Azusa Municipal Code Ch. 88.28 Special Purpose Zones

This chapter lists the land uses that may be allowed within the Institutional (INS), Open Space (OS), and Recreation (REC) zones, determines the type of land use permit/approval required for each use, and provides standards for site layout and building form.

The individual special purpose zones are intended to be applied as follows.

A. INS (Institutional) Zone. The INS zone is applied to sites within the city that are occupied by or reserved for public facilities and utilities, meeting facilities, public and private schools, libraries, government offices, etc. The INS zone is consistent with and implements the institutional land use classification of the general plan.

B. OS (Open Space) Zone. The Open Space zone is intended to protect its important natural resources by limiting building within the mountains, foothills, and river channels. The primary allowable land uses are: public recreation; limited residential development on legal lots of record with adequate access, buildable areas, and infrastructure; limited agricultural uses; and, where authorized by the general plan lodging, resort, and conference center facilities and related activities. Certain areas within the OS zone may be subject to long-term preservation through land conservancy arrangements.

Surface mining operations may also be allowed where they were established prior to the effective date of this Development Code, recognizing the community's strong interest in improving and accelerating reclamation and reducing the environmental impacts of existing vested mining, with consideration of trade-offs affecting vested mining operations and future operations adjacent and contiguous to vested operations. Future operations adjacent and contiguous to vested operations may be considered through a formal development agreement based on public participation and environmental review. For the purposes of this Development Code, vested mining rights shall mean that valid use permits have been issued by the city, or that mining is otherwise considered vested pursuant to other applicable laws.

C. REC (Recreation) Zone. The REC zone is applied to public park and recreation sites and areas within the city. The REC zoning district is consistent with and implements the recreation land use classification of the general plan.

A. General Permit Requirements. Table 2-4 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Development Code in the special purpose zones, and the planning permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 88.10.050 (Approval Requirements for Development and New Land Uses). Table 2-4 provides for land uses that are:

1. Permitted subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this Development Code, subject to first obtaining a zoning clearance (Section 88.51.020). These are shown as "P" uses in the tables;

2. Allowed subject to the approval of a minor use permit (Section 88.51.040), and shown as "MUP" uses in the tables;

3. Allowed subject to the approval of a use permit (Section 88.51.040), and shown as "UP" uses in the tables;

4. Allowed subject to the type of city approval required by a specific provision of Chapter 88.42 (Standards for Specific Land Uses), and shown as "S" uses in the tables; and

5. Not allowed in particular zones, and shown as a "—" in the tables.

B. Permit Requirements for Certain Specific Land Uses. Where the last column in Table 2-4 ("Specific Use Regulations") includes a section number, the referenced section determines whether the use requires a zoning clearance, minor use permit, or use permit. The referenced section may also establish other requirements and standards applicable to the use.

;sz=8q; Key to Zone Symbols

Notes:

(1) A definition of each listed use type is in Article 7 (Glossary).

(2) This is a critical, sensitive, or high occupancy facility, subject to the hazard mitigation requirements of Section 88.30.030.

(3) This land use shall require the approval of both a use permit and a development agreement.

(4) Allowed only in the area designated "hotel/conference center" by the general plan.

(Ord. No. 07-O6, § 1, 6-18-07; Ord. No. 10-O1, § 2, 3-1-10; Ord. No. 14-O4, § 2, 7-21-14; Ord. No. 2020-02, § 3, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 5(Exh. A-1), 8-18-25)

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-5, in addition to the applicable standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 of this Development Code.

TABLE 2-5 - SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS