Modesto Municipal Code Art. 2 Commercial Zones (P-O, C-1, C-2, C-3)

(a) The Purpose of the Commercial Zoning Districts is to ensure that a variety of goods and services will be available to consumers, that development will be compatible with surrounding land uses and zoning, and that commercial development will be consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan. The development regulations contained herein are further established to:

(1) Implement General plan policy by facilitating commercial development at strategic and appropriate locations;

(2) Provide opportunities for well-designed office development in appropriate locations, such as between residential and non-residential uses to provide a buffer;

(3) Reserve certain areas of the City consistent with the General Plan, that allow the full range of retail uses, business and professional offices, and personal and business services, scaled to meet the needs of customers from both within and from outside the City;

(4) Establish appropriate standards meant to facilitate compatibility between nearby residential and non-residential land uses, helping to foster neighborhood cohesion and reducing the need for vehicle trips to obtain goods and services;

(5) Encourage functional and attractive office and commercial development at strategic locations throughout the City consistent with the General Plan;

(6) Ensure that commercial development provides adequate on-site parking, accessibility, loading and landscaping; and,

(7) Provide a strong economic and financial base and to increase employment opportunities.

(b) The Intent of each Commercial Zoning District is as follows:

(1) The P-O (Professional Office) zoning district is intended to provide appropriate sites for administrative, professional and business service offices that can also be used as a buffer between residential areas and more intense commercial uses and districts;

(2) The C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning district is intended to allow commercial development typically found in neighborhood shopping centers serving the day-to-day shopping and service needs of local residents;

(3) The C-2 (General Commercial) zoning district is intended to accommodate the full range of retail stores, offices and service establishments across the City, in appropriate locations and with appropriate access; and,

(4) The C-3 (Highway Commercial) zoning district is intended to allow sites for highway-oriented businesses and transportation-related service establishments, which serve City-wide and regional needs.

The development standards for the commercial zones are found in Table 4.2-1. The specific commercial development standards provided after the table apply to all commercial zones unless otherwise specified.

Table 4.2-1 Commercial Development Standards

When adjacent to property zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, or residential P-D zones in the City or County the following setbacks apply:

(a) In the C-1, C-2, and C-3 zones, the minimum building side and rear setback shall be ten (10) percent of lot width for side setback and lot depth for rear setback with a minimum of ten (10) feet for the first story and twenty (20) feet for the second story, and a maximum of forty (40) feet.

(b) If a public alley separates C-1, C-2, or C-3 property from the adjacent residential zone, the alley width may be counted as part of the setback, but no parking or driveways shall be permitted off the alley.

(c) In the C-1, C-2, and C-3 zones, residential development shall have side and rear setbacks as required in the R-2 and R-3 zones.

(d) In the P-O zone, if a legally existing lot has less than the required lot width, the side setbacks shall each be a minimum of ten (10) percent of the lot width, except that for lots adjacent to residentially zoned property as noted above, the minimum setback for any second-story portion shall be twenty (20) feet. In no case shall an interior lot side setback be less than three (3) feet and a street side setback be less than seven and one-half (7.5) feet.

(a) Driveways and Accessways.

(1) Joint use of driveways and accessways, between adjacent parcels, shall be encouraged to minimize driveways on the arterial street.

When considering any building permit or administrative approval, development plan review, conditional use permit, or similar application the Director, Board or Commission, as applicable, shall apply the principles and specifications of the adopted Design Guidelines to the proposed project.