Squaw Valley General Plan & Land Use Ordinance 1983

 

Section 220- Village Commercial District:  The intent of creating a “Village Commercial” land use district is to allow for and guide the development of an environment that will be interesting to people on foot, that would promote interaction between people, and that would remove or reduce pedestrian competition with the automobile.  As the focal point of a destination ski resort, development occurring within this district must be equally oriented to the ski hill and the major pedestrian/vehicular access points.  Commercial and tourist residential uses are encouraged to be provided within the same structure.  The area so designated in the Squaw Valley General Plan has strong potential for complementary development, attracting both residents and visitors to the village core and thus promoting the social and economic vitality of the entire area.

            It is the intent of these regulations to preserve existing attractions in this district and to encourage new cultural and recreational facilities as well as hotel, restaurant, commercial and office uses.  In view of the compact nature of the district, its principal functions, its relationship to adjoining districts to the east, west and south,  and the high concentrations of pedestrian traffic anticipated, it is intended that there shall be ample, safe, and convenient pedestrian circulation both within the core area, and to principal destinations in adjoining areas.  A coordinated pedestrian network should be formed among buildings, plazas, and landscaped open spaces thereby avoiding conflicts with automotive traffic to the maximum extent possible.

            Since hotels are am essential element in this district, it is intended to permit higher floor area ratios for hotel uses than apply generally.  Because of the difficulty of constructing new day-skier parking lots in the core area, and the probability of a decrease in the future supply of day-skier parking spaces as a result of public and private actions, plus a recognized continuing need for day-skier parking areas, it is intended that off-street parking requirements shall be strictly applied within this district.

            The existing ski-tourist-commercial facilities located in this district have established a focal point for the ultimate development of a village core.  The presence of the extensive parking lots, the tram building, and Blyth Arena, as well as the proximity to the mountains on three sides and the limited land available for urban-type development, appear to justify high density on private lands within the district.  At the same time, the maintenance of the principal views of the mountain peaks and hillsides must be retained to the maximum degree possible.  It is therefore intended that these regulations establish pedestrian open space requirements, floor area ratios, and open space ratios which provide the framework for a pedestrian and view oriented urban design.

           

220.10- Permitted Principle Uses and Structures:

a)      Amusement and recreational enterprises

b)      Churches

c)      Clubs and Lodges

d)      Employee housing in conjunction with commercial and hotel structures and projects.

e)      Financial institutions without drive up windows

f)        Hotels

g)      Multi-family residential projects

h)      Offices

i)        Parking garages; parking lots

j)        Planned Unit Developments

k)      Restaurants without drive up windows, nightclubs and taverns

l)        Retail establishments, except new or used automotive, trailer or motorcycle sales or service; or establishments dealing primarily with second hand merchandise other than antiques.

m)    Schools- public or private

n)      Service establishments, including personal and repair services other than those for appliance, heavy equipment.

o)      Service stations

p)      Structures and uses required for the operation of a public utility or performance of a governmental function, except uses involving more than 2,500 sq. ft. of outdoor storage of equipment or materials.

q)      Timeshare condominiums

r)       Helicopter skiing

 

220.12- Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures:  Uses and structures which are customarily accessory and clearly incidental to permitted principle uses and structures shall be permitted in this district, subject to the general restrictions on principle uses and structures.

 

220.14- Planned Unit Development:  The standards contained in Chapter 30, Subchapter 10, Section 10.060 of the Placer County Zoning Ordinance shall apply in this district except where the requirements noted in this Ordinance are more restrictive. 

 

220.16- Height Restrictions:  There shall be no specific height limitations in this district, but height limits shall be set for particular developments through the design review process where other developed or developable parcels are affected by a proposed building.

 

220.20- Pedestrian Open Space:  Pedestrian open space shall be provided in an amount equal to at least 20% of the gross lot area, except in the case of parking lots and parking garages for which the minimum pedestrian open space shall be 10% of the gross lot area.  The term “pedestrian open space” shall mean walkways, plazas, and the like which are designed, improved, and maintained for use by pedestrians, and open to general use by occupants of the premises or the public; hallways or lobbies designed for access to hotel rooms or offices, are not within the scope of this definition; accessible landscaped or natural areas may be included.  Pedestrian open space shall not be used by vehicles for purposes other than public transit, service, or maintenance.

            Pedestrian open space need not be at ground level and may include pedestrian ways which are sheltered by independent roofs or by projections from buildings above them.

            Pedestrian open space shall be so oriented, proportioned, and improved as to serve as part of a coordinated general pedestrian system connecting principal origins and destinations and supplementing public sidewalks along streets.

           

220.22- Floor Area Ratios:  The gross floor area of buildings shall not exceed 300 percent of the gross lot area for hotel uses nor 100 percent of the gross lot area for other uses.  Parking structures shall not be included in the calculations of floor area ratio.

 

220.24- Density Factor (Land Use Intensity):  The density factor of this district shall not exceed 50 bedrooms/acre.

 

220.26- Parking Requirements

a)      Parking spaces shall be provided in this district according to the following formulas:  Commercial uses-1 per 300 sq. ft. of gross floor area; hotels- 1 per bedroom; other residential uses- ¾ space per bedroom.

b)      If a given project or structure requires 67 or more parking spaces, at least half of those spaces shall be provided in a parking structure.

c)      For each additional 10% of required parking which is provided in a structure, a credit of an additional 5% shall be added to the floor area ratio and density factor otherwise established on the building site.

d)      Parking may be provided on adjoining lands where easements, deed restrictions or other acceptable legal mechanisms guarantee the continued availability of such spaces.  Such spaces shall be conveniently located for use by patrons of the project for which it is provided (See also Sections 125.34 and 220.22).

 

220.30- Minimum Lot Area:  The minimum permissible lot area within this Land Use District shall be 6,000 square feet.