Modesto Municipal Code Art. 3 Industrial Zones (C-M, M-1, M-2)

(a) The Purpose of the Industrial Zoning Districts is to ensure that opportunities exist for development of industry, job creation and economic growth, consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan. The development regulations contained herein are further established to:

(1) Reserve appropriate areas in the community consistent with the General Plan for a full range of industrial uses, grouped in such a manner to achieve compatibility with respect to the characteristics of the various types of industrial activities and processes;

(2) Strengthen the City's economic base and to increase employment opportunities for residents of the City and surrounding areas;

(3) Encourage the development of a variety of industrial uses in a manner that is consistent with standards of public health and safety;

(4) Allow certain types of light industrial uses that are relatively free of nuisance or hazardous features that may be located in areas nearer to residential, office, and commercial areas, while providing land area for industrial uses with more severe impacts in locations farther from other use types; and,

(5) Protect areas appropriate for industrial development from intrusion by residences and other potentially incompatible uses.

(b) The Intent of each Industrial Zone District is as follows:

(1) The C-M Zone is intended to promote, facilitate and maintain land use compatibility by providing land area to accommodate specified commercial and light industrial uses not otherwise permitted in the commercial zoning districts;

(2) The M-1 Zone is intended to accommodate light industrial, assembly, storage, warehouse and similar uses in terms of industrial activity, all of which may be located relatively near residential areas without causing adverse impacts; and,

(3) The M-2 Zone is intended to provide suitable sites for a wide range of industrial, manufacturing, business park and other similar uses that are further from non-industrial and potentially incompatible uses.

The development standards for the industrial zones are found in Table 4.3-1. The specific industrial development standards provided after the table apply to all industrial zones unless otherwise specified.

Table 4.3-1 Industrial 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-M, M-1, and M-2 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. Uncovered parking spaces are exempt from this setback except along a side street.

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

In the M-1 and M-2 zones, there are no limitations on the height of structures except as contained in the Airport Zone, or when adjacent to a Residential zone.

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.