§ 9.06 — Rancho Santa Margarita Zoning Code

Sec. 9.06.080. - Non-residential parking standards. ¶

(a)

Location of non-residential parking. Required parking for non-residential uses shall be located:

(1)

On the same site as the use which the facilities serve; or

(2)

On an adjoining lot or parcel of land under the same ownership as the site necessitating the parking, provided that the shared parking does not conflict with and are in addition to any preestablished parking requirement on that site and that the owner of the site will grand and record a parking easement or other recorded document satisfactory to the City; or

(3)

On an adjacent lot or parcel of land not under the same ownership as the site necessitating the parking, provided that the shared parking does not conflict with, is in addition to any preestablished parking requirements on that site and that the owner of the site will grant and record a parking easement or other recorded document satisfactory to the City, provided:

a.

Said lots or parcels would be contiguous, if not separated by an alley;

b.

Direct vehicular and pedestrian passage between said lots or parcels would be possible if the public rightof-way were vacated; and

c.

The parking and vehicular access on said lots or parcels can be designed to ensure safe pedestrian movement between the parking and site which the parking facilities serve as determined by the City Engineer.

(4)

On a remote site, with Planning Commission approval of a parking management plan through an alternative development standard pursuant to Section 9.08.050 to include security measures, pedestrian access between the parking and parent site, means and methods of transportation between the sites, schedule of usage, parking assurances and other issues or concerns deemed necessary by the City Engineer, the Development Services Director and the Planning Commission.

(5)

Remote or shared employee parking meeting the same requirements of Subsection (4) may be substituted for existing on-site parking if the existing on-site area is converted to another land use approved by the Planning Commission through an alternative development standard pursuant to Section 9.08.050. An analysis approved by the Development Services Director verifying the number of employees to be relocated and that remaining parking supports the proposed new land use and other issues or concerns deemed necessary by the Development Services Director.

Table 9.06.3

Non-Residential Parking Requirements

Land Use Type	Required Of-Street Parking	Notes and Comments
Animal day care	1.0 of-street parking space per each 200 square feet of gross foor area.
Animal hospitals and clinics	1.0 of-street parking space per each 250 square feet of gross foor area
Auto dealerships (vehicle sales and services)	1.0 of-street parking space per each 500 square feet of gross foor area.	Excludes areas used exclusively for storage and display of vehicles for sale or lease.
Auto repair services	1.0 of-street parking space per each 500 square feet of gross foor area	Square footage calculation shall not include areas used exclusively for storage or loading of vehicles.
Bars/taverns, brewery pubs, night clubs, VIP rooms and cocktail lounges (including facilities with dancing, pool/billiard tables, and live entertainment)	1.0 of-street parking space per each 400 square feet of gross foor area, but not less than 8.0 of-street parking spaces per each such use
Car washes, except self-operated	1.0 of-street parking space per each 10 linear feet of wash line, plus queuing capacity equal to 5 times the capacity of the car wash	In determining capacity, each 20 linear feet of wash line shall equal 1 car length.
Car washes, self-operated	5.0 of-street parking spaces per each 2 wash stalls	A wash stall shall not be counted as a parking space.
Caretaker residences (temporary and permanent)	2.0 of-street parking space per residence
Child day care centers	1.0 of-street parking space per every 5 children allowed under the maximum occupancy, but not less than 5.0 of- street parking spaces per each such use.
Clubs and lodges (private)	1 space per 30 square feet of gross foor area for assembly use; and 1.0 of-street parking space per every 300 square feet of gross foor area (including accessory buildings and facilities, such as day care and other meeting rooms)
Commercial recreation (indoor and outdoor) (including bowling lanes, ice	For ftness facilities, dance studios, cheer studios, and other similar uses, 1.0	For the purposes of ftness facilities, swimming pools and game courts (e.g.,

and roller rinks, and ftness facilities/gymnasiums)	of-street parking space per each 3 students/attendees, plus 1.0 of-street parking space per each instructor, plus 1.0 of-street parking space per each administrative employee 4.0 of-street parking spaces per bowling lane plus the spaces required for additional uses on the site For ice and roller rinks, 1.0 of-street parking space per 200 square feet of rink space plus the spaces required for additional uses on the site.	basketball, volleyball, racquetball, tennis) shall be counted as a part of the gross foor area.
Community event space (indoor, public)	1.0 of-street parking space per each 30 square feet of gross foor area for the main seating areas; and 1.0 per every 300 square feet of gross foor area where there are no fxed seats	Includes community centers, reception halls, and auditoriums
Convenience services (low intensity)	1.0 of-street parking space per each 300 square feet of gross foor area.	Such as dry cleaners, pet stores, pet grooming, copy and mail services, locksmith, watch repair, bicycle repair, framing, tailor shops, home appliance repair, and similar uses.
Convenience services (medium intensity)	1.0 of-street parking space per each 200 square feet of gross foor area	Such as convenience markets stores, photography studios, ticket agencies and similar uses.
Convenience services (high intensity)	1.0 of-street parking space per each 150 square feet of gross foor area.	Such as laundromats, barber shops, beauty shops, manicure shops.
Cyber/internet cafes	1.0 of-street parking space per each 50 square feet of gross foor area.
Dancing and live entertainment	1.0 of-street parking space per each 400 square feet of gross foor area, but not less than 8.0 of-street parking spaces per each such use
Driving Ranges	1.5 of-street parking spaces per tee, plus the spaces required for additional uses on the site
Emergency Shelter	1.0 of-street parking space per each 3 beds based on maximum occupancy	Subject to GC 65583(a)(4)(B)(ii). The amount of parking required for an emergency shelter shall not exceed the amount of parking required for commercial or residential uses of equivalent size in the same zone.
Equestrian facilities (commercial)	1.0 space per stable stall
Family care home	1.0 of-street parking space per each 3 beds based on maximum occupancy
Financial and other service institutions including banks, savings and loan institutions, ticket agencies using window services for patrons within	1.0 of-street parking space per each 200 square feet of gross foor area

individually developed establishments or ofce complexes
Food stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, and similar uses in shopping centers or individually- developed	1.0 of-street parking space per each 200 square feet of gross foor area
Furniture and appliance establishments	1.0 of-street parking space per each 250 square feet of gross foor area, except areas used exclusively for storage or loading, but not less than 5.0 of-street parking spaces per each such use
Gas or fuel dispensing stations	1.0 of-street parking space per each 2,500 square feet of gross site area, but not less than 8.0 per each such use	If more than one use on-site, these parking requirements apply to each use.
General wholesale establishments/warehouse stores	1.0 of-street parking space per each 500 square feet of gross foor area, but not less than 6.0 per each such use

Land Use Type	Required Of-Street Parking	Notes and Comments
Golf courses (regulation or par 3) and country clubs that include clubhouses with bars and banquet facilities	1.3 of-street parking spaces per gross acre
Golf course (miniature)	2.0 of-street parking spaces per hole, plus the spaces required for additional uses on the site
Health-related institutional uses including family care homes, convalescent and nursing homes, adult living facility, assisted care facilities, senior living facilities, emergency shelters, children's homes, and sanitariums, health related institutional uses, transitional housing	1.0 of-street parking space per each 3 beds based on maximum occupancy	Development Services Director may allow for a diferent parking standard if credible evidence is provided that a diferent parking ratio is appropriate based on the emergency shelter's demonstrated need.
Hotels and motels	1.0 of-street parking space per each guest unit, plus 1.0 per each 250 square feet of non-guest unit gross foor area, including ofce space, conference facilities, banquet rooms, restaurants, kitchens, laundry facilities, ftness facilities, swimming pools, and spas.
Kennels	1.0 of-street parking space per each 250 square feet of gross foor area
Light industrial and light manufacturing	1.0 of-street parking space per 500 square feet of gross foor area; and 1.0 of-street parking space per 250 square feet of gross foor area for ofce use; and 1.0 of-street parking space per 1,000 square feet of gross foor area used exclusively for warehouse/storage use.

Medical and dental ofces, centers, and clinics, including physical therapy, x-ray facilities, and medical labs, but excluding hospitals	1.0 of-street parking space per each 150 square feet of gross foor area
Museums	1.0 of-street parking space per 250 square feet of gross foor area
Ofce uses (general)	1.0 of-street parking spaces per 250 square feet of gross foor area
Outdoor amphitheater	1.0 of-street parking space per each 30 square feet of gross foor area used for the main seating areas; and 1.0 per every 300 square feet of gross foor area where there are no fxed seats
Parks	Parking requirements determined as part of the CUP.
Pool halls and billiard centers	1.0 of-street parking space per each 400 square feet of gross foor area, but not less than 8.0 of-street parking spaces per each such use
Public facilities and buildings, including electric, gas, water, telephone, and telegraph facilities not having business ofces on the premises	1.0 of-street parking space per each employee, but not less than 2.0 per each such facility
Recycling facilities, large and small collection facilities	1.0 space per 500 square feet of gross foor area, but not less than 5.0 of-street parking spaces per each such use.
Religious, fraternal or service organizations (non-proft)	1 space per 30 square feet of gross foor area for assembly use; and 1.0 of-street parking space per every 300 square feet of gross foor area (including accessory buildings and facilities, such as day care and other meeting rooms)
Research and development	1.0 of-street parking space per 400 square feet of gross foor area
Restaurants, drive-through, fast food and take out	1.0 of-street parking space per each 100 square feet of gross foor area, plus queuing capacity equal to 5 times the capacity of the drive-through line Not less than 8.0 per each such use	In determining capacity, each 20 linear feet of drive-through line shall equal 1 car length.
Restaurants and cafes, sit down including live entertainment and dancing	1.0 of-street parking space per each 100 square feet of gross foor area, but not less than 8.0 of-street parking spaces per each such use
Retail and services (general) in individually-developed establishments or within shopping centers	1.0 of-street parking space per each 250 square feet of leasable foor area

Retail plant nurseries, garden shops, and similar uses with outdoor sales and display areas	1.0 of-street parking space per each 500 square feet of display and sales area, but not less than 5.0 per each such use	Calculation of square footage includes both indoor and outdoor, excluding areas used exclusively for the storage or propagation of plants.
Schools (business, vocational, and professional schools not requiring outdoor facilities)	1 per student based on maximum occupancy.
Schools, elementary and junior (private, religious)	2.5 per classroom plus 1.0 per every 100 square feet of gross foor area used for assembly purposes such as gymnasiums and cafeterias	Additional parking may be required as a storage area for drop of and pickup of students.
Schools, high (private, including auditoriums and stadiums on the site)	1.0 of-street parking space per each 3 students based on the school's maximum capacity; plus additional requirements for auditoriums and stadiums	A parking and circulation analysis will be required for each land use.
Shopping centers	1.0 of-street parking space per each 200 square feet of gross foor area.	Shopping centers may require additional parking and may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Development Services Director if it is determined that the cumulative impact of the uses would require additional parking.
Single room occupancy (SRO) facilities	0.5 of-street parking spaces per guest unit plus 1.0 of-street parking spaces for each employee
Storage facility (indoor or outdoor)	1.0 of-street parking space per 1,000 square feet of gross foor area

Land Use Type	Required Of-Street Parking	Notes and Comments
Theaters, auditoriums, arenas, and stadiums	1.0 of-street parking space per each 3 fxed seats or 1 space per 30 square feet of gross foor area where there are no fxed seats; and 1.0 per every 300 square feet of gross foor area
Video arcades	1.0 of-street parking space per 100 square feet of foor area plus the spaces required for additional uses on the site.

(b)

Size of parking spaces.

(1)

All covered or uncovered off-street parking spaces, except as otherwise noted in this Section, shall be a minimum clear unobstructed nine feet in width and 18 feet in length.

(2)

Parking spaces parallel to a curb may be eight feet in width and 18 feet in length, with a minimum of four feet separating each pair of such parking spaces.

(3)

When a side of any space abuts a building, fence, support column or other obstruction which interferes in any way with access to a motor vehicle, the space shall be a minimum of two feet wider than the standard required width.

(4)

In measuring the length of paving required for uncovered parking spaces, allowance may be made to accommodate vehicular overhang beyond a continuous, unbroken concrete curb, if such overhang does not interfere with screening or pedestrian use.

(5)

No compact spaces are permitted.

(c)

Non-residential parking facility design.

(1)

Off-street parking facilities shall be designed so that a car within a facility will not have to enter a street to move from one location to any other location within that parking facility. On industrial or office sites, separate noncontiguous parking facilities may be provided with independent entrances for employee and visitor parking, provided the designated use is clearly identified on all plot plans or site plans submitted for the proposed project.

(2)

Parking and maneuvering areas shall be arranged so that any vehicle can leave the parking area and enter into an adjoining vehicular right-of-way traveling in a forward direction.

(3)

Dead ends shall include adequate maneuvering areas as illustrated in Figure 9.06.4.

(4)

No dead-end parking aisles shall serve more than five consecutive stalls for single-loaded aisles and ten, on each side, for double-loaded aisles.

(5)

Continuous, unbroken concrete curbs shall be provided along any abutment to a pedestrian walkway, access or driveway, street or alley, except where screening is positioned, to ensure that the motor vehicle will not extend into these areas.

(6)

All paved parking stalls, except parallel spaces, which may use a single line, shall be clearly outlined with double or hairpin lines or special paving techniques on the surface of the parking facility.

(7)

All parking spaces shall be located so as to be within proximity to the use they are intended to serve. Distribution of parking in multi-tenant centers should be in reasonable proximity to the uses they are intended to serve.

==> picture [229 x 299] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 9.06.4: Dead End Maneuvering Areas

(d)

Non-residential parking accessways. Parking accessways are those driveways that provide ingress or egress from a street to the parking aisles, and those driveways providing interior circulation between parking aisles. No parking is permitted on an accessway. Accessways shall conform to the following standards:

(1)

All parking facilities taking access from a major, primary or secondary arterial shall have a parking accessway between the arterial and the parking aisles.

(2)

Parking accessways from arterial highways shall not have parking spaces taking direct access therefrom and shall not be intersected by a parking aisle or another parking accessway for a minimum distance of the following:

a.

Thirty feet for projects with zero to 200 parking spaces;

b.

Fifty feet for projects with 201 to 350 spaces;

c.

Seventy feet for projects with 351 to 450 spaces; and

d.

Ninety feet for projects with 451 spaces or more.

All distances shall be measured from the curb face of the ultimate curbline of the adjacent street.

(3)

Parking accessways from nonarterial highways shall be not less than 20 feet in length from the ultimate curbline of the adjacent street.

(4)

One-way accessways shall have a minimum width of 15 feet, unless the accessway is a fire lane, which requires a minimum of 20 feet.

(5)

Two-way accessways shall have a minimum width of 28 feet.

(e)

Parking aisles. Parking aisles shall have a minimum width of 14 feet. In no case shall the parking aisles for two-way traffic be less than 25 feet in width.

(f)

Landscaping. Landscaping of parking areas shall be provided in accordance with Subsection 9.05.070(d).

(g)

Screening. Open parking spaces and parking structures shall be screened in accordance with Section 9.05.070. Screening shall be located adjacent to the inside edge of any required boundary landscaping and the outside edge of the paved parking area when there is no landscaping.

(h)

Off-street loading.

(1)

Off-street loading spaces shall be required on the same building site with every building, storage warehouse, auto dealership, wholesale distributor, department store, market, hotel, laundry, dry cleaning, and other similar uses involving the receipt or distribution by vehicle of materials or merchandise incidental to carrying on such activity.

(2)

Each off-street loading space shall be sufficient to permit the standing, loading, and unloading of vehicles to avoid undue interference with the public use of streets and alleys and shall not be a part of the off-street parking area required for each particular use.

(3)

The loading area shall be screened from public view.

(Ord. No. 07-03, § 4(Exh. A), 4-11-2007; Ord. No. 07-07, §§ 2, 7—9, 11-14-2007; Ord. No. 09-03, § 8, 3-252009; Ord. No. 11-02, § 13, 4-27-2011; Ord. No. 24-07, § 23, 9-11-2024)

Sec. 9.06.090. - Joint use/shared parking.

(a)

General. Parking facilities may be provided jointly subject to the satisfaction of the requirements of this Section and approval of a site development permit pursuant to Section 9.08.170, and, when an inadequate supply of required parking is provided on site, an alternative development standard pursuant to Section 9.08.050. The joint use/shared parking plan shall include:

(1)

Written verification from the involved property owners and tenants acknowledging acceptance of and compliance with the requirements of the joint use/shared parking plan;

(2)

A proposed means of providing notice of the joint use/shared parking plan to all future property owners, tenants and other users;

(3)

A proposed means to amend the agreement to include future users/tenants or changes based upon participant modifications to uses;

(4)

A site plan showing all parking spaces, building square footage and tenant spaces within the complex or area participating;

(5)

A joint use/shared parking matrix with the following information:

a.

The number of parking stalls available on-site (parking supply);

Project building and tenant addresses;

Gross square footage of all buildings and tenant spaces;

d.

The name, type of use and the days and hours of operation for each tenant;

e.

The number of parking stalls required for each tenant based on each tenant's gross square footage and type of use;

f.

The hourly parking demand for all tenants on:

1.

Weekdays (Monday through Friday);

2.

Saturdays; and

3.

Sundays.

g.

A comparison between hourly parking demand and the parking supply to show that demand will not exceed parking supply.

(b)

Joint usage where there is an overall deficiency in the number of spaces provided. Parking facilities for adjoining uses within shopping centers for which the hours of parking demand are substantially different from each other may be provided jointly. Such joint usage shall be subject to:

(1)

The granting of an alternative development standard by the City; and

(2)

The satisfaction of the following conditions:

a.

Absence of conflicts. Sufficient evidence as identified and documented in a parking study shall be submitted demonstrating that no substantial conflict in the principal hours or periods of peak demands of the structures or uses for which the joint use is proposed will exist.

b.

Allocation of spaces. The number of parking spaces which may be allocated to the requirements for each structure or use involved shall not exceed the number of spaces reasonably anticipated to be available during the differing hours of operation.

c.

Location. The parking facilities designated for joint use shall be contiguous to all the structures and uses served and not more than 200 feet from each shared use. A pedestrian pathway is required to provide a means for pedestrian linkage between immediately adjacent land uses and uses within the parking facility.

d.

Deed recorded agreements. The city may require a written agreement, approved by the City Attorney as to form and content, to be executed by all parties concerned and filed in the office of the County Recorder. Such agreement shall be a covenant running with the land or other enforceable restriction and shall assure the continued availability of the number of spaces designated for joint use at the periods of time indicated.

(c)

Joint usage where there is no overall deficiency in the number of spaces provided. If two or more adjoining uses are under common ownership, or if the ownership is not common and the respective owners thereof have acquired recordable easements appurtenant for off-street parking approved by the City Attorney as to form and content, such buildings or uses collectively may provide the required off-street parking, in which case the required number of parking spaces shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the several individual uses computed separately.

(d)

Mixed land use developments (shared parking). Shared parking may be considered in determining the specific number of parking spaces that can be used to serve two or more individual land uses without

conflict or encroachment. Any program that would use a shared parking concept may be granted by the Planning Commission through the alternative development standards process if it determines in any individual use that the following findings can be satisfied:

(1)

Variations in the peak accumulations of parking vehicles as the result of different activity patterns of mixed land use will not result in a deficiency of parking spaces (by hour, by day, by season).

(2)

There is a relationship among the land uses that result in two or more land use activities with a single vehicle trip to the development.

In preparing a traffic/parking study for consideration by the Planning Commission, a methodology acceptable to the Development Services Director and City Engineer is to be used.

(Ord. No. 07-03, § 4(Exh. A), 4-11-2007; Ord. No. 07-07, § 2, 11-14-2007)

Sec. 9.06.100. - Visibility at intersections/driveways.

(a)

Intersection visibility. On a corner lot of any intersection in any zoning district, no fence, wall, hedge, or other barrier shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow above a height of 36 inches so as to:

(1)

Materially impede vision in the triangular area on the parkway side of the curb, at the intersection of streets as illustrated in Figure 9.06.5; or

(2)

Be in conflict with the vehicular sight distance requirements of the current edition of the California Department of Transportation Highway Design Manual.

(b)

Driveway visibility. In any zoning district, no fence, wall, hedge, or other barrier shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow above a height of 36 inches so as to materially impede vision in the triangular area on the parkway side of the curb, located on both sides of a driveway entrances as shown in Figure 9.06.5.

==> picture [229 x 460] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 9.06.5 Intersection/Driveway Visibility

(Ord. No. 07-03, § 4(Exh. A), 4-11-2007)

Chapter 9.07 - Signs

Sec. 9.07.010. - Purpose.

The purpose of this Section is to establish guidelines and standards for the regulation of signs, sign structures and sign programs, so as to assure adequate identification of businesses and other activities, as well as to maintain and improve the quality of the visual environment within the City. The procedures and regulations of this Section are enacted to:

(1)

Encourage the effective use of signs and graphics as a means of identification and communication in the community;

(2)

Maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the ability of the City to attract sources of economic development and growth;

(3)

Permit such signs that will not, by reason of their size, location, construction, or manner of display, endanger the public safety of individuals, confuse, mislead, or distract the vision necessary for traffic safety, or otherwise endanger public health, safety and morals;

(4)

Provide procedures and standards to control the location, size, type, number, and all other matters pertaining to signs within the City; and

(5)

Provide consistency among signs within an integrated commercial center.

(Ord. No. 07-03, § 4(Exh. A), 4-11-2007)