Article 2 — Zoning Districts & Allowable Land Uses May 2019

2-49

CITY OF ARCATA MUNICIPAL CODE – TITLE 9 – LAND USE CODE

Combining Zones 9.28.060

(2) Essential Facilities. Hospitals, fire and police stations, emergency control
centers, power plants, power substations, designated emergency communication
facilities, schools and other similar uses that must be available to operate after an
emergency.

(3) High Risk Facilities. Auditoriums, hotels, large motels, major office buildings,
theaters, high density apartments, and other similar uses that accommodate large
numbers of people.

b. Prohibited Areas. Critical facilities are prohibited in:

(1) The High Liquefaction Hazard Area (Category I) as shown in Seismic Safety
Element; and

(2) Coastal High Hazard Areas (Tsunami), as defined in the City’s LCP.

c. Design Standards.

(1) Critical Facilities should be designed to function at peak efficiency after a
magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the Mad River Fault Zone.

(2) Site specific investigations, as indicated by the Geologic Hazards Review process
(Chapter 9.62), shall be required prior to the construction of Critical Facilities. If it
is found that engineering techniques cannot mitigate the hazards to within
acceptable risk levels appropriate to the intended land use, the location of the
proposed development should be reconsidered. (Ord. 1432, eff. 12/20/2013; Ord.
1484, eff. 3/17/2017)

A. Purpose. The :NCA combining zone is applied to areas identified by General Plan Policy H-4, to ensure that new construction, modifications or alterations to structures and site layouts are harmonious with existing neighborhood character, and that historical resources are protected.

B. Applicability. The :NCA combining zone may be combined with any primary zoning district established by Section 9.12.020 (Zoning Map and Zoning Districts).

C. Land Use and Development Standards. Proposed development and new land uses on a site within the :NCA combining zone shall comply with the requirements of the primary zoning district, all other applicable provisions of this Land Use Code, and the provisions of this Section.

D. Design Review Requirements. Design Review shall be required for new construction and alterations proposed within a Neighborhood Conservation Area (NCA) as identified in Land Use Code Section 9.72.040.

1. Findings Required for Approval. Design Review approval within the :NCA combining zone
shall require that the review authority first find that the design of the proposed structure, alteration
or addition is compatible with and does not destroy the historic or architectural character of the
property and the neighborhood conservation area. (Ord. 1513, eff. 3/8/2019)