The purpose of the neighborhood commercial district is to provide for the development of small scale, low intensity commercial uses that serve the daily needs of residential neighborhoods in close proximity. The design of neighborhood commercial projects shall be of a scale and design that is compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhoods. In addition, the design of projects should provide for pedestrian access from surrounding neighborhoods.

The types of permitted and conditional uses that are allowed in neighborhood commercial developments would be limited to uses that local residents would require on a daily basis, including small scale grocery stores, barber and beauty shops, clothes cleaning establishments, banks, restaurants and similar compatible uses. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

Uses that are permitted and conditionally permitted are listed in Chapter 17.33. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

No development shall be constructed on any lot or site in this district until a site plan has been submitted and approved consistent with Chapter 17.55 (Site Plan Review) or a conditional use permit for uses listed as such. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

New development in the C-1 zone shall be designed consistent with the Dinuba commercial design guidelines (adopted under separate cover). (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

A.    Site Area, Lot Frontage and Depth. No requirement.

B.    Building Height. The maximum height of commercial structures shall be thirty-five feet/two stories; the maximum height of accessory structures shall be fifteen feet.

C.    Yards.

1.    Front. None required except that parking lots shall be separated by a landscaped setback of at least ten feet from a front property line (and also the side property line for the street side yard on corner lots). Further, buildings on a lot that abut a parcel to the side that is zoned residential shall have a minimum front yard setback of fifteen feet.

2.    Side. No requirement unless the subject property abuts a residential district, where the minimum side yard for buildings shall be five feet and shall be landscaped.

3.    Rear. No requirement unless the subject property abuts a residential district, where the minimum side yard shall be ten feet and shall be landscaped.

Exhibit 25-1: Zoning Standards

(Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

A.    Front, Side and Rear Yards. Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed seven feet in height along any front, side or rear property line.

B.    Where a property zoned C-1 abuts a residential district, a seven-foot solid block masonry wall shall be constructed between the two uses. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

A.    Uses in the C-1 district shall provide off-street parking consistent with Chapter 17.49 (Auto and Bicycle Parking and Loading).

B.    Parking lots constructed in the C-1 district shall be designed and constructed so that within five years of construction, fifty percent of the parking lot is shaded by trees.

C.    Parking lots shall be separated from buildings by raised sidewalks or curbing.

D.    Parking lots shall be designed to accommodate solid waste pick-up. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

All signs shall be consistent with the requirements detailed in Chapter 17.51 (Signs and Advertising). (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

A.    A landscaping and irrigation plan shall be submitted on all neighborhood commercial developments for review and approval consistent with the standards in Chapter 17.47 (Landscaping and Irrigation). All setback areas along streets shall be landscaped.

B.    The landscaping and irrigation plan shall show a tree-planting scheme in parking lots that will result in fifty percent of the parking lot being shaded within five years.

C.    Parking lots shall be screened from adjacent public roadways by low walls and/or hedges.

D.    The landscaping and irrigation plan shall provide for a minimal amount of turf and shall incorporate a variety of xerophytic plants, mulch to reduce water use, and an automated irrigation system that incorporates water conservation technology, including drip irrigation, smart irrigation controllers, and low-flow irrigation heads.

E.    Vines and climbing plants should be used on buildings, trellises and perimeter garden walls in order to soften the appearance of walls and prevent graffiti.

F.    All trash enclosures shall be surrounded by a six-foot solid block wall and the area around the enclosure shall be landscaped. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)

A.    All processes, businesses and services shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed structure, except for off-street parking and off-street loading areas, gasoline sales, outdoor dining areas, nurseries and temporary uses as prescribed in Section 17.45.050.

B.    No products shall be manufactured unless incidental to a permitted use and sold at retail on the same premises.

C.    No use shall be permitted, and no process, equipment or materials shall be used which are found by the city to be objectionable to persons living or working in the vicinity by reasons of odor, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, water-carried waste, noise, vibration, illumination, glare or unsightliness or to involve any hazard of fire or explosion. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)