Housing

Residential Policies

	An appropriate housing mix of 80 percent single family units and 20 percent multiple family units should be established for the Planning Area. Single family units will consist of detached single family homes; but attached units, townhouses and manufactured housing may be considered as single family units provided that such units do not exceed 20 percent of the total single family residences, and are developed at a density not to exceed seven units per net acre. Multiple family units may include other forms and types of residential development.
	To protect the City's semi-rural character, residential areas zoned for private equestrian use should be preserved.
	Very Low Density: Very low density shall mean development of between zero and two dwelling units per net acre; in areas of 10 percent to 25 percent slopes, a very low density will predominate. Such density shall be characteristic of large single family estate lots and equestrian estates. Within steeper slope areas, clustering of single family units could be achieved through density transfer procedures, while maintaining neighborhood compatibility. For large properties in environmentally sensitive areas with natural development constraints, consideration should be given to establishing a "large parcel, private open space zone," allowing limited residential development.
	Low Density: Low density development shall mean from 2 to 4.5 dwelling units per net acre. Such density would include predominantly single family detached homes or attached homes, provided not more than two walls are common to other dwellings and each home has a private yard.
	Medium Density: Medium density development shall mean from 4.6 to 15 dwelling units per net acre which may include townhouses, garden and condominium apartments and mobile home units. Medium density areas should be located predominantly near major centers of activity, with the exception of mobile home units which should be selectively located in appropriate settings.
	High Density: High density residential development will have a range of 15 to 30 dwelling units of any type per net acre and should be located primarily at sites accessible and close to major centers of activity and along the Ventura Freeway.
	Hillside Development: Residential development should occur in valleys and along gentle hillsides. Areas of steep topography shall be reserved for natural open space.

In pockets of potentially developable land, within the surrounding mountains, only very low density housing should be allowed.

Hillside development criteria should promote high standards and encourage site design, grading and architecture appropriate to hillside terrain.

Extensive grading of natural slopes and silhouetting of structures on natural ridgelines shall be discouraged.

There should be no grading in slopes over 25 percent natural grade.

Graded slopes should not exceed 25 feet in height.