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Monterey County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

Chapter 21.26

REGULATIONS FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS OR "LI" DISTRICTS

21.26.010 - Purpose.

The purpose of this Chapter is to provide areas exclusively for light industrial uses and to encourage sound industrial development by setting forth appropriate areas for these use to protect nearby residential, commercial, and industrial uses from undue hazards, noise, and other disturbances.

21.26.020 - Applicability.

The regulations of this Chapter shall apply in all "LI" Districts subject to the provisions of Chapter 21.62 (Height and Setback Exceptions) of this Title.

21.26.030 - General Development Plan.

A.

A General Development Plan shall be required prior to the establishment of any development in the Light Industrial district if there is no prior approved General Development Plan and if:

1.

The lot is in excess of one acre; or

2.

The development proposed includes more than one use; or

3.

The development includes any form of subdivision (Title 19, Subdivision Ordinance).

B.

No new development, change or expansion of use, or physical improvements may approved unless such development, use or expansion is found to be in conformance with an approved General Development Plan and amendments thereto where such plan is required.

C.

General Development Plans and amendments thereto shall be approved by the Planning Commission.

D.

The plans shall be prepared by the developer and submitted for review and approval prior to or concurrent with approval of any required permits for these developments. The plans shall address the long range development and operation of facilities including physical expansion and new development, operational changes, circulation or transportation improvements, alternative development opportunities, environmental considerations, potential mitigation of adverse environmental impacts and conformance to the policies of the local area plan.

E.

The requirement of a General Development Plan or an amendment to a General Development Plan may be waived by the Director of Planning when, due to the circumstances of the particular situation, there is no potential significant adverse impact from the development and requiring the General Development Plan will not further the purposes of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 5135, § 114, 7-7-2009)

21.26.040 - Uses allowed.

A.

Change of light industrial uses within a structure provided the new use will not change the nature or intensity of the use of the structure; however, new commercial cannabis activities shall require an administrative permit in each case.

B.

Water system facilities including wells and storage tanks serving four or fewer service connections, pursuant to Chapter 15.04, Monterey County Code and replacement of water tanks and wells where no increase in service connections are created. The screening of any tanks and associated structures shall be approved by the Director of Planning;

C.

Cultivation, cutting and removal of Christmas trees;

D.

Other uses of a similar character, density and intensity to those listed in this Section.

(Ord. No. 5135, § 115, 7-7-2009; Ord. No. 5270, § 11, 7-12-2016; Ord. No. 5292, § 11, 12-5-2017; Ord. No. 5306, § 10, 11-6-2018)

21.26.050 - Uses allowed—Administrative permit required in each case (Chapter 21.70).

A.

The manufacture of clothing;

B.

Interior decorating business;

C.

Picture framing business;

D.

Craft shop for the manufacture of art, jewelry, silverware, ceramics, leather goods, toys, bookbinding, editorial and designing, printing, lithography;

E.

Other light industries of a similar character; provided, that none of the above uses produce undue odor, dust, smoke, noise, or other objectionable effects;

F.

Reduction in setback requirements provided the proposed reduction is ten (10) percent or less of the required setbacks;

G.

Parking lots used in conjunction to an adjoining commercial or retail use;

H.

Mini-warehouse facilities;

I.

One caretaker unit for the purpose of providing on-site security;

J.

Retail sales which are accessory and incidental to the main uses permitted in this Section; provided, that the sales area does not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the floor area of the structure housing the sales facility;

K.

Warehouses and open air facilities for the storage of boats, trailers, and other marine or recreation oriented equipment of similar nature;

L.

Accessory structures and uses prior to establishment of main use or structure;

M.

Stands for the sale of agricultural products grown on the premises;

N.

Day care centers;

O.

Auto repair facilities;

P.

Shops for tradesmen such as plumbers, electricians, furniture makers and repairmen, appliance repairmen, and similar uses provided that in all cases all equipment and materials, except vehicles, are maintained within a structure;

Q.

Contractors yards and offices;

R.

Shops of a light commercial character and conducted within a structure;

S.

Small water system facilities including wells and storage tanks of five to fourteen (14) service connections;

T.

Service station;

U.

Accessory structures and uses appurtenant to any permitted use provided there is no intensification of the permitted use;

V.

Photography studio;

W.

Stationery and office supply store;

X.

Storage, rental and sale of irrigation equipment;

Y.

The manufacture of clothing;

Z.

Other uses of a similar character, density and intensity to those listed in this Section;

AA.

Additions to existing, approved wireless communications facilities, pursuant to Section 21.64.310.

BB.

Indoor, mixed-light, or nursery cannabis cultivation pursuant to Chapter 21.67;

CC.

Non-volatile cannabis manufacturing pursuant to Chapter 21.67;

DD.

Cannabis distribution facilities pursuant to Chapter 21.67;

EE.

Cannabis testing facilities pursuant to Chapter 21.67.

(Ord. 3938, 1997)

(Ord. No. 5306, § 11, 11-6-2018)

21.26.060 - Uses allowed—Use permit required in each case (Chapter 21.74).

A.

Executive and professional offices (ZA);

B.

Research laboratories; provided such use does not produce undue odor, smoke, noise, or other objectionable effects;

C.

Nurseries and greenhouses (ZA);

D.

Storage warehouses, furniture manufacturing, finish paper products from finished paper stock (ZA);

E.

Ridgeline development;

F.

Carpentry shops, paint, paperhanging and decorators shops, plumbing shops, sheet-metal shops, and other uses of similar nature; provided, that all activity is conducted within a structure (ZA);

G.

Animal hospitals (ZA);

H.

Commercial kennel (ZA);

I.

Other light industrial uses similar to those listed in this Section;

J.

Legal nonconforming use of a portion of a structure extended throughout the structure (ZA);

K.

Legal nonconforming use changed to a use of a similar or more restricted nature;

L.

Commercial and noncommercial wind energy systems;

M.

Community directional and informational signs;

N.

Removal of minerals or natural materials for commercial purposes;

O.

Assemblages of people, such as carnivals, festivals, races and circuses not exceeding ten (10) days and not involving construction of permanent facilities (ZA);

P.

Agricultural processing plants (ZA);

Q.

Hotels, motels, restaurants, and similar visitor serving facilities (ZA);

R.

Propane distributorship and sales and services of appliances, and related equipment, provided, all equipment is stored within a structure or screened by adequate fencing and landscaping;

S.

Water system facilities including wells and storage tanks serving fifteen (15) or more service connections (ZA);

T.

Contractors plants and storage yards including garages and sheds for the storage of vehicles, equipment and materials when such contractor is engaged in the servicing of the production of agricultural or horticultural products, including spraying, trimming, fertilizing, smudging, drainage, tree removal, and harvesting and marketing, as the principal activity of such plant or storage yard (ZA);

U.

Other uses of a similar character, intensity and density as those listed in this Section;

V.

All residential uses provided that the gross square footage of the residential use does not exceed the gross square footage of the industrial use (ZA);

W.

Zoos or zoological gardens for the purpose of raising, maintaining, keeping or exhibiting any wild animal;

X.

Public and quasi-public uses including churches, parks, playgrounds, public safety facilities, public utility facilities, jails, rehabilitation centers and detention facilities;

Y.

Any lot or establishment where alcoholic beverages are served, commercial place of amusement or recreation or any place where live entertainment is provided within two hundred (200) feet of the boundary of a residential district (ZA);

Z.

Development in the Carmel Valley Floodplain pursuant to Section 21.64.130 (ZA);

AA.

Wholesale distributors of petroleum products, contractors yards, welding shops and other uses of a similar character;

BB.

Wholesale stores, storage and warehouses (ZA);

CC.

Chemical laboratories, electronic products and instrument manufacturing;

DD.

Food processing, fish canning and other uses of a similar character (ZA);

EE.

Processing for market of poultry, rabbits and small animals, but not including canning, rendering, tanning or reduction of meat or animal products (ZA);

FF.

Warehouses for the collection, packaging and distribution of agricultural and horticultural products (ZA);

GG.

The exploration for and the removal of oil and gas (ZA);

HH.

Wireless communications facilities, pursuant to Section 21.64.310.

(Ord. 3938, 1997.)

(Ord. No. 5270, § 12, 7-12-2016; Ord. No. 5292, § 12, 12-5-2017; Ord. No. 5306, § 12, 11-6-2018)

21.26.070 - Site development standards.

A.

Structure Height and Setback Regulations.

1.

The maximum structure height is thirty-five (35) feet unless superseded by a structure height limit noted on the zoning map. (e.g. "LI/(50′)" would limit structure height to fifty (50) feet). Additional height may be allowed subject to a Use Permit (ZA).

2.

Setbacks for development in the "LI" District are established by the approval of the General Development Plan where such plan is required.

3.

Setbacks for development where a General Development Plan is not required shall be established by the Appropriate Authority through the project review process based on:

a.

Surrounding land use;

b.

Provision of adequate parking and landscaping;

c.

Other site design features.

4.

All minimum setback requirements established by a combining "B" District, setbacks shown on a recorded final map or parcel map or setback lines shown on a Sectional District map shall apply.

B.

Building Site Coverage, Maximum: fifty (50) percent, excluding parking and landscaping.

C.

Parking Regulations. All parking shall be established pursuant to Chapter 21.58.

D.

Landscaping Requirements. All developments allowed shall have landscaping covering a minimum of ten (10) percent of the site area subject to a plan approved by the Director of Planning. The landscaping shall be in place prior to the commencement of use.

E.

Lighting Requirements.

1.

For any new development that includes exterior lighting, all exterior lighting shall be consistent with the Design Guidelines for Exterior Lighting adopted by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Section 21.63.020, unless exempt under Section 21.63.020.D.

2.

Review by the Director of Planning of all exterior lighting associated with any construction permit for consistency with the Design Guidelines for Exterior Lighting and approval by the Director of Planning are required prior to issuance of the construction permit.

3.

Applications for construction permits which are subject to these lighting regulations must include the following information:

a.

Plans indicating the location of each light fixture;

b.

Photometric study, prepared by a licensed engineer, showing existing and proposed lighting intensity in foot-candles for the subject parcel and surrounding parcels; and

c.

Manufacturer's catalog specification sheet for each type of fixture;

d.

The Director of Planning may waive these submittal requirements or request additional information, as deemed necessary on a project by project basis.

F.

Sign Regulations. Signing for all development shall be established pursuant to Chapter 21.60.

(Ord. No. 5135, § 116, 7-7-2009; Ord. No. 5262, § 11, 1-26-2016)

21.26.080 - Special regulations.

A.

All manufacturing and fabrication operations shall be conducted within structures. All equipment and material storage areas shall be screened by solid walls, fences, or by adequate plantings of not less than six feet in height.

B.

Manufactured dwelling units meeting the standards of Section 21.64.040 are permitted subject to the requirements of any conventional dwelling unit in this Chapter.

C.

The following types of development are subject to Section 21.64.250 (Regulations for the Reduction of Vehicle Trips) of this Title:

a.

Any residential development of twenty-five (25) or more units; or

b.

Any new or expanded commercial, industrial or tourist oriented development which will employ fifty (50) or more persons; or

c.

Any new or expanded commercial, industrial or tourist oriented development of twenty-five thousand (25,000) gross square feet or more.