City Council Action  01/01/2001

Ordinance No. 174,652 

Motion – In 1992, the City Council adopted the Hillside Ordinance, establishing regulations for building setbacks, fire protection, lot coverage, parking, street access, sewer connections and grading for new construction in the fragile hillsides of the City. These provisions acknowledge the unique problems presented by hillside development and provide for appropriate regulations to ensure that such development is safe and accessible. Building on hillside lots has increased dramatically over the past few years and it has come to the Council’s attention that certain provisions of the ordinance require clarification. In particular, Section 12.21 a 17 (i) provides for an exception to the provisions of the ordinance for any construction on a lot that fronts on a “fully-improved street” which meets or exceeds the dimensions of a hillside street (limited) as shown in the standard street dimensions of Standard Plan *S-470-0 *(Miscikowski – Feuer) as determined by the Bureau of Engineering. The meaning of “fully-improved street” requires clarification to ensure that development exempted from the provisions of the Hillside Ordinance is truly and fully accessible by fire safety and other emergency personnel. THEREFORE, MOVE that the Planning Department and the City Attorney be instructed to prepare an ordinance which clarifies that “fully-improved street” means the street on which a lot fronts meets or exceeds the dimensions of a Hillside Street (Limited) as shown in the Standard Street Dimensions of Standard Plan *S-470-0 *(Miscikowski – Feuer) for the entire length of the street from the lot to a collector street, a secondary or major highway, where the collector, major or secondary highway also meets or exceeds those Standard Street Dimensions for its entire length in the Hillside Area. OLD COUNCIL FILE 91-1621