Grass Valley Municipal Code Ch. 17.24 Commercial and Industrial Zones

This chapter lists the land uses that may be allowed within the commercial and industrial zones established by Section 17.12.020 (zoning map and zones), determines the type of planning permit/approval required for each use, and provides basic standards for site layout and building size.

The purposes of the individual commercial zones and the manner in which they are applied are as follows:

A. C-1 (Community Business District) Zone. The C-1 zone is applied to areas of the city that are appropriate for small-scale facilities providing convenience shopping and services. The C-1 zone implements and is consistent with the commercial land use designation of the general plan.

B. C-2 (Central Business District) Zone. The C-2 zone is applied to areas of the downtown not covered by the TC (town core) zone in Chapter 17.21 (traditional community development zones), where existing auto-oriented development is expected to be maintained. The C-2 zone implements and is consistent with the commercial land use designation of the general plan.

C. C-3 (Heavy Commercial) Zone. The C-3 zone is applied to areas of the city that are intended to provide for heavier and auto-oriented land uses that are inappropriate in C-1 areas and within the downtown. The C-3 zone implements and is consistent with the commercial land use designation of the general plan.

D. OP (Office Professional) Zone. The OP zone is applied to areas of the city that are intended to serve the office and institutional needs of the community that cannot be accommodated within the downtown. Other related and office-supporting uses may also be allowed. The OP zone implements and is consistent with the office and professional land use designation of the general plan.

E. CBP (Corporate Business Park) Zone. The CBP zone is applied to areas of the city appropriate for employment with a "campus" type character, which includes landscaped open space between buildings, screened service areas, uniform sign and street lighting standards and maintenance of a landscape theme throughout. Existing uses that become nonconforming when the zone is established may remain but are expected to eventually phase into conforming uses. This zone will provide opportunities for corporate administrative offices and medium size research and development firms to locate in Grass Valley within a high-quality development. Land uses within the zone should be compatible with adjacent residential uses and buffered from them. High standards of appearance and design will be required and maintained with restrictions on outdoor storage and activities with obnoxious characteristics. The CBP zone implements and is consistent with the office and professional and business park designations of the general plan.

F. M-1 (Light Industrial) Zone. The M-1 zone is applied to areas appropriate for a range of light industrial uses. The M-1 zone implements and is consistent with the manufacturing-industrial designation of the general plan.

G. M-2 (General Industrial) Zone. The M-2 zone is applied to areas appropriate for a range of heavy industrial activities including manufacturing, assembly and processing, the storage and distribution of raw materials, aggregate plants, and related industrial uses that are generally compatible with and require locations removed from residential and visitor serving uses. The M-2 zone implements and is consistent with the manufacturing-industrial designation of the general plan.

A. General Permit Requirements. Table 2-10 identifies the uses of land allowed by this development code in each commercial and industrial zone, and the planning permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 17.20.030 (allowable land uses and planning permit requirements).

B. Requirements for Certain Specific Land Uses. Where the last column in Table 2-10 ("specific use regulations") includes a section number, the referenced section may affect whether the use requires a minor use permit or use permit, and/or may establish other requirements and standards applicable to the use.

(Ord. No. 818, § 3(Exh. A), 9-13-2022)

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements of Tables 2-11, 2-12, and 2-13, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3.

TABLE 2-11: C-1, C-2, AND C-3 ZONE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

TABLE 2-12: OP AND CBP ZONE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

TABLE 2-13: M-1 AND M-2 ZONE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

(Ord. No. 818, § 3(Exh. A), 9-13-2022)

A. C-2 Zone Standards. A use permit for a dwelling shall be approved only if the lot area per dwelling unit is at least two thousand square feet, exclusive of any portion of the lot used for commercial purposes.

B. OP Zone Standards. All sales, displays and storage in the OP zone shall be conducted within an enclosed building, unless open sales, display and storage is specifically approved on the site plan or within the provisions of this chapter.

C. CBP Zone Standards. Proposed development and new land uses within the CBP zone shall comply with the following standards in addition to those in Section 17.24.040 (commercial and industrial zone site planning and building standards).

1. Height Limit Exceptions. Heating, cooling, other roof equipment and fire storage facilities may extend above the thirty-five-foot height limit established by Section 17.24.040, provided that they are screened and integrated into the architecture of the building; except when no equipment is mounted on the roof (e.g., all mechanical equipment is enclosed under and does not penetrate the roof), the maximum height of the building may be increased to forty-five feet subject to Design Review approval.

2. Mechanical Equipment. Outdoor mechanical equipment, transformers, utility vaults and meters, fire protection apparatus, and other utilities shall be treated as an integral part of the building design. When it is necessary to locate the equipment between the front of the building and the street, it shall be screened from view.

3. Solar Access and Energy Conservation Guidelines. Buildings should be designed and oriented to maximize solar access and minimize heating and cooling requirements. Where appropriate, energy conservation methods such as glazed/double paned windows, recessed entryways, awnings and solar collectors should be utilized as appropriate.

4. Location of Manufacturing Activities. All manufacturing activities shall be located within an entirely enclosed building.