Chapter 17.44 — COMMERCIAL OFFICE (C-O) DISTRICT

The purpose of the commercial office (C-O) district is to provide for well-designed professional, business and administrative offices, and business support services normally associated with such offices. This district is consistent with the commercial office, local/neighborhood, general commercial/shopping center and commercial/light industrial general plan designations. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)

The following uses are permitted outright in the C-O district:

• A. Professional, business and administrative offices, medical offices, pharmacy and clinics:

  1. Accountant, bookkeeper, income tax consultant, credit agency, collection agency, finance company, stockbroker, data processing center,

  2. Attorney, appraiser, advertiser, real estate, title insurance, insurance, employment agency, secretarial service, travel agency,

  3. Architect, engineer, draftsman, landscape architect, surveyor,

  4. Physician, dentist, chiropractor, psychologist, optometrist,

  5. Government, charitable, cultural, educational, recreational and social organizations;

• B. Medical, dental and optical laboratories or laboratories accessory to any use described in subsection A of this section;

• C. Business support services that provide technical or clerical assistance to any use described in subsection A of this section, including direct mail advertising, blue printing, photocopying, duplicating and temporary help or telephone message service; and

• D. Non-office commercial uses that are located in the main building or office complex of a permitted use and are primarily utilized by persons employed therein, including a standard restaurant, barbershop, beauty salon, and other incidental service uses.

• (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)

The following uses are permitted in the C-O district if a use permit is issued:

• A. Business college or trade school;

• B. Office condominiums;

• C. Church;

• D. Day care center;

• E. Skilled nursing/intermediate care facility;

• F. Private clubs, fraternities, sororities and lodges, excepting those the chief activity of which is a service customarily carried on as a business;

• G. Hospitals and convalescent hospitals;

• H. Mortuaries;

• I. A single-family residence, when attached or included within the main building in which the commercial use exists, and residence will be inhabited by the owner or operator of the commercial use. Any use permit required for the commercial use must first be issued;

• J. Multifamily residential units from five to 20 dwelling units per acre; and

• K. Supportive housing;

• L. Mixed uses (any mix of uses allowed in this zone district when any of the uses require a use permit).

• (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006; Ord. 24-1044, 9/18/2024)

Other uses found to be similar in character and impact to those listed in Sections 17.44.020 and 17.44.030 as determined by the community development director. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)

The development standards for building site area and yards established by this section apply to all developments in the C-O district. Alternate standards may be approved for a condominium or a residential project, as part of the use permit process, if the approving body finds that the proposed development will be of equal or greater excellence in arrangement, design, attractiveness and compatibility with its surroundings than would result if the routine development standards of this section were applied.

• A. Minimum Building Site. Newly created lots shall have a minimum building site requirement of 10,000 square feet, except as otherwise provided in Section 17.96.010 .

• B. Minimum Lot Width. The minimum lot width requirement is as follows:

  1. Interior lot, 60 feet; and

  2. Corner lot, 70 feet.

• C. Yards. The following yard requirements apply, except as otherwise provided in Section 17.96.020 :

  1. Front, 10 feet;

  2. Interior side, five feet;

  3. Street side, 10 feet; and

  4. Rear, 10 feet.

• D. Maximum Structural Height. The maximum structural height is one story not to exceed 20 feet, except additional stories may be permitted if location and height are approved by a use permit.

• E. Landscaping. Landscaping requirements are as specified in Section 17.96.040 .

• F. Outdoor Lighting. Outdoor lighting requirements are as specified in Section 17.96.050 .

• G. Parking. Parking requirements are as specified in Sections 17.100.100 — 17.100.160 .

• H. Signs. Signs as provided for in Chapter 17.128 .

• I. Zone Walls. Zone wall requirements are as specified in Section 17.96.060 .

• J. Outdoor Trash Storage. All outside trash storage and collection facilities shall be enclosed by a solid masonry wall or view-obscuring fence at least one foot higher than the trash container.

• K. Architectural and Site Plan Review. An applicant for either a building permit or a use permit shall submit architectural drawings, including the elevations of all buildings, and a site plan which indicate how the standards listed in this section will be met. Development plans are also subject to the City of Susanville Design Guidelines , adopted July 17, 2002, as may be amended. This submittal shall be made on a form prescribed by the community development director and shall include such additional plans, drawings and information as the planning commission from time to time may require by resolution. Such drawings and site plans shall be considered by the planning commission at a public meeting. The planning commission must find that the

architectural and general appearance of such buildings or structures and grounds are in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and will not be detrimental to the orderly and harmonious development of the city. The planning commission may approve, conditionally approve or disapprove said plans. If a use permit is required, architectural and site plan review will be a part of the use permit process, and the director's approval shall occur as set forth by the terms and conditions of the use permit.

acter of the neighborhood and will not be detrimental to the orderly and harmonious development of the city. The planning commission may approve, conditionally approve or disapprove said plans. If a use permit is required, architectural and site plan review will be a part of the use permit process, and the director's approval shall occur as set forth by the terms and conditions of the use permit.

(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)