Agoura Hills Municipal Code Part 1 Purpose and Design Standards

The commercial districts are included in the zoning regulations to achieve the following:

A. To provide appropriately located areas for retail stores, offices, service establishments, amusement establishments, and businesses offering a variety of commodities and services required by residents of the city and its surrounding market area;

B. To provide opportunities for the concentration of a diversity of retail stores, offices, service establishments and amusement establishments in mutually beneficial relationships to each other for the convenience of the public;

C. To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern commercial development, including off-street parking and truck loading areas;

D. To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid the overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them;

E. To protect commercial properties from noise, odor, dust, dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare, heavy truck traffic, and other objectionable influences incidental to industrial uses;

F. To protect commercial properties from fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards;

G. Use and promote open spaces and landscaping to create a visually pleasing environment, as well as to distinguish city and neighborhood boundaries;

H. Intensified or regional-relation commercial uses shall be organized and designed to promote maximum opportunity for transit usage;

I. Commercial and office developments shall exhibit the highest standards of site planning, architecture and landscape design;

J. Enhance the pedestrian experience through well-delineated and design-enhanced pathways from the parking lots to the commercial businesses, and pedestrian connections from the commercial developments to adjacent neighborhoods and districts, and by providing pedestrian amenities that include outdoor seating areas and gathering spaces.

(Ord. No. 11-388, § 11, 12-14-2011)

The following commercial districts are hereby established:

A. CS Commercial shopping center district;

B. CRS Commercial retail/service district;

C. CS-MU Commercial shopping center-mixed use district;

D. CR Commercial recreation district;

E. BP-OR Business park-office retail district;

F. BP-M Business park-manufacturing district;

G. CN Commercial neighborhood center district; and

H. POM planned office and manufacturing district.

(Ord. No. 11-388, § 11, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 14-409, § 6, 8-13-2014)

The following design standards shall be applicable to any development in all commercial districts.

All uses and structures not requiring any other discretionary approvals shall not be permitted unless a site plan review is obtained pursuant to the provisions of chapter 6. The following site design criteria shall be utilized in conjunction with the general development standards, as set forth in chapter 6:

A. Existing site conditions. Existing site conditions such as mature vegetation, slopes, drainage courses, rock outcropping and views should be all considered as possibilities for inclusion in the project. Use of valuable existing site elements will assist in formulating a focused design theme.

B. Building orientation. Placement of the buildings shall be done in a manner compatible with surrounding existing and planned uses and buildings. The setback from streets and adjacent properties is directly proportionate to the scale of the proposed building and those around it. Larger buildings will require more setback area for a balance of scale and for the protection of solar access to the proposed building and adjacent sites. Lastly, placement of the building should provide the most aesthetic public views.

C. Access/circulation. The access and circulation of a development should be designed to provide a safe and efficient system, both on and off the site. Points of access shall be designed in conformance with the city access regulations. The circulation system shall be designed to reduce conflicts between vehicular and pedestrian traffic, minimize impacts on adjacent properties, combine circulation and access areas where possible, and provide adequate maneuvering areas. Points of access shall not conflict with other planned or existing access points. Clearly delineated pedestrian connections between business areas and parking areas, and to adjoining neighborhoods and districts shall be provided, which provide safety and amenities to pedestrians.

D. Parking areas. The visual prominence of parking areas shall be minimized in the overall design of a project through site design and landscaping. Parking areas should be screened from streets through combinations of mounding, landscaping, low profile walls and grade separations. The design of parking areas shall also minimize auto noise, lights and glare, and ambient air temperature. This can be accomplished through the use of sound walls, site location, use of well-designed lights, and landscaping throughout the parking lot. Parking lots shall incorporate well-designed and articulated pedestrian pathways from the parking areas to the businesses to create a safe and pleasant pedestrian environment. Bicycle parking racks or other public bike storage shall be provided in convenient locations of the development.

E. Landscape/open space. Landscaping and open spaces should be designed as an integral part of the overall site plan design. Landscaping and open spaces should enhance the building design, enhance public views and spaces, provide buffers and transitions, provide for a balance of solar uses, and provide screening. Additionally, the landscape design should accent the overall design theme through the use of structures such as arbors or trellises, hardscape, and special paving.

F. Walls/screening. The use of any walls should be consistent with the overall design theme. Walls are discouraged unless needed for a specific screening or safety purpose. Where they are needed, color, material and variation of the vertical/horizontal plane are needed to blend with the site and building and design.

G. Lighting. On-site lights should provide a safe, functional and aesthetic design. Enough lighting should be provided to ensure a safe environment while at the same time not cause areas of intense light or glare. Fixtures and poles shall be designed and placed in a manner consistent and compatible with the overall site and building design.

H. Utilities and ancillary equipment. On-site utilities and equipment shall be located in inconspicuous areas, away from public view, wherever feasible. Where they are located in public view, they shall be screened with a combination of material that best suits the overall design theme.

I. Compatibility with adjacent uses. Commercial uses adjoining residential neighborhoods shall be designed to be compatible with the neighborhoods through locating automobile and truck access and unloading areas so that they do not directly front residential uses, or by providing adequate screening of landscaping and/or decorative walls in areas adjacent to the residential uses.

(Ord. No. 11-388, § 12, 12-14-2011)

In addition to the provision of chapter 6, all buildings constructed in the commercial districts shall conform to the following criteria:

A. Design theme. A recognizable design theme shall be established for each building. That theme shall be one which creates a harmonious building style, form, size, color, material and roof line, as it relates to surrounding planned or existing developments. Subtle variations are encouraged which provide visual interest but do not create abrupt changes causing discord in the overall design of the immediate area. It is not intended that one style of architecture should be dominant but that individual structures shall create and enhance a high quality and harmonious community appearance.

B. Scale. The mass and scale of the building needs to be proportionate to the site, open spaces, street locations and surrounding developments. No matter what the scale of a building, setbacks and overall heights should provide an element of openness and human scale. Multistory building should be set back toward the center of the site or be designed in a stepped style.

C. Materials and colors. Colors, textures and materials shall be coordinated to achieve total compatibility of design. They should blend well with the environment and not cause abrupt changes.

D. Signing. Every building shall be designed with a precise concept for adequate signing. Provisions for sign placement, sign scale in relationship with building and readability shall be considered in developing the signing concept. While providing the most effective signing, it shall also be highly compatible with the building and site design relative to color, material and placement.

E. Equipment screening. Any equipment, whether on the roof, side of building, or ground, shall be screened. The method of screening shall be architecturally integrated in terms of material, color, shape, and size. The screening design shall blend with the building design. All such equipment on a building shall be screened behind and/or below a permanent part of the main roof. If this is not possible due to elevation, then said equipment shall be placed on the ground.

F. Off-street parking and loading requirements. Off-street parking and loading shall be provided as required by chapter 6.

G. Utilities. All utilities shall be as provided as required by chapter 6.

H. Signs. All signs shall be in compliance with chapter 6.

The conduct and operation of all uses in the commercial districts shall comply with the following minimum standards:

A. Noise. All operations and businesses shall be conducted to comply with the following standards:

1. All commercial activities shall not create any noise that would exceed an exterior noise level of sixty (60) dBA during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and sixty-five (65) dBA during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

2. Loading and unloading. No person shall cause the loading, unloading, opening, closing, or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, garbage cans, or similar objects between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., in a manner which would cause a noise disturbance to a residential area.

3. Vehicle repairs and testing. No person shall cause or permit the repairing, modifying, or testing of any motor vehicle, motorcycle, or motorboat in such manner as to increase a noise disturbance between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. across from a residential area.

B. Lights. All lights and glare associated with operations, and illuminated signs shall be shielded or directed so as to not illuminate adjacent locations or cause glare to motorists.

C. Smoke. No operation or activity is permitted to have operations which emit excessive smoke, fumes, or dust or which exceed the requirements or levels as specified by the air quality management district (AQMD).

D. Maintenance of open areas. All open areas shall be landscaped, surfaced, or treated and maintained permanently in a dustfree condition.

E. Vibration. No operation or activity is permitted which will cause vibration noticeable without instruments at the perimeter of the subject property.

F. Mechanical and electrical equipment. All such equipment, including air conditioners, antennas, pumps, transformers, heating and ventilating equipment shall be located and operated in a manner that does not disturb adjacent uses and activities.

G. Electrical interference. No operation or activity shall transmit, generate, or otherwise cause any electrical, magnetic, or electromagnetic radiation disturbance that affects the operation of any use, equipment, or process employed by any use beyond the boundary of the site.

H. Fire or explosive hazard. All operations or activities shall conform with the minimum requirements of the Uniform Fire Code, and with the provisions of Title 19 of the California Administrative Code.

I. Liquid and solid wastes. There shall be no discharge at any point into any public or private sewage disposal system or stream, or into the ground, of any liquid or solid materials except in conformance with the regulations of the water district and building and safety division.

J. Outdoor storage, trash areas and service areas. All areas for storage of maintenance equipment or vehicles, refuse storage and collection areas and service areas, shall be enclosed or effectively screened from public view by use of a wall, landscaping, berming or a combination thereof.

K. Air quality. No operation or activity shall cause the emission of any smoke, fly ash, dust, fumes, vapors, gases or other forms of air pollution which can cause damage to health, animals, vegetation, or other forms of property, or which can cause excessive soiling on any other lot. No emission shall be permitted which exceeds the requirements of the South Coast air quality management district or the requirements of any air quality plan adopted by the city.

L. Heat or cold. No operation or activity shall emit heat which would cause a temperature increase or decrease on any adjacent property in excess of ten (10) degrees Fahrenheit, whether the change is in the air, on the ground, or in any structure.

M. Odors. No operation or activity shall be permitted to emit odorous gases or other odorous matters in such quantities as to be dangerous, injurious, noxious or otherwise objectionable and readily detectable without the aid of instruments at or beyond the lot line.

N. Fissionable or radioactive materials. No operation or activities shall be permitted which result at any time in the release or emission of any fissionable or radioactive materials into the atmosphere, the ground, or sewerage systems.

(Ord. No. 11-388, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Cross reference— Noise regulations, §§ 4100—4104, 9656.2.

In all commercial districts, the gross floor area of a retail store shall not exceed sixty thousand (60,000) square feet. This limitation shall be applied as follows:

A. The sixty thousand (60,000) square foot limitation shall apply to individual retail stores for which permits are sought and also to the cumulative sum of related or successive permits for retail stores that are part of a larger project, such as piecemeal additions to a building or multiple buildings on a lot or adjacent lots.

B. For purposes of this section, the gross floor area of a retail store shall include gross floor area as defined in section 9120.6 and the area of all portions of the site outside of the exterior walls of buildings used for the display, storage, or sale of any goods, wares or merchandise, except that the gross floor area of a retail store shall not include exterior areas of not more than three thousand (3,000) square feet used for seasonal or temporary sales events under appropriate city permits or approvals.

C. The gross floor area of adjacent stores shall be aggregated in cases where the stores (1) are engaged in the selling of similar or related goods, wares or merchandise and operate under common ownership or management; (2) share checkstands, a warehouse, or a distribution facility; or (3) otherwise operate as associated, integrated or co-operative business enterprises.

(Ord. No. 02-310, § 3B, 3-5-2002)