Chapter 18.124 — OS OPEN SPACE ZONE

The purpose of the OS zone is to protect and preserve open space for the preservation of natural resources, for the preservation and managed production of resources, for outdoor recreation and education, and for public health and safety.

It is also the intent of this district to provide open space in the city by limiting development in areas which are so located, so configured or possessed of physical features that they may provide valuable and functional open space for the purposes of helping to shape urban form, to provide local or buffer greenbelts, and/or to serve as linkages between open space areas. It is intended that any building or structure permitted in this district shall be subordinate to and in furtherance of use of the land for open space as defined in the general plan and the state planning and zoning law. (Ord. 37 § 200, 1961; Ord. 449 § 1, 1973)

Buildings, structures and land shall be used, and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered or enlarged only for the following uses, other than those uses the commission may deem, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.192 , to be similar and not more detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare. All uses shall be subject to the property development standards of Section 18.124.040 .

• A. General Uses.

  1. Open space for the preservation of natural resources including, but not limited to, areas necessary for the preservation of plant and animal life, including habitat for fish and wildlife species, channels, creeks, lakes, reservoirs, banks of channels and creeks, lakeshores and watershed lands.

  2. Open space for the managed production of resources, including, but not limited to, forest land and agricultural lands; areas required for recharge of groundwater basins; and areas containing natural mineral deposits.

  3. Open space for outdoor recreation including, but not limited to, areas of outstanding scenic historic and cultural values; areas particularly suited for park and recreation purposes; and areas which serve as links between major recreation and open space reservations, including utility easements, banks of channels and creeks, trails and scenic highway corridors.

  4. Open space for public health and safety including, but not limited to, areas which require special management or regulations because of hazardous or special conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, floodplains, watershed, areas presenting high fire risk, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs and areas required for the protection and enhancement of air quality.

• B. Specific Uses.

  1. Apiaries;

  2. Aquariums;

  3. Arboretums;

  4. Botanical gardens;

  5. Country clubs and golf courses;

  6. Cultural centers;

  7. Field crops, horticulture;

8. Fisheries;

9. Flood control channels, spreading grounds and settling basins;

10. Forest reserves;

11. Orchards and vineyards;

12. Outdoor recreation areas;

13. Scenic reserves;

14. School sites;

15. Transportation corridors and freeway rights-of-way;

16. Tree farms, horticulture;

17. Utility easements;

18. Wildlife reserves;

19. Zoological gardens;

20. Living quarters of caretakers or managers of those uses set forth in this section;

21. Accessory structures and uses necessary or incidental to the above uses. (Ord. 37 § 200.1, 1961; Ord. 449 § 1, 1973; Ord. 565 § 1, 1977)

The following uses may be permitted subject to a conditional use permit issued pursuant to Chapter 18.200 :

• A. Cemeteries, including mortuaries as an accessory use, mausoleums and crematoriums;

• B. Residential planned developments subject to all provisions of Chapter 18.52 . The purpose for including this type of use in the open space zone is to control urban form within already built-up areas or adjacent to them;

• C. Public utility facilities;

• D. Commercial uses incidental and accessory to permitted uses including, but not limited to:

  1. Sale of food and beverages,

  2. Operation of riding academies and stables,

  3. Parking facility concessions,

  4. Concessions.

(Ord. 37 § 200.2, 1961; Ord. 449 § 1, 1973)

The following property development standards shall apply:

• A. Lot Area. No minimum required.

• B. Site Coverage. Buildings and structures, when permitted, shall not occupy more than one-fourth of the gross area of the parcel, except as permitted by approval of a variance from development standards.

• C. Off-Street Parking. The provisions of Chapter 18.156 shall apply.

• D. Signs. Signs shall specifically relate to the use of the parcel and shall be approved by the planning commission.

• E. Utilities. All utility services shall be installed underground. This requirement may be waived where it would cause undue hardship or constitute an unreasonable requirement.

• (Ord. 37 § 200.3, 1961; Ord. 449 § 1, 1973)

Before any building or structure is erected on any parcel in this zone, or before any land is used, a development plan shall have been submitted to and approved by the review authority pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.12 .

(Ord. 37 § 200.4, 1961; Ord. 449 § 1, 1973; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)