Chapter 20.56 — O-A DISTRICTS—OPEN AREA DISTRICTS (§ 20.56.010 – § 20.56.060)

Mill Valley Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Mill Valley

The following regulations shall apply with respect to each parcel of land in all O-A districts. The following uses are permitted:

A.

Public parks, playgrounds and recreation areas.

B.

Crop farming, truck gardening and grazing.

C.

Golf courses, country clubs, forest preserves, wildlife reserves, equestrian and hiking areas. D.

Accessory structures. (Ord. 975 § 3, April 20, 1981)

The following uses are permitted after the securing of a conditional use permit:

A.

Public or private schools.

B.

Public or civic buildings.

C.

Private recreational uses.

D.

Necessary residential accommodations for teachers or custodial staff.

E.

Residences clearly accessory to the primary use of property for agricultural purposes.

F.

Stable and riding academies.

G.

Public utility or public service uses.

H.

Wireless telecommunications facilities as further outlined in Chapter 20.73.

(Ord. 1304 § 1, September 6, 2018)

Any other use of land is prohibited (including commercial woodcutting or logging). All plans shall be subject to the design review procedures of Chapter 20.66 of this title.

O-A districts shall be limited to lands of a public agency such as county, school district, municipal

corporation or political subdivision of the State of California, lands encumbered with a public easement or other right of public use, and private lands for which the owner has requested O-A classification.

Chapter 20.57 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT COMBINING DISTRICT (§ 20.57.010 – § 20.57.110)

There is created a combining district to be known as PD planned development district, which may be combined with any of the basic zoning districts designated in this title and applied to any individual property.

The purpose of the PD district is to provide the City with a tool to review, guide and promote the orderly and beneficial development of those areas which may be of particular impact, value and benefit to the entire community.

The addition of a PD district designation to any basic zoning district shall not operate to reduce or eliminate any requirements established by the basic district regulations or other requirements contained in this title applicable to any district to which the PD district is added unless expressly provided herein; provided, however, that if any of the regulations specified in this chapter for a PD district conflict with the basic district regulations, then the regulations for the PD district shall apply.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

No use shall be established or changed, or any building or structure constructed or altered, upon property in any zoning district with which a PD district is combined unless a special development permit is first issued by the Planning Commission or City Council. Unless a finding is made that the conditions set forth in Section 20.57.070 are met, neither the Planning Commission nor the City Council shall approve a special development permit even though the use for which such permit is sought is otherwise authorized by the basic district zoning regulations.

ined unless a special development permit is first issued by the Planning Commission or City Council. Unless a finding is made that the conditions set forth in Section 20.57.070 are met, neither the Planning Commission nor the City Council shall approve a special development permit even though the use for which such permit is sought is otherwise authorized by the basic district zoning regulations.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

Following issuance of a permit:

A.

No use shall be established or changed, or any building or structure constructed or altered, upon property in any zoning district with which a PD district is combined except in strict conformity with the permit and any conditions or requirements attached thereto; and

B.

No use shall be established or changed, or any building or structure constructed or altered, in a manner which would not comply with the regulations of the zoning district with which the PD district is combined except for the modifications authorized by the permit.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

In connection with the issuance of any special development permit, the Planning Commission or City Council may attach such conditions or requirements as the Planning Commission or City Council finds necessary to attain the objectives and purposes of this title, any applicable general or specific plan, and to

insure that the general appearance of buildings and structures, and the uses to be made of the property to which the application refers, will not impair either the orderly development of, or the existing uses being made of properties.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

Applications for a special development permit shall be filed with the Planning and Building Department on forms furnished for this purpose, and shall be accompanied by payment of the fee established for such applications by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

A site development plan shall be submitted in connection with each application at such scale and in such number of copies as may be required by the Director of Planning and Building, containing sufficient information to identify the following:

A.

Each proposed use.

B.

Location and type of:

1.

Proposed buildings and structures, including height, bulk, exterior elevations, and types of exterior materials and colors.

2.

Traffic and pedestrian ingress and egress and circulation.

Off-street parking and loading facilities.

Easements.

Exterior signs.

Landscaping, including tree preservation.

  1. Exterior lighting.

8.

Walls and fences or other devices used for screening or separation.

Property boundary lines. 10.

Proposed reshaping of the earth. 11.

Location map.

12.

Any other supporting data required by the Director of Planning and Building to achieve the purposes of this chapter.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on each application as provided in Section 20.60.200. No special development permit shall be approved unless a finding is made that the establishment,

maintenance or operation of the use applied for will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, be

detrimental to the health, safety, peace, morals, comfort or general welfare of the persons residing or working in the neighborhood of such proposed use, not be detrimental or injurious to property and improvements in the neighborhood. Unless an appeal is filed, the action of the Planning Commission shall be final.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973; Ord. 1123 § 6, August 2, 1993) Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in this chapter:

A.

No conditional use permit, otherwise required by the regulations of the basic zoning district with which a PD district is combined, shall be required for uses, buildings or structures permitted in an approved special development permit;

B.

At the time of approving a special development permit, the Planning Commission or City Council may allow lot area, lot width, yard, height, bulk and space, and parking space requirements varying from and different

from those which would otherwise apply in the basic zoning district with which the PD district is combined, and in such instances, no variance from the basic zoning district shall be required.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

An approved special development permit shall expire and become null and void if the permit has not been

used within one year after the date such permit was approved. Commencement of construction of the buildings or structures, or the establishment of the use, which are the subject of the permit, constitutes commencement of the use of the permit.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

A special development permit may be revoked by the Planning Commission or City Council after a public hearing thereon when the Planning Commission finds a violation of or a non-compliance with any conditions of the permit.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)

The Planning Commission action on a special development permit may be appealed to the City Council as specified in Chapter 20.100.

The action of the City Council in the case of an appeal shall be final.

(Ord. 787 § 2, February 20, 1973)