Chapter 10.20 — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE

This chapter shall apply to all land within the Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) zone. The purpose of the C-1 zone is to provide for areas of primarily small-scale, low-intensity neighborhood commercial uses and services that serve surrounding, adjacent residential neighborhoods throughout the community. The objectives of the C-1 zone are:

(A) The development of a limited range of commercial uses that cater to the daily needs of residents.

(B) The development of commercial buildings that are compatible with the aesthetic character and quality of residential neighborhoods.

(C) Attractive, tree-lined streets, which emphasize and encourage walking and bicycling as well as efficient automobile transit, to serve the commercial developments. In such neighborhoods, the sidewalk will be setback from the street, providing space for a tree-lined parking strip.

(D) Commercial buildings designed in a manner that encourages human activity on the street, by placing main entrances facing the street, and reducing the dominance of parking facilities as a prominent visual street feature. Where possible and practicable, parking lots shall be placed to the rear or to the side of buildings.

(E) To ensure that commercial buildings are designed in a manner that minimizes the impact to the adjacent residential development through sensitive design that considers the impacts of noise, traffic, and lighting sources.

(F) To minimize traffic congestion, while providing an efficient circulation system. (Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

(A) Uses shall be permitted or not permitted, conditionally permitted, administratively permitted, or temporarily permitted as prescribed in the land use table in § 10.08.030.

(B) Residential uses shall be subject to the development and design standards of the residential zone that are consistent with the density of the residential development. Thus, a multi-family development with a density of 12 units per acre would be subject to the development and design standards of the R-M zone. These standards include but are not limited to setbacks, height limitations, and open space.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

(A) The minimum site area shall be 6,000 square feet. The site area may be divided into multiple separate lots of less than 6,000 square feet each if a reciprocal use agreement for shared street access and parking is recorded in conjunction with the subdivision of the lots.

(B) Existing sites of less than 6,000 square feet may be developed in accordance with the specifications of this section.

(C) The maximum site area shall be three acres.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

The minimum lot frontage shall be 40 feet unless a reciprocal use agreement for shared access and parking is recorded.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

The maximum coverage of a lot shall be 60%.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

• (A) No structure shall be placed within a building setback area.

• (B) The minimum front building setback shall be five feet.

• (C) The minimum rear building setback shall be ten feet.

• (D) The minimum side building setback area shall be five feet.

• (Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

There is no minimum distance between structures required, except that all building code requirements shall be met. (Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

The maximum structure height shall be 30 feet.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

(A) Wherever possible, developments shall share driveways to minimize the number of access points on public streets.

(B) New driveways near street corners shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from the radius curve of the curb unless otherwise specifically approved by the City Engineer.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be provided on the site for each use as prescribed in Chapter 10.54.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

There is no minimum requirement for usable open space.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

(A) Landscaping shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Chapter 10.52 Landscape Standards.

(B) A minimum of 5% of the gross lot area shall be landscaped. All exterior areas not devoted to parking, storage, driveways, walkways or loading areas shall be landscaped.

(C) Required landscaping shall be installed prior to final occupancy and continually maintained pursuant to Chapter 10.52.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

Fences, walls, and hedges in the C-1 zone shall conform to the design standards provided in § 10.50.040 and to the following standards:

(A) A seven-foot solid masonry wall shall be required along any side or rear property line abutting residential zone district, except in required front and corner side yards where the maximum height shall be three feet. On a reversed corner lot where the district boundary line is adjacent to the front yard of a neighboring property, the required wall shall be reduced in height to four feet within 15 feet of a street property line.

(B) The Director may allow fence and wall heights to be increased to mitigate noise problems documented by a noise study.

(C) Allowable fence materials. All fences, constructed or installed within the city shall be limited to the following materials or a combination of materials:

• (1) Front and street side yards:

• (a) Concrete/block/brick.

• (b) Latticework fencing.

• (c) Wood.

• (d) Wrought iron.

• (2) Rear and interior side yards:

• (a) Concrete/block/brick.

• (b) Latticework fencing.

• (c) Wood.

• (d) Wrought iron

(D) The outdoor storage of materials and equipment attendant to a use shall be permitted only within an area surrounded or screened with a six-foot solid wall or chain-link fence with slats and landscaping, except as may be modified under site plan review. Such storage shall not be visible above the fence or wall.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

Signs placed in the C-1 zone shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 10.56. (Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

(A) All businesses, services, and processes shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed permanently fixed structure, except where specifically permitted by this title.

(B) Mechanical equipment shall be located a minimum of 15 feet from a rear or side lot line abutting a residential zone district unless there is a parapet wall that shields the mechanical equipment.

(C) New development shall be required to install public infrastructure necessary to adequately serve the project, based on requirements of the City Engineer, including sewer, water, storm drainage lines, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, street paving, street lighting, and trash enclosure. These improvements shall be constructed consistent with

requirements shown in the City of Tulare Standards and Specifications and shall be installed prior to occupancy of any structures on the site.

(D) All development in the C-1 zone shall be designed consistent with the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 10.50 Development Standards.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)