Part 5 — FC FREEWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT

9541. • Purpose.

The purpose of the freeway corridor overlay district shall be to recognize the importance of the land use, architectural design, and appearance of development within the freeway corridor to the city's image, to establish special design guidelines for all development within said areas, and to establish findings that will ensure that future developments are compatible with the city's historic character.

The areas within the freeway corridor overlay district are "gateways"; they are seen first by visitors and residents as they pass through the city, and as they exit the freeway to enter the city. These areas are of crucial importance in establishing the city's identity and character in the minds of visitors and residents.

(Ord. No. 98-278, § 1, 1-14-98)

All development in the FC overlay district shall provide for:

A.

The use of naturalistic and native landscaping, particularly native oaks, throughout the development;

B.

Preservation of key distant vistas, such as the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills;

C.

Preservation of local landmarks in terms of visibility, including Ladyface Mountain and Strawberry Hill;

D.

Preservation of designated open space corridors and trails;

E.

Installation and maintenance of landscaping, including street trees, center median treatment and parkway treatment;

F.

Use of compatible colors and materials to preserve and enhance the scenic quality of the freeway corridor;

G.

Total screening of all unsightly uses with berms, decorative walls and/or landscaping.

9542. • Permitted uses.

Except for the following, all uses permitted in the underlying district shall be permitted in this district.

In addition to the prohibited uses in the underlying district, the following are prohibited in the FC overlay district:

A.

Cabarets, adult book stores, adult entertainment, adult theater and similar adult uses, outdoor displays except new car franchise dealerships, mini storage facilities and yards, truck and equipment rentals, and the like.

B.

Off-sale alcoholic beverage establishments. This section shall not apply to the wholesale sale of alcoholic beverages or to the sale of alcoholic beverages which are wrapped or otherwise enclosed in a sealed container and sold as part of a gift package or other goods, only where there is no public display of alcoholic beverages where the sale of such items is incidental to the primary business on the premises, and where the sales of such items do not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the gross sales of the business at said location. This section shall also not apply to supermarket/food stores with a floor area greater than ten thousand (10,000) square feet.

(Ord. No. 130, § 1, 7-29-87; Ord. No. 150, § 1, 5-11-88; Ord. No. 09-362, § 4, 7-8-09)

9543. • Distance limitations.

The FC overlay district shall be applied only to six hundred sixty (660) feet north and south of the right-of- way edge of the Ventura (101) Freeway.

9544. • Development standards.

Whichever is greater, the development standards of the underlying district or the following shall apply:

All development adjacent to the freeway in the FC overlay district shall provide for:

A.

A setback of all structures from the freeway right-of-way of one (1) foot for each two (2) feet of building height, with a minimum of twenty (20) feet, for one (1) story, and two (2) feet of setback per one (1) foot of building height for any building taller than twenty (20) feet.

B.

The installation and maintenance of landscaping and automatic irrigation system in the freeway right-of- way, subject to the approval of the city and California Department of Transportation. If such installation is not possible, then the equivalent landscaping shall be provided on the subject property.

C.

The provision of a six-foot high decorative wall or equivalent berming and planting for the full frontage of the freeway.

9545. • Conditional uses.

The following development shall be subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit pursuant to Agoura Hills Municipal Code Sections 9545.1 and 9673, et seq.:

A.

The development either:

(i)

Includes a freestanding structure with a total building area of sixty thousand (60,000) square feet or more; or

(ii)

Includes structures with a cumulative total building area of one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet or more;

AND

B.

The development is located, in part or in full, in the CS, CR or CRS zones of the FC overlay district.

For the purposes of this section, in order for a structure to be considered "freestanding" it should have sufficient distance from an adjacent structure to provide separate visual identity.

(Ord. No. 98-278, § 2, 1-14-98)

In addition to the findings required by Agoura Hills Municipal Code Section 9673.2.E, the planning commission shall make the following findings before granting a conditional use permit:

The project is compatible with the city's semi-rural character and does not overwhelm the city's low- intensity development style.

The project's features and space enhance the site so that the buildings are integral parts of the community fabric. To the maximum extent feasible, taking into consideration more than just economic feasibility, the project is situated on the site to maximize the views of the city's points of natural scenic beauty, such as Medea Creek, Ladyface Mountain or Strawberry Hill.

Parking areas provide safe and convenient access. Parking areas are situated on the site and landscaped to avoid vast expanses of uninterrupted parking spaces. A parking study shall be prepared to determine parking adequacy.

The site design works with the characteristics of the existing terrain and maximizes preservation of open space to the maximum extent feasible, taking into consideration more than just economic feasibility. The existing terrain and natural contours have been incorporated into the site plan design to maximum extent feasible, taking into consideration more than just economic feasibility. Where features of special interest such as hillsides, streams, or protected trees exist on the project site, they have been integrated into the design. The planning commission has the discretion to impose conditions as it may deem to be necessary to minimize and mitigate grading, the use of retaining walls, and the use of large flat pads.

The project design avoids or mitigates significant impacts to sensitive or endangered plants and animals and sensitive plant communities such as oak woodlands or riparian habitat.

The development design conveys the high quality image envisioned in the general plan. Views of the site from the freeway, city gateways, and abutting residential areas compliment and enhance the city's low intensity and semi-rural character. Line of sight studies shall be prepared to determine the visual impacts of the project.

Building facades are articulated on all sides: There are no long, unbroken facades. The building facades are of natural, non-reflective or low-reflective materials such as wood, stone, brick, or textured concrete. The building's predominant colors are subtle, neutral, or earth tone. Variations in roof lines are used to add interest to and reduce the massive scale of large buildings. Roof features compliment the character of adjoining neighborhoods.

Landscaping compliments the natural setting of the region.

Traffic, light, noise, and other environmental impacts shall be mitigated to the maximum extent feasible, taking into consideration more than just economic feasibility. A project shall not be approved if, after implementation of any required traffic mitigation measures, the project's traffic will significantly reduce the existing level of service on any local street in a residential neighborhood. A traffic study shall be prepared to determine impacts and identify mitigation measures.

If any point on any lot line of any parcel on which the development is proposed to be located is within five hundred (500) feet of any point on any lot line of any residentially zoned property (including property in any open space district in which residential uses are permitted or conditionally permitted), the project is compatible with residential uses. This finding is imposed in recognition of the impact of such developments on residential uses, including impacts on local street traffic, noise, light, security, view corridors, and other environmental impacts. The planning commission has the discretion to impose such conditions as it may deem to be necessary to ensure compatibility with residential uses, including but not limited to conditions relating to:

(i)

The size, scale and configuration of the development;

(ii)

Glare on residential properties from outdoor lighting;

(iii)

Noise from loading docks, parking areas, and other outdoor areas of the development;

(iv)

Security in the neighborhood;

(v)

Traffic and circulation in the neighborhood;

(vi)

Landscaping and other design features to buffer the aesthetic impacts on residential properties; and

(vii)

Other environmental impacts.

(Ord. No. 98-278, § 2, 1-14-98; Ord. No. 25-482, § 8, 12-10-2025)

9546—9550. - Reserved.