Atwater Municipal Code § 17.36.070 Lot area, setbacks, building heights

To facilitate development and redevelopment of the central commercial core as an area of "pedestrian priority" by encouraging a broad mix of retail, service, financial, office and specialty uses with few constraints, but in compliance with the overall theme of the revitalization of this core area.

The Central Commercial District is to maintain and enhance the physical and economic vitality of the central City, both as a self-contained unit and as the focus of the community's commercial, financial, cultural and administrative activities. The district encourages development of a well balanced mix of uses, including some residential; creation of an attractive and inviting atmosphere and identity of the area; emphasis upon pedestrian convenience, safety and enjoyment, and minimizing the adverse effects of traffic.

This district is intended to prevent the development of uses which could disrupt or hinder the fulfillment of this broad purpose, but is not intended for general application throughout the City.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

The following shall be permitted uses:

A. Retail establishments;

B. Banking and financial institutions;

C. Business, professional and medical offices;

D. Personal service establishments;

E. Restaurants and cafes;

F. Occasional sidewalk sales and similar promotional events by existing business;

G. Any other use determined by the Community Development Director to be of a similar general character and intensity as the above permitted uses, and is consistent with the purpose of this zone as described in Section 17.36.010.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

Incidental warehousing, storage and accessory uses, including repairs, operations and services, provided that such uses shall be clearly incidental to the sale of products at retail on the premises, and shall be so located, constructed and operated as not to be offensive or objectionable because of dust, gas, smoke, noise, fumes, odors, vibrations, appearance or otherwise.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

The following uses shall require a conditional use permit:

A. Dwelling units on other than ground floor;

B. Theaters;

C. Hotels and motels

D. Service stations and other highway related uses;

E. Minor manufacturing, where a minimum of 75 percent of the fabricated items is sold at the premises;

F. Uses for public assembly;

G. Sidewalk cafes and other uses not totally inside an enclosed building;

H. Cocktail lounges;

I. Massage establishment/therapist;

I. Existing residential dwellings may be reconstructed, repaired or enlarged;

J. Any other use determined by the Community Development Director to be of a similar general character and intensity as the above conditional uses, and is consistent with the purpose of this zone as described in Section 17.36.010.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 767, 3-8-1999; Ord. CS 780, 2-28-2000; Ord. CS 782, 5-8-2000; Ord. CS. 805, 8-12-2002; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

The following uses shall be prohibited in this district:

A. Warehouses;

B. Arcades;

C. Automobile repair, except when incidental to a service station or a car sales business and conducted totally within an enclosed building;

D. Any similar use the Community Development Director finds not consistent with the purpose of this district.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

Editor's note— Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), adopted June 8, 2026, repealed § 17.36.050, which pertained to parking requirements and derived from Ord. CS 567, 1984.

Editor's note— Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), adopted June 8, 2026, repealed § 17.36.060, which pertained to signs and derived from Ord. CS 567, 1984.

A. Development Standards:

B. Building Height Limits: No building constructed in this zone shall exceed a height of 35 feet unless the following has occurred:

1. The Fire Marshal and Chief Building Official, or designees, have both approved the site plans, improvement plans, and other required submittals for the project; and

2. The Planning Commission finds, based on the applicant's submitted study, that the project will not result in adverse visual, air quality, light, or privacy impacts on adjacent or surrounding properties.

Additional conditions of approval may be imposed by the Planning Commission relative to the project as it relates to this section.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 667, 1990; Ord. CS 721, 3-27-1995; Ord. CS 950, § 1, 3-10-2014; Ord. CS 1056, § 1, 1-23-2023; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

All development in this district shall also comply with the following:

A. Landscaping shall comply with City landscape standards.

B. Street trees are to be planted in compliance with adopted City standards.

C. Parking to be in compliance with requirements elsewhere in this title.

D. Loading zones required in addition to alleys shall be not less than ten feet wide, 20 feet deep, with a clearance height of not less than 14 feet and shall provide space for vehicles loading and unloading while at the same time not in any way blocking the alley to moving traffic.

E. A six-foot high solid fence or wall shall be required on the property line abutting any residential zone or land designated for future residential use in the General Plan.

F. Trash and recycling receptacles shall be located in an enclosure and screened from view. All enclosures must meet applicable building-related standards.

G. All utilities shall be installed underground.

H. Refer to Section 17.03.100 for requirements for collection and loading recyclable materials in development projects.

I. All principal permitted uses shall be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building, except for occasional sidewalk sales and similar promotional events by several businesses at the same time.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

All proposed construction or remodeling, and all signs in the C-C zone shall require site plan approval and design review, to the extent required elsewhere in this title.

(Ord. CS 567, 1984; Ord. CS 1059, § 1, 3-27-2023; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)