4.70 - Standards for SpeciDc Land Uses

A. Where allowed by Section 2 (the Zoning Map), and Section 3 (Building Function Standards), the land uses and

activities covered by and activities covered by 4.80.020 through 4.80.030 shall comply with the requirements

applicable to the speciTc use, in addition to all other applicable provisions of this Code.

B. Each land use covered by this Section shall also obtain any required planning permit or other City approval

required by Section 3 of this Code.

C. In the event of any conUict between the requirements of this Section and those of Section 4 (Urban

Standards), the requirements of this Chapter shall control.

The Petaluma SmartCode is current through Ordinance 2864, passed October 2, 2023.

Sec. 4 Urban Standards | Petaluma SmartCode Page 50 of 139

A. Purpose. This Section provides standards for the development of new live/work and work/live units and for

the reuse of existing commercial and industrial structures to accommodate live/work or work/live opportunities.

Live/work and work/live units are intended, but not required to be occupied by business operators who live in the

same structure that contains the commercial activity or industry.

1. A live/work unit refers to a space in which the predominant use is residential, and commercial activity is a

secondary use. Live/work being predominantly live-oriented, the quiet enjoyment expectations of the

neighbors in the building or adjacent buildings take precedence over work needs of the unit in question. Live/

work is less likely to accommodate walk-in trade due to the intensive impact of customers upon what is

intended primarily as a residence.

2. A work/live unit refers to a space in which the commercial activities are the predominant use and the

residential component is a secondary use. Work/live being a predominantly work-oriented, more intense

occupancy, is more likely to accommodate greater noise generation, mechanical, musical, or otherwise. Work/

live is more likely to accommodate a walk-in trade.

B. Application requirements. In addition to the information and materials required for a Minor Use Permit (MUP)

or Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application by the Implementing Zoning Ordinance, a CUP application for a live/

work or work/live as the reuse of existing commercial or industrial structures unit shall include a Phase I

Environmental Assessment for the site, including an expanded site investigation to determine whether lead based

paint and asbestos hazards exist. The purpose of this requirement is to assess whether there are any hazardous

or toxic materials on the site that could pose a health risk to residents. If the Phase I assessment shows potential

health risks, a Phase 2 Environmental Assessment shall be prepared and submitted to determine if remediation

may be required.

C. Limitations on use. The non-residential component of a live/work or work/live project shall be a use allowed

within the applicable zone by Section 3. A live/work or work/live unit shall not be established or used in

conjunction with any of the following activities:

1. Adult businesses;

2. Vehicle maintenance or repair (e.g., body or mechanical work, including boats and recreational vehicles),

vehicle detailing and painting, upholstery, etc.);

3. No occupancy classiTed as an H occupancy by the California Building Standards Code shall be allowed.

4. Welding, machining, or any open Uame work; and

5. Any other activity or use, as determined by the Director to not be compatible with residential activities

and/or to have the possibility of aWecting the health or safety of live/work or work/live unit residents, because

of the potential for the use to create dust, glare, heat, noise, noxious gasses, odor, smoke, traVc, vibration or

other impacts, or would be hazardous because of materials, processes, products, or wastes.

The Petaluma SmartCode is current through Ordinance 2864, passed October 2, 2023.

Sec. 4 Urban Standards | Petaluma SmartCode Page 51 of 139

D. Design standards.

1. Floor area requirements. The net total Uoor area of a live/work or work/live space shall be 3,000 square

feet maximum. Separation and access. Each live/work or work/ live unit shall be separated from other live/

work or work/live units or other uses in the structure. Access to each live/work or work/live unit shall be

provided from shopfronts, directly from the street from common access areas, corridors, or halls; and the

access to each unit shall be clearly separate from other live/work or work/live units or other uses within the

structure.

2. Facilities to accommodate commercial or industrial activities. A live/work or work/live unit shall be designed

to accommodate commercial or industrial uses as evidenced by the provision of ventilation, interior storage,

Uooring, and other physical improvements of the type commonly found in exclusively commercial or

industrial facilities used for the same work activity.

3. Building and :re code compliance. Any building which contains a live/work or work/live occupancy shall

comply with the latest edition of the CBC and applicable building and life safety policies for such occupancies.

E. Operating requirements.

1. Notice to occupants. The owner or developer of any building containing work/live units shall provide

written notice to all occupants and users that the surrounding area may be subject to levels of noise, dust,

fumes, or other eWects associated with commercial and industrial uses at higher levels than would be

expected in residential areas. State and Federal health regulations notwithstanding, noise and other

standards shall be those applicable to commercial or industrial properties in the applicable zone.

2. Non-resident employees. Up to two persons who do not reside in the live/work or work/live unit may work

in the unit unless this employment is prohibited or limited by the Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit

in zones that require such use permits. The employment of three or more persons who do not reside in the

live/ work or work/live unit may be permitted subject to Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit

approval, based on additional Tndings that the employment will not adversely aWect traVc and parking

conditions in the site vicinity. The employment of any persons who do not reside in the live/work or work/live

unit shall comply with all applicable Building Code requirements

3. Client and customer visits. Client and customer visits to live/work or work/live units are permitted subject

to any applicable conditions of the Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit if applicable to ensure

compatibility with adjacent commercial or industrial uses, or adjacent residentially-zoned areas

F. Required :ndings. In addition to the Tndings required for zones where a live/work or work/live unit requires a

Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit, its approval shall require that the review authority Trst make all of

the following Tndings, in addition to the Tndings required for a MUP or CUP approval:

1. The proposed use of each live/work or work/live unit is a bona Tde commercial or industrial activity

consistent with Subsection C. (Limitations on use).

The Petaluma SmartCode is current through Ordinance 2864, passed October 2, 2023.

Sec. 4 Urban Standards | Petaluma SmartCode Page 52 of 139

2. The establishment of live/work or work/live units will not conUict with nor inhibit permitted industrial or

commercial uses in the area where the project is proposed;

3. The building containing live/work units and each live/work unit within the building has been designed to

ensure that they will function predominantly as residential uses with incidental work spaces. ; and

4. The building containing work/live units and each work/live unit within the building has been designed to

ensure that they will function predominantly as work spaces with incidental residential accommodations in

compliance with applicable regulations;

A mixed-use project shall comply with the following requirements.

A. Intent. A mixed-use project shall be intended to:

1. Provide a blend of commercial space and residential units;

2. Minimize the need for automobiles and promote transit use;

3. Concentrate high density residential dwellings and commercial operations in the downtown or other

urban/commercial districts;

4. Provide a diverse range of housing types, unit sizes, and price points within the downtown or other

urban/commercial districts;

5. Promote continued activity in the evening and on weekends; and

6. Increase the economic vitality of the neighborhood.

B. Design objectives. A mixed-use project shall be designed to:

1. Provide shopfronts along street frontages to maintain a pedestrian orientation at the street level.

Residential developments, including live/work, shall be designed such that ground Uoor units may be

converted to retail/commercial shopfronts and to establish a clear, functional design relationship with the

street front.

2. Provide for internal compatibility between the diWerent uses within the project;

3. Minimize the eWects of any exterior noise, odors, glare, vehicular and pedestrian traVc, and other

potentially signiTcant impacts on the occupants of the residential portions of the project;

4. Include speciTc design features to minimize the potential impacts of the mixed-use project on adjacent

properties;

5. Ensure that the residential units are of a residential character, and with appropriate privacy;

The Petaluma SmartCode is current through Ordinance 2864, passed October 2, 2023.

Sec. 4 Urban Standards | Petaluma SmartCode Page 53 of 139

6. Be compatible with and enhance the adjacent and surrounding residential neighborhood in terms of site

planning, scale, building design, color, exterior materials, roof styles, lighting, landscaping, and signage.

C. Location of residential uses. In the T5 and T6 Transect Zones. A mixed-use project that provides commercial

and/or oVce space on the ground Uoor with residential units above (vertical mix) is encouraged over a project that

provides commercial structures on the front portion of the lot with residential uses placed at the rear of the lot

(horizontal mix).

D. Loading areas. Commercial loading areas shall be located to minimize their impact on residential units.

E. Refuse and recycling areas. Areas for the collection and storage of refuse and recyclable materials also shall be

located on the site in locations that are convenient for both the residential and nonresidential uses.

F. Lighting. Lighting for the commercial uses shall be appropriately shielded to minimize the impact on

residential units.

G. Noise. All residential units shall be designed to minimize adverse impacts from non- residential project noise,

in compliance with the City’s Noise Ordinance.

H. Non-residential hours of operation. Where a Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit is required, the review

authority may restrict the hours of operation of non- residential uses within a mixed-use project to mitigate

adverse impacts on residential uses.

All buildings should be designed and built to comply with the following guidelines:

A. Building materials. Natural building materials that age gracefully are recommended. Synthetic materials, such

as hardboard or cementitious siding, are also allowed if they faithfully simulate the natural material and have

equal or better weathering characteristics.

B. Vinyl materials. Vinyl windows, plastic gutters, siding, shutters or similar material should not be used in any

renovation or adaptive reuse of an historic building and are discouraged in any new building.

C. Divided light windows. True divided light windows or simulated divided lights should be used in new

construction and remodeling. Windows with the grids between the glass are discouraged.

D. CALGreen Requirements. Building shall meet or exceed the current requirements of the adopted local building

code and any associated reach codes. (Ord. 2729 § 4, 2020.)

The Petaluma SmartCode is current through Ordinance 2864, passed October 2, 2023.

Sec. 4 Urban Standards | Petaluma SmartCode Page 54 of 139

River dependent and agricultural support industrial uses within the Central Petaluma SpeciTc Plan area are

typically 24-hour operations that frequently generate noise, dust, odors and light that may not be compatible with

other uses in the immediate vicinity. In order to support these industries as an important contributor to the local

economy, the following notiTcation language shall be required as a condition of approval of any residential or

commercial use where, in the opinion of the reviewing authority, the potential for concerns over compatibility may

arise:

A. Noti:cation Requirement. For each parcel subject to the requirement for notiTcation, the developer/ applicant

shall record the following notice in the OVcial Records of Sonoma County, and shall include the following notice in

all lease or rental agreements concerning any portion of such property:

“This document shall serve as notiTcation that you have purchased property or you are leasing or renting

premises in an area where river-dependent and/or agricultural support industrial operations are located which

may cause oW-site eWects including without limitation, noise, dust, fumes, smoke, light, and odors, and which may

operate at any time of night or day. The nature and extent of such operations and their eWects may vary in

response to Uuctuations in economic circumstances, business cycles, weather and tidal conditions and other

conditions. This statement is notiTcation that these oW-site eWects are a component of the industrial operations in

the Central Petaluma SpeciTc Plan area of the City of Petaluma, and you should be fully aware of this at the time of

purchase, lease or rental.”