Cerritos City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 22
21 A – AGRICULTURAL ZONE
§ 22.21.100 Purpose.
The A zone is intended to provide for the continuation of limited agricultural activities at suitable locations within the city in order to preserve open space and maintain a link with the city’s heritage. The A zone shall provide for reasonable regulation of agricultural activities to provide compatibility with developing urban land uses and protect neighboring land uses from adverse effects.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.200 Location.
The following criteria shall be considered in establishing and maintaining the A zone:
(1)
A proposed new agricultural use or continuation of an existing agricultural use is compatible with surrounding land uses;
(2)
Land parcels large enough for productive agricultural use and large enough to permit activities which might otherwise cause a nuisance to be conducted at a reasonable distance from other land uses.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.300 Permitted uses – Five acre site.
Premises in the A zone with a net area of five acres or more may be used for the uses permitted under Section 22.21.320 and the following agricultural uses provided that: (a) Any building or structure in connection therewith, with the exception of one single family dwelling, shall not be located nearer than fifty feet from the property line of any residential area, school, public park, playground, street, or highway; (b) That no animal, other than domestic pets, shall be penned or corralled within thirty-five feet of any dwelling unit or food establishment; and (c) That no new main building shall be permitted except by conditional use permit pursuant to Section 22.21.400 (1).
(1)
Dairies;
(2)
Raising of cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, rabbits, or fish;
(3)
All uses permitted on a two acre site in the A zone;
(4)
Comparable uses as determined according to the provisions of Section 22.20.100.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.320 Permitted uses – Two acre site.
Premises in the A zone with a net area of two acres or more may be used for the following uses subject to the provisions of Section 22.21.300 (a) through (c):
(1)
Greenhouses;
(2)
Aviaries;
(3)
Chinchilla farms;
(4)
Growing of field, tree, bush, berry, and row crops;
(5)
Plant nurseries;
(6)
Parks and playgrounds;
(7)
Public service and community facilities;
(8)
No more than one single-family dwelling;
(9)
Comparable uses as determined according to the provisions of Section 22.20.100.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.350 Permitted accessory uses.
Premises in the A zone may be used for the following accessory uses:
(1)
Residential Accessory Uses. Refer to “regulations pertaining to specific uses,” Section 22.40.210;
(2)
Home Occupations. Refer to “regulations pertaining to specific uses,” Section 22.40.240.
(Ord. 358 § 1, 1972; Ord. 517 § 6, 1976; Ord. 770 § 3(c) (part), 1996)
§ 22.21.400 Conditional uses.
The following uses may be permitted in the A zone if it is found in each case that:
(A)
The indicated criteria and limitations are satisfied;
(B)
The criteria in Section 23.10.210 are satisfied; and
(C)
Specific conditions are imposed to carry out the purposes of this code:
(1)
Any new main buildings or any substantial addition to an existing main building to be occupied by a permitted use.
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
New construction should be located and designed in a manner that can be integrated into future urban development or provision made for removal of such structure when urban development occurs,
(2)
Stables, riding academies and boarding of horses.
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
Adequate size site to provide buffering for any adjacent residential or commercial areas,
(ii)
Access to an equestrian trail,
(b)
Limitations:
(i)
No horse shall be stabled or corralled less than thirty-five feet from a residential building,
(ii)
There shall be no less than five hundred square feet of usable area per horse and there shall be adequate stall size and amenities for the care of horses,
(iii)
Adequate provision shall be made for drainage, fly control, fire prevention, emergency exit, parking, public toilet facilities, and other measures and facilities that assure the health and safety of both the horses and public,
(3)
Noncommercial horse keeping.
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
Adequate size site to provide buffering for any adjacent residential or commercial areas,
(ii)
Access to an equestrian trail,
(b)
Limitations:
(i)
No horse shall be stabled or corralled less than thirty-five feet from a residential building,
(ii)
There shall be no less than one thousand square feet of usable area per horse and there shall be adequate stall area and amenities for the care of horses,
(iii)
Adequate provision is made for drainage, fly control, fire prevention, emergency exit, and other measures and facilities that assure the health and safety of residences and horses,
(4)
Dog kennels, dog breeding establishments, and dog training schools.
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
Location sufficiently removed from a residential area to assure that the facility will not cause a nuisance due to odor or noise,
(b)
Limitations:
(i)
Provision is made for outdoor exercise of dogs, adequate cage area, and amenities for the care of dogs,
(ii)
Adequate provision is made for security fencing, drainage, fly control, fire prevention, emergency exit, and other measures that assure the health and safety of the dogs and public,
(5)
Comparable uses as determined according to the provisions of Section 22.20.100 with appropriate criteria and limitations as determined by the planning commission subject to appeal to the city council.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.450 Temporary uses.
Refer to Section 22.20.450.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.500 Prohibited uses.
The following uses are prohibited in the A zone:
(1)
The raising of piglets and/or hogs;
(2)
Other uses which the planning commission, subject to appeal to the city council, finds incompatible, harmful, undesirable, or which negatively effect the environment of the area.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.600 Intensity standards.
On any parcel of land the following intensity standards shall apply:
(1)
Dwelling units: There shall be no more than one dwelling unit;
(2)
Building coverage: The percentage of building coverage to parcel area shall be no greater than twenty percent.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
§ 22.21.700 Site development standards.
In addition to the development standards established by and under Chapters 22.70 to 22.79 of this code, the following standards shall apply to property in the A zone:
(1)
Street frontage: Street frontage shall be no less than sixty feet;
(2)
Building setbacks: Building setbacks shall be the same as in the RS-6500 zone, except that the requirements of this chapter shall prevail in any instance of conflicting requirements;
(3)
Average parcel width: The average parcel width shall be one hundred fifty feet;
(4)
Parcel area: Parcel area shall be no less than two acres or as required by the provisions of Sections 22.21.300 and 22.21.320, whichever is greater;
(5)
Building Height: Building height shall be no greater than the least horizontal distance between the building or structure to any property line;
(6)
Storage: All service vehicles, equipment, crates, bottles, and similar items shall be within an enclosable structure;
(7)
Fencing: All areas containing animals shall be securely fenced. Special fencing may be required for any new or continued agricultural use in order to maintain the security of the agricultural uses and assure the protection of adjacent uses from unsightly, noisy, hazardous, odorous, or dusty conditions;
(8)
Parking: There shall be two conveniently located parking spaces for each dwelling unit and an adequately sized parking space for each vehicle used in connection with the activity including spaces for peak season employee parking. The parking spaces and loading areas shall not encroach within a required setback;
(9)
Maintenance: All premises in the A zone shall be maintained in a safe, healthy, clean, and nonoffensive manner and in no instance shall any premises be maintained in such a manner as to cause a nuisance to an adjoining property because of odor, flies, noise, dust, or unsightly conditions;
(10)
Removal of abandoned structures and improvements: All structures and improvements designed, intended or used for agricultural purposes shall, within one year of the time that they cease to be used for such purposes, be either removed from the premises or converted to a permitted use in full compliance with this code. Land formerly used for agricultural purposes shall, within one year of the time it ceases to be used for such purposes, be cleared of all manure and debris;
(11)
Signs: Refer to Chapter 28.48.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972; Ord. 517 § 7, 1976)
§ 22.21.800 Environmental performance standards.
The environmental performance standards established under Chapter 22.80 shall apply in the A zone.
(Ord. 358 § 1 (part), 1972)
