Fowler Municipal Code Ch. 9.105 Zone Clearance

The purpose of a Zone Clearance is to ensure that all new and modified uses or structures requiring a permit and approval from City Departments outside the Community Development Department comply with applicable provisions of this Title.

A Zone Clearance is required for the following actions:

A. Modifications to parking and circulation configurations which change parking areas or internal circulation patterns but do not change the number of parking spaces, or patterns of ingress and egress.

B. All structures that require a Building Permit.

C. All planning permit approvals to ensure compliance with applicable conditions of approval.

D. Other City applications that may be subject to the provisions of this Title, including, but not limited to, business license, encroachment, and grading and improvement plans.

A Zone Clearance requires no separate application or fee through the Community Development Department.

A Zone Clearance is processed as part of a related City action, such as a Building Permit application or business license, and is approved by the Community Development Director.

No public hearing is required prior to review of a Zone Clearance.

In approving a Zone Clearance, the approving authority may impose reasonable and appropriate standards to achieve the purposes of this Title, ensure consistency with the goals and policies of the adopted General Plan, and justify making the necessary findings.

Prior to approving a Zone Clearance, the approving authority must find the proposal to be in conformance with all applicable provisions of this Title.

Approval of a Zone Clearance shall be issued as part of a related action, such as a Building Permit application or business license. No separate written notice of decision is required by the Community Development Department.

A Zone Clearance shall become effective immediately following approval of the related action, such as a Building Permit application or business license.

A Zone Clearance is a ministerial action and is not subject to appeal.

When related to another City approval, an approved Zone Clearance shall expire concurrent with the expiration of the related approval.

An extension of time for an approved Zone Clearance shall be consistent with an extension of time as may be granted for the related action.

Any amendments to an approved Zone Clearance shall be processed as a new Zone Clearance review.