The City Center District is intended to function as the downtown of Vernon. Building upon the government, educational, religious and residential uses which are already present in this district, the City Center is envisioned to grow to form a hub for retail, food, business and personal services and public spaces which will serve the entire Vernon community, including existing and future industrial workers who demand these services. New residential uses can also be located in this area to bring new life to the streetscape and to support the new service uses to the greatest extent possible.

Standards and Nonconforming Uses. The regulation of uses and establishment of development standards and site planning standards set forth in the MU-CC Zone are those deemed necessary to establish a downtown environment. The right to use and maintain legal nonconforming uses and legal nonconforming buildings and standards in the MU-CC Zone and all overlay zones are governed by Section 17.64.010, "Legal nonconforming status."

Use Regulation. Tables 17.23.020(A) and 17.23.020(B) detail specific land uses within the MU-CC Zone which are either encouraged, permitted of right, accessory, accessory or conditional, or prohibited.

Definitions. Definitions of use classifications are given in Chapter 17.16. Per Section 17.12.010, the Public Works Director may interpret and apply these use classifications to individual cases.

Commercial, Industrial, Warehouse Uses. Any commercial or industrial or warehouse use which is not included in Table 17.23.020(B) shall be permitted of right, conditionally permitted, or prohibited subject to all standards of the I Zone. Such uses include: research and development labs, commercial testing labs, computer/circuit board/semi-conductor manufacturing, research hospitals/labs (with medical waste), electric vehicle recharge facility, data center, specialty agriculture growing facility, auto body shops, gas dispensing facilities, metal plating shops, materials manufacturing, large manufacturing and assembly plants, industrial machinery, energy and utility operations, warehousing, logistics facility, and mini distribution center. Any commercial or industrial or warehouse use not included in Table 17.23.020(B) shall comply with parking, loading, intensity and approval standards of the I Zone, including Sections 17.22.020, 17.22.030, 17.22.035, 17.22.040, 17.22.050(B), 17.22.050(C), 17.22.080(A), 17.22.080(G), and Chapter 17.56. However, wrought iron fences are not permitted along Santa Fe Avenue. Such uses shall also be subject to standards governing minimum setbacks and ground/podium level open space as described in Table 17.23.040(A).

Junk or salvage business.

Public storage (including mini-storage) facilities.

Manure fertilizer business.

Contractor's yard.

Freight terminals, solid waste facilities, truck terminals, transportation-related use, or hazardous waste facilities located outside of the T Overlay Zone.

Slaughtering plants located outside of the S Overlay Zone.

Rendering plants located outside of the R Overlay Zone.

Site Planning Standards and Nonconforming Uses. The following site planning standards set forth in Table 17.23.040(A) and illustrated in Figures 17.23.040(B) and 17.23.040(C) shall apply to all buildings, ancillary structures, land, uses, and businesses in the MU-CC Zone. Legal nonconforming uses and legal nonconforming buildings or standards are required to comply with applicable site planning standards at the time of the occurrence of an event described in Table 17.64.030, Right to Continue Nonconforming Uses and Buildings.

Additional Development Standards. For additional development standards see Chapter 17.53, Incentives for Preservation, Creative Uses, and Affordable Housing, and Chapter 17.54, Mixed-Use Design Standards and Guidelines.