HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 1 UNDERGD PKNG 10-21-81-/ october 21, 1,81 Inter-corn
TO:
FROM:
S UBJ ECT:
Chairman and Planning Agency Members
Community Development Depart~ent
Definition of "Underground" Parking
Agency Member Saltarelli requested clarification of the terms used to describe
parking when below other structures, specifically residential. If it were
described as underground or subterranean (from Latin, meaning underground),
such parking would be beneath or situated below the surface of the earth or
ground according to Webster's Dictionary. Staff would use this definition when
reviewing such requests. Only one project has been constructed with such
parking--Far West Bank at Walnut and Franklin. Stevens Square was originally
proposed for such an underground facility, but that concept was discarded in
favor of a parking structure. No residential development has been constructed
with subterranean parking.
All other proposals have been for "at grade-enclosed," "semi-subterannean" or
"partially submerged." These represent the bulk of the proposals reviewed or
approved by the City. In the past, the primary issue has been the overall
height of a structure, not whether parking was below grade or to what extent.
Residential height restrictions range from 30 feet in R1, RA and E4, 35 feet in
the R2, 40 feet in the R3 and subject to Use Permit review in the PD. Via Use
Permit review heights approved by the Agency in the recent past have included:
No. of
Units Height
1) 422 W. First* 26 34'
2) 14632 Holt* 9 28'
3) 14682 Holt* 5 27'6"
4) 14901 Newport 208 41'
5) 1370 San Juan 9 35'
6) 1120 Sycamore* 6 31'6"
7) 15732 "B" Street 12 23'
8) 14512 Holt* 10 25'
*Denotes projects which were within 150 feet of R1 subdivisions.
The main issue would appear to be the height and mass of structures, especially
when abutting single-family, one story tracts (even though also permitted by
zoning to have an additional story and be 30' in height). Such a situation
would be best regulated through the use permit process as proposed in the draft
amendment under new business on the October 21 agenda. At this time staff
would not propose any specialized definitions, but rather adoption of any ordi-
nance similar in content to that proposed.
MB/llh