Petaluma Municipal Code § 4.50 Civic Space Standards

The purpose of this section is to provide a set of civic space types and their associated standards to use within the

transect zones.

The standards established in this section shall apply to all proposed development within the transect zones, and

shall be considered in combination with the standards found within this Code.

A. The standards established in this Chapter provide the transect zones with a diverse palette of parks and other

publicly accessible civic spaces, publicly or privately owned, that are essential components of walkable urban

environments.

B. There are 11 diWerent civic space types deTned in Table A (Civic Space Type Standards). Two of the civic space

types, Playgrounds and Community Gardens, may be incorporated into any of the other nine types or may stand

alone.

C. In Table A (Civic Space Type Standards), the illustration and description of each civic space type are illustrative

in nature and not regulatory.

D. The service area, size, frontage and disposition of elements standards (deTned below and on the following

page) of each civic space types are regulatory.

1. Service Area. Describes how the civic space relates to the City as a whole and the area that will be served

by the civic space.

2. Size. The overall range of allowed sizes of the civic space.

3. Frontage. The relationship along property lines of a civic space to adjacent buildings or lots.

a. The front of the lots attached to or across a thoroughfare from a civic spaces should face on to the

civic space to the maximum extent possible.

b. Building. Lots that are attached to or across a thoroughfare from civic spaces listed as having an

“Building” frontage shall have the front of the lot facing on to the civic space for a minimum of three

quarters of the civic space perimeter.

Lot adjacent to civic

space

Front of lot

Left: Diagram illustrates lot

con:guration meeting

minimum requirements for a

civic space with a "Building"

frontage. Three quarters of the

building lots along the civic

space, either attached to or

across a thoroughfare from,

have the front of the lot facing

onto the civic space.

c. Independent. Lots that area attached to or across a thoroughfare from civic spaces listed as having

an “Independent” may have the front, side street, or rear of the lot facing on to the civic space.

4. Disposition of Elements. The placement of objects within the civic space.

a. Natural. Civic spaces with natural character are designed in a natural manner with no formal

arrangement of elements.

b. Formal. Civic spaces with a formal character have a more rigid layout that follows geometric forms

and has trees and other elements arranged in formal patterns.

c. Informal. Civic spaces with an informal character have a mix of Formal and Natural characteristics.

E. Typical Facilities. A list of the typical facilities found with in the civic space. This list is not intended to be a

complete list of facilities allowed nor is it intended that every civic space would contain each of the facilities listed.

Facilities larger than indicated gross square footage (gsf) require review and approval by the Director and Parks

Director.

F. The civic spaces speciTed in Table A (Civic Space Type Standards) are allowed By Right or By Warrant in the

designated transect zones. (Civic Space allowed By Warrant are allowed if approved by the Director and Parks

Director.)

Table 4.50.030.A. Civic Space Type Standards

T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
Transect Zone
T5 T6 T5 T6 T5 T6

Civic Space Type Regional Park Sport Complex Community Park

Illustration

Description A natural preserve An open space that An open space

available for consolidates heavily available for

unstructured programmed athletic unstructured

recreation. Telds and associated recreation and a

facilities. limited amount of

structured recreation.

Location and Size

Location

Service Area Regional Regional Multiple

Neighborhoods

Size

Minimum 200 acres 25 acres 12 acres

Maximum - - -

Character

Frontage Independent Independent Independent

Disposition of Elements Natural, Formal or Formal or Informal Informal

Informal

Typical Facilities

Key T# By Right T# By Warrant T# Not Allowed

Table 4.50.030.A. Civic Space Type Standards

Passive and Active Passive and Active Passive and Active

Recreation, Accessory Recreation, Accessory Recreation, Accessory

Structure, Drinking Structure, Drinking Structure, Drinking

Fountains, Fountains, Fountains,

Community Facility < Community Facility < Community Facility <

7,500 gsf, Paths and 7,500 gsf, Paths and 5,000 gsf, Paths and

Trails Trails Trails

T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
Transect Zone
T5 T6 T5 T6 T5 T6

Neighborhood Neighborhood
Civic Space Type Greenway
Green Square

Illustration

Description A linear open space An open space An open space

that may follow available for available for civic

natural corridors unstructured and purposes,

providing limited amounts of unstructured and

unstructured and structured recreation. limited amounts of

limited amounts of structured recreation.

structured recreation.

Location and Size

Location

Service Area Multiple Neighborhood Neighborhood

Neighborhoods

Size

Key T# By Right T# By Warrant T# Not Allowed

Table 4.50.030.A. Civic Space Type Standards

Minimum 8 acres (60' wide by 1 1 acre 1/3 acre

mile long)

Maximum - 15 acres 5 acres

Character

Frontage Independent or Building Building

Building

Disposition of Elements Natural or Informal Informal Formal

Typical Facilities

Passive and Active Passive and Active Passive and Active

Recreation, Accessory (unstructured or (unstructured or

Structure, Drinking structured) structured)

Fountains, Recreation, Accessory Recreation, Accessory

Community Facility < Structure, Drinking Structure, Drinking

5,000 gsf, Paths and Fountains, Fountains,

Trails Community Facility < Community Facility <

5,000 gsf, Paths and 5,000 gsf, Paths and

Trails Trails

T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
Transect Zone
T5 T6 T5 T6 T5 T6

Civic Space Type Plaza Pocket Plaza Pocket Park

Illustration

Description A formal open space A formal open space An open space

available for civic available for civic available for informal

purposes and purposes and activities in close

commercial activities. commercial activities. proximity to

Plazas are typically Pocket Plazas are

Key T# By Right T# By Warrant T# Not Allowed

Table 4.50.030.A. Civic Space Type Standards

hardscaped. typically hardscaped. neighborhood

Commercial activities Commercial activities residences.

shall be subordinate shall be subordinate

to Civic use. to Civic use.

Location and Size

Location

Service Area Neighborhood Neighborhood Neighborhood

Size

Minimum 1/3 acre 2,000 sf 2,000 sf

Maximum 2-1/2 acres 1/2 acre 1 acre

Character

Frontage Building Building Building

Disposition of Elements Formal Formal Formal or Informal

Typical Facilities

Passive Recreation, Passive Recreation, Passive Recreation,

Accessory Structure, Accessory Structure, Accessory Structure,

Drinking Fountains, Drinking Fountains, Drinking Fountains,

Paths and Trails Paths and Trails Paths and Trails

T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
Transect Zone
T5 T6 T5 T6

Civic Space Type Playground Community Garden

Illustration

Key T# By Right T# By Warrant T# Not Allowed

Table 4.50.030.A. Civic Space Type Standards

Description An open space An open space

designed and designed as a

equipped for the grouping of garden

recreation of children. plots that are

A Playground should available to nearby

be fenced and may residents for small-

include an open scale cultivation.

shelter. Playgrounds Community Gardens

may be included may be included

within other civic within other civic

spaces. spaces.

Location and Size

Location

Service Area Neighborhood Neighborhood

Size

Minimum - -

Maximum - -

Character

Frontage Independent or Independent or

Building Building

Disposition of Elements Formal or Informal Formal or Informal

Typical Facilities

Accessory Structure, Accessory Structure,

Drinking Fountains, Drinking Fountains,

Paths and Trails Paths and Trails

Key T# By Right T# By Warrant T# Not Allowed

A. Accessory Structure Standards. All accessory structures within parks and open spaces, including, but not limited

to, restrooms, open-air pavilions, gazebos, picnic shelters and outdoor theaters, shall not be subject to the physical requirements of the Urban Standards Table (Section 4.10) Standards in Appendix A (SmartCode). They

shall be designed and furnished to be consistent with the character of the transect zone in which they are located.

Such consistency may require accessory structures to maintain building setbacks, frontage, massing, disposition

and character similar to adjacent development as determined by the Director.

B. Lighting Standards.

1. All lighting shall comply with §21.040.D of the Petaluma Zoning Code.

Area.

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or the the the 12’ See a lot) be of shall beams, (on vertical the and Future A with the Street. Future of Plaza. trail. of River for should Overlooks. piers, regulations. Park. parking terminate between and Street Civic to down wide for 4.50 Pocket Potential Future Amphitheater Riveradditional regulations. ? 4.50 ? Pocket existing See regulations. element used view Transverse ? Promenade Expansion. redevelopment parcels Weller Petaluma include expansion promenade min. ? other gathering/event space. ? Boardwalks constructed wooden

of to for ofthat min. to wide width top face and impact Building end; from bank other 4.50 30’ top face 12’ Points Open the min. min. bank the the the min. from the the all Seeplanks, 6’ Docks. of to 30’ Basin width of over of to 20’ of shoreline from Special western top minimal walkway. Access widthUoor buildings. face min top face the Water. bank Plaza. bank the the Promenade. General

General

General Publicand project Turning have on below. ? width the of at 50’ the the buildings. additional regulations. ? min. of the wide ? Waterfront Space. from the buildings. walkways. ? to