Onion Visibility Areas for ‘streets’ is an obnoxious regulation created with public safety (“adequate sight distance”) as the reason. In urban environments, street corners help define community character – just look at wonderful corners scattered all throughout San Francisco!
Enforcing a 25′ x 25′ triangular setback on urban corners (unless you’re willing to argue with the City Engineer over it) does not improve safety. In a city that was developed with small lot width dimensions, this regulation is not only a burden on property owners (having to maintain an open, somewhat public zone on their property) it is a regulation that limits developable building area and increases the cost of construction should you wish to use this area on upper floor levels when many urban zones allow for a zero-foot front & street-side setback.
I am NOT suggesting that Visibility Area regulations at narrower streets, alleys, or driveways be removed, although the entire code section could be revisited.
Totally agree. Since this is a vision triangle for motorists, it would make sense to measure from the street, therefore you dont compromise the shape of the building and dont waste a pretty much useless triangular space. We have stop signs everywhere in San Diego! and this that allows motorists to take the time to see the crossing traffic
As i interpret the code is they need visivility area from the edge of the side walk normal side walks in San Diego are 10′ but in some areas peple take 5′ as their own . as I will present this in each indicidual case will be in residentia area were normaly people take the 5′ apply the visivility area as shown on the diagram, but in big avenues as university or el cajon that are been redisigned by the city thake in consideration the mega side walks as in some cases are more than 10′