Chapter 9.10

INTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL (A-I) ZONE

Sections:

9.10.010 Purpose and application. 9.10.020 Permitted uses. 9.10.030 Lot area. 9.10.040 Lot dimensions. 9.10.050 Coverage. 9.10.060 Building setback areas. 9.10.070 Distance between structures. 9.10.080 Height of structures. 9.10.090 Driveways. 9.10.100 Other setback standards. 9.10.110 Off-street parking. 9.10.120 Usable open space. 9.10.130 Landscaping. 9.10.140 Screening, fences, and walls. 9.10.150 Signs. 9.10.160 General provisions and standards.

This chapter shall apply to all land within the Intensive Agricultural (A-I) zone district. The purpose of the A-I zone is to preserve land best suited for intensive agricultural mining and other rural activities from the encroachment of incompatible uses, to prevent the intrusion of urban development into agricultural areas in such a manner as to make agricultural production uneconomical or impractical.

Uses shall be permitted or not permitted, conditionally permitted, administratively permitted, or temporarily permitted as prescribed in the land use table in Section 9.08.030.

The minimum lot area is five (5) acres. There shall be no minimum lot size for agricultural industrial uses approved in conjunction with a conditional use permit.

The maximum coverage of a lot shall be no more than ten percent (10%) for permitted uses and no more than fifty percent (50%) for conditional uses.

36

Zoning Ordinance

2024

City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance

• A. No structure shall be placed within a building setback area.

• B. The front building setback area shall be a minimum of 50 feet from the front lot line.

• C. The rear building setback shall be a minimum of 20 feet from the rear lot line.

• D. The interior side building setback area shall be a minimum of 15 feet from an interior side property line.

• E. The street-side building setback area shall be a minimum of 25 feet from a street-side property line.

• F. Structures used for the purpose of housing livestock or for processing, packing, or storing agricultural produce shall be at least 40 feet away from any residential structures on the site and at least 100 feet from any public parks, schools, hospitals, or similar institutions.

The minimum distance between structures shall be 10 feet, except as provided by the building code.

The maximum structure height shall be 35 feet, except that a height up to 75 feet may be permitted in accordance with Chapter 9.80 Conditional Use Permits.

Driveways should be minimized to protect the maximum amount of open space. Driveways shall be the minimum width and length necessary to support the use, as determined by the Director.

Mechanical equipment shall be located a minimum of 25 feet from every lot line.

• A. Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be provided on the site for each use as prescribed in Chapter 9.54.

• B. No parking spaces shall be provided within any front, side, or rear building setback area.

There is no open space requirement in the A-I zone 9.10.130 Landscaping.

Areas around buildings and parking areas that have been disturbed from their natural state shall be landscaped with natural landscape plants and materials that blend in with the natural environment on the site. Any landscaping installed shall comply with Chapter 9.52 Landscape Standards. These standards shall not apply to land used in agricultural production.

Fences and walls shall be provided on the site for each use in accordance with Sections 9.50.110 and 9.50.120.

Zoning Ordinance

37

2024

City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance

Signs placed in the A-I zone shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 9.56.

Structures and the use of structures or land shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 9.50.

Zoning Ordinance

38

2024

City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance