San Fernando Municipal Code § 106-73 Density and massing development standards

The purpose of the Commercial Zones (C) are to implement and provide appropriate regulations for General Plan classifications of "Central Business District" and "Commercial."

Additional purposes of each [of the] commercial zones are as follows:

(1) C-1 Limited Commercial Zone. The C-1 limited commercial zone is established to provide areas for limited commercial uses which offer retail and service facilities operative under development standards designed to create a compatible and harmonious setting.

(2) C-2 Commercial Zone. The C-2 commercial zone is established to provide areas for commercial uses which offer a wide range of goods and services including facilities for shopping, convenience goods and services, professional offices and recreation for the community. It is intended to promote an environment which will encourage maximum efficiency of the commercial area with maximum protection for nearby property and property values by permitting only those uses which are necessary for the city and excluding those uses which are incompatible with this goal and which should be located elsewhere.

(3) SC Service Commercial Zone. The SC service commercial zone is established to permit selected limited industrial (M-1) use activity along with commercial uses that reflect and complement existing development use pattern and yield no unacceptable impacts on noise, air quality, traffic and visual appearance.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

Table 106-72 prescribes the proposed land use regulations for commercial zones subject to issuance of a building permit, business license or other required permit(s):

"P" designates permitted uses.

"C" designates uses that are permitted after review and approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

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

"-" designates uses that are not permitted.

TABLE 160-72: USE REGULATIONS - COMMERCIAL ZONES

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

Tables 106-73.1 through 106-73.2 prescribe the development standards for the commercial zones.

TABLE 106-73.1: LOT AND DENSITY STANDARDS - COMMERCIAL ZONES

TABLE 106-73.2: BUILDING FORM AND LOCATION STANDARDS - COMMERCIAL ZONES

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

Development standards for commercial zoned property shall be as follows:

(1) Exterior building colors. All building exterior structure colors shall be reviewed in conjunction with a request for any type of discretionary review as required by this Code or as a result of any determination of non-conforming status. Exterior building elevation plans and color samples indicating proposed color schemes shall be provided as required by the director. Approval authority for colors on the exterior of all building shall be by the director or commission, as applicable.

(2) Exterior lighting. All exterior lighting shall be 90 degrees cutoff downlight. The rays of any such lighting shall be confined to the property. No spillover shall be permitted.

(3) Parking, loading, trash. Parking, loading, and trash shall be as required by division 3 and division 8 of article III.

(4) Permanent buildings. All uses permitted in C-1 and C-2 zones shall be inside permanent buildings except those for on-site and off-site sale of alcoholic beverages, parking lot sales, and schools in C-1 and new automobile sales and displays and sales room or lot and nurseries in C-2.

(5) Signs. Signs shall comply with division 9 of article III.

(6) Storage. All storage must be confined to the interior of the permanent structure.

(7) Utilities. All utilities shall be underground.

(8) Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided in accordance with division 4 of article III.

(9) Walls and fences. A six-foot wall shall be constructed where the property abuts residential zoned property and other treatment as approved by the director. The wall shall not encroach into any future right-of-way. Also see division 7 of article III pertaining to walls and fences.

SC Service Commercial Zone shall be subject to the following additional development standards:

(1) Walls and fences. A seven-foot wall shall be constructed where the property abuts residential zoned property; a six-foot wall or fencing shall be permitted along all other property lines except within the front setback. Also see division 7 of article III pertaining to walls and fences.

(2) Outside display. All display in SC Zone shall be located within an enclosed building except for the following:

a. Automobile sales, limited to automobiles and trucks under two tons held for sale or rental only.

b. Christmas trees and wreaths, the sale of.

c. Electric distribution substations.

d. Gas metering and control stations, public utility.

e. Nurseries.

f. Parking lots.

(3) Open storage. Outside storage of materials and equipment shall only be permitted when incidental to the use of an office, store or other commercial building located on the front portion of the same lot, and provided that:

a. Such storage is located on the rear one-half of the lot and is confined to an area of not to exceed 3,000 square feet.

b. No power-driven excavating or road building equipment is stored on the premises.

c. The storage area is completely enclosed by a solid wall or fence, with necessary gates, not less than six feet in height.

d. No material or equipment is stored to a height greater than the wall or fence enclosing the storage area.

e. There shall be no rentals, storage or storage for rental purposes of a commercial vehicle which exceeds a registered net weight of 5,600 pounds.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)