Porterville Municipal Code Art. 205 Public and Open Space

205.01: PURPOSE:¶

The specific purposes of the “Public and Open Space” Districts are to:

A. Provide areas for educational facilities, cultural and institutional uses, health services, parks and recreation, general government operations, airports, utility and public service needs, and other similar and related supporting uses.

B. Ensure the provision of services and facilities needed to accommodate planned population densities, employment intensities, and traffic regulation.

Additional purposes of each “Public and Open Space” District:

PS Public and Semi-Public. To provide areas for needed public facilities, including, but not limited to, recycling centers, sewage treatment ponds, police and fire stations, and schools, colleges, vocational training facilities, school administrative offices, fairgrounds, and similar facilities. This designation is intended for lands owned by public entities, including City Hall, County buildings, and the hospital. This designation allows for a maximum FAR of 0.25.

REC Commercial Recreation. To provide areas for private commercial recreation uses where patron usually pay to participate. Allowable uses include campgrounds, off-road vehicle complexes, and other recreation areas that are privately owned and where patrons usually pay to participate. The maximum FAR is 0.10.

PK Parks and Public Recreation Facilities. To maintain areas for public parks and recreation sites and facilities on city owned properties. The maximum FAR is 0.10. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

Exceptions & meaning →

205.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS:¶

Table 205.02 below prescribes the land use regulations for “Public and Open Space” Districts. The regulations for each district are established by letter designations as follows:

“P” designates permitted uses.

“C” designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Conditional Use Permit by the City Council.

“M” designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Minor Conditional Use Permit by the City Council.

“(#)” numbers in parentheses refer to specific limitations listed at the end of the table.

“-” designates uses that are not permitted.

Use classifications are defined in Chapter 701, Use Classifications. In cases where a specific land use or activity is not defined, the Zoning Administrator shall assign the land use or activity to a classification that is substantially similar in character. Use classifications and sub-classifications not listed in the table or not found to be substantially similar to the uses below are prohibited. The table also notes additional use regulations that apply to various uses. Section numbers in the right hand column refer to other sections of this Chapter.

TABLE 205.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS - PUBLIC AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICTS

Use Classification	PS	REC	PK	Additional Regulations
Public and semipublic use classifications:
Airport	P	-	-
Cemeteries	C	-	-
Clubs and lodges	-	P(1)	P(1)
College and trade schools, public or private	P	-	-
Community center	P	-	P
Correctional facility	P	-	-
Cultural institutions	P	-	P
Government offices	P	-	-
Instructional services	P	-	-
Park and recreation facilities, public	P	P	P
Public safety facilities	P	-	-
Religious facilities	C	-	-
Schools, public or private	P	-	-
Commercial use classifications:	Commercial use classifications:	Commercial use classifications:	Commercial use classifications:	Commercial use classifications:
Aircraft sales, services, and storage	P(2)	-	-
Commercial entertainment and recreation:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
Large scale	P	C	P	Section 301.02, “Alcoholic Beverage Sales”
Small scale	P(6)	P(6)	P(6)	Section 301.02, “Alcoholic Beverage Sales”
Eating, drinking, and smoking establishments:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
Coffee shops/cafes	P(3)	P(1)	P(1)	Section 300.08, “Outdoor Seating”
Medical facilities:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
Hospital	P	-	-
Recycling facilities:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
Recycling collection facility	P	-	-
Recycling processing facility	P	-	-
Retail sales:
Swap meet	C	-	-
Transportation, communication, and utilities use classifications:
Telecommunication facilities:
Antenna and transmission towers, camouflage facilities	P(4)	P(4)	P(4)	Section 301.20, “Telecommunication Facilities”
Antenna and transmission towers, non-camouflage facilities	M(4)	M(4)	M(4)	Section 301.20, “Telecommunication Facilities”
Heliports	P(5)	-	-
Utilities, major:	C	-	-
Solid waste collection, treatment, and disposal	P	-	-
Utilities, minor	P	P	P
Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:
Crop cultivation, commercial	M	M	M	Section 301.06, “Crop Cultivation”
Agricultural employee housing	M	M	M
Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:
Accessory uses and structures	P	P	P	Section 301.01, “Accessory Uses And Structures”
Nonconforming use	Chapter 307, “Nonconforming Uses, Structures, And Lots”	Chapter 307, “Nonconforming Uses, Structures, And Lots”	Chapter 307, “Nonconforming Uses, Structures, And Lots”	Chapter 307, “Nonconforming Uses, Structures, And Lots”
Temporary use	Section 301.21, “Temporary Uses”	Section 301.21, “Temporary Uses”	Section 301.21, “Temporary Uses”	Section 301.21, “Temporary Uses”

Notes:

Specific Limitations:

(1) Limited to facilities associated with park and recreational facilities.

(2) Limited to facilities associated with an airport.

(3) Limited to cafes and restaurants accessory to cultural institutions.

(4) Prohibited within 300 feet of any R district except as detailed in 301.20e.

(5) Permitted only as accessory to a hospital or public airport.

(6) Minor Conditional Use Permit approval is required for indoor shooting ranges.

(Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019; amd. Ord. 1909, 1-21-2025)

Exceptions & meaning →

205.03: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS:¶

Table 205.03 prescribes the development standards for the public and open space districts. Additional regulations are denoted in the right hand column. Section numbers in this column refer to other sections of this Chapter, while individual letters refer to subsections that directly follow the table.

TABLE 205.03: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS - PUBLIC AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICTS

Standard	PS	REC	PK	Additional Standards
Lot and density standards:	Lot and density standards:	Lot and density standards:	Lot and density standards:	Lot and density standards:
Minimum lot area (sq. ft.)	87,120 (2 acres)	10,000	10,000
Minimum lot width (ft.)	100	100	100
Minimum lot depth (ft.)	100	75	75
Building form and location:	Building form and location:	Building form and location:	Building form and location:	Building form and location:
Maximum height (ft.)	75	35	25	Section 205.03(a); and section 300.06, “Heights And Height Exceptions”
Minimum yards (ft.):
Front	20	0	0	Section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Interior side	10	0	0	Section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Street side	10	0	0	Section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Rear	10	0	0	Section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Transitional - street side	15	15	15	Section 205.03(b), “Transitional Standards”
Maximum floor area ratio	0.25 (b)	0.10	0.10

Notes:

Additional Development Regulations:

(a) Transitional Standards. Where a site is adjacent to an R district, the following standards apply:

(1) Buildings exceeding twenty (20) feet in height must be set back five (5) feet from the interior side and rear property line; for buildings exceeding twenty-five (25) feet in height shall be stepped back one (1) additional foot for every foot of height above twenty-five (25) feet.

(2) The maximum height within forty (40) feet of an R district boundary is thirty-five (35) feet. The maximum height within fifty (50) feet of an R district boundary is forty (40) feet.

FIGURE 205.03(a)(2): PUBLIC AND OPEN SPACE

[Figure]

(b) Determining FAR. When determining FAR in the PS District, medical laboratories, operating rooms, meeting rooms, conference facilities, cafeteria facilities, and recreational facilities are excluded from floor area.

(Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

Exceptions & meaning →

Porterville Municipal Code Art. 205 Public and Open Space Districts

205.01: PURPOSE:¶

205.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS:¶

205.03: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS:¶

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