Setback Change for Commercial Sites

Clearing up inconsistencies in Santa Monica’s commercial zoning, the City Council reduced the required landscape setback for most commercial structures from a five-foot minimum to an average of 1.5 feet.

The unanimously-approved ordinance, which takes effect in November, will allow developers to use more of their land while conforming to the city’s land-use requirement that commercial structures be “pedestrian oriented.”

A review of the 1988 five-foot setback ordinance was prompted in May, 1989, by a developer who felt the rule was inappropriate for an urban commercial building. After a yearlong study by the Planning Commission and a special committee made up of council members, commission members and Architectural Review Board members, the committee emerged with the 1.5-foot recommendation, which was approved in August by the Planning Commission.

The new ordinance will require that the 1.5 feet be used for landscape, not sidewalks or other so-called “hardscapes.” But developers will be able to build to the property line on some sides, as long as the 1.5-foot average is maintained. Special requests for setbacks larger than 10 feet and smaller than 1.5 feet will be considered by the Architectural Review Board.