In addition to the objectives prescribed in Section 18.02.030, the public use districts are established by this chapter to achieve the following purposes:

(1)

To provide sites for necessary public facilities and public service installations in accord with the general plan;

(2)

To prescribe a procedure for the establishment of public facilities and public service installations, for expansion of their operations, or for change in use, in accord with the general plan.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The regulations listed in Sections 18.16.005 through 18.16.060 are common to all public facilities zones established by this chapter and shall apply to all such districts.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

All uses and structures that are existing as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title are declared to be conforming uses and structures, and are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following standards shall be met for all uses:

(1)

Open storage of materials and equipment shall be permitted only within an area surrounded by a solid fence, landscaped masonry wall or compact evergreen hedge not less than six feet in height; provided, that neither the area nor the fence, wall or hedge shall be located in any required front, side or rear yard, and; provided further, that no materials or equipment shall be stored to a height greater than six feet.

(2)

No use shall be permitted and no process, equipment or materials shall be employed which are found by the planning commission to be objectionable to persons living or working in the vicinity or injurious to property in the vicinity by reason of odor, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, water-carried wastes, noise, vibration, illumination, glare, unsightliness or nuisance of any kind, or to involve any hazard of fire or explosion.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

No sign, outdoor advertising structure, or display of any kind shall be permitted except as prescribed in Chapter 18.22, Signs.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The area and frontage of the site of a conditional use shall be sufficient and appropriate for the intended use, and shall be specified as a condition of design review approval.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The minimum front, side and rear yards shall be at least equivalent to those required in any residential district or professional and administrative office district that adjoins the public facilities district or is located across a street or alley from the district. Where the site adjoins or is located opposite more than one zoning district, the most stringent yard requirements prescribed in any of the districts shall govern.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

No structure shall exceed thirty feet in height, as defined in Section 18.24.060.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

Landscaping requirements shall feature water-conserving landscape designs, and be at least equivalent to those prescribed in any zoning district that adjoins the public facilities district or is located across a street or alley from the district. Where the site adjoins or is located opposite more than one zoning district, the most stringent requirements prescribed in any of the districts shall prevail.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

Off-street parking facilities and off-street loading facilities shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Chapter 18.20, Off-Street Parking and Loading.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

Design review approval is prescribed for applicable projects in accordance with Chapter 18.30, Section 18. Amendment to the Corte Madera Municipal Code.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 1038, § 17, 7-16-2024)

All uses shall be subject to the general provisions and exceptions prescribed in Chapter 18.24, General Provisions and Exceptions.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The flood control and drainage facilities district established by this chapter shall apply to all public facilities and public service installations used primarily for the purpose of controlling flooding and surface runoff, and for other drainage purposes.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following conditional uses shall be permitted upon the granting of a use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses.

(1)

Drainageways, holding ponds, storm drains, pump stations, flood gates, and ancillary facilities when necessary for the public health, safety or welfare;

(2)

Incidental and accessory structures and uses located on the same site with, and necessary for, the operation of a conditional use;

(3)

Any other conditional use which is added by the town council in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.36, Administration.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The parks, open space and natural habitat district shall apply to all public facilities and public service installations used primarily for open space; for publicly or privately owned areas used for the preservation or restoration of a natural habitat; or for public parks, playgrounds and other types of public recreation facilities.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following uses shall be permitted:

(1)

Any open space or natural habitat area dedicated to the town or to any other public agency;

(2)

Any area used for the restoration of habitat values and conveyed to a conservation entity acceptable to the town council;

(3)

Any open space area conveyed to trustees by means of an indenture establishing an association of property owners or similar organization, subject to covenants running with the land which restrict the open space to the uses specified by an approved development plan, which provide for the maintenance of the open space in a manner that assures its continuing use for its intended purpose, and which provide the legal means to enforce these provisions.

(4)

Keeping of chickens (excluding roosters, quacking ducks, guinea fowl or pea fowl) in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.21.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 931, § 18, 3-20-2012)

The following conditional uses shall be permitted upon the granting of a use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses:

(1)

Construction on wetland only after a finding by the planning commission that the project is necessary for public safety;

(2)

Nature interpretive centers scaled to a size appropriate to the site's sensitivity;

(3)

Public parks, playgrounds and other types of public facilities;

(4)

Parking lots accessory to permitted or conditional uses and improved in conformity with the standards prescribed for off-street parking facilities in Chapter 18.20, Off-Street Parking and Loading;

(5)

Any grading, landscaping or other alteration of the natural state;

(6)

Incidental and accessory structures and uses located on the same site with, and necessary for, the operation of a permitted or conditional use;

(7)

Keeping of chickens (excluding roosters, quacking ducks, guinea fowl or pea fowl) and/or honey bees (apis Mellifera) in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.21.

(8)

Any other conditional use which is added by the town council in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.36, Administration.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 931, §§ 19, 20, 3-20-2012)

For areas designated as wetlands, unique marshland, related habitat and habitat restoration area on the general plan, a buffer of at least one hundred feet in width shall be required between any such areas and adjacent uses.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The public and semipublic facilities district shall apply to all public and semipublic facilities and public service installations not included in the flood control and drainage facilities and parks, open space and natural habitat districts.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following uses shall be permitted:

(1)

Any open space area dedicated to the town or to any other public agency.

(2)

Any open space area conveyed to trustees or other persons by means of an indenture establishing an association of property owners or similar organization, subject to covenants running with the land which restrict the open space to the uses specified by an approved development plan, which provide for the maintenance of the open space in a manner that assures its continuing use for its intended purpose, and which provide the legal means to enforce these provisions.

(3)

Keeping of chickens (excluding roosters, quacking ducks, guinea fowl or pea fowl) in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.21.

(4)

Emergency shelters operating in conformity with the standards prescribed in Section 18.31B.020, Emergency shelters.

(Ord. No. 931, § 21, 3-20-2012; Ord. No. 946, § 5, 1-20-2015; Ord. No. 1034, § 8, 6-4-2024)

The following conditional uses shall be permitted upon the granting of a use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses:

(1)

Public parks, playgrounds and other types of public recreation facilities;

(2)

Public schools, colleges, universities and facilities incidental thereto;

(3)

Private schools, public or private day care centers, places of religious assembly, eleemosynary institutions and facilities incidental thereto;

(4)

All facilities, including buildings and grounds, owned, leased or operated by the town, county, state, the United States government, or a school district, library district, water district, sanitary district or any other public service district;

(5)

Parking lots accessory to public uses and improved in conformity with the standards prescribed for off-street parking facilities in Chapter 18.20, Off-Street Parking and Loading;

(6)

Concessionaire commercial establishments ancillary to a permitted use;

(7)

Public utility structures or installations when necessary for the public health, safety or welfare, including drainageways, storm drains, sanitary sewers, electric, telephone and gas transmission facilities, and ancillary facilities;

(8)

Incidental and accessory structures and uses located on the same site with, and necessary for, the operation of a permitted or conditional use;

(9)

Speculative grading and certain structures as defined in Section 18.24.100;

(10)

Keeping of chickens (excluding roosters, quacking ducks, guinea fowl or pea fowl) and/or honey bees (apis Mellifera) in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.21.

(11)

Any other conditional use which is added by the town council in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.36, Administration.

(Ord. 898 § 8, 2007; Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 931, §§ 22, 23, 3-20-2012)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1034, § 9, adopted June 4, 2024, repealed § 18.16.320, which pertained to emergency shelters operational standards and derived from Ord. No. 946, § 6, adopted Jan. 20, 2015.

The waterbodies/waterways district shall apply to the areas of San Francisco Bay, Corte Madera Creek and San Clemente Creek.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following uses shall be permitted:

Water-borne recreational uses.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following uses shall be permitted upon the granting of a use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses:

(1)

Uses which relate to or enhance the habitat of waterbodies or waterways;

(2)

Uses which relate to public safety;

(3)

Any other conditional use which is added by the town council in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.36, Administration.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)