The institutional district provides for the wide range of major public and quasi-public, institutional and auxiliary uses established in response to the health, safety, educational, cultural and welfare needs of the city in efficient, functionally compatible and attractively planned administrative centers, medical centers, cultural centers, educational institutions and similar uses in conformance with the general plan.

(Code 1981, § 17.26.010; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)

Only the following uses may be conducted or constructed in institutional districts:

A.

Temporary special uses and developments, if a special use permit is first obtained, pursuant to chapter 17.62 (Special Use Permits);

B.

Commercial filming or photography, if a city film permit is first obtained, pursuant to chapter 9.16 (Still Photography, Motion Picture and Television Productions) of this municipal code;

C.

Recycling centers, pursuant to chapter 17.58 (Recycling);

D.

Temporary vendors, if a temporary vendor permit is first obtained, pursuant to chapter 17.62 (Special Use Permits);

E.

Minor professional and retail commercial uses (such as small offices for bookkeeping, consulting, management and mail order or small businesses that create or assemble a product for sale off-site) which are clearly ancillary to the major use, if the applicant can demonstrate to the director's satisfaction that the proposed use would not result in adverse impacts to on-site or surrounding land uses from additional traffic, noise, parking and signage. No use shall involve the sale of any goods on-site. The manufacturing of goods may be permitted, if the manufacturing is primarily nonmechanical (such as assembling earthquake kits, gift baskets and floral arrangements) and is minor and clearly ancillary to the sites primary use. Written notice of the director's decision shall be given pursuant to chapter 17.80 (Hearing notice and appeal procedures). Written notice shall be given to all owners of property adjacent to the subject property. Notice of denial shall be given only to the applicant. Any interested person may appeal the director's decision to the planning commission and the planning commission's decision to the city council pursuant to chapter 17.80 (Hearing notice and appeal procedures) of this title; and

F.

Other uses as provided in any applicable overlay or special districts.

(Code 1981, § 17.26.020; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)

The following uses may be permitted in the institutional district, pursuant to a conditional use permit, as per chapter 17.60 (Conditional Use Permits):

A.

Public facilities owned or used and operated for governmental purposes by the city, the county, the state and the government of the United States of America, and any special district or other local agency;

B.

Educational facilities used and operated for educational purposes, including ancillary uses and developments which are operated by the educational institution and are part of, and necessary to, the educational program of the institution;

C.

Churches, temples or other places used primarily for religious services, including parochial schools and convents;

D.

Clinics and sanitariums, including animal hospitals;

E.

Sanitariums, nursing homes, rest homes, homes for the aged, homes for children and homes for mental patients. For the purpose of this section, homes for the aged may include age-restricted, for-sale or for-rent residential developments provided such a development includes a city-approved supportive service program that may include services such as an on-site caretaker, on-site property manager, meal service prepared on-site or provided to the site, an off-site transportation shuttle system provided by and dedicated solely for the residents of the development, housekeeping services, social/recreation programs, educational programs, health and nutrition programs, and/or on-site home health care personnel for the senior citizens who will reside within the development.

F.

Recycling drop-off/collection facilities and community service recycling programs, pursuant to chapter 17.58 (Recycling);

G.

Bed and breakfast inns;

H.

Cemeteries;

I.

Commercial antennas, pursuant to section 17.76.020 (Antennas);

J.

Developments of natural resources, except in the coastal specific plan district;

K.

Helistops, in conjunction with another use allowed by this chapter;

L.

Public utility structures;

M.

Outdoor active recreational uses and facilities;

N.

Small wind energy systems, pursuant to section 17.83.060 (Small Wind Energy Systems); and

O.

Such other uses as the director deems to be similar and no more intensive. Such a determination may be appealed to the planning commission and the planning commission's decision may be appealed to the city council pursuant to chapter 17.80 (Hearing notice and appeal procedures). If a proposed use or development is located in the coastal specific plan district, the city's final decision regarding such other use may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission for a determination that the uses are similar and compatible with the local coastal program.

(Code 1981, § 17.26.030; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 166, § 5, 1983; Ord. No. 293, § 4, 1993; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997; Ord. No. 377, § 9, 2002; Ord. No. 481, § 21, 2008; Ord. No. 486U, § 5, 3-3-2009; Ord. No. 487, § 5, 4-7-2009)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, commercial marijuana activities, as defined in section 17.96.445 (Commercial Marijuana Activities), are prohibited in the institutional district of the city.

(Code 1981, § 17.26.035; Ord. No. 600U, § 4, 11-8-2017)

The following standards apply to institutional districts:

A.

Setbacks.

1.

Front and street side. On lots which abut a dedicated street, the front and street side setbacks shall be 25 feet. On lots which abut a private or nondedicated street, the front and street side setbacks shall be 55 feet.

2.

Interior side and rear. The interior side and rear setbacks shall be 20 feet.

B.

Building height. Institutional buildings erected in the city shall have a building height not greater than 16 feet and shall not exceed one story, except with the approval of a conditional use permit by the planning commission, pursuant to chapter 17.60 (Conditional Use Permits).

C.

Roof equipment. All roof equipment shall conform to the height limits specified in section 17.48.050 (Building height) of this title and shall be adequately screened from adjacent private properties and the public right-of-way.

D.

Parking, loading and access. The provisions of chapter 17.50 (Nonresidential Parking and Loading Standards) of this title shall apply. Where an institutional district abuts a residential district, additional parking requirements may be imposed by the director or planning commission if warranted by a proposed project or use.

E.

Transportation demand management development standards. All development shall be subject to the applicable transportation demand and trip reduction measures specified in section 10.28.030 (Transportation Demand and Trip Reduction Measures) of this municipal code. Any transportation demand or trip reduction measures required pursuant to section 10.28.030 (Transportation Demand and Trip Reduction Measures), shall be implemented in accordance with all applicable standards and specifications of this title.

F.

Deliveries and mechanical equipment. Where an institutional district abuts a residential district, all deliveries of goods and supplies; trash pick-up, including the use of parking lot trash sweepers; and the operation of machinery or mechanical equipment which emits noise levels in excess of 65 dBA, as measured from the closest property line to the equipment, shall only be allowed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday, unless otherwise specified in an approved conditional use permit or other discretionary approval.

G.

Signs. The provisions of section 17.75.040 (Sign Permit) shall apply.

H.

Storage. Except for those outdoor uses permitted by a conditional use permit or special use permit, all maintenance and groundskeeping equipment shall be housed in permanent, entirely enclosed, structures.

I.

Lighting. All exterior lighting in institutional zoning districts shall conform to the performance standards of section 17.56.040 (Outdoor Lighting for Nonresidential Uses). Before any development is approved, a plan showing the locations and specifications of all exterior lighting shall be submitted for review and approval by the director.

J.

Buffering, screening and setbacks. Where an institutional district abuts a residential district, buffering and screening techniques shall be utilized along the abutting district boundary line, and additional setbacks for structures, parking and activity areas may be imposed by the director and/or planning commission.

(Code 1981, § 17.26.040; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 194, § 7, 1985; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)

Any expansion of an existing development in the institutional district involving either a new structure or an addition to an existing structure, which creates at least 500 square feet of additional floor area, shall require the approval of a conditional use permit pursuant to chapter 17.60 (Conditional Use Permits). Expansions or additions of less than 500 square feet shall also require the approval of a conditional use permit, if the existing development is a nonconforming structure or a nonconforming use pursuant to chapter 17.84 (Nonconformities). Interior remodeling shall not require a conditional use permit, provided that no change or intensification of the existing use to a use which requires a conditional use permit results from the remodeling. All expansions, additions and alterations are subject to the development standards described in section 17.26.040 (General Development Standards) of this chapter and the provisions of chapter 17.84 (Nonconformities).

(Code 1981, § 17.26.050; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)