A.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the city with a mechanism for the review of site development on established buildable lots that are vacant, partially developed, or currently developed.

B.

Provisions of this chapter shall apply to all zoning districts.

C.

A site plan shall be submitted prior to construction of the following unless otherwise exempted pursuant to Sections 17.52.020, 17.54.030, or permitted pursuant to Chapter 17.55:

1.

Mobile home parks.

2.

Construction of one or more duplexes, triplexes or other multi-family structure or structures in the R-2 or R-3 zoning district totaling four or more total units on a single parcel (regardless of total floor area) providing that the land area of the parcel is large enough to meet all other terms of this title and the Sonora General Plan.

3.

Any new commercial or industrial building, except as provided in Section 17.52.020 Exemptions.

4.

Expansion of any existing commercial or industrial building or buildings that increases the existing, combined total floor area of all structures by two hundred square feet or more, except as provided in Section 17.52.020 Exemptions.

D.

Design review also shall be conducted if required per Chapter 17.32.

(Ord. 802, § 1, 7-5-2011; Amended by Ord. 846 on 12/18/2017)

No site plan is required for:

A.

Agricultural buildings to be used for agricultural purposes, provided all setbacks of the zoning district are met.

B.

Single family residences.

C.

Second dwelling units in accordance with Chapter 17.55.

D.

Accessory structures where the addition of the accessory structure does not impact required setbacks, landscaping, parking or drainage. For the purposes of this section, an accessory structure is one totaling less than one hundred twenty square feet (as measured from the outside of the exterior walls of the structure).

E.

Exterior repairs.

F.

Interior remodeling that does not involve a change of use.

G.

For sites previously subject to an approved site plan, construction (expansion) adding less than two hundred square feet upon issuance of a written waiver by the community development director. This exemption may be applied only once per parcel.

H.

Construction adding appurtenances (e.g., fences, overhangs) to exterior areas in conjunction with a permitted use on the site prior to making a new addition upon issuance of a written waiver by the community development director.

I.

Construction of a duplex, triplex, or other multi-family structure totaling up to three units on a parcel zoned for that use (regardless of total floor area) provided that all other requirements of this title and the Sonora General Plan can be met. (See Section 17.52.010 for construction of four or more total units in multi-family structures per parcel.)

(Ord. 802, § 1, 7-5-2011; Amended by Ord. 846 on 12/18/2017)

A.

Applications for site plan review shall be submitted to the community development department on forms prescribed by the community development director for that purpose. Such applications shall be accompanied by a fee adopted by resolution of the city council.

B.

Upon determining that the application is complete, the community development director will schedule the site plan for consideration by the city planning commission at a public hearing. The commission may approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the site plan. Disapproved plans may be resubmitted after revision within one year, subject to payment of additional fees by the applicant at a cost of fifty percent of the original fee.

C.

No building permit shall be issued except in conformance with the approved site plan. Minor revisions to the site plan that are in substantial conformance with the approved plan, as determined by the community development director, will not require additional planning commission review. Revisions not in substantial conformance with the approved plan shall return to the city planning commission for reconsideration.

(Ord. 802, § 1, 7-5-2011)

No building permit shall be issued to construct, erect or move onto any lot any building, except single family residences and duplexes, unless provisions have been made for placement underground by the developer all existing and new electric and telephone facilities, fire alarm conduits, street lighting wiring, cable television and other wiring conduits, and similar facilities. The community development director may grant a modification, including a complete waiver of the undergrounding requirement of existing facilities, upon determination that undergrounding is unfeasible after considering voltage, project size, or location of the proposed development.

(Adopted by Ord. 846 on 12/18/2017)

In considering approval of a site plan, the following findings shall be made:

A.

The proposal is consistent with all applicable provisions of the Sonora Municipal Code and other local, state and federal laws; and

B.

The proposal is consistent with the Sonora General Plan; and

C.

The project is in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and there will be no potentially significant adverse effects upon environmental quality and natural resources that cannot be properly mitigated and monitored, unless a Statement of Overriding Consideration is adopted; and

D.

There are adequate provisions for public and emergency vehicle access, fire and police protection, sanitation, water, and public utilities and services to ensure that the proposed development will not be detrimental to public health and safety. Adequate provisions shall mean that distribution and collection facilities and other infrastructure are installed at the time of development and in operation prior to occupancy of buildings and the land, and all development fees have been paid prior to occupancy of buildings and the land; and

E.

The subject site is:

1.

Adequate in size and shape to accommodate the use and all fences and walls, landscaping, loading, parking, yards, and other features required by the Sonora Municipal Code; and

2.

Served by streets adequate in width and surfacing type to carry the quantity and type of traffic generated by the proposed development.

F.

The use will not produce odors, gas, fumes, dust, smoke, noise, vibrations, glare, heat, electrical interference, hazardous or waste materials beyond the confines of the property onto contiguous properties or into the air or watercourses to an extent constituting a nuisance and does not constitute a physical hazard to persons or properties beyond the confines of the property by reason of fire, explosion or similar cause.

(Ord. 802, § 1, 7-5-2011)

Appeals to the decision of the city planning commission on any Site Plan may be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.62.100 of this title.

(Ord. 802, § 1, 7-5-2011)

A Site Plan approved by the Commission shall expire and become null and void one year after the date of approval unless the authorized use is carried out, a building permit has been issued for the use by the date of expiration, or an extension has been issued by the city.

(Ord. 802, § 1, 7-5-2011)