yard configuration. The front yard is the area between the sidewalk and the front setback line, excluding any driveways. The front yard and the main garden are considered separate for the purpose of calculating total garden space. Their required areas cannot overlap. They may join one another, however, to create a continuous whole.

2.

Front yard size. The size of the front yard is determined by the required front yard setback and the width of the site minus any driveways. On corner lots and double frontage lots, the size of the front yard shall include the area between the sidewalk and the front setback line minus any driveways.

3.

Front yard planting and paving standards. For purposes of planting and paving standards only, the front yard shall include the planting strip between the sidewalk and the street.

a.

Except for walkways, the front yard shall be planted in its entirety with trees, shrubs, ground cover and water conserving plant materials.

b.

Street trees of an approved type shall be provided in the planting strip between the sidewalk and the street at a frequency of at least one tree per 30 feet of street frontage. Minimum tree size at planting shall be 15 gallons.

c.

The remainder of the planting strip shall be planted with small shrubs, groundcover and water conserving plant materials.

d.

All planting shall comply with Chapter 17.44 (Landscaping).

4.

Front yard encroachments. See Section 17.40.160 (Setback Measurement and Exceptions) for building encroachments. Private open space (excluding the private garden area) is not an encroachment and may be included as part of the front yard subject to the following limitations:

a.

The maximum height of walls or other elements separating such space from the rest of the front yard shall be two feet or less in height if opaque and four or less in height if it allows 80 percent visibility.

b.

The total area of private open space within the front yard shall not exceed 25 percent of the area of the front yard.

c.

The front yard as a whole shall meet the planting and paving standards of Subsection D.1.

E.

Craftsmanship and Building Elements.  

1.

Craftsmanship element. Each project shall incorporate into the design at least one feature such as iron grates, tile fountains, cast terra cotta, wood work, stenciled ornament or other elements as approved by the Design Review authority.

2.

Building Element. In addition to the above requirements, each new project shall incorporate at least two building elements. Building elements include: upper floor loggias, roofed balconies supported by brackets or by columns at the ground floor, exterior wooden or masonry stairs with closed risers, or tile or masonry fountain.

(Ord. 7169 § 4, 2009; Ord. 7163 § 2, 2009; Ord. 7160 § 6, 2009; Ord. 7058 § 5, (Exh. 3), 2006; Ord. 7038, § 6 (a—l), 2006; Ord. 7009 § 7, 2005)