Archives: FAQs

What are Objective Design Standards (ODS)?

Objective standards are a broad set of standards used by an agency to regulate new development in a community. They can include “objective zoning standards,” “objective subdivision standards,” and “objective design standards.” Petaluma’s Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO) currently contains objective zoning standards and subdivision standards. For more on these standards, click here. The proposed Objective … Continued

Essential Terms and Phrases

Qualifying Residential Project – To address California’s housing crisis, the State has passed a number of laws establishing incentives to support housing development. A qualifying residential project is a project that meets the criteria of one or more of these laws that require certain residential projects (SB 35 and SB 330), typically affordable housing projects, … Continued

What are the economic benefits of the Overlay?

While the economic benefits of future projects should an Overlay be adopted by the City are not known, the EKN Appellation Hotel application remains the primary driver for consideration of the overlay district at this time and direct economic benefits for that project specifically are more easily quantifiable. Specifically, the EKN Appellation Hotel as currently … Continued

Does the City require story poles for new construction?

For new construction in the City’s South Hills or West Hills area, IZO Section 16.040.R (Implementing Zoning Ordinance) requires a Visual Analysis for new or modified structures on hillsides or ridgelines. The visual analysis is prepared from the vantage point of an identified view platform and may be completed via one or more of the … Continued

Would the Overlay preserve existing residential buildings?

The revised Overlay was designed to avoid confronting residential concentrations in or near the Downtown, however residential buildings would confront portions of Subarea C along Liberty and Keokuk Streets. The Overlay considered the potential for bulk/mass conflicts that could be created by new buildings that would confront residential buildings, to propose new building setback and … Continued

Would the Overlay preserve Historic Resources?

New buildings developed within the Overlay would be subject to the same discretionary review process(es) otherwise required by the IZO (Implementing Zoning Ordinance), and be subject to CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), as new buildings are under the existing regulations. New buildings not within a historic district would be subject to Major SPAR. New buildings … Continued

How has Petaluma’s Downtown evolved and how has it continued to preserve the integrity of its Historic Resources?

Petaluma’s Downtown evolved on the southwest bank of the Petaluma River from its relationship with riverfront trading, commercial and industrial uses on the northeast riverbank, and agricultural commerce. Suburbanization and auto-centric industrialization diverted development outside of the downtown area to its adjacent neighborhoods, with residential neighborhoods, commercial buildings, and business parks. The City has continued … Continued

Portions of the Overlay would apply to parcels within the City Parking Assessment District. Would the hotel, or other new developments within the District contribute to the assessment district?

Per IZO Section 11.035 (Implementing Zoning Ordinance), sites and structures located in the municipal parking assessment district are exempt from the requirement to provide off-street parking facilities. The municipal parking assessment district does not include a provision to collect revenue from new uses or buildings within the district.

Will the City require parking and traffic studies?

Traffic and parking studies have been requested. These studies will be reviewed for adequacy by City staff, including CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) planners, prior to being made publicly available and will be fully incorporated into the project’s Planning review process.

How will parking be addressed?

The parking and loading standards contained in IZO (Implementing Zoning Ordinance) Chapter 11 would not be modified by the Overlay and would continue to apply to all uses and buildings as under existing conditions.

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