PC19-472RESOLUTION NO. PC 19.472
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THE CITY GOUNCIL ADOPT NEW
DESIGN GUIDELINES
WHEREAS, on December 1 , 2009, the City Council of the City of Menifee (,,City',) adopted
Ordinance 2009-66, providing that certain Ordinances and Resolutions of the County of
Riverside, including Ordinance 348, shall remain in full force and effect as City Ordinances
effective February 1, 2010, until repealed, amended, or replaced by the city's own ordinances
adopted by the City Council.
WHEREAS, on May 28, 2013, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2013-123, amending
Ordinance 2009-66 to corect clerical errors and errata appearing and to re-adopt certain
provisions of the Riverside County Code.
WHEREAS, since adoption of Ordinance Nos. 2009-66 and 2013-123, the City began theprocess of creating comprehensive "Menifee-specific" zoning, subdivision, and grading
ordinances that are consistent with and implement the adopted 2013 city General plan.
WHEREAS, this Comprehensive Development Code Update ("CDCU") has as a goal
adoption of regulations that are user-friendly and effectively assist City and applicants achieve
the vision, goals and, objectives of the 2013 General Plan while establishing clear procedures
for the review and processing of development projects in the City.
WHEREAS, the CDCU consists of three main code amendments to the Menifee
Municipal Code: update to Title 9, "Planning and Zoning," and the additions of Tifle 7
"Subdivisions" and Chapter 8.26 "Grading Regulations."
WHEREAS, related to the CDCU, the City worked to consolidate and update its Design
Guidelines for Residential, Commercial and lndustrial projects and for Hillside Development
("Design Guidelines").
WHEREAS, best practices and the City's existing design guidelines were combined with
items from the Menifee Municipal Code to create the Design Guidelines. lf adopted, the updated
Design Guidelines will replace the Countywide Design Guidelines the City has been utilizing
since incorporation.
WHEREAS, on October 13,2019, Municipal Code Amendment ("MCA") No. DEV2019-
038, including the Design Guidelines, was publicly noticed within The Press Enterprise, a
newspaper of general circulation, for a public hearing before the City of Menifee Planning
Commission scheduled for October 23, 2019.
WHEREAS, on October 23,2019, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public
hearing to consider the proposed Design Guidelines; opened the hearing to receive public
testimony; reviewed all materials in the staff report and accompanying documents to recommend
adoption of updated design guidelines; and considered the requirements of the Califomia
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.) with regard
to the possible impacts thatthe proposed Design Guidelines may have upon the environment.
1
Resolution Recommending adoption of updated design guidelines
Page 2 of 3
NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Menifee Planning Commission recommends to the City
Council of the City of Menifee as follows:
Section 1.The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporate herein.
Section 2. That the City Council find that Pursuant to Section 1 5168(c)(2) of Tifle 14 of
the Califomia Code of Regulations, the proposed Design Guidelines do not require additional
review under CEQA. The Community Development Department has determined that the
proposed Design Guidelines are consistent with the Environmental lmpact Report (ElR) for the
General Plan certified in September2013 (SCH# 2012071033) and would not result in new
impacts. The updates to the Design Guidelines implement the adopted General plan, and
specifically the Community Design Element of the General Plan. As the update of the Design
Guidelines was considered in the General Plan ElR, pursuant to the provisions of CEQA no
further environmental analysis is required.
Further, that the City Council find that proposed Design Guidelines would not fall within
the definition of a "project" under the CEQA because it, as a narrative change to the Municipal
Code, does not have the potential for resulting in a direct or indirect physical change in the
environment (CEQA Guidelines 15378(a)) and is an administrative activity of the City that willnot result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment (CEQA Guidelines
15378(bX5)). ln addition, that the City Council find that proposed Design Guidelines are exempt
from CEQA because there is no possibility that the proposed guidelines, as a textural change to
the existing guidelines, may have a significant impact on the physical environment (cEoA
Guidelines 15061) and because, per Section 1 5061(bX3), it can be seen with certainty to have
no possibility of a significant effect upon the environment.
Section 3. That the City Council find that the proposed Design Guidelines are
consistent with the requirements of the City of Menifee Municipal Code.
Section 4. That the City Council find that the proposed Design Guidelines shall
preserve the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of and visitors to the City of
Menifee.
Section 5. That the City Council find that the proposed Design Guidelines are
consistent with the 2013 General Plan.
Section 6. That the City Council adopt the proposed Design Guidelines, as set forth in
Exhibit A hereto.
Section 7.$everability. !f any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Resolution is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
Resolution, and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared
invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to, whether any portion of the Resolution would be
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective u
2
Section 8.pon its adoption.
Resolution Recommending adoption of updated design guidelines
Page 3 of 3
Section 9.Notice of Adoption. The City Clerk of the City of lt/enifee shall certify to the
adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 23'd DAY OF O R, 2019.
n, Chair
ATTEST
nie Roseen, Deputy City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Ajit Th Assistant City Attorney
Ro
3
DESIGN
GUIDELINES
DRAFT OCTOBER 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 2 of 75
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
II. Residential, Single Family Dwellings
III. Residential, Multi-Family Dwellings
IV. Commercial
V. Industrial
VI. Hillside Development
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Page 4 of 75
This document contains a comprehensive set of design standards and guidelines for residential, commercial, and industrial
developments that are based on current standards, guidelines, and policies. They are provided as a framework for planning and
designing new construction and improvements to existing structures, including remodeling and additions, to implement the goals and
policies of the City of Menifee General Plan. The standards and guidelines illustrate the minimum quality of site planning and
architectural design to create a desirable community and to ensure compatibility with the overall character of Menifee.Design guidelines
are generalized statements, alternatives, or illustrations of what is expected and encouraged. Design guidelines offer ways to meet
certain development standards.
These design standards and guidelines will ensure quality in the design of public and private development to create desirable and lively
space throughout the community. The intent is to achieve the goals of the General Plan to promote high-quality urban design while
ensuring continuity throughout the City of Menifee.
Applicability
The City of Menifee Design Standards and Guidelines apply to all private and public development projects unless:
Other standards have been imposed on an individual development project (such as a condition of approval).
A Specific Plan or Planned Residential Development incorporating design standards has been adopted for the development
area.
General Plan
The City of Menifee General Plan includes a Community Design element that is intended to enhance the current community identity
through the identification of design techniques, guidelines, and features that will enhance the visual character of the city and its
neighborhoods. It serves as a practical guide to city leaders, developers, business owners, and residents as they provide direction to
implement new projects in Menifee and is intended to stimulate design creativity in the city.
This document functions to implement the goals and policies stated within the General Plan, namely:
CD-3: Design Quality.
Projects, developments, and public spaces that visually enhance the character of the community and are appropriately
buffered from dissimilar land uses so that differences in type and intensity do not conflict.
INTRODUCTION
Page 5 of 75
Project Design
CD-3.1: Preserve positive characteristics and unique features of a site during the design and development of a new project;
the relationship to scale and character of adjacent uses should be considered.
CD-3.2: Maintain and incorporate the city's natural amenities, including its hillsides, indigenous vegetation, and rock
outcroppings, within proposed projects.
CD-3.3: Minimize visual impacts of public and private facilities and support structures through sensitive site design and
construction. This includes, but is not limited to: appropriate placement of facilities; undergrounding, where possible; and
aesthetic design (e.g., cell tower stealthing).
CD-3.4: Develop or participate in programs to rehabilitate older residential neighborhoods and commercial centers to prevent
blight and maintain the quality of the built environment.
CD-3.5: Design parking lots and structures to be functionally and visually integrated and connected; off-street parking lots
should not dominate the streetscene.
CD-3.6: Locate site entries and storage bays to minimize conflicts with adjacent residential neighborhoods.
CD-3.7: Consider including public art at key gateways, major projects, and public gathering places.
CD-3.8: Design retention/detention basins to be visually attractive and well integrated with any associated project and with
adjacent land uses.
CD-3.9: Utilize Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) techniques and defensible space design concepts to
enhance community safety.
Building Design
CD-3.10: Employ design strategies and building materials that evoke a sense of quality and permanence.
CD-3.11: Provide special building-form elements, such as towers and archways, and other building massing elements to help
distinguish activity nodes and establish landmarks within the community.
CD-3.12: Utilize differing but complementary forms of architectural styles and designs that incorporate representative
characteristics of a given area.
CD-3.13: Utilize architectural design features (e.g., windows, columns, offset roof planes, etc.) to vertically and horizontally
articulate elevations in the front and rear of residential buildings.
CD-3.14: Provide variations in color, texture, materials, articulation, and architectural treatments. Avoid long expanses of
blank, monotonous walls or fences.
CD-3.15: Require property owners to maintain structures and landscaping to high standards of design, health, and safety.
CD-3.16: Avoid use of long, blank walls in industrial developments by breaking them up with vertical and horizontal façade
articulation achieved through stamping, colors, materials, modulation, and landscaping.
INTRODUCTION
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Land Use, Transitions and Buffers
CD-3.17: Encourage the use of creative landscape design to create visual interest and reduce conflicts between different land
uses.
CD-3.18: Require setbacks and other design elements to buffer residential units to the extent possible from the impacts of
abutting roadway, commercial, agricultural, and industrial uses.
CD-3.19: Design walls and fences that are well integrated in style with adjacent structures and terrain and utilize landscaping
and vegetation materials to soften their appearance.
CD-3.20: Avoid the blocking of public views by solid walls.
CD-3.21: Use open space, greenways, recreational lands, and water courses as community separators.
CD-3.22: Incorporate visual buffers, including landscaping, equipment and storage area screening, and roof treatments, on
properties abutting either Interstate 215 or residentially designated property.
CD-6: Community Design Features.
Attractive landscaping, lighting, and signage that conveys a positive image of the community.
Landscaping
CD-6.1: Recognize the importance of street trees in the aesthetic appeal of residential neighborhoods and require the planting
of street trees throughout the city.
CD-6.2: Ensure that all public landscaping is adequately maintained.
CD-6.3: Require property owners to maintain the existing landscape on developed nonresidential sites and replace unhealthy
or dead landscaping.
Lighting
CD-6.4: Require that lighting and fixtures be integrated with the design and layout of a project and that they provide a
desirable level of security and illumination.
CD-6.5: Limit light leakage and spillage that may interfere with the operations of the Palomar Observatory.
CD-6.6: Encourage the incorporation of lighting into signage design when appropriate in order to minimize glare and light
spillage while accentuating the design of the signage.
Signage
CD-6.7: Integrate project signage into the architectural design and character of new buildings.
CD-6.8: Discourage the use of flashing, moving, or audible signs.
INTRODUCTION
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Economic Development Corridor
The General Plan designates specific areas for the Economic Development Corridor. These areas may be subject to additional design
guidelines, and will be guided by the following General Plan objectives:
CD-5: Economic Development Corridor Design.
Economic Development Corridors that are visually distinctive and vibrant and combine commercial, industrial, residential,
civic, cultural, and recreational uses.
CD-5.1: Provide comfortable pedestrian amenities-quality sitting areas, wide paths and shade-along with specialized and
engaging design features, such as interesting fountains or public art, which draw and maintain people's attention, as appropriate
based on the preferred mix of land uses for each EDC subarea.
CD-5.2: Include open space and/or recreational amenities in EDC areas to provide visual relief from development, form linkages
to adjacent uses and other portions of the economic development corridor, and serve as buffers between uses, where necessary.
CD-5.3: Consider shared parking and reduced parking standards in areas designated as Economic Development Corridor.
CD-5.4: Locate building access points along sidewalks, pedestrian areas, and bicycle routes, and include amenities that
encourage pedestrian activity in the EDC areas where appropriate.
CD-5.5: Create a human-scale ground-floor environment that includes public open areas that separate pedestrian space from
auto traffic, or where these intersect, give special regard to pedestrian safety.
CD-5.6: Orient building entrance toward the street and provide parking in the rear, when possible.
CD-5.7: Where a vertical mix of uses occurs, site retail or office uses on the ground floor, with residential and/or office uses
above. Also, encourage architectural detailing that differentiates each use.
CD-5.8: Encourage adjacent commercial and industrial buildings to share open, landscaped, and/or hardscaped areas for visual
relief, access, and outdoor employee gathering places.
SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
GUIDELINES
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
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A. Project Design
Site Design
a. Each neighborhood shall provide a variety of housing product.
b. Residential projects should provide recreational amenities within the development for the
enjoyment of residents and to create quality neighborhoods.
c. The location of lakes, parks, and other open space assets adjacent to major roads and
other community entry points is encouraged to enhance community appearance and
identity.
d. Building and lot layouts shall conform to City standards regarding minimum garage
setbacks from access streets, minimum yard requirements, maximum height
requirements, and other city standards, unless specific variances are granted.
Street Design and Circulation
a. The design of the overall street pattern should present a variety of streetscapes, offer
various driving and pedestrian experiences, clearly distinguish between streets of varying
purposes and carrying capacities and ensure safe, walkable local neighborhoods.
b. Curvilinear streets offer an ever-changing scene while straight streets offer concentrated
focus and landmark/vista opportunities. Either may be permissible.
c. Traffic calming features associated with neighborhood streets such as chicanes, chokers
or bulbs, T-intersections, diverters and round-a-bouts are encouraged where deemed
appropriate by the City Engineer.
d. To the extent possible, direct connections with adjoining properties and projects are
encouraged to alleviate congestion on arterials and secondary highways.
e. Projects are encouraged to be designed with efficient street circulation patterns that
provide visual interest and creativity to the subdivision design.
Cul-de-sacs provide
opportunities for
enhanced open
space.
Recreational
amenities and
curvilinear street
design
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
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f. Corner cutbacks or cutoffs shall be included at all intersections of General Plan roads
classified as Secondary Highway or higher with all designated tract entrances.
g. Cul-de-sacs should provide pedestrian and bicycle access to adjacent neighborhoods,
open space, and land uses where connections are available.
h. The reverse frontage is defined as the parkway and sidewalk widths combined. Wider
reverse frontage treatments should be employed on General Plan roadways with eighty-
eight feet of right-of-way or more or where design considerations would make them
appropriate (e.g., where project amenities like bike or jogging paths are included).
i. Meandering walks that are designed to make use of existing mature trees or other natural
aspects, e.g., large boulders, are encouraged.
j. Equestrian or hiking trails and bikeways and other recreational facilities shall be integrated
wherever required by current adopted local and regional trails system plans.
Lot Design
a. Homes and buildings should be oriented to receive the greatest amount of afternoon
shade or other protection from the sun. Lot size and configuration should consider future
orientation of a structure to take advantage of shade and prevailing winds.
b. Side yards should be varied to add interest and usable space.
c. Variation of lot width is encouraged.
d. For lots with steep topography, the minimum net usable area shall be determined by the
Community Development Director based upon the site constraints analysis in order to
minimize disturbance to the sloped areas. The site design should minimize cut and fill as
much as possible.
Traffic
calming
features are
encouraged.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
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Floor Plans and Elevations
The following shall apply to tract maps of varying unit sizes:
Number of Units
Minimum Number of:
Floor Plans Elevations* Color
Schemes*
50 units or less 3 3 3
51 to 99 units 4 3 4
100 units or more 5 3 4
*Minimum number per each floor plan.
a. The minimum number of floor plans does not include reversed plans.
b. Elevations must be significantly different in appearance.
c. An additional floor plan is required for every 100 dwelling units above 100 units.
d. The Community Development Director may allow for fewer floor plans if additional
elevations are being provided and the intent of the Design Guidelines are being met.
e. For development projects that are to be constructed in phases, a phasing plan shall be
submitted to assure that the requirements for the number of floor plans is being met.
f. The same floor plan and elevation shall not be repeated more than each fourth house.
g. The same floor plan and elevation should not be located directly across the street.
Varied
streetscape
with variety
of homes
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
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B. Building Design
Neighborhoods are experienced from the street. The composition of homes creates character,
rhythm, and a feel to each block. The design elements of each home should be crafted to promote
variety along the streetscape. The massing, character, and detailing of the architectural styles
should be as authentic to the selected styles as possible; however, contemporary adaptation of
traditional styles is acceptable.
Massing and Articulation
a. Building massing shall include variation in wall planes (projections and recesses) and wall
height (vertical relief) as well as roof forms and heights (silhouettes) to reduce the
perceived scale of the building.
b. Long unarticulated building facades shall be avoided by incorporating varying setbacks of
the building footprint in a varied fashion along the residential street.
c. Projecting architectural features such as bowed or bay windows, columns, offset roof
planes, and similar features should be used to create both vertical and horizontal
articulation on the building elevations. These design elements shall also be included on
the rear facades and sides of homes that are adjacent to or visible from streets or open
spaces.
d. There shall be a change in wall planes on all sides of the house visible from a public street.
e. A mix of single-story and two-story homes should be provided to create variation in mass
and building height along streets. All two-story homes shall have single-story elements on
prominent elevations and/or on elevations visible from a public right-of-way or public view.
Houses shall be arranged in a manner that creates a harmonious, varied appearance of
building heights and setbacks.
f. Articulation should be focused on the front façade and facades visible from public streets
and public views; however, similar and complementary massing, materials, and details
should be incorporated into every other building elevation.
g. Surface detailing shall not serve as a substitute for well integrated and distinctive massing.
Variation in wall planes
Projecting architectural
feature
Articulation and massing of
rear facades
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
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h. Special design features, such as covered front porches, garage placement to rear of a lot,
use of multiple floor plans, window and door articulation, extended overhangs and building
edge treatments (such as arbors, awnings or trellises) are encouraged.
i. Window and door type, material, shape, and proportion shall complement the architectural
style of the building.
j. Style-appropriate grates, shutters, and tile surrounds are encouraged.
k. Windows should be framed with compatible materials to create well-defined “edge”
treatments and be designed to provide distinctive shadows on the building facades.
l. Front and visible edge elevations shall incorporate one feature window treatment that
articulates the elevation. Feature Window options include:
i. A picture window,
ii. A window of unique shape or size,
iii. A window with a substantial surround matching or contrasting the primary color
of the home,
iv. Decorative iron window grilles,
v. A significantly recessed window,
vi. Decorative window shelves or sill treatments,
vii. A Juliet balcony with style inspired materials.
Special design features
Feature windows with
enhanced sill treatments
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
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Roof Form
Rows of homes seen along major community roadways are perceived by their contrast against
the skyline or background. The dominant impact is the shape of the building and roof line. To
minimize the visual impact of repetitious flat planes, similar building silhouettes and similar ridge
heights, discernibly different roof plans for each home plan shall be designed.
a. Roof articulation may be achieved by changes in plane or by the use of traditional roof
forms such as gables, hips, and dormers.
b. A-frame type roofs and mansard roofs are discouraged unless part of a coordinated design
theme style.
c. Roof overhangs should be sized appropriately to the desired architectural style.
d. Design roofs for maximum solar exposure for the potential installation of solar features.
e. Direction of ridgelines and/or ridge heights should vary along a street scene.
Roof articulation helps
enhance entryways.
Roof overhangs authentic to
architectural style
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
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Materials and Colors
The colors and materials on adjacent residential structures should be varied to establish a
separate identity for the dwellings.
a. A variety of colors and textures of building materials is encouraged, while maintaining
overall design continuity in the neighborhood.
b. Materials and color should be used to enhance different parts of the building’s façade.
c. The use of materials and color shall convey a sense of quality architecture and
permanence.
d. Material changes should occur at logical break points.
e. Materials applied to any elevation shall turn the corner of the building, ending at a logical
termination point related to the roof line or building massing, or a minimum of 2 feet.
Variety in materials,
enhancing entry of home
Material wraps around on
corner
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
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Garage Location and Design
The focus for aesthetics of street-facing elevations of the house should be on the living spaces of
the home rather than the garage. Appropriate treatment of garage doors will further enhance
the elevation and decrease the utilitarian appearance of the garage.
a. The visual impact of garages should be reduced by the use of additional setback from the
curb face where garage doors must face the street or by the use of side-facing or rear
garages (including detached garages) where possible.
b. Residential plans that feature attached garage designs whose entries are from the side
(“side-loaded garages”) are also encouraged. Garage access from an alley is also
encouraged. Detached garages located at the rear of the property, and “drive through” or
“tandem” garages are also encouraged.
c. Where more than two garage doors face the street, the third garage door should have an
increased setback or offset.
d. At least 25% of the garage doors in any project should have windows.
e. Garage door appearance should be varied by using door patterns, colors, and windows
appropriate to individual architectural styles.
f. The area around a garage door should be articulated with trellises, trim, enhanced
materials, or other methods to help minimize the architectural impact of the garage door.
g. Garage doors shall be recessed a minimum of six inches from the face of the garage.
Side loaded garage
Third car garage setback and
enhanced doors
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
C. Walls, Landscaping and Community Features
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C. Walls, Landscaping and Community Features
a. Fencings and walls should be constructed as low as possible while still performing
screening, noise attenuation, and security functions.
b. Perimeter walls located along public streets should be setback as much as feasible to
provide a more open feel and should provide for wall inserts and/or decorative columns
or pilasters every 100 feet. Tall blank walls adjacent to the roadway are not permitted.
c. Community perimeter or theme walls shall be solid walls located where view opportunities
are not available. Plain concrete block walls are not permitted. Brick, slump stone, tile,
textured concrete, stucco on masonry or steel framing or other material walls which
require little or no maintenance are required. Use of ivy or other vegetative material to
soften and punctuate the appearance of walls and reduce the likelihood of graffiti is
strongly encouraged. The use of capping in conjunction with other vertical design
elements to temper the top line of the wall is also required.
d. Front yard return walls shall be constructed of masonry (slump stone or material of similar
appearance, maintenance, and structural durability). Side yard gates are required on one
side of front yard, and shall be constructed of wrought iron, wood, vinyl, or tubular steel.
e. Tract housing shall provide rear and side yard fencing.
f. Vinyl fencing may be used for interior side or interior rear property lines of residential lots
as long as they cannot be seen from public or street view.
g. All lots having rear and/or side yards facing local streets or otherwise open to public view
shall have fences or walls constructed of decorative block, stucco, or other attractive and
durable material.
h. Corner lots shall be constructed with wrap-around decorative block wall returns.
i. Wrought iron or tubular steel fencing, or other transparent type of fencing, may be
included within tracts where view opportunities and/or terrain warrant its use.
Walls should provide an open
feel along public streets.
Decorative pilasters and caps
help enhance neighborhood
design.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
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D. Landscaping
a. Landscape architects shall integrate visual focal points such as boulders, landscaped
mounds or berms, sculpture, and public art into their planting design.
b. For a maximum effect, landscaping within the reverse frontage treatments shall be
designed to have a “stepped-up” appearance, with low flowering ground cover nearest
the curb, progressing to low and/or medium height plants or shrubs, and on to randomly
clustered street trees near the perimeter wall of the tract. Plants shall be selected from
the Water District’s approved list.
c. Additional street facing common landscape planters should be encouraged in subdivision
design for bikeways, recreational trails, neighborhood entry statements and noise
buffering.
d. An appropriate maintenance entity shall be required for landscaping installed outside of
the street right-of-way.
e. Detention basins should not be located within the front setback unless designed as an
attractive landscape element. Stormwater retention ponds shall be designed as landscape
features rather than as large, unadorned depressions in the site.
Yard Landscaping Requirements
a. All new residences shall be provided with front yard landscaping and an automatic
irrigation system.
b. Trees, shrubs, and groundcover shall be incorporated within single-family development
projects to create a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment for residents and
those viewing from public areas.
c. Landscape architects are strongly encouraged to use clinging vines, espaliers, trellises,
and shrubs to enhance the architecture and define attractive private open spaces.
Public art at project entry
Reverse frontage
Variety of planting
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
Page 19 of 75
d. Front yard areas should be designed using landscape elements pertaining to the form,
horizontal and vertical lines, hardscape and softscape, and ornate qualities that are
compatible with the primary structure.
e. Flowering plants are strongly encouraged to provide color and enhance the streetscape.
Flowering plants and coble
material
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
E. Lighting
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E. Lighting
a. Outdoor lighting, other than street lighting, shall be low to the ground or shielded and
hooded to avoid shining onto adjacent properties and streets.
b. Light fixtures shall be architecturally compatible with building design.
c. Coach lighting should be provided on either side of the garage and around front doors
and porches.
d. Illuminated street address lighting fixtures shall be installed on the front yard side of each
dwelling to facilitate location of the street address numbers for safety and public
convenience and to compensate for dark sky lighting considerations.
Lighting at garage
compatible with architecture
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
F. Signage
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F. Signage
Neighborhood Entry Statements
a. Tract entry statements that create a distinctive image of a particular residential
development shall be provided.
b. This entry feature should be designed to assist passing motorists to easily identify the
development, and should complement the overall appearance of the greater community
of which it is a part.
c. A combination of the following accent features shall be incorporated into the project entry:
public art, ornamental landscaping, landscaped medians, water features, architectural
monuments, decorative walls, and/or signs.
d. Project entry features shall reflect the overall architectural identity and character of the
project.
e. Colored, textured, and permeable paving treatment at entry drives is encouraged to
accentuate these areas.
f. A tract entrance designation shall consist of a neighborhood identification sign on a
decorative wall or monument, with at least a twelve-foot depth of landscaping (measured
from the right-of-way line) surrounding the wall or monument.
g. Elements of the tract entrance designation should not be placed within the public right-
of-way. The developer should create private party maintenance arrangements for these
elements at the time the project is built.
Provide
landscaping to
accentuate entry
signs.
Tract entrances should be
displayed on decorative
walls or monuments.
Corner lot entrances should
incorporate decorative
walls and landscaping.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
F. Signage
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Mailbox Design
a. Installation of cast iron, cast aluminum, brick, or slump stone-encased curbside mailboxes
are encouraged.
b. In tract developments, common mailboxes shall have enclosures designed similar or
complementary in form, material, and color to the tract homes.
c. Each mailbox installation shall conform to current United States Postal Service standards.
Utilities
a. All vents, gutters, downspouts, flashing, and electrical panels shall be painted to match
the surface to which attached, unless used as a major design element, in which case the
color is to be consistent with the overall color scheme of the building.
b. Discharge from gutters and downspouts should not flow directly across pedestrian
walkways. Water should be directed to permeable areas for percolation. Discharge that
ties into a project’s drainage system is preferred; however, flexible hosing or splash guards
are acceptable.
c. If utilities and connections cannot be located below ground, these elements should not
interfere with or adversely affect the access, visibility, appearance, or character of the
structures in the vicinity.
d. Building forms, fences, trellises, and landscaping shall be used to screen above ground
utility transformers, pull boxes, and termination cabinets where allowed by utility
providers.
Utilities should be
properly screened.
Attractive mailbox
materials are
encouraged.
MULTI FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
GUIDELINES
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 24 of 75
A. Project Design
a. Building and site layouts shall conform to City standards regarding minimum setbacks,
minimum open space requirements, maximum height requirements, and other city
standards, unless specific variances are granted.
b. Landmark structures, open plazas, and/or project entry monumentation should be located
at prominent intersections and other areas of high visibility.
c. Common spaces and site recreational amenities should be provided for all multi-family
developments and should be centrally located for the ease and use by all residents.
d. Project icons, thematic pilasters, special paving treatment, water features, artwork, and
specialty landscaping should be used at building and common space entryways to unify a
project.
e. Multi-family development adjacent to single-family neighborhoods are encouraged to
provide a buffer of single story units and/or significant single story elements along the
adjoining property line.
Recreation building at corner,
creating a landmark structure
Artwork incorporated into
open space
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 25 of 75
Parking and Circulation
a. Development should be designed to avoid large parking areas, bulky structures, decreased
private open space, rows of carports adjacent to public streets, and high walls at the street
edge in order to promote designs that lead to high quality multi-family development in
the City.
b. Pedestrian walkways should be safe, visually attractive, and well defined by landscaping
and lighting.
c. Buildings, parking areas, and open space shall be arranged to minimize the use of sound
walls.
d. Decorative materials should be used to clearly demarcate pedestrian travel areas. Use of
specialty paving for walkways is encouraged when it is not in conflict with ADA access
requirements.
e. Parking spaces are encouraged be separated from buildings by a pedestrian sidewalk
(minimum 4 feet) and a landscape strip (6 feet recommended).
Parking spread through the site
creatively avoiding large
parking lots
Parking separated from
buildings with landscaping
and sidewalk.
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 26 of 75
B. Building Design
Articulation of Building Facades
Long unarticulated building facades shall be avoided by incorporating varying setbacks of the
building footprint in a varied fashion along the residential street. Projecting architectural features
such as bowed or bay windows, columns, offset roof planes, and similar features should be used
to create both vertical and horizontal articulation on the building elevations. These design
elements shall also be included on the rear facades and sides of buildings or homes that are
adjacent to or visible from streets or open spaces. Buildings should be arranged in a manner that
creates a harmonious, varied appearance of building heights and setbacks.
a. Multifamily dwellings shall have articulated façades, including recesses and architectural
detailing, to avoid a monotonous streetscape.
b. Variation of single-story heights and profiles should be provided while stepping back
second-story massing where appropriate.
c. Tall or large structures should emphasize horizontal planes through the use of trim,
awnings, eaves, other ornamentation, or a combination of complementary colors.
d. Surface detailing shall not serve as a substitute for well integrated and distinctive massing.
e. Porches, detailed entries, and stoops add to the character of a neighborhood. These
features should be varied along the street to create visual interest.
f. Articulation should be focused on the front façade and facades visible from public streets
and public views; however, similar and complementary massing, materials, and details
shall be incorporated into every other building elevation, including common buildings and
recreation/clubhouse buildings.
g. The main building entrance shall be clearly identifiable and distinguished from the rest of
the building. All entrances shall be emphasized using lighting, landscaping, and
architecture.
Recesses and patios
Articulated facade
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 27 of 75
h. Architectural elements, such as overhangs, trellises, projections, awnings, insets,
materials, and textures, shall be used to create shadow patterns that contribute to a
building’s character and to achieve a pedestrian scale.
i. Balconies are encouraged for both aesthetic and practical purposes. They are useful in
breaking up large wall planes, offsetting floors, providing shade, creating visual interest
and adding human scale to a building.
j. Window and door type, material, shape, and proportion shall complement the architectural
style of the building.
k. Style-appropriate grates, shutters, and tile surrounds are encouraged.
m. Windows should be framed with compatible materials to create well-defined “edge”
treatments and be designed to provide distinctive shadows on the building facades.
n. Front and visible edge elevations shall incorporate one feature window treatment that
articulates the elevation. Feature Window options include:
i. A picture window,
ii. A window of unique shape or size,
iii. A window with a substantial surround matching or contrasting the primary color
of the home,
iv. Decorative iron window grilles,
v. A significantly recessed window,
vi. Decorative window shelves or sill treatments,
vii. A Juliet balcony with style inspired materials.
Good use of variety of
architectural elements
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 28 of 75
Roof Form
a. Roofs should reflect a residential appearance through pitch and use of materials.
b. Roof materials, colors, and treatments should correspond to the individual character
or style of the building and should be compatible with the overall look of the
neighborhood. High-quality composition, concrete, or clay tiles should be used in
conjunction with the style of the building.
c. Multi-form roof combinations are encouraged to create varying roof forms and break up
the massing of the building.
d. Roof articulation may be achieved by changes in plane or by the use of traditional roof
forms such as gables, hips, and dormers.
e. A-frame type roofs and mansard roofs are discouraged unless part of a coordinated
design theme style.
f. A variety of roof forms is encouraged to provide visual interest to the neighborhood and
to avoid a monotonous roofline. Articulating elements such as roof overhangs, canopies,
and parapets should be employed to add interest to building silhouettes.
g. Roof overhangs should be sized appropriately to the desired architectural style.
h. Rooflines should be broken at intervals no greater than 50 feet long by changes in height
or stepbacks. Rooflines and roof forms shall be designed to screen roof mounted
mechanical equipment. All screening shall be constructed consistent with the materials
of the building and not simply “box-in” the equipment.
i. If the interior side of a parapet is visible from pedestrian view, it shall be finished with
the same materials and a similar level of detail as the front façade.
j. Design roofs for maximum solar exposure for the potential installation of solar features.
Variety in roof lines
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 29 of 75
Materials and Colors
a. Multi-family projects should be made of high quality and authentic materials. In addition,
the use of durable materials requiring low maintenance is strongly encouraged.
b. The use of materials and color shall convey a sense of quality architecture and
permanence.
c. Where appropriate to the architectural style, materials and textures shall vary between
the base and body of a building to break up large wall planes and add visual base to the
building.
d. Contrasting but complementary colors should be used for trim, windows, doors, and key
architectural elements.
e. Material changes should occur at logical break points.
f. Materials applied to any elevation shall turn the corner of the building, ending at a logical
termination point related to the roof line or building massing, or a minimum of 2 feet.
Use of stone to enhance
portions of the facade
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 30 of 75
Garages and Ancillary Structures
Carports, detached garages, and other ancillary structures shall be designed as an integral part
of the development.
a. Carport roofs visible from buildings or streets shall incorporate roof slopes and materials
to match adjacent buildings.
b. Flat roofs on garages, carports, and ancillary structures, while allowed (if not visible off-
site), are discouraged.
c. Garage door appearance should be varied by using door patterns, colors, and windows
appropriate to the building’s architectural style.
d. The area around a garage door should be articulated with trellises, trim, enhanced
materials, or other methods to help minimize the architectural impact of the garage door.
e. Garage doors shall be recessed a minimum of six inches from the face of the garage.
f. Ancillary structures shall incorporate similar or complementary roof pitch and materials to
the main buildings within the project.
Lighting and landscaping at
garages
Garages enhanced with
landscaping and recessing
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
C. Walls and Fencing
Page 31 of 75
C. Walls and Fencing
a. Fencings and walls should be constructed as low as possible while still performing
screening, noise attenuation, and security functions.
b. Perimeter walls located along public streets should be setback as much as feasible to
provide a more open feel. Tall blank walls adjacent to the roadway are not permitted.
c. Perimeter walls located along public streets should provide for wall inserts and/or
decorative columns or pilasters every 100 feet.
d. Community perimeter or theme walls shall be solid walls located where view opportunities
are not available. Plain concrete block walls are not permitted. Brick, slump stone, tile,
textured concrete, stucco on masonry or steel framing or other material walls which
require little or no maintenance are required. Use of ivy or other vegetative material to
soften and punctuate the appearance of walls and reduce the likelihood of graffiti is
strongly encouraged. The use of capping in conjunction with other vertical design
elements to temper the top line of the wall is also required.
e. Wrought iron or tubular steel fencing, or other transparent type of fencing, may be
included within projects where view opportunities and/or terrain warrant its use.
f. All non-transparent perimeter walls and/or fences shall be architecturally treated on both
sides and shall incorporate landscaping whenever possible.
g. Walls and fences should be designed with materials and finishes that complement project
architecture
h. All fences and walls required for screening purposes shall be of solid material. Chain link
fencing with inserts shall not be used.
Enhanced cap and
landscaping
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
Page 32 of 75
D. Landscaping
a. Landscape architects shall integrate visual focal points such as boulders, landscaped
mounds or berms, sculpture, and public art into their planting design.
b. Landscaping shall be used to define building entrances, parking lots, and the edge of
various land uses.
c. Landscaping shall be used to buffer and screen neighboring properties.
d. Safety, environmental impacts, and accent elements should all be considered when
selecting and locating trees and other landscaping elements.
e. Landscaping shall be incorporated around the base of buildings to soften the edge
between parking, drive aisles and sidewalks.
f. Walkways should be provided through landscaped areas along paths of likely travel to
protect landscaping from foot traffic.
g. Evergreen trees should be used to soften the appearance of blank walls and provide visual
screening but should not be a replacement for enhanced architecture.
h. Detention basins should not be located within the front setback unless designed as an
attractive landscape element. Stormwater retention ponds shall be designed as landscape
features rather than as large, unadorned depressions in the site.
Walkways
should be
landscaped
appropriately.
Basin designed as attractive
landscape element
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
E. Lighting
Page 33 of 75
E. Lighting
a. Lighting, including security lighting, should be carefully designed to avoid direct glare into
neighboring properties and to be architecturally compatible with the character of the
development.
b. Parking lot lighting and wall light fixtures other than the standard “shoe box” types shall
be used, especially in parking lots that are viewed from major streets.
c. Lighting fixtures should complement and be compatible with the building’s design and
architectural style.
d. Fixtures shall be appropriately sized and in scale with the building façade.
e. Building entrances and street numbers should be well-lit and illuminated to be visible from
the street.
f. Walkways and paseos and parking lots and access shall be illuminated with a minimum of
1 footcandle to ensure safe nighttime conditions.
g. The design of parking lot lighting fixtures shall be compatible with the architecture used
in the development.
h. Security lighting fixtures shall not project above the facia or roof of the building.
i. Security lighting fixtures shall not be substituted for parking lot or walkway lighting
fixtures.
j. The lighting of building elements and trees is an effective and attractive lighting technique
that is encouraged; however, light sources for wall washing and tree lighting should be
hidden and shall meet the Dark Sky/Light Pollution Ordinance.
k. Incorporate timers and sensors to avoid unnecessary lighting. Decorative lighting in parking
areas and open space
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
F. Signage
Page 34 of 75
F. Signage
a. Project entry statements that create a distinctive image of a particular residential
development shall be provided.
b. This entry feature should be designed to assist passing motorists to easily identify the
development, and should complement the overall appearance of the greater community
of which it is a part.
c. A combination of the following accent features shall be incorporated into the project entry:
public art, ornamental landscaping, landscaped medians, water features, architectural
monuments, decorative walls, and/or signs.
d. Project entry features shall reflect the overall architectural identity and character of the
project.
e. Colored, textured, and permeable paving treatment at entry drives is encouraged to
accentuate these areas.
f. Elements of the project entrance designation should not be placed within the public right-
of-way. The developer should create private party maintenance arrangements for these
elements at the time the project is built.
Monument
wall
Ornamental landscaping and
median at entrance
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
G. Other Community Design Elements
Page 35 of 75
G. Other Community Design Elements
Mailbox Design
a. Mailboxes should be located in highly visible, heavy use areas for convenience, to allow
for casual social interaction, and to promote safety.
b. Installation of cast iron, cast aluminum, brick, or slump stone-encased curbside mailboxes
are encouraged.
c. Common mailbox enclosures shall be designed to be similar or complementary in form,
material, and color to the surrounding residential buildings.
d. Each mailbox installation shall conform to current United States Postal Service standards.
Trash Enclosures
a. Enclosures should be separated from adjacent parking stalls with a minimum 5-foot wide
(interior clear dimension) planter and a 12-inch wide paved surface behind the curb to
ensure adequate space is available for individuals to access a vehicle.
b. Trash/recycling containers should be large enough to handle the refuse generated by the
site.
c. Trash enclosures should be designed with similar finishes, materials, and details as the
primary buildings within the project and shall be screened with landscaping.
d. Chain link fencing and gates with wood slats shall not be used.
e. Enclosures should be unobtrusive and conveniently located for trash disposal by tenants
and for collection by service vehicles.
f. Enclosures should not be visible from primary entry drives.
g. Where individual trash bins and pick-up are proposed, the development shall ensure fire
access and lanes meet minimum requirements and dimensions. A trash bin/can location
exhibit will be required with the development application review. CC&Rs will also need to
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
G. Other Community Design Elements
Page 36 of 75
address location of bins, timing for residents to put out and bring in trash cans, and
possible parking restrictions.
Utilities
a. Utility and service areas should be part of the early building design process rather than
an afterthought at the construction document phase.
b. Transformers should be placed underground to maximize safety and minimize visual
impacts. When this location cannot be achieved, the transformers shall be well screened
and placed in the rear or side yard area, minimizing visibility from the public right-of-way.
c. Mechanical equipment, including gas and electrical meters, cable boxes, junction boxes,
and irrigation controllers, should be located within a utility room, along with the fire riser
and roof access ladder. When this location cannot be achieved, these features shall be
designed as an integral part of the building on a rear or side elevation and screened from
public view.
d. Double detector check valve assemblies (backflow preventers) for landscape irrigation and
domestic water should not be located at visually prominent locations, such as the end of
drive aisles or at site entries, and shall be placed in an underground vault or well-screened
with shrubs, berming, and low screen walls.
e. All vents, gutters, downspouts, flashing, and electrical panels should be painted to match
the surface to which these elements are attached, unless used as a major design element,
in which case the color is to be consistent with the overall color scheme of the building.
f. Discharge from gutters and downspouts should not flow directly across pedestrian
walkways. Water should be directed to permeable areas for percolation or to a project
drainage system.
g. Externally mounted gutters and downspouts should be avoided on elevations facing
arterials.
Screening of AC units with
trellis and landscaping
COMMERCIAL
GUIDELINES COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 38 of 75
A. Project Design
The integration of buildings, entries, parking lot layout, open spaces, and pedestrian and vehicular
circulation is critical to achieving an overall sense of place.
Site Design
a. Where commercial uses are adjacent to sensitive non-commercial uses, appropriate
buffering techniques, such as setbacks, screening, and landscaping, should be provided
to mitigate any negative effects of commercial operations.
b. Dated “L” shaped suburban shopping centers should be avoided. Clusters of smaller
buildings with pad buildings at the street edge are strongly encouraged.
c. Building placement and orientation should create visual interest along public streets.
Multiple buildings in a single project should demonstrate a functional relationship to one
another.
d. Buildings should be plotted adjacent to roads to screen parking areas and to engage the
streetscape.
e. Buildings located within a single project should be clustered around plazas and pedestrian
areas. When clustering is not practical, a visual link should be established between
buildings through the use of an arcade system, trellis, colonnade, or other open structure
to unify the project.
f. Plazas or common areas within a project should be located near building entrances or
areas of high pedestrian traffic to ensure their use.
g. Project icons, thematic pilasters, special paving treatment, water features, artwork, and
specialty landscaping should be used at building and common space entryways to unify a
project.
h. Site layout and building design shall take into consideration Menifee’s climate by including
trees, landscaping, and architectural elements to provide shade.
Water feature in common
area
Plaza located at prominent
intersection
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 39 of 75
i. Landmark structures, open plazas, and/or project entry monumentation should be located
at prominent intersections and other areas of high visibility.
j. Site accessories such as bicycle racks, trash receptacles, planters, benches, shade
structures and lighting should be designed as an integral part of the project.
k. Easily identifiable pedestrian access shall be provided from the street, sidewalk, parking
areas, and bus stops to building entrances and key areas within the site.
Loading and Storage Areas
a. Outdoor storage areas and loading docks should be architecturally screened from the
street and adjacent residential uses.
b. Loading and service areas, trash enclosures and storage areas, mechanical equipment,
and utility meters should be located as far as possible from the street and adjacent
properties.
Landmark structures located
at area of high visibility
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 40 of 75
Parking and Circulation
a. Driveway access points and internal circulation should be located as far away as possible
from residential properties, schools, parks, and other sensitive uses.
b. Buffers should be provided between parking lots and public streets using berms,
landscaping, and/or low walls. Walls should be supplemented with plantings to soften
their appearance.
c. Primary parking lot entry drives and primary internal access intersections should be
treated with design elements, such as special paving, graphic signage, specialty lighting,
specimen trees, or flowering plants that will provide individual identity to the project.
d. The parking lot should not be the dominant visual element of a site as viewed from the
street. Large parking areas directly in front of the building are discouraged, unless paved
areas are broken into smaller areas through the use of extensive landscaping, decorative
paving, pedestrian walkways, garden walls, elevation changes or similar design features.
e. Parking areas should be designed to minimize the conflict between pedestrian and
vehicular traffic and loading activities.
f. Planter islands and pedestrian circulation extending the full length of drive aisles should
be provided within parking lots over 150 spaces. Planter islands should also be provided
at the end of parking aisles.
g. Shade structures and tree cover should be provided in parking lots to reduce the amount
of heat absorbed by paved parking areas where feasible. Palm trees are strongly
discouraged in parking lots except for accent at key locations such as building entrances
or other landmarks.
h. Internal access drives are encouraged to be set back a minimum of 10 feet from the
building frontage. A setback of 15 feet is encouraged in areas likely to have high
pedestrian volumes.
Protected walkway in parking
lot
Special paving used at
pedestrian crossing
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 41 of 75
B. Building Design
The purpose of the building design guidelines is to ensure a high level of architectural quality and
an attention to detail.
Design Theme
a. Visual diversity should be promoted through the use of different, though complementary,
architectural styles. For example, different styles may be used to distinguish between
residential and commercial buildings.
b. Chosen architectural styles should incorporate high quality architectural detail that
includes the use of arches, arcades, loggias, towers, variations in building form, and color
blocking to define buildings.
c. Franchise architecture should blend in with the overall theme of the shopping center in
which it is located and utilize compatible colors and materials.
Building Form
a. Building architecture should engage the street with public entrances and contain
significant elements relating to the pedestrian scale.
b. Building entries are encouraged to be oriented toward the street and clearly defined.
c. Buildings located at high traffic intersections should employ special features and
architectural elements.
Towers and variations in
building form and color
Canopies, trim, stone and
lighting provide elements at
the pedestrian scale
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 42 of 75
Roof Form
a. Rooflines shall vary to reduce the overall mass of the building.
b. Parapet walls and roof forms shall be designed to screen roof mounted mechanical
equipment. All screening shall be constructed consistent with the materials of the building
and not simply “box-in” the equipment.
i. If the interior side of a parapet is visible from pedestrian view, it shall be finished
with the same materials and a similar level of detail as the front façade.
ii. Parapets should include one or more of the following detail treatments: pre-cast
elements, continuous banding or projecting cornices, dentils, caps, variety in pitch
(sculpted), other horizontal decoration, and/or clean edges with no unfinished
flashing.
iii. Parapets should not appear “tacked on” and should convey a sense of
permanence.
c. Rooflines shall be broken at intervals no greater than 50 feet long by changes in height,
wall plane or stepbacks.
d. Deep roof overhangs are encouraged to create shadow and add depth to facades.
e. Roof elements should continue all the way around the building and not just be used in the
most visible locations.
Roofs should be
varied and broken
at key intervals.
Parapet roofs should
incorporate
decorative elements.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 43 of 75
Massing and Articulation
a. Breaks in building mass should be used to provide visual relief for long building facades
(50 feet or more) that are visible from public view.
b. Large buildings shall present articulated façades, including recesses and architectural
detailing, to avoid a monotonous streetscape. Windows and doors shall be recessed two
to four inches to further articulate the façade.
c. Articulation should be focused on the front façade and facades visible from public streets
and public views; however, similar and complementary massing, materials, and details
should be incorporated into every other building elevation visible to the public.
d. There should be no blank walls on any side of any building within a project.
e. Architectural details and materials on lower walls that relate to human scale, such as
arches, trellises, or awnings, should be incorporated.
f. Architectural elements, such as overhangs, trellises, projections, awnings, insets, material,
texture, and color, shall be used to create shadow patterns that contribute to a building’s
character.
g. Buildings should be designed so that the structures do not “turn their backs” to the street.
h. A minimum 8-foot vertical clearance between the sidewalk and the lower most portion of
an awning or similar form of hanging articulation shall be maintained.
Breaks in massing and
articulated facades
Massing and architectural
details on larger buildings
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 44 of 75
Materials and Colors
a. High quality materials of appropriate colors and textures and which weather well should
be used for building materials and design elements. Materials should convey a sense of
durability and permanence.
b. Material changes shall occur at intersecting planes, preferably at the inside corners of
changing wall planes or where architectural elements intersect, such as a pilaster,
projection, or fence line.
c. Only materials that perform well in the desert environment are permitted. Prohibited
materials include: plain concrete block, plain concrete, plywood, sheet pressboard, and
vinyl siding. The use of highly reflective materials is discouraged.
d. Roof materials and colors shall be consistent with the desired architectural style.
e. Materials and colors should be used to enhance different parts of a building’s façade.
f. Utilize low-reflective, subtle, neutral, or earth-tone colors on the building body. Building
trim and accent areas may feature brighter colors, including primary colors. Fluorescent
paints and bright colors are strongly discouraged.
g. Colors used on exterior facades should be harmonious. Contrasting colors are encouraged
to accentuate details.
h. Applying paint over brick and stone is strongly discouraged.
Siding, window
enhancements, lighting
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 45 of 75
Windows, Doors and Entries
a. Windows and doors should be proportionate to the building elevation.
b. Doors and windows should be enhanced by the use of accent trim.
c. Window type, material, shape, and proportion should complement the architectural style
of the building.
d. Where appropriate to the architectural style, windows shall be inset from building walls to
create shade and shadow detail. The minimum inset shall be two inches.
e. Architecture, pedestrian plazas, specialty paving, landscape materials, artwork, and
pedestrian-oriented lighting shall be used to emphasize entries.
f. Building entrances should be emphasized using lighting, landscaping, and architecture.
g. Upper floor entries at the street frontage should have a distinct design that complements
the main building frontage.
h. Stairways should be designed as an integral part of the overall architecture of the building.
Stairways should complement the building’s mass and form.
Potted plants emphasize
entrances
Pedestrian seating, shade
and lighting at entries
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 46 of 75
Specific Uses – Vertical Mixed-Use
a. The architecture of vertical mixed-use buildings should visually distinguish ground-floor
commercial from second-story office or residential. This can be achieved with variations
in architectural features and articulations while maintaining an overall cohesive building
design and form.
b. Vertical mixed-use buildings should use separate entries for ground-floor commercial and
second-story office or residential. Residential entries should be recessed into the
architecture of the building to provide subtlety and privacy.
Specific Uses - Hotels
a. Hotels should be designed with a distinct main entry using architectural features such as
a porte-cochere and specialized paving. Hotels with multilevel exterior corridors are
discouraged.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
C. Walls and Project Features
Page 47 of 75
C. Walls and Project Features
a. Walls and fences should be used to screen automobiles, loading and storage areas, and
utility structures.
b. Walls and fences should be kept as low as possible while performing their screening and
security functions, and should be minimized along public streets.
c. Where walls are used at property frontages, or screens are used to conceal storage and
equipment areas, they should be designed to blend with the site's architecture.
i. Architecturally treat both sides of all perimeter walls.
ii. Use landscaping in combination with such walls whenever possible.
d. When security fencing is required, provide a combination of solid pillars or short solid wall
segments and wrought iron grill work.
e. Use landscaping such as clinging vines and shrubs to soften the appearance of fencing
and walls.
f. Perimeter walls located along public streets should provide for wall inserts and/or
decorative columns or pilasters every 100 feet.
g. Permitted materials for walls shall be decorative masonry split face block, brick, natural
stone, precast concrete panels, stuccoed walls or other unique wall materials or finishes
that integrate well with on-site buildings, as determined during project design review.
Precision block is not considered decorative material and shall not be permitted as an
acceptable wall material.
h. All walls must feature matching or complimentary cap materials.
Wall and landscaping used to
screen parking lot
Tubular steel fence with
pilasters and
landscaping to screen
back of shopping center
from trail
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
Page 48 of 75
Screening
a. Where screening is required, combine elements, including solid masonry walls, berms,
and landscaping.
b. Chain link or similar metal wire fencing with slats should not be used for screening
purposes.
D. Landscaping
a. Landscape architects shall integrate visual focal points such as boulders, landscaped
mounds or berms, sculpture, and public art into their planting design.
b. Driveways, small plazas, courtyards, outdoor seating areas, upper story decks and
balconies, and pedestrian corridors should be landscaped as extensively as possible.
Accent planting beds and color pots with flowering annuals are encouraged. Canopy trees
and landscape structures should be used in these outdoor public areas to create “outdoor
rooms” and to define spaces.
c. Evergreen trees and shrubs should be used whenever a landscape screen or buffer is
required.
d. Landscaping should be used to soften the impact of large expanses of blank wall or
fencing. These areas should be screened with upright shrubs and clinging or trellised
vines. Trellises should be constructed of substantial, durable materials.
e. Landscaping should be utilized to frame and enhance building entries and other prominent
architectural features, and mask unarticulated walls and other elements of an elevation
that are not visually interesting.
f. Landscaping shall be incorporated around the base of buildings to soften the edge
between parking, drive aisles and sidewalks.
g. Walkways should be provided through landscaped areas along paths of likely travel to
protect landscaping from foot traffic.
Utilize landscaping
to enhance
walkable corridors.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
Page 49 of 75
h. Hardscape amenities, such as fountains, artwork, benches, seating areas, and trellises,
should be incorporated into the landscape design.
i. Accent landscaping shall be used to enhance and identify the entry drive and to delineate
drive aisles.
j. Perimeter landscaping should be provided in areas visible to public view, to identify the
edges of parking areas, and where necessary for screening.
k. Landscape fingers should be provided within parking areas.
i. Fingers should be a minimum of 5 feet in width and should extend to the length
of adjacent parking stalls.
ii. Landscape fingers should be provided at the rate of one per 8-10 parking stalls,
and need to be provided at the ends of parking aisles and throughout parking
areas.
iii. For parking stalls not located adjacent to landscaped edge areas individual tree
planters or wells should be provided at the rate of one for every 4 parking stalls.
l. Bicycle racks should be provided where appropriate. Rack designs that employ a theme
are highly encouraged.
m. Detention basins should not be located within the front setback unless designed as an
attractive landscape element. Stormwater retention ponds shall be designed as landscape
features rather than as large, unadorned depressions in the site.
Landscaping, trellis with vines,
seating areas incorporated in
design
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
Page 50 of 75
Plaza Spaces
a. Commercial developments with multiple tenants shall provide common outdoor plaza
areas.
b. Employee break areas and outdoor use areas shall be sheltered as much as possible from
the noise and traffic of adjacent streets and other incompatible uses.
c. Outdoor furniture and fixtures should be compatible with the project architecture and
should be carefully considered as integral elements of the project.
d. Outdoor furniture should be included in and shown on all site and landscaping plans
e. Exterior vending machines are discouraged.
f. The areas between buildings should be definable and purposely designed shapes, not
simply left over spaces between buildings.
Utilize outdoor furniture
to complement the
overall design theme.
Common plaza areas
should be purposefully
designed.
Public art helps
create a sense
of place.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
E. Lighting
Page 51 of 75
E. Lighting
a. Lighting, including security lighting, should be carefully designed to avoid direct glare into
neighboring properties and to be architecturally compatible with the character of the
development.
b. Parking lot lighting and wall light fixtures other than the standard “shoe box” types shall be
used, especially in parking lots that are viewed from major streets.
c. Lighting fixtures should complement and be compatible with the building’s design and
architectural style.
d. Fixtures shall be appropriately sized and in scale with the building façade.
e. Exterior building lighting should be used to accentuate the building design and highlight
architectural details and features integral to the building design.
f. Building entrances and street numbers should be well-lit and illuminated to be visible from
the street.
a. Parking lots and access and walkways and paseos shall be illuminated with a minimum of
1-foot candle of lighting.
g. Lighting fixtures should be shown on the landscaping plans.
h. Security lighting fixtures shall not project above the fascia or roof of the building.
i. Security lighting fixtures shall not be substituted for parking lot or walkway lighting
fixtures.
j. The location, height and design of light fixtures should correspond to anticipated use.
Lighting of pedestrian paths with bollards and generally smaller fixtures at a human scale
is encouraged for use in illuminating changes in grade, steps, path intersections, seating
areas and any other features along a movement path which, if left unlighted, would create
an unsafe situation.
Examples of decorative
lighting
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
F. Signage
Page 52 of 75
k. The lighting of building elements and trees is an effective and attractive lighting technique
that is encouraged; however, light sources for wall washing and tree lighting should be
hidden and shall meet the Dark Sky/Light Pollution Ordinance.
l. Incorporate timers and sensors to avoid unnecessary lighting.
F. Signage
a. Signs shall be architecturally compatible with a building’s architectural style with regards
to size, color, materials, and illumination.
Building-Attached Signage
a. Building-attached signs should complement, rather than compete with, the architectural
features and overall façade composition of the building. Such signs should be proportional
to the building so as not to dominate the appearance. Lettering style should be appropriate
to the building design.
Freestanding Signage
a. Freestanding signs should be designed to complement the architectural style of the
primary building(s) and incorporated into the landscape plan of the site, located in
landscaped areas.
b. Monument signs should generally be constructed upon a solid base or pedestal.
c. At major roadway intersections, Shopping Center identification monuments, with
enhanced landscaping, trellis or other features are encouraged to promote place-making.
Tenant signage on these monuments is discouraged, except for major tenants.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
G. Other Project Design Elements
Page 53 of 75
G. Other Project Design Elements
Trash Enclosures
a. Trash enclosure areas should be carefully designed, located, and integrated into the site
plan.
b. Trash enclosures should be designed with similar finishes, materials, and details as the
primary buildings within the project.
c. Enclosures shall be located away from adjacent residential uses to minimize nuisances to
neighboring properties.
d. Enclosures shall be separated from adjacent parking stalls with a minimum 5-foot wide
(interior clear dimension) planter and a 12-inch wide paved surface behind the curb. These
spaces will ensure adequate space is available for individuals to access the vehicle.
e. Trash/recycling containers should be large enough to handle the refuse generated by the
site.
f. Trash/recycling containers shall be screened using landscaping.
g. Chain link fencing and gates with wood slats shall not be used.
h. Enclosures should be unobtrusive and conveniently located for trash disposal by tenants
and collection by service vehicles.
i. Enclosures should not be visible from primary entry drives.
j. Enclosures should not be located at the end of “dead-end” drive aisles.
Utilize landscaping to
screen trash enclosures
and utilities.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
G. Other Project Design Elements
Page 54 of 75
Utilities
a. Utility and service areas should be part of the early building design process rather than
an afterthought at the construction document phase.
b. Transformers should be placed underground to maximize safety and minimize visual
impacts. When this location cannot be achieved, the transformers shall be well screened
(per utility company standards and approval) and placed in the rear or side yard area.
c. Mechanical equipment including gas meters, electrical meters, cable boxes, junction
boxes, irrigation controllers, and roof access ladders shall be located within a utility room.
Where this location cannot be achieved, these features shall be designed as an integral
part of the building on a rear or side elevation and screened from public view.
d. All vents, gutters, downspouts, flashing, and electrical panels should be painted to match
the surface to which these elements are attached, unless used as a major design element,
in which case the color is to be consistent with the overall color scheme of the building.
e. Discharge from gutters and downspouts should not flow directly across pedestrian
walkways. Water should be directed to permeable areas for percolation or to a project
drainage system.
f. Double detector check valve assemblies (backflow preventers) for landscape irrigation and
domestic water shall not be located at visually prominent locations (such as the end of
drive aisles or at site entries) and shall be well-screened with shrubs, berming, or low
screen walls.
Utilities completely screened
by this hedge
INDUSTRIAL
GUIDELINES INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 56 of 75
A. Project Design
All industrial building site layouts should be designed to provide interesting street scenes,
controlled site access, emergency vehicle access, convenient visitor parking, well-screened
outdoor storage, loading areas, equipment and service areas, and an emphasis on the entrance
or office portion of the building.
Site Design
a. Buildings, entries, office areas, windows and other prominent design features should face
streets and public areas.
b. Where industrial uses are adjacent to sensitive non-industrial uses, appropriate buffering
techniques, such as setbacks, screening, and landscaping, should be provided to mitigate
any negative effects of industrial operations.
c. Architectural enhancements, special landscaping and hardscape treatments and other
design features that will provide interest should be concentrated in areas visible from
public view and public areas within the site. This includes views from streets, freeways,
and the public areas of adjacent properties.
d. Project sites shall be designed so that areas used for loading, outdoor storage (where
allowed), and other potentially unsightly areas are screened from public view.
e. Specialty (decorative) paving material should be provided to enhance and identify main
driveway entries, transitions from public to private streets, building entries, plazas, seating
areas and the like.
f. Outdoor plazas or enhanced site features should be provided at the building entries.
Plazas should include seating or seat walls, potted plants, and shade structures or trees.
Public art or fountains are also encouraged.
g. Site accessories such as bicycle racks, trash receptacles, planters, benches, shade
structures and lighting should be designed as an integral part of the project.
Outdoor plazas
enhance
entryways.
Elements like
fountains and public
art are encouraged.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 57 of 75
i. The architectural character and use of materials for these elements should be
consistent with the overall project design.
ii. Such features should complement but not interrupt connecting walkways.
h. Outdoor employee break/lunch areas are encouraged. Where provided, they should be
located away from loading, storage and trash areas, and should be provided with shade,
seating, trash bins, etc.
i. Easily identifiable pedestrian access shall be provided from the street, sidewalk, parking
areas, and bus stops to building entrances and key areas within the site.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 58 of 75
Parking and Circulation
a. The parking lot should not be the dominant visual element of a site as viewed from the
street. Large parking areas directly in front of the building are discouraged, unless paved
areas are broken into smaller areas through the use of extensive landscaping, decorative
paving, pedestrian walkways, garden walls, elevation changes or similar design features.
b. Parking areas and drive aisles should be configured to minimize conflicts with loading
activities.
c. Customer parking areas, including a portion of stalls provided for the disabled, should be
placed near the main public entry and outside of loading and yard areas. Adequate access
for emergency vehicles must also be provided.
d. Site access and internal circulation should be designed in a straightforward manner that
emphasizes safety and efficiency.
e. Parking areas should provide pedestrian pathways.
f. Once on site, vehicles should not be required to exit onto the street in order to move from
one parking area to another on the same site.
g. The use of reciprocal (common) driveways to provide access to two or more buildings is
encouraged.
h. The use of streets for truck staging and queuing is not allowed.
i. Adequate room is needed for trucks to maneuver and queue to unload. Dock-high loading
doors should have a minimum clear area of 120 feet back from the door to provide
adequate truck maneuvering. Smaller areas may be considered in special cases, if it can
be shown on the site plan that adequate maneuvering areas and turning radii can be
provided.
j. Required parking stalls and drive aisles must be used exclusively for vehicle parking and
circulation, remain unobstructed and cannot be used as areas for trailer storage, truck
maneuvering (except drive aisles), outdoor storage or other outdoor activities.
Customer parking
provided at front and
parking lot screened
by shrubs from street
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
A. Project Design
Page 59 of 75
Loading and Outdoor Storage Areas
a. Loading and outdoor storage areas should be located to the rear or sides of buildings and
must be out of public view.
b. Building mass is the preferred method for screening loading areas and outdoor storage
areas. Where building mass is not utilized, a combination of screen walls, berms,
landscaping and elevation changes are to be used to screen public views.
c. Any outdoor storage height should be limited to 8 feet in height.
d. Loading areas shall be located on-site so as to prohibit backing in from or onto a public
street.
e. Sliding gates into loading areas visible from the street should be constructed with wrought
iron or tubular steel and high-density perforated metal screening or equivalent durable
material. The gate should be painted to match or complement adjacent walls.
f. The location of loading areas should be designed to avoid direct views into loading areas
when gates are open, to the extent possible.
g. If located near or adjacent to residential areas, the design of overhead doors should
minimize noise through devices such as rubber seals and/or other sound-dampening
features.
Storage area in back,
screened by landscaping
and fencing from
adjacent property
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 60 of 75
B. Building Design
Building Form
a. Architectural elements, including overhangs, trellises, projections, awnings, and/or insets,
should be incorporated into the building design to create shadow patterns that contribute
to a buildings character.
b. Overall building mass shall be divided into smaller identified parts. Large, blank, flat
surfaces are not permitted.
c. Wall forms should be articulated with changes in massing, colors, and materials, and a
change in horizontal wall plane should occur every 50 feet or less.
d. Structures two-stories or higher are encouraged to incorporate a step in the vertical wall
plane to reduce the scale of the building. This step can be accomplished by stepping back
the floors above the first or by projecting first floor elements or wall surfaces.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 61 of 75
Roof Form
a. Rooflines shall be broken by changes in height, wall plane, or stepbacks at intervals no
greater than 50 feet.
b. Parapet walls and roof forms shall be designed to screen roof mounted mechanical
equipment. All screening shall be constructed consistent with the materials of the building
and not simply “box-in” the equipment.
i. If the interior side of a parapet is visible from pedestrian view, it shall be finished
with the same materials and a similar level of detail as the front façade.
ii. Parapets should include one or more of the following detail treatments: pre-cast
elements, continuous banding or projecting cornices, dentils, caps, variety in pitch
(sculpted), other horizontal decoration, and/or clean edges with no unfinished
flashing.
iii. Parapets should not appear “tacked on” and should convey a sense of
permanence.
c. A full pitched roof over an entire industrial building is not realistic. Where feasible and
appropriate to the architectural style of the building, a full pitched roof should be provided
over the entry and/or office portion of the structure.
d. Piecemeal mansard roofs (used on a portion of the building perimeter only) should not
be used. Mansard roofs should wrap around the entire perimeter of the structure.
Parapet walls with change in
height and clean edges
Full pitched roof
on a portion of
the building
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 62 of 75
Massing and Articulation
a. A single, dominant, singular building massing is not acceptable, especially for larger
buildings.
b. Breaks in building mass should be used to provide visual relief for long building facades
(50 feet or more) that are visible from public view.
c. Substantial variations at massing breaks should include changes in height and the
horizontal plane. Changes in materials, textures and the utilization of other architectural
enhancements at massing breaks is also encouraged.
d. The use of entry/office elements as massing breaks is strongly encouraged, although a
single massing break provided by the entry/office element will probably not be sufficient
for longer building facades.
e. The extent and size of massing breaks and building projections should relate visually to
the overall scale of the building – in most cases narrow breaks on large buildings will not
provide the desired effect.
f. Massing breaks must be designed in coordination with other enhancements provided along
the facade in a manner that breaks up long stretches of flat and/or unarticulated building
walls.
g. When massing breaks, materials changes or other enhancements occur at the corner of a
building which is visible from public view, the treatment should be wrapped around the
corner to provide a finished feel to the corner element.
Massing breaks at entry
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 63 of 75
Materials and Colors
a. Materials and colors should be varied to create visual interest in building facades.
b. Multiple exterior wall finishes, including stucco, plaster, glass, stone, brick, and/or
decorative masonry, should be used to define building form and create interest at entries.
c. Buildings should not employ a singular material from base to parapet.
d. Entries and building bases should be articulated through the use of color, material change,
and/or texture.
e. Pre-cast walls should incorporate reveals, recessed panels, recessed windows, and/or
molding to articulate the building exteriors.
f. Large areas of smooth finish concrete wall panels should be enhanced with some form of
texture. Consider using heavy textured paint or forming textures into selected areas of
wall panels to avoid a glossy/ high glare look on building surfaces.
g. Warmer earth tones are preferred to white or other bright colors that produce glare.
h. All metal buildings and concrete tilt-up buildings must be designed to have an exterior
appearance of conventionally built structures. Exterior surfaces should include portions of
stucco, plaster, glass, stone, brick, or decorative masonry. Stock, “off-the-shelf” metal
buildings are not permitted as primary structures.
Use of stone and color
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
B. Building Design
Page 64 of 75
Windows, Doors and Entries
a. At least 40 percent of the ground level street-fronting façade shall be transparent
(windows and doors).
b. Windows and doors should be proportionate to the building elevation.
c. Windows and entries should establish character by their rhythm and variety. Recessed
openings help to provide depth and contrast on elevation planes and are strongly
encouraged.
d. Window type, material, shape, and proportion should complement the architectural style
of the building.
e. Windows shall be inset into the primary wall plane a minimum of 2 inches where
appropriate to the architectural style of the building, in order to provide some shadow
detail.
f. Entries shall be articulated, covered, and/or recessed.
g. Architecture, pedestrian plazas, special paving treatments, landscape materials, artwork,
and pedestrian-oriented lighting shall be used to emphasize entries.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
C. Walls, Landscaping and Project Features
Page 65 of 75
C. Walls, Landscaping and Project Features
Walls and Fences
a. Walls and fences in public view should be built with attractive, durable materials, including
(but not limited to) wrought iron, textured concrete block, or formed concrete with
reveals.
b. Fences and walls should be consistent with materials and designs used throughout the
project.
c. Long expanses of uninterrupted fences and walls should be avoided along streets and
freeways through the use of offset surfaces and architectural treatment.
i. Techniques to provide such treatments may include items such as; raised planters,
openings, material changes, offset sections and pilasters or posts.
Screening
a. Screen walls and fences should not exceed a height of 8 feet. When additional height is
needed to provide adequate screening, berms within landscaped areas should be provided
to reduce the perceived height of the wall as seen from public view. The height from the
top of the berm to the top of the wall should not exceed 8 feet. The berm/landscape area
in front of the screen wall should be landscaped with shrubs and trees that will, at
maturity, exceed the height of the wall.
b. All fences and walls required for screening purposes shall be of solid material, painted and
textured to match elements of the adjoining building elevations. Trees and shrubs shall
be planted adjacent to the walls to soften the wall’s appearance.
c. Chain-link fencing with vinyl slating are not acceptable materials for screening.
Wall and landscaping screens
outdoor storage from road
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
Page 66 of 75
D. Landscaping
a. Landscaping should be concentrated in areas visible from public view, and public areas
within the site.
b. Landscape architects shall integrate visual focal points such as boulders, landscaped
mounds or berms, sculpture, and public art into their planting design.
c. Landscaping should be grouped into larger areas, rather than distributing it into areas of
little impact such as behind buildings, internal yard/loading areas and other areas outside
of the public view. An exception to this provision occurs when such landscaping is needed
for buffer or screening purposes
d. Landscaping should be utilized to frame and enhance building entries and other prominent
architectural features, and mask unarticulated walls and other elements of an elevation
that are not visually interesting. Use of vines on walls is encouraged in industrial areas
because such walls often tend to be large and blank.
e. Accent landscaping shall be used to enhance and identify the entry drive and to delineate
drive aisles.
f. Perimeter landscaping should be provided in areas visible to public view, to identify the
edges of parking areas, and where necessary for screening.
g. Landscape fingers should be provided within parking areas.
i. Fingers should be a minimum of 5 feet in width and should extend to the length
of adjacent parking stalls.
ii. Landscape fingers should be provided at the rate of one per 8-10 parking stalls,
and need to be provided at the ends of parking aisles and throughout parking
areas.
iii. For parking stalls not located adjacent to landscaped edge areas individual tree
planters or wells should be provided at the rate of one for every 4 parking stalls.
Landscaping
should enhance
entryways.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
D. Landscaping
Page 67 of 75
h. Detention basins should not be located within the front setback unless designed as an
attractive landscape element. Stormwater retention ponds shall be designed as landscape
features rather than as large, unadorned depressions in the site.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
E. Lighting
Page 68 of 75
E. Lighting
a. Lighting, including security lighting, should be carefully designed to avoid direct glare into
neighboring properties and to be architecturally compatible with the character of the
development.
b. Parking lot lighting and wall light fixtures other than the standard “shoe box” types shall be
used, especially in parking lots that are viewed from major streets.
c. Lighting fixtures should complement and be compatible with the building’s design and
architectural style.
d. Fixtures shall be appropriately sized and in scale with the building façade.
e. Exterior building lighting should be used to accentuate the building design and highlight
architectural details and features integral to the building design.
f. Building entrances and street numbers should be well-lit and illuminated to be visible from
the street.
g. Parking lots and access and walkways and paseos shall be illuminated with a minimum of
1 footcandle of lighting.
h. Lighting fixtures should be shown on the landscaping plans.
i. Lighting should be used to provide for illumination for the security and safety of on-site
areas such as parking, loading, shipping and receiving, pathways and other work areas.
j. Security lighting fixtures should not project above the fascia or roofline of the building.
k. The location, height and design of light fixtures should correspond to anticipated use.
Lighting of pedestrian paths with bollards and generally smaller fixtures at a human scale
is encouraged for use in illuminating changes in grade, steps, path intersections, seating
areas and any other features along a movement path which, if left unlighted, would create
an unsafe situation.
Parking lot lights are
decorative
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
F. Signage
Page 69 of 75
F. Signage
a. Signs shall be architecturally compatible with a building’s architectural style with regards
to size, color, materials, and illumination.
Building-Attached Signage
a. Building-attached signs should complement, rather than compete with, the architectural
features and overall façade composition of the building. Such signs should be proportional
to the building so as not to dominate the appearance. Lettering style should be appropriate
to the building design.
Freestanding Signage
a. Freestanding signs should be designed to complement the architectural style of the
primary building(s) and incorporated into the landscape plan of the site, located in
landscaped areas.
b. Monument signs should generally constructed upon a solid base or pedestal.
c. The use of backlit individually cut letter signs is strongly encouraged.
d. The industrial site should be appropriately signed to give directions to loading and
receiving areas, visitor parking, and other special areas.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
G. Other Project Design Elements
Page 70 of 75
G. Other Project Design Elements
Trash Enclosures
a. Trash enclosure areas should be carefully designed, located, and integrated into the site
plan.
b. Trash enclosures should be designed with similar finishes, materials, and details as the
primary buildings within the project.
c. Enclosures shall be located away from adjacent residential uses to minimize nuisances to
neighboring properties.
d. Enclosures shall be separated from adjacent parking stalls with a minimum 5-foot wide
(interior clear dimension) planter and a 12-inch wide paved surface behind the curb. These
spaces will ensure adequate space is available for individuals to access the vehicle.
e. Trash/recycling containers should be large enough to handle the refuse generated by the
site.
f. Trash/recycling containers shall be screened using landscaping.
g. Chain link fencing and gates with wood slats shall not be used.
h. Enclosures should be unobtrusive and conveniently located for trash disposal by tenants
and collection by service vehicles.
i. Enclosures should not be visible from primary entry drives.
j. Enclosures should not be located at the end of “dead-end” drive aisles.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
G. Other Project Design Elements
Page 71 of 75
Utilities
a. Utility and service areas should be part of the early building design process rather than
an afterthought at the construction document phase.
b. Transformers should be placed underground to maximize safety and minimize visual
impacts. When this location cannot be achieved, the transformers shall be well screened
(per utility company standards and approval) and placed in the rear or side yard area.
c. Mechanical equipment including gas meters, electrical meters, cable boxes, junction
boxes, irrigation controllers, and roof access ladders shall be located within a utility room.
Where this location cannot be achieved, these features shall be designed as an integral
part of the building on a rear or side elevation and screened from public view.
d. All vents, gutters, downspouts, flashing, and electrical panels should be painted to match
the surface to which these elements are attached, unless used as a major design element,
in which case the color is to be consistent with the overall color scheme of the building.
e. Discharge from gutters and downspouts should not flow directly across pedestrian
walkways. Water should be directed to permeable areas for percolation or to a project
drainage system.
f. Double detector check valve assemblies (backflow preventers) for landscape irrigation and
domestic water shall not be located at visually prominent locations (such as the end of
drive aisles or at site entries) and shall be well-screened with shrubs, berming, or low
screen walls.
HILLSIDE
DEVELOPMENT HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT
GUIDELINES
HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
Views
Page 73 of 75
Municipal Code
The development of slopes, hillsides, and ridgelines are regulated by Chapter 9.190 of the City of
Menifee Municipal Code. The guidelines are listed below:
Site Design
a. Design of building sites should be sensitive to the natural terrain and structures should be
located in a manner to minimize necessary grading and to preserve natural features such
as prominent knolls or ridgelines.
b. In steeper terrain (twenty percent {20%} slope and greater), front yard setbacks may be
reduced to a minimum of twenty (20) feet from back of curb or back of sidewalk,
whichever is more restrictive, to minimize rear yard grading.
Views
Preserve views of significant visual features as seen from both within and outside a hillside
development.
a. Homes should be oriented to allow view opportunities, although such views may be
limited; however, residential privacy should not be unreasonably sacrificed.
b. Projects should incorporate clustering consistent with Chapter 9.170 “Cluster Development
Subdivision” variable setbacks, multiple orientations, and other site planning techniques
to preserve open spaces, protect natural features and offer views to residents, without
creating visual obstructions to the natural hillsides and ridgelines.
c. Clustering of development consistent with Chapter 9.170 “Cluster Development
Subdivision”, should be encouraged in environmentally sensitive areas as a means to
reduce the potential for fire hazard and spread, erosion and excess runoff and to preserve
existing natural features and open space.
d. Whenever possible, as based on the overall parcel configuration and orientation, homes
should be designed to front onto east–west streets or should be plotted to follow the
natural contours rather than fronting onto north–south streets.
MINIMIZE UNNECESSARY GRADING
HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
Landscaping
Page 74 of 75
e. Where possible, graded areas should be designed with manufactured slopes located on
the uphill side of structures, thereby hiding the slope behind the structure.
Architecture
a. Avoid large expanses of a single material on walls or paving areas. Create interesting,
small-scale patterns by breaking up building mass, varying building materials, and through
design and placement of windows and doors.
b. Building materials and color schemes should blend with the natural landscape. Treated
wood or materials of a wood-like appearance, having the necessary fire-retardant
characteristics, are encouraged for exterior surfaces. Where exterior stucco is used, it
should have a final coat of integrated color in a muted earth tone. Contrasting color
accents should be kept to a minimum, particularly on the view side. Use of other natural
materials, such as decorative rock, is encouraged.
Walls and Fences
a. Walls and fences can be used to define a sense of place and create an attractive
appearance. However, walls should not dominate a view, and their height should be
limited adjacent to a public right-of-way, trail or within a rear yard. Terracing and
extensive landscaping can reduce the effective appearance of bulk. In addition, street-
front walls should incorporate varying design and natural materials. The use of open-view
fencing is encouraged, so long as adequate public safety and residential privacy are
maintained.
b. Fences will be allowed to provide a private outdoor area. These fences shall be designed
as an integral part of the building and in a manner to minimize the visual impact on
surrounding areas.
Landscaping
a. Natural landform planting should be used to soften manufactured slopes, reduce the
impact of development on steep slopes or ridgelines, and provide erosion control.
PRESERVE OPEN SPACE
WITH CLUSTERING
PLACE MANUFACTURED SLOPES
BEHIND BUILDINGS
HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
Trails
Page 75 of 75
b. Maintain a "vegetative backdrop" by replanting with native trees. The vegetation should
screen structures to the extent possible at maturity and preserve the appearance of the
natural skyline.
c. To minimize the grading of large flat areas and encourage water conservation techniques,
large expanses of low-growing grass in the front and side yards adjacent to a street are
strongly discouraged.
Drainage
a. Where possible, drainage channels should be placed in less visible locations, and more
importantly, should receive a naturalizing treatment including native rock, colored
concrete and landscaping so that the structure appears as an integral part of the
environment.
b. Natural drainage courses should be preserved and enhanced to the fullest extent possible.
Rather than filling them in, drainage features should be incorporated as an integral part
of the project design to enhance the overall quality and aesthetics of a site, to provide
attractive open space vistas, and to preserve the natural character of the area.
Trails
Trails are an integral part of a hillside area and provide recreation areas for equestrian, hiking
and biking uses. They can also function as a means to take up grade or to convey drainage
a. In hillside areas, it is not always necessary to provide full improvements for trails. A more
natural experience may be achieved, and the amount of grading required can be reduced,
by providing minimal improvements in appropriate areas, such as undevelopable, steep
slopes.
RETAIN INTEGRITY OF NATURAL SLOPE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE
CITY OF MENIFEE
l, Stephanie Roseen, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Menifee, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Planning Commission Resolution No. PC19-472 was duly adopted by the Planning
Commission of the City of Menifee at a meeting thereof held on the 23 day of October 2019 by
the following vote:
Ayes: Diederich, Phillips, Thomas, Kanruin
Noes: NoneAbsent: Madrid
Abstain: None
anie Roseen, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
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