Chapter 18.56
C-R CENTRAL RETAIL CORE DISTRICT

Sections:

18.56.010    Applicability.

18.56.015    Purpose.

18.56.020    Permitted uses.

18.56.025    Permitted outdoor uses.

18.56.030    Prohibited uses.

18.56.040    Conditional uses.

18.56.050    Regulations.

18.56.010 Applicability.

The following regulations shall apply to all C-R Districts, and shall be subject to the provisions of this title. All permitted and conditional uses shall be conducted within an entirely enclosed building unless otherwise indicated. (Ord. 1244 § 5, 1998: Ord. 977 § 1 Ex. A (part), 1987)

18.56.015 Purpose.

The Downtown Retail Core is the economic, social, and cultural center of the City. The operation and intensity of uses in this district are intended to preserve or enhance the character of the downtown. It is the City’s objective for the downtown to attract and retain businesses that lend themselves to economic vitality that will be mutually beneficial to and enhance the economic health of surrounding uses, and will contribute to an appropriate balance of business in the Downtown Retail Core. (Ord. 1395 § 2 (part), 2008)

18.56.020 Permitted uses.

The following uses are permitted in a C-R District:

A.    All retail uses, except those specifically prohibited;

B.    Commercial and service uses, as follows:

1.    Banks and savings and loan associations, provided such establishments are located no closer than five hundred feet from another financial institution, when located on the ground floor, and are not located on a corner lot in the Central Retail (CR) District, or have an area of less than two thousand five hundred square feet,

2.    Personal service uses as regulated in Section 18.116.230 of this title,

3.    Interior decorator establishment,

4.    Photography studio,

5.    Restaurant, sidewalk cafés which meet all requirements of Section 18.116.220 and on-sale liquor establishment,

6.    Stationery and office supply establishment,

7.    Retail or consignment sale of used or secondhand furniture, furnishings, apparel or merchandise in the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of Laurel Street and the 1100 and 1200 blocks of San Carlos Avenue,

8.    Sale or consignment sale of antique furniture and furnishings, art and fine jewelry as defined by the American Jewelry Vigilance Committee,

9.    Theater, indoor,

10.    Retail food sales as defined in Section 18.08.655,

11.    Accessory uses such as incidental storage and uses, including repair operations and services, provided such uses are clearly incidental to retail sale of products on the premises,

12.    Dwelling unit(s), when located above the ground floor,

13.    Administrative and professional offices, lodges, and clubs when located above the ground floor,

14.    Other uses which, within the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, are of similar nature. (Ord. 1395 § 2 (part), 2008; Ord. 1350 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1298 § 5 (part), 2001; Ord. 1297 § 4 (part) 2001; Ord. 1159 § 10, 1994; Ord. 1155 § 1, 1994: Ord. 1112 § 3 (B), (C), 1992; Ord. 1073 § 3 (B), (C), 1991; Ord. 1033 § 1, 1989; Ord. 977 § 1 Ex. A (part), 1987)

18.56.025 Permitted outdoor uses.

A.    1. All merchandise or displays and all storage or sales areas shall be within a completely enclosed building or structure, except that the following may be conducted outdoors on the public right-of-way:

a.    Newspaper vending;

b.    Plant and floral display;

c.    Outdoor displays or sales authorized by the City Council.

2.    A six-foot access clearance, to the satisfaction of the City Engineer, must be maintained at all times. All items placed in the public right-of-way, pursuant to Section 18.56.025(A)(1), shall not encroach into this required access clearance.

B.    The display or sale of goods, merchandise or services which are customary indoor uses shall be allowed on private property, subject to the following conditions:

1.    All sales shall be conducted by a business located on the property;

2.    All merchandise or services displayed outdoors shall be of the same types ordinarily sold indoors at the business conducting the sale;

3.    The display area shall not encroach upon a public right-of-way, street, alley, sidewalk or other public property;

4.    All displays shall be subject to the sign regulations of this chapter, including the securing of a temporary banner permit for any temporary signs;

5.    Outdoor display or sale of goods or services by itinerant vendors, as defined by the San Carlos Municipal Code, is prohibited;

6.    No display shall be permitted which presents a public health, safety or welfare hazard;

7.    The display area shall, at all times, be kept neat, clean and free of litter and debris;

8.    Screening, fencing or landscaping may be installed around display areas provided that:

a.    Plans, diagrams and drawings of the proposed fencing, screening and landscaping have been approved by the Planning Director,

b.    The proposed screening, fencing or landscaping is constructed or installed according to the Uniform Building Code,

c.    The proposed fencing, screening or landscaping is of such height, design or fabrication as to be:

i.    Compatible with existing architecture, structures and buildings in the area,

ii.    Designed to deter trespassers;

9.    Outdoor promotions or events are permitted by a licensed business, merchant association, school, charitable or nonprofit organization. Promotions or events shall not promote or display the goods or services of any business on the premises and shall be subject to all other limitations in the San Carlos Municipal Code, including those governing carnivals, circuses, dances and outdoor sound equipment and noise. Examples of such promotions or events are carnivals, circuses, animal rides, car shows, sporting events and other exhibitions;

10.    Outdoor fundraising sales by schools and charitable or nonprofit organizations are permitted if the sale is carried on wholly by the organization and it will receive, both directly and indirectly, any and all profits to be derived from the sale. Such sales are not permitted solely by reason of sponsorship by a school, charitable or nonprofit organization;

11.    Any portion of private property used for outdoor displays, sales or cafés shall be exempt from additional parking requirements, as specified in Chapter 18.140. Any outdoor cafés on private property (including, but not limited to, chairs and/or tables) shall be reviewed by the Planning Staff as a minor architectural review item. (Ord. 1319 § 10 (part), 2003; Ord. 1112 § 4, 1992: Ord. 1073 § 4, 1991)

18.56.030 Prohibited uses.

The following uses are specifically prohibited in any C-R District:

A.    Automotive sales and service, including automotive accessory sales;

B.    Automobile service stations and repair, body and paint shops;

C.    All uses specifically enumerated in the central business perimeter district and highway service district as prohibited;

D.    Retail or wholesale sale, or consignment sale of damaged or blemished merchandise or apparel, or closeout, deep discount, single pricing structure and price point retail merchandise and apparel (used books and magazines are exempt);

E.    Single-family residential uses;

F.    Administrative and professional offices, lodges, clubs and hotels, when located on the ground floor;

G.    Medical service, medical office, schools, vocational schools or office on the ground floor in the Downtown Retail Core;

H.     Animal care facility;

I.    Day care facilities (adult and children);

J.    Storage or warehousing;

K.    Wholesale sale of merchandise on the ground floor. (Ord. 1395 § 2 (part), 2008; Ord. 1319 § 15, 2003; Ord. 1297 § 5 (part) 2001; Ord. 1033 § 2, 1989; Ord. 977 § 1 Ex. A (part), 1987)

18.56.040 Conditional uses.

A.    The following uses shall be permitted in any C-R District upon the granting of a use permit by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with provisions of this title:

1.    Drive-in restaurant and fast-food establishments, provided such establishment is no closer than one thousand feet measured along the same frontage from any other such use;

2.    Hotels when located above the ground floor;

3.    Other uses which, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, are of a similar nature.

B.    The following uses shall be permitted in any C-R district upon the granting of a use permit by the Planning Commission in accordance with provisions of this title:

1.    Repealed by Ord. 1395;

2.    Repealed by Ord. 1395. (Ord. 1395 § 2 (part), 2008; Ord. 1350 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1319 § 16, 2003; Ord. 1298 § 4 (part), 2001; Ord. 1297 §§ 6—7 (part), 2001; Ord. 1244 § 6, 1998; Ord. 1112 § 5 (part), 1992; Ord. 1073 § 5 (part), 1991; Ord. 1033 § 3, 1989; Ord. 977 § 1 Ex. A (part), 1987)

18.56.050 Regulations.

The following minimum and maximum requirements shall apply to all C-R Districts as regulated herein:

A.    Height, fifty feet maximum.

B.    Floor Area Ratio. The maximum floor area ratio allowed shall not exceed 3.0.

C.    Site Area, Width. Minimum site requirements are:

1.    Main buildings, five thousand square feet.

D.    Site Density. Minimum density requirements are:

1.    Dwelling unit, five hundred square feet of lot area.*

E.    Front Yard. None required.

F.    Side Yard. None required.

G.    Rear Yard. None required.

H.    Off-Street Parking. As regulated in the parking requirements chapter of this title.

I.    Open Space. A minimum amount of open space per dwelling unit shall be required as provided for in Section 18.116.160 of this title. (Ord. 1319 § 14 (part), 2003; Ord. 977 § 1 Ex. A (part), 1987)

*    Due to height limitations and parking requirements, the maximum densities allowed in this district may be difficult to achieve unless subterranean parking structures or other architectural solutions are used.