Cerritos City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 22
24 C-O-P – COMMERCIAL OFFICE PROFESSIONAL ZONE
§ 22.24.100 Purpose.
The C-O-P zone is intended to provide for the use of designated properties for the use of professional office types of businesses and institutions and serving primarily residents of the city, including those uses related to medical, professional, financial, administrative, religious, educational and interrelated uses. It is further intended that these activities and employment opportunities are necessary and desirable community services in the city. This zone is intended to prohibit most commercial land uses which may be permitted in other commercial zones of the city, to protect adjacent residential areas and guarantee that these properties shall be developed in a compatible manner.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974; Ord. 522 § 1, 1976)
§ 22.24.200 Location.
The following criteria shall be considered in establishing and maintaining the C-O-P zone:
(1)
Need based on population of service area;
(2)
Convenient and efficient vehicular access from major or arterial streets;
(3)
Availability of land suitable for grouping of professional activities into subcenters without detrimentally affecting adjacent residential properties;
(4)
Availability of parcels whose general commercial use is inappropriate and whose residential use is unfeasible.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974)
§ 22.24.300 Permitted uses.
The following uses may be permitted in the C-O-P zone subject to the approval of a precise plan that demonstrates architectural compatibility with the surrounding residential neighborhood:
(1)
Financial. Accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, real estate, tax consultation, collection agencies, credit services, insurance and investment, security and commodity brokers, dealers and exchanges;
(2)
General Offices. Data processing services, photographic services, research services, telephone answering services, travel services and administrative offices;
(3)
Medical and Dental. Offices, labs, clinics and pharmacies;
(4)
Professional. Architectural, engineering, planning, business and management consulting services;
(5)
Public Service. Detective and protective services, employment services and public utility offices;
(6)
Comparable uses as determined according to the provisions of Section 22.20.100.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974)
§ 22.24.400 Conditional uses.
The following uses may be permitted in the C-O-P zone if it is found in each case that the indicated criteria and limitations are satisfied and if specific conditions are imposed to carry out the purpose and intent of this code:
(1)
Restaurants (not including drive-ins or carryouts).
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
Facility can be designed to preclude vehicular and pedestrian ingress and egress conflict with surrounding residential uses;
(ii)
Facility can be located or designed to eliminate noise and odors;
(iii)
Proposed architecture and site location enhance and are compatible with the appearance and character of the neighboring residential properties.
(2)
Schools: Business, music, dance, art, vocational, group tutorial schools and test preparation classes.
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
Site is large enough to accommodate the proposed use without undue disruptive vehicular or pedestrian traffic;
(ii)
Use shall not be disruptive to other uses on the same site;
(iii)
Use is housed by a structure appropriately soundproofed or modified to insure compatibility with the neighborhood with respect to noise and electrical disturbances.
(3)
Traffic schools, driver education schools or similar adult schools.
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
Weekday classes shall only be permitted between the hours of six p.m. and nine-thirty p.m., Monday through Friday and Saturdays from eight a.m. to five p.m. Classes shall be prohibited on Sundays and holidays;
(ii)
The site must contain at least thirty parking spaces;
(iii)
The number of classes conducted in the facility must be limited to a maximum of one class at a time;
(iv)
The maximum number of students in one class shall not be more than twenty with no more than three instructors and/or employees;
(v)
Classes shall not create any negative impact on existing parking facilities that may create hardship for other tenants located in the same shopping center;
(vi)
Schools shall not occupy more than fifteen percent of the floor area of all buildings on the site.
(4)
Churches, temples and other places for religious services and related activities not including rescue missions or temporary revival activities.
(a)
Criteria:
(i)
Location on periphery of a residential neighborhood at a street intersection rather than an interior location surrounded by residential uses;
(ii)
Pedestrian access from adjacent residential areas;
(iii)
Vehicular access from an arterial street;
(iv)
Proposed architecture and site location enhance and are compatible with the appearance, character and use of surrounding properties;
(v)
Use is housed by a structure appropriately soundproofed or modified to ensure compatibility with the neighborhood with respect to noise and electrical disturbances.
(b)
Limitations:
(i)
The building and parking facilities must be designed for religious services and the use or conversion of a commercial and/or office building for religious services shall be prohibited.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974; Ord. 522 § 2, 1976; Ord. 737 § 14, 1994; Ord. 849 §§ 1, 2, 3, 2002)
§ 22.24.450 Temporary uses.
Refer to Section 22.20.450.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974)
§ 22.24.500 Prohibited uses.
The following uses are prohibited in the C-O-P zone:
(1)
Any wholesale use or any retail use other than ancillary uses to one of the permitted uses;
(2)
Barber and beauty shops;
(3)
Clothes cleaning, pressing and tailoring shops;
(4)
Laundromats;
(5)
Motels and hotels;
(6)
Shoe repair shops;
(7)
Theaters;
(8)
Liquor stores;
(9)
Stationery stores;
(10)
Supermarkets;
(11)
Variety stores;
(12)
Comparable uses as determined according to the provisions of Section 22.20.100;
(13)
Fortunetelling;
(14)
Automobile sales, leasing and rental;
(15)
Public and private auctions and auction-related events and activities.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974; Ord. 645 § 6 (part), 1986; Ord. 737 § 15, 1994; Ord. 827 § 1, 2001)
§ 22.24.600 Intensity standards.
On any parcel of land or unit of development the following intensity standards shall apply:
(1)
Building Coverage. The percentage of building coverage to parcel area shall be no greater than fifty percent.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974)
§ 22.24.700 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 C-O-P zone:
(1)
Street Setback. There shall be a minimum front yard setback of twenty-five feet across the full street frontage on the side and the majority of the required front yard shall be landscaped. For legal corner parcels that measure no greater than 0.60 of an acre in area and have at least two street frontages as of January 1, 2005, the building setback may be reduced to twenty feet from the adjacent property line along the street frontage and the entire required setback area shall be landscaped.
(2)
Side and Rear Yard Setbacks. Side and rear yard setbacks of at least twenty-four feet shall be required abutting a residential area. Abutting a nonresidential parcel, there shall be a setback of at least twelve feet, except that a building may be constructed on a property line; provided, that the buildings on both sides of the property line are either abutting or are separated by at least twenty-four feet, and that a plan for development is approved by the city council so as to enhance the design of the development. The approving authority may reduce the required setback along a property line separating adjacent parcels in separate ownership if such parcels are included within a unified precise plan of development and have the same land use designation.
(3)
Building Height. The maximum building height shall be based upon the following provisions:
(a)
Adjacent to a Residential Zone. The maximum building height to be constructed on a property shall be one story; provided, that a building or structure shall not exceed a height equal to the least horizontal distance between the building and a property line of adjacent residential property. However, the maximum building height may be increased to be two stories or twenty-eight feet, whichever is less; provided, that:
(i)
The building or structure shall not exceed a height equal to the least horizontal distance between the building and a property line adjacent to a residential area; and
(ii)
The following criteria are met:
No building shall provide vision into adjacent residential yards or buildings. Stationary windows and decorative louvers shall be required, if necessary, to confine the view of those windows which in any way could provide vision into adjacent residential yards and buildings;
The building is architecturally compatible with the design, development and theme of the adjacent residential area.
(b)
Adjacent to Only Nonresidential Zones. The maximum height of a building constructed on property adjacent to only nonresidential zones shall be equal to the maximum height permitted in the most restrictive adjacent zones.
(c)
Isolated by Streets, Roads and Railroad or Other Rights-of-Way. A maximum of four stories or fifty feet whichever is less, when the following criteria are met:
(i)
The proposed development is separated from other properties by a minimum street right-of-way width of at least eighty feet;
(ii)
A minimum fifty foot setback from all property lines of structures of more than one story except where it may abut a freeway or freeway off-ramp in which case the setback may be reduced to twenty-four feet;
(iii)
Stationary windows and decorative louvers may be required to confine view from the structure to nearby residential properties;
(iv)
When the above criteria cannot be met, a maximum building height of two stories or thirty-five feet whichever is less; provided, that the building or structure shall not exceed a height equal to the least horizontal distance between the building and a property line.
(4)
Storage. Except in instances where specifically permitted and controlled under the provisions of this code, open storage of equipment and materials is prohibited.
(5)
Landscaping. At least fifteen percent of the area not covered by buildings shall be landscaped. The landscaping of parking areas as required in Section 22.74.400 shall not be included as a part of the required fifteen percent landscaping.
(6)
Signs. The provisions of Chapter 22.48 shall apply in the C-O-P zone.
(7)
Parking. The parking standards established under Chapter 22.74 shall apply in the C-O-P zone.
(8)
Architecture. Site and building design shall be in harmony with the residential character of the city. Architectural considerations in reviewing precise plans within this zone shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a)
Exterior walls shall consist of heavy textured stucco, slump-stone, or wood siding.
(b)
The exterior color and materials of all buildings and block walls shall be in harmony with adjacent developments.
(c)
Mechanical Equipment.
(i)
All mechanical equipment and ductwork shall be within the structure or depressed within the material roof line. No equipment or ductwork shall be allowed on the roof of any structure within view from any street, freeway or adjacent building.
(ii)
Other equipment such as gutters, downspouts, vents and louvers shall be painted and/or cased consistent with the color, design and scheme of the building.
(d)
Windows and Doors.
(i)
Dark nonreflecting glass shall be required for all exterior windows and door surfaces.
(ii)
Mirrored or reflecting surfaces shall be minimized.
(e)
Roof materials shall consist of wood shake or Spanish tile.
(9)
Access for the Physically Handicapped. Access must be provided for the physically handicapped to floors other than that closest to grade in office buildings by means of an elevator. Access to office uses on floors other than that closest to grade may be by stairs; provided, that the offices are less than one thousand square feet in total area per floor or that the office uses are incidental to and operated in conjunction with another use (i.e., warehousing, manufacturing, retail sales) within the same building except when the only available toilet facilities are on other levels.
(10)
Alarm Systems and Additional Security Devices. Commercial, office, and industrial buildings shall be required to be installed with periphery alarm system wiring approved by the director of community development. In those instances where the proposed use of the property may require additional security devices, then the director of community development may require, in addition to the periphery system wiring, the installation of an approved alarm system device.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974; Ord. 517 § 7, 1976; Ord. 542 § 2, 1977; Ord. 545 § 2, 1977; Ord. 890 § 1, 2005; Ord. 912 § 27, 2006)
§ 22.24.800 Environmental performance standards.
The environmental performance standards established under Chapter 22.80 shall apply in the C-O-P zone.
(Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1974)
