Orange County presented a virtual public hearing on updates to the Horizon West Village PD Code on March 17, 2022. The information was presented by Olan Hill, Assistant Manager, Planning Division. The Recorded Meeting is available online and a Feedback Form is also available to provide their input. For a full list of changes and explanations, please watch the recorded meeting.

Code Updates:

• Typographical and Administrative Changes
• Communication Towers permitted use in Upland Greenbelts, when:
  • A minimum 20′ fee-simple access between tower and public street is provided
  • Tower located on developable uplands only
• Established consistent minimum alley width of 20′
• Increased minimum width of sidewalks to 5-feet (excluding front of commercial buildings)
• Added requirements for pedestrian access, addressing, unit key maps, and on-street parking to Mews Standards
  •  Mews are residential blocks where the front facades of units face a green space, park, or square and all vehicular access is provided from a rear alley.
• When a culs-de-sac is built, it must be “closed”, which includes a center island featuring turf, seating, shade, and paved walkways.
• Definition of Mid-Block Passageways added along with minimum tract width and sidewalk width.
• Increased minimum porch width to 12′ and depth to 8′. This is increased from 10′ and 7′.
• Clarified fencing opacity requirements that are not applied
• Added requirement for a visible and accessible pedestrian walkway to front-loaded units from sidewalk or driveway
• Added guidelines for garages designed to accommodate 3 or more vehicles to encourage tandem garage
• Refined and clarified additional requirements for garages
• Clarified that front-facing “double-loaded” (or wider) garage doors are permitted on 65′ wide or greater lots only – or side facing “J”-loaded garages.
• Updated Accessory Structures & Uses language to reflect updated Orange County Code
• Updated “Permitted Uses” section for each land use distinction
• Decreased minimum townhouse building separation from 20′ to 14′ (consistent with side 7′ side building setback)
  • Orange County has been routinely approving waivers on this issue
• Decreased maximum number of units per townhome building from 8 to 6

Next Steps:

• April 5: BCC Work Session
• April 21: PZC Public Hearing
• May 10: 1st Board Public Hearing
• May 24: Final Board Public Hearing

We encourage Horizon West Residents to watch the Recorded Meeting and complete the Feedback Form.