Chapter 18.08
R-M ZONE*
Sections:
18.08.010 Uses permitted.
18.08.020 Automobile storage.
18.08.030 Off-street parking.
18.08.040 Building height.
18.08.050 Antenna 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.
18.08.140 Dish antennae.
*Prior ordinance history: Ords. 84, 193, 270, 276, 303, 335 and 393.
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, including second dwelling units, subject to all the conditions in the R-1 zone.
B. Two-family dwellings and multiple dwellings. (Ord. 651 § 4, 2003: Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)
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. 496 § 6 (part), 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.
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. 496 § 6 (part), 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 (RM) lot, up-sloping 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 the enemy, subsequent to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)
18.08.050 Antenna height.
Antennae or masts for radio or television transmission or receiving facilities, including dish antennae, shall meet the following standards:
A. No antenna or mast for radio or television transmission or receiving facilities shall be erected so that it extends above thirty-five feet in height at any point above natural grade at that point, except that only one mast or antenna may be located on the roof of any one building, provided such mast or antenna does not exceed the highest point of the roof by more than ten feet.
B. Exceptions to the above requirements must be achieved through a variance. (Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)
18.08.060 Building site area and setbacks.
Except as set forth in Section 18.04.100 of this code, 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. 571 § 6, 1993: Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)
18.08.070 Lot coverage.
Maximum lot coverage of principal and accessory buildings shall not exceed sixty percent of any interior lot nor seventy percent of any corner lot in net area. (Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)
18.08.080 Minimum lot area.
The minimum lot area per dwelling unit shall be one thousand seven hundred fifty square feet. (Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 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. 496 § 6 (part), 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. 496 § 6 (part), 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. 496 § 6 (part), 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 aboveground 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. (Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)
18.08.130 Condominium conversion.
A. All condominium conversion projects shall be subject to all provisions of these standards and the California Subdivision Map Act.
B. All condominium conversion projects shall be subject to appropriate noise attenuation upgrades as recommended to the decisionmaking bodies. (Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)
18.08.140 Dish antennae.
A. The following requirements shall govern dish antennae and their supporting structures in the R-M zone:
1. The installation of any dish antenna in the R-M zone shall be subject to the building permit procedure as set forth in Title 15 of this code.
2. No such structure shall be located in front of the main structure on the lot or parcel or in any side setback area unless it is shown that the dish antenna cannot operate properly unless it is in such location.
3. The dish antenna shall be mounted or freestanding on the ground, and not on the roof or otherwise affixed to any building or structure on the lot or parcel, unless it is shown that the dish antenna cannot operate properly unless it is in such location.
4. The structure shall not exceed fifteen feet in height at any point as measured from natural grade.
5. The color of the structure shall blend with the adjacent environment and vegetation.
6. The structure shall be hidden or screened to mitigate visual impact from neighboring properties or from public view.
7. Any and all wiring and cables emanating from the structure shall be installed underground.
8. There shall not be more than one such structure on any legal building site.
9. The structure shall be located on an improved building site and not on an otherwise vacant lot.
B. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, any device located outside any building and used for the reception of communications relayed from earth-orbiting satellites or other communications systems shall not be located in front of the main structure on any lot or parcel or in any side setback area in zone R-M unless it is shown that such device cannot operate properly unless it is in such location. (Ord. 601 § 3, 1996: Ord. 496 § 6 (part), 1989)