Chapter 18.108 — SCENIC HIGHWAY OVERLAY ZONE

The purpose of the scenic highway overlay zone is to designate appropriate highways and streets as scenic corridors pursuant to the goals, objectives and provisions of the land use, open space and conservation elements of the general plan. These designated highways and streets are important and significant transportation corridors within the city. The appearance and quality of development and land use of properties adjacent to designated highways and streets impact the overall health, safety and general welfare of the public.

(Ord. 975 § 1, 1992)

All uses permitted, and/or permitted with the approval of a conditional use permit, in the underlying zone to which the scenic highway overlay zone is applied, shall be permitted. It is not the intent of the scenic highway overlay zone to prohibit uses which are otherwise permitted or conditionally permitted in the underlying zone. (Ord. 975 § 1, 1992)

Scenic highways shall be designated on the official zoning map and apply to property adjacent to designated scenic highways, as follows:

• A. Whenever a scenic highway overlay designation is placed on a highway and/or street, those properties adjacent to the designated highway and/or street shall be subject to the provisions of the scenic highway overlay zone in addition to the provisions of the underlying zone of the property.

• B. Method of designation. The abbreviation "SHO," designating property adjacent to the scenic highway, shall be appended to the base zoning district on the official zoning map. (Example: A commercial-highway zone would show on the official zoning Map as C-H (SHO)).

• (Ord. 975 § 1, 1992)

In addition to those development standards required by the base zoning district, the following minimum development standards shall be applicable to all property with a scenic highway overlay designation:

• A. Setbacks. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all scenic highway overlay required yards shall be void of structures and improvements and fully landscaped. For the purposes of this section, the scenic highway overlay zone required yard shall be measured from the property line of those properties abutting the designated scenic highway, towards the interior of the property. The following required yards shall be provided as follows, and as indicated on Exhibits A, B, and C located at the end of this chapter:

  1. Foothill Boulevard. The required yard for both sides of Foothill Boulevard shall be twentyfive feet, except for the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and San Dimas Canyon Avenue, as indicated on Exhibit C, the required yard area shall be ten feet. Said yard area may be reduced to five feet for drive aisles and circulation routes if approved in the Precise Plan during the site plan review process.

  2. Via Verde. Except for the intersections of Via Verde and San Dimas Avenue, and Via Verde and Puente Street, as indicated on said Exhibits A and B, the required yard for both sides of Via Verde shall be fifty feet.

  3. Puente Street. Except for the intersection of Via Verde and Puente Street, as indicated on Exhibit B, the required yard for Puente Street shall be as follows:

     • a. The northerly side of Puente Street, fifty feet.

     • b. The southerly side of Puente Street, thirty five feet.

  4. The setback requirements for those streets designated with the scenic highway overlay zone, and not specifically provided for in subsection A shall be determined at the time of designation of the overlay zone.

• B. Building location, height and coverage shall be arranged to protect the significant views and vistas.

• C. Landscaping shall be designed, installed and maintained in such a manner as to protect and enhance the visual appearance of the scenic highway.

• D. All utilities related to the project shall be located underground.

• E. Street dedications and improvements, as required by Chapter 17.32 of the San Dimas Municipal Code, shall be completed.

Exhibit A

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Exhibit B

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Exhibit C

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• (Ord. 975 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1274 § 1, 2019)

The following improvements may be located within the required yards as set forth in this chapter.

• A. Signs, as set forth in Chapter 18.152 of this title;

• B. Landscaping, decorative hardscape, and public art;

• C. Residential Property. Improvements on residentially zoned property may be located within the required setbacks as follows:

  1. Side and rear yard walls and fences a maximum of six feet in height. For the purposes of this section, when a difference in grade exists, the total wall height of six feet shall be measured from the average point of the lowest grade and the highest grade, to the top of

the wall. In no case shall the wall height, as measured from the designated scenic highway side, exceed eight feet;

2. Patio slabs, swimming pools, landscaping and similar grade-level improvements not visible from the designated scenic highway;

3. A minor freestanding accessory structure, not in excess of a cumulative two hundred fifty square feet or twelve feet in height, located within the rear and/or side yards. Such structures shall be open-sided and may be visible from the designated scenic highway. Such structures would include open patio covers, horse corrals and free standing gazebos;

4. A minor accessory structure, not in excess of a cumulative one hundred twenty square feet. Such structure may be enclosed and shall not be visible from the designated scenic highway. Such structures would include utility sheds, playhouses and barbecues.

(Ord. 975 § 1, 1992)

All property designated with the scenic highway overlay shall be subject to the plan review procedures as follows:

• A. Commercial Property. No person shall construct, relocate, modify, rebuild and/or alter any building, wall/fence or site plan until a precise plan has been approved by the city council pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

• B. Residential Property. The following plan review requirements shall apply:

  1. A precise plan shall be required, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, for any new residential dwelling.

2. The provisions of Chapter 18.12 shall apply for all other types of improvements on residential property. The director of community development may determine that any application for improvement be reviewed by the planning commission if such improvement is determined to have a potential for an adverse impact upon the adjacent scenic highway.

(Ord. 975 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)

The applicant shall submit a precise plan of development to the department of community development. The application for precise plan shall be made on forms supplied by the department of community development with clearly drawn and dimensioned exhibits, materials and documents, as required by the department of community development. (Ord. 975 § 1, 1992)

The following precise plan disposition shall apply:

• A. Within thirty days from the determination of a complete precise plan application by the department of community development, the planning commission shall review the plan. It shall recommend to the city council approval, or approval with such conditions as are necessary to protect the public peace, health and safety, and to minimize the impact of the development and/or improvements upon the scenic corridor(s), or disapproval of the plan.

• B. Upon receipt of the recommendations of the planning commission, the city council shall review the precise plan. If it finds that the plan complies with all of the provisions of the zoning code, the scenic highway overlay zone and the purpose and intent of said zone, it may approve the plan, or approve it with such conditions as necessary to protect the public peace, safety and welfare and to minimize the impact of the development and/or improvement upon the scenic corridor(s). In all other cases, it shall disapprove the plan.

• C. The decision of the city council shall be final. (Ord. 975 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)