Article 32.
C2 Retail Business and Service District.
§ 26-32-005 Purpose.
§ 26-32-010 Permitted uses.
§ 26-32-020 Uses permitted
with a use permit.
- Amended by Ordinance 5715 
§ 26-32-030
Building intensity and development criteria.
Purpose: the retail business and service district is intended to implement the provisions of the general plan, Section LU-2.3.1 to provide areas which permit a full range of retail goods and services for a residential and business community as a whole rather than a local neighborhood and to implement the objectives of adopted redevelopment plans within redevelopment project areas in the general plan. This district provides for comparison retail shopping and direct consumer service uses which are usually sought on occasion, rather than daily. (Ord. No. 4643, 1993.)
Sec. 26-32-010. Permitted uses.
Permitted uses include the following:
(a) Retail stores supplying commodities for residents of the county such as bakeries, ice cream, grocery and liquor stores, newsstands, furniture, hardware and appliance stores, department stores, stationery stores, sporting goods stores, pet shops, florist shops, automobile accessory stores and the like. Retail nurseries;
(b) Repair and service uses such as laundry and dry cleaning establishments, barber shops, beauty parlors, shoe repair and tailor shops, photography studios, radio and TV repair shops, and the like;
(c) Restaurants serving alcohol, bars, cocktail lounges;
(d) Financial institutions such as banks and savings and loan offices, professional administrative and general business offices;
(e) Business, professional and trade schools or colleges;
(f) Small collection facilities as an accessory use to any permitted use subject to the provisions of Section 26-88-070; (Ord. No. 3805.)
(g) Occasional cultural events; provided, that a written notice stating “The Sonoma County Planning Department will issue a zoning permit for a cultural event (state nature and duration) on this property if a written appeal is not received within ten (10) days from the date of this notice.” is posted on the property at least ten (10) days prior to issuance of a zoning permit, and no appeal pursuant to Section 26-92-040 has been received from any interested person, and provided that approval is secured from the following departments: sheriff, public health, fire services, building inspection and public works. In the event of an appeal, a hearing on the project shall be held pursuant to Section 26-92-040;
(h) Small family day care;
(i) Large family day care, provided that the applicant shall meet all performance standards listed in Section 26-88-080;
(j) Small residential community care facility;
(k) Beekeeping;
(l) Attached commercial telecommunication facilities subject to the applicable criteria set forth in Section 26-88-130;
(m) Minor and intermediate freestanding commercial telecommunication facilities eighty feet (80') or less, subject to the applicable criteria set forth in Section 26-88-130;
(n) Noncommercial telecommunication facilities eighty feet (80') or less in height subject to the applicable criteria set forth in Section 26-88-130;
(o) One (1) bed and breakfast inn, containing not more than ten (10) guest rooms, subject to Article 82 (Design Review) and Article 86 (Parking Regulation). Food service shall be limited to breakfast served to inn guests only, and shall be subject to approval of the Sonoma County department of health services. No weddings, lawn parties or similar activities shall be allowed unless specifically authorized by a use permit issued pursuant to Section 26-32-020. No outdoor amplified sound shall be allowed unless specifically authorized by a use permit issued pursuant to Section 26-32-020. No bed and breakfast inn shall include the use of more than one (1) single-family dwelling and one (1) accessory structure for transient occupancy. No more than two (2) of the ten (10) guest rooms allowed by this section may be located in the accessory structure, if any. If an accessory structure is used for transient occupancy, the total floor area available for use by guests, including guest rooms and common areas, shall not exceed six hundred forty (640) square feet. There shall be no internal doorway or passage between the area available for use by guests and any remaining area of the accessory structure;
(p) Small wind energy systems not located within a county-designated urban service area or within two thousand five hundred feet (2,500') of a county-designated urban service area, subject to zoning permit approval and the standards in Section 26-88-135;
(q) Other nonresidential uses which in the opinion of the planning director are of a similar and compatible nature to those uses described in this section. (Ord. No. 5435 § 2(v), 2003; Ord. No. 5342 § 3, 2002; Ord. No. 5265 § 1(m), 2001; Ord. No. 4973 § 9(a), 1996; Ord. No. 4643, 1993.)
Sec. 26-32-020. Uses permitted
with a use permit.
- Amended by Ordinance 5715
(a) One (1) dwelling unit on a permanent foundation per lot subject, at a minimum, to the following criteria, and provided that no commercial use may be permitted unless the dwelling unit is removed or converted to another use in accordance with this district.
(1) The property is not located within a redevelopment project area identified on the general plan land use map,
(2) The property has constraints or is of such a size as to make it infeasible to develop with the commercial uses allowed by zoning,
(3) The unit complies with setbacks, building heights and other standards of the applicable zoning district,
(4) The unit meets other conditions which may result from the application review process;
(b) Mixed Use Developments. Additional dwelling units for permanent occupancy as part of a mixed commercial/residential development provided that the property is located within an urban service area as defined in the general plan and that the residential units complement and are compatible with an existing or proposed commercial use, subject to the provisions of Section 26-88-123, Mixed use developments;
(c) Hotels, motels, churches, clubs and lodges;
(d) Large residential community care facility;
(e) Antique stores, second hand sales, auction studios;
(f) Indoor movie theaters;
(g) New and used automobile sales, service and repair establishments;
(h) Takeout food, live entertainment, amplified live music;
(i) Gasoline service stations, car washes, public garages and minimarts; (Ord. No. 3615.)
(j) Animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and kennels;
(k) Minor public service uses or facilities (transmission and distribution lines and telecommunication facilities excepted), including but not limited to reservoirs, storage tanks, pumping stations, telephone exchanges, small power stations, transformer stations, fire and police stations and training centers, service yards and related parking lots which, at a minimum, meet the criteria of general plan Policy PF-2(s) and which are not otherwise exempt by state law;
(l) Exploration and development of low temperature geothermal resources for other than power development purposes, provided that at a minimum it is compatible with surrounding land uses;
(m) Business support services including copying and printing;
(n) Household goods rental store;
(o) Outdoor vendors; (Ord. No. 3348.)
(p) Commercial planned developments and commercial condominiums. Compatibility and provision of amenities shall be required and unique characteristics, design innovation and creativity shall be additional criteria utilized in evaluating such development. The minimum lot size and required yards of Section 26-32-030 shall not apply to such development. Conversions of existing buildings to commercial condominium or commercial planned development may be accomplished by use permit waiver pursuant to Section 26-88-010(g) and applicable Sections of Chapter 25 of this code;
(q) Day care center;
(r) Gymnasiums, health clubs, spas and similar uses;
(s) Amplified live music;
(t) Intermediate and major freestanding commercial telecommunication facilities greater than eighty feet (80') in height, subject at a minimum to the applicable criteria set forth in Section 26-88-130;
(u) Noncommercial telecommunication facilities greater than eighty feet (80') in height subject at a minimum to the applicable criteria set forth in Section 26-88-130;
(v) Weddings, lawn parties or similar activities to be held at a bed and breakfast inn. Outdoor amplified sound may be allowed at these events only if specifically authorized by the use permit.
(w) Small-scale homeless shelters serving up to ten (10) persons, subject to design review, within designated urban service areas.
(x) Emergency homeless shelters with up to fifty (50) beds, subject to design review, within designated urban service areas.
(y) Small wind energy systems located within a county-designated urban service area or within two thousand five hundred feet (2,500') of a county-designated urban service area, subject to the standards in Section 26-88-135;
(z) In designated urban service areas, small single room occupancy (SRO) facilities, subject to the granting of a use permit and consistent with the provisions of Section 26-88-125;
(aa) In designated urban service areas, large single room occupancy (SRO) facilities of up to thirty (30) SRO rooms, subject to the granting of a use permit and consistent with the provisions of Section 26-88-125;
(bb) Live/work uses in conjunction with a legally established single family residential unit subject to the requirements of Section 26-88-122. Live/work uses shall not be permitted in a mixed use development, SRO unit, or caretaker unit;
(cc) Other nonresidential uses which in the opinion of the planning director are of a similar and compatible nature to those uses described in this section. (Ord. No. 5569 §§ 5, 6, 7, 2005; Ord. No. 5435 § 2(w), 2003; Ord. 5429 § 5, 2003; Ord. No. 5265 § 1(n), 2000; Ord. No. 4973 § 9(b), (c), 1996; Ord. No. 4643, 1993.)
Sec. 26-32-030. Building intensity and development criteria.
The use of land and structures within this district is subject to this article, the applicable regulations of this chapter, and the provisions of any district which is combined herewith. Policies and criteria of the general plan and any applicable specific or area plan or local area development guidelines shall supersede the standards herein.
(a) Building Intensity. The maximum building intensity of the use of a site shall be determined by multiplying the maximum building height limit and the maximum coverage of the lot in square feet. The specified height or lot coverage limits may be modified if a use permit is first secured and if the maximum building intensity is not exceeded.
(b) Maximum Building Height.
(1) Thirty-five feet (35') provided, however, that the additional height may be permitted subject to subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Maximum height for telecommunication facilities is subject to the provisions of this article and Section 26-88-130.
(c) Maximum Lot Coverage. Fifty percent (50%) provided that additional coverage may be permitted subject to subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Minimum Lot Size. Eight thousand (8,000) square feet.
(e) Yard Requirements. The following shall apply except that if the subject property adjoins land which is zoned AR or is designated as agricultural land, the use is subject to the requirements of Section 26-88-040(g).
(1) Front Yard. None, except where the frontage in a block is partially in an R district, in which case the front yard shall be the same as required in such R district.
(2) Side Yard. None, except where the side of a lot abuts upon the side of a lot in an R district, in which case the side yard shall be not less than five feet (5').
(3) Rear Yard. None, except where the rear of a lot abuts on an R district, in which case the rear yard shall be not less than five feet (5').
(4) The yard areas set forth in subsections (e)(1) through (3) of this section may be increased for properties abutting certain roads classified as collector or arterial in Sections CT-4.4 and CT-4.5 of the Sonoma County general plan or to accommodate any landscaping required pursuant to subsection of this section.
(f) Parking Spaces. All uses shall furnish parking as required by Article 86 of this chapter.
(g) Design Review. Design review approval shall be required for all permitted uses or as otherwise provided herein in the manner provided in Article 82. (Ord. No. 4973 § 9(d), 1996; Ord. No. 4643, 1993.)