142

SEC. 142. SCREENING AND GREENING OF PARKING AND VEHICULAR USE AREAS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) Off-street parking and Vehicular Use Areas adjacent to the public right-of-way shall be screened as provided in this Section 142. Where an existing Automotive Use converts to an Electric Vehicle Charging Location, the requirements of this Section shall not apply. (a) Screening of Parking and Vehicular Use Areas less than 25 Linear Feet Adjacent to a Public Right-of-Way. (1) Every off-street parking space within a building, where not enclosed by solid building walls, shall be screened from view from all Streets and Alleys through use of garage doors or by some other means. (2) Along rear yard areas and other interior open spaces, all off-street parking spaces, driveways and maneuvering areas within buildings shall be screened from view and confined by solid building walls. (3) Off-street parking spaces in Parking Lots shall meet the requirements of Section 156 and other applicable provisions of Article 1.5 of this Code. Such parking areas shall be screened from view as provided in Section 156(c) of this Code. (4) Off-street parking in driveways as permitted in Section 152.3 is not subject to the screening requirements of this Section 142. (b) Vehicular Use Areas That Are Greater than 25 Linear Feet along the Public Right-of-Way. All lots containing Vehicular Use Areas where such area has more than 25 linear feet along any public right-of-way shall provide screening in accordance with the requirements of this Section 142 and the Ornamental Fencing definition in Section 102. The following instances shall trigger the screening requirements for these Vehicular Use Areas: (1) Any existing Vehicular Use Area that is accessory to an existing Principal Use if such use expands Gross Floor Area equal to 20% or more of the Gross Floor Area of an existing building; (2) Any repair, rehabilitation, or expansion of any existing Vehicular Use Area, if such repair, rehabilitation or expansion would increase the number of existing parking spaces by either more than 20% or by more than four spaces, whichever is greater; or (3) The excavation and reconstruction of an existing Vehicular Use Area if such excavation and reconstruction involves the removal of 200 square feet or more of the asphalt, concrete or other surface devoted to vehicular use. This provision does not apply to the resurfacing due to emergency work to underground utilities if such work is intended to maintain safety or other public purpose beyond the control of the property owner. (c) Perimeter Screening. All Vehicular Use Areas that are greater than 25 linear feet adjacent to the public right-of-way shall provide a screening feature around the perimeter of the lot adjacent to the public right-of-way. Screening shall add to the visual diversity of the use and need not be an opaque barrier. This feature shall be at least one of the following: (1) Ornamental Fencing or a solid wall that is 4 feet in height and a 5 foot deep Permeable Surface with landscaping along the perimeter of the lot that is adjacent to a public right-of- way and compliant with the applicable water use requirements of Administrative Code Chapter 63; or (2) A combination of permeable landscaping compliant with the applicable water use requirements of Administrative Code Chapter 63 and Ornamental Fencing where the Permeable Surface and landscaping is the equivalent area of a 5 foot deep average perimeter landscaping that has been otherwise configured to result in either: (A) a public space or amenity that is accessible from the public right-of-way or (B) a natural drainage system, such as combined swales, retention basins, detention basins or rain gardens, to reduce stormwater runoff. (d) Modification of Perimeter Screening Requirements. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to modify the requirements of subsection (c), thereby allowing alternative landscape treatments to partially or wholly satisfy this screening requirement provided that alternative landscape treatments such as landscaped berms, perimeter plantings, pedestrian lighting,

benches and seating areas, or additional landscaping and tree plantings are provided elsewhere on the site and will be visible from the public right-of-way or are provided in the public right-of-way as regulated by Section 810B of the Public Works Code. The Zoning Administrator may authorize such modification only upon finding that the proposed alternative landscape treatment would: (1) Provide a visual effect that promotes and enhances the pedestrian experience through the use of quality urban design; (2) Promote the reduction of stormwater runoff; and (3) Use climate appropriate plant materials, as defined in Public Works Code Section 802.1, that are compliant with the applicable water use requirements of Administrative Code Chapter 63. (Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 84-10, File No. 091453, App. 4/22/2010; Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011; Ord. 99-17, File No. 170206, App. 5/19/2017, Eff. 6/18/2017; Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 190-22, File No. 220036, App. 9/16/2022, Eff. 10/17/2022; Ord. 10-26, File No. 250887, App. 2/13/2026, Eff. 3/16/2026) AMENDMENT HISTORY Division (b)(3) amended; Ord. 140-11, Eff. 8/4/2011. Divisions (a)(1) and (a)(3) amended; Ord. 99-17, Eff. 6/18/2017. Section header, undesignated introductory paragraph, and divisions (a), (a)(3), (b)-(b)(3), (c)-(c)(2), (d), and (d)(2) amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Divisions (b) and (b)(2) amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Undesignated introductory paragraph amended; Ord. 190-22, Eff. 10/17/2022. Division (a)(4) added; Ord. 10-26, Eff. 3/16/2026. SEC. 143. RESERVED. (Amended by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 84-10, File No. 091453, App. 4/22/2010; renumbered by Ord. 108-10, File No. 091275, App. 5/25/2010) Editor's Note: Former Sec. 143 was redesignated as Sec. 428 by Ord. 108-10, App. 5/25/2010. SEC. 144. STREET FRONTAGES IN RH, RTO, AND RM DISTRICTS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) Purpose. This Section 144 is enacted to assure that in RH, RM, and RTO Districts the ground story of dwellings as viewed from the street is compatible with the scale and character of the existing street frontage, visually interesting and attractive in relation to the pattern of the neighborhood, and so designed that adequate areas are provided for front landscaping, street trees and on-street parking between driveways. The design of ground story frontages subject to this Section 144 shall also be reviewed for consistency with applicable design guidelines, including the Ground Floor Residential Design Guidelines. (b) Controls. (1) Entrances to Off-Street Parking. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the case of every dwelling in such districts no more than one-third of the width of the ground story along the front lot line, or along a street side lot line, or along a building wall that is set back from any such lot line, shall be devoted to entrances to off-street parking, except that in no event shall a lot be limited by this requirement to a single such entrance of less than 10 feet in width, or to a single such entrance of less than eight feet in RTO Districts. In addition, no entrance to off- street parking on any lot shall be wider than 20 feet, and where two or more separate entrances are provided there shall be a minimum separation between such entrances of six feet. Lots are limited to a total of 20 feet per block frontage devoted to entrances to off-street parking. Street-facing garage structures and garage doors may not extend closer to the street than a primary building facade unless the garage structure and garage door are consistent with the features listed in Section 136 of this Code. Entrances to off-street parking shall be located at least six feet from a lot corner located at the intersection of two public rights-of-way. (A) Exceptions. The requirements of this Subsection (1) shall not be applicable where the lot has an upward or downward slope from the front lot line to the forward edge of the required rear yard, along the centerline of the building, of more than 20 percent; or where the lot depth and the requirements of this Code for dimensions, areas and open spaces are such that the permitted building depth is less than 40 feet in an RH-2 District or less than 65 feet in an RH or RM District.

(2) Features To Be Provided. In the case of every dwelling in such districts, no less than one-third of the width of the ground story along the front lot line, along a street side lot line, and along a building wall that is set back from any such lot line, shall be devoted to windows, entrances for dwelling units, landscaping, and other architectural features that provide visual relief and interest for the street frontage. (3) Parking Setback. In RTO and RTO-M districts off-street parking is not permitted on the ground floor within the first 20 feet of building depth from any facade facing a street at least 30 feet in width, unless such parking occupies the space otherwise used as the drive-aisle or driveway (such as in cases of tandem parking). All off-street parking along these frontages must be wrapped with dwelling units, entrances to dwelling units, commercial uses where permitted, and other uses (other than storage) and building features that generate activity or pedestrian interest. (Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 63-11, File No. 101053, App. 4/7/2011, Eff. 5/7/2011; Ord. 56-13 , File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header and division (a) amended; new division (b) added; former divisions (b) and (c) amended and redesignated as new divisions (b)(1), (b)(1)(A), and (b)(2); former division (d) redesignated as new division (b)(3); Ord. 63-11, Eff. 5/7/2011. Graphical material following division (b)(1)(A) amended; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Section header and divisions (a) and (b)(1) amended; Ord. 245-25. Eff. 1/12/2026.