Chapter 2.16 — OS OPEN SPACE DISTRICT

In addition to the general purposes listed in Chapter 1.04 Title, Components, and Purposes the specific purposes of the OS district are to:

A. Provide a suitable classification for large public or private sites permanently designated for
park or open space use.

B. Protect public health and safety by limiting lands, which are subject to flooding, slides, or
other hazards to open space use.

C. Allow the Planning Commission and City Council to consider the most appropriate use of
a site following discontinuance of a large public or private open space use without the
encumbrance of a base zoning district that may or may not provide appropriate regulations
for development of the site.
(Ord. 2001-015 § 1; Ord. 2020-002 § 4)

The OS district is intended to be the base district for the use classifications listed in Subsections A and B of Section 2.16.200 OS District—Use Regulations and Section 2.16.204 Additional Use Restrictions: OS District where these classifications have a minimum contiguous site area of two acres, including alleys, streets or other rights-of-way and the area has a primarily open or natural character. Open space use classifications on sites of less than two acres shall be subject to the regulations of the base and any overlay districts in which they are located. (Ord. 2001-015 § 1; Ord. 2020-002 § 4)

Article 1

Use Regulations

A. OS District—Permitted Uses. The following uses are allowed in the OS District, and a conditional use permit is not required.

1. Managed Open Space intended for the Protection of Natural Habitat.

2. Utilities, Minor.

3. Accessory uses are permitted on the site of a permitted use and are limited to facilities
incidental to an open space use.

B. OS District—Conditionally Permitted Uses. The following uses are allowed in the OS
District, subject to the approval of a conditional use permit. (Certain uses are subject to
special requirements and/or limitations, as prescribed following the individual use
classification.)

1. Accessory Uses are subject to a use permit when on the site of a conditional use and
are limited to facilities incidental to an open space use.

2. Farmers' Market.

3. Park and Recreation Facilities.

4. Public Safety Facilities.

5. Placement of Dredged Material from San Francisco Bay.

6. Utilities, Major. (A use permit is required for electrical substations, switching
buildings, recycling or disposal facilities, water storage facilities, water or wastewater
treatment facilities, transportation or communication utilities, and similar facilities of
public agencies, or public utilities.)

7. Telecommunications, New Monopoles and Towers. (Subject to the regulations of
Section 4.04.376 Wireless Telecommunications Facilities.)

C. OS District—Uses Requiring Administrative Review. The following use is allowed in the
OS District, subject to the approval of an Administrative Review by the Zoning
Enforcement Official, as per the requirements of Chapter 5.04 Zoning Permits Required;
Environmental Review; Fees and Deposits.

1. Telecommunications, Architecturally-Integrated Antennas and/or Co-Locations on
Existing Tower Structures. (Subject to Section 4.04.376 Wireless
Telecommunications Facilities.)
(Ord. 2001-015 § 1; Ord. 2014-011 § 2; Ord. 2015-11 § 4; Ord. 2020-002 § 4)

In addition to the uses listed above, the following regulations shall apply: Nonconforming Uses shall be subject to the regulations of Chapter 4.20 Nonconforming Uses and Structures. (Ord. 2001-015 § 1; Ord. 2020-002 § 4)

Article 2

Development Regulations

Development regulations shall be as specified by the use permit, provided that, if the use permit fails to regulate an element regulated by an abutting base district, the regulations of the nearest base district shall apply. (Ord. 2001-015 § 1; Ord. 2020-002 § 4)

Article 3

Administrative Regulations

A. Applicability. Site plan approval pursuant to Chapter 5.12 Site Plan Approval is required prior to issuance of a building permit for the following improvements:

1. Administrative Site Plan Review. The following improvements require
Administrative Site Plan Review approval.

a. Development of new structures greater in size than 2,500 square feet.

b. Additions, or partial demolitions with reconstruction, resulting in a net
enlargement to the existing structure that will be greater in size than both: 2,500
square feet and ten percent of the gross floor area of the existing development.

c. Major structural upgrades that can extend the economic viability of existing
structures and sites that are nonconforming to the development standards of this
Code, as determined by the Zoning Enforcement Official. Such structural
upgrades include, but are not limited to, the extensive demolition and
reconstruction of exterior walls or the relocation of a significant portion of the
building's structural interior walls.

B. Upgrades That Are Excluded. Mandatory safety upgrades, such as compliance with
disabled access; building and fire code requirements; minor cosmetic façade upgrades, such
as awnings and window replacement; maintenance upgrades, such as roof repair and
replacement; relocation of demising walls; and general repair of damaged structures as
allowed by Subsection A of Section 4.20.116 Restoration of a Damaged Structure and Its
Nonconforming Use are not subject to Site Plan Review.
(Ord. 2022-001 § 3)