Article 3 — Gateway Overlay District

(a)

The purpose of the Gateway Overlay District is to identify gateways to the City by signaling and easing the transition between the City and the County, and creating a positive first impression of the City.

(b)

The Gateway Overlay District sets forth design and development standards for public right-of-ways and properties in the Gateway Overlay areas, in order to create harmonious and aesthetically pleasing gateways. Gateways shall reflect and reinforce Coalinga's history and community character.

(c)

The design and development standards below are intended to:

(1)

Create a sense of place that is consistent with the rural and small-town character of Coalinga;

(2)

Facilitate a welcoming entrance by providing vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian access;

(3)

Create an inviting streetscape that guides visitors into the City of Coalinga, through attractive landscaping and greater attention to building design; and

(4)

Require the provision of aesthetically pleasing public and private signage.

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

(a)

The standards and guidelines detailed in this section apply to the following areas of the City identified as part of the Gateway Overlay in the General Plan:

(1)

The "Urban Gateway" to the South of the City, characterized by its proximity to the Downtown Overlay and developed lands:

a.

From the intersection of West Elm Avenue (Highway 198) and West Lucille Avenue to the intersection of West Elm Avenue (Highway 198) and Polk Street, approximately half a mile in length.

(2)

The "Northern Gateway" characterized by Open Space/Conservation and agricultural land along Highway 198/33:

a.

Between the intersection of Highway 198/ 33 and West Gale Avenue to the end of the West Hills Community College property, approximately one mile in length.

(3)

The "Eastern Gateways" in the Sphere of Influence of the City, characterized by open space and planned low density residential uses:

a.

On Phelps Avenue, between the intersection of Phelps Avenue and South Calavaras Avenue alongside the airport and proposed residential area to the approximate western boundary of the airport property, approximately one mile in length.

b.

On West Jayne Avenue, from the intersection of West Jayne Avenue and South Alpine Avenue to approximately 2,000 feet east of South San Joaquin Avenue, approximately one and half a mile in length.

c.

The following standards apply to all Gateway Overlay areas unless otherwise specified.

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

Approvals for proposed projects within the Gateway Overlay District may include specific conditions of approval, to ensure that the goals of the Gateway Overlay District are met.

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

(a)

The requirements and development standards of the Gateway Overlay shall supplement and supersede the regulations of the underlying Zoning District and take precedence in the case of conflict. For all aspects not addressed by this section, the regulations of the underlying Zoning District shall remain in effect.

(b)

Signage.

(1)

All signage proposed in the Gateway Overlay shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission.

(2)

Monument signs indicating entrance to and exit from the City:

a.

The City may install an entrance monument sign with the City name, seal or motto, or all of the above, at the corner of the property in the Gateway Overlay that will be first seen by visitors entering the City.

b.

On the opposite side of the road, the City may install a separate exit monument sign indicating to motorists and pedestrians that they are exiting the City.

c.

The entrance and exit monument signs shall be illuminated at night. Public art or landscaping may accompany the monument signs to increase their visibility and aesthetic value. Colors, materials and landscaping that are representative of or appropriate to the City of Coalinga shall be used in conjunction with the monument signs.

d.

No object, plants, trees or other signs shall be allowed to obstruct the text or graphic content of entrance or exit monument signs.

(3)

All other public and private signage in the Gateway Overlay shall follow the standards prescribed in Chapter 4, Article 5, Signs. No signage shall be allowed within ten (10) feet of the City entrance or exit monument signs. All signage within twenty (20) feet of a monument sign must not be larger than the entrance or exit monument signs.

(c)

Pedestrian and bicycle access.

(1)

Any installed bicycle lanes and pedestrian sidewalks within the Gateway Overlays shall be continuous throughout the Gateway Overlay, and extend at minimum to the nearest roadway intersection.

(2)

Installed bicycle lanes shall be at minimum "Class 2 bikeways", visually separated from traffic lanes using Caltrans striping standards. It is highly recommended to paint the bikeways a different color from the asphalt pavement for increased visibility. In specific areas with narrower right-of-ways and reduced maximum speeds, "Class 3 bicycle routes" may be installed per Caltrans standards. In such cases, roadside signs shall be installed urging motorists to share the road with cyclists.

(d)

Parking.

(1)

Parking should not be allowed in the right-of-way.

(2)

Public and private parking on lots alongside the roadway is permitted. Screening shall be located between the parking and the sidewalk or right-of-way. The screening can either be a fence or a landscape buffer. The landscape buffer should be between two (2) and four (4) feet tall and consist of local plants.

(e)

Street trees and landscaping.

(1)

Street trees shall be planted on both sides of the street to provide shade, define and embellish the streetscape, and provide screening for parking, utilities and service areas.

(2)

Any proposed landscaping and street trees should be selected with the goal to frame and preserve views of the hills, fields and open space, which are unique to Coalinga.

(3)

Eight (8) to ten (10) feet of space should generally be allowed between each tree. Spacing between trees may be adapted to accommodate fire hydrants, utility vaults, property entrances, and other infrastructure elements. The placement of street trees shall not interfere with traffic sight visibility. Structured soil (an engineered soil) for tree plantings is encouraged wherever possible to encourage healthy growth and prevent tree root damage to sidewalks and pavement.

(4)

Existing planting shall be maintained or upgraded in all public areas wherever possible. The use of native and drought-resistant tree and plant species, and seasonal color is highly encouraged. Please refer to the Community Development Department for a list of recommended trees and plants.

(f)

Walls and fences.

(1)

Open or solid fences or walls proposed along the edge of properties should utilize wood, stone or brick, or other local colors and materials, to define the edge of the road.

(2)

All proposed fences and walls shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 9-4.203, Fences and Freestanding Walls, and any other requirements of the property's Zoning Districts.

(g)

Street lighting.

(1)

Street lighting is encouraged to illuminate the right-of-way and sidewalks at night, at minimum between sunset and midnight, and between 5:00 a.m. and sunrise.

(2)

Bulbs used for street lamps shall be energy efficient.

(3)

Street lamps should not point or shine light towards the sky. Any lamp hoods should be downcast.

(4)

The design of the street lamps shall be consistent or compatible across all Gateway Overlay areas, and be representative of the City of Coalinga. The Planning Commission shall determine the design and corresponding height for street lamps in each Gateway Overlay area.

(h)

Screening of utilities.

(1)

Utilities and public infrastructure should be undergrounded, or screened with trees, landscaping, or public art.

(2)

Visibility and sight distances at driveways and street intersections should be preserved per the requirements of Section 9-4.214, Visibility at Driveways and Intersections.

(i)

Buildings.

(1)

There shall be no minimum setback of buildings from the property line that fronts the street in the Gateway Overlay. The maximum setback from the property line shall be as prescribed in the underlying Zoning District, if any. Main entrances and pedestrian connections from these buildings to the street in the Gateway Overlay are highly encouraged.

(j)

Public art.

(1)

The installation of permanent public art is encouraged in the Gateway Overlay areas. The Planning Commission shall review all proposed public art. The approval of public art requires the finding that the artwork meets the design criteria in Section 9-3.305 of this article.

(k)

Sidewalks.

(1)

Urban Gateway.

a.

A secured sidewalk, separated from the roadway by a curb, shall be installed on both sides of the street. Street trees should be planted between the sidewalk and the roadway and/or between the sidewalk and the property lines.

b.

Sidewalks should be a minimum of four (4) feet wide.

(2)

Northern Gateway.

a.

The installation of sidewalks is encouraged along both sides of the roadway, in tandem with future development. Existing pedestrian walkways should be improved in the interim with stones, plants and landscaping to define its edges.

(3)

Eastern Gateways.

a.

Wherever residential developments are proposed along the right-of-way, the construction of a sidewalk with landscaping and street trees is required.

(l)

Buildings and structures.

(1)

Building facades visible from the public right-of-way shall be regularly maintained to ensure a well-kept appearance. Landscape buffers are required alongside new developments to enhance aesthetics, provide screening, protection from noise and wind, and to preserve the "rural character" of the gateway.

(2)

All setbacks should conform to the requirements of the respective Zoning Districts. If a general trend for a front setback from the street has been established, future development shall be compatible with the established trend, even if it is more limiting than Zoning requirements.

(3)

Residential developments shall be visually enhanced and partially screened from the public right-of-way with landscape buffers and fences. Ranchettes, farm houses, agricultural sheds, barns and other rural buildings are not subject to this requirement.

(4)

Urban Gateway and Northern Gateway.

a.

The façades of buildings in the Urban Gateway and Northern Gateway, that are visible from the public right-ofway, shall be designed to assist the creation of a sense of place that is consistent with the rural and small-town character of Coalinga.

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

(a)

To approve a Site Plan Review Application for any development in the Gateway Overlay zone, the following criteria shall be met:

(1)

The proposed development creates a sense of place that is consistent with the rural and small-town character of Coalinga;

(2)

The proposed development facilitates a welcoming entrance by providing vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian access;

(3)

The proposed development facilitates the creation of an inviting streetscape that guides visitors into the City of Coalinga, through attractive landscaping and greater attention to building design;

(4)

The proposed development has provided aesthetically pleasing public and private signage;

(5)

The proposed project screens any visible mechanical and electrical equipment and utilities per the provisions of Section 9-4.209, Screening, and Section 9-4.213, Underground Utilities.

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