Chapter 23.31 — COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

This chapter lists the commercial and industrial zoning districts as established by PGMC § 23.12.010 and establishes the development standards and types of land uses permitted in each commercial and industrial zoning district.

(Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013; Ord. 26-003, 1/21/2026)

• (a) Light Commercial (C-1). The C-1 zoning district provides for neighborhood scale and locally oriented retail, service, office uses, as well as residential uses.

• (b) Light Commercial and Hotel (C-1-T). The C-1-T zoning district was enacted by citizen initiative, and the standards of the district are included in the applicable sections of this chapter without modification from the initiative.

  • (1) Intent of District. The intent of the C-1-T district as described by the initiative is as follows:

    • (A) It is the intent of the people of the city of Pacific Grove in enacting the ordinance codified in this chapter to establish a zone district in the city's downtown area where hotel use is permitted, as are all other uses listed in the C-1 district of this code, as said district may be from time to time amended by the council. The people have determined that the area of downtown defined by subsection (b)(2) of this section is appropriate for hotel development. Further, except as modified by this chapter, all provisions of the motel/hotel regulation ballot measure enacted by the people at the June 3, 1986, special municipal election, as set out at Chapter 23.52 PGMC, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

    • (B) It is also the intent of the people of the city of Pacific Grove in enacting the ordinance codified in this chapter to provide for an exception to the strict regulations governing condominium development at Chapter 23.45 PGMC, said section enacted by the people at an election held in the city on November 2, 1982. The people have determined that the area of the downtown defined in subsection (b)(2) of this section is appropriate for condominium development in a manner less restrictive than defined by regulations set out in Chapter 23.45 PGMC. Further, except as modified by this chapter, the provisions of Chapter 23.45 PGMC shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

  • (2) Boundaries of District. The C-1-T district shall be that area defined by the block bounded by Lighthouse Avenue, Grand Avenue, Central Avenue and Fountain Avenue.

  • (3) Amendment. No provision of the C-1-T zoning district shall be repealed or amended except by a vote of the people.

• (c) Downtown Commercial (C-D). The C-D zoning district is intended to provide for a range of uses including retail, restaurants, services, entertainment, and upper floor residential, and other

compatible uses which enhance the vitality and character of the city's historic commercial core.

• (d) Forest Hill Commercial (C-FH). The C-FH zoning district serves as an entrance to the city, offering a variety of commercial and service uses, as well as residential uses, while respecting nearby residential uses.

• (e) Heavy Commercial (C-2). The C-2 zoning district is applied to areas of the city that are appropriate for limited residential uses, service commercial and light manufacturing uses, which may involve outdoor storage or activity areas.

• (f) Visitor Commercial (C-V). The C-V zoning district is applied to areas of the city appropriate for retail sales, commercial services, and institutional uses oriented to tourism.

• (g) Restricted Industrial (I). The I zoning district is applied to areas of the city that are appropriate for limited commercial uses, service commercial and light manufacturing uses, which may involve outdoor storage or activity areas.

• (Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013; Ord. 26-003, 1/21/2026)

• (a) Boundaries of District. The C-V-ATC zoning district shall apply to the American Tin Cannery site that is comprised of Assessor's Parcel Numbers 006-231-001, 006-234-004, and 006-234-005 and that segment of Sloat Avenue that is continuous to the American Tin Cannery site.

• (b) Uses Permitted. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Pacific Grove Municipal Code, the following uses shall be permitted in the C-V-ATC zoning district:

  • (1) Hotels and any accessory uses, such as restaurants, bars and lounges, meeting and event facilities, spa and fitness facilities, parking, and buildings, spaces, and structures incidental to such uses, subject to first securing a use permit.

  • (2) All uses that are permitted in the C-V zoning district and additional uses permitted by subsequent amendment to the zoning ordinance.

• (c) Development Standards. Development standards in the C-V-ATC zoning district, including floor area coverage, density, setbacks and height limits shall be in accordance with the applicable standards set forth in the local Coastal Program Land Use Plan, as updated or amended, or if no such standards are provided in the local Coastal Program Land Use Plan, as updated or amended, in accordance with the standards set forth in the use permit or other required permit for a use allowed in the C-V-ATC zoning district.

• (d) Except as modified by this section, all provisions of the motel/hotel regulation ballot measure enacted by the people at the June 3, 1986, special election, as set out at Chapter 23.52 PGMC, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

• (Ord. 16-009A § 1, 2016; Ord. 26-003, 1/21/2026)

Key to Zoning District Symbols C-FH Forest Hill Commercial I Restricted Industrial

C-1 Light Commercial

End Notes:

8. Hotel uses shall be allowed, subject to first securing a use permit in each case, and subject to the building height, site coverage, and yard requirements of this chapter. All other regulations and conditions of approval shall be as provided by use permit approved pursuant to this title. Said regulations and conditions shall include, without limitation, provisions for architectural review, land area per unit, neighborhood compatibility, landscaping, parking, traffic and accessory buildings. Required parking, if any, may be located on or off site, the location to be designated by the use permit. See also PGMC § 23.31.020(b)(1)(A) .

9. Outside the coastal zone only. In addition to the requirements of PGMC § 23.31.040 , emergency shelters shall be subject to the following standards:

• a. Maximum of 25 beds.

b. Off-street parking shall be provided at a rate of one space per each staff person on duty.

c. On-site management shall be provided at all times the shelter is open. A management and security plan shall be prepared in consultation with the city manager or his or her designee which shall describe hours of operation; staffing; house rules and occupant screening procedures; on- or off-site services to be provided; security measures to ensure the safety of the occupants of the shelter and surrounding areas; and communications protocols to ensure effective coordination between shelter management, adjacent property owners and residents, and public safety personnel.

d. No emergency shelter shall be established closer than 300 feet from another emergency shelter, measured from the nearest property line.

e. Waiting and intake areas shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way.

10. Permitted subject to the same standards as apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zone.

11. Transitional and supportive housing developments shall be subject to the parking requirements of PGMC § 23.64.190 , with the exception of developments located within a one-half (0.5) mile distance of a transit stop where no off-street parking shall be required.

12. Rooming houses or boarding houses accommodating employee housing shall be subject to Employee Housing Act. See permitted uses and standards under employee housing.

(Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013; Ord. 15-013 § 4, 2015; Ord. 16-005 § 6, 2016; Ord. 20-001 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 26-003, 1/21/2026)

End Notes:

3. Along Central, Lighthouse, and Forest Avenues, commercial ground-floor street frontage standards in PGMC § 23.31.050 also apply.

4. Chimneys and other vertical projections may be allowed, consistent with PGMC § 23.64.120 .

5. In C-1 and C-FH districts, front stepbacks requirements shall not apply for up to 30 feet of a building's width.

6. Rear stepback requirements shall not apply within 70 feet of front property line, while rear setback requirements shall continue to apply.

7. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2(h)(2) for mixed-use development projects on sites within C-1, C-2, C-D and C-FH districts, identified in the 6th Cycle Housing Element Site Inventory for lower-income households, a minimum of 50 percent of the total floor area shall be residential.

The 6th Cycle Housing Element can be found on the City's website:

https://www.cityofpacificgrove.gov/our_city/departments/community_development/housing/housing_element.php

Sites within the C-1, C-2, C-FH and C-D that are identified for lower-income housing units include the following:

(Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013; Ord. 17-009 § 3, 2017; Ord. 26-003, 1/21/2026)