1. Each Mixed Use District must include one of the following height designations. The designation establishes the maximum height in stories and feet for each mixed use district. For example, CX-5 has a maximum height limit of 5 stories and 80 feet.
   -3            3 stories / 50 feet max
   -4            4 stories / 68 feet max
   -5            5 stories / 80 feet max
   -7             7 stories
   -12           12 stories
   -20          20 stories
   -30          30 stories
   -40          40 stories
2. The height requirements apply to apartments, general buildings, mixed use buildings and civic buildings. Maximum heights for detached house, tiny house, attached house, townhouse and open lot are set forth in Article 3.2. Base Dimensional Standards.
3. The minimum height requirements apply only to the Urban Frontages. The Urban Frontages include the following: Green, Green Plus, Urban Limited, Urban General and Shopfront. Civic buildings are exempt from the minimum height requirements.
4. The Transit Overlay District (TOD) allows for building heights in excess of the maximum height of the underlying district for certain uses or development types as defined in Section 5.5.1 Transit Overlay District.
5. When a mezzanine or mezzanines comprise less than 50% of the floor area of the room or space in which they are located, they are not considered a story. When a mezzanine or mezzanines comprise 50% or more of the floor area of the room or space in which they are located, they are considered a story. If a building is taller than five stories, mezzanines are permitted within only two stories of that building. Any additional intermediate level otherwise qualifying as a mezzanine is considered an additional story. If a building has five or fewer stories, there is no limit on the number of stories in that building that may contain a mezzanine.

1. Intent
   The intent of the building massing regulations is to manage the impact of tall buildings located near the public right-of-way. Stepbacks are intended to avoid a canyon effect by providing access to light and air at street level, and mitigating wind impacts. The massing regulations also produce a consistent street wall and visually reduce the perceived scale of a building.
2. Stepbacks 
   Buildings of 13 or more stories are required to place a stepback above the 1st floor or 25’, whichever is greater, but below the 13th floor
   1. The stepback is only required on building faces adjoining the public street.
   2. The depth of a required stepback may be reduced by 5 feet if the cornice line of the stepback matches the cornice line of an adjacent building.
3. Floor Plate Size
   Above the 12th story, buildings are allowed 30,000 square feet of buildable area per story. The total amount of allowable square footage above the 12th story is thus defined as 30,000 square feet multiplied by the number of floors above 12 that are allowed per the site’s zoning. Larger floor plate size will result in fewer floors, whereas smaller floor plates will allow for taller towers. Buildings may not exceed the number of floors allowed by the underlying zoning district.
4. Design Alternate Findings
   The Planning Commission or Design Review Commission performing the quasi-judicial duties of the Planning Commission (as designated by the City Council), after conducting a duly noticed quasi-judicial evidentiary hearing in accordance with Sec. 10.2.17., shall approve an alternate building massing standard, if all of the following findings are satisfied:
   1. The approved alternate is consistent with the intent of the building massing regulations;
   2. The approved alternate uses an architectural base distinguishable from the building above that enhances the pedestrian environment through a change in material, fenestration, ornamentation, rhythm, or other sculpting of the base.
   3. If the approved alternate proposes a building setback behind the sidewalk in lieu of a required stepback, the resulting open space includes pedestrian amenities such as seating areas, trees and landscaping or outdoor dining.
   4. The building uses other architectural treatments to mitigate wind impacts, increase light at pedestrian level, and visually reduce the scale of the building.
   5. The building does not cause undue shadow impacts on public spaces, amenity areas, and surrounding streets.

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* Building separation is measured orthogonally to the wall plane.