This Chapter lists the land uses that may be allowed within the commercial zoning districts, determines the type of planning permit/approval required for each use, and provides basic standards for site layout and building size.

The purposes of the individual Commercial Zoning Districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows.

A.

C-N (Neighborhood Commercial) district. The C-N zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for convenience and commercial activities that are located in the vicinity of residential neighborhoods and are oriented to primarily serving them. The C-N zoning district is consistent with and implements the Neighborhood Commercial land use designation of the General Plan.

B.

C-O (Office Commercial) district. The C-O zoning district is applied to areas appropriate primarily for office uses, and limited supporting commercial uses. The C-O zoning district is consistent with and implements the Office Commercial land use designation of the General Plan.

C.

C-1 (Downtown Commercial) district. The C-1 zoning district is applied to the central commercial core and includes a full range of retail services and professional and governmental offices. The C-1 zoning district is consistent with and implements the Retail Business land use designation of the General Plan.

D.

C-2 (General Commercial) district. The C-2 zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for a mixture of commercial and light industrial activities. The C-2 zoning district is consistent with the General and Service Commercial land use designation of the General Plan.

E.

C-H (Highway Commercial) district. The C-H zoning district is applied to areas of high automobile access and is designed to accommodate auto-oriented commerce and the needs of highway travelers. The C-H zoning district is consistent with and implements the Highway Commercial land use designation of the General Plan.

Table 2-4 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Zoning and Subdivision Code in the Commercial Zoning Districts, and the planning permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 4-20-030 (Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements).

Note: Where the last column in the table ("Specific Use Regulations") includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use. Provisions in other sections of this Zoning and Subdivision Code may also apply.

Notes:

(1)

See Article 9 for land use definitions.

(2)

Architectural Review may also be required; see Section 4-52-020.

Notes:

(1)

See Article 9 for land use definitions.

(2)

Architectural Review may also be required; see Section 4-52-020.

Notes:

(1)

See Article 9 for land use definitions.

(2)

Architectural Review may also be required; see Section 4-52-020.

(3)

Use Permit required when site abuts a residential zone.

(4)

Use not allowed on a site abutting a residential zone.

Notes:

(1)

See Article 9 for land use definitions.

(2)

Architectural Review may also be required; see Section 4-52-020.

(Ord. No. 511, § 6, 10-19-21; Ord. No. 513, § 1, 3-15-22; Ord. No. 525, § 2(Att. A), 2-18-25)

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Tables 2-5 and 2-6, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 of this Zoning and Subdivision Code.

TABLE 2-5 - C-N, C-O, AND C-1 DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

TABLE 2-6 - C-2 AND C-H DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

A.

Applicability. The requirements of this Section apply to proposed development within the CD zoning district. Each new non-residential structure, and all alterations to existing structures involving any change in the facade at the street frontage, shall comply with the following standards. The review authority may approve minor variations to these standards as deemed appropriate, provided that the review authority also first finds that the minor variation will still produce a new or altered building that complies with the intent of this Section.

B.

Limitation on the location of allowable land uses. Each land use shall be located as follows.

1.

The ground floor of each non-residential structure shall be limited to pedestrian-oriented uses. These may include walk-in uses such as restaurants, retail stores, health/fitness facilities, personal services, community service organizations, and similar uses. The review authority may modify this requirement when existing structures are reused for different tenants or uses, or when this requirement is determined by the review authority to be infeasible because of excessive storefront vacancies.

2.

Ground floor, street fronting business/service offices may be approved if the review authority first determines that the use will not impair the pedestrian character of the street, provided that:

a.

Parcels on the block occupied by office uses that are not pedestrian oriented constitute less than 50 percent of the block frontage;

b.

The remainder of the block is characterized primarily by retail and/or restaurant uses; and

c.

The facade design of the structure that accommodates the office contributes to the visual interest of the street and conspicuously expresses the nature of the use.

C.

Building placement. A non-residential building facade parallel to the street shall be located at the back of the public sidewalk, except that:

1.

The facade may be set back a maximum of six feet to accommodate a wider public sidewalk; and

2.

A setback of 16 feet from the street property line may be allowed for 50 percent of the facade length to accommodate plazas, landscape, public art, water fountains, benches, outdoor dining, and other pedestrian amenities.

D.

Architectural treatment. Building design shall comply with the following requirements.

1.

Building wall articulation. To encourage visual continuity and pedestrian activity, at least 60 percent of the total street frontage ground floor length of any new or reconstructed building shall be differentiated architecturally by recessed windows and entries, display windows, offset surfaces, differentiated piers and columns, offset planes, textured materials, awnings, or other details, or other displays of interest to pedestrians.

2.

Parapets. Any parapet extension of a storefront on a street-fronting facade shall be incorporated and integrated into the design of the entire building on all facades and frontages, and shall not be limited to street front facades.

3.

Windows. Downtown buildings shall provide ground level windows designed as follows:

a.

Clear, untinted glass shall be used at and near the street level to allow maximum visual interaction between sidewalk areas and the interior of buildings. Mirrored, reflective glass or tinted glass shall not be used except as an architectural or decorative accent.

b.

Windows shall be provided along at least 60 percent of each ground floor facade facing a street; except that where the review authority determines that a substantial length of windowless wall is unavoidable, eye-level display, a contrast in wall treatment, an offset wall line, decorative features, outdoor seating or landscaping shall be used to enhance visual interest and pedestrian orientation.

4.

Railings and decorative grilles. Any decorative railing or grille work that is placed in front of or behind street level windows shall be at least 75 percent open to perpendicular view and no more than six feet in height above grade. No security gate or grille shall be installed on the exterior of any structure.

5.

Upper story design features. A minimum of 50 percent of the building frontage width above the first story shall be differentiated by recessed windows, balconies, offset planes, or other architectural details that provide dimensional relief.

E.

Pedestrian access. The primary entrance of each ground floor use shall be recessed a minimum of four feet when accessed from the public sidewalk. Walk-up facilities and entries shall be recessed and provide adequate queuing space to avoid interruption of pedestrian flow.