DSG-2: BUILDING SETBACKS

Placement and orientation of building on a parcel strongly influences how a development interacts with the public realm and the experience it creates on the public street by creating an appropriately scaled enclosure and active frontage. One method to achieve this intent is to regulate building setbacks from the property line. Building setbacks provide a transition between the building face and the sidewalk which can be used for outdoor restaurant seating, outdoor shopping area for retail, stoops for residential buildings, landscaped plaza or other activating uses.

The Specific Plan establishes minimum and maximum setback requirements for the Plan Area to allow for flexibility in responding to specific site conditions.

The Downtown Mixed Use area is envisioned to have a tight-knit, finegrain fabric. Therefore none to minimal setback from property line is required. Similary, El Camino Real is envisioned to be a corridor with wide sidewalks with robust planting and streetscape elements. Therefore on all parcels fronting El Camino Real, except those that are along the frontage street are required to provide a minimum setback of 5 feet from front property line to allow for active frontage including outdoor spill-over area for ground floor uses, stoops, building entrances, landscaping, public art, plazas, outdoor seating and other public realm improvement that will contribute to the overall streetscape design.

Standards

Objective: To achieve an active frontage that contributes positively to the street experience.

DS-2.1: New development shall comply with setback requirement summarized in Table 5.4

DS-2.2: Setbacks from streets shall be treated consistent with sidewalks with materials, landscaping and furnishings that either match or complement the elements recommended in Appendix A: Broadway and El Camino Real Streetscape Plan.

DS-2.3: Locating automobile parking, mechanical equipment or storage units shall not be permitted in front setback zones. Where these features are unavoidable due to site constraints such as parcel size, access, circulation, and building code requirements, these elements shall be adequately screened from public view using screening elements.

DS-2.4: All mechanical equipment needed to be placed within any of the setback zones shall be screened using screening elements such as planting or screen walls made of materials consistent with the quality and material palette used in the rest of the project.

DS-2.5 Where feasible and approved by the utility agency, transformers installed in setback areas and public right-of-way shall be underground.

DS-2.6: Projections for balconies or bay windows at or above the second floor shall not project more than 3 feet into the setback zones.

DS-2.7: Canopies, awnings, lighting or signage at the ground floor shall not project more than 3 feet in to the setback zones; and shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 9’ from the grade level.

Guidelines

G-2.1: Where possible, providing a public paseo in side setback zones is strongly encouraged, especially on parcels between El Camino Real and Broadway, to maximize the number of pedestrian connections to downtown.

G-2.2: On parcels with active ground floor uses outdoor dining or publicly accessible landscaped plazas in side setback areas will be allowed.

TABLE 5.4 BUILDING SETBACK REQUIREMENTS BY LAND USE DESIGNATION

Land Use Designation Street Setback

Downtown Mixed Use (DMU)Broadway frontage

Downtown Mixed Use (DMU)ECR frontage

Corridor Mixed Use (CMU)Broadway frontage

• 0’ (built to property line)

• 0’ (built to property line)

• Min. 0‘

• Max. 10‘ if active frontage and public realm enhancements are provided.

Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) - ECR frontage

**Parcels fronting both Broadway and ECR shall comply with front setbacks for both street frontages.

• Min. 5‘ from front property line at ground floor for active frontage and public realm enhancements. Upper stories can be built to property line.

• Max. 10‘

Residential Focused Mixed Use (RFMU) - Broadway frontage

• Min. 5‘ from front property line for active frontage and public realm enhancements

• Max. 10‘

Residential Focused Mixed Use (RFMU) - ECR frontage

**Parcels fronting both Broadway and ECR shall comply with front setbacks for both street frontages.

Neighborhood Commercial Mixed Use (NCMU)

Residential

• Min. 5‘ from front property line at ground floor for active frontage and public realm enhancements. Upper stories can be built to property line.

• Max. 10‘

• 0‘ (built to property line)

Rear Setback Side Setback

• No. Min. or max requirement

• Min. 5‘

• Max. 10‘

• No minimum required. Max. 6‘.

• 0‘ setback from side streets for corner lots.

• No minimum required.

• 0‘ setback from side streets for corner lots.

• No minimum required.

• Min. 10’

• Min. 10‘ for parcels less than 150’ deep.

• Min 20’ for parcels more than 150’ deep

• Min. 5‘

• Max. 10‘

• Min. 15’ on parcels east of ECR

• 5‘ setback from side streets for corner lots

• Min. 5‘ for buildings up to 45’ height

• Min. 10‘ for buildings over 45’ height

• 5’ setback from side streets for corner lots

• Min. 5‘ for buildings up to 45’ height

• Min. 10‘ for buildings over 45’ height

• 5‘ setback from side streets for corner lots

• Min. 5‘ for buildings up to 45’ height

• Min. 10‘ for buildings over 45’ height

• 5‘ setback from side streets for corner lots

• No. Min. or max requirement

• Unchanged. Must comply with the Zoning Code and General Plan 2040.

• No minimum required.

• 0‘ setback from side streets for corner lots.

DSG-3: MASSING AND MODULATION

Building massing, modulation of form and facade articulation all help to break the monotony of a continuous building edge and to create a visually rich street environment. Especially in larger buildings they help to break down the mass and create a transition that is appropriately scaled to the street or adjacent buildings. The modulation can occur both vertically and horizontally in a building by creating visual breaks in continuous length of a facade.

Standards

Massing

DS-3.1: Horizontal breaks Buildings taller than four stories shall have a horizontal break to clearly distinguish the ground floor from upper floors. The distinction can be made by recessing the ground floor, stepping back floors above the ground floor, using different materials or architectural features such as arcades, columns, and window designs.

DS-3.2: Stepbacks

Buildings taller than 65 feet shall have a minimum 6 feet deep step-back for stories above 65 feet.

DS-3.3: Vertical breaks

• Buildings longer than 125 feet shall incorporate at least one break in the vertical plane by way of recesses or projections along the length of the facade.

• Buildings longer than 250 feet shall have a vertical break occurring at no more than every 125 feet.

• Vertical breaks by way of recesses or projections should be at least 15 feet wide and 5 feet deep.

DS-3.4: Solar Access

• Building form design should take into consideration access to sunlight and air to adjacent buildings, and on- and off-site public spaces.

Facade articulation

DS-3.5: Buildings along primary circulation routes such as Broadway, Millbrae Avenue, and El Camino Real, shall be articulated to create a rhythm and variety to achieve a fine-grained urban fabric.

DS-3.6: Irrespective of the length and height of the building, facades facing public streets or a public space shall incorporate architectural treatments such as windows, balconies and terraces, roof articulation, overhangs, and shallow projections and recesses to create a visually rich street-wall with light and shadow play.

Building Corners

Building corners are important architectural elements that can serve as landmark features and placemaking elements. Therefore, building corners at street intersections should be emphasized by incorporating architectural elements along with active ground floor use that animates the street corner.

DS-3.7: Buildings at intersections of El Camino Real and Millbrae Avenue, Victoria Avenue, Hillcrest Boulevard, Taylor and Meadow Glen Avenues shall have architectural treatments that emphasize the corners and create a landmark feature. Corner treatments may include primary building entrances, projecting or recessed balconies, articulated window details, change in building materials, projections, setbacks and differentiation in building height.

Fenestration

Fenestration is the arrangement, proportioning and design of windows. Windows help to articulate a facade, and lend it a distinctive character by way of their design and materials used.

DS-3.8: Building facades fronting public streets or public spaces shall have windows covering a minimum of sixty percent of the facade area. Windows shall not have reflective material and shall be wellproportioned to the building size, well-detailed, and recessed to achieve articulation of the façade for creating visual interest. They should also ensure adequate light and air to the building interiors.

DS-3.9: Windows shall be designed to reveal the thickness/depth of the facade wall. They shall be recessed by at least 4“ from the face of the wall.

DS-3.10: Windows should be authentic to the use of space behind them, such as residential, commercial office, cultural uses, etc. For example designing windows for an office building or a retail floor to look like residential building windows, would not be aesthetically appropriate and will look pastiche.

DS-3.11: Windows should be wellproportioned, and operable where appropriate.

DS-3.12: Windows should be grouped to establish a rhythm across the façade.

DS-3.13: Curtain wall systems should be designed with modulating features appropriate to the material and technology in use.

Ground Floor Design

Design of the ground floor of a building is one of the most important placemaking elements, since it is the interface that is experienced the most at the street level. Therefore a ground floor design that is engaging and visually attractive is important for a vibrant street environment.

DS-3.14: In mixed-use buildings, minimum height of ground floor with non-residential uses shall be 14 feet measured from finished floor to finished ceiling.

Ground floor heights of 18 feet to 20 feet is strongly encouraged to accommodate high-quality retail spaces or loft-style residential with vertically stacked parking behind.

DS-3.15: Ground floors of mixed-use, commercial or cultural use buildings shall be at sidewalk level or no more than 2 feet above sidewalk level

DS-3.16: Ground floors of residential buildings shall be elevated above the sidewalk level to provide adequate privacy, but no more than 4 feet. When elevated by 4 feet above sidewalk level, stoops, balconies, building entrances and landscaping should be provided on the façade to create an active frontage along the streets.

DSG-4: ACTIVE FRONTAGE

Building frontages that contribute to the vibrancy of street life by engaging with pedestrians either with ground floor programming, design of the facade, indoor-outdoor connection through transparent facades or by creating visual interest with art, lighting or other elements, are considered as active frontage. Thus active frontage is a combination of active ground floor uses and architectural features.

Active ground floor uses are those that promote an active pedestrian environment on the ground floor of buildings. These uses can include restaurants, cafes, retail stores, small offices, maker spaces, grocery stores, entrance lobbies, galleries, fitness centers, community centers, and privately owned public spaces.

When ground floors of buildings are occupied by residential uses, then architectural elements such as stoops, bay windows, building entrances, lobbies, landscaped patios, outdoor seating, planting and street furnishings, can encourage more “eyes on the street” and create an engaging pedestrian street environment. Refer to Table 5.2 for list of active ground floor uses.

Standards

DS-4.1: All new development shall have an active frontage for a minimum of 50% of the length of the building.

DS-4.2: All new development along El Camino Real, with nonresidential ground floor use, shall have a minimum of 50% of the linear ground floor facade as transparent to contribute to street activation.

DS-4.3: All new development along Broadway Avenue, with nonresidential ground floor use, shall have a minimum of 75% of the linear ground floor wall transparent to contribute to street activation. Buildings with residential use on the ground floor should have at least 50% of the linear ground floor wall transparent. Clear or translucent windows fulfill this requirement. Dark tinted window films, screens, reflective glass, and similar materials that are not visually transparent shall not be allowed.

DS-4.4: Shopfronts shall have primary entrances along Broadway.

FIG 5.8: ACTIVE FRONTAGE MAP

Millbrae City Limits Downtown and El Camino Real Specific

Downtown Mixed Use

Corridor Mixed Use

Neighborhood

Commercial Mixed Use

Residential Focused Mixed Use

Residential*

Commercial Preference Area

Active Ground Floor Uses Frontage Zone

* General Plan Land Use Designations apply

Active Frontage Guidelines

G-4.1: Buildings should maintain a consistent and well-articulated frontage along El Camino Real and Broadway, with primary building entrances located on these streets. Balconies and bay windows are encouraged.

G-4.2: Building Entrances: should be well-designed, appropriatelyscaled, easy to find, and serve as a special architectural feature.

G-4.3: Ground floor façades: Where ground facades are not transparent, architectural features such as building entrances, porches, stoops, and bay windows should be used, to activate the street.

G-4.4: Porches, stoops, overhangs, bay windows, and balconies are encouraged to animate the streetscape and provide humanscaled articulation to the building façade. They should be integrated in the overall design of the building and landscape.

G-4.5: Blank Façades: Blank walls without windows, doors, or other visually transparent elements are strongly discouraged along Broadway. They must be minimized on El Camino Real. When they need to occur they shall not be more than

50 feet long and should have visually interesting features such as murals, art installations, or landscape treatments.

G-4.6: A frontage where a portion of the façade is set back to create an entry plaza or outdoor dining area is encouraged.

G-4.7: Buildings with the ground floor set back to accommodate outdoor dining, should design the outdoor space consistent with the overall building design as well as outside public realm.

G-4.8: Awnings are encouraged but should not obstruct or prevent the placement of street trees or other improvements within the public rightof-way. Canopies and awnings, on the ground floor should occur at regular intervals to identify shopfronts or mark entries and lobbies. Canopies and awnings within a single block should be of consistent design and projection depth, and serve as an accent to the building design.

G-4.9: Signage: Wayfinding and building signage if designed well, can add visual interest to the street environment. Signage should complement building design in the choice of materials, colors, scale, lettering, and lighting, and enhance the public realm.

Where blank facades are inevitable murals are an effective activation technique. Residential stoops and setbacks create an opportunity for spontaneous street activation.