Source: https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/MenloPark/html/MenloPark16/MenloPark1679.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 18:26:29+00:00

Document:
16.79.040 Development and use regulations.
16.79.045 Conversion of accessory buildings.
16.79.060 Application review and approval process.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the creation of secondary dwelling units in single-family residential zones and to set forth criteria and regulations of those secondary dwelling units. (Ord. 1031 § 3 (part), 2017: Ord. 1005 § 2 (part), 2014: Ord. 1000 § 2 (part), 2013: Ord. 923 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 688 § 1 (part), 1983).
Secondary dwelling units as defined in Section 16.04.295 are a permitted use in the city’s single-family residential zoning districts for residential use that is consistent with the city’s general plan and the specific zone for the lot on which the secondary dwelling unit is to be located. Secondary dwelling units must comply with the development standards applicable to the single-family zoning district in which the lot is located, including, but not limited to, parking, height, setback, lot coverage, landscape, architectural review, maximum size, and other standards that prevent adverse impacts on any real property that is listed in the California Register of Historic Places, except as otherwise provided elsewhere in this chapter. (Ord. 1031 § 3 (part), 2017: Ord. 1005 § 2 (part), 2014: Ord. 1000 § 2 (part), 2013: Ord. 923 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 688 § 1 (part), 1983).
Secondary dwelling units that require modification to the development regulations set forth in this chapter, except for Sections 16.79.040(3), Density, and (4), Subdivision, are conditionally permitted in the single-family residential zoning districts, subject to the use permit requirements of Chapter 16.82. (Ord. 1031 § 3 (part), 2017: Ord. 1005 § 2 (part), 2014: Ord. 1000 § 2 (part), 2013: Ord. 923 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 688 § 1 (part), 1983).
(1) Minimum lot area: six thousand (6,000) square feet.
(A) A single-family residence must be located on the lot.
(B) The secondary dwelling unit may not be sold separately from the primary residence.
(3) Density. No more than one (1) secondary dwelling unit may be allowed on any one (1) lot.
(4) Subdivision. A lot having a secondary dwelling unit may not be subdivided in a manner that would allow for the main dwelling and secondary dwelling unit to be located on separate lots that do not meet the minimum lot area, width and/or depth required by the single-family zoning district in which the lot is located.
(B) Detached secondary dwelling units shall comply with all minimum yard requirements for the main dwelling established by the single-family zoning district in which the lot is located, with the exception that the minimum rear yard is ten (10) feet. Furthermore, the interior side and rear yards may be reduced to five (5) feet, subject to written approval of the owner(s) of the contiguous property abutting the portion of the encroaching structure. If the contiguous interior side or rear property line is an alley, the minimum setback is five (5) feet. If a secondary dwelling unit is constructed above an existing detached garage, the side and rear yard setback is five (5) feet. The provisions of Section 16.62.020(1) shall not apply to a detached secondary dwelling unit.
(A) Detached secondary dwelling units shall not exceed six hundred forty (640) square feet, except buildings complying with all aspects of the disabled access requirements for kitchens, bathrooms, and accessible routes established in the California Building Code for adaptable residential dwelling units shall have a maximum square footage of seven hundred (700) square feet.
(B) Attached secondary dwelling units shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the existing living area, with a maximum increase in floor area of six hundred forty (640) square feet, except buildings complying with all aspects of the disabled access requirements for kitchens, bathrooms, and accessible routes established in the California Building Code for adaptable residential dwelling units shall have a maximum square footage of seven hundred (700) square feet.
(C) All secondary dwelling units shall be limited to studio or one (1) bedroom units and one (1) bathroom.
(D) No passageway shall be required in conjunction with the construction of a secondary dwelling unit.
(E) Secondary dwelling units shall count towards the total floor area for the lot, and the entire floor area of all buildings may not exceed the permitted floor area limit (FAL) established by the single-family zoning district in which the lot is located.
(7) Building Coverage. Secondary dwelling units shall count towards the total building coverage for the lot, and the entire building coverage of all buildings may not exceed the permitted building coverage established by the single-family zoning district in which the lot is located.
(8) Height. The maximum permitted height of a secondary dwelling unit is the same as the maximum permitted height for the single-family zoning district in which the lot is located, except that in no instance shall the maximum total height for any detached secondary dwelling unit exceed seventeen (17) feet.
(9) Daylight Plane. A daylight plane shall begin at a horizontal line nine (9) feet, six (6) inches above the average natural grade at a line three (3) feet from the side property lines and shall slope inwards at a forty-five (45) degree angle. There are no permitted intrusions into the daylight plane. "Average natural grade" means the average of the highest and lowest points of the natural grade of the portion of the lot directly below a line three (3) feet from the side property lines.
(C) Within required front yards if no more than five hundred (500) square feet of the required front yard are paved for motor vehicle use (inclusive of the main residence driveway and parking areas) and a minimum setback of eighteen (18) inches from the side property lines is maintained.
The required off-street parking can be provided in either a covered or uncovered space, but all covered parking shall comply with the setback requirements of the main dwelling, if the parking is attached, or the accessory building regulations, if the parking is detached.
(A) Secondary dwelling units located within one-half (1/2) mile of public transit as determined by the community development director.
(B) Secondary dwelling units located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district.
(C) Existing secondary dwelling units that were permitted without additional parking.
(D) When on-street parking permits are required but not offered to the occupant of the secondary dwelling unit.
(E) When a car share vehicle is located within one (1) block of the secondary dwelling unit as determined by the community development director.
(12) Consistency. All secondary dwelling units shall comply with all applicable development regulations for the single-family zoning district in which the lot is located and building code requirements set forth in Title 12, Buildings and Construction, unless otherwise specifically provided for in this section.
(13) Aesthetics. The secondary dwelling unit shall have colors, materials, textures and architecture similar to the main dwelling.
(A) The application for the registration and renewal(s) shall be accompanied by a fee, set by the city council.
(B) The application for registration and renewal shall state the reason for the request and provide supporting documentation. The registration shall be approved for any of the following reasons: (i) temporary job relocation, with the intent to return, (ii) relocation for school (e.g., mid-year career change), and (iii) physically unable to live in the house.
(C) The application shall provide a property management plan that includes the name and contact information to address issues or concerns about the use of the property should they arise. The plan should also include information about parking, including (i) a site plan with the parking layout for the property, (ii) how parking will be assigned between tenants, and (iii) an action plan that demonstrates how parking issues will be resolved effectively and efficiently between tenants if tandem parking is provided.
(D) A use permit is required for nontenancy status longer than four (4) years or for waiver of the requirement that the owner reside in the unit for not less than two (2) of the previous five (5) years prior to the date of application or for a reason other than those stated in subsection (14)(B) of this section. (Ord. 1031 § 3 (part), 2017: Ord. 1005 § 2 (part), 2014: Ord. 1000 § 2 (part), 2013: Ord. 923 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 688 § 1 (part), 1983).
(a) An accessory building may be eligible to convert into a secondary dwelling unit, subject to meeting criteria as outlined in subsection (b) of this section and approval through the process outlined in Section 16.79.060. No additional off-street parking shall be required to convert an accessory building into a secondary dwelling unit.
(1) The accessory building must have received building permits and commenced construction prior to January 1, 2017. Other supporting documentation to show the building was legally built may be substituted for a building permit subject to review by the community development director.
(2) The accessory building must be upgraded to meet the building code requirements based on the change of occupancy at the time of the conversion.
(3) The accessory building must meet all of the development regulations of Section 16.79.040, with the exception of Sections 16.79.040(5), Minimum Yards, (8), Height, and (9), Daylight Plane.
(c) All or any portion of an accessory building that meets the eligibility criteria as provided in this section may be demolished and reconstructed to meet the building code requirements based on the change of occupancy at the time of conversion. The secondary dwelling unit that replaces the accessory building may retain the setbacks and the footprint of the legally constructed accessory building. The existing setbacks and footprint of the accessory building must be evidenced by valid building permits or other supporting documentation subject to review by the community development director. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorize the expansion of the footprint or reduction of the setbacks beyond that evidenced by a valid building permit or other supporting documentation subject to review by the community development director or to allow the continuation of any other nonconformity. (Ord. 1031 § 3 (part), 2017: Res. 6265, 2015; Ord. 1005 § 2 (part), 2014).
All second unit development shall comply, at a minimum, with the mitigation monitoring and report program (MMRP) established through Resolution No. 6149 associated with the housing element update, general plan consistency update, and zoning ordinance amendments environmental assessment prepared for the housing element adopted on May 21, 2013. (Ord. 1031 § 3 (part), 2017: Ord. 1005 § 2 (part), 2014: Ord. 1000 § 2 (part), 2013).
Each development of a secondary dwelling unit requires review for compliance with this chapter as part of the building permit review process for the creation of a secondary dwelling unit.
(1) Application. Concurrent with the submittal of a complete building permit application for the secondary dwelling unit, the secondary dwelling unit checklist, which demonstrates compliance with all of the secondary dwelling unit development regulations, shall be submitted. The application shall include plans showing the details of the proposed secondary dwelling unit per submittal guidelines established by the community development director.
(2) Compliance Determination. The community development director or his or her designee shall make a determination of compliance prior to issuance of the building permit for the secondary dwelling unit. The determination of the community development director is final and not subject to appeal.
(3) All applications for secondary dwelling units that meet and comply with the requirements under this chapter shall be approved without discretionary review or a hearing within one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of a substantially complete application. The application shall be denied if the proposed secondary dwelling unit does not comply with all applicable requirements of this chapter or it may be conditionally approved subject to conditions that will bring the proposed secondary dwelling unit into compliance with this chapter. (Ord. 1031 § 3 (part), 2017).

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