§ 17.1.2. Purpose.

The purpose of the planning and zoning code is to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare, and to implement the policies of the City's general plan. Specifically, the planning and zoning code is intended to:

A.

Provide specific guidance for the physical development of the City in order to:

1.

Preserve the character and quality of residential neighborhoods,

2.

Foster convenient, harmonious and workable relationships among land uses, and

3.

Achieve the arrangement of land uses described in the general plan;

B.

Promote economic stability of existing land uses that are consistent with the general plan and protect them from intrusions by inharmonious or harmful land uses;

C.

Prevent excessive population densities and overcrowding of land or buildings;

D.

Ensure the provision of adequate open space for light, air, and fire safety;

E.

Permit the development of office, retail and related land commercial uses in Downtown Orinda that are consistent with the general plan, in order to provide needed services and to enhance and diversify the City's economic base;

F.

Conserve and enhance the City's architectural and cultural resources;

G.

Conserve and enhance key visual features of Orinda's semi-rural character and setting, including major ridgelines, hillsides and other open space areas, consistent with the general plan;

H.

Provide adequate off-street parking and loading facilities and promote a safe, effective traffic circulation system;

I.

Ensure that service demands of new development relate to the capacities of streets, utilities and other public services;

J.

Encourage a built environment of the highest design and architectural quality;

K.

Minimize environmental degradation by ensuring orderly development of lands consistent with the general plan, and protection of important environmental features such as ridgelines, streams and undeveloped hillsides;

L.

Regulate the use of land to preserve and protect the public safety and general welfare by prohibiting inappropriate or unsafe development.

(Ord. 99-5 § 2 Exh. A (part))