Chapter 18.29
C-G (COMMERCIAL GENERAL)—Replaces Chapters 18.18, 18.19 and 18.20

Sections:

18.29.10    Intent and Purpose

18.29.20    Permitted Uses

18.29.30    Site Development Standards

18.29.40    Performance Standards

18.29.50    Walls, Fences and Structures in the Setback Areas

18.29.60    Trash Enclosures

18.29.70    Screening and Buffering

18.29.80    Landscaping

18.29.90    Site Plan Review

18.29.100    Architectural Review

18.29.110    Encroachments for Driveways

18.29.10 Intent and Purpose

The Commercial General (C-G) Zone allows retail and commercial uses that are centered around retail, eating and drinking establishments, and entertainment to serve the needs of the community.

18.29.20 Permitted Uses

Table 1: Permitted Uses lists use categories and specific uses permitted within the C-G Zone. The uses and use categories indicated in the table have been grouped under major headings to aid locating a particular use. The uses listed consist of permitted uses, conditionally permitted uses, and permitted accessory uses. Across from each use listed is a column which indicates one of the following letters:

 

“p”

Permitted Use

“c”

Requires a Conditional Use Permit

“a”

Permitted as an Accessory Use

It is the intent that if a specific use is consistent with a use category listed as determined by Staff the specific use shall be treated as part of the corresponding use category, even if not specifically listed. In the event that there is difficulty categorizing a specific use the procedures set forth in Chapter 18.42, Similar Uses Permitted by Commission Determination, shall be followed.

Table 1: Permitted Uses

Permitted Use

CG Zone

Animal/Pet

Small Animal Hospitals and Veterinary Clinics

c

Dog kennels

c

Grooming

p

Automotive/Vehicle/Vessel

Fuel Service

8

Tire Sales and Service (not including retreading and recapping)

c

Vehicle/Vessel Service

c

Office

Administrative, Business, and Professional Offices

p1,5

Charity and Philanthropic Institutions

c1

Financial, Insurance, Real Estate Offices

p1

General Office

p1,5

Medical and Dental Office

p1

Public and Community Facilities

Auditoriums, meeting halls, banquet rooms, and community centers

c

Bus Terminals, Depots and other similar transit facilities

c

Child Care Centers

c1

Churches and Religious Institutions

c1

Education Facilities (Public and Private)

c1

Government and Civic Uses

c1

Museums and Libraries

c1

Public Utility Uses

c1

Entertainment/Recreation

Health Clubs

c

Indoor and Outdoor Recreation

c

Motel and Hotel

c

Theater (Indoor)

p

Medical

Ambulance Services

c1

Hospitals and Healthcare Centers

c1

Laboratories, Medical and Dental

p1

Retail

Drug Store/Pharmacy

p

Furniture Stores

p

General and Specialized Retail

p

Grocery Stores/Markets

p

Home Improvement/Goods/Supplies/Appliances

p

On-Site and Off-Site Liquor Sales

c2

Plant Nursery

p3

Reconditioned or Used Merchandise Stores

c

Service Commercial

Bank

p

Locksmith

p

Mail Cargo Packaging Services

p

Music/Dance/Photography/Art Studio

p

Printing Services

p

Repair Service (Non-Vehicle/Vessel and Non-Motorized)

p

Cash for Gold Businesses

c2,6

The processing, treatment, storage, or repair of products which are clearly incidental to the business conducted on the premises

a

Personal Services

Dry Cleaning, Tailoring, and Laundromats

p

Hair/Nail Salon with ancillary massage services

p7

Spa with ancillary massage services

p7

Massage

c

Eating and Drinking Establishments

Catering Establishments

p4

Deli/Bakery

p

Dine-In Restaurants

p

Drive-Thru, Walk-Up, and Outdoor Eating Establishments

c

Other

Auction Establishments (not including livestock sales)

c

Radio and Television Broadcasting Studios

c1

Wireless Communication Facilities

c

1. To encourage more convenient access and visibility for entertainment, retail, and service commercial uses, noted uses are not encouraged on urban arterial street frontages unless located on the second floor of a mixed use retail/commercial development.

2. Conditionally permitted as an ancillary use only.

3. Plant nurseries shall be permitted to have outdoor displays and sales as an ancillary use.

4. Cannot be located on urban arterial street frontages unless the use is ancillary to a restaurant.

5. Includes dispatch and office support services for the operation of taxicab/vehicles for hire businesses but does not include the storage, staging, standing, or parking of company vehicles on site.

6. Required to be within a viable business such as a jewelry store or other related retail business operation and must not exceed 20% of the floor area of such viable business. In addition, required to comply with all the legal requirements of gold buyers of the California Business and Professions Code and must submit periodic financial reports to the City Finance Department. All existing and new cash for gold businesses shall require approval of a conditional use permit, and can only be approved as an ancillary use subject to compliance with all the requirements of this item 6, upon the effective date of Ordinance 958.

7. Massage services shall not exceed 20% of the floor area of such business.

8. Attached car washes are allowed as an ancillary use to a fuel service station only; and only after approval of a noise impact study by the City showing compliance with applicable noise standards.

(Ord. 1002 Sec. 1, 2016; Ord. 960 Sec. 1, 2013; Ord. 958 Sec. 1, 2013; Ord. 955 Sec. 1, 2013; Ord. 872, 2007)

18.29.30 Site Development Standards

The development standards for the Commercial General Zone are detailed in Table 2: Development Standards and illustrated in Exhibits 18.29.30-1: Site Plan and 18.29.30-2: Elevation.

Table 2: Development Standards

Standard

CG Zone

Minimum Lot Size

13,125sqft

Minimum Lot Width

75ft

Minimum Lot Depth

175ft

Minimum Street Side Setback:

 

  Building

25ft

  Parking

10ft

Minimum Interior Side Setback

01

Minimum Rear Setback

01

Maximum Building Height

35ft2

Maximum FAR

N/A

Maximum Lot Coverage

N/A

Landscaping

Section 18.29.80

Parking and Loading

Chapter 18.38

Signs

Chapter 18.37

Wall, Fences, and Structures in the Setback Area

Section 18.29.50

1. Where the property abuts a school site or any “A” or “R” zone a 50' building setback is required.

2. A CUP application may allow for a height increase up to 50'.

Exhibit 18.29.30-1: Site Plan

Exhibit 18.29.30-2: Elevation

18.29.40 Performance Standards

The Planning Commission, or City Council may, as a part of the Site Plan Review procedure, impose any or all of the Performance Standards as specified in Section 18.25.14 of the M-2 zone.

18.29.50 Walls, Fences and Structures in the Setback Areas

The provisions of Section 18.31.08 (WALLS, FENCES, AND STRUCTURES IN THE SETBACK AREAS) shall apply. In addition, where a property in this zone abuts any “A” or “R” zone, or an LD or OS zone, a masonry wall six feet in height shall be erected and maintained along the common lot line.

18.29.60 Trash Enclosures

A special trash pick-up area shall be provided for each building at a location and of a certain size as established after Site Plan Review and approval. Said trash area shall be completely enclosed and screened in accordance with Section 18.29.70 Screening and Buffering.

18.29.70 Screening and Buffering

This section establishes standards for screening and buffering from adjacent properties and the public right of way for sensitive land uses, roof and ground mechanical equipment, trash enclosures, loading areas, and surface parking areas.

A.    Screening and Buffering of Sensitive Land Uses:

Opaque screening shall be installed to buffer sensitive land uses including, school sites, or any “A” or “R” zone through the use and combination of landscaping and a masonry wall in compliance with Section 18.29.50 Walls, Fences, and Structures in the Setback Area.

B.    Mechanical Equipment, Trash Enclosures, and Loading Areas:

Roof & ground mechanical equipment, trash enclosures and loading areas shall be screened from view of the public right of way and adjacent properties. The screening shall integrate with the site and be architecturally compatible in material, color, and style with the buildings on the site. Landscaping shall be installed adjacent to walls. (See Exhibit 18.29.70-3: Equipment & Rooftop Screening)

Exhibit 18.29.70-3: Equipment & Rooftop Screening

C.    Parking Areas:

For parking areas abutting the public right of way opaque screening shall be installed. The screening shall be a minimum of 36" in height in accordance with Section 18.29.80 Landscaping and no higher than 42". The screening shall consist of the use of one or a combination of the following; a landscaped berm, hedges, or masonry wall. Landscaping shall be installed adjacent to walls. (See Exhibit 18.29.70-4: Landscape Screening)

Exhibit 18.29.70-4: Landscape Screening

18.29.80 Landscaping

A.    Minimum site landscaping requirements:

1.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated in Title 18 of the Municipal Code of the City, all property developed with a building or structure shall have landscaping in an amount equal to no less than fifteen percent (15%) of the total area of the property.

B.    Boundary landscaping requirements. As part of the required landscaping, the following boundary landscaping shall be provided:

1.    A minimum ten-foot-wide (10’) planting area immediately adjacent to the right of way and along the extension of those lot lines of the property, including front and side yards which abut streets, shall be provided. However, that portion of the area required for landscaping, which constitutes an access way from the property to the street, need not be landscaped.

2.    A minimum of one 15-gallon tree shall be provided for every 25 feet of interior boundary on all building sites. The trees shall be located in the minimum ten-foot-wide (10’) planting area. Trees may be clustered.

3.    Any portion of and all of said required landscaped area shall be separated from any portion of the property which is used for parking or movement of vehicles by a wall or curb not less than six inches (6") higher in elevation than the adjacent area being used for vehicular parking or movement, unless waived to meet the requirements of the water quality management plan.

4.    Any landscaping installed immediately adjacent to a lot line, which abuts a street, shall not exceed three feet (3’) in height at any point within twenty five feet (25’) (See Exhibits 18.29.80-5 and 18.29.80-6: Sight Triangle) of the intersection of a vehicular driveway and a street or sidewalk or the intersection of two or more vehicular driveways or streets.

Exhibit 18.29.80-5: Sight Triangle: Street to Street

Exhibit 18.29.80-6: Sight Triangle: Driveway to Street

C.    Parking area landscaping and screening requirements:

1.    Intent the purpose of the parking lot landscaping is as follows:

i.    to provide shade throughout the parking area to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the pavement;

ii.    to screen cars from surrounding streets and properties;

iii.    to avoid the negative aesthetic impacts of large parking areas;

iv.    to orient planters and other landscape features to direct pedestrians to building entrances;

v.    to encourage creative design of parking areas.

Exhibit 18.29.80-7: Parking Lot Landscaping

2.    Minimum landscape requirements:

i.    Of the total required property landscaping, twenty five percent (25%) shall be located within the parking lot area.

ii.    Of the landscaping located in the parking lot area, there shall be one (1) canopy tree installed for every five (5) parking stalls, these trees may be clustered or evenly distributed. (See Exhibit 18.29.80-7: Parking Lot Landscaping)

3.    Boundary Trees. Required Boundary trees which shade parking areas may count towards the fulfillment of parking lot trees.

D.    Maintenance Requirements:

1.    A permanent irrigation system shall be installed and maintained at all times for irrigation of all landscaped areas.

2.    All landscaped areas shall be kept free of weeds, debris, and maintained in a healthy growing condition.

3.    Landscaping maintenance shall include but not be limited to pruning, weeding, fertilizing, mowing of lawns, removal of litter, and regular watering.

4.    Maintenance of any landscaping between the curb of the street abutting the parcel and the property line shall be the responsibility of the owner of the parcel, unless a recognized association or district has assumed responsibility for maintenance.

E.    Landscape Plan Review:

No building permit or occupancy permit shall be issued for any building or structure until landscaping plans for the property on which a building or structure is proposed have been submitted for review and approval by the City’s Planning Department and/or Planning Commission pursuant to Site Plan approval. Such plans shall include, but not limited to, showing the following information:

1.    The size and dimension of all landscaped areas;

2.    The type and location of irrigation system to be installed and maintained;

3.    The type of plant material for each area to be landscaped;

4.    Manner of constructing planter curbs, including location thereof, height, width and type of materials thereof.

18.29.90 Site Plan Review

The provisions of Chapter 18.40 Site Plan Review shall apply.

18.29.100 Architectural Review

The provisions of Chapter 18.41 Architectural Review shall apply.

18.29.110 Encroachments for Driveways

Deleted by Ord. 701, July 1995. (Amended by Ord. 639, Sec. 1, 1991; Ord. 400 Sec. 1--3 (part), 1977; Ord. 294 Sec. 2(a) (part), 1974)