Chapter 19.52 — LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS

The purpose of this chapter is to establish allowed land uses and corresponding requirements for permits and entitlements for each of the City's Zoning Districts, consistent with implementation of land use designations in the City's General Plan. Allowed land uses include both primary and accessory uses that are permanent in nature. Regulations for temporary uses are listed separately in Section 19.14.020 (Temporary Use Permit). Use classifications are land uses that have been grouped into general categories on the basis of common function, product, or compatibility characteristics. A complete list and description of all general uses can be found in Chapter 19.98 (Glossary).

(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)

In order to simplify land use regulations, uses have been grouped into general categories on the basis of common function, product, or compatibility characteristics. These allowed use categories are called "use classifications." Use classifications describe one or more uses having similar characteristics but do not list every use or activity possible within the classification. For example, "personal services" include a wide range of individual personal service uses (e.g., beauty parlor, dry cleaning, tanning salons, tailors). Rather than listing all such uses individually throughout this title, "personal services" is listed once and is further described in Section 19.98.020 (Glossary).

The following rules apply to use classifications:

• A. Specific Use Regulations. Additional use regulations may be enforced by State, Federal, or other City ordinances.

• B. Temporary Uses. Land use classifications in this chapter identify both primary and secondary or accessory uses that are permanent in nature. Temporary uses are separately listed and regulated in Section 19.14.020 (Temporary Use Permit).

• C. Uses Not Listed. Land uses that are not specifically listed in the Zoning District tables cannot be assumed to be permitted or not allowed. When it is not apparent that a proposed use is similar in nature the Planning Director will make a determination.

• D. Illegal Uses. No use that is illegal under local, State, or Federal law shall be allowed in any Zoning District within the City.

• E. Conversion of Residential Structures. No structure originally designed as a residence shall be used for any commercial or office uses unless the building and site are improved to meet all Code requirements for such uses.

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
TABLE 19.52.020-1 RELATIONSHIP OF GENERAL PLAN TO ZONING
DISTRICTS
Zoning District
Symbol Zoning District General Plan Designation
A Agriculture, 40 acre+, SO I & PA Agriculture
RR Rural Residential, 1 DU per acre or Suburban Residential
less max average
SR Standard Residential, primarily Auto-Oriented Residential
single-family detached
VR Village Residential, mixed-density Urban Residential
residential and historic areas
VC Village Commercial, highest intensity Urban Commercial
business, retail and entertainment
uses, pedestrian-oriented and historic
areas
SC Suburban Commercial; this use Suburban Commercial
provides the highest mix of
commercial uses
HC Highway Commercial; these uses are Auto-Oriented Commercial
automobile-oriented and most may be
in overlay zones
I/BP Industrial/Business Park Industrial
OS Open Space Open Space
P Public/Institutional Public Institutional

(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)

Subsequent chapters of this Zoning Code include lists of permitted uses and permit requirements within each zoning district organized in tables (e.g., Tables 19.56.030-1 and 19.60.030-1). Generally, a use is allowed by right, allowed through issuance of an Administrative or Conditional Use Permit, or not permitted. In addition to the permit requirements of this title, other permits may be required prior to establishment of the use (e.g., Building Permit). The permitting requirements identified in these tables are:

• A. Permitted (P). A land use shown with a "P" indicates that the land use is permitted by right in the designated Zoning District, subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this Zoning Code (e.g., development standards, Design Review).

• B. Administrative (AUP). A land use shown with an "AUP" indicates that the land use is permitted in the designated Zoning District upon issuance of an Administrative Use Permit from the Planning Director or approving authority, subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this Zoning Code (e.g., development standards, Design Review). An Administrative Use Permit may only be considered for projects exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

• C. Conditional (CUP). A land use shown with a "CUP" indicates that the land use is permitted upon issuance of a Conditional Use Permit from the Planning Commission or other designated approving authority, subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this Zoning Code (e.g., development standards, Design Review).

• D. Not Permitted (N). A land use shown with an "N" in the table is not allowed in the Zoning District. Additionally, uses not specifically shown in the table are assumed to be not permitted unless proved to be similar in nature to those permitted.

• E. General Categories. Allowed uses are organized into the following six generalized use categories:

  1. Residential uses.

  2. Agriculture and open space uses.

  3. Recreation, education, and public assembly uses.

  4. Utility, transportation, public facility, and communication uses.

  5. Retail, service, and office uses.

6. Industrial, manufacturing, and processing uses.

(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)

By reference, the official City of Plymouth Land Use Map is incorporated into this title and its use and interpretation is as follows:

• A. The official Land Use Map shall be the printed, signed copy on file in the office of the City Clerk, including any adopted amendments. Electronic files used to create the map are not the official map.

• B. The official Land Use Map shall be printed for viewing and interpretation at a scale of one inch = 1,000 feet.

• C. Questions regarding the location of land use designations shall be resolved by the City using the official Land Use Map or a printed copy at the scale specified above.

• (Ord. 2014-01 § 1)