§ 25-25. C-3 ZONE (GENERAL COMMERCIAL). — Firebaugh Zoning Code

§ 25-25.1. Purpose. ¶

a. The purpose of the General Commercial district is to provide for a wide variety of commercial and service business that cater to the daily needs of Firebaugh and the surrounding area.
b. New development in this Zone will occur in buildings and complexes that exhibit high standards of design, including sites where generous amounts of landscaping, screening of outdoor storage, repair and assembling areas from the public's view and where the impact of noise, vibrations, and light on surrounding properties are minimized.

§ 25-25.2. Permitted Uses. ¶

The following uses are permitted in the C-3 district:

a. Accessory uses incidental to a permitted or conditionally permitted use existing on the site.
b. Auction houses.
c. Automated teller machine (stand-alone or associated with a bank).
d. Automobile and motorized vehicle businesses, including:
1. Vehicle sales (autos, trucks, boats, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, tractors, farm equipment), including on-site repair.
2. Auto supply stores.
3. Repair of automobiles and trucks, farm equipment, etc.
4. Car washes.
5. Vehicle storage yards.
6. Tire shops.
7. Vehicle leasing, renting.
e. Banks and financial institutions.
f. Business, professional and trade schools.
g. Cabinet shops, welding/blacksmith shops, signs shops, glass stores.
h. Check-cashing services.
i. Clubs, lodges and meeting rooms.
j. Contractor storage yards.
k. Contractor supply stores.
l. Day care, small- and large-family.
m. Drainage basins.
n. Feed stores and agricultural supply stores.
o. Food/meat lockers.
p. Fuel storage.
q. Funeral parlors/mortuaries.
r. Health/athletic clubs.
s. Hotels/motels.
t. Janitorial and maintenance services.
u. Mixed-use developments, subject to the requirements detailed in § 25-41 , Special Uses.
v. Multiple-family dwellings, provided that the use shall be developed in accordance with property development standards of the R-3 district, § 25-19 .
w. Movie theaters.
x. Offices (administrative, business, medical, general, governmental and professional).
y. Pawn shops/secondhand stores.
z. Personal services businesses. Commercial establishments that provide services of a personal nature, including:
1. Barber and beauty shops.
2. Cleaners.
3. Fortunetelling, hypnotists and palm reading.
4. Locksmiths.
5. Mail/delivery stores.
6. Massage and physical therapy businesses practiced by individuals certified by the State.
7. Laundry (full and self-serve).
8. Music, dance, gymnastics and martial arts studios.
9. Tattoo shops.
aa. Retail stores and service establishments that supply commodities or services that meet the needs of residents in the community. Permitted uses include:
1. Bakeries, retail.
2. Clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessory stores.
3. Confectionary (candy) stores.
4. Convenience grocery stores (except that stores selling alcoholic beverages require a conditional use permit).
5. Florists.
6. Food stores.
7. Furniture stores/mattress shops and upholstery shops.
8. Garden shops and nurseries.
9. Gift shops.
10. Gun shops.
11. Hardware and home improvement stores.
12. Health food stores.
13. Hobby shops.
14. Ice cream shops.
15. Jewelry stores.
16. Office supply stores.
17. Pet shops.
18. Pharmacy/drug stores.
19. Photo studios and photographic supplies, art galleries.
20. Sporting goods stores.
21. Supermarkets.
22. Tobacco stores.
23. Toy stores.
24. Variety stores.
bb. Repair shops for electronics, appliances, upholstery, garden equipment, etc.
cc. Restaurants and cafes, including drive-through and drive-in restaurants.
dd. Service stations, subject to the requirements detailed in § 25-41 (Special Uses).
ee. Storage buildings, mini-storage facilities.
ff. Social service and counseling centers.
gg. Taxidermists.
hh. Towing services.
ii. Veterinarian offices, kennels, boarding facilities.
jj. Video arcades.
kk. Wholesale businesses.
ll. Other uses similar in nature and intensity to those permitted, as determined by the City Planner.

§ 25-25.3. Conditional Uses. ¶

The following conditional uses may be permitted in accordance with the provisions of § 25-51 , Conditional Use Permits.

a. Churches.
b. Communications buildings and structures, including wireless telecommunications facilities.
c. Electrical transmission and distribution substations.
d. Liquor stores and convenience markets that sell alcoholic beverages.
e. Recycling centers.
f. Temporary assembly/entertainment uses, including tent revivals, carnivals, circuses.
g. Water pump stations.
h. Other uses similar in nature and intensity as determined by the City planner subject to granting of a conditional use permit.

§ 25-25.4. Site Plan Review. ¶

No development shall be constructed on any lot or site in this district until a site plan has been submitted and approved consistent with § 25-53 , Site Plan and Design Review (or a conditional use permit for uses listed as such).

§ 25-25.5. Development Standards (see also Exhibit 25-1 for a summary of development… ¶

a. Site area, lot frontage and depth: No requirement.
b. Building height: The maximum height of commercial structures shall be 35 feet/two stories; the maximum height of accessory structures shall be 15 feet.
c. Yards.
1. Front: 10 feet, minimum. Further, parking lots shall be separated by a landscaped setback of at least 10 feet from a front property line, and also the side property line for the street side yard on corner lots.
2. Side: No requirement unless the subject property abuts a residential district, wherein the minimum side yard shall be 10 feet, or where the site is a corner lot, in which a ten-foot setback is required on the street side yard.
3. Rear: No requirement unless the subject property abuts a residential district, wherein the minimum side yard shall be 10 feet.

Exhibit 25-1: Zoning Standards

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§ 25-25.6. Fences, Walls and Hedges. ¶

a. Front, side and rear yards: Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed seven feet in height along any front, side or rear property line.
b. Where a property zoned C-3 abuts a residential district, a seven-foot solid block masonry wall shall be constructed between the two uses. Where appropriate, openings should be provided to allow pedestrians to travel between the two uses.

§ 25-25.7. Off-Street Parking and Loading Facilities. ¶

a. Uses in the C-3 district shall provide off-street parking consistent with § 25-45 , Auto and Bicycle Parking and Loading.
b. Parking lots constructed in C-3 district shall be designed and constructed so that within five years of construction, 50% of the parking lot is shaded by trees.
c. Parking lots shall be separated from buildings by raised sidewalks or curbing.
d. Parking lots shall be designed to accommodate solid waste pick-up.

§ 25-25.8. Signs. ¶

Signs shall be consistent with the requirements detailed in § 25-47 , Signs.

§ 25-25.9. Landscaping. ¶

a. A landscaping and irrigation plan shall be submitted on all neighborhood commercial developments to the City Planner for review and approval consistent with the standards in § 2543 (Landscaping, Irrigation and Grading). All setback areas along streets shall be landscaped.
b. The landscaping and irrigation plan shall show a tree-planting scheme in the parking lot that will result in 50% of the parking lot being shaded within five years.
c. The landscaping and irrigation plan shall provide for a minimal amount of turf and shall incorporate a variety of xerophytic plants, mulch to reduce water use, and an automated irrigation system that incorporates water conservation technology, including drip irrigation, smart irrigation controllers, and low-flow irrigation heads.
d. Parking lots should be screened from adjacent public roadways by low walls and/or hedges.
e. Vines and climbing plants should be used on buildings, trellises and perimeter garden walls in order to soften the appearance on the buildings.
f. All trash enclosures shall be surrounded by a six-foot solid block wall and the area around the enclosure shall be landscaped. The gate to the enclosure shall be constructed of metal.

§ 25-25.10. Special Conditions. ¶

All processes, businesses and services shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed structure, except for off-street parking and off-street loading areas, gasoline sales, outdoor dining areas and nurseries.

§ 25-25.11. Design Guidelines. ¶

New development in the C-3 zone shall be designed consistent with the guidelines shown in § 25-27 (Commercial Development Design Guidelines).