Cerritos City Zoning Code

An area development plan is a part of the development plan of the city and is a specific plan as referred to in the state planning and zoning law. It applies to a geographic area defined by boundaries specified in each such plan. The area within an area development plan boundary may be referred to as a “development area.” The area development plan is intended to indicate the environmental character, functional relationships, patterns, arrangement and intensities of land use, circulation, building and open space to be achieved within the area. It is a means for coordinating, balancing, and regulating the development of property within the area consistent with the objectives of the general plan and this code.

It is found and declared that each area of the city is in some degree different and unique in comparison with other areas of the city due to differences in location, accessibility, natural characteristics of the land, patterns of the land ownership, age, and condition of improvements, characteristics and desires of occupants and other factors. In order to guide and control development within each such area to achieve a uniformly high quality of environment and design, it may be necessary that somewhat differing sets of regulations be applied to each area, provided that all such regulations are consistent with the overall plan, principles, and policies established under the code for the development for the city.

An area development plan shall:

Each area development plan must encompass an identifiable, functionally inter-related geographic area such as a residential neighborhood, a commercial center, an industrial district, or some combination thereof. A definite boundary shall be shown or described, within which the provisions of the plan shall apply, although the plan documents may show or provide information concerning land outside the area boundary for reference purposes only.

An area development plan may include maps, plans, diagrams, models, and text, which shall describe the location of the development area, the objectives of the area development plan, and the categories of land use within the development area, and specify for each parcel of land: permitted uses, conditions of land use, intensities of use, site development standards including regulations limiting the location and height of buildings and other improvements, amount of open space, and such other measures as may be required to ensure the execution of the general plan. The regulations of the land use zones, regulations applying to particular types of land use, and standards contained in other sections of this code, or elsewhere may be incorporated into an area development plan, with or without modification, by reference within the area development plan documents.

The area map includes, but is not limited to, display of the boundaries of a development area, the location of any required streets, walkways, bike trails, landscaped areas, buffer zones, setbacks, and, for each parcel within the development area, the permitted categories of land use.

In connection with area development plans, graphic material referred to as “illustrative plans” may be prepared in order to clarify the intent of the area development plan or to demonstrate possible developments within the requirements of the area development plan. Documents labeled as “illustrative” are not to be construed as imposing specific requirements.

In the event that the regulations or requirements of an area development plan are in conflict with other applicable provisions of this code, the area development plan shall govern.

In the event that more than one area development plan has been adopted affecting a particular land area, the most recently adopted plan shall govern.