HomeMy WebLinkAboutPalm Desert University Neighborhoods SP Design Guidelines_ADOPTEDreduceUNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
7 January 2017 | DESIGN GUIDELINES
City of Palm Desert, California
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-1
Section
A.1 Neighborhoods and Housing
A.2 Neighborhood Housing Types
A.3 Neighborhood Center Design
Guidelines
A.4 Neighborhood Center
Building Types
A.5 Private Frontage Design
Guidelines
A.6 On-site Open Space Guidelines
A.7 Architectural Guidelines
A.8 Signage
A.9 Sustainability Design Guidelines
Page
A-2
A-12
A-32
A-43
A-61
A-77
A-93
A-133
A-150
The UNSP is intended to reflect the best of recent trends toward
walkable, sustainable neighborhood development, and the best of
the Coachella Valley’s unique architectural heritage and desert land-
scapes. And they are intended to provide a comfortable, valuable
setting for a range of diverse housing types that meet the needs of
current and future Palm Desert residents.
These guidelines are intended to strike a balance between clarity
of vision and purpose, and flexibility to meet the market demands
and resident aspirations as the neighborhoods are built in a series of
phases, and as they mature and evolve over time. These guidelines
work hand in hand with the development standards in Section 4 to
assist developers, builders, residents and the City of Palm Desert in
achieving those goals.
Appendix A.
Design Guidelines
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SECTION A.1 | NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING
1. Palm Desert Neighborhoods
Palm Desert’s first half century of housing development was
characterized by the low wide houses on large lots, with
strong emphasis on indoor and outdoor spaces that flow
together to deliver the mid-Century desert life-style . Most
homes were 1-story, many in the mid-Century Modern and
Ranch styles of the 1950’s and 60’s, on lots of 8,000 and
10,000 s.f. with very generous yards and swimming pools.
Multi-family housing was provided in the form of apartment
complexes, organized around courtyards, gardens and
pools, and located separately from single family neighbor-
hoods.
Recent Development Trends
A number of recent Palm Desert housing developments
have followed trends popular in the 1990’s and 2000’s,
imported from Orange and Los Angeles Counties, with large
2-story houses built on lots as small as 4,000 s.f. and less,
many with small patios rather than back yards, and some
with no usable yard space at all.
The “Missing Middle”
The UNSP provides a unique opportunity for Palm Desert to
add to this existing housing stock a range of “missing middle”
housing options that deliver the generous Palm Desert
indoor-outdoor lifestyle in more compact configurations
than the original mid-Century prototype. These include
single-family detached houses on lots in the 5,000 to 6,000
A.1 Neighborhoods and Housing
Recent development trends: new housing products are
“packed-into” small lots, yielding little or no usable front yard
open space; as a result, on-site open space is reconfigured to
side or rear yards.
Early apartment complexes were organized around courtyards,
gardens, and pools.
A quintessential early Palm Desert home, characterized by modern architecture, a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor
living space, and an expansive yard with a swimming pool to moderate the hot desert climate.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
s.f. range, as well as single-family detached and attached
types on smaller lots, and a range of neighborhood-scale
multi-family types on lots of various sizes.
Neighborhood Diversity
Also, as observed in towns throughout California and as
demonstrated in innovative neighborhood designs of the
past decade or two, such a diverse array of housing options
can be flexibly intermixed within a single neighborhood if
certain basic neighborhood design principles are followed.
Such neighborhoods – common throughout the country
but not yet present in Palm Desert – can enable young
people to live within walking distance of their parents, older
couples to find a home near their children and grandchil-
dren, and students, graduate students and university faculty
to find housing within walking and biking distance of the
campus and commercial services.
A podium courtyard building achieves increased density,while
maintaining quality private and shared open space.
A neighborhood-scale courtyard building with 16 units in two
individual buildings sharing a common open space.
Smaller, houses on smaller lots provide a more affordable
housing option to a broader range of potential residents.
Individual bungalow cottages arranged around a common
open space.
As a neighborhood is the fundamental unit of towns and
cities alike, the house is the fundamental unit of neighbor-
hoods. And while houses and housing can take many forms
– larger or smaller, detached from other houses or attached
to them – in American neighborhoods the detached
single-family house with front, side and rear yards is the
essential form, in relation to which other housing types are
understood.
Thus, to achieve a cohesive neighborhood design in which
a variety of different housing types appear harmonious and
complementary to one another, it is important that each
variation possesses some clear “house-like” and “house-
scale” design characteristics. This introductory section
describes those characteristics and design strategies, on
which the development standards and design guidelines for
the UNSP are based.
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SECTION A.1 | NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING
The UNSP offers opportunities for smaller, more intense
housing types, on smaller, more compact lots.
A mix of architectural styles and building scale / character
creates visual diversity in this neighborhood.
2. Neighborhood Patterns
The fundamental American house is characterized by a
single, simple mass with a gable or hipped roof, set back
from the street with a front yard, separated from its neigh-
bors by landscaped side yards, with a private rear yard for
family activities. Larger houses on larger lots are generated
by adding secondary masses in the form of wings on one or
both sides, to the rear, and in some cases in the front, and
as independent out-buildings in the rear yard. Garages are
often located in the wings or outbuildings.
A critical strategy in generating a varied but cohesive neigh-
borhood design is to ensure reasonable consistency in the
size and scale of the Primary Masses of all buildings within a
street. Buildings with significantly larger or smaller Primary
Masses can comfortably share a rear yard fence or alley, but
within each street a degree of compatibility in size, scale
and character is very important. That scale and character is
defined in large measure by:
•The (range of) widths of the lots
•The width, height and depth of the Primary Mass, in
dimension and in relation to the lot width
•The range of front setbacks
•The design of the frontages (front yards)
•The presence or absence of garages near the street
•The consistent (or generally consistent) space
between buildings on adjacent lots.
The original Palm Desert pattern has been characterized by large, often horizontally massed mid-century modern houses on large
lots with generous yards on all sides.
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A variety of building types -- including this multi-unit courtyard
building can seamlessly “fit in” to most neighborhood contexts.
A quadplex, in the form of a larger house, fits nicely, both in
scale and character, with its smaller single-family neighbor.
A duplex with the scale and character of a larger single-family
house whose garages are accessed through a porte cochere.
A quadplex (left) and a 6-unit multi-plex (right), both of which
have the form of larger single-family homes from the street.
As such, a cohesive neighborhood character is generated
when some, but not all, of these characteristics are varied
along a street or within a section of a neighborhood.
An important lesson learned from the work of early 20th
Century town planners is that houses and lots of varying
sizes can be very successfully mixed within a single neigh-
borhood if a few basic design principles are recognized.
a. Buildings of various sizes on lots of various widths
can be mixed within a street so long as the size and
scale of the Primary Masses and the depth and design
character of the front yard are relatively consistent.
b. Much larger (or much smaller) buildings can be
located nearby – even back to back or across from
one another – so long as the buildings have similar
frontage massing, facades, and intensities that
match the character of a given block, street and
neighborhood.
c. The neighborhood design quality – or in later 20th
Century parlance, “curb appeal” – is improved by
locating service functions such as garages and utility
equipment as far as practical toward the rear of the lot.
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SECTION A.1 | NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING
3. Indoor/Outdoor Living
The placement and configuration of the building(s) on each
lot determines the sizes and configurations of the yard spac-
es. The quality and usefulness of those yard spaces is always
an important consideration in designing housing, but in
Palm Desert – where the indoor/outdoor desert lifestyle is
central to community identity – it is a top-level priority.
Early Palm Desert homes and apartments were generally
characterized by expansive yard areas with swimming
pools and lush landscaping to moderate the hot, dry desert
climate. There is no denying the luxury of such spaces, but
they demand significant time, energy and water to keep
them comfortable for year-round living. As one considers
more compact housing forms for more compact neighbor-
hoods, there is a significant potential value in well-designed
“outdoor rooms” (yard spaces) that are smaller, more shaded
and better wind-sheltered.
Consistent with Palm Desert’s General Plan theme of sus-
tainability – the careful use of non-renewal resources, surely
including the resource of land – the housing types defined
in the following pages are intended to put every yard area
to productive use, often for more than one purpose. Side
yards that double as comfortable bedroom patios, drive-
ways that double as forecourts, side yards as play spaces for
children, semi-public front yards for visiting with neighbors,
shared garden courts that provide gathering spaces and ad-
A Spanish revival home arranged around a shaded internal
courtyard.
Car “court” areas, particularly on smaller lots, can double as
usable private on-site open spaces.
The essence of desert-living; indoor rooms that flow seamlessly into outdoor living spaces, with pools, lush landscaping, and
beautiful desert landscape backdrops.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
In Palm Desert’s hot desert climate, narrower/shallower private on-site open spaces that are shaded from the sun and sheltered from
the wind are very valuable amenities. Spaces like these are particularly appropriate to the desired intensity of the UNSP.
This sideyard dining patio enclosed by a privacy wall between
neighboring lots is great use of private on-site open space. This
design pattern could also appear in front yards.
This outdoor fireplace is the focal point of this enclosed, shaded
patio - a great example of an outdoor room.
dresses for multiple bungalows; all of these purposes con-
tribute to the seamless flow between indoor and outdoor
space that has characterized the desert lifestyle for decades.
See Appendix A.6 for further details on On-Site Open Space
Guidelines.
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SECTION A.1 | NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING
4. Neighborhood Lot Organization
This section provides design guidelines for the siting and mass-
ing of buildings on neighborhood lots, generally organized
into four subjects:
A. Primary Mass
The primary building element in house-form neighborhood
buildings is a simple volume, with the following typical
characteristics. Section numbers in parentheses provide
specific standards and guidelines.
a. Size: Generally 20 to 30 feet wide and deep,1 to 2
stories in height (See Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.7).
b. Form: Gabled or hipped roof typical, pitch related to
style; flat roof possible for modern style (See Sections
4.4 and Appendix A.7)
c. Location: Set on or near the front setback line and
within the side and rear setback lines (See Section 4.4).
d. Orientation: Eaves to the street, with main entry
and windows of primary ground floor living spaces
overlooking the street (See Sections 4.4 and Appendix
A.5)
e. Projections: Porches and other frontage elements
may project into front yard setback (See Sections 4.4
and Appendix A.5 and A.7), and architectural elements
may project into side and rear yard setbacks (See
Appendix A.7).
FIG. A.1.2 Massing Elements
Massing Elements
A Primary Mass D Front Wing /
Architectural ProjectionBSide Wing
C Rear Wing E Garage / Outbuilding
A
B
E
C
D
A typical neighborhood pattern - including a range of house-form building types, all composed of building elements that are of the
same scale, form and character of neighborhood houses.
FIG. A.1.1 Typical Neighborhood Pattern
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B. Wings and Outbuildings
Buildings larger than the recommended range for Primary
Masses may be generated by the addition of wings and
outbuildings, generally as follows:
a. Size: Perceptibly smaller in width, depth and height
than the Primary Mass (See Appendix A.5 and A.7).
b. Form: Similar to and compatible with that of the
Primary Mass.
c. Location: Must be within all building setbacks. (See
Section 4.4).
•Side Wings: Set back behind Primary Mass by 3
feet or more. Side wings containing a street-facing
garage should be set behind the Primary Mass by 5
feet minimum.
•Front Wings: May not project forward of the
front setback line and, when provided, should
help define a welcoming entry space, such as a
forecourt or engaged porch.
•Rear Wings: Should help define usable private
yard area(s).
•Outbuildings: Set back behind the Primary Mass,
and usually at or near the side and rear setbacks.
Should help define usable private yard area(s).
d. Orientation: Typically eaves to the street; front
wings may additionally face the street with a
gable. (See Appendix A.5 and A.7). Rear wings and
outbuildings should orient their primary windows
and architectural projections into the lot, not to
neighbors. An exception to this is balconies facing an
alley.
e. Projections: May generally have the same types
of projections as Primary Masses, scaled down
appropriately and rarely projecting nearer the street
than the front building mass.
f. Garages: should be located in wings or outbuildings
behind the face of the Primary Mass by 5 feet
minimum, except when a side-facing garage is
located in a forward projecting wing and accessed via
a forecourt (See Appendix A.7).
A simply massed smaller house with a clearly articulated
Primary Mass, side wing and engaged porch.
A larger house with a clear Primary Mass scaled-down by a
projecting front wing, and projecting 2nd story balcony.
Avoid: Complex Applied Massing: This house illustrates
extreme, and unnecessary complexity. In addition to the
absence of a clear Primary Mass, each room is articulated with
its own roof form, creating a cacophonous composition.
AV
O
I
D
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SECTION A.1 | NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING
C. Roofs
Roof forms should be simple and directly related to the
masses they cover. Complex applied massing is explicitly
discouraged. This typically results from a lack of resolution
of the building plan and building massing and/or an aimless
desire to jazz up the curb appeal. Simple, clear architectural
expression is the goal. The following general guidelines are
provided, see also style-specific guidelines (Appendix A.7).
a. Form: Simple gabled masses, eaves to the street are
generally preferred. Very low pitched gables facing
the street are often associated with the mid-Century
modern style.
b. Dormers: Dormers are considered an exception to the
roof/mass correlation requirement; yet, they are rare
in Palm Desert as they are not associated with Spanish
revival, mid-Century or Modern styles. Other European
revival styles and American Arts and Crafts styles
in which dormers are a common device are neither
recommended nor prohibited.
This carriage house above an alley-accessed garage provides
an additional unit and potential for rental income.
A side-facing front entry with a garage in a projecting front-wing
matches the Mid-Century Modern style of the home.
A simply-massed house in a traditional Spanish architectural
style with “eaves to the street” and a single street-facing gable.
Typical of the Mid-Century Modern style, a very-low pitched
gable characterizes the profile of this home.
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D. Building Spacing
Comfortable building to building spacing is an important
design characteristic of the UNSP. To provide residences
at the smaller end of the spectrum, rather than squeezing
single-family detached houses onto smaller and smaller lots
with narrower and narrower spaces between them, a range
of attached and multi-family housing types are included
in the Neighborhood Zones. Such multi-unit buildings, in
turn, are provided with comfortable side yard separations
from their neighbors. Please note that the design intent is
different in the Center Zone, (See Appendix A.1 to A.4).
a. Typical Spacing Proportion: Building to building
spacing on adjoining lots is generally between 1/4 and
1/3 of the Primary Mass width.
b. Minimum Spacing: Minimum building to building
spacing from lot to lot must be provided per the
setback requirements of (See Section 4.4), and should
be wide enough to provide comfortable access
(typically at least 10 ft).
c. Multiple Buildings on a Single Lot: Spacing
between multiple buildings on the same lot should
be enough to provide comfortable access between
buildings and/or define usable private yard area(s).
(See Appendix A.6 for on-site open space guidelines).
d. Additional Requirements: Additional building
to building spacings may be required for specific
housing types (See Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.7).
In traditional neighborhoods, buildings are typically spaced
between 1/3 and 1/2 of the width of the Primary Mass.
In many contemporary neighborhoods, building-to-building
spacing has been narrowed, which can be just fine so long as
adequate space is provided for comfortable access and daylight.
Spacing between multiple buildings on the same lot should be large enough to provide comfortable access between buildings, and/
or provide usable private open space. These bungalow courts exhibit efficient, yet comfortable spacing.
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SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
A.2 Neighborhood Housing Types
Prototypical Pattern: Single-family neighborhoods.
Prototypical single-family neighborhood pattern characterized
by single houses on single lots with private yards on all sides.
A. Introduction
The design intent for the UNSP is variation with cohesion, or
“organized variety”. This Section provides design guidelines for
a selected specific Neighborhood Housing Types that repre-
sent the most common applications of the Neighborhood De-
sign Guidelines described in Appendix A.1, and the most typical
examples found in most traditional American Neighborhoods.
Types other than those described in this Section may be pro-
posed, so long as they are found to conform to the Neighbor-
hood Design Guidelines of Appendix A.1, and follow common
sense design strategies including:
•If a building is taller than a neighbor, it should not
also be significantly wider or deeper.
•If a large house is nearby much smaller homes, its
Primary Mass should be in the same size range, and
the larger house is generated by adding on wings not
just inflating the Primary Mass.
•If a building contains 2 or more dwellings, its Primary
Mass shares the scale and character of nearby houses.
•As lot widths vary, the house size and the house-to-
house side yard spacing remains in proportion to the
lot width to foster comfortable spacing and privacy
between homes.
A row of single family side yard houses with dooryards as a frontage.
B. Neighborhood Housing Patterns
The single-family house is the basic unit of measurement
that all other neighborhood housing types are based upon.
This form can be scaled-up or scaled-down, and arranged
in a variety of configurations to achieve increased building
intensities in the context of a traditional neighborhood
pattern.
In addition to the various configurations of the prototypical
single family house, this Section describes a variety of multi-
unit neighborhood housing types that may be quite freely
intermixed with houses in certain neighborhoods by virtue
of their adherence to the neighborhood patterns.
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Variation #1: Multiple houses “attached”
This variation attaches 3 or more smaller-scale house
form buildings to create a larger buildings. Individual (or
groups of) units with expressed massing of “house form”
and “house scale” massing elements ranging from 15 to 25
feet wide. This enables larger buildings to be comfortably
intermixed with smaller buildings and houses. Due to the
limited amount of on-site open space afforded by this type,
it is most appropriate near or adjacent to a public open
space.
Variation #2: Multiple houses on a single lot.
In concept, this variation replaces what would be a typical
building lot within a neighborhood with an open space,
and orients multiple units around that open space to form a
shared-green. The street-fronting masses on either side of
the green are of the same form, scale, and character of the
existing neighborhood pattern.
Variation #3: Multi-units houses single lots.
This variation simply involves replacing single-family houses
in a neighborhood pattern with houses of the same form,
scale, and character of neighboring buildings, that happen
to have two or more individual units within the same build-
ing. As such, care must be taken to choose buildings of an
appropriate scale that can fit seamlessly into the existing (or
intended) neighborhood pattern.
C. Neighborhood Housing Types
Common applications of these neighborhood patterns are
described in the pages that follow, organized into the these
Neighborhood Housing Types:
Neighborhood Housing Types Page
a. Rear Yard House A-14
b. Side Yard House A-18
c. Carriage House A-20
d. Bungalow Court A-22
e. Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex A-24
f. Neighborhood Rowhouse A-26
g. Villa Apartment A-28
h. Neighborhood Courtyard A-30
Variation #3: Multi-unit houses on single lots.
Variation #2: Multiple houses/units on a single lot.
Variation #1: Multiple houses “attached”.
This variation characterized by larger, multi-unit “house forms”,
with the scale of neighboring single-family houses.
This variation is characterized by arranging a number of
houses or units around a common open space, or “courtyard.”
This variation attaches 3 or more small “houses” into a single
building, in scale with neighboring buildings
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SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•The house is comprise of a Primary Mass , with or
without one or more adjoining wings, and, in some
cases, a detached garage or carriage house. See
Section 4.4 for zone requirements.
•Wider and deeper houses grow by addition of wings.
•Buildings on corner lots should be designed with two
facades of equivalent architectural expression.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
2. Open Space
•Rear yard area is required, for outdoor living, dining
and play. For minimum area requirement by zone and
lot size, see Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.6.
•Minimum front and side yard areas are defined by
building setbacks, see Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.6.
3. Access
•Primary visitor access is through the front yard and a
recommended Frontage Type. See Section 4.4.
•When an alley is present, vehicular access and
services should be accessed through the alley.
•A port cochere and/or circular drive may be used
with front-loaded access types, and should be limited
large lots only.
Rear Yard
ALLEY
STREET
Sample illustration of the Rear Yard House building type, showing
its Primary Mass, secondary mass, and yard space.
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood Courtyard
A. Rear Yard House
The Rear Yard House is a detached single-family house
whose main living spaces are oriented to the street to
welcome the visitor, and also to a private rear yard area
for family activities. This configuration is suitable for a
range of lot sizes, from narrow to large. A carriage unit
(See Page A-20) may be built at the rear of the lot.
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A large lot Spanish Revival home with a porte cochere.The rear yard area of the house can feature greenery, hardscape,
and water features.
An alley-loaded lot maintains a pedestrian-friendly character
along the street.
An example of a front-loaded side drive access lot.
Access: Front-Loaded Side Drive Access: Small Lot Alley-Loaded Garage
ALLEY
STREET STREET
STREET
ACCESS
Access: Large Lot Front-Loaded Side Drive
with Porte Cochere
Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access
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A well-landscaped circular drive or forecourt can act as a
functional outdoor space for a home on a large lot
A front garage that is properly set back from the Primary Mass of
the house
House with a front-loaded side garage driveA Mid-Century style home with a circular drive and carport
Access: Front-Loaded Side GarageAccess: Drive with Front Garage
STREET STREET STREET
Access: Large Lot Circular Drive with Front
Carport
ACCESS (GARAGE FRONT ALTERNATIVES)Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access
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An example of setting a garage back from the front facade of the
house.
Architectural elements such as balconies can help reduce the
visual prominence of a front garage.
A cantilever over a garage achieves a similar effect as a balcony.
Splitting a garage entry into two separate doors can help mitigate
the visual effect of a garage
1. Design Strategies for Front Garages
•Emphasize the front entry to the home with
architectural elements such as porches, stoops or
balconies. The entry yard should be well defined and
landscaped to extend a welcoming gesture to the
street.
•Large-scale elements over garage doors – including
balconies, projecting rooms and double or triple
windows – help balance that facade composition.
•Simple restrained massing is recommended rather
than the alternative technique of adding many small
gables and projections.
•Where practical, a pair of 1-car garage doors rather
than a single double door can improve the scale of
the facade. Double garage doors can also be simply
designed to mimic the scale of a pair of single doors.
•On modern buildings, carports may be incorporated
that are in line with the front facade of the house.
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SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Comprised of a Primary Mass , 1 or more adjoining
wings, and, in some cases, a detached garage or
carriage house. See Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.6 for
zone requirements.
•Central side yard formed by front and rear wing.
•On corner lots, the “active” yard of the Side Yard
House shall abut the street.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
2. Open Space
•Rear yard area required, for outdoor living, dining and
play. See Section 4.4 for zone requirements.
3. Access
•The main entrance to a Side Yard House shall be
located either within the facade and accessed directly
from the street, or within the elevation facing the
“active” side yard. Front yard with visitor entry and
walk to street, minimum depth per zone. See Section
4.4 for zone requirements.
•Where an alley is present, vehicular access and
services should be accessed through the alley.
Side Yard
ALLEY
STREET
Sample illustration of the Side Yard House building type, showing
its Primary Mass, secondary mass, and yard space.
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood Courtyard
B. Side Yard House
The Side Yard House is a detached single-family house
whose main living spaces are oriented to the street to
welcome the visitor, and also to a private “Active Side
Yard area for family activities. Such houses typically face
the Primary Side Yard with an “active side” with doors
and large windows, and a Passive Side with small, high
windows to avoid infringing on the privacy of the neigh-
bor’s Primary Side Yard. This house type can render rear
yard spaces and side yard fences unnecessary.
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Side yards may also utilize landscape features such as pools and
spas.
A contemporary side yard, with landscaping matching the
architectural character of the home.
Pot hangers, planters, and small fountains are possible ways to
hardscape side yards.
Access: Tuck-Under Access: Side Entry Access: Large Lot Alley-Loaded Garage
A traditional side yard with a pool and terrace
ALLEY
ALLEY ALLEY
STREET
STREET STREET
Pedestrian Access Vehicular AccessACCESS
A-20 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Comprised of 1 housing unit located over a detached
garage.
•Stairs to access the unit may either be exterior or
enclosed.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
2. Open Space
•A unit with exterior stairs should face stairs towards
the rear yard area of the house.
•A unit with enclosed stairs should face the stairway
entry towards the rear yard area of the house.
•Carriage houses may also have their own garden or
dooryard as long as the rear yard area for the lot , as
provided in Section 4.4, has already been fulfilled.
3. Access
•Pedestrian entrances to carriage house units should
be located adjacent to the rear yard.
•When alley-loaded, an additional outdoor parking
space may be provided adjacent to the carriage
house.
•Where an alley is present, vehicular access and
services should be accessed through the alley.
Rear Yard
Carriage
House Garden
ALLEY
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Sample illustration of the Carriage House building type, showing
its Primary Mass and yard space.
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood Courtyard
C. Carriage House
A Carriage House is a building type consisting of a dwell-
ing unit on top of or attached to an at-grade detached
garage. Carriage Houses typically abut an alley at the
rear of a lot that includes a Rear Yard or Side Yard House.
Carriage House types should be on lots with at least a
120’ depth.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-21
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A modern carriage house with a connection to yard amenities
Awnings over both vehicle and pedestrian entrances provide
shade and protect from weather.
A porch can also help liven an alley, and add more usable square
footage to a unit.
A contemporary carriage house with an exterior staircase into a
rear yard
Access: Front-Loaded Side DriveAccess: Rear-Loaded with Extra Space
ACCESS
ALLEY
Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access
A-22 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Comprised of four or more detached cottage
buildings arranged around a central green or court;
In order to create a passage, or Rosewalk, through the
block, the unit closest to the alley may be omitted.
•Wider and deeper cottages grow by addition of
wings. See Section 4.4 for zone requirements.
•Buildings abutting the street and the courtyard shall
be designed with two facades of equal architectural
expression.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
2. Open Space
•Central green or court area required, for shared
outdoor living, dining and play. See Sections 4.4 and
Appendix A.6 for zone requirements. The green may
pass through the entire lot in the form of a Rose Walk.
•All unit front doors should face onto central green.
•Central green may include shared amenities such as
community gardens and playgrounds.
•Trees may be placed in side yards to protect privacy
of neighbors.
•Units may have private open space along side lot
lines when possible.
Court
ALLEY
STREET
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Sample illustration of the Bungalow Court building type, showing
its Primary Masses, secondary masses, and yard space.
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood Courtyard
D. Bungalow Court
The Bungalow Court is an arrangement of four or
more detached single-family houses around a shared
courtyard or greenway, which provides direct access to
all houses that do not directly front on a street. The Bun-
galow Court is an efficient and flexible type particularly
suitable for deeper blocks. Since only the two end units
abut the street, the Bungalow Court is compatible with
predominantly single-family neighborhood streets.
Bungalow court units may be the scale of a normal single-family
home.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-23
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
GREEN COURT / STUB-ALLEY ACCESS
AL
L
E
Y
STREET
3. Access
•Pedestrian access to cottages
should be directly from the
central green or court.
•Dwelling units fronting on both
a street and the courtyard shall
be accessed from the street side.
A secondary entrance from the
courtyard may be provided but
is not required.
•Vehicle access, parking and
services shall be accessed from
an alley.
•Parking is located in detached
garages that are alley-loaded
and do not front the central
court. Attached garages may
be considered for alley-adjacent
units.
Access: Alley-Loaded covered parking with each cottage unit maintaining a pedestrian
connection to a central green
Alternatively, courtyard-oriented housing may be accessed via a “stub-alley”, an alley that
connects to a street at only one end. This configuration may be particularly useful for lots
that back up to an open space or property line.
TYPICAL ALLEY ACCESS
ALLEY
STREET
Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access
Vehicular Access
A-24 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Comprised of a Primary Mass , optional adjoining
wings, and a detached garage. See Section 4.4 for
zone requirements.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
•Buildings on corner lots shall be designed with two
facades of equal architectural expression.
2. Open Space
•Each ground floor unit should have a rear yard area
for outdoor living, dining and play. See Sections 4.4
and Appendix A.6 for zone requirements.
3. Access
•The main entrance to each unit in a Duplex, Triplex
or Quadplex shall be located within the facade and
accessed directly from the street.
•Where an alley is present, vehicular access and
services should be accessed through the alley.
Rear Yard
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood CourtyardThe Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex is a small multi-dwelling
structure containing two to four separate units, respec-
tively, on a single lot, each with its own entrance. The
dwelling units within a Duplex, Triplex or Quadplex may
be arranged side by side or one on top of the other, or a
combination thereof.
ALLEY
STREET
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
E. Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Sample illustration of a Quadplex building type, showing its
Primary Mass and yard space.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-25
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A modern duplex with a recessed second entrance giving the
appearance of a single-family home
A small Spanish duplex with individual front walks and projecting
entry porches
A Spanish quadplex with two units on the ground floor, and two
on the upper floor accessed via individual stairs.
A modern, tuck-under duplex
Access: Alley-Loaded garage with a shared main pedestrian
entrance
Access: A vertical duplex with exterior stairs to access the upper
unit
ACCESS
ALLEY
ALLEY
STREET
STREET
Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access
A-26 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Comprised of a Primary Mass , optional adjoining
wings, and a detached garage. See Section 4.4 for
zone requirements.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
2. Open Space
•Each ground floor unit should have a rear yard area
for outdoor living, dining and play. See Sections 4.4
and Appendix A.6 for zone requirements.
3. Access
•Front yard with visitor entry and walk to street,
minimum depth per zone.
•Where an alley is present, vehicular access and
services should be accessed through the alley.
Rear Yard
ALLEY
STREET
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood CourtyardThe Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex is a small multi-dwelling
structure containing two to four separate units, respec-
tively, on a single lot, each with its own entrance. The
dwelling units within a Duplex, Triplex or Quadplex may
be arranged side by side or one on top of the other, or a
combination thereof.
F. Rowhouse
Sample illustration of a Quadplex building type, showing its
Primary Mass and yard space.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-27
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A Spanish Revival row house building Row houses may articulate each unit separately through massing
Modern live-work units in San Diego A traditional row house arrangement with compact stoops
Access: Tuck-Under with CarportsAccess: Alley-loaded Garages
ACCESS
ALLEY
STREET
Pedestrian Access Vehicular AccessVehicular Access
A-28 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Comprised of a Primary Mass , optional adjoining
wings, and a detached garage. See Section 4.4 for
zone requirements.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
2. Open Space
•Villa Apartments usually do not contain on-lot open
space but rather front onto public open spaces,
paths, or trails.
3. Access
•Front yard with visitor entry and walk to street,
minimum depth per zone.
•Where an alley is present, vehicular access and
services should be accessed through the alley.
ALLEY
STREET
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood CourtyardThe Villa Apartment is a small multi-dwelling building
with one common main entrance and is designed to
have the appearance of a large house. The dwelling units
within a Villa may be arranged side by side or one on top
of the other, or a combination thereof. The Villa is a very
efficient building type that provides multiple dwelling
units that are compatible in scale and character with a
predominantly single-family neighborhood.
G. Villa Apartment
Sample illustration of the Villa Apartment building type, showing
its Primary Mass, secondary mass, and parking area.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-29
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Villa Apartments should be of the same scale and character of
larger neighboring houses.
A Villa Apartment with a private, outdoor, secluded entry area
The front mass of a Villa Apartment should take on the
appearance of a large house.
Porches, terraces, and stoops should be incorporated into multiple
units when possible.
Access: Alley-Loaded covered parking
ACCESS
ALLEY
STREET
Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access
A-30 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.2 | NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TYPES
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Comprised of four or more detached cottage
buildings arranged around a central green or court.
•Wider and deeper cottages grow by addition of
wings. See Section 4.4 for zone requirements.
•Eave to street orientation is recommended, unless
solar orientation requires an alternative orientation.
If a gable expression desired, a front wing is
recommended.
2. Open Space
•Central green or court area required, for shared
outdoor living, dining and play. See Sections 4.4 and
Appendix A.6 for zone requirements.
•All unit front doors should face onto central green.
•Central green may include shared amenities such as
community gardens, splash pads and playgrounds.
•Trees may be placed in side yards to protect privacy
of neighbors.
Court
ALLEY
STREET
MASSING AND OPEN SPACE
Primary Mass Secondary Mass
Garage Yard Space
Rear Yard House
Side Yard House
Carriage House
Bungalow Court
Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex
Rowhouse
Villa Apartment
Neighborhood CourtyardNeighborhood courts are an arrangement of stacked
and/or attached dwelling units around one or more
common courtyards, which provide direct access to
all dwelling units that do not directly front on a street.
The courtyard is intended to be a semipublic space that
functions as an extension of the public realm into the
private lot. Courtyard housing is the most urban resi-
dential type and utilizes its deep blocks very efficiently
while providing attractive outdoor space and a street
appearance that is compatible in scale and character
with a predominantly single-family neighborhood.
H. Neighborhood Courtyard
Sample illustration of a Neighborhood Courtyard building type,
showing its Primary Mass, secondary mass, and yard space.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-31
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
In the desert, smaller courtyards produce nice shaded areas for
residents
A well-shaded courtyard with brick pavers and a fountain
Landscaping may be a mix of potted and planted vegetation.Street-facing units should take on the appearance of individual,
smaller houses
Access: Alley-Loaded covered parking with each unit maintaining
a pedestrian connect to a central green
ACCESS
ALLEY
STREET
3. Access
•Entrances and entry stairs to units should be directly
from the central green or court
•Cottages adjacent to a street should have an
additional pedestrian access that connects to the
sidewalk
•Where an alley is present, vehicular access and
services should be accessed through the alley.
•Parking is located in detached garages that are
loaded from an alley and do not front the central
court. Attached garages may be considered for alley-
adjacent units.
Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access
A-32 1 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.3 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
1. Mixed-Use Neighborhood Centers
Mixed-use neighborhood centers provide a concentration of
useful destinations within a network of comfortable public
spaces in which nearby residents, shoppers, visitors and
employees can run daily and weekly errands, lunch or dine,
and meet friends and neighbors. Such centers are character-
ized by ground floor shops, restaurants and offices – along
with upper floor offices and residences – lining and defining
the shared open spaces of the center that include the streets
and sidewalks, arcades and paseos, balconies and roof ter-
races, and courtyards, squares and parks.
While Palm Desert’s neighborhoods are characterized by
houses and other building types with strong house-form
characteristics, its commercial and mixed-use centers are
generally characterized by simple, boxy, “block-form” build-
ings. Such buildings have made up American town centers
– whether downtown districts, main streets, or mixed-use
centers along the edges of neighborhoods – from the colo-
nial period until now. Such buildings made up the original
commercial center of Palm Desert along the Highway 111
frontage roads, they populate the City’s landmark El Paseo
shopping district, as well as the suburban shopping centers
throughout Palm Desert. Multi-family residential buildings
that are not part of neighborhoods with single-family hous-
es often take on block-form characteristics as well.
A.3 Neighborhood Center Design Guidelines
Recent development trends: in southern California have
tended toward “destination” retail centers which are most
often isolated from surrounding neighborhoods.
El Paseo showcases a variety of simple, elegant block-form
buildings that would enhance most neighborhood centers.
A neighborhood center in Palm Desert along El Paseo. This row shows a mix of modern and traditional storefronts, with a variety of
shopfront designs and sizes.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-33
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Block-Form Buildings
Block-form buildings are compact and virtually universal in
the centers of towns and cities, providing flexible opportu-
nities for retail uses at the ground floor, for office or residen-
tial uses on upper floors and often on the ground floor as
well. The design and use characteristics that distinguish a
series of sub-types for various contexts include:
•The size and scale of the building in terms of height,
width and depth, as expressed by the building’s
massing and architectural facade composition.
•The design and use of the ground floor at the street
frontage, whether open to the street with clear
glass shopfronts for retail or restaurant uses, set
back behind shallow door yards or up on porches or
stoops to generate a degree of privacy for ground
floor residential uses, or some intermediate condition
appropriate for ground floor office space or other non-
residential, non-retail use.
•The implementation of building articulation
techniques (See Appendix A.4) that help buildings
adapt to a proper scale and character pertinent to
neighborhood centers.
•In addition to streets, such buildings often front onto
town squares, public greens, or other public open
spaces. Along with town center streets, such spaces
function as “community living rooms” for shopping,
dining, recreation, and special community events.
A series of small mixed use buildings with separate entrances
for residential and commercial uses, both within a dooryard.
A Neighborhood Center building that properly includes
shopfront windows on both facades.
A walkable urban center with a variety of shopfronts and
amenities.
•In some cases such buildings may also enclose on-
site semi-public or semi-private open spaces such as
courtyards or gardens.
•In walkable urban centers, parking is located on the
street and in lots or structures behind the buildings,
whereas in suburban shopping centers or business
parks, buildings are set back from the street behind
landscape buffers and/or parking lots.
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SECTION A.3 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
Potted and planted vegetation helps to keep outdoor areas
cool in the desert sun.
Intimate paseos and courtyards provide shade for diners and
shoppers
2. Indoor / Outdoor Community Space
The main purpose of a neighborhood center or town center
is to provide a concentration of useful destinations within
a network of comfortable public spaces in which nearby
residents, shoppers, visitors and employees can run daily
and weekly errands, lunch or dine, and meet friends and
neighbors. The simple block-form buildings of these centers
provide ground floor shops, restaurants and offices – along
with upper floor offices and residences – lining and defining
the shared open spaces of the center that include the streets
and sidewalks, arcades and paseos, balconies and roof ter-
races, and courtyards, squares and parks.
In Palm Desert’s often harsh climate, it is critically important
that outdoor gathering spaces offer generous amounts of
shade and wind protection. This provided by a coordinated
combination of public and private improvements including:
•Multi-story buildings set close to the street, providing
a sense of spatial enclosure, shade, and wind
protection.
•Street trees along the sidewalks providing shade for
pedestrians and for parked cars.
•Ground floor frontages that help shade the sidewalks
shopfronts with awnings, galleries and arcades.
A plaza enclosed by properly scaled buildings. Proper landscaping, the implementation of outdoor dining and street furniture, and a
mix of uses help to keep the space usable and vibrant.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-35
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Block form buildings, in their design, should promote places for
people to linger, relax, and stay cool.
Buildings with residential upper floors should utilize shaded
outdoor roof terraces when possible.
Deep arcades and galleries are comfortable shaded places for
activity to occur.
Shared courtyards are valuable amenities for shopowners,
residents, and visitors.
•Paseos and courts that provide shady and wind
protected semi-public and semi-private outdoor
spaces within which for commercial and/or
residential use.
The building standards and guidelines (Appendix A.7), the
Private Frontage Design Guidelines ( Appendix A.5), the
Public Frontage Standards (Section 3.4) and the Landscape
Design Guidelines ( Appendix B) are coordinated to provide
clear but flexible guidance for integrating each building with
the spaces around it to deliver such environments.
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SECTION A.3 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
3. Neighborhood Center Variations (by context)
While there is an endless variety of buildings and places
that can be generated from block-form buildings, within the
UNSP, there are three specific types of environments they are
intended to create:
A. Mixed-Use Cores
The core of a Neighborhood Center or neighborhood center
is the most lively, active part of the town or the neighbor-
hood, is characterized in large part by ground floor com-
mercial use and providing an environment welcoming to all
throughout the day and into the evening.
Main Street: The most common pattern for such a mixed-
use core is prototypically a continuous row of shopfronts
along a wide shaded sidewalk with convenient customer
parking at the curb. In order to provide a well-defined
space for shopper and other pedestrians, most of the
parking is located behind – or in some cases beside – the
buildings, with parking in front limited to street parking.
Town Square: In addition to mixed-use main streets, such
buildings and their shopfronts may also front onto a town
square or other public space. In such cases, the same wide
shaded sidewalks with continuous rows of shopfronts are
provided along one side of the street, with the square or
other open space on the other side. And in some cases
shopfronts may face onto both sides of a retail square or
paseo without an intervening street, although the retail
viability of such spaces can be challenging.
A Mixed-Use Core along a green. A sequence of shopfronts are lined with arcades, street trees, and landscaping that help provide a
pleasant, cool experience in a desert climate.
A large mixed-use building assembled from smaller, relatable
architectural elements.
A typical American Main Street context.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-37
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Such mixed-use cores are envisioned in at least two loca-
tions in the UNSP, one a small main street south of Gerald
Ford Drive and the other a town square and main street pro-
viding the primary neighborhood entry from Frank Sinatra
Drive. The size of these cores, as defined by predominantly
commercial ground floor use, will be calibrated by market
analysis at the time of final design.
Buildings within a Neighborhood Center may range from 1 to 3 stories, but the street level activity and character should remain
continuous.
Sample illustration of a Mixed-Use Core around a green Sample illustration of a Mixed-Use Core Main Street
MIXED US
E MIXED US
E
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SECTION A.3 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
A green with plenty of street furniture and shade to
accommodate patrons of shops.
A small neighborhood green.
Front doors of adjacent buildings should always face the green. A largely untouched green provides the opportunity for a wide
range of recreational activities.
LIVE/
W
O
R
K
COURT RO
W
H
O
U
S
E
B. Neighborhood Greens
Whereas mixed-use centers generally occur at the edges
of and in between neighborhoods – where there is more
vehicular traffic, foot traffic and customer flows to support
businesses – neighborhood centers of a different kind
can be formed around a park or green, the soft heart of
a neighborhood where children play and families gather.
Such shared community open spaces can create unique and
valuable addresses, and by their size invite buildings larger
than houses to define their edges and provide more house-
holds with a park-front address. Apartment buildings, row
houses, and even live-work buildings can take advantage of
these very special frontages, activating and overlooking the
edges of the park.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-39
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
C. Neighborhood Transitions
At the edges of the Neighborhood Center - at the interface
between the mixed-use core and adjoining neighborhoods
- a mixture of small-scale block-form buildings and house
form multi-family and attached housing and can provide
a seamless and valuable transition. These transitions
generally include attached, single family row houses, flex-
ible live-work row houses, quadplexes and duplexes, and
neighborhood-scale apartment buildings with and without
courtyards. Within this transition, neighborhood-scale
block-form buildings may be mixed quite freely with the
house-form multi-family types described in Appendix A.2.
These types collectively constitute what has become known
as the “missing middle” – a rich variety of development
types forgotten for many years as the development industry
focused on single-family houses, apartment projects, and
strip shopping centers.
An urban court building from the street
Sample illustration of a Neighborhood Transition area, with a gradient from mixed-use to residential building types.
A 2-story mixed use corner store A 2-story live-work with a dooryard
MIXED
U
S
E
LIVE/W
O
R
K
ROWH
O
U
S
E
QUAD
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SECTION A.3 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
4. Lot Organization
The buildings of the UNSP’s mixed-use centers are specifically
intended to be of the “walkable urban“ type rather than
“auto-oriented suburban”, meaning they face pedestrian
oriented streets and that parking is provided on those streets
as well as in parking lots behind or beside the buildings (or
otherwise), but not in “front yard parking lots”.
A. Building Size & Scale
Buildings are intended to be “town scale” rather than “city
scale”, meaning that their size and scale should not be dramat-
ically greater than that of the housing in the neighborhoods.
(See Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.7).
a. Building Heights: Heights range from 1 to 3
stories, only up to 1 story taller than the house-
form neighborhood buildings. It is worth noting
that in mixed-use centers – as distinct from the
neighborhoods – building height is a generally
desirable characteristic that serves to form the walls
of this outdoor room for community activity.
The common practice of building up “false fronts”
on 1-story buildings in the early town centers of the
West was a simple technique for generating a “sense
of place” in the middle of an open prairie or desert,
while waiting for the growing economy to bring
multi-story buildings. Contributing to the building
height, ground floors have tall to very tall ceilings
to provide elegant settings for retail shops and
restaurants filled with natural light.
A mix of block-form building types with a proper variety of building heights, scales, and roof forms.
1-story block form buildings use elements such as clerestory
windows and parapets to achieve greater height
Buildings and frontages form an “outdoor living room.”
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
b. Building Widths: Widths – or apparent widths,
as expressed by massing articulation and façade
composition patterns – are in the 20 to 60 foot range,
not dramatically different from the widths of small
houses or large houses. Shopfront bay widths of
20 to 30 feet are typical, and allow a wider building
with multiple bays to be perceived as “in scale with”
a narrow building that might be only 20 feet wide
overall.
c. Building Depths: Depths are generally limited
to 60 feet or less, but may be deeper for a limited
number of larger retail uses. The typical depth
corresponds with a typical retail space and with
typical upper residential or office floors and, again, is
not dramatically greater than the dimension of larger
houses in the neighborhoods. It is very important
that second or third floor masses not exceed this
depth, and that any such masses be articulated as
described below.
B. Building Siting & Setbacks
Buildings are placed purposefully on their lots to generate
the types of active, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented environ-
ments described above. See Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.7
for detailed requirements.
a. Front Setbacks: Buildings are set on or near the
front property line to form a relatively continuous
street wall that defines the “outdoor room” of the
street and the mixed-use town or neighborhood
center environment.
b. Side Setbacks: Side yard setbacks are not
required and are generally discouraged, but may
be provided to create paseos for pedestrian access
from the street to rear parking areas or to allow
side windows for upper floor residential or office
uses.
c. Rear Setbacks: Usable rear yards are not required
but may be provided for residential buildings.
More commonly the rear portion of the lot will be
used for parking and deliveries.
Taller buildings, such as urban courts, will often provide more
open space than others.
Setback areas can be and should be pleasantly landscaped
environments for pedestrians to experience.
Shopfront bay widths help maintain a consistent experience
along the street, even if the architectural character varies.
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SECTION A.3 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
C. Roof Forms:
Block-form buildings generally – but not necessarily – have
flat roof with parapet walls. They may equally have pitched
roofs – always with eaves to the street – sometimes cov-
ering the entire building and sometimes false roofs facing
the street. This practice – generally discouraged in favor of
“4-sided architecture” on free-standing suburban buildings
– works perfectly on buildings that are part of a continuous
row along a main street. (See Appendix A.7).
A commercial building with a typical flat roof and parapet.
An example of a false roof along a continuous row of buildings
on a main street.
Block-form building roofs may also use elements such as
towers and roof terraces when appropriate.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-43
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A.4 Neighborhood Center Building Types
A Neighborhood Center block showing 2-story mixed-use
A. Introduction
As observations of classic American main streets will reveal,
the architectural composition of the facades – together with
subtle or not so subtle variations in facade height – can pro-
vide an essentially flat-fronted building mass of 100 or 200
or even 300 feet in width with the authentic appearance of
a row of town-scale buildings. The origin of this pattern in
California arose from the original platting of the town cen-
ter lots, where lots were typically sold in increments of 24 or
25 feet. This resulted in individual buildings of that width or
double or sometimes triple that width, with shopfronts and
upper floor window groupings that reflected that module,
establishing a clear, simple rhythm for the streetscape.
Block-form buildings in the centers of the UNSP are in-
tended to reflect this classic California town scale, by their
width, by their massing, and by their façade design. Please
note that successfully applying this subtle type of façade
articulation to new buildings requires a good degree of
design skill, without which buildings can rapidly take on an
unfortunate Disneyland-gone-wrong appearance. Subtlety,
restraint, good quality materials and detailing, and a keen
eye for proportion are required.
While block-form buildings include everything from a town-
house to a skyscraper, there are three basic variations: The
Flex-Block, Townhouse, and the Apartment building. Within
the UNSP we describe the following four (4) types, for each of
which a range of variations are both available and anticipated:
Neighborhood Housing Types Page
a. Mixed-Use A-50
b. Rowhouse A-54
c. Live/Work A-56
d. Urban Courtyard A-58
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
A-44 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
Variation #1: Flex-Block Building
1. Description
The defining characteristic of this type – also commonly
known as a “mixed-use Main Street building” – is a com-
mercial ground floor with shopfronts, set at the back of
the sidewalk or close to it. Building heights range from
one to three stories in height, and the uses of the upper
floors may be office or residential or both. Parking
beyond the street parking at the curb is provided in
parking lots or structures within the block behind the
building, in a basement or podium beneath the ground
floor, or in shared lots or structures nearby.
These buildings are typically built in a continuous row,
without side yards, in order to provide a continuously
interesting experience for shoppers, and to form a con-
tinuous “street wall” that is the hallmark of main streets
and town centers. The degree of enclosure provided by
such 2 to 3-story buildings on both sides of a reason-
ably narrow street is a great amenity in a place with
Palm Desert’s extremes of temperature and wind.
In some instances it is necessary to build more mod-
estly and/or to provide more parking to meet market
constraints, and a single-story commercial building set
behind a wide and comfortable sidewalk with nicely
screened parking beside it can find a place in centers
where the taller more continuous main street pattern
is predominant. As in every aspect of design, balance
is the key, and if such small buildings predominate, you
just have a strip mall, not a mixed-use center.
A continuous street wall formed by buildings with different
upper story setbacks.
A tall 1-story retail building on a corner with an appropriate
amount of shopfront and interesting roof form.
A typical mixed-use building with upper floor offices and two
ground floor businesses.
Arcades and galleries along flex-block buildings help create
cool, shaded pedestrian environments.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-45
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A composition of flex-block buildings with varying heights, but
common shopfronts.
2. Articulation Methods
Varying Building Heights. Mixed-use buildings in
neighborhood centers may vary heights along a block.
Although the roof lines may differ, the buildings are
united by the commonality of their shopfronts. This
creates a continuous experience for the pedestrian at
the street level while preserving a dynamic street wall.
Incremental Massing. Wide buildings may use facade
composition to divide the building into separate,
incremental visual pieces. For instance, a tower or
gabled end bays can help introduce visual accents
through facade composition, helping to reduce the
potential monotony of a wide, continuous building.
Facade Recessions. Recessions in facades, whether
they be for dining areas, entries, or arcades, can help
articulate a row of mixed-use buildings. They also allow
for a shaded environment along the street.
Recessions, such as arcades, help create pleasant pedestrian
environments.
A tower used as a way of visually articulating a large building.
Gradual massing and building articulations may be accented
with varied colors, roof lines, gables and facade finishes.
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
A-46 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
A set of Live/Work townhouses with flexible space on the
ground floor.
A row of modern townhomes with adequate front yard
landscaping.
Variation #2: Townhouse
1. Description
Townhouses are simply houses that have dispensed
with side yards in the interest of generating a compact
town center or neighborhood center. Townhouses
prototypically have front yards (usually shallow ones
in the form of door yards) and rear yards (between the
house and a detached garage behind.) They also come
in a “tuck-under” variation, with the garage occupying
the rear portion of the ground floor.
Another very interesting town house variation is the
flex house – or live-work town house – wherein the
ground floor at the front is designed to accommodate a
small business with a private residence upstairs. Access
to the residence is generally provided independently
from the ground floor business, so that the resident can
choose to operate a business or lease the ground floor
to another. Additionally, the ground floor may simply
be occupied by the owner as an extension of the resi-
dence, with the door yard at the front offering a degree
of privacy for the residence. Because of this flexibility,
such buildings can generally be financed with a stan-
dard residential mortgage.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-47
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A set of traditional townhomes with dooryards - the projecting
gabled portions help create a rhythm along the street.
Townhouses in Charleston that use color and material changes
to modulate individual units.
A pair of townhouses with different heights, but a common
frontage along the street.
2. Articulation Methods
Varying Building Heights. Townhomes in
neighborhood centers may vary heights from unit
to unit. Although some may have a third story, or an
access tower to a roof terrace, the buildings are united
by the commonality of their frontages. This creates a
continuous experience for the pedestrian at the street
level while preserving a dynamic street wall.
Bay Articulation. Townhomes and Live/Work
buildings should express each individual unit through
either building massing or architectural elements.
Architecturally, repeating elements such as stoops,
porches, upper floor terraces, etc. can help create a
repeating module that break up long facades and
express individual townhouse units. See Section 5.7 for
full guidelines.
Facade Projections. When individual units include a
projecting mass or wing, a rhythm is created along
the street. Implementing a frontage type such as a
dooryard or stoop can help create a commonality
between the units.
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
A-48 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
A simple apartment building without ground floor retail
A modern 3-story apartment building
Variation #3: Apartment Building
1. Description
Block form apartment buildings are essentially flex-
block buildings with residential ground floor, and thus
set back a bit from the sidewalk. They are distinguished
from suburban “apartment complexes” in that they are
individual buildings, each fronting directly onto the
street, or in some cases onto a semi-private court or
garden. Parking is located behind, beneath or in some
cases beside the buildings.
Whereas townhouses are dwellings that each have a
front door to the street, apartment buildings generally
have a single shared entrance – the predominant archi-
tectural feature of the façade – that provides visitor ac-
cess directly from the street, generally via a lobby, stairs
and elevator. A desirable – but not required – feature
of such buildings in a mixed-use center context is direct
access to ground floor units from the street, often via a
stoop, which can enhance the sense of connection be-
tween the building’s residents and their neighborhood.
An apartment building variation that is very well-suited
to Southern California and the desert is the courtyard
apartment building. The benefits of this configura-
tion are many and include modulation of the building
scale as viewed from the street, and enclosure of a
sociable semi-private, gated or un-gated, shady and
wind-sheltered space for residents. Around such a
court – or garden – dwellings may be organized as
2-story townhouse type units or flats, with ground floor
units accessed directly from the court via front doors,
and upper floor unites accessed via individual or shared
stairs and sometimes by elevator.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-49
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A courtyard apartment building; the setback caused by the
court results in a less intense street wall.
An apartment building that uses projecting porches to help
create a pattern of smaller elements on a larger building
A recessed entry creates a prominent interruption along the
facade of an apartment building
2. Articulation Methods
Incremental Massing. Wide buildings may use facade
composition to divide the building into separate,
incremental visual pieces. For instance, a tower or
gabled end bays can help introduce visual accents
through facade composition, helping to reduce the
potential monotony of a wide, continuous building.
Courtyards. A strong way of articulating apartment
buildings is through the use of courtyards. This ensures,
in both larger and smaller buildings, that all units
have access to an open space. When the courtyard is
positioned along a street, the facade of the building
recedes to accommodate the courtyard, creating a less
intimidating street wall. See Section 4.4 and Appendix
A.6 for guidelines.
Facade Recessions. Recessions in facades, usually at
major entries, can help articulate the street level of
apartment buildings. They also allow for a shaded
environment for people accessing the building.
Architectural Elements. Porches, terraces, and window
bays can be used to create visual rhythm along an
apartment building. See Appendix A.7 for guidelines.
An apartment building that creates a unique, repeated bay
consisting of projecting windows and shaded porches.
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
A-50 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Buildings shall be principally composed of 2- and
3-story volumes; 3-story architectural elements may
be allowed for architectural accentuation.
•Facades of single story buildings shall be at minimum
18 feet tall. The minimum facade height may be
achieved through parapets or false fronts.
•Eave to street recommended.
2. Open Space
•Private patios may be provided in side and rear
yards. See Sections 4.4 and Appendix A.6 for zone
requirements and guidelines.
3. Access
•The main entrance to a Mixed-Use building’s ground
floor commercial space shall be located within the
facade and accessed directly from the street through
an allowed Frontage Type.
•Access to upper story commercial space or dwelling
units shall be through a street level lobby and/or
corridors accessed directly from the street.
•Parking may be provided in a garage, subterranean
garage, parking structure, carport, uncovered, or a
combination of any of the above.
•Vehicle access to an inner block surface parking lot
may be provided through a driveway a maximum of
20 feet wide, and with two-foot minimum planters on
each side.
A. Mixed-Use
A Mixed-Use building is designed for occupancy by a
minimum of two different uses that may be vertically
or horizontally demised. Uses generating visitor or
customer traffic (such as retail, restaurants, personal
services) shall be located on the ground floor facing the
sidewalk, whereas uses generating limited pedestrian
activity (such as office or residential), when present, shall
be located on upper floors or behind street fronting
commercial uses. Residential units may consist of any of
three dwelling types: flats, maisonettes, and lofts.
Sample illustration of a mixed-use building type.
MASSING
Mixed-Use
Rowhouse
Live/Work
Urban Courtyard
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Mixed-use buildings in desert climate should blend indoor and
outdoor space while providing ample shade .
Arcades and galleries are a useful tool in creating a consistent
shaded experience for adjacent mixed-use buildings.
A mixed-use building with a tower to access the roof .
Towers and tall 1-story buildings can be used to introduce more
vertical elements into a town center.
A building with shaded outdoor seating incorporated into the
facade.
1-story commercial buildings should have tall facades.
A-52 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
Mixed-use buildings comprise a mixed-use Neighborhood Center with a variety of massing from 1 to 3 stories around a public open space.
Mixed-use buildings with upper floor residential uses surrounding a central public open space. Illustrations by JJ Zanetta.
VARIATIONS
Mixed-use buildings, when in groups of two more, should
be implemented in one of two basic contexts. The first,
the “Main Street” variation, represents a pattern of several
mixed-use buildings in a linear arrangement adjacent to a
street, usually with more mixed-use or retail uses across from
them. This is the most common traditional arrangement of
Mixed-use building types in American towns and cities.
The second context type includes a similar grouping of
mixed-use buildings fronting on or adjacent to a green or
other form of public open space. On larger greens and other
appropriate circumstances, paseos, courts, and other ways of
continuing open spaces into the blocks are encouraged.
In neighborhood transition areas, a lower density from of
mixed-use buildings around a green may be implemented.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-53
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
MAIN STREET
ON GREEN
NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITION
Mixed-use and retail buildings along a green allow for outdoor
dining and recreation opportunities.
A 3-story mixed-use along a large green.
A cluster of mixed-use and retail buildings along a linear Main
Street, with variation being provided through storefront designs.
Mixed-use Main Street buildings that create variety through
heights and setbacks.
Neighborhood transitions introduce singular or smaller-scale
mixed-use buildings into mainly residential neighborhoods.
This mixed-use building helps to bridge the gap between mixed-
use and residential character.
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
A-54 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Buildings shall be principally composed of 2-story or
3-story volumes.
•Rowhouse buildings may consist of two to six
attached units.
•Eave to street recommended if concealed roof is
present.
•Access to roof terraces should be provided where
appropriate.
2. Open Space
•Private rear yards are not required, however, if
provided the rear yard shall be located between the
primary building and the garage and shall be no
less than twelve feet in width or depth. See Sections
4.4 and Appendix A.6 for zone requirements and
guidelines.
3. Access
•The main entrance to each rowhouse unit shall be
located within the facade and accessed directly from
the street through an allowed Frontage Type.
•Vehicular access shall be provided through an alley.
•Parking may be provided in a garage, carport,
uncovered, or a combination of any of the above. At
least one required parking space shall be in a garage,
which may be within the primary building, attached
to it, or detached.
The Rowhouse building type consists of at least 2 and
up to 6 attached single-family houses on individual
lots. Rowhouses share common walls with one or two
adjacent units. Private yard space separates the dwelling
unit in the front and the garage in the rear of each lot.
Sample illustration of the Rowhouse building type. Units may
either all maintain the same setback or slightly vary setbacks
depending on location within the block.
MASSING
B. Rowhouse Mixed-Use
Rowhouse
Live/Work
Urban Courtyard
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Balconies may be partly recessed and partly projecting to allow
both sunlight and shade.
Architectural features such as roof terraces, street level planters,
and awnings should adorn rowhouses.
Rowhouses should use recessed masses and sunshades where
possible
Modern rowhouses can be similar in massing and character to
the region’s Mid-Century hotels
ACCESS
Sample illustration of how Rowhouse units may incorporate tuck-
under parking
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
A-56 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Buildings shall be principally composed of 2-story or
3-story volumes.
•Groups of Live-Work buildings may consist of two to
six attached units.
•Eave to street recommended if concealed roof is
present.
•Access to roof terraces should be provided where
appropriate.
2. Open Space
•Private rear yards are not required, however, if
provided the rear yard shall be located between the
primary building and the garage. See Sections 4.4 and
Appendix A.6 for zone requirements and guidelines.
3. Access
•The main entrance to a Live-Work building’s ground
floor flex or commercial space shall be located within
the facade and accessed directly from the street
through an allowed Frontage Type.
•Access to the dwelling unit may be provided through
a separate street level entrance or through a foyer
shared with the flex or commercial space.
•Vehicular access shall be provided through an alley.
The Live/Work building is an attached building designed
to be occupied by a single dwelling unit and a single
ground floor flex or commercial use on an individual lot.
Similar to the Rowhouse, the Live-Work building shares
one or two common walls with adjacent buildings.
Garages are located in the rear of the lots and may be
attached to the primary building or separated from
it by a yard, which may be associated with the flex or
commercial space.
MASSING
Mixed-Use
Rowhouse
Live / Work
Urban Courtyard
•Parking may be provided in a garage, carport,
uncovered, or a combination of any of the above. At
least one required parking space shall be in a garage,
which may be within the primary building, attached to
it, or detached.
Sample illustration of the Live/Work building type
C. Live/Work
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Individual units may be articulated through massing.
Parallel parking used for Live/Work units on a more compact lot
Frontages of Live/Work buildings are most always shopfront,
although glazing amounts can vary .
Live/Work lofts often incorporate outdoor terrace space on the top
floor .
Live/Work units often use garage door frontages.
Sample illustration of how Live/Work units may incorporate tuck-
under parking
ACCESS
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
A-58 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
1. Site Organization / Massing
•Courtyards may be composed of stacked flats,
townhouse units, or a combination of these types.
•Buildings must be principally composed of 2- to
3-story volumes, with 4-story elements permitted for
architectural accentuation;
•Eave to street recommended (if gable expression
desired, recommend front wing).
2. Open Space
•Central green or courtyard area required, for shared
outdoor living, dining and play. See Section 4.4 for
zone requirements.
•All unit front doors should face onto a central
courtyard.
3. Access
•The main entrance to each dwelling unit must be
accessed directly from the street or a common
courtyard. Access to up to 3 second floor dwelling
units may be provided by a common stair, which may
be open or roofed (but not enclosed).
•Each courtyard must be directly accessible from the
street.
•Vehicular access shall be provided through an alley.
The Urban Courtyard building type is an arrangement
of stacked and/or attached dwelling units and/or com-
mercial suites around one or more common courtyard,
which provide direct access to all units or suites that
do not front on a street. Courtyards are intended to be
semi-public spaces that are an extension of the public
realm.
Sample illustration of the Urban Courtyard building type. Urban
courtyards may use incremental massing to maintain a more
residential-scale street frontage. Circulation to upper floor units is
provided by exterior galleries and stairs.
MASSING
Mixed-Use
Live / Work
Rowhouse
Urban Courtyard
•Parking can be provided in a garage, subterranean
garage, carport, uncovered, or a combination of any of
the above.
•Parking is located in detached garages that are loaded
from an alley and do not front the central courtyard.
D. Urban Courtyard
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A courtyard building with a more urban, 3-story street frontage
Courtyards, in addition to providing shade, may also contain
potted plants to help cool the environment.
A typical urban courtyard, with all ground level units being
entered through the court.
Although masses are connected, architectural elements such as
balconies and recessions help to break down the scale of a court.
Commercial uses may also be arranged into an urban courtyard
building type. In this case, there is a zero side yard setback on the
lot, and all shops receive daylight from the courtyard.
Single story units with interior circulation
VARIATIONS
A-60 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.4 | NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BUILDING TYPES
This page is intentionally left blank.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A.5 Private Frontage Design Guidelines
Private Frontages encourage activity, promote interaction, and enliven streets.
A. Introduction
Building frontages - the ground floor face of the building
and the space between the building and the sidewalk - de-
fine not only the character of each building but collectively
define the character of the neighborhood and of the town.
Frontages that welcome visitors and other pedestrians are
perhaps the most important single design element of walk-
able neighborhoods, providing the streets and other neigh-
borhood open spaces with a comfortable, human-scale,
lived-in appearance.
On a functional level, the frontage is the transition between
the public realm and the private realm, providing a critically
important “privacy filter” between the fully public street and
the private interior spaces of dwellings. A series of frontage
types are defined here, ranging from deeper front yards
- with and without porches or stoops - for a good degree
of privacy, to shallower dooryards and stoops and terraces
for a moderate degree of privacy, to shopfronts, galleries
and arcades that are designed to bring commercial displays
right up to the sidewalk - the opposite of privacy.
In the climate of Palm Desert and the surrounding Coach-
ella Valley, frontages provide an invaluable opportunity for
well-shaded areas of respite from sun and heat. Porches on
homes, and arcades, galleries and awnings at shopfronts
are just some of the many ways that private frontages can
create shaded transitional spaces that foster and active,
outdoor, and social lifestyle.
On a social level, frontages are where neighbors can interact
with neighbors on comfortable terms. A landscaped door-
yard provides the chance for a resident to maintain a small
garden and chat with neighbors, a porch or stoop a place
for a homeowner to sit and relax in a shade semi-public,
semi-private environment. Porches, front yards and door-
yards let the resident invite initial interaction with pass-
ers-by without the commitment of inviting guests in.
In the Neighborhood Centers, the frontages are the places
where chance encounters with people you know and people
you don’t yet know occur, shopping, dining or just strolling.
And unlike shopping centers, these are places to go when you
just want to be in public with others - no purchase required.
Within the UNSP we describe the following types; for each, a
range of variations are both available and anticipated:
Private Frontage Types Page
A. Porch A-62
B. Stoop A-64
C. Dooryard A-66
D. Shopfront A-68
E. Gallery A-70
F. Arcade A-72
G. Terrace A-74
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SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
1. Design Guidelines
•Porch materials and design should be compatible
with the design of the rest of the building.
•Front yards should be landscaped. Paved areas shall
be limited to walks and driveways, where present.
•Porches may encroach into required front yard
setbacks up to the limit indicated in the table to the
right, and should not exceed 20% of the front yard
setback area.
•Engaged porches are engaged to the building on two
sides while the other two sides are open.
•Porches may also wrap around a corner of the
building. This may be particularly appropriate on
corner lots.
TABLE A.5.1 PORCH STANDARDS (PROJECTING)
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Porch depth (between wall
and inside column face)7 ft.-
Porch width (between
corner columns)10 ft.-
Porch height (measured
from porch surface to top
of porch columns)
8 ft.12 ft.
Floor height (measured
from adjacent finished
grade)
18 in.3 ft.
Separation between porch
and fence or sidewalk 5 ft. n/a
A
B
C
D
E
C
AB D
E
Property
L
i
n
e
A. Porch Gallery
Arcade
Terrace
Porch
Stoop
Dooryard
Shopfront
A roofed, unenclosed room attached to the exterior of
a building that provides a physical transition between
the sidewalk and the building. Porches may either be en-
gaged (open on two sides) or projecting (open on three
sides). Porches may be provided on buildings that are set
back from the Primary and/or Side Street property lines
and may encroach into the front yard and side street
yard.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A modern porch simply supported by a few beams
A row of homes demonstrating both projecting and engaged
porches
An engaged porch on a traditional house
TABLE A.5.2 PORCH STANDARDS (ENGAGED)
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Porch depth (between wall
and inside column face)7 ft.-
Porch width (between
corner column and
building face)
10 ft.-
Porch height (measured
from porch surface to top
of porch columns)
8 ft.12 ft.
Floor height (measured
from adjacent finished
grade)
18 in.3 ft.
Separation between porch
and fence or sidewalk 5 ft. n/a
A
B
C
D
E
C
A
B
Property
L
i
n
e
E
D
A-64 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
B. Stoop Gallery
Arcade
Terrace
Porch
Stoop
Dooryard
ShopfrontA Stoop is comprised of a stair and landing leading
directly from the sidewalk to a building entrance. The
ground floor of the building is raised to provide privacy
for the rooms facing the public street. This frontage type
is ideal for ground floor housing that is near the street.
1. Design Guidelines
•Stoops should correspond directly with the building
entry(s) they provide access to.
•The exterior stairs may be perpendicular or parallel to
the adjacent sidewalk.
•The landing may be covered or uncovered.
•Landscaping should be placed on the sides of the
stoop, either at grade or in raised planters.
•Ramps, if provided, should be parallel to facade or
along the side of the building.
•Gates are not permitted.
•A maximum of two stoops may be adjoined.
•Stoops may encroach into required front yard
setbacks up to the limit indicated in the table to the
right.
TABLE A.5.3 STOOP STANDARDS
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Stoop width 4 ft.8 ft.
Stoop depth (not including
stairs)4 ft. 8 ft.
Stoop floor height
(measured from adjacent
finished grade
18 in.3 ft.
Planter/fence height -3 ft.
Recession depth 6 in. 6 ft.
A
B
C
D
E
C
E
A
B D
Property
L
i
n
e
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-65
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
An example of adjoined stoops, with each stoop serving two
units
Stoops extend into landscaped front yards, provide access to
ground floor units.
A well shaded stoop that is partially engaged with the building
A stoop with stairs, a landing, and a landscape area
A-66 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
A
B
C
TABLE A.5.4 DOORYARD STANDARDS
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Size of dooryard per building setback
Wall height above
adjacent sidewalk -4 ft.
Wall height above
dooryard floor -3 ft.
Dooryard floor height
above adjacent sidewalk -3 ft.
Dooryard floor height
below adjacent sidewalk -6 ft.
Fence/rail height above
floor per CBC
D
E
F
C. Dooryard
C
DB
*Applicable when used in conjunction with Live/Work building
types. See Appendix A.5.
Porch
Stoop
Dooryard
Shopfront
Gallery
Arcade
Terrace
1. Design Guidelines
•Dooryards are enclosed by low walls, and may be at
grade or elevated.
•Dooryards are intended to be located within the
required front yard setback area. A landscaped
strip between the sidewalk and the Dooryard wall is
recommended but not required in all cases.
•The average grade of elevated dooryards should not
be more than 3 feet higher or 3 feet lower than the
adjacent sidewalk or public open space.
•Walls may extend an additional 3 feet in height
and fences or railings to the height required by the
California Building Code (CBC).
•Wall and/or fence design, materials, and finishes
should be consistent with the architectural style of
the building.
A Dooryard is an elevated or at-grade garden or terrace
that is located in the front yard setback and that is
enclosed by a low wall located at or near the property
line(s). For elevated and recessed Dooryards, access
from the sidewalk to the Dooryard is via a stair or ramp.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-67
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Outdoor seating areas raised above the adjacent sidewalk and
accessed by stairs. A low wall above the terrace level provides a
place to sit.
Dooryards may incorporate small gates that are consistent with
the scale and character of the building it serves.
Simple stuccoed walls with terra cotta tiles are appropriate for
traditional dooryard perimeters.
A sunken dooryard provides access to a store below residences.
Dooryards may be shared across units and uses. In this case, the
dooryard provides access to both retail and residences above.
A-68 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
1. Design Standards
•Storefront assemblies (doors, display windows,
bulkheads, and associated framing) should not be set
back within the Shopfront openings more than 2 feet.
•Awnings or canopies may encroach into the public
right-of-way over the sidewalk, extending to a
distance within 2 feet of the face of curb. Primary
Street and Side Street setbacks, if any, are to be paved
with a paving material that is consistent with or
matches the adjacent sidewalk.
•Doors should match the materials, design,
and character of the display window framing.
“Narrowline” aluminium doors are prohibited.
•Display windows:
i. Storefront opening(s) along the primary frontage
should comprise at least 70% of the ground floor
wall area.
ii. Walls without openings should not exceed 10
linear feet along Primary Street frontages and 25
linear feet along Side Street frontages.
iii. Storefront glass that is clear, lightly tinted (e.g.,
less than 15%, low emissivity, solar) without
reflective coating or dark tinting is encouraged.
Instead, frontage types such as arcades and
galleries and architectural elements such as
and galleries and architectural elements such as
awnings and canopies are encouraged to shade
shopfront openings.
TABLE A.5.5 SHOPFRONT STANDARDS
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height to top of transom
(clear)10 ft. 16 ft.
Height to bottom of
awning / canopy (clear)8 ft. 10 ft.
Width of storefront bay(s)10 ft. 15 ft.
Height of bulkhead 1 ft. 3 ft.
Glass area % of ground
floor wall area 70 90
Storefront on second
frontage (corner building)20 ft.
Awning Depth 4 ft.
A2
B
C
A1
C
B
E
D
D
E
F
Transom
A1
A2
Bulkhead
D. Shopfront
Shopfronts are large openings in the facade at or near the
sidewalk, enclosed with doors and transparent glass in a
storefront assembly. The primary shop entrance is at the
grade of the sidewalk and provides direct access to the com-
mercial/retail use(s) on the ground floor. The basic required
architectural elements comprising the storefront are large
windows, doors with glass, transom windows, and a solid
base (bulkhead). Optional elements include awnings, canti-
levered shed roof or canopy, signage, lighting, and cornices.
Gallery
Arcade
Terrace
Porch
Stoop
Dooryard
Shopfront
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-69
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A shopfront with awnings and potted plants.
iv. Transom windows (horizontal glass panels
immediately above the storefront) are
encouraged. Glass in clerestory windows may be
clear, stained glass, or frosted glass.
•Bulkheads:
i. Storefront bulkheads should be of material
similar or complementary to the main materials
of the building and should be made of the same
materials or materials that appear to be visually
“heavier” than the adjacent walls.
ii. Recommended materials include ceramic tile,
polished stone, or glass tile.
•Awning widths should correspond to storefront
openings and shall not extend across the entire
facade.
•New or renovated storefronts within historic
buildings should emulate or recreate a previous
storefront (from historic photos or drawings) in order
to harmonize with the overall building architecture.
This can be flexibly interpreted, for example, when
the general form of a new storefront is like the
original but the materials are contemporary.
Outdoor dining are appropriate for shopfronts with awnings or
recessed areas.
Shopfronts located at corners should create a similar character on
both facades.
Generous windows allow for both better indoor lighting and
streetside marketing of goods.
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SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
A
B
C
TABLE A.5.6 GALLERY STANDARDS
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height (sidewalk to
ceiling)12 ft. 16 ft.
Depth (facade to interior
column face)12 ft. 16 ft.
Length along frontage (%
of building facade width)75 100
Setback from Edge of Curb 6 ft.
1. Design Standards
•Gallery materials, style and design should be
consistent with the building.
•Galleries should be combined with the Shopfront
type (Section 5.5.D).
•Galleries may encroach over the sidewalk in the
public right-of-way, subject to the issuance of an
encroachment permit or license agreement prior to
issuance of a building permit.
•Column height should be four to five times the
column width. Column spacing and colonnade
detailing, including lighting, should be consistent
with the style of the building to which it is attached.
•Columns should be placed in relation to curbs to
allow passengers of cars to disembark.
•Walls without openings should not exceed 10 linear
feet.
D
B
D
A
E. Gallery
Galleries are ground floor colonnades that support a
shed roof or a deck that covers the sidewalk. Galleries
enclose and provide shade, glare control and weather
protection to ground floor storefronts, making them ide-
al for retail use. A railing on top of the gallery is required
only if the gallery roof is accessible as a deck. Planter
boxes or pots may be placed in between columns to
provide enclosure for such uses as cafe seating, provided
that adequate throughway access is maintained.
Shopfront
Gallery
Arcade
Terrace
Porch
Stoop
Dooryard
Lightcourt
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-71
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
The gallery above effectively incorporates the building’s archi-
tectural style and adjacent landscaping.
Galleries provide the opportunity for upper floor outdoor
areas.
A gallery in the form of a trellis provides shade and greenery.Galleries may also be adjacent to courts or greens.
A-72 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
1. Design Standards
•Arcades should be no less than 10’ wide clear in all
directions.
•Arcades should be used in conjunction with the
Shopfront type (Appendix A.5.D).
•Galleries may encroach over the sidewalk in the
public right-of-way, subject to the issuance of an
encroachment permit or license agreement prior to
issuance of a building permit.
•Along primary frontages, the arcade column spacing
should correspond to storefront openings.
•Column height should be four to five times the
column width. Column spacing and colonnade
detailing, including lighting, should be consistent
with the style of the building to which it is attached.
•Planter boxes or pots may be placed in between the
columns to provide enclosure for such uses as cafe
seating.
•Along Primary Street, walls without openings should
not exceed 10 linear feet.
A
B
C
TABLE A.5.7 ARCADE STANDARDS
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height (sidewalk to
ceiling)12 ft. 16 ft.
Depth (facade to interior
column face) 8 ft. 16 ft.
Length along frontage (%
of building facade width) 75 100
Setback from Edge of Curb 6 ft.
F. Arcade
B
D
D
A
Arcades are facades with a ground floor colonnade that sup-
ports the upper stories of the building or, for 1-story build-
ings, the roof. Arcades enclose and provide shade, glare
control and weather protection to ground floor storefronts,
making them ideal for retail use.
Shopfront
Gallery
Arcade
Terrace
Porch
Stoop
Dooryard
Lightcourt
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-73
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Shopfronts behind an arcade with traditional projecting sig-
nage between each arcade opening.
An arcade enclosing a ground floor residential lobby
An arcade with adjacent dining courtyardAn arcade with restaurant seating
A-74 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
A
B
C
TABLE A.5.8 TERRACE STANDARDS
FRONTAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Depth, Clear 8’ min
Finish Level above
Sidewalk -3 ft. 6 in.
Length of Terrace -150 ft.
Distance between Stairs -50 ft.D
1. Design Standards
•Terraces are enclosed by walls that are designed to
California Building Code (CBC) standards.
•For elevated Terraces, access from the sidewalk to the
Terrace is via a stair and/or ramp.
•The average grade of elevated dooryards should
not be more than 3 feet higher or 3 feet lower than
the adjacent sidewalk or public open space. Walls
may extend an additional 2 feet in height and fences
or railings to the height required by the California
Building Code (CBC).
•Wall and/or fence design, materials, and finishes
should be consistent with the architectural style of
the building.
•Terraces should feature planters or hardscape
features that help to provide shade and seating.
•Terraces may be combined with Arcade (Appendix
A.5.F) and Gallery (Appendix A.5.E) Frontage Types to
generate elevated shaded frontages.
C
DA
B
*Applicable when used in conjunction with Live/Work building
types. See Appendix A.4.D.
G. Terrace Shopfront
Gallery
Arcade
Terrace
Porch
Stoop
Dooryard
LightcourtAn area between the sidewalk and shopfronts, usual-
ly elevated and enclosed by a low wall or fence, and
intended for outdoor dining or retail display.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Terrace Example - outdoor seating areas raised above the adjacent
sidewalk and accessed by stairs. A low wall above the terrace level
provides a place to sit. Planters help to provide shade and divide
the terrace into seating areas.
A ramp to the terrace level is easy to locate and fits in with the
architecture.
Terrace Example - an outdoor patio for dining.A sunken terrace can be used to compensate for slight changes in
topography along the street
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SECTION A.5 | PRIVATE FRONTAGES
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CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-77
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
On-site open space provides private and common public
outdoor space for the enjoyment and use of residents and
businesses, and also provides comfortable spaces through
which pedestrian access is provided from the street to any
buildings (or portions of buildings) that lack direct street
frontage.
This Section identifies a series of open space types, includ-
ing the configuration, size, and design characteristics each
type. Refer to Table 4.2 (Section 4.4) to see if any portions
of these open space types may be counted toward the
required on-site open space, and the size and configuration
criteria that apply.
Open Space Types Page
A. Front Yard A-78
B. Courts A-80
C. Side Yard A-82
D. Rear Yard A-84
E. Roof Deck A-85
F. Passage A-86
G. Fences and Garden Walls A-87
H. Landscape and Outdoor Lighting A-90
I. Parking Lots A-91
A shared court provides access to multiple units.
A court provides yard behind a rowhouse.
A dooryard provides private open space for this residential unit.
A covered passage leads to mixed-use court.
A.6 On-Site Open Space Guidelines
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SECTION A.6 | ON-SITE OPEN SPACE
1. Description
The Front Yard is the area between the building façade
and the street, providing pedestrian access from the
street to all buildings and dwellings on the lot, as
well as a physical separation from the street and a
semi-public space for play and greeting one's neigh-
bors.
Front yards may be visually continuous with adjacent
yards with a common landscape, or enclosed by a low
fence, wall, or hedge. On sloping sites, front yards may
be raised above the level of the adjacent sidewalk and
supported by a low retaining wall at the property line
with steps providing access between the sidewalk and
the yard (Dooryard). Frontage types and architectural
elements may encroach into Front Yards, as allowed by
the zone.
A. Front Yard
2. Configuration and Size
a. The Front Yard is the area between the Primary
Street facing building facade and the Primary Street
property line. On corner lots, the Front Yard also
includes the area between the Side Street facing
facade and the Side Street property line up to the
fence enclosing the back yard. See Figure A.6.1 below.
b. Front Yard Courts may extend to the Primary Street
and/or Side Street Setback area(s), but the portions
within the primary or side street setback areas do not
count towards the minimum Required On-Site Open
Space of each individual zone.
c. Dooryards, porches, stoops, and architectural
elements may encroach into the Front Yard as
allowed by each individual zone.
Si
d
e
S
t
r
e
e
t
Primary Street
Alley (where present)
This front yard is enclosed by a low wall. Area that is required to be landscaped and maintained by the
owner or homeowners association.
FIG. A.6.1 REQUIRED FRONT YARD LANDSCAPE
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-79
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A continuous lawn extends across a series of single family front
yards.
Front yard facing a shared courtyard in a multi-family building.
3. Design
Front Yard Landscape. Except for walkways, front yards
should be planted with trees, shrubs, decomposed
granite (DG) or other appropriate ground cover, paving
and water conserving plant materials. Front yard
landscape should be maintained in an orderly and neat
condition.
Parkway Planting. Street trees of an approved type
should be provided in the planting strip between the
sidewalk and the street. Parkways should be planted
with water conserving plant materials.
Parkways along commercial uses may be omitted at
appropriate locations to allow for pedestrian access.
Street trees should be accommodated in tree wells.
Front Yard Fences. Front yard fences, wall materials and
landscaping and designs should be compatible with the
architectural style of the building. Front yard fences, walls,
and hedges should be no taller than 3 feet-6 inches above
the adjacent sidewalk or as defined for the applicable Zone.
On corner lots, fences and walls along the side street
frontage may be up to 6 feet high for the rear portion of
the site up to 15 feet behind the primary street facing
facade line (see Figure A.6.1). Fences along the remaining
side street frontage may be up to a maximum of 3 feet-6
inches high or as defined in the Design Guidelines for the
applicable Zone.
Raised Front Yards (Door Yards) should be up to a maximum
of 3 feet-6 inches high above adjacent sidewalk or as
defined in the Urban Guidelines for the applicable Zone.
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SECTION A.6 | ON-SITE OPEN SPACE
B. Courts
1. Description
A Court is a semi-public, shared open space within a
lot, for use by more than one resident or tenant. It is
a well-defined, coherent area that is an essential com-
ponent of the project's design, not merely space left
over after the building mass is placed. Courts generally
provide visitor access from the street to dwellings, retail
or office spaces, and/or buildings within the lot that lack
direct frontal access from the street. The degree of en-
closure or openness may vary, as per the requirements of
each zone and the design intent of the project designer.
2. Configuration and Size
a. Configuration. Courts – particularly the portion of
the court(s) that is intended to meet the minimum
Required On-Site Open Space area requirements
of each individual zone – should be placed in the
following ways:
Side Court. The Court is placed along the side yard
of the parcel to work together with a court or back
yard on an adjacent lot to create the effect of one
large open space;
Provide a contiguous space for entrances to
a neighboring existing building that face the
proposed project and are located close to the
property line, to face;
When the adjoining lot contains a single-family
house, to create a large open space next to the
house.
Open to Street. The Court adjoins the minimum
Primary Street setback line creating a deep, combined
garden/terrace facing the street.
Internal Courtyard. The Court is an internal courtyard,
entirely contained within the site.
Special Circumstances. When a site contains an
exceptional feature, such as a large, healthy tree or
topography, the Court is placed to retain and take
advantage of that special feature.
b. Size. Refer to Section 4.4 for applicable Zone minimum
and maximum dimensional requirements.
c. Enclosure.
In general, a Court's perimeter should be defined by
walls on at least 2 sides, and on a third side by walls
or architectural or landscape elements such as low
walls or trellises, or linear landscape elements such as
hedges or rows of trees.
In some cases, one side of a Court may be defined by
a building wall or a linear landscape element on an
adjoining property.
Driveways located adjacent to a Court may be
screened by architectural elements such as low
walls or trellises, or linear landscape elements such
as hedges or rows of trees so as not to appear to be
located within the Court.
d. Encroachments into Courts. Dooryards, stoops, and
architectural elements may encroach into the Court as
allowed by the Guidelines of each Zone.
FIG. A.6.2 Side Court Examples FIG. A.6.3 Open to Street Court Examples
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-81
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
3. Design
Common Area. Courts should be designed to be
gathering places for the occupants and also circulation
spaces through which pedestrian access is provided
from the street to any buildings (or portions of buildings)
that lack direct street frontage. Courts should provide
a central, flat area that is usable and encourages human
activity and interaction. This area should contain a
combination of paving and landscaping.
Private Area. Courts should be designed to provide
for private access to dwellings and businesses that lack
direct street frontage. Courts should also provide space
for private outdoor space in the form of private patio and
terrace spaces.
Amenities. Courts should include public amenities such
as seating areas, fountains, BBQ islands and/or outdoor
fireplaces to encourage their use as common outdoor
rooms or gathering places.
Finishes. Court materials, finishes, fixtures, and colors
should be designed in a manner that is consistent with
the architectural language of the building.
Landscape. Except for paved areas, courts should be
planted with trees, shrubs, DG or other appropriate
ground cover and water conserving plant materials.
Arbors, trellis structures and raised planter/seating walls
are encouraged. Court planting may be in permanent
planters
The top of walls of planters should generally be no taller
than a bench, but some may be up to waist height if so
required to support the health of plantings.
Trees scaled to the space are generally recommended
for shade and to screen views to and from neighboring
buildings.
The side courts of these two buildings work together to create a
single space.
An internal court with a fountain as its focal point.
A court that provides outdoor dining.
A-82 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION A.6 | ON-SITE OPEN SPACE
C. Side Yard
1. Description
A landscaped open space along one side of a lot. Side
Yards may be semi-private spaces through which visitor
access is provided to one or more buildings or dwellings,
or may be private spaces for the exclusive use of the
residents of one or more dwellings.
Side Yards of single-family dwellings are private, primar-
ily landscaped open spaces. For multi-family buildings,
Side Yards may be designed for the shared use of all
residents, or divided into private areas for the use of a
specific dwelling. Note that Side Yards strongly defined
by buildings on two or more sides – particularly if they
include significant hardscape areas – this condition may
also be classified as Side Courts, see Section 5.6.C
2. Configuration and Size
a. Configuration. Side Yards are located between the
building and the Side Yard property line and should
have a basic rectangular shape. For multi-family
buildings, the Side Yard provides access to units. The
yard area should also provide a contiguous space
for entrances to a neighboring existing building that
face the proposed project and are located close to
the property line, to face; When the adjoining lot
contains a single-family house, the yard will create a
large open space next to the house.
b. Size. Refer to Section 4.4 for applicable Zone
minimum and maximum dimensional requirements.
c. Encroachments. Dooryards, porches, stoops, and
architectural elements may encroach into the Side
Yard as indicated in the Design Criteria for the
applicable Zone.
FIG. A.6.4 Single Family Side Yard FIG. A.6.5 Multi-Family Side Yard
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-83
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A low wall provides this side yard with privacy from the street.A paved side yard provides access to this single family house.
The side yard of this multi-family building provides access to
adjoining units.
The side yard of this multi-family building provides access to
adjoining units.
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SECTION A.6 | ON-SITE OPEN SPACE
D. Rear Yard
1. Description
A private, landscaped open space located behind a
single family or multi- family building that is for the use
of the residents of one or more dwellings. For buildings
with two or more units, Backyards may be divided into
separated private yards, provided each private yard is
located directly adjacent to the dwelling unit.
2. Configuration and Size
a. Configuration. Back yards are located behind the
primary building, generally away from the view of the
Primary Street. For buildings with two or more units,
back yards may be divided into separated private
yards, provided the private yards are directly adjacent
to the unit.
b. Size. Refer to Section 4.4 for applicable Zone
minimum and maximum dimensional requirements.
c. Encroachments. Dooryards, porches, stoops, and
architectural elements may encroach into the
Backyard as allowed by each individual zone.
A back yard with a large paved area
surrounded by border planting.
A drought tolerant back yard. A back yard seating area and outdoor
fireplace.
FIG. A.6.6 Single Family Back Yard FIG. A.6.7 Multi-Family Back Yard
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-85
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Trellises covering rooftop decks.
A rooftop restaurant.
A rooftop seating area.
E. Roof Deck
1. Description.
A rooftop open space that may be assigned to individ-
ual units or a shared open space available for use by all
residents or tenants. Amenities can include trellises,
landscaping, seating areas, outdoor fireplaces, and the
like.
2. Configuration and Size
a. Configuration. Roof Decks may be located on a
portion or all of a building, subject to the California
Building Code (CBC).
b. Size. Refer to Section 4.4 for applicable Zone
minimum and maximum dimensional requirements.
Roof decks can meet the minimum open space
requirements in certain zones.
c. Amenities. Roof Decks may include design elements
such as seating areas, fountains, and/or outdoor
fireplaces to encourage their use as outdoor rooms or
gathering places.
d. Finishes. Roof Deck materials, finishes, fixtures, and
colors visible from the street and Required On-Site
Open Spaces – including trellises, railings, and walls
– should be designed in a manner that is consistent
with the architectural language of the building.
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SECTION A.6 | ON-SITE OPEN SPACE
Example of a side yard passage providing access to a Side Court.
Example of an uncovered passage. Example of a covered passage.
F. Passage
Diagram of passages connecting between two building masses
to an Enclosed Court (left) and of a passage connecting to a Court
along the side yard.
1. Description
Passages provide a pedestrian connection between or
through buildings from the street to a Court or between
two Courts. Passages may be covered or uncovered.
2. Configuration and Size
a. Configuration. Passages should have a basic
rectangular shape and may be open to the sky or
covered by a roof or upper floors. Passages may be
provided between buildings or along side yards.
Passages may be gated or completely open to the
street, but should be unobstructed by garden walls
or other solid elements that impede views into and
out of the Court to which they provide access.
b. Size. Refer to Section 4.4 for applicable Zone
minimum and maximum dimensional requirements.
c. Finishes. Passage materials, finishes, fixtures, and
colors should be designed in a manner that is
consistent with the architectural language of the
building.
FIG. A.6.8 PASSAGE
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
G. Fences and Garden Walls
1. Materials
a. Garden walls, and retaining walls exposed to public
view, should be made of or clad in brick, stone,or
stucco compatible with the design of the principal
building.
b. Fences and trellises should be made of finished
wood or wrought iron. Wrought iron fences should
have iron posts and/or brick or stone piers.
c. All chain link fencing is prohibited.
2. Configurations
a. Garden walls should be no less than 6 inches wide
and capped by smooth mortar cap or a top that
overlaps the wall below by no less than one half inch
on each side.
b. When built along street frontages, wood fences
and gates should meet applicable Frontage Type
requirements and should be made of vertical pickets
with no more than three inch gaps in between.
Wrought iron fences and gates should be made
of true wrought iron, or steel bar that faithfully
simulates true wrought iron, with bars with no less
than a four-inch space between. Wood fences and
gates are not recommended on frontages in the NC
and NM zones.
c. Fences built parallel to the frontage between
buildings to enclose the side yard(s) should be
set back at minimum 3 feet behind the facade
line, except walls that are an integral part of the
architecture of the building, which may be flush with
the facade or set back (see Figure A.6.8).
d. Wood fences at interior side and rear property lines
should provide fronts to both sides of the property
line (“good neighbor fencing”), for example by
alternating members from one side of the fence to
the other.
e. Fence Height:
Interior lots. Side yard and rear yard fences and
walls behind the front building facade may be up to
6 feet high (see Figure A.6.8).
A plastered masonry wall is capped with a smooth mortar cap.
Example of “good neighbor” fencing comprised of alternating
vertical members.
A plastered masonry wall that is capped with terra cotta tiles.
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A low front yard hedge.
A plaster front yard wall matching building walls in color and
finish.
A wrought iron front yard fence with plaster piers.A white picket fence.
A plaster front yard wall matching building walls in color and
defining a forecourt space.
A stone front yard wall and defining forecourt/garden space.
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Corner lots. Fences and walls along the side street
frontage may be up to 6 feet high for the rear portion
of the site up to 15 feet behind the primary street
facing facade line (see Figure A.6.9). Fences along
the remaining side street frontage may be up to 3
feet high (see Table A.3 for front yard fence design
guidelines).
a. Retaining walls: At street frontages, when present,
retaining walls may be up to 36 inches in height.
Retaining walls within the frontage setback area – and
to the line of the side yard enclosing fence or wall –
should be made of or clad in materials as specified
in these architectural guidelines. Retaining walls
behind the fence line and substantially obscured from
views from the public way may be relieved of this
requirement.
b. Screen walls: Parking, utilities, trash receptacles and
similar service functions and equipment should be
screened from public view by opaque walls or fences
meeting the requirements of this Code.
i. Parking: Whenever practical, on-site parking should
be located within parking lots, structures or garages
at the rear of the lot, screened from street views by
the primary building. Any parking lots that abut and
are visible from street views should be screened by
a wall or fence 36” to 48” in height, enhanced with
landscaping.
ii. Utilities and Trash Receptacles: These functions
should be located to the side or rear of the lot, never
in front yards. Screen walls should be designed as an
integral element of the building design or as an integral
element of the landscape.
AVOID: Stone veneer atop stair treads is insubstantial and
susceptible to damage.
A stair comprised of terra cotta stair treads and plaster risers. The
treads are substantial and durable.
Front Yard.
Pr
i
m
a
r
y
S
t
r
e
e
t
Side Street
Al
l
e
y
(
w
h
e
r
e
p
r
e
s
e
n
t
)
Corner
Lot
Interior
Lot
15 ft. min.
5 ft. min.
FIG. A.6.9 YARD FENCE PLACEMENT
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SECTION A.6 | ON-SITE OPEN SPACE
H. Landscape and Outdoor Lighting
1. Landscape Materials
a. All landscape and irrigation design must comply
with the following:
i. Plant material shall be selected from the approved
plant list as provided in Appendix A: Recommended
Tree and Plant Species.)
ii. Invasive plant species are generally discouraged
for landscape use and are prohibited near parks,
buffers, greenbelts, water bodies, and open
spaces.
iii. Turf is prohibited in commercial and industrial
development proposals except where approved
as a recreational use.
iv. Turf is not to exceed 30% of the landscape areas in
residential development proposals.
v. Decorative water features shall use re-circulating
water and recycled water where possible.
2. Landscape on Private lots
a. Green screen. Landscape should be used to soften
walls and fences and provide a green screen, where
appropriate, between industrial or commercial
buildings and adjacent residential properties.
b. Stair treads. Exterior stair risers and treads should
be constructed of durable and substantial materials
and in a manner that is consistent with the design of
the rest of the building.
3. Irrigation
Permanent and automatic irrigation systems shall
be provided for all landscaped areas per the design
criteria and specifications of City of Palm Desert.
4. Climate mitigation
Trees, shrubs, hedges, and deciduous vines should be
used to minimize solar heat gain during the summer
and maximize heat gain during the winter.
A curbside rain garden collects and filters storm water.Drought tolerant landscaping.
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A parking lot paved with gravel and informal planting facilitates
water recharging.
A commercial parking lot that includes planting areas and
semi-permeable paving to facilitate rainwater recharging.
5. Sustainable Stormwater Management
a. Ground water recharging and stormwater runoff
limits should be facilitated on all parts of new
building sites. Possible strategies include:
i. Rain gardens and vegetated bioswales that convey
and infiltrate rainwater.
ii. Pervious pavements that allow stormwater to
infiltrate directly into the ground below. Acceptable
permeable surfaces include pervious concrete,
pervious pavers, decomposed granite, and gravel.
6. Site Lighting
a. Shielding. Site lighting should be shielded by
permanent attachments to light fixtures so that
light sources are not visible from a public way and to
prevent off-site glare.
b. Extent. Site lighting should include illumination
of parking areas, buildings, pedestrian routes, and
public ways.
c. Clearance. The bottom of a lamp along a sidewalk or
other path being lighted should not be more than 20
feet above the ground.
I. Parking Lots
1. Parking lot Landscaping
Parking areas should be landscaped in compliance
with the following requirements.
a. Amount of landscaping. Landscaping within
and/or around the parking area should be provided
at a minimum ratio of 13% of the gross area of the
parking lot. A minimum of one shade tree should
be provided for each 4 parking spaces, or trees
shall be provided to achieve 50% canopy coverage
of paved area at maturity, whichever is greater.
b. Location of landscaping. Landscaping should be
evenly dispersed throughout each parking area
with trees planted around the perimeter of the
parking lot. For larger parking areas, orchard-style
tree plantings (placement of trees in uniformly-
spaced rows) are encouraged.
c. Irrigation. Automatic irrigation shall be provided
for all landscaped areas.
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2. Parking Lot Paving
In an effort to reduce stormwater run-off and water
pollution, and to allow for the replenishment of
groundwater, parking areas should be designed to
reduce the amount of run-off generating surface
area. Therefore, permeable surfaces for parking and
maneuvering areas are encouraged. Acceptable
permeable surfaces include:
a. Pervious asphalt and concrete;
b. Permeable pavers (products such as Unipaver,
Eco-stone and SF Rima or an approved equivalent);
c. Reinforced gravel paving (products such as Invisible
Structures’ Gravelpave);
d. Reinforced grass paving (products such as Invisible
Structures’ Grasspave);
e. Other permeable surfaces as approved by the
Planning Division.
A parking lot shaded by trees planted in uniformly-spaced rows. A break in the curb allows water to flow into planters.
3. Parking Lot Lighting
a. Outdoor light fixtures should be limited to a
maximum height of 15 feet.
b. Lighting should be shielded or recessed so that:
i. The light source (i.e., bulb, etc.) is not visible from off
the project site; and
ii. Glare and reflections are confined to the maximum
extent feasible within the boundaries of the project
site. Each light fixture shall be directed downward
and away from adjoining properties and public
right-of-way.
c. No lighting on private property within the NM and NL
zones shall produce an illumination level greater than
one foot-candle.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A.7 Architectural Guidelines
A. Introduction
1. General
Since Palm Desert was founded in 1945, developers
have been building neighborhoods and communities
that have been unique to the Coachella Valley. Many
early developments advertised the area for its local
amenities, weather and lifestyle. Today, thousands of
people live in and visit the area for its rich desert heri-
tage, a result of cultural traditions and environmental
traditions.
2. Building Traditions
Prior to World War II, the Coachella Valley was home to
a handful of very small, quiet communities. As con-
flict overseas came to a close, more and more peo-
ple looked to the area for recreational and vacation
opportunities. Early flyers and advertisements for Palm
Desert developments boasted the ease of being able
to walk and bike to local amenities such as theaters,
schools and churches. The Shadow Mountain Club
and Palm Village, both developed in the late 1940's,
were some of the first developments to advertise Palm
Desert as an "all-inclusive" town in the desert. As El
Paseo developed, these communities also touted the
adjacency to local neighborhood services and restau-
rants. The manner in which the city grew was partially
based on the idea that it was a vacation community,
both for locals from Los Angeles, and for people across
the country. Even though it developed at a time when
the car was becoming ubiquitous in American culture,
Palm Desert had to cater to visitors who had come a
long distance to stay at a resort or club. Guest cottag-
es were often a modest size, and major recreational
activities and services were within walking distance to
most homes.
Eventually, the need for year-round housing grew at
a rapid rate, and mass-market developers eyed the
Coachella Valley for their next ventures. Builders such
as the Alexander Construction Company were able to
prolifically erect homes with modern materials and
modern designs, using the same collection of stan-
dardized floor plans. Mass-produced Mid-Century and
Ranch homes were laid across wide lots all across the
Valley within a few decades.
By the late 1970's communities shifted to become
more insular, and many new developments chose to
have a more private atmosphere. Gated communities
with homes lining the edges of golf courses became
a popular commodity. Mostly on the northern side
of Tahquitz Creek, these communities skewed more
towards traditional Spanish Revival styles and slightly
smaller lots. Within a amount of time, Palm Desert
had developed a wide array of lifestyles, architectural
character, and community patterns.
An early Palm Village advertisement promoted convenient
recreational opportunities.
The gated golf course community model, although inclusive,
provides few connections to other neighborhoods.
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3. Landscape Traditions
The other main component of Palm Desert's heritage
is its physical landscape. The area's arid climate and
wide, flat expanses were inviting to developers, vaca-
tioners, and cultivators for many reasons. In the 1950's,
as citrus groves in Los Angeles began to be subdivided
and developed, the Coachella Valley offered a blank
slate for date palm and citrus growers. Mass-market
developers also saw a blank canvas in the desert, as
there were no geographic constraints besides the
mountains to hinder them. To the vacationer, the flat
Highway 111 and Palm Springs Airport provided an
easy way to get in and get out of town.
During the initial development boom, the Valley
floor' environmental landscape was not much more
than small boulders, sand, and native bushes and
trees. Architecture, for the most part, would have to
help mitigate the desert heat. Thin, long floor plans,
courtyards, and low building masses helped to offset
some of the heat effects, but landscape would serve
an equally important role.
When the area was first developed, native plants were
few and far between. Early housing developments
would bring with them patches of non-native green
grass from the Los Angeles area, with little regard
for the low amount of rainfall in the area. Date palms
and other desert plants were brought in from all over
the world to diversify both the agricultural landscape
and neighborhood landscape. Many of these plants
are successfully adapted to the desert, and, although
non-native, are well-suited for the unique climate of
the area. Today, the image of the pool in the backyard
of a Mid-Century house, or palms set against the light
plaster walls of Spanish Revival building are iconic
visuals in Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley.
In recent years, with the prospect of more stringent
water resources and warmer temperatures, many
communities have moved towards emphasizing
drought-tolerant plants and landscapes. Many front
yards have done away with green grass in favor of
exposing the original sandy, rocky landscape while
adding succulents and other desert plants.
An early photo of El Paseo shows the scarcity of native plant life A Mid-Century house with a beautiful landscape made of
mostly adaptive plants
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
B. Building Architecture and Form
1. General
These Guidelines provide direction for the design of
buildings, appurtenances and site elements within
the UNSP area. Photographs and diagrams provided
in this section illustrate recommended options for
the massing and architecture of the buildings in the
subject area.
2. Relationship to Development Guidelines
The Development Guidelines in Section 4.4 define the
location and massing of buildings and site elements
on the project sites, focusing on the relationship of
the building to the project site, the block and the
neighborhood. These Architectural Guidelines define
the recommended range of design and performance
possibilities in order to achieve a degree of authentic-
ity and cohesion for the physical character and quality
of the area.
These Guidelines are to be applied in concert with
the building typologies defined in the Development
Guidelines (Appendix A.2 and A.4).
By carefully applying these guidelines to the recom-
mended Building Types (Appendix A.2 and A.4), the
skilled architect will be able to design a wide range of
buildings, for a wide range of uses, household types
and constructions budgets.
3. Design Intent
While no specific architectural styles are required, four
Architectural Styles (Appendix A.7.C) are identified as
particularly relevant to the heritage and character of
Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley, and are used to
help illustrate recommending design approaches.
4. Materials in General
Authentic, natural building materials are recommend-
ed, including smooth plaster, fine concrete block,
brick, stone, tile, wood, terra cotta ties and appropriate
metals. Such materials age gracefully, while many
synthetic materials do not.
Synthetic materials that simulate natural materials
may be allowed, when approved in writing by the
Director and based upon the findings.
a. That the material faithfully simulates the
appearance of the natural material it imitates; and,
b. That the material has a demonstrated ability to
weather gracefully, aging similarly to or better than
the natural material it simulates
A new multi-family residential building designed as simple
assemblies of house-scale forms.
A new “Main Street” commercial building comprised of simple
masses and street-facing windows and entries.
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SECTION A.7 | ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES
5. Building Walls
a. Materials.
Primary Materials. Building walls should be clad
smooth plaster or stucco (coarse, heavy lace and
Spanish textures are prohibited). Wood clapboard
including high-quality manufactured wood and
desert-climatized alternatives, dropsiding, board
and batten; or, fine concrete block, brick, stone;
and pre-finished metal panels. Fiber cement
siding successfully simulating wood may also be
used.
Chimneys. Exterior chimneys should be finished
in brick, concrete block, stone, or stucco.
Discouraged Wall Materials. Materials to avoid
or to be kept to a minimum include simulated
finishes (such as artificial stone), plywood siding,
low-quality vinyl siding, EIFS (Exterior Insulation &
Finish System) on exposed, ground level locations,
and split face block.
Reflective Materials. Reflective materials, such as
mirrored glass, shiny metal, and chrome, should
only be used if they are applied to small areas
(such as highlight signage), and do not cause a
nuisance to automobile traffic, pedestrians, and
neighboring buildings.
Organic Materials. Green wall installations
planted with sedums may be used where
appropriate.
Concrete block walls may be designed with interesting
geometric patterns
Smooth plaster walls help keep adjacent spaces cool yet bright.
Wood drop siding paired with brick walls
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b. Configurations.
General. Walls may either be designed as traditional
facades of one major simple material with punched
window openings or modern exposed structural with
panelized windows.
Multiple Materials. On traditional buildings, multiple
wall materials combined on a single facade should be
should be stacked, with lighter materials above those
that are more substantial (e.g. wood above stucco
or masonry, or stucco above masonry). On modern
buildings, materials should be mixed in a manner
suitable for the architectural character of the building.
Cantilevers. Cantilevers should be visually supported
by visible wood brackets or beams on traditionally
styled buildings. Most modern buildings use visible
wood or steel beams to visually support cantilever.
c. Methods.
Brick and Cut Stone Patterns. Brick, concrete block,
and cut stone should be laid in true bonding pattern
for traditional styles, and may be laid in stack bond for
modern styles.
Mortar Joints. Brick, concrete block, and cut stone
mortar joints should be struck.
Rubble Stone. Rubble stone should be laid in a
natural, horizontal direction in horizontal courses with
smooth or beaded mortar joints
Wood Siding. Walls clad in wood or cement fiber
board siding should be stained or painted with colors
approved through the Design Review process.
Wood Siding Patterns. Clapboard should not exceed
6 inches to the weather. Shingles should not exceed 8
inches to the weather. Dropsiding should not exceed
12 inches and 4 inches, alternately.
Green Walls. Green wall installations are encouraged
on secondary facades, especially those that are lacking
fenestration.
A large roof cantilever visibly supported by wood rafters The vertical joints between the board and batten siding and
stucco of this building occurs at the inside corner.
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AVOID: Stone veneer that does not wrap the corner gives
away the fact that is an applied veneer. Stones not laid with
horizontal courses.
Naturally laid rubble stone on a Mid-
Century facade
Mixing facade materials, in this case
plaster and siding, can help break down
the scale of a building.
A Spanish Revival courtyard building with a portion of the
second floor cantilevering over the front entry.
This brick veneer wraps the corner.
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Smooth plaster walls may incorporate decorative tile or terra
cotta accents. These walls also have an appropriate cap.
6. Site Walls
a. Materials
General. All site walls should use materials that
complement the architectural character of the
adjacent building.
Primary Materials. Garden walls and retaining
walls exposed to public view, should be made of or
clad in smooth plaster (with or without decorative
tile or terra cotta elements), fine concrete block,
brick, stone (which may be mounted in gabions),
or weathering steel compatible with the design of
the principal building. Fences and trellises should be
made of finished wood, steel, or wrought iron.
Discouraged Wall Materials. Materials to avoid or
to be kept to a minimum include simulated finishes
(such as artificial stone), plywood siding, EIFS
(Exterior Insulation & Finish System) and split flace
block.
Reflective Materials. Reflective materials, such as
mirrored glass, shiny metal, and chrome, should
only be used if they are applied to small areas (such
as highlight signage), and do not cause a nuisance
to automobile traffic, pedestrians, and neighboring
buildings.
Organic Materials. Green walls planted with
sedums may be used where appropriate.
Green walls planted with drought tolerant succulents can help
cool sidewalk areas
From left to right. A contemporary wooden fence; Gabion wall with weathering steel fence; Plaster front yard wall with brick cap;
Plaster front yard wall without a cap
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SECTION A.7 | ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES
b. Configurations
Garden Walls. Garden walls should be no less than
6 inches wide and capped by a top. The cap on walls
related to traditional building styles should overlap
the wall below – caps for modern buildings need not.
Caps can be the same width as the wall when they are
the same material as the supporting wall.
Fences. Wood fences and gates on Frontages should
be made of vertical pickets or lattice with no more
than 3-inch gaps in between. Wrought iron fences
and gates for traditional styles should be made of true
wrought iron, steel bar or tube faithfully simulation
true wrought iron, with bars with no less than a
4-inch space between. Wood fences and gates are
not recommended on frontages in the Neighborhood
Center.
Front Yard Wall Height. Fences and garden walls
within Frontage Setback areas should be between 30
inches and 42 inches in height.
Side Yard Wall Height. Fences and garden walls
enclosing interior side yards may be up to 6 feet in
height when built at or behind the building facade.
Wall Setbacks. Fences built parallel to the Frontage
between the houses or other structures should be set
back an additional 2 to 5 feet behind the Façade line of
the house, except walls that are an integral part of the
architecture of the house. In such case the wall may be
flush with the Façade, or set back any dimension from it as
deemed appropriate.
Retaining Walls. Retaining walls at Frontages, when
present, may be up to 5 feet in height. Retaining walls
within the Frontage Setback area – and to the line of
the side yard enclosing fence or wall – should be made
of or clad in materials as specified in these Architectural
Regulations. Retaining walls behind the fence line and
substantially obscured from views from the public way may
be relieved of this requirement by the Director. (Regardless
of the height of any Frontage retaining wall, a front walk
and stairs should extend directly from the front door to the
public way.)
Service Screen Walls. Trash receptacles should be screened
from public view by opaque walls or fences meeting the
requirements of this Code.
Parking Walls. Parking areas should be screened with walls
up to 48 inches, where appropriate.
Rubble stone walls should be laid with
horizontal courses.
Weathering steel retaining wall at a
suitable height
An appropriately scaled front yard
garden wall
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c. Methods
Brick and Cut Stone Patterns. Brick, concrete block,
and cut stone should be laid in true bonding pattern
for traditional styles, and may be laid in stack bond for
modern styles.
Mortar Joints. Brick, concrete block, and cut stone
mortar joints should be struck.
Rubble Stone. Rubble stone should be laid in a
natural, horizontal direction in horizontal courses with
smooth or beaded mortar joints
Wood Siding. Walls clad in wood or cement fiber
board siding should be stained or painted with colors
approved through the Design Review process.
Wood Siding Patterns. Clapboard should not exceed
6 inches to the weather. Shingles should not exceed 8
inches to the weather. Dropsiding should not exceed
12 inches and 4 inches, alternately.
A stack bond concrete wall is applicable to modern style
buildings.
Site walls laid in ashlar pattern.
Plaster walls with pre-cast concrete caps.
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SECTION A.7 | ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES
7. Building Elements
Attached architectural elements and details that
provide buildings with a human scale and pedestrian
orientation – including lighting fixtures, custom
signage, awnings, hand rails, balconies, and trellises –
should be designed to be consistent and compatible
throughout the building. For additional information
on building elements, see Appendix A.5 on Private
Frontages.
a. Materials.
Columns, Piers, and Arches. Columns, piers, and
arches should be made of or clad in smooth plaster,
stone, cast stone, concrete block, or brick.
Porches and Porticos. Porches and porticos should
be made of either wood or steel
Porte-Cocheres and Carports. Porte-cochere and
carport columns, posts, and beams should match
the columns, posts and beams used at the building’s
porch or stoop and should be consistent with the
building’s overall palette of materials.
Stoops. Stoops should be made of brick, stone,
concrete, or wood.
Balconies. Balconies should be made of wood,
wrought iron, or metal and may be open or covered.
Railings. On traditional buildings, porch, balcony and
other railings should be made of wood, wrought iron,
steel bar or tube faithfully simulating true wrought iron.
Modern buildings may also use galvanized or painted steel,
aluminum, and cable railing components. Vinyl substitutes
are not appropriate.
Planter Boxes. Permanent attached planter boxes, if
provided, should be made of materials compatible with
the rest of the building. On traditionally styled buildings,
planter boxes should be clad in smooth plaster, decorative
tile, stone, or cast stone. On modern buildings, planter
boxes may also be clad in metal (steel, weathering steel)
and honed concrete block.
Plant Hangers. Plant hangers, hooks, and brackets may
be made of wrought iron or metal faithfully simulating
wrought iron on traditional buildings. Modern buildings
may employ other metals suitable to the building's
character.
Awnings. Entry coverings may include canvas awnings, or
projected shed or gabled roofs supported by brackets made
of wood, wrought iron or metal. Modern buildings may
have metal or glass awnings supported by tension rods
Bay Windows. Bay windows should be made of or clad in
materials identical to or compatible with the building’s wall
finish and windows.
A wood balcony supported by extended beams A modern building with balconies that are not visibly
supported
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A Spanish Revival porte cochere that is designed to be an
integral part of the building
A wrought iron balcony with an integrated plant holder
Metal awning and balconies with support poles that extend all
the way down to the ground floor.
A brick building with an articulated parapet
A Spanish Revival mixed-use building with upper floor wrought
iron balconies
A second floor balcony covered by a wood trellis
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An arcade on a traditional
building
A modern parapet A wrought iron rail on a
Spanish Revival building
An aptly detailed Mid-
Century porte-cochere
b. Configurations
Porte-Cocheres and Carports. A port-cochere or
carport should be designed as an integral wing or
element of the building it serves. The detailing and
architectural style of porte-cocheres and carports
should be consistent with the rest of the building
Spindles and Balusters. Spindles and balusters on
balconies, porches, and decks should not exceed a
spacing of 6 inches on center, or as required by the
Building Code, whichever is less. Standard pipe rails,
horizontal and vertical, are strongly discouraged
except when located out of public view in rear yard
areas or when elegantly detailed as an integral
element of a modern building design.
Bay Windows. Bay windows should be a maximum of
8 feet in width and should have a height that is equal
to or greater than their width. Bays should be placed a
minimum of 3 feet from any building corner or other
bay. A bay’s street facing facade should consist of at
least 50% transparent fenestration.
Parapet Walls. Parapet walls on traditionally styled
buildings, along any street frontage, should be
articulated with corbelled patterned brick, projected
cornices, or projected roofs.
Decks and Porches. The undercroft of decks and
porches should be enclosed with lattice, vertical
pickets, or metal grilles, except in the case of galleries
or arcades. The soffits of arcades and galleries
should be finished in a manner consistent with the
architectural styles, such as, but not limited to stained
bead board, stucco, or panelled. No drop-in acoustical
tile systems are allowed.
Planter Boxes. Permanent attached planter boxes, if
provided, should be between 18 to 42 inches tall and
never obscure a window opening.
c. Methods.
Arches. Masonry and stucco arches (square or round)
should be no less than 12 inches in depth and piers or
columns should be no less than 12-by-12 inches.
Posts. Wood posts should have a minimum nominal
dimension of 6-by-6 inches and should be articulated
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A stucco building with clay tile roof - a flat roof is screened by
parapet walls faced with a pitched roof.
8. Roofs
a. Materials.
Traditional Buildings. Roofs of traditionally
styled buildings primarily clad in stucco should
be finished with clay tile, concrete tile faithfully
simulating clay tile, slate, or dimensional composite
shingles simulating slate roofing. The material
chosen should be compatible with the character or
selected style of the building.
Modern Buildings. Roofs of modern buildings
should be finished with narrow standing seam
metal, membrane roof with natural rock ballast as
needed, or dimensional composition shingles. The
material chosen should be compatible with the
character of the building.
Porte-Cocheres and Carports. Porte-cochere and
carport roofs should match the building’s porch or
main roof and should complement the building’s
overall palette of materials.
Organic Materials. Green roofs with planted sedums
may be implemented on a wide range of building
styles and uses.
Gutters and Downspouts. Gutters and downspouts
should be made of galvanized steel, copper, or pre-
finished aluminum.
Flashing. Sheet metal parapet and cornice cap
flashings should be integral to the overall wall
design and painted to match wall or trim color.
Terra cotta porches help to visually separate building elements
on Spanish Revival buildings.
A simple articulated parapet screening a flat roof
Gabled roof with decorative tile on the gable facade
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b. Configurations.
Traditional Buildings. Building roofs should be gabled
or hipped with eaves along the frontage. Flat roofs
should be screened from the street by parapet walls.
Parapets may be faced with a pitched roof. Shed
(mono-pitch) roofs should be limited to minor wings
and projecting elements, and should have a minimum
slope of two in twelve.
Modern Buildings. Gabled, hipped, shed (mono-pitch),
or butterfly roofs may serve as the primary roof form.
Porte-Cocheres and Carports. Porte-cochere and
carport roof forms should complement the building’s
architectural style. Porte-cochere and carport roofs
may be extensions of the porch roof or the building’s
main roof, or may be independent roofs attached to
the building’s side wall.
Green Roofs. Green roofs may be located on flat
roofed portions of traditionally styled buildings, but
may be planted on shed (mono-pitch) and butterfly
roofs of modern buildings where appropriate
Service Equipment. Service equipment and storage
areas on roofs should be screened from public view.
Refer to Section 5 for full requirements.
A butterfly roof in Palm SpringsA Mid-Century building with monoptich roof
Skylights. Skylights should be flat (non-bubble) and are
strongly discouraged from being located in roofs visible
from the public right-of-way except when they are an
integral architectural element of modern buildings.
Gutters. Gutters should be half-round or ogee. Gutters on
modern buildings may be rectangular.
Awnings. Canvas awnings may cover Shopfronts or
balconies, but only in shed configurations. Quarter sphere
or quarter cylinder configurations are strongly discourage.
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c. Methods.
Overhanging Eaves. Overhanging eaves should have
exposed rafter tails at the tip, or should be finished
with a profiled cornice or gutter. On traditional
buildings, flat stuccoed soffits are highly discouraged.
Rafters. Exposed rafter tails should have a minimum
nominal dimension of 3 inches by 4 inches.
Brackets. Supporting brackets, when provided at
eaves, should have a minimal nominal dimension of 5
inches.
Brackets support a metal window awning.
A Spanish Revival building with spanish eaves.
A Spanish Revival building with exposed rafters
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9. Windows
a. Materials
Primary Materials. Window materials, finishes
and configurations should be consistent the
architectural style of a given building and
neighborhood character. Windows should be made
of wood, vinyl -clad wood, aluminum-clad wood
or metal. Additionally, windows made of solid
PVC and other vinyl alternatives may be permitted
upon design review approval. Permissible PVC and
vinyl windows should be available in a range of
colors appropriate for the applicable architectural
styles and should resemble wood windows in
detailing and profile thickness so as to make them
indistinguishable when seen from public streets,
sidewalks and open spaces.
Glazing. Glazing should be clear glass with no
more than ten percent daylight reduction (tinting).
Glazing should not be reflective (mirrored).
Traditional Accessories. Windows on traditionally
styled buildings may have the following accessories:
shutters of a similar high-quality material as their
adjoining windows, sized to match their openings
(sized and detailed as if they would cover the
window when closed), and opaque canvas awnings
(except quarter sphere and quarter cylinder
configuration).
Modern Accessories. Windows on modern buildings
may have metal sunshades, metal or glass awnings.
Security Devices. Security grills and bars on the
exterior facades of buildings should be minimized,
especially on facades visible from public streets and
sidewalks.
Security devices such as window grills should be architecturally
compatible with the rest of the building.
Appropriately sized window accessories
Ganged windows on a Spanish Revival building
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b. Configurations.
Proportion. Window openings should be vertical or
square in proportion on traditionally styled buildings.
Windows with horizontal proportions may be
appropriate for modern style buildings.
Shape. Accent windows may additionally be circular,
elliptical, octagonal or hexagonal – a maximum of two
per facade is recommended. Modern buildings may
employ trapezoidal or circular accent windows where
appropriate.
Fenestration. On traditional facades, fenestrations
are typically around 1/3 of the facade area. Exceptions
include shopfronts, architecturally shaded curtain
walls, sliding or folding glass walls and doors, and
other special types that may be desirable in creating
indoor/outdoor spaces.
Shading Devices. Shading devices include. Horizontal
metal awnings, aluminum sun shades, vertical metal
fins or grilles, and decorative metal grillwork panels
Recesses. Windows should be recessed no less than 2
inches from the building facade.
Doors and windows with deep recesses to provide shading
A modern mixed use building with proportional and well-
spaced windows
Horizontal window proportions can help support the character
of modern buildings.
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c. Methods.
Window Types. Windows on facades are generally to
be double hung, single hung, or hinged casement.
On side or rear elevations not facing a public right-of-
way, windows may be horizontal sliders to be located
at least 6 feet from the facade. Horizontal sliders
are not recommended on the side street facades of
traditional corner buildings.
Circular or hexagonal windows may additionally be
pivoted or hopper configuration.
Clerestory Windows. Clerestory windows may be fixed
Storefront Windows. Windows within storefronts may
be fixed.
Muntins and Mullions. Muntins and mullions should
be compatible with the architectural style of the
building. On traditional buildings, windows with
muntins and mullions should be true divided-light.
Traditional Buildings. All windows above the first floor
should be of a consistent proportion, and generally
stacked vertically and with head aligned horizontally.
Exceptions to this will be made for Spanish Revival
buildings.
Curtain Walls. Curtain walls should not be used unless
recessed or paired with appropriate shade devices.
Curtain wall systems must have a consistent grid with
consistent panel proportions across bays. Frameless
glass walls are also permitted.
A curtain wall system paired with both vertical and horizontal
shading elements
Large areas of glazing should be recessed and shaded as
opposed to tinted.
Clerestory windows on a storefront
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Windows with appropriately designed mullions and muntins Metal grillwork patterns can help add significant shade to
curtain wall systems.
Dynamic glass and steel awningQuarter sphere canvas awnings
Window shapes such as circles and trapezoids can be used to
complement a desired architectural style.
Sun shades should be placed and sized correctly to achieve
desired shading effects.
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Examples of shopfront window and door configurations
Doors that maintain the appearance of being natural wood
Many modern homes signify front doors with bright colors.
10. Doors
a. Materials
Primary Materials. Doors should be made of
wood, vinyl clad wood, fiberglass-clad wood,
aluminum-clad wood, fiberglass or metal.
Glazing. Glazing on doors should be clear glass
with no more than ten percent daylight reduction
(tinting). Glazing should not be reflective (mirrored).
Garage Doors. Garage doors may be of wood,
aluminum or cementitious panel. Material and color
should relate to the main body of the building and
be painted to blend in with such. Modern buildings
may use aluminum glass garage doors.
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A building entrance adorned with a bright color and metal
awning alongside a garage door storefront
A balcony over garages - the garages are separated by a
substantial amount of wall material.
Although too small for furniture, juliet balconies with operable
doors can serve as ledges for potted plants.
b. Configurations
Accessories. Doors may be flanked with sidelights and
transoms that are compatible in character to the door
itself. Doors may be paired with juliet balconies on
upper floors only if a full balcony is not appropriate,
and if the door itself is fully operable.
Recesses. Doors should be recessed no less than 2
inches from the building facade.
Garage Doors. Garage doors should have a maximum
width of 16 feet and maximum height of 10 feet.
When possible, the visual impact of garage doors
should be mitigated by other building elements such
as balconies, bay windows, and cantilevers. When
grouped, garage doors should be separated by a
minimum width of 1 foot of wall material, column, or
combination thereof.
Building Entrances. Public and visitor building
entrances to upper floors should be directly visible
from the street and should be easily identifiable and
distinguishable from first floor storefronts by locating
the entrance in the center of the facade, as part of a
symmetrical overall composition; or accentuating the
entrance with architectural elements, such as columns,
overhanging roofs, awnings, or ornamental light
fixtures.
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Residential sliding doors A traditional shopfront with a demarcated residential entrance
and commercial entrance
c. Methods
Door Types. Doors should be side hinged only, except
garage doors which may be overhead, and sliding
glass doors which may face rear or side yards.
Storefronts may also use bi-fold door systems and, on
modern buildings, aluminum and glass garage doors
(bifold or sectional).
Commercial sectional garage frontage
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11. Shopfronts
a. Materials.
i. Stucco or Masonry Storefront
•Shopfront windows should be consistent in size
and recessed a minimum of 2 inches from stucco or
masonry piers as adjacent materials.
•Transoms windows should be equally divided and
consistent across the facade.
•Bulkheads are encouraged to be clad in decorative
tiles and similar materials
ii. Metal and Glass Storefront
•Modern storefront assemblies should be made
aluminum, steel, weathering steel or aluminum-clad
wood. Metal may be painted when appropriate.
iii. Wood Storefront
•An entablature composed of architrave, frieze and cornice
should be provided above the storefront.
•Transom windows should be equally divided and
consistent across the facade.
•Shopfront windows should be consistent in size and
recessed a minimum of 2 inches from wood piers as
adjacent materials.
•Pier bases should align with horizontal elements on
the shopfront, such as sills.
Cornice to separate the storefront
from uses above
Lighting
Signage locations
Storefront
Retail entry
Awning or shed roof over entry
FIG. A.7.1 SHOPFRONT ASSEMBLY
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A traditional storefront with decorative tiles along the
bulkhead
A blend of traditional and modern storefronts
A masonry storefront with an arcaded entrance and display
windows
A glass awning demarcating a store entranceBi-fold restaurant doors opening onto a patio.
Restaurant with a commercial garage frontage that opens to
outdoor seats.
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iv. Recessed entries are recommended as another
traditional element of the main street storefront.
Recommended treatments include:
Special paving materials such as ceramic tile;
Ornamental ceilings such as coffering;
Decorative light fixtures.
v. Vines grown in vine pockets or planter boxes at the
building facade are allowed within the setback.
b. Configurations
i. A cornice or horizontal band should be provided to
differentiate the Shopfront from upper levels of the
building. This also allows the storefront to function
as the visual base for the rest of the building. In some
instances where storefronts include entablature trim,
the horizontal band may be omitted.
ii. Modern buildings may use bi-fold or sectional garage
door systems within storefronts
iii. Awnings and shed roofs may be incorporated in the
Shopfront above entries or storefront assemblies, but
should not run continuously across from opening to
opening across the entire shopfront.
iv. Lighting should be mounted on the storefront wall,
preferably centered on the piers between windows/
doors or centered above the windows/doors of the
shopfront. In instances where projected shed roofs are
used over entries the lighting may be mounted in the
underside of the shed element.
Traditional Storefront
A Header should either be four or five brick courses
high, and project out at least one inch from face
of the building.
B Transoms windows should be equally divided
and consistent across the facade.
C Shopfront windows should be equal in size and
recessed a minimum of 2 inches from stucco or
masonry piers as adjacent materials.
D Base panels or bulkhead should not exceed 36
inches in height.
E The brick mould should be equal at the top and
sides, with interior divisions of equal to or twice
the size of the sides.
Modern Storefront
A Header should either be exposed or a suggested
steal beam
B Transom windows should be equally divided when
possible and consistent across the facade
C Lites should be equal in size when possible, but
configured in different ways as necessary
D Base panels may either be glazing or a solid spandrel
material
E Main glazing area may either be fixed or an operable,
sectional garage door or bi-fold door system
A
B
C
D E
A
B
C
E
D
FIG. A.7.2 SHOPFRONT CONFIGURATIONS
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12. Colors.
a. Coordinated and subdued colors typical of natural
building materials, such as earth tone colors are
recommended. Extremely bright colors are not
recommended except on doors, window trim, or
other building components that represent a small
portion of the overall building facade.
b. White and lighter earth tone colors are encouraged
as ways of reducing heat gain on buildings and
project a classic Coachella Valley architectural
character.
c. The number of exterior facade colors should
be limited to two or three. A base color and a
coordinating secondary color for trims and accents.
Additional complementary colors should be used
sparingly and to accent particularly beautiful
building elements.
d. Allowing the natural color of materials such
as stone or brick to dominate the majority of
facade surface as its base color is recommended.
Exceptions can be made for modern buildings.
e. Trim and accent secondary colors for elements
such pilasters, horizontal bands, cornices and
window frames should complement the shade of
the base color.
Deep recessed, double door entry with side hinged doors
13. Vents, Grilles, Caps
a. Vents should not be visible from the street or from
shared open spaces such as courtyards or forecourts.
b. Materials of vent grilles or caps should be consistent
with the overall style and character of a proposed
building and should be coordinated with the
building’s finishes and architectural details.
14. Service and Utility Placement
a. Service Areas.
i. For lots with alley access, service entrances, waste
disposal areas, and other similar service areas should
be located adjacent to the alley and take their access
from it.
ii. When an alley is not present, service entrances,
waste disposal areas, and other similar service areas
should be located as far away from – and screened
from views from – the Primary and Secondary streets
as practical.
See Section 5.6 for all Service and Utility Placement
Standards.
Shopfronts and awnings between arched openings
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MASSING
Traditional Modern
ST
Y
L
E
Tr
a
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
Mo
d
e
r
n
Massing and style combinations for House-Form Building
Types
Massing and style combinations for Block-Form Building
Types
C. Architectural Styles of Palm Desert
1. Definition of Style
Within the Architectural Guidelines, the word "style"
is used to denote the overall character of a building
brought about through the combination of massing,
ornament, and materials. A truly authentic building
within a style is one that uses all of these elements
appropriately in conjunction with one another. These
principles can be applied to both House Form and
Block Form building types.
"Traditional buildings" as referred to within the doc-
ument are those that combine traditional massing
with traditional ornament and materials. "Modern
buildings" are those that incorporate either modern
details, modern massing, or both. For example, a Palm
Desert Ranch building is considered modern because,
although the windows and doors are often traditional,
the monolithic roofs and sprawling horizontal facades
are considered modern massing elements. Buildings
with traditional window sizes and spacing can still
be considered modern if the windows are articulated with
modern materials such as steel, or built into walls made of
modern materials. Many of the hallmark Mid-Century build-
ings within the Coachella Valley are the product of pairing
modern materials with modern massing.
To design within a style is not to directly mimic a previous
building or group of buildings brick by brick, but rather to
build on trends and traditions attributed to a style. Styles
themselves are living traditions with great flexibility, and
sometimes are not precisely delineated in the built environ-
ment.
MASSING
Traditional Modern
ST
Y
L
E
Tr
a
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
Mo
d
e
r
n
FIG. A.7.3 RELATION OF STYLE AND MASSING
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Spanish Revival
Contemporary Palm Desert Ranch
Mid-Century Modern
2. Local Building Tradition
The following pages are intended to illustrate designs
characteristic of the Coachella Valley variants of four
broad American Styles. These illustrations convey the
level of detail that is to be provided in the architecture of
the buildings, but certainly do not include of all possible
variations.
Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley have a rich tradi-
tion of being habitats for both subtle traditional styles
and avant-garde modern styles. Although many of these
styles are ubiquitous in California, local communities
have adopted variations of styles that are specifically
tailored to local climate, geography, and lifestyle. Desert
heat has, over the years, resulted in Spanish Revival
buildings with more intimate shaded courts and heavily
shaded balconies. Ranch and Mid-Century buildings
incorporate deep shade recesses and low, moderate -
ly-overhanging roof forms.
Roof forms are often a good indicator of a building's style
because they reveal which structural system is being uti-
lized. Steel systems allow modern buildings to incorporate
innovative monopitch roof forms, and, traditionally, heavy
timber and masonry encouraged shallow-pitched roofs
with relatively short spans in Spanish Revival buildings.
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Spanish Revival buildings with multiple units usually contain
intimate shaded courts such as these.
3. Spanish Revival
a. Description
The Spanish Revival Style is a hallmark California archi-
tectural language with many different variations and
configurations. The early Spanish missions founded
established throughout the state helped to inspire the
first wave of residential and commercial structures in
the style, while the 1915 Panama-California Exposition
helped to introduce certain Baroque elements and more
Spanish elaborations to the style. The resulting style is
one that is fundamentally simple, with small occurrences
of architectural flourishes such as wrought iron railings
and decorative tiles.
The style is particularly well suited to desert climates
because of the heavy use of white plaster walls that help
reduce heat gain, along with covered porches and balco-
nies to provide shaded outdoor spaces.
E
B
C
D
E
H
A
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b. Defining Characteristics
Low-pitched hip or gable roof with eaves facing the
street and terra cotta
Low overhang eaves with exposed rafter tails
Wall surface that extends into gable without break
Smooth plaster stucco wall finish
Simple stucco or tile decorative vents in gables
Wood or metal balconies that are either roofed or open
Short square, round, or polygonal towers
Decorative chimney tops, especially using terra cotta
tiles
Along retail building frontages, simple arcades and
galleries are often present
B
EH
B
B
B
B
C
C
C
C
D
D
D
E
E
E
F
G
H
H
I
I
A
A
A
A
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A low, wide main entry recessed under the main roof form of
the house
4. Palm Desert Ranch
a. Description
A style with roots back to the post-WWII era, the ranch
style is the result of the modern revolution in manufac-
turing domestic house products. Along with manufac-
tured windows and doors, the style includes roof forms
easy to construct from widely produced trusses and
other components.
Although the style is now ubiquitous throughout the
country, neighborhoods in Palm Desert and the Coach-
ella Valley have adapted the style to the local context,
making it a part of the local vernacular. The Palm Desert
Ranch style borrows certain elements from the Mid-Cen-
tury modern style, such as the use of uninterrupted
masonry walls, but also includes its own characteristics
such as L-shaped plans.
This style is only applied to single family detached house
types.
B
C
G A
DF A
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b. Defining Characteristics
Primary Mass built low to the ground on a wide lot,
usually 1-story
Moderate to wide roof overhang with simple wood or
stucco soffits
Large, simple low-pitch roof without dormers or other
architectural projections
Main entry off-center along facade, usually recessed
under the main roof of the house
Asymmetrical facade, with garage attached to the main
facade
Large picture window along main facade, with multiple
glass doors along the rear facade
Uninterrupted, broad pieces of the facade composition,
clad in masonry, stucco, or wood
B
B
B
B
C
C
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
G
G
A
A
A
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Gable end windows are characteristic of Mid-Century Modern
residential homes
5. Mid-Century Modern
a. Description
The Mid-Century Modern style is widely recognized as a
quintessential Coachella Valley architectural language.
A mixture of Japanese and West Coast post-and-beam
buildings with the Contemporary style propagated by
Mies Van der Rohe and Walter Gropius, mid-century ar-
chitecture strives to create an efficient house form with
certain custom crafted elements.
In California specifically, Mid-Century homes, such as
those widely built by Joseph Eichler, tend to be spread
over the majority of the lots they are on, and incorporate
outdoor spaces such as courtyards and carports into the
Primary Mass of the building. Local desert stones are
often incorporated into walls along the front facade, and
clerestory windows allow for well lit interiors.
B
C
B
A
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b. Defining Characteristics
Broad expanses of uninterrupted brick, concrete block,
stone wall, or wood surfaces along front facade.
Low-pitched broad gable (sometimes flat, mono-pitch,
or butterfly) roof with windows occurring in the gable
ends
Widely overhanging eaves with wood or metal roof
beams exposed
Open-air carport attached to main of house
Front entry often recessed or obscured
Prominent masonry chimney along front facade
Decorative concrete block garden walls and screens
B B
B
C
CC
D
D
D
E
E
E
F
F
G
G
A
A
A
A
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SECTION A.7 | ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES
A Contemporary house on a small lot.
6. Contemporary
a. Description
The Contemporary style is one that emphasizes mass
and form over the application of ornament and details.
A direct result of the Bauhaus movement, the Contem-
porary style now includes many different variations of
house designs that all share the same general principles.
Most contemporary houses use large amounts of glazing
with industrial materials such as metal sidings and posts.
Locally, the Contemporary style has used glass facade
portions to capitalize on panoramic desert views. Large
overhanging mass forms often create large shaded
porch and balcony areas.
B
E
E
F
F
G
A
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
b. Defining Characteristics
Little to no decorative detailing at doors and windows
Smooth, unornamented wall surface, often incorporat-
ing metals and/or industrial materials
Asymmetrical facade, with window patterns that may
not be consistent across floors
Flat roofs without decorative parapets or coping at the
roof line
Heavy use of glass along facades, often in the form of
floor-to-ceiling windows or ribbon windows
Front door usually unadorned, and often obscured or
recessed
Prominent cantilevered sections of house, roof and/or
balcony without visible support from main body of the
house
B
B
B
B
C
C
D
D
D
E
E
F
G
G
A
A
A
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SECTION A.7 | ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES
7. Style
Mismatched Style and Roof Massing. In Spanish
Revival architecture, the roof’s mass matches its
origins in Spain. the dry climate and rarity of tall
trees (for beams) produced a simple, single form,
medium pitched roof with baked earth tiles, all
sitting on and reinforcing the simple mass of stone
walls below. Aberrations today include irrational
complex roof forms, cartoon-like steeply-pitched
roofs, and oversized roof tiles. The business of
such roofs is out of character with the understated
elegance of Palm Desert - their exaggerated
verticality is in direct conflict with the horizontal
proportions of their ascribed architectural character.
Mismatch of Style and Massing. Within traditional
buildings, openings should be as regular as the
room layouts within. Historically, the room sizes were
based on the limits of masonry walls. Aberrations
of today arise when complex masses are added in
random shapes and patterns that would never and
could never have been built of stone, undermining
the authenticity of the traditional styles.
D. Architectural Aberrations
An example of massing that does not relate well to modest
room sizes.
A complex, convoluted roof form on a smaller, simpler home.
An abundance of ornament and applications of the same
material in different circumstances cause visual confusion.
AV
O
I
D
AV
O
I
D
AV
O
I
D
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Misuse of Detail and Materials. This includes non-
functional, decorative, or surplus details which yield an
ornamental pastiche. Original (precedent) buildings used
restraint on details, the majority of which were present for
building protection (functional), and the minority there
for embellishment at key parts of a façade. In contrast,
today’s aberrations treat details as a fancy wallpaper
stretched around a bloated mass. Materials misuse
aberrations occur when synthetic materials are dominant
on a façade, or where they are applied in a non-traditional
manner (such as a brick wall on a 2nd floor over a stucco
1st floor).
Multi-Styled Buildings. When designing ones' dream
home, the impulse to include “all your favorite things” is
understandable, but can lead a client, designer or builder
to combine a potpourri of architectural styles and ideas
on the exterior of the house. This is inconsistent with
the understated elegance of Palm Desert, which requires
editing and an eye for style. A good rule for all Palm
Desert homes is “one style per house”.
This house combines many different building traditions to
create a confusing, chaotic building.
This house incorporates synthetic materials abundantly and
unnecessarily.
This house has no apparent Primary Mass, and a confusing
mismatch of style and massing.
AV
O
I
D
AV
O
I
D
AV
O
I
D
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SECTION A.7 | ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES
2. Massing
Absence of Primary Mass. The first common
aberration is the absence of a clear Primary Mass,
which makes up the main body of a house. This
body should be dominant and legible, and is defined
by a basic rectangular shape which is articulated
by an associated singular roof form of concomitant
simplicity. In the aberrational examples, this main
body is not legible; either because the house wings
dominate the massing or because the applied roof
forms obscure and confuse the main house.
Blocky Massing. The second aberration is blocky
massing, usually in the form of a large square plan.
A house of this size is achieved, from the onset
of design, by enlarging the scale of public rooms
(living, dining, central staircase,etc.) and attaching
rooms thereto, all for the sake of ‘flow of space’. The
center portion of the house is 3 or 4 rooms deep
from the exterior, with no view, no natural light, no
air. In Palm Desert and other classic communities,
houses are typically composed of rectangular
volumes joined in asymmetrical or symmetrical
assemblies. The public parts of the house are
contained within the largest rectangular mass, and
private parts (bedrooms, bathrooms, studies) are
located on the upper floors of the Primary Mass,
or are appended in separate rectangular volumes.
The rectangular proportion is essential, for it speaks
to residential-scale structural capabilities, human-
scaled rooms, and rooms with access to views and
air.
Complex Massing. The third increasingly common
aberration is complex massing, in which individual
room volumes within a house are expressed in
plan, massing, and roof form, undisciplined by the
rigor of the recommended Primary Mass and wing
organization. The end result of such complicated
massing is not a cohesive elegant design, but rather
an apparent collection of disparate parts. Like the
other aberrations, this technique is used frequently
in an attempt to disguise a house mass that is too
large for its lot or its neighborhood. The phrase
“breaking up the mass” frequently accompanies this
technique, which is not appropriate to Palm Desert.
Massing in Palm Desert is intentional, not mitigation
of bad decisions made in plan.
AVOID. This house in plan is much too square and should
have connected a series of rectangular plan areas instead.
AVOID. Arbitrary massing can result in awkward, disjointed
roof forms
AVOID. This complex arrangement of gables leave the house
with no discernible Primary Mass
AV
O
I
D
AV
O
I
D
AV
O
I
D
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
A. Applicability
1. Signs Regulated
These sign regulations apply to all signage on the site,
on the exterior of a building, and on the shopfront of
a building.
2. Applicability
The provisions of this Section do not regulate the
message content of a sign (sign copy), regardless of
whether the message content is commercial or non-
commercial.
B. Types by Zone.
All new pedestrian-oriented signs are allowed within
their applicable zone as identified in Table 4.3.
C. Discouraged Signs.
The following types of signs are discouraged:
1. Banners
2. Pole mounted or lollipop signs
3. Feather flags or Inflatables
4. Billboards
5. Signs that produce smoke or sound
6. Signs with animated or moving characters
7. Changeable letter marquee signs (except for theaters
or concert venues)
8. Window signs that occupy more than 25% of the
window area.
9. Permanent sidewalk signs
This section provides sign design guidelines for permanent
commercial business signs in the Neighborhood Center
Zone. The City of Palm Desert Sign Ordinance provides
regulations for all other signs (address markers, temporary
signs, political signs, directional signs, special event signs,
real estate signs, historic plaques, residential signs, etc). The
design intent of all recommended sign types (except for
Roof Signs) is that the signage be conceived as an integral
A.8 Signage Guidelines
design element of the building frontage, contributing to the
building's architecture and oriented to the pedestrian.
Signs in the Neighborhood Zones are limited to address
numbers, street name signs, and temporary directional
signs as and if approved by the City's planning department.
TABLE 4.3 ALLOWED SIGNAGE TYPES (REFERENCE SECTION 4.4)
Sign Type Zone
NL NM NC OS
Wall Sign N P P P
Window Sign N P P P
Front Yard Wall Sign N P N P
Projecting Sign N P P P
Sidewalk Sign N P P P
Roof Sign N P P N
P = Permitted
N = Not permitted within zone
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
D. Sign Design
The following design criteria should be used in
reviewing the design of individual signs. Substan-
tial conformance with each of the following design
criteria is required before a sign or building permit
can be approved.
1. General
a. In order to avoid sign clutter, signage should
only be allowed on facades that have building
entrances.
b. Signs should not cover or obscure windows, doors,
storefronts, building entrances, cornices, columns,
or other architectural elements or details.
c. The gross area of all signs that are mounted parallel
to a façade should not exceed 10% of the total
area of the façade. Ground floor business within a
building may have one or multiple storefront signs.
Storefront signs should be placed in an area that
is above the ground floor storefront windows and
below the windows on the second floor.
2. Color
Colors on signs and structural members should
be harmonious with one another and relate to the
dominant colors of the buildings on the project site.
Contrasting colors can be utilized if the overall effect
of the sign is still compatible with building colors.
3. Design and Construction
a. Except for banners, flags, temporary signs, and
temporary window signs conforming with the
requirements of this section, each sign should be
constructed of permanent materials and should be
permanently attached to the ground, a building, or
another structure by direct attachment to a rigid
wall, frame, or structure.
b. Each permanent sign should be designed by a
professional (e.g., architect, building designer,
landscape architect, interior designer, or others
whose principal business is the design,
manufacture, or sale of signs), or who are capable
of producing professional results.
c. Each permanent sign should be constructed
by persons whose principal business is building
construction or a related trade including sign
manufacturing and installation, or others
capable of producing professional results. The
intent is to ensure public safety, achieve signs
of careful construction, neat and readable copy,
and durability, to reduce maintenance costs, and
prevent dilapidation.
Example of sidewalk signs Examples of window signs
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
4. Materials and Structure.
a. Sign materials (including framing and supports)
should be representative of the type and scale
of materials used on the project site where the sign
is located. Sign materials should match those used
on the building(s) on the project site and any other
signs on the project site.
b. Signs should not include reflective material.
c. Materials for permanent signs should be durable
and capable of withstanding weathering over the
life of the sign with reasonable maintenance.
d. The size of the structural members (e.g. columns,
crossbeams, and braces) should be in proportion
with the sign panel they are supporting.
e. The use of individual letters incorporated into the
building facade design is encouraged, rather than
a sign with background and framing other than the
structure wall.
5. Street Address.
The City may require that a sign include the street
address of the project site, where it determines that
public safety and emergency vehicle response would
be more effectively served than if the street address
were displayed solely on one or more buildings on the
project site.
6. Copy Design Guidelines.
The City does not regulate the message content
(copy) of signs; however, the following are principles
of copy design and layout that can enhance the
readability and attractiveness of signs. Copy design
and layout consistent with these principles is encour-
aged,but not required.
a. Sign copy should relate only to the name and/or
nature of the business or commercial center.
b. Permanent signs that advertise continuous sales,
special prices, or include phone numbers are
only permitted as window signage.
c. Information should be conveyed briefly or by
logo, symbol, or other graphic manner. The intent
should be to increase the readability of the sign
and thereby enhance the identity of the business.
d. The area of letters or symbols should not exceed
40% of the background area in commercial districts
or 60% in residential districts.
e. Freestanding signs should contain the street
address of the parcel or the range of addresses for
a multi-tenant building.
Wall mounted sign Projecting signs.
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
7. Sign Lighting.
Sign lighting should be designed to minimize light
and glare on surrounding rights-of way and properties.
a. External light sources should be directed and
shielded so that they do not produce glare off the
project site, on any object other than the sign.
b. Sign lighting should not blink, flash, flutter, or
perceptibly change light intensity, brightness, or
color.
c. Colored lights should not be used at a location or in
a manner so as to be confused or construed as traffic
control devices.
d. Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary
light sources should create hazards for pedestrians or
operators of motor vehicles.
e. For energy conservation, light sources should be
hard-wired fluorescent or compact fluorescent lamps,
or other lighting technology that is of equal or
greater energy efficiency. Incandescent lamps are
prohibited.
f. Internally illuminated box signs that light the entire
sign (letters, symbols, logos and background) are
prohibited.
8. Directory Signs.
Directory signs are small wall signs located at pedestri-
an eye level and intended to identify multiple tenants
within a building or complex. The following guide-
lines apply to these signs.
a. When tenants are accessed via a building lobby
or outdoor court, directory sign must be located
within the lobby or court. Directory signs on street
facades may be approved by the Director upon a
finding of special circumstances.
b. Directory signs should not exceed 6 square feet.
c. Directory signs should be externally illuminated.
Internal illumination and neon lighting is
prohibited.
A wall sign illuminated by external light sources.A wall sign illuminated by three external gooseneck lights.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Example of a wall sign Example of a projecting sign
E. Sign maintenance
1. Each sign and supporting hardware, including
temporary signs and awning signs,should be
maintained in good repair and functioning properly
at all times. Any damage to a sign or its illumination,
including the failure of illumination should be
repaired within a maximum of 14 days from the date
of damage or failure.
2. A repair to a sign should be of materials and design
of equal or better quality as the original sign.
3. When an existing sign is removed or replaced, all
brackets, poles, and other supports that are no longer
required should be removed.
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
1. Design Guidelines
•Maximum one wall sign per business along frontage.
In multi-tenant buildings, only the businesses with
frontage on the sidewalk should be allowed a wall
sign, in compliance with these guidelines.
•Wall signs should be located above the storefront
and at least 12 inches from any eave, edge of
building or top of parapet. On multi-story buildings,
wall signs should be located either above the
storefront or above the openings on the uppermost
story.
•Maximum thickness of sign as measured from the
wall should not exceed 4 inches.
•Minimum 24 inches between sign and any opening.
•If illuminated, external illumination required and
should be mounted to maintain visual integrity of
the sign.
Wall Sign
Window Sign
Front Yard Wall Sign
Projecting Sign
Sidewalk Sign
Roof Sign
A sign painted or applied directly to the wall, typically
above the storefront or more creatively as approved
by the City. This type consists of a single externally
illuminated panel or individual letters and/or logo and
does not include cabinet signs. This type of sign is
intended for viewing from across the street and along
the sidewalk.
A. Wall Sign
TABLE A.8.1 WALL SIGN STANDARDS
SIGNAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height none 18 in.
Width as % of facade width none 60%
A
B
B
A
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Individual, internally illuminated letters mounted directly on
wall.
Using bright colors to provide contrast to adjacent walls.
Individual metal letters mounted on a string course.Wall signs may be located within the transom area of the
shopfront.
Simple, metal sign with laser-cut letters. Direct desert sun
helps to create a legible contrast against the surface the sign is
mounted on.
Script neon and metal letters mounted on reclaimed wood.
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
1. Design Guidelines
•Maximum one (1) window sign per storefront;
•Window signs should not occupy more than 25% of
a window.
•Permanent window signs should be individually
painted, etched or otherwise applied letters or logo
graphics surrounded by clear glass.
•Signage inside the shopspace is not allowed within
4 feet of the window;
•Temporary signs – including product or event
posters – may include an opaque background.
Wall Sign
Window Sign
Front Yard Wall Sign
Projecting Sign
Sidewalk Sign
Roof Sign
A temporary or permanent sign painted or applied
directly to the storefront window(s) and/or door(s).
This type typically consists of individual letters
and a logo with allowances for some contrasting
background. Window signs also include posters for
advertisements and sales, product merchandise
posters, open and closed signs, and painted or etched
business names and logos.
B. Window Sign
TABLE A.8.2 WINDOW SIGN STANDARDS
SIGNAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height as % of window/
door height none 50%
Width as % of window/
door width none 50%
Area as % of total window/
door area none 25%
A
B
C
A
B
A
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Individual vinyl letters with feature area at top center and
contrasting background along bottom.
Reflective vinyl can help make a sign more noticeable.
Depending on font type and letter spacing, window signs can
have a wide range of transparency.
A wall sign incorporating neon.
Bright colors can help make the window sign be more visible
and lively.
Subtle tones and colors can still create legible contrast.
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
1. Design Guidelines
•One sign may be placed at each end of the wall
provided that there is at least 50 feet between each
sign.
•Signs should not encroach into any required
visibility area, right-of-way, or private street.
•Walls and signs should be designed with materials,
colors, and details that are compatible with the
design of the building on the site.
•The area surrounding the sign should be
landscaped.
•Signs should be externally illuminated. Internal
illumination and neon lighting is prohibited.
•Gateways may include a small hanging sign up to 12
by 24 inches when there are at least 8 feet of vertical
clearance.
5.x. Front Yard Wall Signs Wall Sign
Window Sign
Front Yard Wall Sign
Projecting Sign
Sidewalk Sign
Roof Sign
A sign that is located within the front yard of a
property on a low wall that encloses outdoor dining,
parking, or open space areas. In addition, the low
wall can include a gateway with a small hanging sign.
Wall signs may occur as a freestanding sign for fueling
stations subject to location and size limitations aimed
at scale and compatibility with pedestrian frontages.
C. Front Yard Wall Sign
TABLE A.8.3 FRONT YARD WALL SIGN STANDARDS
SIGNAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height none 2 ft.
Width none 20 ft.
A
B
A
B
A
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Individual letters attached to stone wall highlighted by
appropriate landscape.
A wall sign with subtle but effective lighting
An entry sign to Palm Springs that reflects the area's modern
design history
An entry monument to Palm Desert relating to the desert
landscape and history.
A simple metal sign mounted on top of a CMU wall.
Laser-cut weathering steel with logos and letters is a good stylistic complement to desert landscape and imagery.
Standalone numbers to denote address.
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
1. Design Guidelines
•A maximum of one projecting sign is allowed for
every storefront entrance on the facade.
•Projecting signs should be mounted near storefront
entrances.
•The maximum area of a projecting sign should not
exceed 10 square feet;
•At least 8 feet of vertical clearance should be
provided from the lowest point of the sign and the
sidewalk.
•Projecting signs that hang from the ceiling of a
balcony or arcade should not exceed a width of 4
feet and should be centered within the balcony or
arcade.
•The top of a projecting signs should be located
below the windows on the second floor of the
building.
•Projecting signs should be externally illuminated by
a light mounted on the facade or by neon tubing
used to illuminate letters, symbols, and accent
frames;
•Supporting hardware such as brackets should be
architecturally compatible with the building facade;
•Projecting signs not allowed under an awning or
horizontally within 5 feet of an awning or another
projecting sign; and
•An encroachment permit is required if sign projects
within public right-of-way.
A double-sided sign that projects perpendicular to the
building facade from a mounted wall brace or from
the ceiling of a balcony or arcade. Projecting signs
typically project over a public right-of-way such as a
sidewalk or public open space and are intended for
viewing by pedestrians approaching the shop.
D. Projecting Sign Wall Sign
Window Sign
Front Yard Wall Sign
Projecting Sign
Sidewalk Sign
Roof Sign
TABLE A.8.5 PROJECTING SIGN STANDARDS
SIGNAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height none 18 in.
Width none 48 in.
Thickness none 3 in.
Vertical Clearance from
Sidewalk 8 ft.12 ft.
Horizontal Clearance from
Adjacent Curb 24 in. n/a
A
B
C
D
E
B
A
C
D
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Projecting sign with depiction of product sold within the store. A simple projecting sign with address, name, and type of store
Projecting signs with depictions of product sold within the store.
Projecting signs are scaled to be legible from the sidewalk, and
often use contrast to be read easier from afar.
Projecting signs may be simple and allow other sign elements
to provide more information.
Simple round projecting signs
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
E. Sidewalk Sign
A two-sided, non-illuminated, portable and temporary
sign placed outside a storefront on the sidewalk for
viewing at close range. The sidewalk sign is intended
for use by retailers, office tenants, theaters, restaurants,
cafes, and other food-oriented businesses. Sidewalk
Signs – known as Sandwich Boards and A-frame Signs
– should be unique, not generic, and lend interest and
liveliness to a streetscape. Signs should effectively
communicate the message and attract customers with
minimal text and images and by simplicity of design
and placement should avoid visual clutter.
Wall Sign
Window Sign
Front Yard Wall Sign
Projecting Sign
Sidewalk Sign
Roof Sign
1. Design Guidelines
•Durable Material. Signs should be constructed of
durable materials, sufficient to withstand inclement
weather and color fading due to sunlight. Materials
may include wood, wrought iron, fibreglass ,and
metal. Vinyl, plastic, glass or other breakable
materials, and lighting within the sign are prohibited
•Weighted. Signs should be weighted to withstand
being overturned by wind or contact. Weights, if
required, should be concealed or incorporated
into the design of the sign and not simply applied.
Flexible signs are not permitted.
•Dimension and Area. Signs should be no more
than 3 feet high nor 2 feet 6 inches wide at the base.
Each sign face, should contain no more than 7.5
square feet of sign area on each side.
•Design. The design, graphics, colors and materials
should complement the design of the shopfront
and business and present a finished appearance.
Graphic symbols are recommended, utilizing images
that convey the goods or services offered.
•Attachments. Signs should not contain posters,
flyers, balloons, pennants, flags, or other attention
getting devices attached to the sign.
TABLE 5.12 SIDEWALK SIGN STANDARDS
SIGNAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height (Overall)18 in.36 in.
Width 18 in.30 in.
Horizontal Clearance from
Adjacent Curb 18 in.none
Pedestrian Clear Pathway 6 ft.none
A
B
C
D
A
BCD
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Foldable, unobtrusive sidewalk signs with concise message
•Projections. There should be no projections other
than raised carved letters, which should extend no
more than ½ inch from the sign face.
•Edges and Corners. Signs should contain no sharp
or jagged edges or corners.
•Moving Parts. Signs should contain no parts
or devices that are movable or that move in an
uncontrolled manner.
2. Placement Standards
•Signs should be located so as not to interfere with
safe pedestrian passage or motorist sightlines.
•Maximum one sign per business.
•Signs should only be displayed during hours of
operation.
•Signs should be allowed only where a minimum
6’-0” wide clear path for pedestrians can be
maintained.
•Signs should be located within 6 inches of the
storefront it serves.
•Signs should not be permitted within 15 feet of any
crosswalk or intersection.
•Signs should not obstruct adequate and safe visual
clearance for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Any
sign found to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian
visual clearance should be removed immediately or
relocated to a location where interference does not
occur.
•Only one such sign should be permitted at each
corner of an intersection. Up to three businesses
may share a freestanding sidewalk sign and related
permit responsibilities.
•“Reader board” signs with removable slide-in letters
are unacceptable.
•Signs should not be affixed to any wall or mounted
on wheels.
•Signs should be maintained in good structural and
aesthetic condition.
•All illegally placed signs should be issued notices
of violation and should be confiscated if continued
violations occur.
Made of durable materials and utilize graphic symbols that
convey the goods offered in the store.
A chalkboard allows easy display of daily specials.
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SECTION A.8 | SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
F. Roof Sign Wall Sign
Window Sign
Front Yard Wall Sign
Projecting Sign
Sidewalk Sign
Roof Sign
A sign erected upon, against, or directly above a roof
or above the parapet of a building. Roof signs are
intended to help emphasize the identity and presence
of the Neighborhood Center, especially to passing
motorists.
1. Design Guidelines
•Maximum one sign per building;
•Roof sign should only be applied to buildings at
least 100 feet in length, and only in the NC zone;
•Structure supporting the sign should be integral to
the design and architectural style of the sign;
•Lighting should be exposed neon on a decorative
background or from external sources not visible
from the ground or that are an integral part of the
sign design; and,
•Colors and materials should complement those of
the building.
TABLE 5.13 ROOF SIGN STANDARDS
SIGNAGE ELEMENT MIN MAX
Height 3 ft.15 ft.
Length none 50 ft.
Thickness none 12 in.
A
B
C
A
B
C
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | A-149
DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Distinctive and inventive signage for individual businesses.
Historically, public market structures have employed roof signs
in order to draw pedestrians from blocks away.
The Coachella Valley has a rich tradition of intricate, lively, and
playful neon roof signs.
Nostalgic themes, lettering and styles can create effective
designs for roof signs.
Roof signs, when designed appropriately, can complement
various styles and types of buildings.
Roof signs can be a combination of lettering and symbols or
images.
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SECTION A.9 | SUSTAINABLE DESIGN GUIDELINES
A.9 Sustainable Design Guidelines
Solar and shade structures may be integrated in to buildings,
parking facilities, and public opens spaces. Photo from ASU,
Tempe AZ.
Palm Desert’s Visitor Center, at the corner of El Paso and High-
way 111, is LEED Certified.
A. Sustainable Design
Sustainable or “Green” buildings improve air and water
quality, conserve natural resources, reduce solid waste,
optimize building performance and minimize the strain on
existing infrastructure.
Green building is a key City strategy to achieve long-term
sustainability and reach its greenhouse gas emissions
reduction goals. All new construction must also meet the
intent of the LEED for Building Design and Construction’s
(BD+C) Gold rating or an alternative green building
standard, mandatory CALGreen elements, and other Precise
Plan standards. New construction may be considered bonus
floor area ratio by achieving progressively higher building-
level environmental performance.
1. Standards
a. Green Building Standard. All new construction
shall meet the intent of LEED BD+C Gold or an
alternative green building standard, the mandatory
CALGreen requirements, and other standards
outlined in the UNSP.
b. Building Additions or Alterations. Building
additions of 1,000 square feet or greater, and/
or building alteration with a permit valuation of
$200,000 or above, or the most current required
permit valuation as determined by the City, shall
meet the mandatory CALGreen requirements.
c. Publicly-financed Buildings. All new publicly-
financed buildings and City-funded capital
improvement projects over 10,000 square feet
shall meet the intent of LEED BD+C Gold and the
mandatory CALGreen requirements.
2. Guidelines
a. Green Building FAR bonuses. The City may
consider green building FAR bonuses for new
construction projects that exceed the green
building design requirements in the Land Use and
Design Chapter in Chapter 4 and Section 5.8.
b. Innovation in Sustainable Building Construction
and Site Design. New construction and additions
is encouraged to incorporate new ideas,
technologies, and practices to provide a precedent
and leadership for sustainable development in the
area.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations and facilities may be
integrated throughout the UNSP in order to support lower
emissions and the City’s standing policies.
B. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The City will achieve exemplary performance in building
energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. These
strategies will help reduce the air, water, and land pollution
associated with energy production, transmission, and
consumption as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
1. Standards
a. Energy Performance. New construction shall
meet the minimum energy performance standards
as defined by LEED BD+C prerequisites and
mandatory CALGreen requirements.
b. Energy Monitoring. To support energy
management and identify opportunities for energy
savings, new construction shall provide submeters
or equivalent combinations of sensors to record
energy use data (electricity, natural gas, etc.) for
each major energy system in the building.
c. Solar Ready Buildings. New construction shall
be designed to be solar ready, which includes
provision of a solar zone and infrastructure such as
solar panel standoffs and conduit.
d. Electric Vehicle Ready Buildings. New
construction shall be electric vehicle (EV)
ready, which includes installation of EV charger
infrastructure. Specific facility and parking stall
requirements are defined in the Mobility Chapter.
2. Guidelines
a. On-site Renewable Energy Generation. New
construction and renovations should offset a
proportion of building energy use with on-site
renewable energy.
b. Solar Orientation of Buildings. When reviewing
applications for new subdivisions, encourage
all residences be oriented within 15 degrees of
an east-west access, minimizing western sun
exposure, to maximize energy efficiency.
c. Interior Daylighting. New construction, additions,
and alterations should use techniques to maximize
interior daylighting, such as transom or clerestory
windows and light shelves.
d. Exterior Materials and Shading. New construction,
additions, and alterations should use cool exterior
siding, roofing, and paving material with relatively high
solar reflectivity and shading to reduce solar heat gain.
e. Electric and Ground Source Heat Pumps. New
construction, additions, and alterations should use
electric and/ or ground source heat pump systems for
heating and hot water.
The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus 23,000 SF building is LEED
certified with air-conditioning powered by solar energy.
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SECTION A.9 | SUSTAINABLE DESIGN GUIDELINES
C. Water Efficiency and Conservation
The purpose of this section is to reduce potable water
consumption and increase recycled water use. Precise
Plans should set performance standards for both indoor
and outdoor water use, allowing new construction some
flexibility in achieving those performance standards.
1. Standards
a. Indoor Water Use Performance. New construction
shall meet the baseline indoor water performance
standards defined by LEED BD+C prerequisites
and mandatory CALGreen requirements. Indoor
water use performance standards may be achieved
through plumbing fixtures and fixture fittings and/
or appliances.
b. Outdoor Water Use Performance. New
construction shall meet the baseline outdoor
water performance standards defined by LEED
BD+C prerequisites and mandatory CALGreen
requirements. Outdoor water use performance
standards may be achieved using any combination
of efficiency, alternative water sources, and smart
scheduling techniques.
c. Metering. New construction shall meet the
mandatory CALGreen requirements for indoor and
outdoor water metering.
d. Irrigation Design. New construction shall
follow City of Palm Desert irrigation and planting
regulations.
e. Recycled Water Ordinance. All new buildings
connected to the recycled water system are
required to use recycled water for landscape
irrigation.
f. Use of Recycled Water for Construction. Where
available and subject to City approval, recycled
water shall be used during new construction for
activities such as road and pad construction and
dust control.
g. Connection to the Recycled Water System.
When the recycled water system is adjacent to
the property, new construction shall install the
infrastructure necessary to connect to the recycled
water system. If recycled water is not available, new
construction is required to construct the on-site
irrigation to be recycled water conversion ready
per the City’s standards and to connect to the
recycled water system once the system is complete.
h. Infiltration and Inflow Elimination. New
construction in known areas of groundwater
infiltration shall provide upgraded pipes from the
building to the sanitary sewer system main to help
reduce groundwater infiltration and inflow.
2. Guidelines
a. Dual-plumbed Buildings. New construction is
encouraged to install dual plumbing for potable
and recycled water use. Dual-plumbed buildings
shall be equipped with potable back-up systems in
the event of recycled water outages.
b. Rainwater Harvesting. To reduce the volume and
peak flows of stormwater entering the stormwater
system and reduce the amount of potable water
used for non-potable sources, buildings are
encouraged to collect and use rainwater.
c. On-site Graywater Systems. New construction,
additions, and alterations are encouraged to use
on-site graywater systems to reuse water drained
from indoor sources for irrigation and other water
conservation applications.
Note: Additional water efficiency and conservation
design strategies may be found in Appendix B, Landscape
Guidelines.
D. Stormwater Efficiency
The UNSP calls for the installation of stormwater treatment
controls, adding requirements for higher treatment levels
for stormwater and accelerating reductions in trash loads,
and encouraging groundwater infiltration.
1. Guidelines
a. Impervious surface. During site redevelopment,
new construction is encouraged to reduce the
amount of impervious surface on a site.
b. Vegetated roofs. New construction and additions
are encouraged to install vegetative roofs to reduce
and slow stormwater runoff and to filter pollutants
from rainfall.
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DESIGN GUIDELINES | APPENDIX A
E. Materials Management
The intent of the materials management section is to
reduce and remove the most harmful materials and
chemicals from the construction process, minimize material
use, and divert waste from regional landfills.
1. Standards
a. Areas for Waste, Compost and Recycling. All
new construction shall provide dedicated areas
accessible to waste haulers and building occupants
for the collection and storage of recycling,
compost, and general waste.
b. Construction Waste Reduction. New
construction, additions, and alterations shall
recycle or salvage 65% of non-hazardous
construction and demolition debris generated at
the site.
c. Containers for Recyclables, Compostables
and Waste. Separate containers for recyclables,
compostables, and waste shall be placed in all
common areas, including all gathering areas, such
as cafeterias and break rooms.
2. Guidelines
a. “Red List” Materials and Chemicals. New
construction, additions, and alterations should
avoid using “Red List” materials and chemicals
identified to be phased out of production due to
health concerns.
b. Material Selection. Construction materials
should be certified by third-parties e.g. the Forest
Stewardship Council, and selected based on a
lifecycle assessment of their embodied energy and/
or greenhouse gas emissions.
c. Regional Materials. New construction, additions,
and alterations are encouraged to use building
materials or products extracted, harvested,
recovered, or manufactured within 500 miles of
Palm Desert for a minimum portion of the building
value.
d. Reused Materials. New construction, additions,
and alterations are encouraged to use salvaged,
refurbished, refinished, or reused materials for a
minimum portion of the building value.
e. Building Re-use During Renovation. During
renovations, building alterations should retain a
significant proportion of existing walls, floors, and roof.
All materials for the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus were sourced
from a 500-mile radius.
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SECTION A.9 | SUSTAINABLE DESIGN GUIDELINES
F. Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting standards and guidelines minimize
energy use, provide adequate lighting for pedestrian safety,
minimize light trespass, reduce light pollution, and protect
the surrounding natural environment from outdoor lighting
impacts. Lighting will be highest in the village areas and will
taper down in intensity towards the UNSP boundaries.
1. Standards
a. Lighting Zones and Illumination Levels. Outdoor
lighting allowances vary by lighting zones (LZ) as
defined by Title 24, California Code of Regulations.
Illumination levels shall meet the standards
outlined by Title 24 and / or the “Light Pollution”
credit as defined by the current LEED for BD+C
rating system, whichever is more stringent.
• LZ 1 (Dark). Government designated parks,
recreation areas, and wildlife preserves;
• LZ 2 (Low). Residential areas;
• LZ 3 (Medium). Commercial, industrial, and
high-density residential areas; and,
• LZ 4 (High). City centers, entertainment districts.
b. Outdoor Lighting. For new construction and
additions, outdoor luminaries shall be energy
efficient fixtures controlled by motion sensors, and
incorporate cut-off controls and outdoor lighting
controls.
Effective outdoor lighting can increase the overall comfort,
safety and usable hours of the UNSP Neighborhood Center.
Photo: Santa Row, San Jose, CA.
Neighborhood Center lighting in Claremont Village, CA.
Lighting zones should be integrated in the Neighborhood Cen-
ter to buffer light pollution from surrounding residential uses.
Photo: Claremont Village, CA.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-1
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Landscape plays a number of very important roles in the UNSP. Its
primary role is to help generate a network of beautiful, varied, com-
fortable, habitable and sustainable public and private open spaces
that support a full range of activities including active play, active
transportation, quite enjoyment of the public realm, and shopping
and dining the neighborhood centers. Specific priorities for the
landscapes of the UNSP area include:
•Spatially define the streets and open spaces, providing them
with a strong human scale and pedestrian orientation;
•Provide for critical solar and wind protection functions:
shading and cooling in the summer, while allowing filtered
sunlight and warmth to pass through in the winter, and
buffering inhabitants from strong shifting prevailing winds;
•A landscape rich in native and adaptive desert plant
materials, using limited water resources effectively and
projecting Palm Desert's unique desert town identity;
•Provide biofiltration and retention areas for stormwater
management, and the potential for stormwater harvesting
and reuse in the landscape irrigation system;
•Screen and buffer views of parking, loading and service areas.
Section
B.1 General Landscape Guidelines
A. Strategies and Goals
B. Parks, Plazas, Squares and
Greens
C. University Mall
D. Private Lot Landcape
Guidelines
B.2 Recommended Species
B.3 Additional Potentially
Appropriate Species
Page
B-2
B-2
B-11
B-12
B-13
B-18
B-24
Appendix B.
Landscape Guidelines
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SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
A. Strategies & Goals
1. Landscape Strategies
The following specific landscape design strategies will
inform the final design of the UNSP area:
a. Utilize a mix of vertical trees (primarily palms of
various varieties) to define the primary framework
streets and entry points of the neighborhoods, and
deciduous canopy trees to provide shade along the
sidewalks and within the parks, greens and squares
of the neighborhoods and centers.
b. Utilize appropriate street and park trees that
tolerate stress, provide summer shade and winter
sun, and provide a variety of texture and color
characteristics;
c. Provide landscapes compatible with an arid
environment and use a palette of native and
drought tolerant plant species conducive to eco-
friendly pesticides and compatible with the natural
vegetation of the area;
d. Generally reserve maintained turf for active
recreation and play areas, employing more drought
tolerant plant materials and hardscapes and
rockscapes elsewhere.
e. Design the street and open space network as a
system for sustainably managing the flows and
environmental quality of precious stormwater,
including opportunities to store and reuse
stormwater for landscape irrigation.
f. Utilize landscaping to screen unattractive areas
abutting the UNSP area.
Succulents and desert-friendly grasses can be distributed in
creative ways in public spaces.
Front yards can employ a wide range of plant sizes, colors, and
forms within a drought-tolerant landscape.
In a climate with strong direct sunlight, shade and canopy
trees can help encourage pedestrian activity.
B.1 General Landscape Guidelines
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LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Green environments help to cool local environs and reduce
pollution.
Desert parks and gardens help preserve the natural
environment, and encourage walking, even in a hot climate.
Trees can be used to both provide shade for sidewalks and
screen unattractive expanses of walls or service areas.
2. Landscape Sustainability
Site planning and landscape design within the UNSP
should promote conservation, preservation and the en-
hancement of the natural environment that is balanced
with sensitivity to long-term environmental and fiscal
sustainability.
The UNSP area has also been planned and designed to
integrate practices of sustainable stormwater manage-
ment known as “Low Impact Development (LID)”, an
approach to land development that works with nature
to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible.
Mandated by City policy - and unlike a conventional
system that would simply pipe uncleansed stormwater
into drainage channels - the stormwater systems of the
UNSP will instead employ a multi-layered LID system
of distributed BMP measures to collect, infiltrate and
cleanse rainwater as close to the source as feasible. This
system includes:
a. Measures on individual lots, which may include
flow-through planters, rain gardens, cistern, and
biofiltration basins and vegetated swales;
b. Measures along the UNSP streets, alleys and parking
lots such as biofiltration basins and vegetated
swales, permeable alleys, parking lanes, sidewalks
and parking lots; and filtration and infiltration areas
in the parks and greenways.
c. In the Neighborhood Center zone storm drain filters
(Filterra, Vortechs, or equivalent units) should be
proposed due to design characteristics that are
ideal for urban settings: they are extremely space
efficient, have a minimal impact on site utilization.
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SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
Parking with permeable pavers and rainwater collecting
planters
Stormwater detention areas help manage runoff from rain
events.
Storm drain filter systems help to naturally filter runoff .
Cisterns can be used to store rainwater. They may either be
above ground tanks or integrated into the landscape.
3. Water Conservation
The UNSP area should utilize progressive techniques
in water conservation technology and practices
through careful planning and thoughtful design and
engineering. The UNSP area, following LID practices,
should minimize stormwater flows by promoting on-
site infiltration and reducing contaminants through
biological filtration. The objective is to decrease runoff
peak flow and volume by providing many opportunities
for water retention and on-site infiltration. As a result
the rate and volume of on-site stormwater infiltration
will be increased, achieving on-site water cleansing
and filtration, and a significant reduction in stormwater
flows.
Innovative stormwater management features and
filtering systems for reducing pollutant loads should be
integrated into the project, such as biologically based
systems and associated bio-retention areas, bioswales
and vegetated filter strips. In the Neighborhood Center
storm drain filters (Filterra, Vortechs or equivalent units)
should be installed to remove debris and hydrocarbons
prior to discharge.
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LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
4. Biofiltration & Stormwater Management
The UNSP streets are part of a visible system of the
green infrastructure’ that encompasses pedestrian,
bicycle and auto circulation, and community open
spaces that provide for various recreational needs,
yet act as a functional system for stormwater
treatment and management. Street design also
incorporates the stormwater system into the
aesthetics of the community and encourages
community education and responsibility.
a. Parkways and Planters
i. Planters and Tree Grates: Planters are typically
provided on urban and/or commercial streets,
where wide sidewalk space is desirable. Planters
should have a minimum dimension of 4'x4', and may
be grated to provide additional continuous sidewalk
space.
ii. Continuous Parkway/Planter: Typically applied to
neighborhood streets, parkways are landscaped areas
that buffer the sidewalk from the street, and may
accommodate in addition to street trees, a variety of
landscape elements. Drought-tolerant alternatives to
traditional turf landscaping are encouraged in drought-
sensitive climates.
iii. Rain Garden with Curb-cuts: Where possible, drainage
channels may be cut into street curb face to allow street
run-off wastewater to flow into streetside gardens,
providing biofiltration, and slowing runoff into the sewer
systems.
iv. Flex Planter: Parkways fronting work/live, retail or
commercial uses may be hardscaped to provide
additional sidewalk width for a variety of approved uses.
Parkways may be landscaped in a variety of ways, and turf-alternatives, such as
decomposed granite, mulch, and hardscape, are recommended for drought-sensitive areas.
For streets lined with a mixture of office, retail, and residential parkways may be filled
in with permeable pavers to increase the usable sidewalk space.
A green street with curbless planter areas
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SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
b. Medians & Swales
i. Medians: On streets with large rights-of-way, center
medians may be provided to additionally enhance
the landscape character of the street, accommodate
left-turn pockets, and provide pedestrian refuges in
crosswalks at intersection and mid-block crossings.
Medians may be designed and landscaped in a variety
of ways, including rain gardens, bioswales, hardscape,
turf, and/or street trees. Where possible, medians
should be wide enough to accommodate left-turn
pockets, and should provide pedestrian refuges at
intersections and mid-block crossings.
ii. Rain Gardens and Bioswales: On streets with rolled-
curbs, no curbs, or drainage channels cut into the
street curbface, bioswales, rain gardens, and ditches
may take the place of a traditional raised parkway,
providing biofiltration of street water runoff.
Drainage channels may be cut into street curbface to
allow street run-off water to drain into medians, providing
biofiltration and wastewater management.
A median with a small river stone drainage bed and drought-
tolerant plants
A bulb-out containing a swale with access to street runoff
A swale in a desert landscape using small stones and
decomposed granite
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LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
c. Parking Lanes
i. Parking Lane Planters: Parking lane planters
accommodate street trees on streets with existing
sidewalks that are either directly adjacent the street
curb, or are too narrow to accommodate planters or
parkways. They additionally can visually narrow wide
streets and calm traffic. Planters are spaced away from
the street, so that drainage gutters are unimpeded,
and may additionally, be "open-backed" - allowing
street water runoff to seep into planters. In more
urban settings, bulb-out planters may be grated to
reduce maintenance of planter landscaping.
ii. Permeable Pavements: Where possible, parking lanes
should employ permeable pavements that both
contrast the main street material to denote parking
and allow for infiltration. Using permeable pavements
in conjunction with appropriate planters allows for a
wide range of infiltration opportunities. Materials for
permeable areas include spaced concrete pavers and
decomposed granite. The permeable pavement areas
should be located adjacent planter bioswales and
infiltration areas when possible.
Permeable pavers within a parking area
In-street planter bulb-outs
Permeable materials such as pavers, decomposed granite, or
gravel can be applied to parking lanes in a variety of settings.
Corner bulb-out planter with street drainage maintained
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SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
5. Permeable Pavements
Permeable pavements are load-bearing surfaces that
have the capability of infiltrating runoff into the under-
lying reservoir base coarse (with at least 40% void space)
and soil. Different types of permeable pavement include:
a. Porous asphalt that is comprised almost entirely of
stone aggregate and asphalt binder with very little
fine aggregate;
b. Pervious concrete that has a permeability rate
of 12 inches per hour and has the appearance of
exposed aggregate concrete;
c. Unit pavers, bricks or stones that provide a
durable and attractive surface, spaced to expose a
permeable joint and placed on a permeable base;
d. Crushed aggregate that provides a wide variety of
aggregate types, and which must be bounded by a
rigid edge;
e. Turf blocks;
f. Cobbles which are suited for low traffic areas and
require a rigid edge.
When possible, surface parking areas should be con-
structed of pervious paving material to achieve filtration
and partial storage during storm cycles except those
greater than ten year storm events. Permeable concrete,
grasscrete, and other pervious paving systems are ac-
ceptable. Surface overflow should drain to biofiltration
strips through curb cuts. Properties that have podium or
subterranean parking should provide a cistern to collect
run-off during rain events. They may be placed any-
where on the property or integrated as part of the struc-
ture. Overflow should drain to the water quality features
prior to discharge into nearby drainage channels.
Spaced concrete pads with ample amounts of permeable
material in between can be used for areas with light vehicle
traffic.
Permeable pavers with alternate colors are used to denote
parking space lines.
A desert environment is one in which native plants are able to
grow directly in a permeable pavements that drain well.
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LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
6. Street and Open Space Lighting
Streets and other public spaces throughout the UNSP
area must be carefully scaled and detailed for the safety
and comfort of pedestrians. For the UNSP, very simple,
light-scale, modern fixtures with high efficiency LED
sources and down-directed “dark sky” cutoff distribution
patterns.
a. On major streets, existing cobra-head lights will
remain, with new lights illustrated here located
between them at approximately 60 feet on center.
This is about twice the tree spacing, located at the
midpoints between trees.
b. On neighborhood streets, lights should be located
mid-point between every fourth tree (120 ft.),
staggered in such a way that there is one light
every 60 linear feet of street, alternatively on one
side or the other, not both.
c. Along streets fronting a park or greenway, single-
head lights must be located along the built edge
of the street at about 90’ on center (at about every
third tree), unless specified otherwise.
d. Any lights in park areas should be integral to the
park design.
This simple post-top luminaire is recommended for most
streets, with high efficiency LED lamps and excellent “dark sky”
downward directed light distribution.
Modern columnar luminaires are well suited to lighting
neighborhood center plazas and paseos.
Along park drives at neighborhood edges, taller modern LED
luminaires can better define large open spaces.
This indirect LED post-top luminaires may be suitable for
smaller neighborhood streets and for parks and public spaces
throught the UNSP.
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SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
7. Street and Open Space Furnishings
Street furnishings will contribute to the comfort and
human scale of the public spaces throughout the UNSP,
particularly in the neighborhood centers, plaza, parks
and greens. Wherever possible, furniture that can be
relocated within a seating area is recommended, to
provide flexibility and a sense of ownership of the space
by residents and others.
Parallel to the recommendations for simple, modern
light fixtures, furnishings should be of a simple, clean,
modern design. This furthers a central objective of
the UNSP urban design, that it build on Palm Desert’s
design heritage of modernity, moving forward from
the mid-twentieth century modern toward a new 21st
century modern, human-scale neighborhood aesthet-
ic rather than nostalgia for the 20th or 19th century
precedents on which much of the UNSP neighborhood
pattern language is based.
Light scale modern furniture can be secured or movable within
a seating area and project a simple, clean aesthetic. Synthetic
wood slats remain comfortable even in the summer sun.
Bike racks should be simple, clean and fiunctional.Trash receptables and other functional elements should
coordinate with seating.
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LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
A paseo with flagstone and embedded planters that receive
runoff
A desert plaza containing flagstone laid amongst permeable
gravel material
Shade trees are integral to desert plazas and public spaces.
B. Parks, Plazas, Squares and Greens
1. General Guidelines
A network of plazas, squares and greens has been
designed to provide residents with a variety of
outdoor experiences. Plazas are highly ordered
spaces, usually with a cluster of buildings that
tightly define exterior space. Squares are green
areas often placed in front of or closely aligned
with civic buildings that help define their stature
within the community. Greens provide play
space to recreate and commune with nature.
Although the character of public space differs,
and hence the human experience, they all form
the community’s backyard and offer opportunities
to spend time in the company of others or to find
solitude.
2. Recommended Plant Materials
The design of these "community living rooms"
should emphasize comfort and flexible use -
accordingly shade trees, shaded seating areas and
a variety of ground surfaces for walking and play
are recommended. For specific plant material
recommendations see the Recommended Tree
and Plant Lists at the end of this Section and the
more complete plant list in Appendix A.
Outdoor event areas should integrate desert landscape and
hardscape elements.
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SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
1. Description
A University Mall is a larger connected open space, typically
serving as the central spine of pedestrian connectivity on
a university campus. The University Mall informs building
design, scaling and massing of the overall site.
2. Context and Connectivity
Positioned as the central pedestrian space of the future uni-
versity campus, all major pedestrian routes should lead to
and connect with the Mall. Vehicular routes may also cross
through the Mall at intermittent locations, but vehicular ac-
tivity should be limited to increase safety and the preserve
the space as a pedestrian environment.
3. Function and Design Opportunities
The University Mall should be framed by university build-
ings with frontages and sidewalks that directly enter the
Mall. At the ends or “head” of the Mall’s axis, the university
should prioritize iconic buildings that serve as the civic
center of the campus. These iconic buildings should have
more significant scales, massing and architecture styles that
define their role and prominence on the Mall.
The Mall itself will serve the following functions:
a. Provide the primary pedestrian routes and passive
recreational use through the campus.
b. Create gathering spaces and special event areas able
to host university and community-based festivals.
c. Establish the mall as the central unifying element for
the university campus.
4. Landscape
The goal of landscaping within the University Mall is to en-
hance visibility of the entire length of the Mall and provide
key focal points to the buildings that frame it. In the regard,
landscape guidelines include the following:
a. Large unobstructed lawns and pathways should
dominate the center of the Mall.
b. Trees and plants should be arranged at varying
intervals along the side in order to provide shade
throughout the Mall and frame the edges. Variability
in tree species, size and spacing is recommended to
create a more natural-looking space.
c. Hardscape pathways and pavers should cross the
Mall to create key linkages between buildings and
support convenient natural pedestrian routes.
C. University Mall
400’ SCALE
A University Mall creates a series of interconnected open and
hardscape spaces through the center of campus.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-13
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
5. Design Details and Elements
a. Size. University Malls should be long and narrow
in form, but they may vary from ±75-200 feet
wide as long as they complement the scale of the
surrounding environment.
b. Visibility. Malls do not require direct visibility from
vehicular streets, but a combination of design and
wayfinding strategies will easily lead pedestrians
to the Mall. Viewsheds within the Mall should be
maintained to all surrounding buildings and both
ends of the Mall.
c. Frontages and Adjacencies. University buildings
will provide the majority of frontages along the Mall.
Plazas and/or iconic buildings should be place at
both ends of the Mall.
d. Shading and Lighting. Traditionally, Malls do not
have shade structures or trees to preserve an open
green; however, the use of side courts, tree-lined
walkways and occasional tree planters can provide
shade across the Mall without obstructing visibility.
e. Structures and Improvements. Small side courts,
rest areas and pedestrian amenities (benches, picnic
tables, etc.), should be located throughout the Mall;
however, pedestrian circulation should be prioritized.
Shade trees and canopies may be used to create comfortable
spaces on a long University Mall.
Small plazas and seating areas provide shaded intimate
spaces with the University Mall.
University Mall with centralized hardscaping and landscaping
Typical open greens within a University Mall
B-14 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
Building shade paired with greenery helps to dramatically cool
an area.
Front yards may either take on a more natural, rugged
landscape appearance or a more minimal, formal appearance.
Succulents and other desert plants can be potted or planted in
yard areas.
D. Private Lot Landscape Guidelines
1. General Guidelines
Each lot should provide landscaped and permanently
pervious open space as required for the applicable
building type. See Appendix A.6 On-Site Open Space
Standards.
2. Front Yard Landscapes
Plantings in yard areas fronting on streets should be
appropriate to the scale, orientation and purpose of
the yard. Appropriate plant materials and designs for
specific frontage yard types are as follows:
a. Single-family front yards. At facades, foundation
shrubs and ground cover should be planted
against the facade. At garden walls, low shrubs
and wall vines or tall shrubs should be planted
against the wall.
b. Multi-dwelling front yards. Lawn, ground cover
and low shrubs should compose the front
yard landscape. Shrubs should be massed or
configured as maintained hedges. Hardscape
may be used adjacent to entrances and in
seating areas. Tree shapes, sizes and types should
be planted at the edge of the private space, but
at all times should be in proportion to the height
and mass of the building facade.
3. Other Yard Landscapes
Side and rear yard plantings should be planted to
insure privacy and create buffers. Rear yards and
property lines do not need to be landscaped, except
as required to the extent that they affect the quality
of the public space.
4. Recommended Plant Materials
See the Recommended Plant List at the end of this
Section and Appendix A.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-15
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Backyards with pools should minimize lawn areas, while also
incorporating drought tolerant landscape areas.
A yard with flagstone pavers and fountain
Sideyards can incorporate planters, pots, and landscaped areas.
B-16 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.1 | GENERAL LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES
Colorful desert landscapes with native, drought-tolerant plants and permeable ground cover materials.
Drip irrigation can provide a specific amount of water directly
to the base of a plant, avoiding watering unplanted areas.
A landscape with native and adapted drought-tolerant plants
will require little irrigation.
5. Irrigation
Water efficient landscaping should be introduced,
beginning with a soil and climate analysis to determine
the most appropriate landscape design, including the
selection of indigenous and native-in-character, drought
tolerant plants to reduce irrigation requirements. Lawn
should be restricted to particular areas of passive and
active recreation. Wherever lawn is used the select-
ed species should be a deep-rooted variety with low
watering requirements. Where irrigation is required,
high efficiency irrigation technology with low pressure
applications such as drip, soaker hose, systems with rain
shut-off devices and low volume spray systems should
be used. The efficiency and uniformity of a low water
flow rate reduces evaporation and runoff and encourag-
es deep percolation. After the initial growth period of 3
to 7 years, irrigation should be limited.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-17
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Green roofs are used to capture and store water on-site.
Installation of a desert detention area
Rain chains help to divert and store rainwater from gutters
An appropriately landscaped rainwater garden in a desert
climate
6. Stormwater Management
Runoff from buildings should be reduced through the
reduction in the overall building footprint. Roof runoff
can be collected and diverted to underground drywells
where water can slowly infiltrate. Drywells are sloped
and located at a distance from the building foundations.
Alternatively, buildings can be designed with rain-chains,
stone streambeds and stone filters, porous pavers and
rainwater gardens adjacent to the side of the building.
Roof runoff is collected into gutters, which direct water
down the rain-chains, and into rock filters. Rock filters
and ephemeral graded stone streambeds further direct
stormwater into the rainwater gardens. The rainwater
gardens are landscaped depressions, where roof runoff
and ground surface runoff is directed, through grading,
into the depression. These gardens filter, absorb and
treat stormwater on site, provide visual identification,
and promote education of residents through “celebra-
tion” of stormwater management.
B-18 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.2 | RECOMMENDED SPECIES
Platanus racemosa ‘Sycamore’
Quercus agrifolia ‘California Live Oak’
Chilopsis linearis ‘Desert Willow’
Acacia stenophylla
Quercus virginiana
Prosopis glandulosa
Quercus Lobata
Quercus ilex
Acacia stenophylla ‘Shoestring Acacia’
Prosopis glandulosa
SH
A
D
E
/
C
A
N
O
P
Y
B.2 Recommended Tree & Plant Species
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-19
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Washingtonia filifera ‘California Fan Palm’
Washingtonia robusta ‘Mexican Fan Palm’
Albizia julibrissin
Pistache chinensis
Zelkova serrata Robinia ‘Purple Robe’
Cercidium ‘Hybrid Palo Verde’
Cercidium praecox ‘Palo Brea’
VE
R
T
I
C
A
L
A
C
C
E
N
T
S
CO
L
O
R
A
C
C
E
N
T
S
B-20 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.2 | RECOMMENDED SPECIES
Eriogonum wrightiiEriogonum fasciculatum v. polifolium
Lotus rigidus Ephedra viridis
Eriogonum wrightii Salvia greggii ‘Red Star’
Eriogonum grande rubescens
Mirabilis multiflora Salvia muelleri
Salvia x ‘Trident’
Ceanothus griseus horizontalis
Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Dana Point’
Baccharis ‘Centennial’Salvia mellifera ‘Terra Seca’
Eriogonum wrightii Mirabilis multiflora
Baccharis pilularis
CO
L
O
R
A
C
C
E
N
T
S
GR
O
U
N
D
C
O
V
E
R
S
Recommended Plant Species
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-21
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Ceanothus griseus v. hor. ‘Diamond Heights
Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’
Dasylirion wheeleri ‘Desert Spoon’
Opuntia engelmaniiOpuntia basilaris ‘Beavertail Cactus’
Yucca flaccida
Nassella lepida
Yucca rigida
Echinocereus caespitosus ‘Hedge Hog Cactus’
Opuntia santa-rita ‘Tubac TM’
Yucca pallida
Echinocactus grusonii ‘Golden Barrel Cactus’
Nolina matapensis
Opunita leptocaulis ‘Desert Christmas Cactus’
Yucca filamentosa
Yucca rupicola
Helictotrichon sempervirens ‘Blue Oat Grass’
Yucca schottii
FO
R
M
/
C
O
L
O
R
A
C
C
E
N
T
S
B-22 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.2 | RECOMMENDED SPECIES
Cistus x hybridusCistus salviifolius Sphaeralcea ambigua ‘White’Calylophus hartwegii fendleri
Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Duet’Sphaeralcea ambigua ‘Pink Form’Verbena ‘Tapien Blue’Verbena ‘Temari Bright Pink’
Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’Leucophyllum ‘Rain Cloud’
Baccharis ‘Starn’Cistus salviifolius ‘Prostratus’
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Silver Edge’Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Ken Taylor’Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’
Teucrium fruticans ‘Compactum’Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’
CO
L
O
R
A
C
C
E
N
T
S
GR
O
U
N
D
C
O
V
E
R
S
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-23
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Agave stricta
Agave deserti
Phormium tenax
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta’
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Agave americana ‘Marginata’
Agave parryi ‘Compacta Variegata’
Dasylirion longissimum
Agave toumeyanaAgave salmiana Agave shawii
Agave angustifolia ‘Marginata’
Agave franzosini
Echinopsis terscheckii Nassella tenuissima
Centaurea ragusina ‘Dusty Miller’
Agave parryi ‘Rose’
Dasylirion acrotrichum Ephedra viridis
FO
R
M
/
C
O
L
O
R
A
C
C
E
N
T
S
B-24 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Native Trees
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Width Water
Use
Acacia pendula (R)Weeping Myall, Weeping Acacia E 25 L
Cercidium ‘Desert Museum’ (R)Hybrid Palo Verde D 15 L
Cercidium floridum Blue Palo Verde D 15 L
Cercidium microphyllum Foothills Palo Verde D 15 L
Cercidium praecox (R)Palo Brea, Sonoran Palo Verde D 15 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.Desert Willow/Desert Catalpa D 15 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.Arts Seedless D 15 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.A189 Lucretia Hamilton D 15 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.Warren Jones D 15 L
Gleditsia triacanthos (R)Shademaster Honey Locust D 40 L
Gleditsia triacanthos “Suburst” (R)Sunburst Honey Locust D 40 M
Juniperus californica California Juniper E 10 L
Pinus torreyana NT Torrey Pine C 15 L
Platanus racemosa Sycamore D 35 M
Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak, California Live Oak E 25 L
Quercus chrysolepis NT Canyon Live Oak / Maul Oak / Golden
Cup Oak
E 20 M
Quercus douglasii NT Blue Oak D 25 L
Quercus lobata Valley Oak / California White Oak E 20 L
Quercus turbinella NT Desert Scrub Oak / Shrub live oak E 10 L
Schinus molle (R)California Pepper E 40 VL
Washingtonia filifera (R)Califorina Fan Palm E 10 M
Washingtonia robusta (R)Mexican Fan Palm E 10 M
Yucca brevifolia Joshua Tree E 10 VL
(R) Recommendation listed in Section 3.5.
NT (Not tested) - has been recommended to try based upon climatic conditions in this area
Plant type; D - Deciduous, E - Evergreen, C -Conifer H - Herbaceous, SE - Semi-Evergreen
Width: Number indicates width or coverage of plant
Water use indicator (H = high water use, M = Average, L = low water use, VL= very low water use)
The Tree and Plant Species in the chart below lists native
and adaptive species which are generally considered to be
tolerant to soils in area.
B.3 Additional Potentially Appropriate Species
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-25
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Width Water
Use
Acacia stenophylla Shoestring Acacia E 20 M
Albizia julibrissin Silk Tree, Mimosa D 25 L
Butia capitata Pindo Palm, Jelly Palm E 10 L
Cercidium ‘Desert Museum’ (R)Hybrid Palo Verde D 25 L
Cercidium floridum Blue Palo Verde D 15 L
Cercidium microphyllum Foothills Palo
Verde
D 15 L
Chamaerops humilis V. Cerifera Morrocan Blue Fan Palm E 8 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.Desert
Willow/Desert Catalpa
D 15 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.Arts Seedless D 15 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.A189 Lucretia Hamilton D 15 L
Chilopsis linearis spp.Warren Jones D 15 L
Chitalpa x tashentensis ‘
Pink Dawn’
Chitalpa T 15 M
Cinnamomum camphora Camphor Tree E 60 M
Cotinus coggygria ‘CVS’Purple Smoke Tree D 10 L
Cotinus coggygria NT Smoke tree D 10 L
Geijera parviflora Australian Willow E 15 M
Olea europaea (R)Edible Olive Tree E 15 L
Parkinsonia aculeata Mexican Palo
Verde/Jerusalem Thorn
D 15 L
Phoenix dactylifera (R)Edible Date Palm E 30 L
Pinus canariensis (R)Canary Island Pine E 20 L
Pinus halepensis (R)Aleppo Pine E 30 L
Pinus torreyana NT Torrey Pine C 15 L
Pistacia chinensis (R)Red Push Chinese Pistache D 30 L
Platanus mexicana (R)Mexican Sycamore D 40 L
Platanus racemosa Sycamore D 35 M
Platanus wrightii Arizona Sycamore D 35 M
Platanus X acerifolia ‘Yardwood or Bloodgood’London Plane Tree D 35 M
Prosopis alba Argentine Mesquite SE 25 L
Prosopis chilensis Chilean Mesquite D 25 L
Prosopis glandulosa thornless “AZT” (R)Thornless Honey Mesquite “AZT”D 25 L
Prosopis glandulosa (R)Texas Honey Mesquite D 25 L
Prosopis pubescens Screwbean Mesquite D 25 L
Prosopis velutina Velvet Mesquite D 25 M
Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak,
California Live Oak
E 25 L
Quercus buckleyi NT Spanish Oak/ texas oak D 20 L
Adaptive Trees
B-26 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Adaptive Trees (cont.)
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Width Water
Use
Quercus chrysolepis NT Canyon Live Oak / Maul Oak /
Golden Cup Oak
E 20 M
Quercus douglasii NT Blue Oak D 25 L
Quercus frainetto NT Hungarian or Italian Oak D 30 L
Quercus garryana NT Oregon White Oak D 25 L
Quercus ilex (R)Holly Oak / Holm Oak E 20 L
Quercus lobata Valley Oak / California White Oak E 20 L
Quercus macrocarpa NT Burr Oak /
Mossycup Oak
D 30 L
Quercus muhlenbergii NT Chinquapin Oak D 20 L
Quercus myrsinifolia NT Japanese Live Oak D 25 L
Quercus palustris NT Pin Oak / Swamp
Oak
D 20 M
Quercus shumardii NT Shumard Red Oak D 25 L
Quercus suber (R)Cork Oak E 100 L
Quercus texana NT Spanish Oak D 25 L
Quercus turbinella NT Desert Scrub Oak / Shrub live oak E 10 L
Quercus virginiana (R)Southern Live Oak D 20 L
Robina ‘Purple Robe’Purple Robe Locust D 25 L
Robinia X ambigua ‘Idahoensis’Idaho Locust D 25 L
Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust D 25 H
Sapium sebiferum (R)Chinese Tallow Tree D 35 L
Tipuana tipu (R)Tipu Tree, Rosewood D 50 M
Ulmus parvifolia (R)Chinese or Evergreen Elm E 70 M
Vitex angus-castus NT Chaste Tree, Monk’s Pepper Tree D 20 M
Washingtonia filifera Califorina Fan Palm E 10 M
Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Palm E 10 M
Yucca brevifolia Joshua Tree E 10 VL
Zelkova serrata Sawleaf Zelkova D 20 M
(R) Recommendation listed in Section 3.5.
NT; Not tested - has been recommended to try based upon climatic conditions in this area
Plant type; D - Deciduous, E - Evergreen, C -Conifer H - Herbaceous, SE - Semi-Evergreen
Width: Number indicates width or coverage of plant
Water use indicator (H = high water use, M = Average, L = low water use VL= very low water use
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-27
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type
Water
Use
Arctostaphylos “Howard Mcminn’Manzanita/Vine Hill E M
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry E M
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Point Reyes’Manzanita ‘Point Reyes’E M
Atriplex canescens Four Wing Saltbush E VL
Atriplex hymenelytra Desert Holly E VL
Atriplex lentiformis Quail Bush D VL
Atriplex polycarpa Saltbush/Cattle E VL
Atriplex Spp.Saltbush E VL
Baccharis ‘Starn’ P.P. # 11240 (Thompson)Thompson E L
Baccharis ‘Centennial’Hybrid Coyote Bush/Centennial Baccharis E L
Baccharis pilularis Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis pilularis ‘ Pigeon Point’Dwarf Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis pilularis consanguinea Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks’Dwarf Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis sarothroides (male)Male Desert Bloom E L
Caesalpinia gilliesii Desert Bird of Paradise D VL
Calliandra californica Fairy Duster, Baja E L
Calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster, False Mesquite E L
Ceanothus griseus Var. Horizontalis ‘CVS’Carmel Creeper, Yankee Point Ceanothus E L
Cercocarpus betuloides Mountain Ironwood E VL
Chaenactis fremontii Mojave Pincushion A L
Coreopsis spp Coreopsis H L
Corethrogyne californica NT Black Bush H VL
Cucurbita palmata Coyote Melon A L
Dalea capitata ‘Sierra Gold’NT Sierra Gold se M
Dasylirion wheeleri Desert Spoon E L
Echinocactus grusonii Golden Barrel Cactus E VL
Echinocereus caespitosus Hedge Hog Cactus H VL
Ephedra nevadensis Mormon Tea E VL
Ephedra viridis Mormon Tea E VL
Ericameria laricifolia NT Aguirre Turpentine Bush E L
Ericameria laricifolia ‘Desert Mountain’NT Turpentine Bush E L
Ericameria nauseosa v. speciosus NT Whitestem Chamisa E L
Erigeron divergens NT Native Fleabane H L
Eriogonum fasciculatum California Buckwheat H VL
Eriogonum grande rubescens Buckwheat H VL
Eriogonum wrightii Wright Buckwheat H VL
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy H VL
Euphorbia rigida NT Gopher Plant H L
Native Plant Communities
B-28 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type
Water
Use
Euryops spp.Golden Shrub Daisy H M
Fouquieria macdougalii NT Mexican Tree Ocotillo E L
Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo E L
Fremontodendron ‘California Glory’Flannel Bush E VL
Fremontodendron mexicanum Mexican Flannel Bush D VL
Gutierrizia sarothrae Snakeweed SE L
Helianthemum nummularium Sunrose E L
Helictotrichon sempervirens NT Blue Oat Grass H M
Hyptis emoryi NT Desert Lavender E L
Lotus rigidus NT Deer Vetch D L
Lupinus sparsiflorus Coulter’s Lupine A L
Lycium andersonii NT Desert Wolfberry D L
Malacothrix californica/glabrata Desert Dandelion A L
Mirabilis multiflora Desert Four O’Clock M
Muhlenbergia rigens Deer Grass G M
Nassella cernua NT Nodding needlegrass G VL
Nassella lepida NT Foothill needlegrass G VL
Nolina lindheimeriana NT NCN H L
Nolina matapensis NT Tree Bear Grass H L
Nolina microcarpa NT Bear Grass H L
Nolina nelsoni NT Blue Nolina H L
Nolina texana NT Sacahuista H L
Opunita leptocaulis Desert Christmas Cactus/ Christmas Cholla H VL
Opuntia basilaris Beavertail Prickly Pear/Beavertail cactus H VL
Opuntia engelmanii Engelmann’s Prickly Pear H VL
Opuntia macrocentra Purple prickly pear H VL
Opuntia santa-rita Tubac TM H VL
Opuntia turpinii Pine Cone Prickly Pear H VL
Penstemon eatonii Firecracker Penstemon A L
Phacella campanularia NT California Desert Bluebells H L
Rhamnus californica Coffeeberry E L
Rhus lanceolata NT Flame Leaf Sumac E L
Rhus ovata Sugar Bush E L
Romneya coulteri Matilija Poppy H L
Salvia dorrii NT Desert Sage, Great Basin Blue Sage E M
Salvia greggii Autumn Sage SE L
Salvia muelleri NT Royal Purple Autumn Sage E M
Salvia officinalis Garden Sage H M
Salvia X Trident NT Trident E L
Native Plant Communities (cont.)
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-29
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type
Water
Use
Simmondsia chinensis ‘vista’Jojoba, Goatnut E VL
Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-Eyed Grass H L
Vauquelinia californica NT Arizona Rosewood E M
Vauquelinia californica v. pauciflora NT NCN E M
Verbena gooddingii NT Verbena H L
Verbena rigida NT Sandpaper Verbena H M
Yucca baccata NT Datil Yucca, Bannana Yucca E VL
Yucca brevifolia Joshua Tree E VL
Yucca constricta NT NCN E L
Yucca filamentosa NT Adam’s Needle E L
Yucca flaccida NT E L
Yucca glauca NT Soap weed E L
Yucca harrimaniae NT Harriman’s Yucca E L
Yucca neomexicana NT NCN E L
Yucca pallida NT Pale Leaf Yucca E L
Yucca recurvifolia Weeping Yucca E L
Yucca rigida NT Blue Yucca E L
Yucca rostrata NT Beaked Yucca E L
Yucca rupicola NT Twisted leaf Yucca E L
Yucca schidigera Mohave Yucca E VL
Yucca schottii NT Mountain Yucca E VL
Yucca whipplei Our Lord’s Candle E VL
Zauschneria californica NT California Fushia, Hummingbird flower H M
Zinnia acerosa NT Desert Zinnia H L
NT; Not tested - has been recommended to try based upon climatic conditions in this area
Plant type; A - Annual, D - Deciduous, E - Evergreen, G - Grass, H - Herbaceous, SE - Semi-Evergreen
Water use indicator (H = high water use, M = Average, L = low water use VL= very low water use
Native Plant Communities (cont.)
B-30 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Acacia craspedocarpa Leatherleaf Acacia E L
Achillea ageratifolia Greek Yarrow H L
Achillea filipendulina ‘CVS’Fernleaf Yarrow H L
Achillea filipendulina ‘Gold Plate’Yarrow/Fernleaf Yarrow H L
Achillea filipendulina ‘Moonshine’Yarrow/Fernleaf Yarrow H L
Achillea species Yarrow H L
Achillea tomentosa Wooly Yarrow H L
Achnatherum hymenoides Indian Rice Grass G L
Agave americana Century Plant H L
Agave americana ‘Marginata’Century Plant H L
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta’Century Plant H L
Agave angustifolia ‘Marginata’NT Maguey Laechugma H L
Agave bovicomuta NT Cowhorn Agave H L
Agave celsii ‘ Nova’NT Nova Agave H L
Agave colorata NT Mescal Agave H L
Agave deserti NT Desert Agave H L
Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’NT Varigated smooth Agave H L
Agave desmettiana ‘Zebra Stripe’NT Zebra Stripe Smooth Agave H L
Agave ‘Felipe Otero’NT Sierra Mixteca Agave H L
Agave ferdinandi-regis NT King of the Agave H L
Agave franzosini NT Agave H L
Agave geminiflora NT Twin-flowered Agave H L
Agave gentryi ‘ Jaws’NT Hardy Agave H L
Agave harvardiana NT Harvard Agave H L
Agave lechguilla NT Lechguilla Agave H L
Agave ovatifolia NT Agave H L
Agave palmeri NT Palmer Agave H L
Agave parryi ‘ Rose’NT Rose Artichoke Agave H L
Agave parryi ‘Compacta Variegata’NT Dwarf Varigated Artichoke Agave H L
Agave potatorum ‘Verschaffeltii’NT Butterfly Agave H L
Agave pygmaea NT Pygmae agave H L
Agave salmiana NT Giant Agave H L
Agave ‘Shark Skin’NT Sharkskin Agave H L
Agave shawii NT Shaw’s Agave H L
Agave sislana ‘variegata’NT Agave H L
Agave stricta ‘Pueblensis’NT Pencil Agave H L
Agave toumeyana NT Agave H L
Agave utahensis var. eborispina NT Ivory-Spined Agave H L
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-31
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Agave v. parryi NT Parry’s Agave H L
Agave victoriae-reginae NT Queen Victoria Agave H L
Agave victoriae-reginae ‘Compacta’NT Compact Queen Victoria Agave H L
Aloysia machrostachya NT Aloysia D L
Aloysia virgata NT NCN H L
Amaryllis belladona Naked Lady H L
Ambrosia dumosa NT White bursage L
Amsonia grandiflora NT Large-flowered Blue Star D L
Aquilegia caerulea Rock Mountain Columbine H L
Aquilegia chrysantha Golden Columbine H L
Aquilegia vulgaris ssp. Dicroa Portuguese Columbine/Europe an
Columbine
H L
Arctostaphylos “Howard Mcminn’Manzanita/Vine Hill E M
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry E M
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Point Reyes’Manzanita ‘Point Reyes’E M
Armeria maritima Sea Pink, Common Thrift H M
Asparagus asparagoides Smilas asparagus H L
‘Myers’Fern H M
Atriplex canescens Four Wing Saltbush E VL
Atriplex hymenelytra Desert Holly E VL
Atriplex lentiformis Quail Bush D VL
Atriplex polycarpa Saltbush/Cattle E VL
Atriplex Spp.Saltbush E VL
Baccharis ‘Starn’ P.P. # 11240 (Thompson)Thompson E L
Baccharis ‘Centennial’Hybrid Coyote Bush/Centennial Baccharis E L
Baccharis pilularis Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis pilularis ‘ Pigeon Point’Dwarf Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis pilularis consanguinea Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks’Dwarf Coyote Bush E L
Baccharis sarothroides (male)Male Desert Bloom E L
Bouteloua gracilis Blue Grama/Mosquito Grass G L
Bractrantha bracteatum Strawflower H L
Brahea armata Mexican Blue Palm E L
Brahea edulis Guadalupe Palm E L
Caesalpinia gilliesii Desert Bird of Paradise, Yellow Bird of
Paradise
D VL
Calliandra californica Fairy Duster, Baja E L
Calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster, False Mesquite E L
Calliandra tweedii Brazilian Flamebush E M
Callistemon citrinus Lemon Bottlebrush E L
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
B-32 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Calylophus hartwegii v.
fendleri
NT Hartweg’s
Sundrops
E M
Carex perdentata NT Texas Hill Country Sedge G M
Ceanothus griseus Var. Horizontalis ‘CVS’Carmel Creeper, Yankee Point Ceanothus E L
Centaurea ragusina Dusty Miller H M
Cerastium tomentosum Snow in Summer H M
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Dwarf Plumbago D M
Cercocarpus betuloides Mountain Ironwood E VL
Chaenactis fremontii Mojave Pincushion A L
Chrysothamnus nauseosus Gray Rabbit brush D VL
Chrysothamnus nauseosus albicaulis White-stem Rabbit brush D VL
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Green Rabbit brush D VL
Cistus ladanifer Crimson Spot Rockrose E L
Cistus salviifolius Sageleaf Rockrose E L
Cistus spp Rockrose E L
Cistus ‘Sunset’Sunset Rockrose E L
Cistus X hybridus White Rockrose E L
Cistus X purpureus Orchid Rockrose E L
Clytostoma callistegioides Lavender Trumpet Vine, Violet Trumpet
Vine
E M
Cneoridium dumosum NT Bushrue E L
Convolvulus cneorum Morning glory Bush E M
Coreopsis auriculata nana Dwarf Coreopsis H L
Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’Coreopsis H L
Coreopsis grandiflora Coreopsis H L
Coreopsis lanceolata ‘Grandiflora’Biglower Coreopsis H L
Coreopsis tinctoria NT Calliopsis/Annual Coreopsis H L
Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’NT Zagreb Coreopsis H L
Coreopsis verticillata ‘cvs’NT Threadleaf Coreopsis H L
Corethrogyne californica NT Black Bush H VL
Cucurbita palmata Coyote Melon A L
Dalea bicolor v. bicolor NT Indigo Bush D M
Dalea bicolor v. bicolor Monterrey Blue NT Monterrey Blue D M
Dalea capitata NT NCN se M
Dalea capitata ‘Sierra Gold’NT Sierra Gold se M
Dalea frutescens NT Black Dalea E M
Dalea frutescens Sierra Negra NT Sierra Negra E M
Dalea greggii Trailing Indigo Bush se L
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-33
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Dalea pulchra NT Indigo Bush E M
Dasylirion acrotrichum NT Green Desert Spoon E L
Dasylirion bigelovii NT Beargrass H L
Dasylirion leiophyllum NT Green Desert Spoon E L
Dasylirion longissimum NT Tree, Toothless E L
Dasylirion texanum Green Sotol, Texas Sotol E L
Dasylirion wheeleri Desert Spoon E L
Distictis buccinatoria Blood-Red Trumpet Vine E M
Drosanthemum hispidum Pink Ice Plant H L
Echinocactus grusonii Golden Barrel Cactus E VL
Echinocereus caespitosus Hedge Hog Cactus H VL
Echinopsis terscheckii Argentine Saguaro H L
Ephedra nevadensis Mormon Tea E VL
Ephedra viridis Mormon Tea E VL
Ericameria laricifolia NT Aguirre Turpentine Bush E L
Ericameria laricifolia ‘Desert Mountain’NT Turpentine Bush E L
Ericameria nauseosa v. speciosus NT Whitestem Chamisa E L
Erigeron divergens NT Native Fleabane H L
Eriogonum fasciculatum California Buckwheat H VL
Eriogonum grande rubescens Buckwheat H VL
Eriogonum wrightii Wright Buckwheat H VL
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy H VL
Euphorbia rigida *NT Gopher Plant H L
Euryops pectinatus Golden Shrub Daisy H M
Euryops pectinatus viridis Green Euryops H M
Fallopia aubertii NT Silver Lace Vine D M
Fallugia paradoxa NT Apache Plume E L
Feijoa sellowiana Pineapple Guava E L
Festuca glauca Common Blue Fescue H M
Festuca ovina ‘Glauca’Blue Fescue H M
Ficus pumila Creeping Fig E M
Fouquieria macdougalii NT Mexican Tree Ocotillo E L
Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo E L
Fremontodendron ‘California Glory’Flannel Bush E VL
Fremontodendron mexicanum Mexican Flannel Bush D VL
Gaillardia X grandiflora Blanket Flower H M
Gaura lindheimeri Gaura H M
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’Pink Gaura H M
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
B-34 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling
Butterflies’
White Gaura H M
Gazania hybrids (Rigens)Treasure Flower,
Gazania
H M
Gazania rigens leucolaena Trailing Gazania H M
Gutierrizia sarothrae Snakeweed SE L
Helianthemum
nummularium
Sunrose E L
Helictotrichon sempervirens NT Blue Oat Grass H M
Hesperaloe funifera Coahuilan
Hesperaloe
E L
Hesperaloe parviflora Red Hesperaloe E L
Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Yellow’Yellow Hesperaloe E L
Hyptis emoryi NT Desert Lavender E L
Kniphofia uvaria Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Poker Plant H L
Krascheninnikovia lanata NT Winter Fat SE L
Larrea tridentata Creosote Bush E VL
Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender E M
Lavandula lanata hybrids NCN E M
Lavandula latifolia Spike Lavender E M
Lavandula stoechas
varieties
Spanish Lavender E M
Lavandula viridis Lavender E M
Lavandula x intermedia varieties Lavandin, Hedge Lavender E M
Leucanthemum X
superbum
Shasta Daisy H M
Leucophyllum candidum
Thunder Cloud TM
NT Thunder Cloud TM E L
Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Alba’Texas Ranger E L
Leucophyllum frutescens
‘Compacta’
Texas Ranger E L
Leucophyllum frutescens
‘Green Cloud’
Green Cloud Texas
Ranger
E L
Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Silver Cloud’Silver Cloud Texas Ranger E L
Leucophyllum laevigatum NT Chihuahuan Sage E L
Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’NT Rio Bravo E L
Leucophyllum pruinosum NT Sierra Bouquet TM E L
Leucophyllum revolutum NT HoudiniTM E L
Leucophyllum x Heavenly
Cloud
NT Heavenly Cloud E L
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-35
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Leucophyllum x Rain Cloud
TM
NT Red CloudTM E L
Leucophyllum zygophyllum NT NCN/ Cimarron E L
Lotus rigidus NT Deer Vetch D L
Lupinus sparsiflorus Coulter’s Lupine A L
Lycium andersonii NT Desert Wolfberry D L
Malacothrix californica/glabrata Desert Dandelion A L
Manfreda maculosa Texas Tuberose H L
Melampodium leucanthum NT Blackfoot Daisy H L
Mentha requienii Jewel Mint of
Corsica, Corsican Mint
H M
Mirabilis multiflora Desert Four
O’Clock
M
Miscanthus
transmorrisonensis
NT Evergreen eulalia G M
Monarda didyma NT Bee Balm H M
Monarda fistulosa NT Bee Balm H M
Muhlenbergia capillaris Pink Muhly G M
Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘Regal Mist’Regal Mist G M
Muhlenbergia dumosa Bamboo Muhly G M
Muhlenbergia emersleyi Bull Grass G M
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Big Muhly G M
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri ‘
Autumn Glow’
Autumn Glow TM G M
Muhlenbergia porteri Bush Muhly G M
Muhlenbergia rigens Deer Grass G M
Muhlenbergia rigida Purple Muhly G M
Muscari macrocarpum Grape Hyacinth H M
Nassella cernua NT Nodding
needlegrass
G VL
Nassella lepida NT Foothill
needlegrass
G VL
Nassella pulchra NT Purple Needlegrass G VL
Nassella tenuissima NT Texas Needlegrass G VL
Nerium oleander spp. (Not
Petite)
Oleander E L
Nolina lindheimeriana NT NCN H L
Nolina matapensis NT Tree Bear Grass H L
Nolina microcarpa NT Bear Grass H L
Nolina nelsoni NT Blue Nolina H L
Nolina texana NT Sacahuista H L
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
B-36 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Opunita leptocaulis Desert Christmas
Cactus/ Christmas Cholla
H VL
Opuntia basilaris Beavertail Prickly Pear/Beavertail cactus H VL
Opuntia engelmanii Engelmann’s Prickly Pear H VL
Opuntia macrocentra Purple prickly pear H VL
Opuntia santa-rita Tubac TM H VL
Opuntia turpinii Pine Cone Prickly
Pear
H VL
Panicum virgatum ‘Prairie Sky’NT Switch Grass G VL
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper D M
Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston Ivy D M
Penstemon eatonii Firecracker Penstemon A L
Perovskia spp Russian Sage E L
Petalostemon purpureum NT Purple Prairie
clover
H M
Petunia x hybrida Petunia h M
Phacella campanularia NT California Desert Bluebells H L
Phormium tenax
‘Atropurpureum’
Purple New
Zealand Flax
H M
Phormium tenax ‘Aureum’Golden New Zealand Flax H M
Phormium tenax ‘Bronze’Bronze New
Zealand Flax
H M
Phormium tenax ‘Rubrum’Red New Zealand
Flax
H M
Phormium tenax ‘Tiny Tiger’Dwarf New Zealand Flax H M
Phormium tenax
‘Variegatum’
Variegated New
Zealand Flax
H M
Poliomintha maderensis NT Mexican oregano, Lavender Spice H L
Polygonum aubertii NT Silver Lace Vine D M
Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry E L
Psilostrophe cooperi NT Paper Flower E L
Psilostrophe tagetina NT Wooly Paper Flower E L
Punica granatum Common
Pomegranate
D L
Punica granatum ‘Nana’Dwarf Pomegrante D L
Purshia mexicana stansburyana NT Cliff Rose E L
Rhamnus alaternus Italian Buckthorn E L
Rhamnus californica Coffeeberry E L
Rhus lanceolata NT Flame Leaf Sumac E L
Rhus ovata Sugar Bush E L
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | B-37
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES | APPENDIX B
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Rhus trilobata Squawbush / Three Leaf Sumac /
Skunkbush
D L
Rhus trilobata ‘Autumn
Amber’
NT Prostrate Sumac D L
Rhus virens NT Evergreen Sumac E L
Romneya coulteri Matilija Poppy H L
Rosmarinus officinalis ssp. Low growing
varieities, 1.5’ to 2 ‘ tall - Min. 5 deg. F cold
tolerance
Prostrate Rosemary E L
Salvia dorrii NT Desert Sage, Great Basin Blue Sage E M
Salvia greggii Autumn Sage SE L
Salvia muelleri NT Royal Purple Autumn Sage E M
Salvia officinalis Garden Sage H M
Salvia X Trident NT Trident E L
Santolina chamaecyparissus Lavender Cotton E L
Santolina rosmarinifolia Green Lavender Cotton E L
Sedum spp.Stonecrop E L
Simmondsia chinensis ‘vista’Jojoba, Goatnut E VL
Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-Eyed Grass H L
Sisyrinchium californicum Yellow-Eyed Grass H L
Sophora arizonica NT Arizonia Laurel E L
Sphaeralcea ambigua NT Globe Mallow P L
Sporobolus airoides NT Alkaili Sacaton H L
Sporobolus wrightii NT Giant Sacaton H L
Stipa calamagrostis NT Spear Grass H L
Stipa cernua NT nodding feathergrass H L
Stipa gigantea NT Giant Feather
Grass
H L
Stipa lepida NT Foothill Stipa H L
Stipa pulchra NT Purple Stipa H L
Stipa splendens NT NCN H L
Stipa tenuissima NT Mexican Feathergrass H M
Teucrium fruticans NT Bush Germander E L
Teucrium fruticans ‘Azurea’NT Shrubby
Germander
E L
Teucrium fruticans ‘Compactum’NT Compact Bush Germander E L
Teucrium x lucidrys Dwarf Germander E L
Teucrium x lucidrys ‘Prostratum’Prostrate Germander E L
Thuja orientalis ‘Aurea’Dwarf Golden Arborvitas (beckman Dwarf
Arborvitas)
C L
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
B-38 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
SECTION B.3 | ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL SPECIES
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Type Water Use
Thuja orientalis ‘Westmont’Oriental Arborvitae C L
Thymus serpyllum Creeping Thyme H L
Tradescantia virginiana Spiderwort H M
Trifolium fragiferum
O’Connor’s Legume
O’Conner’s
Legume
E L
Trithrinax acanthocoma NT Spiny Fiber Palm H M
Trixis californica NT Trixis E L
Ungnadia speciosa NT Mexican Buckeye D M
Vauquelinia californica NT Arizona Rosewood E M
Vauquelinia californica v.
pauciflora
NT NCN E M
Verbena gooddingii NT Verbena H L
Verbena rigida NT Sandpaper Verbena H M
Viguiera deltoidea NT Goldeneye H L
Viguiera stenoloba NT Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye P L
Viguiere mulifora NCN H L
Wisteria spp. and varieties Wisteria D M
Yucca baccata NT Datil Yucca, Bannana Yucca E VL
Yucca brevifolia Joshua Tree E VL
Yucca constricta NT NCN E L
Yucca filamentosa NT Adam’s Needle E L
Yucca flaccida NT E L
Yucca glauca NT Soap weed E L
Yucca harrimaniae NT Harriman’s Yucca E L
Yucca neomexicana NT NCN E L
Yucca pallida NT Pale Leaf Yucca E L
Yucca recurvifolia Weeping Yucca E L
Yucca rigida NT Blue Yucca E L
Yucca rostrata NT Beaked Yucca E L
Yucca rupicola NT Twisted leaf Yucca E L
Yucca schidigera Mohave Yucca E VL
Yucca schottii NT Mountain Yucca E VL
Yucca whipplei Our Lord’s Candle E VL
Zauschneria californica NT California Fushia, Hummingbird flower H M
Zinnia acerosa NT Desert Zinnia H L
NT; Not tested - has been recommended to try based upon climatic conditions in this area
Plant type; A - Annual, D - Deciduous, E - Evergreen, G - Grass, H - Herbaceous, SE - Semi-Evergreen
Water use indicator (H = high water use, M = Average, L = low water use VL= very low water use
Adaptive Plant Communities (cont.)
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | C-1
GLOSSARY | APPENDIX C
A. Purpose
This section provides definitions of terms and phrases used
in the UNSP's Development Standards, Design and Landscape
Guidelines that are technical or specialized, or that may not
reflect common usage.
If a definition in this section conflicts with a definition in
another provision of the Municipal Code, these definitions
shall control for the purposes of this Specific Plan. If a word
or phrase used in this Specific Plan is not defined in this
section, or in the City of Palm Desert Municipal Code, the
Community Development Director shall determine the cor-
rect definition, giving deference to common usage.
B. Definitions of Specialized Terms and
Phrases
As used in this Regulating Code, the following terms and
phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this
section, unless the context in which they are used clearly
requires otherwise.
Adverse Impact: The negative consequences of the use
of a building on adjacent lots, usually as a result of noise,
vibration, odor, pollution, or socioeconomic disruption.
The noise level emanating from the building, as measured
at the property line, shall not exceed that of 25 mph traffic
noise. Negative consequences resulting from the use of
the building and confined within the lot boundary are not
considered to create Adverse Impact.
Alcoholic Beverage Sales - Off-Premise: The retail sale of
beer, wine, and/or spirits in sealed containers for off-site
consumption, either as part of another retail use, or as a
primary business activity.
Alcoholic Beverage Sales - On-Premise: The sale of beer,
wine, and/or spirits for on-site consumption, limited to
premises that contain a kitchen or food-servicing area in
which a variety of food is prepared and cooked. The primary
use of the premises shall be for sit-down food service to
patrons. The premises shall serve food to patrons during all
hours the establishment is open for customers. No alcoholic
beverages, including beer or wine shall be sold or dispensed
for consumption beyond the premises. The premises shall
be defined as a “bona fide public eating place” by the State
of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Arcade: A Frontage Type created by projecting a building’s
upper floors above the sidewalk while aligning the ground
Appendix C. Glossary
floor facade with the property line. Arcades typically contain
ground-floor storefronts, making this frontage type is ideal
for retail use. A colonnade structurally and visually supports
the building mass that encroaches into the public right-of-
way. See Appendix A.7.
ATM: An automated teller machine (computerized, self-ser-
vice machine used by banking customers for financial trans-
actions, including deposits, withdrawals and fund transfers,
without face-to-face contact with financial institution per-
sonnel), located outdoors at a bank, or in another location.
Does not include drive-up ATMs, which are instead included
under the definition of “Drive-Through Retail.”
Automotive Uses -
Automotive gasoline station. A retail business selling
gasoline or other motor vehicle fuels, which may also
provide vehicle engine maintenance and minor repair
services incidental to fuel sales. The use may also
include mini-markets and other food sales, accessory
towing and trailer rental services. These uses do not
include the sale, storage or repair of wrecked or aban-
doned vehicles, vehicle painting, body or fender work,
or the rental of vehicle storage or parking spaces.
Automotive rental agency. A retail establishment
for the display or rental of new or used automobiles,
trucks, vans, motorcycles, mobile homes, recreation
vehicles, and boats.
Automotive sales of accessory parts and supplies.
A retail establishment that sells only new automobile
parts, tires, and accessories. These uses do not include
any type of vehicle repair, battery replacement, service
bays, oil changes, or tire recapping establishments.
Automotive sales new and used (outdoor/indoor). A
service industrial establishment selling and/or renting
new and/or used automobiles, boats, vans, campers,
trucks, mobile homes, recreational and utility trailers,
motorized farm equipment, motorcycles, mopeds, golf
carts, snowmobile and jet skis. The sales of all automo-
tives can take place outdoors or indoors. These uses
include parts for sale and repair shops only when part
of a dealership selling new vehicles on the same site.
These uses do not include service stations, which are
separately defined.
C-2 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
APPENDIX C | GLOSSARY
Automotive service facility. A facility to repair and/
or store vehicles. It includes the repair of automo-
biles, trucks, motorcycles, mobile homes, recreational
vehicles, or boats, including the sale, installation, and
servicing of related equipment and parts. These uses
include auto repair shops, body and fender shops,
wheel and brake shops, oil change shops, auto glass
sales and installation, stereo and alarm sales and
installation, and tire sales and installation, but exclude
vehicle dismantling or salvage and tire retreading or
recapping.
Awning (optional backlit): An internally illuminated, fixed,
space-frame structure with translucent, flexible, fabric rein-
forced covering designed in awning form and with graphics
or copy applied to the visible surface of the awning.
Awning sign: A sign painted on, printed on, or attached to
the surface of an awning.
Financial institution: An establishment such as a bank or
trust company, credit agency, holding (but not primarily
operating) company, lending and thrift institution, or invest-
ment company. Also includes automated teller machines
(ATM).
See also, “ATM” Does not include check cashing stores,
which are instead defined under “Personal Services - Re-
stricted.”
Bar, Lounge: Any use where the on-site sale and consump-
tion of alcoholic beverages equals or exceeds 50 percent of
gross sales of food and beverages from that location.
Bed and Breakfast: Residential structures with one family in
permanent residence with up to five bedrooms rented for
overnight lodging, where meals may be provided subject
to applicable health department regulations. A bed and
breakfast inn with more than five guest rooms is considered
a hotel or motel and is included under each definition of
Hotels and Motels.
Building Type: The structure defined by the combination of
configuration, disposition and function.
Build-to Line: A line appearing graphically on the regulat-
ing plan or stated as a setback dimension, along which a
building facade shall be placed.
Bungalow Court: An arrangement of four or more detached
single-family houses around a shared courtyard or green-
way, which provides direct access to all houses that do not
directly front on a street.
Business Support Service: Establishments primarily within
buildings, providing other businesses with services such as
maintenance, repair and service, testing, rental, etc. Support
services include but are not limited to:
•Equipment repair services (except vehicle repair; see
Vehicle services).
•Commercial art and design (production).
•Computer-related services (rental, repair).
•Copying, quick printing, and blueprinting services
(other than those defined as Printing and publishing).
•Equipment rental businesses within buildings (rental
yards are storage yards).
•Film processing laboratories.
•Heavy equipment repair services where repair occurs
on the client site.
•Janitorial services.
•Mail advertising services (reproduction and
shipping).
•Mailbox services.
•Outdoor advertising services.
•Photocopying and photofinishing.
Café, Coffee Shop, Delicatessen (no alcoholic bever-
ages sales): A retail business selling ready-to-eat food
and/or beverages for on- or off-premise consumption.
These include eating establishments where customers
are served from a walk-up ordering counter for either
on- or off-premise consumption (“counter service”); and
establishments where customers are served food at their
tables for on-premise consumption (“table service”), that
may also provide food for take-out, but does not include
drive-through services, which are separately defined and
regulated.
Carriage Unit: A Carriage unit is an auxiliary housing unit
located above or adjacent to the garage of the primary
housing unit on the lot, with the front door and access
directed towards an alley. A carriage unit constitutes a
residential second unit in compliance with the Government
Code Section 65852.2 and, as provided by the Government
Code, is not included in the maximum density limitations
established by this Specific Plan.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | C-3
GLOSSARY | APPENDIX C
Daycare Facilities: Facilities that provide care and super-
vision of minor children for periods of less than 24 hours.
These facilities include the following, all of which are
required to be licensed by the state Department of Social
Services:
Day Care Center: A commercial or nonprofit child
or adult day care facility not operated as a small or
large family day care home. Includes infant centers,
preschools, extended day care facilities, and facilities
for adults who require supervision and care because
of advanced age, mental or physical deterioration,
dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or similar disabling
condition. These may be operated as part of a busi-
ness, school, or religious facility, or as an independent
land use.
Day Care, Large Family: A day care facility located
in a single-family residence where an occupant of
the residence provides care and supervision for 9 to
14 children. Children under the age of 10 years who
reside in the home count as children served by the day
care facility.
Day Care, Small Family: A day care facility located in
a single-family residence where an occupant of the
residence provides care and supervision for eight or
fewer children. Children under the age of 10 years who
reside in the home count as children served by the day
care facility.
Civic: A term defining not-for-profit organizations, dedicat-
ed to arts, culture, education, religious activities, govern-
ment, transit, municipal parking facilities and clubs.
Civic Building: Civic Buildings are designed for occupan-
cy by public or quasi public uses that provide important
services to the community. A Civic Building contributes
significantly to the quality of a place and often is the focal
point of a public open space. For that reason, the architec-
tural quality of a Civic Building shall exceed the quality of
the surrounding buildings. Civic Buildings may be publicly
owned and operated, semipublic, or privately owned and
operated.
Clinic, Medical: An organization of doctors providing
physical or mental health service and medical or surgical
care of the sick or injured but does not include inpatient or
overnight accommodations. May also include laboratories
that are ancillary to the primary use.
Colonnade: A structure consisting of a row of evenly spaced
columns.
Commercial: Operated or carried on primarily for financial
gain. Commercial complex means two or more business-
es shown on a common development plan, plot plan, or
precise plan of design functioning as a unit, with common
off-street parking provided on the property as an integral
part of the unit.
Commercial Building: A Commercial Building is designed
for occupancy by commercial uses such as retail, restaurant,
personal service or office uses. Commercial Buildings are
typically single-story structures but may also accommodate
two-story commercial spaces. A Commercial Building may
be occupied by a single user or may be subdivided into
multiple smaller commercial units, each with a separate
entrance.
Common Yard: A Frontage Type created by substantially
setting back the building facades from the property line.
Common Yards remain unfenced and are visually continu-
ous with adjacent yards, supporting a common landscape.
Porches or stoops that provide access to the buildings may
encroach into the setback. See Appendices A.5 and A.7.
Congregate Care Housing Facility: A multi-family residen-
tial facility with shared kitchen facilities, deed-restricted or
restricted by an agreement approved by the City for occu-
pancy by low or moderate income households, designed
for occupancy for periods of six months or longer, providing
services which may include meals, housekeeping and per-
sonal care assistance as well as common areas for residents
of the facility.
Convenience/Mini-Market (up to 5,000 sq.ft.): A neighbor-
hood serving retail store of 5,000 square feet or less in gross
floor area, primarily offering food products, which may also
carry a range of merchandise oriented to daily convenience
shopping needs, and may be combined with food service
(e.g., delicatessen).
Courtyard Housing: An arrangement of stacked and/or at-
tached dwelling units around one or more common court-
yards, which provide direct access to all dwelling units that
do not directly front on a street. The courtyard is intended
to be a semi-public space that functions as an extension of
the public realm into the private lot.
Cornice: Any projecting ornamental molding that finishes
or crowns the top of a building, wall, door or window.
C-4 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
APPENDIX C | GLOSSARY
Design Review: The comprehensive evaluation of a de-
velopment and its impact on neighboring properties and
the community as a whole, from the standpoint of site and
landscape design, architecture, materials, colors, lighting,
and signs, in accordance with the criteria and standards
contained in the Specific Plan. This compliance evaluation is
conducted through a discretionary permit decision by the
Planning Commission or sub-committee following submit-
tal of an application containing the information specified in
Chapter 27.12.090 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code.
Director: The Community Development Director of the City
of Palm Desert, or his/her duly appointed representative.
Dooryard: A Frontage Type consisting of an elevated yard
or terrace between the street and the building. Dooryards
are enclosed by low garden walls at or near the property
line, with a few steps leading from the sidewalk to the ele-
vated yard. Building facades are set back from the property
line. Buildings are accessed directly from the Dooryards. See
Appendix A.7.
Drive-Through Retail: An restaurant that serves food to mo-
torists in their vehicles for off-premise consumption, and/
or an automated teller machine (ATM), bank, or pharmacy
dispensary where services may be obtained by motorists
without leaving their vehicles.
Dry Cleaner (without on-site cleaning facility): A business
which offers retail laundry service, but at which no dry
cleaning services are performed on the premises.
Duet: The Duet is a single-family house that shares a
common wall with one adjacent unit in a single structure,
creating the appearance of a large house. See Appendix A.7.
Dwelling Unit: One or more rooms and a single kitchen, de-
signed for occupancy by one family for living and sleeping
purposes.
Single Family: A residential structure containing a
single dwelling unit. Includes for the purposes of this
Regulating Code: Large Lot Houses, Sideyard Houses,
Rearyard Houses, Duets, Rowhouses, and Live-Work
Buildings. See Appendices A.2 and A.4 for definitions
of each of these types.
Dwelling, Second Unit: A dwelling unit, attached or
detached, that provides complete independent living
facilities for one or more persons on a parcel zoned for
residential uses. It shall include permanent provisions
for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation
on the same parcel as the single-family dwelling is
situated.
Dwelling, Guest: Living quarters within an accessory
building which occupies not more than one-tenth of
the area of the lot on which it is situated, for use exclu-
sively by temporary, nonpaying guests of the resident
family, such quarters having no kitchen.
Two, Three, Multiple Family: A residential structure
containing two or more dwelling units, including
Multi-generational House, Triplex, Quadplex, Villa,
Courtyard Housing, and Mixed-Use Building. See
Appendices A.2 and A.4 for definitions of each of these
dwelling types.
Facade: The vertical surface of a building that is set parallel
to a Frontage Line and facing a street. Building walls con-
taining garage doors are not classified as facades, and may
not be located on lots where facades are permitted and/or
required by this Code.
Fitness/Athletic, Health Club: Fitness centers, gymnasiums,
health, and athletic clubs including indoor sauna, spa, or
hot tub facilities; and indoor tennis, handball, racquetball,
and other indoor sports activities.
Flat: A dwelling unit that occupies only part of a building
and is organized on a single floor.
Forecourt: A Frontage Type created by setting back a
portion of a buildings facade, typically the middle, to create
a small entry square. Forecourts often provide access to a
central lobby of a larger building, but may also be com-
bined with other frontage types that provide direct access
to the portions of the facade that are close to the sidewalk.
Forecourts may be landscaped or paved, depending on the
ground floor uses of the building.
Frontage:
Building Frontage: That building elevation that fronts
on a public street, alley, driveway, parking area, pedes-
trian plaza, courtyard, or arcade.
Frontage Line: The property line(s) of a lot fronting
a street or other public way, such as a park, green or
paseo.
Frontage Type: See Section 3.4 and Appendix A.5.
Front Yard: The portion of a lot between the building facade
and the front property line. The size of the front yard is de-
termined by applicable setback requirement. See Appendix
A.5.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | C-5
GLOSSARY | APPENDIX C
Gallery: A Frontage Type created by attaching a colonnade
to a building facade that is aligned with or near the proper-
ty line. Galleries typically contain ground-floor storefronts,
making this frontage type ideal for retail use. Galleries may
be two-story structures, providing a covered balcony for the
upper story uses. The Gallery projects over the sidewalk and
encroaches into the public right-of-way.
Garden Wall: A low masonry wall enclosing a yard or por-
tions of a yard, typically located at or near the property line.
General Retail: Stores and shops intended to serve the City
as destination retail, rather than convenience shopping.
Examples of these stores and lines of merchandise include:
Art galleries, retail, art supplies, including framing
services, books, magazines, and newspapers, camer-
as and photographic supplies, clothing, shoes, and
accessories, collectibles (cards, coins, comics, stamps,
etc.), drugstores and pharmacies, dry goods, fabrics
and sewing supplies, furniture and appliance stores,
hobby materials, home and office electronics, jewel-
ry, luggage and leather goods, musical instruments
and-carried), parts, accessories, small wares, specialty
grocery store, specialty shops, sporting goods and
equipment, stationery, toys and games, variety stores,
videos, DVDs, records, CDs, including rental stores.
Groceries/Market (up to 50,000 sq.ft.): A retail store larger
than 5,000 square feet in gross floor area with more than
60% of its floor area devoted to food products. This type of
use is limited to 50,000 square feet in gross floor area.
Height: A limit to the vertical extent of a building. Height
limits do not apply to masts, belfries, clock towers, chimney
flues, water tanks, elevator bulkheads, and similar struc-
tures. See Height in Chapter 4, Table 4.2 for details.
Home Occupation: Residential premises used for the trans-
action of business or the supply of professional services.
Home occupation shall be limited to the following: agent,
architect, artist, broker, consultant, draftsman, dressmaker,
engineer, interior decorator, lawyer, notary public, teacher,
and other similar occupations, as determined by the Direc-
tor. Such use shall not simultaneously employ more than
1 person in addition to residents of the dwelling. The total
gross area of the home occupation use shall not exceed
25% of the gross square footage of the residential unit.
The home occupation use shall not disrupt the generally
residential character of the neighborhood. The Director
shall review the nature of a proposed home occupation
use at the time of review of a business license for such use,
and may approve, approve with conditions, continue or
deny the application. See also City of Palm Desert Municipal
Code, Chapter 17.04.250.
Hotel: Any building or portion thereof with access provid-
ed through a common entrance, lobby, or hallway to six or
more guest rooms, and which rooms are designed, intend-
ed to be used or are used, rented, or hired out as temporary
or overnight accommodations for guests.
Large Lot House: A detached single-family house built on a
lot large enough for substantial yard space on all four sides.
The larger lot allows for a variety of building configurations,
floor plan layouts and orientations. Large Lot Houses are
typically bigger in footprint and floor area than other house
types. In addition to the primary house a carriage unit may
be built at the rear of lots.
Laundromat: An establishment providing washing and dry-
ing machines on the premises for rental use to the general
public for laundering of clothes.
Library: A place in which literary, musical, artistic, or refer-
ence materials (as books, manuscripts, recordings, or films)
are kept for use but not for sale.
Live-Work Building: An integrated housing unit and work-
ing space, occupied and utilized by a single household in a
structure that has been designed or structurally modified to
accommodate joint residential occupancy and work activity,
and which includes:
1. Complete kitchen space and sanitary facilities in
compliance with the Building Code; and
2. Working space reserved for and regularly used by
one or more occupants of the unit.
Commercial Component: The “work” or commercial
component of a live-work unit is secondary to its
residential use, and may include only commercial
activities and pursuits that are compatible with the
character of a quiet residential environment.
Residential Component: The residential component
is the owner-occupied dwelling of the live-work
building and is located above and/or behind the
street facing work space.
Loft: A dwelling unit that occupies only part of a building
and is not partitioned into rooms.
C-6 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
APPENDIX C | GLOSSARY
Maisonette: A two-level dwelling unit that occupies only
part of a building. The two adjoining floors of the unit are
connected by an internal staircase.
Master Developer/Builder: The Master Developer/Builder
controls or owns the site, is responsible for managing the
development and disposition of the property from initiation
and design of the master plan or specific plan that guides
development for the entire site to final buildout, obtains
financing and approvals, oversees site preparation and in-
frastructure development, controls and contracts for of the
phased implementation of the plan by specialized builders/
developers with experience in each product type required
to complete the approved plan. The Master Developer/
Builder may or may not be involved in the construction
of buildings, but performs design review to insure quality
control of proposals by specialized builder(s)/developer(s)
implementing the Master Plan or Specific Plan.
Master Developer/Builder Design Review Committee: A
committee assembled by the Master Developer/Builder to
review design submittals by Neighborhood Builders/Devel-
opers.
Master Plot Plan Review: The comprehensive evaluation of
a site layout diagram of an entire proposed development
project or major phase or sub-phase, in accordance with
the criteria and standards contained in the Specific Plan
from the standpoint of the mix and fit of buildings with-
in the development. This review is conducted through a
discretionary permit decision by the Planning Commission
or sub-committee pursuant to the procedures specified in
Chapter 17.50 on the Municipal Code following submittal
of an application containing information which shows: the
plan type and elevation, architectural style, plan orientation
(normal or reverse), building outline, overall dimensions,
and number of stories, location of the primary building,
secondary building and other structures, porches, terraces,
steps, raised decks, patio covers, retaining walls, fences,
garages, walks, driveways, and other permanent improve-
ments on each lot.
Meeting Facility, Public or Private: A facility for public or
private meetings, including:
Community centers, religious assembly facilities
(e.g., churches, mosques, synagogues, etc.), civic and
private auditoriums, Grange halls, union halls, meeting
halls for clubs and other membership organizations,
etc.
Also includes functionally related internal facilities such
as kitchens, multi-purpose rooms, and storage. Does not
include conference and meeting rooms accessory and
incidental to another primary use, and which are typically
used only by onsite employees and clients, and occupy less
floor area on the site than the offices they support. Does not
include:
Cinemas, performing arts theaters, indoor commercial
sports assembly or other commercial entertainment
facilities.
Related on-site facilities such as day care centers and
schools are separately defined, and separately regulated by
this Regulating Code.
Mixed-Use: Multiple functions within the same building or
the same general area through superimposition or within
the same area through adjacency.
Mixed-Use Building: A Mixed-Use Building is designed for
occupancy by a minimum of two different uses that may be
vertically or horizontally demised.
Commercial Component: The portions of a mixed-
use building dedicated to uses generating visitor or
customer traffic (such as retail, restaurants, personal
services). These uses shall be located on the ground
floor facing the sidewalk.
Residential Component: The portions of a mixed-use
building dedicated to residential uses. Residential
units may consist of flats, maisonettes, and lofts. Resi-
dential uses shall be located on upper floors or behind
street fronting commercial uses.
Multifamily: see Dwelling.
Multi-generational House: The Multi-generational House
provides living space for larger families where multiple
generations live under one roof. Rather than one unit with
multiple bedrooms, the Multi-generational House is an
assembly of up to three attached dwelling units on one lot
that provide sufficient privacy for each generation while
preserving the street appearance of a single-family house.
Museum: A building or institution, open to the public,
which is dedicated to the acquisition, conservation, study,
exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having
scientific, historical, cultural or artistic value.
Neighborhood Builder / Developer: Someone who pur-
chases land from or contracts with the Master Developer/
Builder to build a specific Neighborhood or portion of a
Neighborhood contained in the Master Plan or Specific Plan.
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | C-7
GLOSSARY | APPENDIX C
Newspaper Rack: A self-service coin-operated box, con-
tainer, storage unit or other dispenser designed, used or
maintained for the display or sale of any written or printed
material, including newspapers, news periodicals, maga-
zines, books, pictures, photographs and records.
Noxious: Harmful to health or physical well-being.
Office: Business, Administrative, Medical or Professional.
Business/Service: Establishments providing direct
services to consumers. Examples of these uses include
employment agencies, insurance agent offices, real
estate offices, travel agencies, utility company offices,
elected official satellite offices, etc. This use does not
include “Bank, Financial Services,” which are separately
defined.
Medical: A facility for examining, consulting with, and
treating patients with medical, dental, or optical prob-
lems on an out-patient basis.
Professional: Offices of administrative businesses
providing direct services to consumers (e.g., insurance
companies, utility companies), government agency
and service facilities (e.g., post office, civic center),
professional offices (e.g., accounting, attorneys, em-
ployment, public relations), and offices engaged in the
production of intellectual property (e.g., advertising,
architectural, computer programming, photography
studios). This use does not include medical offices (see
Medical, offices), financial institutions (see Financial
institution), temporary offices, or offices that are
incidental and accessory to another business or sales
activity that is the primary use (see Office, accessory).
Outdoor storage of materials is prohibited.
Parking Determination: A number of land uses are not
assigned a specific parking requirement but require the
Director to make a Parking Determination, identifying the
number and location of required parking spaces.
Parking District: An area where parking has rules and re-
strictions that are commonly managed by an entity.
Parking Facility, Public or Commercial: Parking lots or
structures operated by the City, or a private entity providing
parking for a fee. Does not include towing impound and
storage facilities.
Parking Spaces: Off-street parking spaces shall be a mini-
mum of 9 feet by 19 feet, except that in parking lots of 10
spaces or more up to 30% of the spaces may be a minimum
of 8 feet by 16 feet. The paved parking stall length may
be decreased by up to 2 feet by providing an equivalent
vehicle overhang into landscaped areas, or over paved
walkways. Pairs of on-site parking spaces for use by employ-
ees of a single business, or for use by residents of a single
dwelling unit, may be provided in tandem configuration
(one behind the other) when approved by the Director.
Paseo: A pedestrian alley located and designed to reduce
the required walking distance within a neighborhood.
Personal Services (barber, beauty, nails, etc.): Establish-
ments that provide non-medical services to individuals as a
primary use. Examples of these uses include:
Barber and beauty shops, clothing rental, massage
(licensed, therapeutic, non-sexual), nail salons, pet
grooming with no boarding, tanning salons.
These uses may also include accessory retail sales of prod-
ucts related to the services provided.
Porch, Front: A roofed structure that is not enclosed and
attached to the facade of a building. See Appendix A.5.
Porch and Fence: A Frontage Type consisting of a porch
that encroaches into the front setback, and an optional
fence that delineates the property line. See Appendix A.5.
Porte-Cochère: A roofed porch-like structure covering a
driveway at the side entrance of a front-accessed house to
provide shelter while entering or leaving a vehicle. A porte-
cochère is open on three sides and supported by columns
or posts, rather than walls. Porte-cochères are different from
carports in which vehicles are parked; at a porte-cochère
the vehicle passes through to a garage or carport located at
the rear of the lot, stopping only for a passenger to get out.
A portecochère may have habitable space at the second
floor level, in which case the structure shall not encroach
into the applicable side setback.
Primary Building: A building that accommodates the pri-
mary use of the site.
Prohibited Uses: The following are examples of uses not
permitted anywhere within the Downtown Addition:
animal hatcheries; boarding houses; chemical manufactur-
ing, storage, or distribution; any commercial use in where
patrons remain in their automobiles while receiving goods
or services; enameling, painting, or plating of materials,
except artist’s studios; kennels; the manufacture, storage, or
disposal of hazardous waste materials; mini-storage ware -
houses; outdoor advertising or billboards; packing houses;
prisons or retention centers, except as accessory to a police
station; drug and alcohol treatment and rehab centers;
C-8 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
APPENDIX C | GLOSSARY
thrift stores; soup kitchens and charitable food distribution
centers; sand, gravel, or other mineral extraction; scrap
yards; tire vulcanizing and retreading; vending machines,
except within a commercial building; uses providing goods
or services of a predominantly adult-only or sexual nature,
such as adult book or video stores or sex shops; and other
similar uses as determined by the Director.
Project: Any project undertaken pursuant to the issuance
of a building permit or any other approval, ministerial or
discretionary development permit, by the city as required
by the applicable ordinances, regulations, and rules of the
city and state law. Projects undertaken by or on behalf of
the city are subject to the fee.
Public Access Easement: A public access easement is a le -
gally binding agreement that grants to the public in general
a right-of-way to use the real property of an individual own-
er for access purposes only. The terms of the easement are
defined in the easement documentation. In the Downtown
Addition, public access easements include sidewalks, which
may encroach into private properties along specific street
sections, and alleys. See Section 3.4.
Quadplex: A small multi-dwelling structure containing four
separate units on a single lot, each with its own entrance.
The dwelling units within a Quadplex may be arranged side
by side or one on top of the other, or a combination thereof.
Rearyard House: A detached single-family house with a
clear distinction between the public, street facing side, and
the private side which is oriented to the yard behind the
building. This configuration requires an alley and makes the
Rearyard House suitable for a range of lot sizes, including
lots that are quite narrow to mid-sized lots. A carriage unit
may be built at the rear of the lot.
Recreation Facility - Indoor: An establishment providing
indoor amusement and entertainment services for a fee or
admission charge, including:
Bowling alleys, coin-operated amusement arcades,
electronic game arcades (video games, pinball, etc.),
ice skating and roller skating, pool and billiard rooms
as primary uses.
This use does not include sex oriented businesses. Four or
more electronic games or amusement devices (e.g., pool
or billiard tables, pinball machines, etc.) in any establish-
ment, or a premises where 50% or more of the floor area is
occupied by electronic games or amusement devices, are
considered a commercial recreation facility; three or fewer
machines or devices are not considered a land use separate
from the primary use of the site.
Repair (leather, luggage, shoes, etc.): An establishment
providing repair services to individuals, including:
Home electronics and small appliance repair, lock-
smiths, shoe repair shops, tailors.
These uses may also include accessory retail sales of prod-
ucts related to the services provided.
Residential: Premises used primarily for human habitation.
Units shall not be less than 375 square feet in net area.
Restaurant (without drive through): Any use providing
for the preparation, retail sale, and on-site consumption of
food and beverages. Restaurants include but are not limited
to cafes, coffee shops, sandwich shops, ice cream parlors,
fast food take-out and drive-through stores, and places of
business with similar uses. The term restaurant may include
the licensed sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on
the premises, provided that the sales of food and nonalco-
holic beverages equals or exceeds 51 percent of gross sales
of food and beverages. Businesses where the sales of food
and nonalcoholic beverages do not exceed 51 percent of
gross sales of food and beverages shall be deemed a bar or
lounge.
Rowhouse: A building with two or more single-family
dwellings located side by side, with common walls on the
side lot lines, the facades reading in a continuous plan. See
Appendix A.2 and A.4.
School: Includes the following facilities.
Elementary, Middle, Secondary: A public or private
academic educational institution, including elementa-
ry (kindergarten through 6th grade), middle and junior
high schools (7th and 8th grades), secondary and high
schools (9th through 12th grades), and facilities that
provide any combination of those levels. May also
include any of these schools that also provide room
and board.
Specialized Education/Training: A school that pro-
vides education and/or training, including tutoring,
or vocational training, in limited subjects. Examples of
these schools include:
Art school, ballet and other dance school, business,
secretarial, and vocational school, computers and elec-
tronics school, drama school, driver education school,
establishments providing courses by mail, language
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | C-9
GLOSSARY | APPENDIX C
school, martial arts, music school, professional school
(law, medicine, etc.), seminaries/religious ministry
training facility.
College / University: An educational institution
designed for instruction, examination, or both, of stu-
dents in many branches of advanced learning, confer-
ring degrees in various faculties, and often embodying
colleges and similar institutions. See Section 5.9.
Does not include pre-schools and child day care facilities
(see “Day Care”). See also the definition of “Studio - Art,
Dance, Martial Arts, Music, etc.” for smaller-scale facilities
offering specialized instruction.
Secondary Building: A building that accommodates the
secondary use of the site.
Service Station: A retail business selling gasoline and/or
other motor vehicle fuels, and related products.
Setback:
Area: The area between the building line and the
property line, or when abutting a street, the ultimate
right-of-way line.
Distance: The distance between the building line
and the property line, or when abutting a street, the
ultimate right-of-way line.
Shared Parking: Any parking spaces assigned to more than
one use, where persons utilizing the spaces are unlikely to
need the spaces at the same time of day. See Section 5.2.
Shed Roof: A roof having only one slope or pitch.
Sideyard House: A detached single-family house that is ori-
ented toward a usable yard along one side of the building.
This yard side is the “active” side of the building and may
provide the main entrance, whereas the opposite building
side is the “passive” side, typically located near the adjacent
property line. A carriage unit may be built at the rear of the
lot.
Sidewalk Encroachment: Describes the lawful encroach-
ment of building elements (such as signs, awnings, roof
overhangs) into the public sidewalk. Encroachment shall be
limited as determined in this Regulating Code.
Single-Family: see Dwelling.
Shopfront: The portion of a building at the ground floor of
a Commercial or Mixed-Use Building that is made avail-
able for retail or other commercial use. Shopfronts shall be
directly accessible from the sidewalk, with no intervening
step. See Shopfront and Awning below, and Appendix A.7
Architectural Guidelines for further detail.
Shopfront and Awning: A Frontage Type created by insert-
ing storefronts with large transparent windows into the
ground floor facade of a building. The facade is aligned with
the property line, although partially recessed storefronts,
such as recessed entrances, are also common. The building
entrance is at sidewalk grade and provides direct access to a
non-residential ground floor use. Shopfronts are composed
of storefronts, entrances, awnings or sheds, signage, light-
ing, cornices, and other architectural elements. Awnings or
sheds may encroach into the public right-of-way and cover
the sidewalk to within two feet of the curb. See Appendix
A.7.
Stoop: A Frontage Type consisting of an exterior stair with
a landing that provides access to building placed close to
the property line. Building facades are set back just enough
to provide space for the Stoop. The exterior stair of a Stoop
may be perpendicular or parallel to the sidewalk. A Stoop’s
landing may be covered or uncovered. See Appendix A.7.
Storefront (or storefront infill assembly): The portion of
a Shopfront that is composed of the display window and/
or entrance and its components including windows, doors,
transoms and sill pane that is inserted into the Shopfront.
It does not include the wall and piers that are a part of the
Shopfront facade, in which the display window assembly is
set. See Appendix A.7 (Architectural Guidelines) for further
detail.
Story: A habitable floor level within a building, typically 8
to 12 feet high from floor to ceiling. Individual spaces, such
as lobbies and foyers may exceed one story in height. In
Shopfront spaces, the ceiling height of the first story may be
as high as 16 feet.
Studio - Art, Dance, Martial Arts, Music, etc: Small scale fa-
cilities, typically accommodating no more than two groups
of students at a time, in no more than two instructional
spaces. Larger facilities are included under the definition of
“Schools - Specialized Education and Training.” Examples of
these facilities include:
Individual and group instruction and training in the
arts; production rehearsal; photography, and the pro-
cessing of photographs produced only by users of the
studio facilities; martial arts training studios; gymnas-
tics instruction, and aerobics and gymnastics studios
with no other fitness facilities or equipment.
C-10 | 01.07.17 | CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN
APPENDIX C | GLOSSARY
Also includes production studios for individual musicians,
painters, sculptors, photographers, and other artists.
Streets: For individual Street Type Standards and illustrations
see Section 3.3.
Neighborhood Streets may be classified into the follow-
ing three relative categories, denoting their function and
location:
Primary/Secondary Street: “Primary Street” and
“Secondary Street” are relative designations for clarity
in describing the concept of T-alleys, and should not
be confused with the specific Street Types defined in
Sections 3.3 and 3.4.
Side Street: The side street abuts the side of a lot. At
corner lots the building frontage and main entrance
are typically oriented toward and face the Primary
Street, although multi-unit dwelling buildings may
have entrances on both Primary and Side Streets. At
corner lots, alleys intersect the Side Street. See Primary
Street.
Substantial Conformance: It occurs when physical im-
provements to the existing development site are completed
which constitute the greatest degree of compliance with
current development provisions.
Telecommunications Facility: Public, commercial and
private electromagnetic and photoelectrical transmis-
sion, broadcast, repeater and receiving stations for radio,
television, telegraph, telephone, data network, and wireless
communications, including commercial earth stations for
satellite-based communications. Includes antennas, com-
mercial satellite dish antennas, and equipment buildings.
Does not include telephone, telegraph and cable television
transmission facilities utilizing hard-wired or direct cable
connections.
Terminated Vistas: A building or portion thereof designated
to terminate a view through or along a street centerline.
Theater - Cinema, Performing Arts: An indoor facility for
group entertainment, other than sporting events. Includes
indoor movie theaters, performing arts centers, etc.
Tower: A portion of a building that is at least one story high-
er than the rest of the building. Its massing shall have ver-
tical proportions, i.e. its height to the eave shall be greater
than any of its horizontal exterior dimensions. The purpose
of a tower is generally to access a view which is distant or
otherwise blocked.
Town Architect: The Town Architect’s role is to review all
projects within the Project Area to ensure that they are
consistent with the Regulating Code and Architectural Stan-
dards that were established as part of the Specific Plan. The
role may be performed by a full-time resident-town archi-
tect or a part-time outside professional. The Town Architect
meets with builders, architects/designers, and clients as
necessary to discuss and mark up design drawings. Unlike a
conventional review process that only indicates non-com-
pliance with the standards, the Town Architect explains the
principles behind the problems in a collaborative setting,
thus helping to improve the quality of the designs over
time. The Town Architect’s fees are paid for by the builders.
Triplex: A small multi-dwelling structure containing three
separate units on a single lot, each with its own entrance.
The dwelling units within a Triplex may be arranged side by
side or one on top of the other, or a combination thereof.
Utility Facility: A fixed-base structure or facility serving as a
junction point for transferring electric utility services from
one transmission voltage to another or to local distribution
and service voltages, and similar facilities for water supply
and natural gas distribution. These uses include any of the
following facilities that are not exempted from land use
permit requirements by Government Code Section 53091:
Electrical substations and switching stations, natural
gas regulating and distribution facilities, public water
system wells, pump stations, treatment plants and
storage, telephone switching facilities, wastewater
treatment plants, settling ponds and disposal fields.
These uses do not include office or customer service centers
(classified in “Offices”). “Utility Facilities” do not include uses
defined under “Utility Infrastructure” below.
Utility Infrastructure: Pipelines for water, natural gas, and
sewage collection and disposal; and facilities for the trans-
mission of electrical energy for sale, including transmission
lines for a public utility company. Also includes telephone,
telegraph, cable television and other communications
transmission facilities utilizing direct physical conduits.
Does not include offices or service centers (see “Offices”),
storage tanks, well sites, pump stations, or distribution
substations (see “Utility Facility”). “Utility Infrastructure” does
not include uses defined under “Utility Facility” above.
Villa: A small multi-dwelling building with one common
main entrance and designed to have the appearance of
a large house. The dwelling units within a Villa may be
arranged side by side or one on top of the other, or a combi-
CITY OF PALM DESERT UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC PLAN | 01.07.17 | C-11
GLOSSARY | APPENDIX C
nation thereof.
Vine Pocket: A small planting area within a larger paved
area, such as a sidewalk, allowing the planting of a vine in
the ground. Vine pockets are often attached to a wall or
column.
Walkability: “Walkability” or "walkable" or a “comfortable
walking distance” or variations thereof used in this Specific
Plan are based on an approximate 5-minute walk, or a 0.25-
mile radius for the average person.
Zoning Ordinance: The City of Palm Desert Zoning Ordi-
nance, Title 17 of the Palm Desert City Municipal Code.