Santa Maria City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 12
13 C-2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
Section 12-13.01 Regulations designated.
The sections of this chapter constitute the regulations of the C-2 (general commercial) district.
Section 12-13.02 Purpose.
The C-2 district is designed and intended to provide for the general business and commercial needs of the City. The zone shall be used by a wide range of retail and service establishments which, because of their economic and activity requirements, are not suited to the central business district.
Section 12-13.03 Permitted uses.
The following uses are permitted in the C-2 district:
(Ord. 83-83 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05; Ord. 2012-08, eff. 5/17/13; Ord. 2013-04, eff. 6/6/13; Ord. 2016-05 § 29, eff. 3/2/16; Ord. 2017-18, eff. 12/21/17)
Section 12-13.04 Conditional uses.
Those uses which the Planning Commission finds to fall within the intent and purpose of this zone, that will not be more obnoxious or detrimental to the public welfare, and are found by the commission to be compatible with adjoining land uses, provided that conditions and development standards are applied to mitigate any potentially adverse impacts, are permitted in the C-2 district subject to obtaining a conditional use permit according to the procedures set forth in Article 2 of Chapter 12-35 of this title. Examples include:
(a)
Bars, cocktail lounges and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages;
(b)
Bowling alleys;
(c)
Butane and propane service stations;
(d)
Child daycare centers;
(e)
Nightclubs;
(f)
All other automotive repair shops, including body and fender repair shops;
(g)
Service stations;
(h)
Veterinary clinics;
(i)
Repealed per Ordinance 2005-04.
(j)
Car washes;
(k)
Light wholesale uses which supply goods and materials which are sold in retail stores permitted in the C-1 district and C-2 district; provided, however, that the uses do not generate significant truck traffic;
(l)
Lodges and clubs;
(m)
Churches;
(n)
Mechanical riding machines;
(p)
Automobile sales;
(q)
Boat sales;
(r)
Bus and taxi terminals;
(s)
Nurseries;
(t)
Trailer sales;
(u)
Recreational vehicle sales;
(v)
Any use with drive-up, drive-in or drive-through facilities for serving customers from their vehicle;
(w)
Temporary retail sales within a hotel or motel;
(x)
An increase in pipeline capacity through the repair, maintenance, replacement or installation of new pipelines as defined in Section 12-2.113.1;
(y)
Tractor and farm equipment sales;
(z)
Tire sales and service;
(aa)
Concurrent retailing of motor vehicle fuel with alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption;
(bb)
An apartment or living quarters which can be occupied only by the owner, caretaker or someone associated with a business located in the building;
(cc)
Buyback recycling facility when in conjunction with an existing business;
(Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 86-32 §§ 2, 5, eff. 2/19/87; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 92-14, eff. 11/05/92; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05; Ord. 2007-01, eff. 3/8/07; Ord. 2013-04, eff. 6/6/13)
Section 12-13.05 Penny arcades: Game machines.
Installations of four or more coin-operated game machines, as that term is defined at Section 4-6.101 of this Code, are permitted only upon the issuance of a conditional use permit or planned development permit, as provided for under this title.
(a)
Installations of three or less such game machines is expressly prohibited in the C-2 zone when provided in conjunction with the sale of alcoholic beverages, whether for on-premises or off-premises consumption, on the same premises if persons under the age of 18 years are also admitted, unless accompanied by and under the supervision of a parent, legal guardian or other adult person having legal custody. The proprietor of a premises coming within the provisions of this section shall post and maintain a sign in a conspicuous place advising customers of the requirements imposed in this subsection.
(b)
Installations of three or less such game machines shall provide at least 60 square feet of net public floor area solely devoted to each such machine.
(c)
An exemption from the provisions of this section exists for any such game machine located in a private dwelling and neither offered for use by, nor available to, the general public.
(d)
In addition to the standards and conditions set forth at Sections 12-35.203 through 12-35.208 and elsewhere in this title, the following standards and conditions are illustrative of those available to the City in reaching a final determination under this section:
(1)
At least two on-site bicycle parking spaces shall be provided for each such game machine. Bicycle parking shall be in approved bicycle racks or stands and shall not obstruct required exits or external circulation. Bicycle parking may be permitted inside buildings if no acceptable exterior parking site exists. In the event interior parking is required, the area designated as interior bicycle parking space may be deducted from net public floor area for purposes of calculating numbers of coin-operated machines permitted.
(2)
There shall be at least 60 square feet of net public floor area solely devoted to each such game machine.
(3)
No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to operate such game machines during normal school hours unless accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or other adult person having the legal care and custody of such minor.
(4)
All such game machines within a premises shall be visible to and supervised by an adult attendant who shall be present at all times when any such machine is being operated.
(5)
The adult supervision of the patrons on the premises shall be adequate to ensure and shall, in fact, ensure that there is no conduct contrary to law or otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.
(6)
Generally distributed illumination adequate to permit observation and supervision shall be maintained in all parts of the premises at all times when any such game machine is available for public use.
(7)
No such game machine shall be situated in violation of any applicable fire regulation or so as to hinder reasonable internal circulation on the premises.
(e)
Nonconforming business amortization:
(1)
Existing, legally nonconforming arcades shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. Legal nonconforming uses include those installations of such game machines for which one or more of the following permits or licenses had issued on or before June 22, 1982:
(A)
A conditional use permit under the provisions of this title;
(B)
A planned development permit under the provisions of this title;
(C)
An operator's license under Chapter 4-6 of this Code for purposes of establishing legal nonconformity only. An installation of such game machines is legally nonconforming if such an operator's license had issued to either:
(i)
The owner/operator of the premises at which such machines are located, or
(ii)
The distributor who placed such machines upon the premises, unless the placement of additional machines at such a location on or after June 22, 1982 constituted the unauthorized expansion of an existing nonconforming use.
(2)
All other installations of such machines are illegal nonconforming uses, and the owner or operator shall, within 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives, either comply with the provisions of Chapter 4-6 of this Code and this title or terminate the nonconforming use, ownership, operation or possession.
(3)
Any unauthorized expansion of nonconforming uses is prohibited.
(Ord. 82-1039 § 3, 1982)
Section 12-13.06 Accessory uses.
Premises in the general commercial district may be used for accessory uses, provided such uses are established on the same lot or parcel of land, are incidental to and do not substantially alter the character of any permitted principal use.
Section 12-13.07 Development standards.
Section 12-13.08 Building site.
Each lot or parcel of land in the C-2 district shall have a minimum lot area of not less than 7,000 square feet. Minimum lot width is 50 feet.
Section 12-13.09 Height.
In addition to all other requirements of this Code, no building or structure in excess of 70 feet shall be constructed on a lot or parcel of land in the C-2 district unless the applicant first obtains written authorization from the City of Santa Maria Fire Department demonstrating the City's capability to respond to a fire in that building or structure.
A conditional use permit or a planned development permit shall be required for any building or structure in excess of 40 feet when adjacent to a residential zoning district. Properties separated by streets or alleys are considered to be adjacent.
(Ord. 87-11 § 1, eff. 7/16/87; Ord. 2007-05, eff. 5/31/07)
Section 12-13.10 Wall.
Each lot or parcel of land in the C-2 district which has a side or rear lot line adjoining property in a residential zone shall have a solid masonry wall of not less than six feet in height established along the side and rear lot line adjoining the zone.
Section 12-13.11 Setbacks.
(a)
Minimum Setback. Each lot or parcel of land in the C-2 district which has a lot line adjoining property in a residential zone shall have a minimum setback of not less than 10 feet in width in the front, side and rear yards, for any building or structure at or under 40 feet in height.
(b)
Setback Guideline for Buildings Exceeding 40 Foot Height. As a guideline, whenever a building exceeds 40 feet in height, there shall be a ratio wherein for each 10 feet (or fraction thereof) of building height, there shall be a minimum of 10 feet of additional setback (above the base forty [40] feet height and ten [10] feet of setback) for the front, side or rear of any yard when adjacent to a residential district. For instance, a building 40 feet in height shall have a minimum 10 foot setback, a building 50 feet in height shall have a minimum 20 foot setback, a building 60 feet in height shall have a minimum 30 foot setback, and so forth.
(c)
Unless there is a compelling reason for a building setback, such as compliance with an adopted Specific Plan, there may be no setback when the C-2 lot or parcel is adjacent to a non-residential zoning district.
(Ord. 2007-05, eff. 5/31/07)
Section 12-13.12 Project review.
Review and approval of architectural elevations site and landscape plans by the Zoning Administrator for compliance with the adopted plans, policies and ordinances of the City is required prior to the issuance of a building permit.
Section 12-13.13 Parking.
For provisions on parking, see Chapter 12-32 of this title.
Section 12-13.14 Signs.
For provisions on signs, see Chapter 12-34 of this title.
Section 12-13.15 Entrada Plan.
Standards presented in the Entrada Specific Plan may apply to uses in certain locations, see Section 12-3.04.
Section 12-13.16 Outside display and storage.
All display, service, installation and storage in the C-2 district shall be located wholly within an enclosed building except in connection with the following uses by a conditional use permit or planning development permit:
(a)
Automobile service stations, which are permitted outside display of automobile tires, batteries, and similar equipment and accessories and petroleum products only;
(b)
Florist shops;
(c)
Nursery stock, plant material only;
(d)
Automobile parking facilities;
(e)
Automobile sales (new and used);
(f)
Boat, trailer and camper sales;
(g)
Bus and taxi terminals;
(h)
Spa and patio furniture sales.
(Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90)
Section 12-13.17 Non-taxable merchandise limitations.
For commercial uses exceeding 90,000 square feet of gross floor area, the non-taxable merchandise floor area shall not exceed 8% of the total gross floor area of the building occupied by the commercial use.
(Ord. 97-12, Enacted, 12/4/97)
Section 12-13.18 Outdoor auto repair and service.
Outdoor auto repair and service is prohibited. Exception: One outdoor RV lift per property may be approved through the conditional use permit process.
(Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05)