Chapter 17.230
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

Sections:

17.230.010    Purpose.

17.230.020    Land uses and permit requirements.

17.230.030    Development and lot standards.

17.230.010 Purpose.

(1) The commercial (C) district is intended to provide for the regular shopping and service needs for the community and adjacent service areas. Typical allowed uses include convenience food markets, beauty and barber shops, bakeries and service industries. These areas are held to a high standard of site plan review due to the close proximity of residential zones. Development activity shall meet, as applicable, the design guidelines contained in this code and ensure that there is safe, interconnected, and multimodal transportation access to and within development sites.

(2) The mixed-use (MX) district requires mixed-use developments to provide the community with a mix of mutually supporting retail, service, office and medium- or high-density residential uses. The zone is designed to promote cohesive site planning and design that integrates and interconnects two or more land uses into a development that is mutually supportive. It can provide incentives to develop a higher density, active, urban environment than generally would be found in a suburban community. This type of development is further expected to:

(a) Achieve the goals and objectives of the city’s comprehensive plan and capital facilities plans;

(b) Enhance livability, environmental quality and economic vitality;

(c) Maximize efficient use of public facilities and services;

(d) Create a safe, attractive and convenient environment for a variety of uses including living, working, recreating and traveling by all transportation modes.

(3) Applicability.

(a) General. The provisions of this section shall be applied to parcels or groups of contiguous parcels designated mixed-use on the city’s official zoning map.

(b) Interpretation. If the requirements of the mixed-use district conflict with other regulations, the more stringent shall apply.

(4) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Mixed-use development” shall mean a group of structures planned as a single entity and containing within and/or among them a variety of complementary and/or mutually supporting uses (such as housing, offices, retail, public service or entertainment).

(b) “Net acre” means an acre of the developable portion of the site, which is derived from the total (gross) acreage of the site minus the area required to be, or voluntarily, set aside, as critical and environmentally sensitive lands and the corresponding buffers, public rights-of-way, road easements and any similar public facilities. [Ord. 541 § 6 (Exh. 1), 2021; Ord. 532 § 2 (Att. B), 2020; Ord. 526 § 5 (Exh. D), 2020; Ord. 503 § 1 (Exh. B), 2018; Ord. 473 § 3 (Exh. A), 2016].

17.230.020 Land uses and permit requirements.

Land uses and permit requirements are listed in Table 17.230.020. The table identifies those uses in the commercial districts that are:

P = Permitted use;

C = Conditional use;

S = Permitted uses that are subject to special standards; or

X = Prohibited.

The applicable procedural requirements are found in Chapter 17.130 CBDC.

Table 17.230.020 – Land Uses and Permit Requirements 

Use

C

MX

Residential

Residential uses above the ground floor or story and up to 30% of ground floor or story

P

A single dwelling for a caretaker or night watchman that is secondary to a primary use

P

Existing single-unit residential uses may be rebuilt if discontinued for a period of not less than 24 months

P

Tourist habitation

P/S

Single room occupancy

S

Dwelling, multi-unit (subject to standards at CBDC 17.335.120)

S

S

Zero lot line development (subject to standards at CBDC 17.335.110)

S

Retail Sales – Food

Markets

P

C

Bakery

P

Retail Sales – General

General retailer

P

Single purpose/specialty retailers

P

Yard and garden supplies, including nurseries

P

X

Adult entertainment

C

X

Retail Sales – Restaurants, Drinking Establishments

Restaurants and drinking establishments, including outdoor dining, portable walk-up vendors (not including drive-through facilities) such as but not limited to espresso carts, and food stands, and other uses generally conducted outside in conjunction with a permitted commercial food and drink service use, unless otherwise prohibited by the CBMC or state law

P

Drive-through, drive-in or drive-up facilities (subject to standards at CBDC 17.335.070)

S

Retail Sales and Services – Automotive and Related Automotive and Equipment

Sales/rentals, light equipment – Sale, retail, or wholesale, and/or rental from the premises of autos, noncommercial trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers with generally less than a 10,000-pound gross cargo weight together with incidental maintenance. Typical uses include automobile dealers, car rental agencies, or recreational vehicle sales and rental agencies, and small boat sales.

C

X

Sales/rentals, heavy equipment – Sale, retail or wholesale, and/or rental from the premises of heavy construction equipment, trucks, and aircraft, together with incidental maintenance. Typical uses include aircraft dealers, farm, logging, and heavy construction equipment dealers, or tractor trailers.

C

X

Repairs, light equipment – Repair of automobiles and the sale, installation, and servicing of automobile equipment and parts but excluding body repairs and painting. Typical uses include muffler shops, auto or motorcycle repair garages, or auto glass shops.

P

Repairs, heavy equipment – Repair of trucks, construction and logging equipment, as well as the sale, installation, or servicing of automotive equipment and parts, together with body repairs, painting, and steam cleaning. Typical uses include truck transmission shops, body shops, or motor freight maintenance groups.

X

Manufactured home sales

P

X

Cleaning – Washing and polishing of automobiles. Typical uses include auto laundries or car washes.

P

C

Fleet storage – Fleet storage of vehicles used regularly in business operation but not for the long-term storage of vehicles, nor for vehicles available for sale. Typical uses include taxi fleets, mobile catering truck storage, or auto storage garages.

P

X

Commercial off-street parking facilities

P

C

Storage, nonoperating vehicles – Storage of nonoperating motor vehicles. Typical uses include storage of private parking tow-away or impound yards.

P

X

Transportation Terminals

Freight

C

X

People

P

Retail Sales – Building Materials and Farm Equipment

Lumber and other building materials stores and yards, with only incidental cutting and planing of products sold

P

X

Heating and plumbing equipment, including incidental fabrication (operated entirely within an enclosed building)

P

C

Hardware, home repair and supply stores

P

C

Farm equipment and implement dealer

P

X

Hay, grain, and feed stores

P

X

Retail Sales – Products (Finished product retailers with primary fabrication or assembly on site and within an entirely enclosed building.)

P

Sales and Services – Personal

Convenience sales and personal services – Establishments or places of business in existing buildings primarily engaged in the provision of frequently or recurrently needed small personal items or services. These include various general retail sales and personal services of an appropriate size and scale to meet the above criterion. Typical uses include neighborhood grocery, drug stores, bookstores, clothing and beauty shops, laundromat/dry cleaners, barbershops, art galleries and art studios. Convenience sales may be offered outdoors such as portable walk-up vendors (not including drive-through facilities) such as but not limited to flower stands and plant nurseries and other uses generally conducted outside in conjunction with a permitted personal and retail service commercial use, unless otherwise prohibited by the CBMC or state law.

P

Personal services, general – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of informational, instructional, personal improvement, and similar services of a nonprofessional nature, but excludes services classified as “spectator sports and entertainment,” or “participant sports and recreation,” or “group care.” Typical uses include photography studios, driving schools, or reducing salons, laundromats, or dance instruction.

P

Funeral and interment services: undertaking – Undertaking services such as preparing the dead for burial and arranging and managing funerals

P

Marijuana retail sales subject to the requirements of CBDC 17.335.080

P

Marijuana grow, processing and wholesale uses

X

X

Services – General

Business support service – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of services of a clerical, employment, protective, or minor processing nature to firms rather than individuals and where the storage of goods other than samples is prohibited. Typical uses include secretarial services, telephone answering services, blueprint services, or printing and duplicating firms.

P

Professional and administrative services – Offices or private firms or organizations which are primarily used for the provision of professional, executive, management, or administrative services. Typical uses include administrative offices, legal offices, or architectural firms.

P

Building/property maintenance service – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of maintenance and custodial services to firms rather than individuals. Typical uses include janitorial, landscape maintenance, or window cleaning services.

P

Moving and storage (mini-storage)

C

X

Financial, insurance, and real estate services – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of financial, insurance, real estate, or securities brokerage services. Typical uses include banks, insurance agencies, or real estate firms.

P

Event facilities

P

C

RV storage

P

C

Services – Tourist Habitation

Tourist habitation as defined in CBDC 17.150.020 (Definitions); with the exception of campgrounds as conditionally permitted in commercial land use districts as specified in this table.

P

Campground – Campground services involving but not limited to transient habitation areas for travelers in recreational vehicles or tents. Typical uses include park model and recreational vehicle parks.

C

X

Services – Medical and Health

Hospitals

X

Medical services – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of personal health services ranging from prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, or rehabilitation services provided by physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health personnel as well as the provision of medical testing and analysis services

P

Ambulance services

P

Sanitaria, convalescent and rest homes

P

Orthopedic equipment and supplies, rental, sales and services

P

Services – Animal Sales and Services

Auction – Auctioning of livestock on a wholesale or retail basis with incidental storage of animals produced off property not exceeding a 48-hour period. Typical uses include animal auctions or livestock auction yards.

X

Animal sales and service: grooming – Grooming of dogs, cats, and similar small animals. Typical uses include dog bathing and clipping salons or pet grooming shops.

P

Animal sales and service: kennel – Boarding, raising, caring, and training services for dogs, cats, and similar small animals. Typical uses include boarding kennels or dog training centers.

C

X

Animal sales and service: pet shop – Establishment for the retail sale of household pets and pet supplies

P

Animal sales and service: veterinary (small animals) – Veterinary services for small animals. Typical uses include pet clinics, dog and cat hospitals, or animal hospitals.

C

Veterinary (large animals) – Veterinary services for large animals. Typical uses include animal hospitals or veterinary hospitals.

C

X

Animal waste processing – The processing of animal waste and by-products, including, but not limited to, animal manure, animal bedding waste, and similar by-products of an animal-raising agricultural operation, for use as a commercial fertilizer or soil amendment and including composting for commercial purposes

X

Aquaculture – Raising, feeding, planting, harvesting fish and shellfish, and associated facilities as necessary for such use, including commercial harvest of naturally occurring clam beds

X

Services – Amusement

Community recreation – Recreational, social, or multi-purpose uses typically associated with parks, playfields, golf courses, or community recreation buildings

C

Theaters, indoor

P

Drive-in theaters, stadium and arena facilities

C

Participant sports and recreation: indoor – Those uses conducted within an enclosed building. Typical uses include bowling alleys, skating rinks (ice and/or roller), billiard/pool parlors, video arcades, swimming pools, physical fitness centers, or racquetball centers.

P

C

Participant sports and recreation: outdoor – Those uses conducted in open facilities. Typical uses include driving ranges, miniature golf courses, or swimming pools.

P

C

Zoos, circuses, carnivals, or amusement rides, excluding temporary civic events endorsed by the city council

C

X

Services – Educational

Educational services

P

C

Child care facilities

P

Libraries

P

Artistic studios and schools including but not limited to dance, music and martial arts

P

Public parks, parkways, recreation facilities, trails and related facilities

P

C

Public/private educational institutions

P

C

Outdoor events related to grand openings and similar special business events

P

Services – Membership Organizations

Business, professional and religious (not including churches)

P

Civic, social, fraternal, charitable, labor and political

P

Churches

P

Distribution Facilities (In conjunction with a permitted use, all activities, except vehicle storage, located entirely within an enclosed building.)

Distribution facilities

C

X

Public Services and Facilities

Buildings entirely dedicated to public services, such as City Hall, police and fire substations

P

Sewer, water and utility transmission lines

P

C

Wireless communications facilities

P

Museums, historic and cultural exhibits and the like

P

U.S. post offices

P

Public transit facilities including park and ride facilities

P

Bus shelters

P

Accessory Uses and Activities

On-site hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities, subject to state siting criteria

X

Drive-through or drive-up facilities

C

Open Air Activities

Open air display of plants and produce in conjunction with a permitted use

P

Open air storage of materials

C

Open air work activities such as restaurants, portable walk-up vendors (not including drive-through facilities) such as espresso carts, flower stands and food stands, plant nurseries and other uses generally conducted outside in conjunction with a permitted commercial use, unless otherwise prohibited by this title

P

Open air storage of company vehicles, such as cars and light duty trucks, in conjunction with a permitted use

P

C

Other Uses

Temporary uses

P

Solid waste handling and disposal sites

X

Agricultural uses

X

Other similar uses deemed by the director to be compatible with the C/MX districts and adjacent land uses.

Review type dependent upon size and intensity of use.

[Ord. 553 § 2, 2022; Ord. 551 § 3, 2022; Ord. 541 § 6 (Exh. 1), 2021; Ord. 532 § 2 (Att. B), 2020; Ord. 513 § 7 (Exh. 2), 2019; Ord. 511 § 6 (Exh. 2), 2019; Ord. 503 § 1 (Exh. B), 2018; Ord. 473 § 3 (Exh. A), 2016].

17.230.030 Development and lot standards.

(1) New lots and structures and additions to structures subject to this section shall comply with the applicable standards for lots and building height, and setbacks in Table 17.230.030.

(2) Landscaping and Screening.

(a) Not less than 15 percent of the total lot area shall be landscaped. Pedestrian plazas, sidewalks over the minimum width and other pedestrian amenities may be used to meet the required landscaping at a one-to-one ratio.

(b) All heating and air equipment shall be appropriately screened from public view. This does not apply to roof-mounted equipment.

(c) All storage and trash areas must be enclosed and screened from public view.

(3) Development Standards.

(a) Residential/Commercial. All residential or mixed residential/commercial areas shall comply with the density standards noted in Table 17.230.030.

(b) Lot Standards.

(i) All development applications shall comply with the applicable standards for lot area dimensions, building height, and setbacks in Table 17.230.030.

(ii) Single-unit structures that are used for accessory commercial uses shall use the single-unit attached/detached development standards.

(iii) The maximum building height shall exclude unique architectural features such as steeples, chimneys, flagpoles, electronic aerials, and cupolas.

(iv) There shall be no setback restrictions in the commercial zone other than those imposed by the building code, except where the property abuts low density residential (LDR) zone district, unless otherwise noted.

Table 17.230.030 – Development and Lot Standards 

(Landscaping standards found in CBDC 17.335.060)

Standard

Commercial

Mixed

Single-/Multi-unit dwelling

Attached

Detached

Dwelling Units Per Acre

Minimum

N/A

No Minimum

12

12

Maximum

N/A

No Maximum

No Maximum

No Maximum

Minimum lot width

20 feet

20 feet

20 feet

30 feet

Minimum lot depth

60 feet

60 feet

60 feet

60 feet

Minimum lot area

5,000 square feet

5,000 square feet

1,200 square feet

2,400 square feet

Maximum lot area

N/A

N/A

N/A

15,000 square feet

Maximum lot coverage

85%

85%

65%

65%

Maximum height (see also CBDC 17.335.015, Exceeding height limits)

35 feet

35 feet

35 feet

35 feet

Setbacks (see also CBDC 17.335.130, Setbacks – Intrusions permitted)

Minimum front setback

0 feet

10 feet

10 feet

10 feet or 10% of the lot depth, whichever is less

Minimum garage setback from public street

20 feet

20 feet

20 feet

20 feet

Minimum garage setback from alley

20 feet

20 feet

20 feet

20 feet

Minimum side setback

0 feet or 10 feet abutting LDR zones

0 feet or 10 feet abutting LDR zones

0 feet attached, 5 feet to abutting properties

5 feet or 10% of the lot depth, whichever is less

Minimum street side setback

0 feet

0 feet

10 feet

10 feet or 20% of the lot width, whichever is less.

Minimum rear setback

0 feet, or 10 feet abutting LDR zones

0 feet, or 10 feet abutting LDR zones

5 feet

5 feet

(c) Site Planning Design Standards.

(i) Commercial and Mixed-Use Development.

(A) Blank walls facing public streets are discouraged. Features providing visual interest such as windows (genuine, false, or display), artwork, varied building materials, relief panels, trim, balconies, ledges or other techniques shall be employed to enhance building facades facing public streets.

(B) Rooflines shall be a minimum of 4:12 for pitched roofs. Lower pitched roofs or parapet rooflines shall provide additional architectural detailing including but not limited to: cornice, cap, relief panels, bay windows, shade projections, rain protection, eaves, dormers, ledges or overhangs as approved by the director.

(C) Rain protection shall be located at the primary entrance that is effectively designed to provide a minimum of 50 square feet of rain protection. This protection may use a single or combination of techniques such as awning, eave, alcove, airlock, recessed entry or porte-cochere.

(D) Finished surfaces on building elevations shall emphasize use of architectural grade natural building products such as wood, masonry, metal, glass, stucco, fiber cement, cultured stone or other stone materials. Use of plywood, vinyl, plastic composites, fiberglass or similar are prohibited unless otherwise permitted by the director.

(E) A diverse use of color is encouraged to display individuality within the community. Finished surfaces suitable for painting shall incorporate a color palette of at least two colors consisting of a base color and an accent (trim color). Repetitive or predictable alternate color schemes are discouraged.

(F) Hardscaping (i.e., curb-to-facade sidewalks with pedestrian amenities) may be substituted in lieu of landscaping requirements subject to review and approval of the review authority.

(ii) Multi-unit dwellings are subject to the standards at CBDC 17.335.120, Multi-unit dwelling standards.

(4) Special Limitations on Uses. All uses in the C and MX district(s) shall meet all of the following conditions:

(a) Odor, noise, emissions, vibration, heat and glare (except for exterior lighting) shall be controlled within the confines of the building or structure.

(b) No movement of heavy equipment on and off the site shall occur, except for truck deliveries.

(c) No outdoor testing of products or processes shall take place on the site.

(d) No highly combustible, explosive, or hazardous materials or waste shall be permitted on site.

(e) Outdoor storage must be screened from public view. [Ord. 544 § 10 (Att. B), 2021; Ord. 541 § 6 (Exh. 1), 2021; Ord. 532 § 2 (Att. B), 2020; Ord. 511 § 6 (Exh. 2), 2019; Ord. 503 § 1 (Exh. B), 2018; Ord. 473 § 3 (Exh. A), 2016].