§ 17.24

This Chapter lists the land uses that may be allowed within the commercial and industrial zoning districts established by Section 17.20.020 (Zoning Map), determines the type of land use permit/approval required for each use, and provides basic standards for site layout and building size.

A.

General purposes. In addition to the purposes of this Zoning Code listed in Chapter 17.10, the general purposes of commercial and industrial district regulations are to:

1.

Provide appropriately located areas consistent with the General Plan for a full range of office, retail commercial, service commercial, and manufacturing uses needed by residents of, and visitors to, the City and the region;

2.

Strengthen the City's economic base, and provide employment opportunities close to home for residents of the City and surrounding communities;

3.

Create suitable environments for various types of commercial uses and protect them from the adverse effects of inharmonious uses;

4.

Minimize the impact of commercial development on adjacent residential districts;

5.

Ensure that the appearance and effects of commercial buildings and uses are harmonious with the character of the area in which they are located;

6.

Provide opportunities for residential development on the site of commercial development or on separate sites in certain commercial districts;

7.

Ensure the provision of adequate off-street parking and loading facilities; and

8.

Provide sites for public and semi-public uses needed to complement commercial development or be compatible with a commercial environment.

B.

Purposes of individual zoning districts. The additional purposes of each commercial and industrial district are as follows.

1.

Commercial Office (CO) District. To provide a landscaped environment for offices of residential scale and for residential development that is protected from the more intense levels of activity associated with retail commercial development. The CO district is consistent with and implements the General Commercial land use designation of the General Plan.

2.

Commercial Limited (CL) District. To provide sites for businesses serving the daily needs of nearby residential areas while establishing development standards that prevent significant adverse effects on residential uses within and adjoining a CL district; and provide opportunities for certain limited manufacturing and service uses that have impacts comparable to those of permitted retail uses to occupy space not in demand for retailing. The CL district is consistent with and implements the Neighborhood Commercial and General Commercial land use designations of the General Plan.

Commercial General (CG) District. To provide opportunities for the full range of retail and service businesses deemed suitable for location in Pasadena, including businesses not permitted in the CL district because they attract heavy vehicular traffic or traffic not destined for Pasadena residential areas or have certain adverse impacts; and provide opportunities for certain limited manufacturing uses that have impacts comparable to those of permitted retail and service uses to occupy space not in demand for retailing or services. The CG district is consistent with and implements the General Commercial land use designation of the General Plan.

4.

Industrial General (IG) District. To provide sites for the full range of high technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, service, and distribution uses deemed suitable for location in Pasadena, to the extent feasible; and to minimize the impact of industry on adjacent residential districts.

17.24.030 - Commercial and Industrial District Land Uses and Permit Requirements

A.

Permit requirements. Table 2-5 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Zoning Code in the commercial zoning districts, and the land use permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 17.21.030 (Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements). The following land use permit requirements are established by Table 2-5.

B.

Standards for specific land uses. Where the last column in the tables ("Specific Use Standards") includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use in addition to all other applicable provisions of this Zoning Code.

(Ord. No. 7435, § 4, 10-28-2024; Ord. No. 7420, § 3, 4-15-2024; Ord. No. 7418, § 2, 2-26-2024; Ord. No. 7414, § 2, 9- 11-2023; Ord. No. 7402, § 2, 9-19-2022; Ord. 7326 § 6, 2018; Ord. 7321 § 3 (Exh. 1), 2018; Ord. No. 7313, § 3, 11-132017; Ord. 7300 § 3 (Exh. 2), 2017; Ord. 7255 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 7242, § 4 (Exh. 2), 2014; Ord. 7210 § 2, 2011; Ord. 7164 § 4, 2009; Ord. 7160 § 7, 2009)

17.24.040 - Commercial and Industrial District General Development Standards

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-6, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 (Site Planning and General Development Standards). Principal and accessory structures shall meet the same development standards unless otherwise modified in this Zoning Ordinance.

tures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-6, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 (Site Planning and General Development Standards). Principal and accessory structures shall meet the same development standards unless otherwise modified in this Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 7419, § 4, 2-26-2024; Ord. 7135 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2008; Ord. 7099 § 5 (Exh. 4), 2007; Ord. 7078 § 7 (Exh. 1), 2006; Ord. 7058 § 6 (Exh. 4), 2006; 7035 § 3, 2006)

17.24.050 - Commercial Frontage and Facade Standards

A.

Purpose. The provisions of this Section are intended to provide for pedestrian orientation and traditional building form in the commercial areas of the City. A principal design objective of this Zoning Code is for the street frontages in these areas to have continuous building facades with as few interruptions as possible in the progression of stores and other buildings, creating highly attractive, pedestrian-oriented streetscapes.

B.

Applicability. The requirements of this Section apply to proposed development within the CL, CG, and IG zoning districts. The review authority may approve minor variations to these standards as deemed appropriate, provided that the review authority also first finds that the minor variation will still produce a building that complies with the purpose of this Section.

C.

Elevation of first floor. At least 75 percent of the street-fronting length of the first habitable floor of a nonresidential structure shall be located no more than two vertical feet above or below the sidewalk elevation at any point along the street property line.

D.

Building placement. Each building shall be designed so that its front facade occupies 100 percent of its front property line. The review authority may grant exceptions for:

1.

A driveway that is necessary because no side street, alley, or easement can provide access to required parking on the rear of the lot or site;

2.

The initial phases of a multiphased building project that will occupy the entire frontage upon completion;

3.

A project proposed with a pedestrians-only plaza occupying a portion of the street frontage;

4.

A pedestrian corridor; or

5.

Double frontage or double-frontage corner lots or sites. The Review Authority shall determine which frontage is the primary frontage and which is the secondary frontage based on the character of the street frontages. A parking lot can face the street on the secondary frontage.

E.

Building treatment. Building design shall comply with the following requirements.

1.

Windows. Clear, untinted glass windows shall occupy a minimum of 50 percent of the width of the building facade parallel to the public sidewalk, with a minimum height of eight feet, to allow maximum visual interaction between sidewalk areas and the interior of buildings. Mirrored, reflective glass or tinted glass shall not be allowed. After

installation, clear glass windows shall not later be treated so as to become opaque or to be blocked so as to prevent visibility of the ground floor interior from the sidewalk.

2.

Railings and decorative grilles. Any decorative railing or grille work that is placed in front of or behind street-level windows shall be at least 75 percent open to perpendicular view and no more than six feet in height above grade. No security gate or grille shall be installed on the exterior of any structure.

F.

Pedestrian access to buildings. The primary entrance of each ground-floor use shall be located within the primary building frontage, and shall be recessed a minimum of three feet when accessed from the public right-of-way. Walk-up facilities and entries shall be recessed and provide adequate queuing space to avoid interruption of pedestrian flow.

(Ord. 7057 § 4, 2006)

Chapter 17.26 - Special Purpose Zoning Districts