Bellflower City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
04 GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 17.04.010 Intent and Purpose.
An Official Land Use Zoning Ordinance of the City of Bellflower is hereby adopted and established as in hereafter set forth in this title, in order to encourage the most appropriate use of the land; to conserve and stabilize the value of property; provide adequate open space for light and air, and to prevent and permit adequate control of fires, to prevent undue concentration of the population; to lessen congestion on streets; to facilitate adequate provisions for community facilities and utilities, including transportation, water supply, sewage disposal, schools, parks and other public requirements which promote the public peace, health, safety, morale and general welfare, all in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan for the orderly development of the City and its environs.
(Prior code § 19-1.1)
§ 17.04.020 Title.
This title shall be known as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City of Bellflower," and may be cited as such.
(Prior code § 19-1.2)
§ 17.04.030 Effect of Title Concerning Construction and Alteration of Buildings.
No building shall be erected, no existing building shall be moved, altered or added to, or enlarged, nor shall any land, building or premises be used or designated for any purpose or in any manner other than for a use or purpose as may be permitted in the district in which the building, land or premises is located.
(Prior code § 19-1.3)
§ 17.04.040 Effect of Title Concerning Building Height Limits.
No building shall be erected, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit designated for the district in which the building is located.
(Prior code § 19-1.4)
§ 17.04.050 Effect of Title Concerning Yards Required.
No building shall be erected, nor shall any existing building be altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any open space surrounding any building be encroached upon, or reduced in any manner, except in conformity to the yard, building site area, principal lot frontage and building location regulations designated for the district in which the building or open space is located.
(Prior code § 19-1.5)
§ 17.04.060 Effect of Title Concerning Yards Must be Independent.
No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with provisions of this title shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building, and no yard or other open space on one lot shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for a building on any other lot.
(Prior code § 19-1.6)
§ 17.04.070 Lot Frontage.
The street frontage of a lot shall be not less than 50 feet for any lot created after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title.
(Prior code § 19-1.7)
§ 17.04.080 Effect of Title on Prior Proceedings.
A.
Continuation of Previously Granted Exceptions and Special Use Permits. All exceptions or variances and Special Use Permits or Conditional Use Permits granted pursuant to the provisions of any zoning ordinance of the City shall be deemed to exist hereafter as a variance or Conditional Use Permit and shall be subject to all the conditions and provisions governing such variance or Conditional Use Permit upon the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title.
B.
Procedure Regarding Pending Proceedings. When prior to the effective date of said ordinance and pursuant to any zoning ordinance of the City an action has been taken under any of the following conditions, such action shall be deemed to have been pursuant to the provisions of this title and shall be processed, insofar as possible, in accordance with this title.
C.
Continuation of Existing Nonconforming Uses. No use established or conducted, nor any building or improvement existing or maintained, in violation of any of the former zoning regulations of this City, shall be deemed to have acquired a legal nonconforming status by reason of the adoption of these regulations.
(Prior code § 19-1.8)
§ 17.04.090 Minimum Requirements.
These regulations shall be deemed and construed to be the minimum requirements necessary for the promotion of the public health, safety, interest and welfare, unless the context of a specific regulation clearly provides otherwise.
(Prior code § 19-1.9)
§ 17.04.100 Consistency with State and Federal Law.
§ 17.04.120 Public Projects.
A.
Definition. For purposes of this section, "public project" means a construction or maintenance project developed on City-owned property or in the public right-of-way and designed for public use as approved by the City Council.
B.
Findings. The City Council may exempt a public project from the regulations of Title 17 to this Code, by resolution, upon making the following findings:
1.
That reasonable attempts were made to comply with the regulations contained in this title;
2.
That strict and literal interpretation and enforcement of this title would inhibit the City's ability to maintain public health, safety, and general welfare in a particular instance; and
3.
That granting of the exemption will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, and general welfare or materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity.
(Ord. 1333 § 2, 1/23/17)
§ 17.04.130 Director.
A.
The Director has the authority and responsibility to hear and act upon all matters as specified in this title.
B.
The Director has the authority to interpret the use provisions applicable to each zone district identified in this title. In the event that a specific use or type of use is not listed, the Director has the authority to determine which listed use is most similar to the proposed use and thereby determine whether the use is permitted, permitted subject to conditional use permit review and approval, permitted as a temporary use, or prohibited. In determining "similarity," the Director must make all of the following findings:
1.
The proposed use must meet the intent of, and be consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan;
2.
The proposed use must meet the stated purpose and general intent of the district in which the use is proposed to be located;
3.
The proposed use cannot adversely impact the public health, safety and general welfare of the City's residents; and
4.
The proposed use must share characteristics common with, and not be of greater intensity, density or generate more environmental impact, than those uses listed in the permitted uses section.
C.
Any applicant, interested person, or public official may appeal any decision of the Director to the Planning Commission in accordance with the appeal procedures set forth in this title.
(Ord. 1417 § 6, 8/8/22)
§ 17.04.140 Clarifying Ambiguities.
If ambiguity arises concerning the appropriate classification of a particular use within the meaning and intent of this title, or if ambiguity exists with respect to matters of height, yard requirements, area requirements, or zone boundaries, it is the Director's duty to ascertain all pertinent facts, and to set forth in writing the findings and the interpretations. The Director can refer the matter to the Planning Commission as a scheduled matter not requiring public hearing, and the findings and interpretations of the Planning Commission will be set forth in the recorded minutes. Thereafter, such interpretations will govern.
(Ord. 1417 § 7, 8/8/22)