Chapter 16.48 — OSC OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION DISTRICT

The purpose and intent of this district is:

• (1) To protect the public health, safety and welfare;

• (2) To protect and preserve open space land as a limited and valuable resource;

• (3) To assure its continued availability for the following: As agricultural land, scenic land, recreation land, conservation or natural resource land; for the containment of urban sprawl and the structuring of urban development, and for the retention of land in its natural or near natural state to protect life and property in the community from the hazards of fire, flood and seismic activity; and

• (4) To coordinate with and carry out federal, state, regional, county and city open space plans. (Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1973)

As used in this chapter and the implementation thereof, unless otherwise apparent from the context, the following definitions shall apply:

• (1) "Conservation or natural resource" includes, but is not necessarily limited to, streams, watersheds, ground water recharge, soils, wildlife habitat, as defined herein, special land forms, natural vegetation;

• (2) "Conservation or natural resource land" means land which possesses or encompasses conservation or natural resources;

• (3) "Open space and conservation district" means any area of land or water designated "OSC" and subject to all of the terms and regulations of this chapter;

• (4) "Open space land" means any parcel or area of land essentially unimproved or in its natural state, and devoted to an open space use as defined herein, and which is designated in the open space and conservation element for an open space use;

• (5) "Open space use" means the use of land for:

  • (A)

  • Public recreation,

• (B)

  • Enjoyment of scenic beauty,

• (C)

  • Conservation or use of natural resources,

• (D)

  • Managed resource production,

• (E)

  - Public safety, 
  

  • (F) Structuring urban growth;

• (6) "Recreation land" means any area of land or water susceptible to recreational uses;

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City of Menlo Park, CA

MENLO PARK CODE

§ 16.48.020

§ 16.48.050

• (7) "Scenic land" means any area of land or water which possesses scenic qualities worthy of preservation;

• (8) "Wildlife habitat" means any area of land or water valuable or necessary to the preservation or enhancement of wildlife resources.

• (Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1973)

The only permitted use in the OSC zoning district is accessory structures. (Prior code § 30.421(A); Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1973; Ord. 1006 § 16, 2014)

Conditional uses which may be allowed in the OSC district subject to obtaining a use permit are as follows:

• (1) Public or private recreation facilities;

• (2) Public buildings;

• (3) Salt evaporation ponds for salt extraction;

• (4) Agricultural uses;

  • (A) Animal husbandry,

  • (B) Crop, vine or tree farm, greenhouse, horticulture,

  • (C) Dairying,

  • (D) Livestock farming;

• (5) Botanical conservatories, outdoor nature laboratories and similar facilities;

• (6) Native wildlife sanctuaries;

• (7) Accessory buildings and accessory uses.

• (Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1973; Prior code § 30.421(B))

Development regulations in the OSC district are as specified in use permit. The total gross floor area of all buildings shall not exceed two and one-half (2.5) percent of the total lot area. (Prior code § 30.421(C); Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1973; Ord. 863 § 17, 1994)

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City of Menlo Park, CA