Santa Maria City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 12
17 M-2 GENERAL MANUFACTURING DISTRICT
Section 12-17.01 Regulations designated.
The following sections of this chapter constitute the regulations of the M-2 (general manufacturing) district.
(Prior Code § 10-83)
Section 12-17.02 Purpose.
The M-2 district is designed and intended to provide a district which will ensure an environment conducive to the development and protection of modern industrial processes and activities that may not be compatible with proximate residential or commercial uses, but may be compatible with adjoining light manufacturing districts. The uses permitted in this district can be characterized as generating a higher level of potential influences upon surrounding land uses than the light manufacturing district.
(Prior Code § 10-83.1)
Section 12-17.03 Permitted uses.
(a)
The following uses shall be permitted in the M-2 (general manufacturing) district, subject to the prescribed performance standards contained in Chapter 12-33 of this title:
(1)
Boat manufacture;
(2)
Heavy equipment assembly;
(3)
Welding operations;
(4)
Sheet metal fabrication;
(5)
Storage of flammable liquid in underground tanks, subject to fire marshal approval;
(6)
Administrative or executive offices when incidental and accessory to and when directly related to primary industrial or manufacturing uses permitted in the zone.
(b)
Uses not listed may be permitted upon determination by the Planning Commission to be compatible with the purpose and intent of this zone.
(Prior Code § 10-83.2; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90)
Section 12-17.04 Prohibited uses.
The following uses are specifically not permitted in the M-2 (general manufacturing) district:
(a)
Offices providing services to the general public such as:
(1)
Architects;
(2)
Accountants;
(3)
Attorneys;
(4)
Doctors and medical offices;
(5)
Real estate brokers, except temporary sales and leasing offices whose business is strictly limited to negotiating the lease or sale of properties located within the same development or subdivision tract where such broker's temporary sales or leasing office is located;
(6)
Dental offices;
(7)
Investment brokers.
(b)
Residential uses.
(Prior Code § 10-83.3; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)
Section 12-17.05 Conditional uses.
The following uses and those similar 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, shall be permitted in the M-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:
(a)
A manufacturing industrial enterprise which, in the opinion of the Planning Commission as evidenced by resolution, has inherent qualities or characteristics which, unless provided for, would cause such use to be incompatible or inharmonious with adjacent or nearby permitted uses;
(b)
Any use involving the storage or handling of explosive materials, the storage or handling of blasting agents, or the storage or handling of flammable liquids in aboveground tanks;
(c)
Food processing plants;
(d)
Salvage yards;
(f)
An increase in pipeline capacity through the repair, maintenance, replacement or installation of new pipelines as defined in Section 12-2.113.1;
(g)
Pallet making;
(h)
Greenhouses;
(i)
Child daycare facilities as an accessory use;
(j)
Battery Energy Storage Systems ("BESS") as a primary or ancillary use, that are a "Front-of-the-Meter" facility, meaning the energy storage collection systems are connected to the distribution system on the utility side of the meter. (For the purposes of this Title, BESS is a unique use from a Substation, Utility Substation, Electrical Substation, Public Utility Structures, Distribution Plant, Utility Distribution Station, Utility Yard, Public Service Facility, or any other Public or Private utility use cited in this Title).
(Prior Code § 10-83.4; Ord. 83-83 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 86-32 § 2, eff. 2/19/87; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05; Ord. 2025-01, eff. 6/5/2025)
Section 12-17.06 Accessory uses.
Premises in the general manufacturing 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.
(Prior Code § 10-83.5; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)
Section 12-17.07 Development standards.
Development, uses and structures in the M-2 district are subject to the development standards in following sections of this chapter.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)
Section 12-17.08 Building site.
Unless subject to a Planned Development permit approved by the Planning Commission consistent with Section 12-12, each lot shall be a minimum of 15,000 square feet and shall have a minimum frontage width of 80 feet on a public street or accessway.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6(a); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 2006-04, eff. 4/21/06)
Section 12-17.09 Height.
No building or structure erected in this zone shall have a height greater than 40 feet, unless so authorized by the Zoning Administrator, upon his findings that unique circumstances apply to the particular property or development proposed which justify an exception and which if allowed will nevertheless be compatible with adjoining properties.
However, a conditional use permit is required for any building or structure in excess of one story or 18 feet in height when adjacent to a residential zoning district unless the building or structure is located more than 100 feet from the residential district boundary. Properties separated by streets and alleys are considered to be adjacent.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6(b); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 87-11 § 1, eff. 7/16/87)
Section 12-17.10 Setbacks.
(a)
Front Yard. A minimum front yard setback of 20 feet is required. Where parking is provided in the required front yard setback a 10 foot wide landscaped strip shall be provided between the parking and the public right-of-way.
(b)
Side and Rear Yards.
(1)
No side or rear yards are required, except when adjacent to an "R" district; then, the required side yard or rear yard adjacent to the "R" district shall be a minimum of 10 feet.
(2)
A corner lot or parcel of land shall have a landscaped side yard of not less than 10 feet in width adjoining the street.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6(c); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 85-1093 § 1 (8), eff. 3/5/85)
Section 12-17.11 Screening.
(a)
When a lot abuts a residential zone, a combination of fencing and/or landscaping screening shall be provided subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator.
(b)
A fence, or solid wall not less than six feet in height may be required along the perimeter of all areas which by reasons of the conditions on the property or physical hazards are considered by the Planning Commission to be dangerous to the public health or safety.
(c)
A solid fence or wall shall be erected surrounding the area devoted to open storage. No material shall be stored to a height greater than the height of the required wall or fence, unless authorized by the Zoning Administrator, upon his findings that unique circumstances apply to the particular property or development proposed which justify an exception and which if allowed will nevertheless be compatible with adjoining properties.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6(d); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)
Section 12-17.12 Parking.
For provisions on parking, see Chapter 12-32 of this Code.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6(e); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)
Section 12-17.13 Signs.
For provisions on signs, see Chapter 12-34 of this title.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6(f); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)
Section 12-17.14 Entrada Plan.
Standards presented in the Entrada Specific Plan may apply to uses in certain locations, see Section 12-3.04.
(Prior Code § 10-83.6(g); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)
Section 12-17.15 Battery energy storage systems standards.
The following are special standards for the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facilities as defined in Section 12-17.05(j) above:
(a)
The BESS project owner shall work with the City Fire and Police Departments to develop an Emergency Response and Emergency Action Plan in conformance with the provisions of Section 761.3(g) of the Public Utilities Code and Section 3220 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations. Additionally, the plan must:
(1)
Consider responses to potential offsite impacts, including, but not limited to, poor air quality, threats to municipal water supplies, water runoff, and threats to natural waterways; and
(2)
Include procedures for the local emergency response agency to establish shelter-in-place orders and road closure notifications when appropriate.
The Plan's provisions shall be to the satisfaction of the City, and a copy of the completed plan provided to the City prior to the commencement of facility operation.
(b)
BESS facilities shall not be located within 1,320 feet (1/4 mile) of a residential district and/or mixed-use residential district, or school, or hospital, or land used and/or zoned for agricultural cultivation whether within or outside of the City or in active production or fallow, as measured from the BESS property boundary.
(c)
Any public hearing for a proposed BESS facility shall provide written notice to owners and tenants of properties located within 10,560 feet (two miles) of the proposed BESS facility property. If the number of property owners and tenants to whom written notice would be provided is greater than 1,000, the Community Development Director shall place a display advertisement of at least one-eighth page in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the City, in lieu of the written notice, and shall post the notice in at least three public places within the City.
(Ord. 2025-01, eff. 6/5/2025)