Chapter 18.44 — C COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS (§ 18.44.010 – § 18.44.140)

In addition to the objectives prescribed in Section 18.04.010 of this title, the C commercial districts are included in this title to achieve the following purposes:

A.

To provide appropriately located areas for spaces offering commodities and services required by residents of the city and its surrounding market area;

B.

To provide opportunities for retail stores, offices, service establishments, recreational establishments, and wholesale businesses to concentrate for the convenience of the public and in mutually beneficial relationship to each other;

C.

To provide space for community facilities and institutions that appropriately may be located in commercial areas;

D.

To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern commercial development, including off-street parking and truck loading areas;

E.

To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them;

F.

To protect commercial properties from noise, odor, dust, dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare, heavy truck traffic, and other objectionable influences incidental to industrial uses;

G.

To protect commercial properties from fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards. (Prior code § 2-7.00; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

The purpose of the C-N neighborhood commercial district is as follows:

A.

To provide appropriately located areas for retail stores, offices, and personal service establishments patronized primarily by residents of the immediate area;

B.

To permit development of neighborhood shopping centers of the size and in the appropriate locations shown on the general plan, according to standards that minimize adverse impact on adjoining residential uses. (Prior code § 2-7.01)

The purpose of the C-C central commercial district is as follows:

A.

To maintain compactness and encourage more intensive development in Pleasanton's central business district;

B.

To maximize the efficiency of the central district by limiting or prohibiting uses that break the continuity of commercial frontage or are incompatible with an attractive pedestrian shopping area;

C.

To facilitate the establishment of assessment districts for provision of off-street parking facilities by limiting or prohibiting drive-in type uses that would not benefit substantially from public off-street parking facilities. (Prior code § 2-7.02)

The purpose of the C-R regional commercial district is as follows:

A.

To provide a large site at an appropriate location for a major shopping center drawing trade from the entire Amador-Livermore Valley;

B.

To ensure that a major center will be developed in accord with high standards of site planning, architecture, and landscape design;

C.

To minimize the adverse effect of major commercial facilities on nearby dwellings. (Prior code § 2-7.03)

The purpose of the C-S service commercial district is as follows:

A.

To provide appropriately located areas for commercial uses having features that are incompatible with the purposes of the other commercial districts;

B.

To provide sites for businesses that typically are not found in shopping centers, that usually have relatively large sites providing off-street parking, and that attract little or no pedestrian traffic. (Prior code § 2-7.04)

The purpose of the C-F freeway interchange commercial district is as follows:

A.

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments catering to freeway travelers and tourists; B.

To enhance the appearance of certain entrances to the city, and to protect motel and restaurant patrons from nuisances by limiting or prohibiting certain commercial service uses that often are unsightly or have nuisance features;

C.

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments that generally require large sites and do not require close proximity to other commercial uses.

(Prior code § 2-7.05)

A.

All uses shall comply with the regulations prescribed in Chapter 18.84 of this title, except in the C-R District where the zoning administrator and/or planning commission shall establish such regulations on a case-bycase basis in accordance with the purposes of Chapter 18.20 of this title.

B.

All uses shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed structure. Uses include, but are not limited to, all business transactions, services, processes and displays, but do not include off-street parking and loading areas. Exceptions include:

Certain uses which by their nature require and ordinarily include outdoor activities (whether services, processes, or display), may conduct aspects of the business outside of a completely enclosed structure as determined by the zoning administrator.

2.

Outdoor decorative displays for the purpose of enhancing the appearance of a structure or site, occupying no more than 50 square feet and not located in a public right-of-way or in any required parking area, will be allowed by the zoning administrator upon making the finding that such displays are not detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare. Such displays shall not contain signing (unless they are submitted as a sign). The zoning administrator's decision with regard to what constitutes a decorative display may be appealed to the planning commission by the affected merchant or property owner. The requirements of Section 18.144.030 of this title shall not govern such an appeal.

C.

In a C-N and C-C district all products shall be sold primarily at the retail site. D.

No use shall be permitted, and no process, equipment, or material shall be employed which is found by the zoning administrator or planning commission, as applicable, to be objectionable to persons residing or working in the vicinity or injurious to property located in the vicinity by reason of odor, insect nuisance, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, water-carried wastes, noise, vibration, illumination, glare, unsightliness, or heavy truck traffic, or to involve any hazard of fire or explosion. No exterior illumination closer than 200 feet to the boundaries of a site or interior illumination closer than 10 feet to a window within 200 feet of the boundary of a site and visible beyond the boundary of a site, whether related to a sign or not, shall exceed the intensity permitted by Chapter 18.96 of this title regarding illumination.

(Prior code § 2-7.07; Ord. 1104 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1656 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2055 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

A.

Permitted uses and uses subject to a minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit in a C district are provided in Table 18.44.080 at the end of this section.

B.

Multi-family dwellings and mixed-use development shall be permitted in the C-C district provided that there shall be no more than 43.6 dwelling units per acre, and provided that dwelling units not located above a permitted nonresidential use shall be subjected to the requirements for usable open space per dwelling unit of the RM-1, 500 district, or, if applicable, the Core Area Overlay district. When proposed with existing onefamily or multi-family dwellings, accessory dwelling and/or junior accessory dwelling units, as applicable, meeting the requirements in Chapter 18.106 of this title are permitted. Yards and courts at and above the first level occupied by dwelling units shall be as required by Section 18.84.100 of this title, except that where no side or rear yard is required for a nonresidential use on the site, no side or rear yard need be provided except when required by the Building Code for adjoining walls with openings. C.

Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109. D.

Any other use which is determined by the zoning administrator or planning commission, as applicable, as provided in Chapter 18.128 of this title, to be similar to the uses listed in this section shall be a permitted use or a conditional use in the districts in which the uses to which it is similar are permitted uses or conditional uses.

Table 18.44.080

PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES

The following uses shall be permitted uses or conditional uses in a commercial, mixed-use, office, or industrial district according to the following legend:

Notes:

where the facilities are located; (5) On a site with fuel cell facilities, small electricity generator facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small electricity generator facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large electricity generator facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the subject zoning district; (6) The facilities shall be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities, if feasible.

9 Small fuel cell facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The facilities shall not create any objectionable odors at any point outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (2) The fuel cell facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on any residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (3) On a site with electricity generator facilities, small fuel cell facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small fuel cell facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large fuel cell facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the applicable subject district; Small fuel cell facilities are encouraged to be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities.

one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small fuel cell facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large fuel cell facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the applicable subject district; Small fuel cell facilities are encouraged to be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities.

Notes:

Notes:

Notes:

establishments shall meet the requirements of Chapter 6.24.

• 27 Any retail use in the C-R(m), C-R(p), and C-C Districts that includes firearm sales shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. Firearm sales are prohibited in the C-N, C-F, MU-T, and MU-D Districts. Firearm sales in which no more than 10 firearms are stored on-site at any one time and the majority of firearms are sold through catalogs, mail order, or at trade shows are subject to a conditional use permit in the C-S District.

• 28 The use may include incidental care such as bathing and trimming, provided that all operations are conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building which complies with specifications for soundproof construction prescribed by the chief building official.

• 29 Any use that includes a drive-through shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. 30 Liquor stores and convenience markets shall only be permitted in the C-R(m) and C-R(p) districts, and shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-N and C-C districts.

Tobacco stores (which are uses which primarily sell tobacco products; from which more than 60 percent of gross annual revenue is derived from the sale of tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia; does not permit anyone under 18 years of age to be present unless with parent or guardian; and does not sell alcoholic beverages or food for consumption on the premises), shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-R(m), C-R(p), C-N and C-C districts, but only if the proposed site also meets the restrictions of Chapter 18.109.

s and tobacco paraphernalia; does not permit anyone under 18 years of age to be present unless with parent or guardian; and does not sell alcoholic beverages or food for consumption on the premises), shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-R(m), C-R(p), C-N and C-C districts, but only if the proposed site also meets the restrictions of Chapter 18.109.

Notes:

Use of any loading docks and delivery/receiving/shipping hours of operation shall be determined acceptable on a case-by-case basis as determined by the zoning administrator.

Ancillary uses/equipment, including, but not limited to, HVAC equipment, transformers, emergency generators, gas meters, backflow devices, storage, etc., shall be sited to minimize noise and visual impacts as determined acceptable by the zoning administrator.

• 37 Innovation-based business shall not be permitted on any parcel located within the Downtown Specific Plan Area.

• 38 A CUP and design review approval shall be required for any data center use where an innovation-based business is permitted or conditionally permitted.

• 39 In addition to the Districts identified in Table 18.44.080, personal services shall be Permitted uses in the I-P and I- G Districts when included as an ancillary use to an innovation-based business within the same building or clustering of buildings and/or on the same project site.

(Prior code § 2-7.08; Ord. 1071 § 2, 1983; Ord. 1216 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1340 § 1, 1987; Ord. 1346 § 2, 1987; Ord. 1354 § 4, 1988; Ord. 1379 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1390 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1394 § 1, 1989; Ord. 1603 § 3, 1993;

Ord. 1604 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1665 § 2, 1995; Ord. 1668 § 2, 1995; Ord. 1725 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1726 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1743, 1998; Ord. 1810 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1821 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1850 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 1950 § 2 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 1995 § 2, 2009; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2017 § 2, 2011; Ord. 2039 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2055 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2061 § 2, 2013; Ord. 2086 § 2, 2014; Ord. 2113 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2155 §3, 2017; Ord. 2194 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2208 § 3, 2020; Ord. 2213 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2216 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2244 § 2, 2023; Ord. 2277, 5/7/2024; Ord. 2295, 7/15/2025; Ord. 2297, 9/16/2025)

The following uses shall not be permitted in the commercial districts:

Any use not specifically or conditionally permitted by this chapter, unless a determination is made under Chapter 18.128 of this title.

(Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

Electric and communication service wires to a new structure shall be placed underground from the nearest utility pole. If the city engineer finds, upon application by the property owner, that compliance is not feasible or economically justifiable, he or she shall permit different service arrangements. The property owner shall comply with the requirements of this section without expense to the city and shall make the necessary arrangements with the public utility involved.

(Prior code § 2-7.09; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009)

Off-street parking facilities shall be provided for each use in the C districts as prescribed in Chapter 18.88 of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.10)

Off-street loading facilities shall be provided for each use in the C districts prescribed in Chapter 18.92 of this title, except in the C-R district where the zoning administrator and/or planning commission shall establish regulations on a case by case basis in accordance with the purposes of Chapters 18.20 and 18.74, as applicable, of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.11; Ord. 1591 § 2, 1993; Ord. 2155 §3, 2017)

No sign, outdoor advertising structure, or display of any character shall be permitted in the C districts, except as prescribed in Chapters 18.96 and 18.74, as applicable, of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.12; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

All uses in the C districts involving exterior changes, uses, or improvements shall be subject to design review as prescribed in Chapter 18.20 of this title except for accessory dwelling units as provided in Chapter 18.106. Applicants are advised to confer with the zoning administrator before preparing detailed plans. (Prior code § 2-7.13; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017; Ord. 2213 § 2, 2021)