Chapter 17.145 — COMMERCIAL ZONES

The purpose of this chapter is to list regulations relating to commercial zones and commercial development under simplified headings.

(Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

The table below lists the commercial zone districts established by this title. It should be noted the Heavy Commercial – Light Manufacturing, or "C-M" zone is considered both a commercial zone and an industrial/manufacturing zone. The C-M zone has special use provisions and development standards as indicated within the text of this title.

(Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

The intended purposes of the various commercial zone districts established by this title are listed below. The intent of a zone district shall be used when interpreting the land use tables, especially in

instances where there is ambiguity or there are omissions within the land use tables. In addition to the information presented in the table below, it is the intent of every commercial zone in the city to implement the goals and objectives of the General Plan relating to commercial development.

• A. O-P (Office Professional) Zone. The O-P zone is intended to provide for professional and administrative office uses and certain limited retail uses normally associated with office uses. The O-P zone encourages the grouping of office uses and makes office development compatible with adjacent residentially zoned areas. The O-P zone is consistent with the "office/non-retail" and "neighborhood retail commercial" designations of the general plan.

• B. C-N (Neighborhood Commercial) Zone. The C-N zone is intended to provide shopping areas for daily convenience goods that are in close proximity to the residential areas they serve. A neighborhood commercial area may be a shopping center but it may also be an individual lot and building. Due to its proximity to residential areas, a C-N zoned area is designed to protect the nearby residential environment, insure safe traffic circulation and encourage pedestrian access. The C-N zone is consistent with the "neighborhood retail commercial" designation of the general plan.

• C. C-G (General Commercial) Zone. The C-G zone is intended to provide a full range of general commercial uses ranging from offices to retail to automotive services to tourist facilities. A general commercial area may be developed as a shopping center or as an individual lot and building or as a "strip commercial" development. A C-G zoned area may occur in close proximity to residential areas. Therefore, the compatibility of uses must be carefully considered, and reflected in site design and in some cases through the use of conditional use permits. In addition, safe traffic circulation and sufficient parking areas must be provided. The C-G zone is consistent with the "general retail commercial" designation and may be found consistent with the "neighborhood retail commercial" designation of the general plan.

bility of uses must be carefully considered, and reflected in site design and in some cases through the use of conditional use permits. In addition, safe traffic circulation and sufficient parking areas must be provided. The C-G zone is consistent with the "general retail commercial" designation and may be found consistent with the "neighborhood retail commercial" designation of the general plan.

• D. C-R (Regional Commercial) Zone. The C-R zone is intended to accommodate community and regional commercial centers and governmental facilities, which typically serve large areas of the city and surrounding community. In view of the extensive service areas of such developments, as well as their potentially significant impact on adjacent land uses and traffic circulation patterns, the C-R zone is limited to the downtown area and the area including and around the regional shopping mall that is regulated by Specific Plan No. 19. The development standards of the C-R zone seek to minimize any adverse effects of the developments on adjacent property and to encourage common access and parking. Jointuse developments of retail, office and residential uses are also encouraged in the downtown area. The C-R zone is consistent with the "regional retail commercial" designation of the general plan.

• E. C-M (Heavy Commercial—Light Manufacturing) Zone. The C-M zone is both a commercial zone and an industrial zone. It is intended to provide for light manufacturing and industrial uses with relatively minor impacts on the surrounding area, which are contained in buildings and consist of: light manufacturing, wholesale trade, processing, servicing, assembly and distribution. The C-M zone is also intended to provide for commercial trade uses consisting of wholesale and specific, listed retail uses, which combine aspects of commercial trade with light industrial operations, such that the retail commercial trade aspects occupy no more than 50 percent of the gross floor area of the building or buildings which make up the business on the same site. The commercial trade may be retail or wholesale or a combination of the two. The C-M zone is also intended to provide for commercial trade uses which are limited to the sale and/or distribution of "large box" items such as furniture, appliances, carpeting, etc. and the incidental sales of items accessory to the "large box" items as long as the incidental sales do not exceed 15 percent of the total sales area.

• (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Refer to Chapter 17.115 for regulations relating to performance standards and the conduct of uses in commercial zones.

(Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Each newly created C-M zone district shall contain a minimum area of one acre. Districts should be limited to primary thoroughfares as shown on the general plan circulation element within the light industrial land use designation. No new district shall be allowed on the opposite side of a primary thoroughfare from a residentially zoned area. Existing C-M zone districts may be expanded along primary thoroughfares as shown on the general plan circulation element with the light industrial land use designation by rezoning of adjacent properties.

(Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

For general provisions related to lots, including provisions for substandard lots, reductions in minimum lot area, construction across property lines and development of lots subject to acquisition of land for public use, refer to Chapter 17.125 . (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

There are no specific requirements for lot area, width, or depth in the C-N, C-G, and C-R zones. However, in reviewing a request for a zone reclassification or a subdivision map proposing the creation of new commercial lots, the director of community development, the planning commission, or the city council, as applicable, may require approval of a lot consolidation or a specific plan, as a condition of approval, in order to provide adequate street frontage and to avoid the creation of substandard commercial developments. The following table lists the minimum spatial requirements for the establishment of new commercial lots in the O-P and C-M zones.

(Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Refer to Chapter 17.130 for general development standards in commercial zones, including: trash and recycling areas, fences and walls, on-site lighting, and rear yard access requirements. (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

The table below lists the minimum building setback requirements in commercial zones. The endnotes at the bottom of the table contain information that modifies the information listed in the table's matrix.

Notes:

• 1 Except as modified by Specific Plan No. 182.

• 2 If the required setback is at the rear of the lot, access to the rear yard is required as indicated in Section 17.130.240 .

• (Ord. 4984 § 57, 2013)

No commercial building may exceed a height of 35 feet, unless a greater height is allowed by specific plan.

(Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

There are no lot coverage limitations in commercial zones other than the landscaping requirements listed in Chapter 17.195 .

(Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

For commercial parking requirements, including minimum driveway widths and parking area development standards refer to Chapter 17.185 . (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

For landscaping requirements in commercial zones, see Chapter 17.195 . (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

For development regulations relating to signs, refer to Chapter 17.190 . (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

The following table lists uses that may be established in commercial zones. The abbreviations used in the land use table shall have the following meanings:

In addition to the abbreviated terms listed above, the land use table incorporates endnotes, which are indicated by numerical designators in the final column of the table. The numerical designators correspond with written notes listed at the bottom of the table. The notes provide additional information and direct readers to other applicable sections of the El Cajon Municipal Code.

Notes:

1. Prohibited in SP 182. However, automotive service and repair uses are permitted with approval of a CUP in the portion of SP 182 that is also a part of Special Development Area

Notes:

No. 10 and zoned C-M. Furthermore, for those properties within SP 182 and located north of Madison Avenue, freeway-oriented uses as defined in this Title are permitted accordingly.

2. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.45 (adult entertainment establishments).

3. Requires a Special Operations License for uses as described in ECMC Chapter 5.16 . For towing services, only police towing services require a Special Operations License.

4. Off-site outdoor automobile sales are subject to the provisions of section 17.225.190 .

5. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.215 (automotive fueling stations).

6. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 5.40 of the El Cajon Municipal Code.

7. Subject to the provisions of section 17.190.270 (billboard signs).

8. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.210 (alcohol sales).

9. Subject to parking requirements listed in section 17.185.190 .

10. "Check cashing only" services are prohibited in SP 182.

11. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.40 (Administrative Zoning Permit), section 17.130.250 (kiosks).

12. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.070 (massage establishments and services).

13. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.230 (motion picture theaters).

14. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.090 (outdoor dining areas).

15. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.235 (personal storage facilities).

16. The retail display area shall not exceed 15% of the gross floor area in the O-P zone.

17. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.100 (resource recovery centers).

18. Restaurant size may be limited in the C-M zone.

19. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.130 (take-out only restaurants).

20. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.240 (tobacco, smoke shops, and electronic/vapor inhalation shops).

21. As determined by the director of community development.

22. Excludes wireless communications facilities as defined in Chapter 17.105 .

23. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.245 (wireless communications facilities).

24. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.180 (transition service centers and emergency shelters).

25. Only one caretaker's unit permitted per lot in association with an authorized primary use occupying the same property. Must be attached to the primary structure on the lot, if such a structure exists.

26. May only be operated as an ancillary use to 1) a bona fide non-profit club, society, professional organization, union hall, fraternal organization, and similar (non-profit) use, with a valid conditional use permit for the primary use, and 2) a restaurant. Subject to additional card room regulations listed in Chapter 5.28 (Card rooms) of Title 5 and Chapter 17.225 (Miscellaneous Special Uses and Regulations) of this Title. Non-profit status must be in place prior to application submittal, as applicable.

ll, fraternal organization, and similar (non-profit) use, with a valid conditional use permit for the primary use, and 2) a restaurant. Subject to additional card room regulations listed in Chapter 5.28 (Card rooms) of Title 5 and Chapter 17.225 (Miscellaneous Special Uses and Regulations) of this Title. Non-profit status must be in place prior to application submittal, as applicable.

27. Non-profit medical and dental clinics are permitted uses. They do not require a CUP and are not prohibited in SP 182.

28. Subject to the parking requirements for places of assembly listed in Table 17.185.190.

29. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.205 (Agriculture and Animals).

30. Excludes businesses purchasing items as an accessory use to a primary retail sales use.

31. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.200 (Alternative Lending).

Notes:

32. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.250 (Secondhand Merchandise Stores and Pawn Shops).

33. Prohibited in the boundaries of SP 462.

34. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.220 (Farmer's Market).

35. Subject to the provisions of section 17.225.230 (Microbrewery).

36. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.75 (Temporary Use Permit) and section 17.225.240 (Food trucks).

37. Only permitted on properties located within the Mixed-Use Overlay Zone

38. No storage of inventory permitted.

39. Wholesale trade in the C-N zone is only allowed within the boundaries and subject to the provisions contained within SP No. 32.

• (Ord. 5136 § 18, 2023; Ord. 5142, 5/28/2024; Ord. 5148, 1/28/2025)