In certain districts, conditional uses are permitted subject to the granting of a use permit. Because of their unusual characteristics, conditional uses require special considerations so that they may be located properly with respect to the objectives of the zoning ordinance and their effects on surrounding properties. In order to achieve these purposes, and thus give the district use regulations of this title additional flexibility necessary to achieve the objectives of this title, the planning commission is empowered to grant or to deny applications for use permits and to impose reasonable conditions upon the granting of use permits.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

The planning commission may grant use permits for such conditional uses in such districts as are prescribed in the district regulations of this ordinance, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

Application for a use permit shall be made to the planning department, which shall include the following data:

A.

Name and address of applicant.

B.

Statement that the applicant is the owner of the property or is the authorized agent of the owner or the plaintiff in an action of eminent domain to acquire the property involved.

C.

Address or description of the property.

D.

Statement setting forth the precise circumstances or conditions applicable to the land, structure or use which makes the granting of a use permit necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of a substantial property right, together with any other data pertinent to the findings prerequisite to the granting of a use permit.

E.

Preliminary floor plans and front, side and rear elevations of proposed structures, if available.

F.

Prints of a site plan, drawn to scale, which shall indicate clearly and with full dimensions, the information prescribed by the planning director. Such information may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

1.

Lot or site dimensions.

2.

All buildings and structures: location, size, height, proposed use.

3.

Yards and space between buildings.

4.

Walls and fences: location, height and materials.

5.

Off-street parking and off-street loading location, number of spaces and dimensions of parking and loading areas, internal circulation pattern.

6.

Access: pedestrian, vehicular, service; points of ingress and egress; internal circulation.

7.

Signs: location, size height and type of illumination, including hooding devices.

8.

Lighting: location and general nature; hooding devices.

9.

Street dedications and improvements.

10.

Landscaping: location and type.

11.

Refuse containers: location and type.

12.

North arrow and scale of the drawing.

13.

Such other data as may be required by the planning commission to make the required findings.

G.

The application shall be accompanied by a fee set by resolution of the city council sufficient to cover the cost of handling the application as prescribed in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

The planning commission shall give notice and hold a public hearing on each application for a conditional use permit.

Notice of the public hearing shall be given not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing by (1) mailing a notice of the time and place of the hearing to all property owners within three hundred (300) feet of the area occupied by the proposed use; and by (2) publishing a notice at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the city.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

At the public hearing, the commission shall review the application and the statement and drawings submitted therewith, and shall receive pertinent evidence and testimony concerning the proposed use and the proposed conditions under which it would be operated or maintained, particularly with respect to the findings prescribed in Section 17.68.070 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

The planning director shall give written notice to the applicant of the time when the application will be considered by the commission.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

The planning commission shall act on the application within thirty (30) days following the closing of the public hearing. The commission may grant an application for a conditional use permit as the use permit was applied for or in modified form if, on the basis of the application and the evidence submitted, the commission makes all of the following findings:

A.

That there are circumstances or conditions applicable to the land, structure or use which makes the granting of a use permit necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of a substantial property right.

B.

That the proposed location of the conditional use is in accordance with the objectives of the zoning ordinance codified in this title and the purposes of the district in which the site is located.

C.

That the proposed use will comply with each of the applicable provisions of this title.

A use permit may be revocable, may be granted for a limited time period, or may be granted subject to such conditions as the commission may prescribe. The commission may deny an application for a use permit. A use permit may not grant variances to the regulations prescribed by this ordinance for which variance procedures are prescribed by Chapter 17.84.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

In approving a conditional use permit, the planning commission shall state those conditions of approval necessary to protect the public health, safety and general welfare. Such conditions may cover any of the considerations listed in Section 17.72.040 of this title.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

The decision of the planning commission on a conditional use permit shall be subject to the appeal provisions of Section 17.04.090 of this title.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

Before a building permit shall be issued for any building or structure proposed as part of the approved conditional use permit application, the planning director shall determine that the proposed building location, facilities and improvements are in conformity with the site plan and conditions approved by the planning commission.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

A use permit shall lapse and shall become void one year following the date on which the use permit became effective unless by conditions of the use permit, a lesser or greater time is prescribed in accordance with Section 17.68.120, or unless prior to the expiration of one year, a building permit is issued by the building official and construction is commenced and diligently pursued toward completion on the site which was the subject of the use permit application. A use permit may be renewed for an additional period of one year or for a lesser or greater period as prescribed in Section 17.68.120, provided that, prior to the expiration of the time period granted, an application of renewal of the use permit is filed with the planning department. The planning commission may grant or deny an application for renewal of a use permit.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

The planning commission, or city council if appealed, may establish a lesser or greater time limit than that provided by Section 17.68.110, within which the subject property and use or any stage or phase thereof shall be commenced and completed. The time limits set by the commission or council shall be reasonable, based on the size, nature and complexity of the proposed development. Said time limit may be extended by the commission or council for good cause, such as proof of an unusual hardship not of the applicant's own making.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

A conforming conditional use established prior to enactment of this ordinance shall be permitted to continue. A conditional use permit granted under the provisions of the Fresno County Zoning Code and amendments thereto prior to the enactment of this ordinance shall, upon the annexation of the property affected to the city, become null and void at the end of six (6) months following the date of its original approval or extension thereof granted by the county prior to the annexation, unless a building permit has been issued by the county and construction has commenced. Alteration or expansion of a conditional use established prior to enactment of this ordinance may be permitted upon the granting of a use permit. Accessory structures may be permitted under the provisions of Chapter 17.64 of this title.

A use permit shall be required for the reconstruction of a structure housing a conditional use established prior to enactment of the ordinance codified in this title if the structure is destroyed by fire, or other calamity, or by act of God, or by the public enemy, to the extent of sixty (60) percent or more. The extent of damage or partial destruction shall be determined by the building official on the basis prescribed in Section 17.60.080 F. of this title.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

Upon violation of any applicable provisions of this title, or, if granted subject to a condition or conditions, upon failure to comply with the condition or conditions, a use permit shall be suspended automatically. Notice of such suspension shall be sent immediately to the person or persons responsible for non-compliance by the planning department. Within thirty (30) days of the suspension, the planning commission shall consider the suspension. If not satisfied that the regulation, general provision, condition or conditions are being complied with, the planning commission may revoke the use permit or take such action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the regulation, general provision, condition or conditions.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

Following the denial of a use permit application or the revocation of a use permit, no application for a use permit for the same or substantially the same conditional use on the same or substantially the same site shall be filed within six (6) months from the date of denial or revocation of the use permit, except when the city council has acted to deny without prejudice.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

A use permit granted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall run with the land and shall continue to be valid upon a change of ownership of the site or structure which was the subject of the use permit application.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)

A use permit granted under the provisions of this chapter or a conforming conditional use established prior to the enactment of the ordinance codified in this title may be revised as to features of the site plan previously approved, provided that such revisions are minor, as determined by the planning commission. Application for minor revisions to the site plan shall be made in writing, including three (3) copies of the revised site plan, to the commission. The commission may approve such revisions without public hearing, provided that the commission can determine that the revisions will not substantially change the intensity or character of the use as previously approved by the city.

(Ord. No. 2012-02, § 2(exh. A), 3-7-2012; Ord. No. 2024-07, § 1, 12-18-2024)