Camarillo Municipal Code § 19.25.050 Signs

The intent of this zone is to establish and provide regulations for the general placement, design, and intensity of uses for the area identified as the Camarillo Old Town. The establishment of these regulations are intended to protect and preserve the character of the existing uses and to identify the development standards for new uses and buildings within the old town area. The COT (Camarillo old town) Zone recognizes the distinction between this business area, and those established prior to the site planning principles used in later commercial areas. At the same time it provides for development programs to complement the area and the city. Other design guidelines may be adopted to provide further assistance in implementing this zone.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

The following uses are permitted in the COT zone when such use and location conform to every term and condition of the planned development permit issued for the development where the use is to be conducted. New developments are required to obtain a planned development permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. All uses shall conform with the development standards of this chapter and be conducted wholly within a building, except enterprises customarily conducted in the open (i.e., automobile sales, plant nurseries, restaurants with outside dining):

1. Antique stores;

2. Apparel stores;

3. Appliance, sales and service;

4. Art studios, galleries;

5. Auditoriums, exclusive of tents or temporary structures;

6. Auction business, when conducted within a building, but excluding livestock sales;

7. Automobile service stations, including the retail sale of motor vehicle fuel and repairs for motor vehicles (including indoor facilities for lubrication, battery and brake service, tire sales, minor adjustments and repair, auto glass sales and repair, but excluding painting, body work, steam cleaning, major repairs), mini-marts and/or the retail sale of beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages, except as permitted under a conditional use permit;

8. Automobile sales, new and used, including trailer, truck, recreational vehicle, mobile homes and boat sales yards, and subject to the following conditions: No repair or reconditioning of automobiles, trailers or boats shall be permitted;

9. Bakery shops (including outside dining tables);

10. Banks, savings and loan, credit unions, trust companies;

11. Barber shops;

12. Beauty shops;

13. Billiard and pool halls;

14. Blueprinting, photostating and photo finishing facilities;

15. Bookstores;

16. Bowling alleys;

17. Car washes;

18. Carpet, floor covering, and ceramic tile stores;

19. Chiropractic offices;

20. Churches;

21. Clubs and lodges, private;

22. Coffee stores (including outside dining tables);

23. Confectionery stores;

24. Dance halls and dancing studios;

25. [Intentionally deleted];

26. Delicatessens (including outside dining tables);

27. Dressmaking shops;

28. Draperies and window coverings, sales;

29. Drugstores;

30. Dry goods and notions stores;

31. Electronics, sales and repairs of televisions, VCR's, stereos, and related equipment;

32. Fire stations, public buildings, and facilities for federal, state, county and city agencies, not including jails, prisons and other places of confinement;

33. Fish sales, display and sales of ornamental fish and related products;

34. Florist shops;

35. Food stores;

36. Fruit and vegetable stores;

37. Funeral parlors and mortuaries;

38. Furniture and appliance stores;

39. Furniture upholstery;

40. Garden supply stores;

41. Gymnasiums;

42. Grocery stores;

43. Hardware stores;

44. Health clubs;

45. Historical museums;

46. Hotels and motels and senior hotels;

47. Ice cream and yogurt shops;

48. Interior decorating establishments;

49. Jewelry stores;

50. Laundry and dry cleaning establishments;

51. Library;

52. [Intentionally omitted];

53. Meat markets;

54. Medical laboratories;

55. Millinery shops;

56. Music conservatories and studios;

57. Newspaper office;

58. Nurseries, plant;

59. Offices, business and professional;

60. Office, medical and dental;

61. Offices, veterinary (provided that veterinary establishments shall be in a completely enclosed building);

62. Off-street parking;

63. Optician;

64. Pet shops, pet grooming;

65. Plumbing shops;

66. Post office;

67. Printing shops (i.e., blueprinting, photocopying, and offset);

68. Photography store, sales and repair of photography equipment and photo processing;

69. Photography studios;

70. Radio and television retail sales and repair stores;

71. Restaurants and cafes (including outside dining);

72. Retail stores or businesses not involving any kind of manufacturing, processing or treating of products other than that which is clearly incidental to the retail store or business conducted on the premises subject to the following conditions and limitations:

a. Not more than five persons shall be employed in permitted manufacturing processing or treating of products,

b. The operations and projects shall not unreasonably emit noise, odor, dust, smoke, vibration or other objectionable causes;

73. Schools;

74. Shoe repair shops;

75. Small recycling facilities (which do not occupy any required parking);

76. Stationery stores;

77. Tailor shops;

78. Taxidermists;

79. Telephone exchanges;

80. Theaters, indoor;

81. Transportation terminal (i.e., bus, taxi, or train);

82. Travel agency, ticket office;

83. Trophy stores, including plaques and related merchandise;

84. Variety stores;

85. Wallpaper and paint stores;

86. Uses and structures which are incidental or accessory to any of the uses permitted in this zone;

87. Video stores, sales and rentals of videos and recorders;

88. Other uses which in the judgment of the planning commission are similar to, compatible with, and no more objectionable than any of those enumerated in this section in accordance with Chapter 19.60 of this code.

(Ord. 1029 § 7, 2008; Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

(Ord. No. 1196, § 7A, 9-14-2022)

Prior to the issuance of a zoning clearance, a planned development permit is required for the construction, exterior modification or enlargement of any new structure or the use of a lot or premises within the COT zone in accordance with Section 19.25.200 of this chapter. Modifications to existing structures, including the renovation of the exterior façade, additions of not more than twenty percent to the floor area and/or alterations to the site may be approved by the director of planning and community development under an administrative approval when the modifications are in accordance with this chapter and any other adopted design guidelines applicable to the COT zone.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

The following uses may be permitted in the COT zone, if a conditional use permit is obtained in the manner provided in Chapter 19.62 of this code and such use conforms to every term and condition of the permit. A permit for any of these uses may be granted by the planning commission, if the applicant produces sufficient proof that the use will not be injurious or detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare, or to the property in the vicinity or zone in which the use will be situated; that such effects can be prevented with the imposition of conditions, and that the permit is necessary for the owner of the property to make reasonable use of the property:

A. Automobile garages for the repair of motor vehicles;

B. Public utility buildings and structures;

C. Skating rinks, indoors;

D. Building heights greater than two stories or thirty-five feet;

E. Arcades;

F. Recycling facilities, intermediate, not to exceed five hundred square feet in accordance with Chapter 19.62 of this code (which do not occupy any required parking);

G. The concurrent retail sale of beer and/or wine with a service station;

H. The concurrent use of mini-marts with a service station;

I. Commercial recreation uses and sports complexes;

J. Drinking establishments, bars, cocktail lounges, brew pubs, taverns;

K. Residential dwelling units (as part of a commercial usage);

L. Drive-through facilities in conjunction with a permitted use;

M. Emergency shelters and transitional housing;

N. Alcoholic beverage establishments, off-sale.

O. Alcoholic beverages, on-sale for theaters.

(Ord. 1029 § 8, 2008; Ord. 977 § 5, 2005; Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

(Ord. No. 1182, § 5, 8-25-2021)

The following uses may be permitted in the Camarillo Old Town (COT) Zone if a conditional use permit is approved by the director in the manner provided in Chapter 19.62:

A. Day care nurseries, short-term, providing care for more than six children subject to the standards of Section 19.62.165.

(Ord. No. 1196, § 7B, 9-14-2022)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1196, § 7B, adopted Sept. 14, 2022, repealed the former § 19.25.045, and enacted a new § 19.25.045 as set out herein. The former § 19.25.045 pertained to day care within residential units and derived from Ord. No. 1171, § 3J, 3-25-2020.

Signs may be erected in the COT zone in accordance with the sign ordinance codified in Title 17 and other guidelines adopted by the city relating to the design and placement of signs.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

The property development and performance standards set forth in Sections 19.26.065 through 19.26.180 shall apply to all lot and premises in the COT zone.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

All uses within the COT zone shall operate in accordance with the provisions of the performance standards contained in Chapter 19.54 of this code.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

All lots hereafter created shall contain the following minimum standards:

A. Minimum zone area shall be ten thousand square feet, which may consist of one or more lots or parcels, exclusive of public right-of-way dedicated for road purposes or proposed road purposes. If more than one parcel exists, however, the design of the development shall be integrated and unified by the utilization of architectural and landscaping design to the satisfaction of the planning commission.

B. Minimum width of lots shall be one hundred feet.

C. Minimum depth of lots measured at right angles to the front property line shall be one hundred feet.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

The planning commission, in their review, shall determine the yard requirements based on the height and bulk of the building and adjoining land uses and the intent of the zone, but in no case below the minimum standards set forth as follows:

A. Front Yard. Buildings may be constructed up to the front property line or future right-of-way, whichever is greater. Parking areas shall be set back a minimum of ten feet.

B. Side Yard. No interior side yards shall be required. The side yard adjacent to the public road shall meet the front yard setback requirements.

C. Rear Yard. Rear yard shall be no less than ten feet with consideration given to providing adequate access for service vehicles. If the building height is in excess of twenty-five feet, the setback shall be increased by ten feet for each ten feet of building height or portion thereof to a yard area not to exceed fifty feet.

D. General Yard Uses. Outside dining, open storage and display of materials and equipment shall be permitted for the parking and display of automobiles, recreation vehicles, nursery, plant items or landscaping when such storage has been approved and shown on the plot plan; whereas all other operations and display shall be conducted in a completely enclosed building.

E. Architectural Features. Nonstructural architectural features may project into the public right-of-way, up to three feet with a minimum of seven feet, six inches of vertical clearance to eliminate elements which interfere with pedestrian circulation, when approved as part of the planned development permit and encroachment permit.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Off-street parking shall be in accordance with the parking provisions of Chapter 19.44 and with the standards set forth therein.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Off-street loading shall be in accordance with the loading provisions and standards set forth under the loading chapter of this title (Chapter 19.46).

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

A. Whenever the COT zone sides on or rears on an R zone, there shall be erected along the property line, abutting the R zone, a solid decorative masonry screen wall, six feet in height. When the COT zone sides or rears on an alley which separates the property from any R zone, the wall requirement may be waived or the wall reduced in height.

B. Whenever the parking or circulation area abuts a public street, there shall be a low wall or landscaped hedge, not greater than three feet in height (except architectural features such as pilasters, as approved as part of the planned development permit), along the property lines adjacent to the parking area adjacent to the street.

C. The placement and design of walls and screen berms shall be submitted to, and approved by, the director of planning and community development or as part of a planned development permit approved by the planning commission.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Exterior lighting is permitted subject to the procedures and regulations in Chapter 19.47 of this code.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

(Ord. No. 2004, § 11, 1-11-2023)

Buildings and other structures shall not occupy more than sixty-five percent of the area for which the planned development permit is issued where other sections of the code are met and all standards have been complied with. The remaining area shall be used for landscaping, automobile parking and circulation, and shall be completely improved, surfaced and marked for these purposes.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

All buildings shall be limited to a height of two stories not to exceed thirty-five feet exclusive of architectural features as approved under the planned development permit. Greater building heights or number of stories may be permitted subject to the granting of a conditional use permit.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

A. The purpose of the landscaping requirements shall be to enhance, conserve and stabilize property values by encouraging pleasant and attractive surroundings. Landscaping also contributes to the relief of heat, noise and glare through the proper placement of green plants and trees.

B. Landscaping and all other ground space treatment shall be provided upon the net developed site. Landscaping shall be provided with a permanent watering system; and shall be surrounded by a six-inch masonry curb, walk or building. Landscaping shall be considered actual planting areas of lawn, trees, planter boxes, shrubs, or other plants. Environmental areas shall be considered those spaces related to or integrated with landscaping which provide an interesting complementary design. Courtyards, water ponds, streams, walkways, decks, kiosks, and similar items may be permitted. Such landscaping shall be provided in accordance with the following standards:

1. Maintenance. Required landscaped areas shall be maintained in a neat, clean, orderly and healthy condition. This is meant to include proper pruning, mowing of lawns, weeding, removal of litter, fertilizing, replacement of plants when necessary, and the regular watering of all plantings.

2. Required landscaped areas shall be provided with a suitable, permanent method of watering of plants. This watering system shall consist of piped water lines terminating in an appropriate number of sprinklers or emitters to ensure a sufficient amount of water for plants within the landscaped area. Sprinklers or emitters shall be so spaced as to assure a complete coverage of the required landscaped area.

3. The parking area setback shall be landscaped with the exception of that area provided for vehicles or pedestrian access and approved on the development plan.

4. No planting area shall be considered as such, unless it contains at least twenty-four square feet of area and is a minimum of four feet in width; except raised planting boxes within close proximity to the building.

5. One tree, fifteen gallon minimum, of a species approved on final landscaping plan shall be planted within a minimum thirty-six square foot area, at every ten (10) rows of single-row parking stalls, or at every twenty rows of double-row parking stalls.

6. Each unused space resulting from the design of parking spaces or over twenty-four square feet in area shall be landscaped.

7. When the commercial development either rears on or sides on a residential zone, or where the COT abuts an alley or development property, adjacent to the residential zone, it shall include a six-foot wide landscaped area to screen the commercial development. The design of the screening shall consist of evergreen trees and shrubs closely spaced.

8. Landscaping Plan. A plan at a minimum scale of one inch equals thirty feet shall be submitted for approval by the director of planning and community development and shall contain the following:

a. The dimensions and square footage of each planting area;

b. The total square footage of each planting area;

c. Identification of each plant, common and botanical names at the planting area, and the number of each and their container size(s);

d. The permanent watering system, including all pipe sizes, and type and size of all sprinkler heads or emitters;

e. Specification sheet indicating the soil preparation and maintenance program for continual maintenance of the landscaping area and any type of guarantee associated with the installation of the landscaping.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Refuse and recycling enclosures shall be provided in accordance with the enclosure provisions of Chapter 19.50 and the following standards:

A. Each commercial development established shall provide an outdoor refuse and recycling storage area which shall be easily accessible and enclosed on all sides by a minimum six-foot high brick, concrete block or masonry wall in accordance with city approved standard design. The opening of the storage area shall be screened by a solid gate of durable wood, metal, or comparable material.

B. In addition, no material or waste shall be deposited in such a form or manner that it may be transferred by natural causes or force, and waste which may cause fumes, dust, or constitute a fire hazard or be edible by or otherwise attractive to rodents or insects, shall be stored only in closed containers in required enclosures.

C. The number and general placement of the enclosures shall be set forth in the planned development permit and approved by the planning commission.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

All utilities shall be placed underground in accordance with provisions of Chapter 18.08.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

All mechanical and electrical equipment and satellite dish antennae (except dishes less than one meter in diameter) shall be screened by landscaping or fence screen wall or combination of design, and all rooftop equipment shall be placed behind a permanent parapet wall or equipment screen approved by the director of planning and community development or his designated representative and be completely screened from view at ground level.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Adequate ramps and equipment shall be provided to accommodate the use of the facility by the handicapped and shall include, but not be limited to, access ramps, restrooms, drinking fountains, etc.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

No building or improvement or portion thereof shall be erected, constructed, converted, established, or enlarged; nor shall a lot or premises be used without first obtaining a planned development permit.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

A. An application for a planned development permit shall be filed with the planning and community development department on a form provided by the department and shall include the following:

1. An accurately-dimensioned plot plan showing existing and proposed topography, all proposed building, parking, landscaping areas, walls and all existing or proposed streets within one-hundred-foot radius of the property;

2. The dimension of all yards, setbacks, parking area, driveways and square footage of all building landscaping and building coverage;

3. The elevation of all buildings proposed with a notation of the type of material proposed in addition to a color and material sample.

B. The application and development plan shall be reviewed by the department of planning and community development and its proposed recommendations shall be prepared and submitted to the planning commission along with the development plan for their consideration.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Notice of the date, time and place of the planning commission review of the application and the staff's proposed recommendation shall be given to the applicant.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

In considering the approval, denial or modification of an application for a planned development permit, the planning commission shall consider the proposed recommendation of the staff and the following guidelines:

A. The degree of compatibility of property uses for which this chapter is intended to promote and preserve shall be maintained with respect to the particular use on the particular site and consideration of existing and potential uses of property within the zone and the general area in which use is proposed to be located;

B. Performance standards and conditions shall be imposed upon uses which without such condition might become obnoxious, dangerous, offensive or injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare or a portion thereof by reason of the emission of noise, smoke, dust, fumes, vibration, odor or other harmful or annoying substances;

C. The integrity and character of the neighborhood in which the use will be located shall be maintained including the utility and value of property in the neighborhood and in the adjacent zones;

D. The use shall be compatible with public interest, health, safety, convenience and general welfare;

E. The development is in accordance with any adopted guidelines for the area for properties within a redevelopment area.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

The planning commission may attach such conditions and make such modifications, changes or alterations in the proposed application as the commission may determine necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this zone.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

If the proposed planned development would substantially depreciate property values in the vicinity, unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of property in the vicinity by occupants thereof, or would endanger the public peace, health, safety and general welfare, then such proposed planned development shall be rejected, modified or conditioned to remove such objections or denied.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Unless the use is inaugurated, or the construction of the structure is commenced and being diligently pursued not later than twelve months after the date the permit is granted, the permit shall automatically expire on that date. However, if there have been no changes in the proposed plot plans or adjacent areas, the planning commission or the director of planning and community development or his designated representative, when authorized, may grant additional extensions of time for use inauguration.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

A. Effective Date of Planning Commission Decision. Decisions of the planning commission approving, denying or conditionally approving an application for a plan shall be final and conclusive on the tenth consecutive calendar day following the date of the planning commission's decision, unless an effective timely and complete appeal is filed or a city council review is ordered as provided in this section.

B. Form of Appeal. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, an appeal from a decision of the planning commission relating to a plan shall not be valid or effective for any purpose, unless it meets all of the following requirements:

1. Each such appeal shall be in writing on a form provided by the director of planning and community development of the city ("director"), and shall identify the planning commission's action to which the appeal relates; and

2. Each such appeal shall be filed with the director prior to the planning commission decision to which the appeal relates becoming final, as provided in subsection A of this section; and

3. Each such appeal shall be accompanied by a processing fee in an amount set by the city council; and

4. Each such appeal is filed by or on behalf of any of the following:

a. The owner of any real property located within the city, or

b. A person who lawfully occupies or is entitled to lawfully occupy any real property which is located within three hundred feet of the lot lines of the lot or lots which are the subject of the planned development permit, or

c. Any interested person.

C. Effectiveness of an Appeal. No appeal shall be deemed complete nor effective for any purpose, unless it complies with all of the provisions of this section.

D. Review by City Council. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this section, the city council, by majority vote of its total membership and at any time before a planning commission decision becomes final pursuant to subsection A of this section, may issue an order to review, de novo, a planning commission decision relating to a planned development permit ("order of review").

E. Stay of Proceedings. The timely filing of an effective appeal of the timely adoption by the city council or an order of review shall stay the decision of the planning commission to which the appeal or order of review relates, pending the city council action on the matter.

F. Action of City Clerk. Upon the timely filing of an effective appeal or the adoption of a timely order of review, the city clerk will:

1. Set the matter for hearing at the next most convenient meeting of the city council; and

2. Give written mailed notice of the time and place of the hearing to the appellant, the applicant, and such other persons and entities in accordance with Section 19.84.030 of this code.

G. Action by the City Council. At the time and place of the hearing on an appeal or an order of review, the city council shall conduct a de novo hearing on the matter, at which time all interested persons shall be allowed to present relevant reliable evidence to the city council. The technical rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings need not be observed, provided that the matter is resolved by the city council based upon reliable relevant evidence. The applicant shall have the burden of proof to show the existence of facts which warrant the granting of the planned development permit.

H. City Council Decision. The city clerk shall give written notice of the city council's decision to the appellant, the applicant and any other interested person who requests such notice. The city council's determination shall be final and conclusive subject only to judicial review.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

(Ord. No. 1153, § 4(N), 5-25-2018)

A. Any permit hereintofore or hereafter granted may be revoked by the planning commission or city council after appropriate proceedings, provided herein, for any of the following causes:

1. That any term or condition of the permit has not been complied with;

2. That the property subject to the permit, or any portion thereof, is used or maintained in violation of any statute, ordinance, law or regulation in effect at time of approval;

3. That the use for which the permit was granted has not been exercised for at least twelve consecutive months or has ceased to exist, or has been abandoned;

4. That the use for which the permit was granted has been so exercised as to be detrimental to the public health or safety, or as to constitute a nuisance.

B. After revocation of a permit, the property affected thereby shall be subject to the regulations of the applicable zone classification.

C. The failure of the planning commission or city council to revoke a permit whenever due cause exists or occurs does not constitute a waiver of such right with respect to any subsequent cause for revocation.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

A. A certificate of occupancy shall be required for any change in use within a planned development permit. A change in use in an existing building may be approved by the director of planning and community development.

B. An application for a certificate of occupancy shall be accompanied by:

1. A description of the proposed commercial operation in sufficient detail to describe fully the nature and extent of the proposed use.

C. A certificate of occupancy for a use of the land in the COT zone may be revoked by the city council after a public hearing if the city council finds that the holder of the certificate has failed to comply with approved plans.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)

Uses expressly prohibited in the COT zone are industrial and manufacturing uses.

(Ord. 898 § 1 (part), 1998.)