Chapter 18.08
R-M ZONE

Sections:

18.08.010    Uses permitted.

18.08.011    Prohibited uses.

18.08.020    Automobile storage.

18.08.030    Off-street parking.

18.08.040    Building height.

18.08.060    Building site area and setbacks.

18.08.070    Lot coverage.

18.08.080    Minimum lot area.

18.08.090    Allowable floor area.

18.08.100    Minimum floor area per unit.

18.08.110    Landscaping.

18.08.120    Screening of mechanical equipment.

18.08.130    Condominium conversion.

Prior legislation: Ords. 84, 193, 270, 276, 303, 335, 393 and 601.

18.08.010 Uses permitted.

The following uses shall be permitted in the R-M zone:

A. Any use permitted in the R-l zone subject to all conditions in the R-1 zone.

B. Two-family dwellings and multiple dwellings.

C. Mobile home parks or mobile homes, if a conditional use permit is obtained in the manner prescribed by this code. (Ord. 744U § 7, 2020; Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 651 § 4, 2003; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.011 Prohibited uses.

The following uses are prohibited in the R-M zone:

A. Commercial cannabis activity, as that term is defined in Chapter 18.73 PVEMC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section does not apply to the delivery of medical marijuana or medical marijuana products to qualified patients.

B. Cultivation of cannabis or medical marijuana, as those terms are defined in Chapter 18.73 PVEMC. This section does not apply to personal marijuana cultivation, as that term is defined in Chapter 18.73 PVEMC and subject to the conditions in PVEMC 18.73.070.

C. Short-term or vacation rental.

D. Short-term or vacation rental advertisement. No person or entity shall maintain any advertisement of a rental prohibited by this section.

E. All other similar uses deemed detrimental to the public health and safety of residents and quality of life. The decision of the approving authority as to whether a particular use is detrimental shall be made during the site plan review process. (Ord. 725 § 4, 2017; Ord. 717 § 4, 2016; Ord. 716 § 3, 2016)

18.08.020 Automobile storage.

There shall be at least one but not to exceed three automobile storage garages for each family unit erected in the R-M zone. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.030 Off-street parking.

A. Each development shall provide on site a minimum of two covered spaces for each one-bedroom unit, and one-half covered space for each additional bedroom. No required parking spaces may be situated in a tandem fashion. Upon the request of the applicant, a qualifying housing development meeting the requirements of PVEMC 18.68.020(O) may provide a minimum of one space for each studio or one-bedroom unit, two spaces for each two- or three-bedroom unit, and two and one-half spaces for each unit with four or more bedrooms, inclusive of guest parking. Parking requirements for a qualifying housing development may be satisfied with tandem and/or uncovered parking.

B. Off-street guest parking shall be provided at a rate of one-quarter space per unit. Guest parking may be allowed in front and rear yard setbacks in accordance with landscaping requirements.

C. Required parking spaces only may be utilized for the parking of automobiles, light trucks and motorcycles belonging to the occupants of and visitors to the building.

D. No required parking space may be utilized for the purpose of storing commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats, equipment, materials or anything not specifically permitted under subsection C of this section.

E. Each parking space shall contain a clearly delineated and marked rectangular area at least twenty feet long and nine feet wide.

F. Calculation of space requirements shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number on a project basis.

G. Any increase in the habitable floor area requires the parking facilities to be upgraded for the entire building to meet current parking standards. (Ord. 709 § 5, 2014; Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.040 Building height.

A. The maximum building height shall not exceed two habitable stories excluding garage space.

B. The building height shall not exceed thirty-five feet at any point above natural grade at that point, except as noted below.

C. For any multifamily (R-M) lot, upsloping from the street, which shares a common property boundary with a single-family residential (R-1) lot, the maximum building height shall not exceed thirty-five feet from the lowest point on the perimeter of the lot, measured from natural grade.

D. The provisions of these standards shall not prevent reconstruction, repairing or rebuilding and continued use of any nonconforming building accidentally damaged by fire, explosion or acts of nature or war, subsequent to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.060 Building site area and setbacks.

Except as set forth in PVEMC 18.04.100, the minimum site area, front yard, rear yard and side yard setbacks shall be as permitted by the covenants of record on each and every tract within the city on file in the office of the county recorder of Los Angeles County as of July 27, 1993. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 571 § 6, 1993; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.070 Lot coverage.

Maximum lot coverage of principal and accessory buildings shall not exceed sixty percent of any interior lot or seventy percent of any corner lot in net area. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.080 Minimum lot area.

The minimum lot area per dwelling unit shall be one thousand seven hundred fifty square feet. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.090 Allowable floor area.

The maximum allowable floor area shall be equal to the lot area. The allowable floor area includes only the habitable living space. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.100 Minimum floor area per unit.

The minimum size for dwelling units on a per-bedroom basis shall be as follows:

A. Seven hundred fifty square feet for a one-bedroom unit;

B. Nine hundred fifty square feet for a two-bedroom unit;

C. One thousand fifty square feet for a three-bedroom unit;

D. One hundred square feet per additional bedroom above three. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.110 Landscaping.

All required yards shall be permanently landscaped and maintained as follows:

A. Front yards shall provide at least fifty percent plantable area for landscaping.

B. Rear yards shall provide at least twenty-five percent plantable area for landscaping.

C. Side yards shall provide at least twenty-five percent plantable area (of both side yards) for landscaping. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.120 Screening of mechanical equipment.

A. All mechanical equipment, including but not limited to heating, venting and air conditioning, shall be placed in the garage or basement. When placement in the garage or basement is not practical or feasible, mechanical equipment may be placed in an outside location on the ground or rooftop. Such units shall not be visible. Since many rooftops in Malaga Cove and Lunada Bay are visible from surrounding residences, all rooftop or above-ground equipment shall be screened so as not to be visible from any vantage point to the greatest extent practicable.

B. All exterior equipment, whether freestanding or attached to a building, including pipes, conduit and duct work, shall be effectively screened from public view or architecturally integrated in a building structure.

C. This section shall not apply to solar energy systems unless the planning director or his or her designee determines that the particular proposed solar energy system would have a specific adverse impact on the public health and safety, and there is no feasible method to fully mitigate or avoid the adverse impact. Any determination made by the director or his or her designee pursuant to this subsection may be appealed to the planning commission. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)

18.08.130 Condominium conversion.

A. All condominium conversion projects shall be subject to all provisions of the standards provided in this chapter, the California Subdivision Map Act, Cal. Gov. Code § 66410 et seq., and all other applicable state regulations.

B. All condominium conversion projects shall be subject to appropriate noise attenuation upgrades as recommended to the decisionmaking bodies. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 496 § 6, 1989)