Article 1 — Purpose and Intent

(a)

This Zoning Ordinance has been adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the community and to implement policies contained in the Coalinga General Plan and any Specific Plans adopted pursuant to the General Plan. More specifically, the Zoning Ordinance is intended to:

(1)

Provide a precise guide to the physical development of the City in accord with the goals and policies expressed in the General Plan.

(2)

Promote the economic stability of existing land uses that are consistent with the development policies of the General Plan and protect them from intrusions by inharmonious or harmful land uses.

(3)

Ensure the provision of adequate open space for light, air and fire safety.

(4)

Reduce the risk of injury or exposure to hazards for people and property.

(5)

Permit the development of office, commercial, industrial, and related land uses that are consistent with the General Plan in order to strengthen the City's economic base.

(6)

Require the provision of adequate off-street parking facilities.

(7)

Improve the design and aesthetic quality of new construction.

(8)

Provide for the gradual elimination of land uses and structures that are inconsistent with the policies of the General Plan and which may adversely affect other property or uses.

(9)

Establish a consistent, thorough and timely public review process to ensure conformity with the provisions of this title.

(10)

Promote a positive business climate by establishing consistent and logical land use regulations and requirements, permitting existing and prospective business establishments to understand such requirements.

(11)

Provide protection from excessive, unnecessary and unreasonable noise for all residents from any and all sources within the community.

(12)

Control the adverse effect of noise on the community.

(13)

Promote the construction of housing within Coalinga that is affordable to all economic segments of the population, including households of low and very low incomes.

(14)

Encourage affordable housing construction throughout the community, rather than concentrated within specific areas or neighborhoods.

(15)

Protect the visual character of the city and the health and safety of its residents.

(16)

Encourage the use of renewable energy in private and public buildings, for housing, commercial or business uses.

(17)

Set sustainable planning and building standards to achieve a greater quality of life for citizens, become less reliant on fossil fuels, and to reduce sources of pollution.

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)

(a)

The General Plan is guided by the following principles:

(1)

Protect city center. Protect and enhance the Downtown as the City's commercial, civic, cultural and recreational center while acknowledging its historical qualities.

(2)

Encourage job growth. Encourage the expansion of existing businesses and actively seek to attract industries and businesses that create jobs and generate revenue for the City.

(3)

Support redevelopment. Support new residential and commercial infill development on vacant land within the established City core and encourage re-use or redevelopment of underutilized parcels.

(4)

Maintain city control. Maintain City control of land within, and adjacent to, the City's Sphere of Influence (SOI) through long range planning efforts to expand the SOI and oppose urban scale development outside the City limits.

(5)

Support educational, medical and airport facilities. Encourage, support and expand high quality educational, medical and airport facilities needed to meet the needs of the City's expanding resident and tourist population.

(6)

Provide housing type diversity. Provide a diversity of housing types and lot sizes within the City to enable citizens from a wide range of economic levels and age groups to live within its boundaries.

(7)

Accommodate growth. Provide an adequate land supply within the Sphere of Influence to accommodate a build-out population of 19,103 by the year 2020.

(8)

Protect future urbanization areas. Identify Future Urban Areas outside the SOI that are anticipated for urbanization beyond the 2020 time frame of the current General Plan.

(9)

Promote smart growth objectives. Establish sustainable development guidelines that encourage compact neighborhood design which offers a mix of uses within close proximity.

(b)

Sustainability. The Zoning Ordinance is also in line with the 12 Smart Growth Principles of the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint, a regional planning process to promote integrated planning for land use, infrastructure, and the environment. The Blueprint is a joint initiative of the San Joaquin Valley Council of Governments, representing the region's eight (8) Counties including Fresno County, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the Great Valley Center.

(1)

Create a range of housing opportunities and choices;

(2)

Create walkable neighborhoods;

(3)

Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration;

(4)

Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place;

(5)

Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective;

(6)

Mix land uses;

(7)

Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas;

(8)

Provide a variety of transportation choices;

(9)

Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities;

(10)

Take advantage of compact building design;

(11)

Enhance the economic vitality of the region; and

(12)

Support actions that encourage environmental resource management.

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)

The Zoning Ordinance consists of a separate Zoning Map designating certain Zoning Districts on real property and a set of regulations known as the Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance establishes regulations, requirements and standards including but not limited to: controlling the uses of land, the density of population, the uses and locations of structures, the height and bulk of structures, open spaces surrounding buildings, the areas and dimensions of lot areas and building sites, the location, size, and illumination of signs, and requiring the provision of usable open space, screening and landscaping, off-street parking and loading facilities.

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)

(a)

In the interpretation and application, the provisions of this title shall be held to be minimum requirements. No provision of this title is intended to abrogate, repeal, annul, impair or interfere with any existing ordinance of the City of Coalinga, except as is specifically repealed herein, provided that where this ordinance imposes a greater restriction on the use of land or structures or the height or bulk of structures, or requires greater open space about structures, or greater dimensions, than is imposed or required by an existing ordinance, this title shall control.

(b)

All words in the present tense shall include the future tense. All words in the singular number shall include the plural number, and all words used in the plural number shall include the singular number, unless the natural construction of the wording indicates otherwise.

(c)

The word "shall" is mandatory.

(d)

The word "City" shall mean the City of Coalinga, Fresno County, California. The words "City Council" shall mean the City Council of the City of Coalinga. The words "Planning Commission" shall mean the Planning Commission duly appointed by the City Council. The words "City Clerk" shall mean the City Clerk of the City of Coalinga, the word "Community Development Director" shall mean the Community Development Director of the City of Coalinga. "City staff" shall mean Community Development Department staff unless otherwise specified.

(e)

If a particular land use is not listed as either a permitted or conditional use in the land use table for any of the Zoning Districts listed in this title, it is to be considered a use that is not allowed in that district, unless it is determined to be allowed under the provisions of Chapter 6, Article 3, Determination of Unspecified Uses.

(f)

The Community Development Director shall have the authority to interpret the meaning of the Zoning Ordinance in the event of uncertainty, pursuant to Section 9-6.102, Interpretation by Community Development Director.

(g)

This title is not intended to abrogate, annul, impair, interfere with any deed restriction, covenant, easement, or other agreement between parties, provided that where this title imposes a greater restriction on the use of land or structures or the height or bulk of structures, or requires greater open spaces about structures or greater

dimensions of sites than is imposed or required by deed restriction, covenant, easement or other agreement, this title shall control.

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)

(a)

Zoning Districts enable the implementation of the goals and policies of the General Plan by dedicating land to particular uses and regulating the construction and use of buildings and structures, consistent with the General Plan.

(b)

Overlay Districts are designed to complement Zoning Districts when necessary to address specific uses and orient development to better fulfill the goals of the General Plan, notably to address historic and environmental preservation, economic development, as well as safety and welfare of the population.

(c)

The following Zoning Districts are hereby established:

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)

(a)

Wherever any uncertainty exists as to the boundary of a district as shown on the Zoning Map, the following regulations shall control:

(1)

Where a boundary line is indicated as following a street, alley, or watercourse, it shall be construed as following the centerline thereof.

(2)

Where a boundary line follows or coincides approximately with a lot line or a property ownership line, it shall be construed as following the lot line or property ownership line.

(3)

Where a boundary line is not indicated as following a street or alley and does not follow or coincide approximately with a lot line or property ownership line, the boundary line shall be determined by the use of the scale designated on the Zoning Map.

(4)

Where further uncertainty exists, the Planning Commission, upon written application or on its own motion, shall determine the location of the boundary line in question, giving due consideration to the location indicated on the Zoning Map and the objectives of the Zoning Ordinance set forth in the district regulations.

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)

(a)

No site or structure shall be used or designated for use for any purpose or in any manner other than in conformity with the regulations for the district in which the site or structure is located.

(b)

No structure shall be erected and no existing structure or use shall be moved, altered, or enlarged except in conformity with the regulations for the district in which the structure or use is located.

(c)

No yard space provided in compliance with the regulations for the district in which it is located shall be deemed to provide a yard space for any other structure, and no yard or usable open space on one site shall be deemed to provide a yard or usable open space for a structure on any other site.

(d)

No yard, court, or usable open space shall be used, encroached upon, or reduced in any manner except in conformity with the regulations for the district in which the yard, court, or open space is located, unless a variance is obtained pursuant to Chapter 6, Article 7, Variances.

(e)

No lot held in one ownership at the time of the adoption of this title or at any time thereafter shall be reduced in any manner below the minimum area, frontage, width, or depth prescribed for the Zoning District in which the

lot is located, unless a Variance is obtained pursuant to Chapter 6, Article 7, Variances.

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)

The administration of this title is subject to the requirements of the planning and zoning laws of the State of California and the California Environmental Quality Act, including applicable regulations found in the California Code of Regulations, and procedures established by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 776, § 1(Exh. A), eff. 9-5-2014)