Chapter 23.301 — Establishment Of Zoning Districts

This chapter establishes the framework for zoning districts in the city of Rancho Cordova and their relationship to the city's General Plan land use categories. This chapter also establishes the zoning map as the official designation of zoning district boundaries. (Ord. 27-2008 § 1 (Exh. A § 2.1.010); Ord. 12-2011 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. B))

The city of Rancho Cordova is divided into zoning districts that are generally grouped into two categories: (A) base zoning districts and (B) overlay zoning districts. These districts implement the city's General Plan land use categories as described in Table 23.301-1. Each zone is further defined and regulated in the subsequent sections of this chapter.

• A. Base Zoning Districts. The base zoning district is the primary zoning district that applies to a property. Every parcel throughout the city has a base zoning district that establishes the primary type and intensity of land use for the parcel, along with development regulations for that particular type and intensity of land use. Base districts are grouped into six categories as follows:

  1. Agricultural zoning districts;

  2. Residential zoning districts;

  3. Mixed-use zoning districts;

  4. General commercial and industrial zoning districts;

  5. Public/quasi-public zoning districts;

  6. Special purpose zoning districts.

• B. Overlay Zoning Districts. An overlay zoning district (previously referred to as a combining zone) supplements the base zoning district for one or more of the following purposes:

  1. To allow more flexibility from the standard provisions of the underlying base zone;

  2. When special provisions are needed to protect unique site features or implement location-specific provisions; and/or

  3. To specify a particular standard or guideline for an area.

In the event of a conflict between the regulations of the base zoning district and the overlay zoning district, the provisions of the overlay zoning district shall apply.

Notes:

1. All zoning districts are consistent with the public/quasi-public General Plan land use category, as described in the General Plan.

2. The PD and PDC overlay zones are combining zones held over from the old Sacramento County Zoning Code. As identified in RCMC § 23.325.050 and § 23.325.060 , no additional property may utilize these zones.

• (Ord. 27-2008 § 1 (Exh. A § 2.1.020); Ord. 12-2011 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 13-2013 § 4 (Exh. B); Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. B))

The council hereby adopts the city of Rancho Cordova zoning map (hereafter referred to as the "zoning map") as the official designation of zoning district boundaries on real property in the city. The zoning map shall be regulated as set forth:

• A. Incorporated by Reference. The zoning map is hereby incorporated into this zoning code by reference as though it were fully included.

• B. Map Amendments. Amendments to the zoning map shall follow the process established in Chapter 23.146 RCMC (Zoning Amendments).

• C. Relationship to General Plan and Other Plans. The zoning map shall implement and be consistent with the city's adopted General Plan. The zoning map shall be specifically consistent with the General Plan Land Use Plan and the roadway sizing diagram, and any adopted Specific Plans, special planning areas, or Master Plans.

• D. Zoning District Symbol. Zoning districts shall be illustrated on the zoning map as follows:

  1. Each base zoning district shall be described on the zoning map by use of its identified zoning district symbol, as listed in Table 23.301-1.

  2. Each special purpose zoning district shall be delineated with a name, number, symbol, or other delineation, as determined by the director, which distinguishes it from other special purpose zones, base zoning districts, or overlay zones. The assignment

of the special purpose designation serves to provide a reference to the corresponding special purpose zoning document (e.g., Specific Plan, special planning area) adopted by ordinance of the council.

3. Overlay zoning districts shall be designated by their representative symbol along with the base zoning district in a format determined by the director.

• E. Zoning Map Interpretation. If there is uncertainty about the location of any zoning district boundary shown on the zoning map, the precise location of the boundary shall be determined by the director as follows:

  1. The boundaries of a zoning district shall be the centerlines of either streets or alleys, or lot lines of real property, unless otherwise shown. Where a district's boundaries approximately follow centerlines or lot lines, those lines shall be interpreted as the district boundaries.

  2. If a district boundary divides a parcel and the boundary line location is not specified by distances printed on the zoning map, the location of the boundary shall be determined by using the scale appearing on the zoning map. Except as otherwise provided by this code through integrated development, each portion of the property shall be developed to the standards and allowed use provisions of the applied zoning district and any applied overlay zone(s).

  3. Where the street layout on the ground or the lot lines differ from such layout or lines shown on the zoning map, the director shall determine the exact boundary and the map shall be amended to conform to the layout on the ground.

4. Where a public street or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the property that was formerly in the street or alley shall be included within the zoning district of the adjoining property on either side of the centerline of the vacated or abandoned street or alley.

• (Ord. 27-2008 § 1 (Exh. A § 2.1.030); Ord. 12-2011 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 13-2013 § 4 (Exh. B); Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. B))