Page 189 - Healdsburg, CA Citywide Design Guidelines

Designing with Topography
Some projects occur on sites with topography and grade change.
A site design should work with existing topography wherever
possible rather than creating a flat site. This is a sustainable
practice and helps to retain terrain that contributes positively to
Healdsburg’s character. A regrading effort should not negatively
impact the public realm.

7.25 Design a project to integrate with and take advantage Design a site to integrate with and
of existing topography. take advantage of the existing
a. Incorporate a topographic feature as an outdoor public topography.
space or landscape amenity where feasible.
b. Where on-site parking is provided, consider taking
advantage of site topography to provide subterranean
or partially subterranean parking.
c. “Terrace” a building into a hillside to minimize the use of
“cut and fill” and to create private outdoor spaces and
site features.
d. Where grading is utilized, the design should retain water Step the first floor of a building
on site, enhance percolation into soils and minimize along a sloped street to maintain a
runoff onto adjacent properties. constant street presence.
e. Step the first floor of a building along a sloped street to
maintain a constant street presence.
f. Where a taller cut or change in grade is necessary, use a
series of landscaped terraces or stepped walls.

7.26 Design a building to respect and reflect the natural
topography, especially in hilly areas such as Character
Area 4: Hillside Residential.
a. Locate a building to preserve the natural slope.
b. Design a building to be of a mass that reflects, respects Figure 7.1: “Terrace” a building
and blends with site topography. into a hillside to minimize the
c. Design a building in modules that are oriented with the use of “cut and fill” and to create
contours of the slope. private outdoor spaces and site
d. Locate a building to minimize obstruction of views and features.
site lines from surrounding properties.
e. Utilize a roof pitch that is low and angled with the
slope. Collectively, rooflines should reflect the naturally
occurring ridgeline silhouette.
f. Select colors and materials for new development
that blends with the natural colors and hues of the
surrounding hillsides.
g. Utilize roof materials that are textured and of a darker
tone such as brown, black and terracotta. Avoid bright
or light-colored roofs.

Design Guidelines for All Development Types Chapter 7 181