Angels Camp City Zoning Code

The city council finds and declares that the area described in this section is one of great historical interest and aesthetic value. Within said district are many places and buildings which are important historical exhibits and unique architectural specimens. Said places and buildings are symbolic of the city’s historical past as a mining town during the days of the California gold rush and thereafter.

The historic character and distinctive architecture of such places and buildings, and of the historic district as a whole, have attracted tourists and visitors to the city in great numbers, thereby augmenting the economy and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants. The preservation of such places and buildings and of the architectural appearance of the surrounding properties within the district is essential to the economic and cultural life of the city.

To permit a departure from the established type of architecture in the construction of new buildings, in the alteration of existing buildings within the district, and to permit the uncontrolled use of advertising signs therein, would be detrimental to the historical places and buildings, and would tend to depreciate the values of all properties within the district. In order to promote the public health, safety, and the general welfare, it is necessary, pursuant to Section 37361 of the California Government Code, to provide for such places and buildings having a special historical or aesthetic interest or value, special conditions and regulations of their protection, enhancement and perpetuation, and to provide appropriate and reasonable control of the appearance of neighboring property within public view.

The historical commercial (HC) district is intended for the historical buildings of the city. The district is intended to provide a range of commercial facilities, servicing not only the city, but surrounding unincorporated areas and the passing tourist traffic. Typical uses in this district include: restaurants, hotels, specialty shops, bed and breakfast inns, and theaters. The district will also maintain the character and integrity of the city’s designated historic district and provide live-work opportunities by allowing upper level residential uses above commercial establishments.

The historical downtown makes up the HC district. The historical downtown has the following boundaries:

An established conforming use in the HC district may be allowed to continue or may be changed to another conforming use pursuant to this chapter; provided, that a zoning certificate shall be approved by the planning director using the following criteria:

In the HC district, the following uses are subject to the site plan review:

In the HC district, the following uses are subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit:

The following are uses permitted for a period not to exceed eighteen months or the duration of the permit, whichever is shorter:

Site development standards in the HC district are as follows:

No building of special historical interest or value, or of the Mother Lode type of architecture, situated within the historical district and fronting upon any of the streets or alleys within or bounding said district, shall be torn down, demolished or removed, unless such building is or will become so damaged or dilapidated, whether from damage by fire or other elements or from natural deterioration, that it is unusable and cannot reasonably be repaired or restored.

All buildings or structures which may hereafter be constructed or altered as to their exterior appearance, situated within the historical commercial district and fronting upon the streets or alleys within or bounding said district, shall as to their exterior appearance within public view substantially conform with the Mother Lode architectural style. A determination of conformity with the Mother Lode architectural style, as defined in Chapter 17.09, shall be made by the planning commission unless otherwise specified.

Construction of new buildings or structures in the historical commercial district shall require planning commission approval. Alterations to building exteriors or structures in the historical commercial district that do not replace like materials and design with like materials and design shall require planning commission approval. Alterations to building exteriors or structures in the historical commercial district that replace like materials and design with like materials and design may be approved administratively by the city planner. Where a question exists as to the extent of the exterior alteration to a building or structure or where an alternative but similar material or design is proposed, the city planner may, at his or her discretion, refer the matter to the planning commission.

The Mother Lode architectural style generally involves the use of wood, stone and brick as primary materials, and is characterized by such design features, among others, as gabled or shed roofs, tall and narrow windows and doors, dormer windows, iron or wooden shutters, balconies, wooden or canvas-like awnings and ornamental scroll work. The determination of whether a building conforms with the Mother Lode architectural style shall include all factors which affect the external appearance of the building, including, without limitation, architectural elevations, building materials, colors, finish, lighting, ornamental devices and signs as described in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standard for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings manual with corresponding color charts.

Planning commission approvals required pursuant to this section shall require public noticing and a public hearing. The preceding does not pertain to signs in the historical commercial district which are addressed in Section 17.26.090.

No signs shall be placed, erected, altered or relocated on any property within the historical district unless such sign shall as to its exterior appearance be compatible with the Mother Lode architectural style, and unless it complies with all of the following requirements and is approved by the planning commission without the necessity for public noticing or a public hearing unless such signs otherwise require a variance or conditional use permit in which case public noticing and a public hearing shall be required:

In the event that a new building has multiple tenants, a master sign plan shall be required prior to the occupancy of the building and approved by the planning commission. Property owners with existing buildings with multiple tenants may submit a master sign plan for their building and be approved by the planning commission. The planning commission may require a building with more than one tenant to submit a master sign plan.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following signs:

Any lawful sign existing at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter may be continued although such sign does not comply with the provisions of this chapter, subject to the following conditions and requirements:

Application of permits of this chapter shall be in writing and shall be filed with the city planning department. Applications shall, in such forms, contain or be accompanied by such information or materials as the planning department may require.

Upon filing of an application for a permit under the California Building Codes, California Residential Building Codes, California Green Codes, et al., pertaining to any matter for which a permit is also required by this chapter, the building inspector shall immediately give written notice of such filing to the planning director, and no permit shall be issued by the building inspector unless the permit required by this chapter has been issued.

All permits under this chapter shall expire one year after the date they are issued, unless the matter for which the permit is issued is substantially undertaken before such time period elapses and is diligently pursued thereafter.

It is unlawful for any persons to proceed under any permit in a manner which constitutes a material variance for the terms of the permit or the representations on which it was issued, and in the event of such violation, the permit may be cancelled forthwith by action of the city council.

The regulations contained in this chapter are additional to those set forth in this title as amended, and other ordinances; provided, however, that in the event of any conflict, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.

Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction.