Chapter 7 — COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS

This chapter lists the commercial and industrial zones as established by section 11-4-2 and establishes the types of land uses allowed and development standards in each commercial and industrial zone.

(Ord. 24-0378, 12/9/2024)

• A. Light Industrial (LI). The Light Industrial zone is intended to accommodate a range of light industrial uses characterized by light manufacturing, research and development facilities, warehouses, and processing facilities. Maximum allowed Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is 0.75.

• B. Heavy Commercial (CH). The Heavy Commercial zone is intended to accommodate large scale commercial establishments and is characterized by wholesale, heavy commercial uses, and residential mixed-use development. Residential development is permitted in this designation in a vertical mixed-use format only. For vertical mixed-use developments, the ground floor shall remain a nonresidential use. Maximum allowed FAR is 0.65. Maximum allowable residential density shall be 20 dwelling units per one acre.

• C. Retail Commercial (CR). This Retail Commercial zone is intended for uses that serve the everyday needs of residents. This designation is characterized by specialty shops, grocery stores, personal service establishments, and residential mixed-use development. Residential is

permitted in this designation only in a vertical mixed-use format. For vertical mixed-use developments, the ground floor shall remain a nonresidential use. Maximum allowed FAR is 1.0, and allowable residential density shall be up to 20 dwelling units per one acre.

• D. Village Mixed-Use (VMU). The Village Mixed-Use zone is intended for a mix of commercial establishments, residential, professional office, hotels, hospitality uses, visitor-serving uses, and entertainment venues. This designation provides for a variety of uses with an emphasis on visitor-serving uses within the Danish theme downtown area of the village design district. The ground floor shall remain a nonresidential use for all vertical mixed-use developments. Horizontal mixed-use developments are permitted so long as the uses facing the street frontage are commercial retail/service uses. Maximum allowed FAR is 3.0, and allowable residential density shall be up to 20 dwelling units per one acre.

• E. Professional Office (PO). The Professional Office zone is intended for a range of office uses and is characterized by medical centers, general office uses, and residential mixed-use development. Residential uses are permitted in this designation in a vertical mixed-use format only. For vertical mixed-use development, the ground floor shall remain a nonresidential use. Maximum FAR allowed is 0.65, and allowable residential density shall be up to 20 dwelling units per one acre.

• (Ord. 24-0378, 12/9/2024)

3. Mixed-Use. Multifamily residential is permitted under the following conditions:

• a. Residential uses are not permitted on the ground floor of a vertical mixed-use development or facing the street frontage within horizontal mixed-use projects.

• b. Mixed-use projects outside of the village design district overlay zones shall be limited to no more than 49% of the total floor area uses of proposed nonresidential uses.

4. Single-Unit Dwelling. An existing single-unit dwelling is permitted including an addition or expansion consistent with underlying zoning standards with a zoning clearance. No new single-unit dwellings are permitted as of the effective date of Ordinance 24-0378. Conversions of a single-unit dwelling into a horizontal or vertical mixed-use shall require a conditional use permit approval be consistent with Footnote 3.

5. Motor Vehicle Fuel Station. No fuel may be stored above ground.

6. Outdoor Barbecues. A restaurant that utilizes an outdoor barbecue as its primary source associated with a food services on the same site licensed by the Santa Barbara County health department shall be operated pursuant to the policies and standards adopted by city council resolution.

Legend

P Permitted Use

CU Use Permit Required P

Unless a P or CUP appears in the table, the use is not allowed

(Ord. 24-0378, 12/9/2024)

3. Setbacks for Existing Single-Unit Dwelling. Existing single-unit dwelling proposing additions or expansions in the VMU shall have a minimum front and side street setback of 15 feet, and 5 feet on the side and rear setback.

4. Architectural features. Architectural features in the VMU shall be a maximum 50 feet in height.

• (Ord. 24-0378, 12/9/2024)

• A. Parking and Storage of Trailers and Recreational Vehicles. It is unlawful to store or park a trailer, recreational vehicles, boats, boat trailers, accessory trailers, stock trailers, farm, construction, industrial equipment or similar article, vehicles or device on any lot within the Village Mixed-Use zone (VMU). This section shall not be interpreted to include vehicles legally parked in the public right-of-way, consistent with Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Solvang Municipal Code.

• B. Outdoor Storage and Trash Enclosures. Areas for trash or outdoor storage shall be enclosed and screened in such a manner as to conceal all trash or stored material from public view for all commercial and industrial uses.

• C. Replacement of Landscaping. Any alteration to landscaped areas for the purpose of replacing all or a portion of the landscaped area with paving, hard surface or gravel shall first be reviewed and approved by the review authority prior to issuance a permit.

• D. Landscaping and Screening for Light Industrial (LI) zone. The following additional performance standards shall apply to the Light Industrial (LI) zone.

  1. Landscape Locations. The side and rear property lines shall be landscaped with a minimum of a five foot-wide planted area. When directly adjacent to a residential zone, the side and rear property lines shall be landscaped with a minimum of a 10 foot-wide planted area.

  2. Screening from Adjacent to Properties. Where any portion of a lot abuts a lot in a residential or commercial zone, a masonry wall not less than six feet in height, but no greater than eight feet in height shall be erected along such abutting portion.

  3. Outdoor Storage Screening. Outdoor storage areas shall be screened from view of any street by a wall with a minimum height of six feet, and a maximum height of eight feet. Such wall or fence shall be located no closer than five feet from the property line. The space between the wall or fence and the street shall be landscaped. Outdoor storage areas shall be located either on the rear or side portions of a development.

• (Ord. 24-0378, 12/9/2024)