Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 24.240 C-T-O Commercial

24.240.010 Chapter description.¶

This chapter establishes the C-T-O commercial tourist-oriented zone and prescribes use types and other regulations for this zone. Any applicable overlay zones described in Chapters 24.300 through 24.399 may impose regulations in addition to those prescribed by this chapter for the C-T-O zone. The provisions of this chapter are intended to:

A. Provide an area in which visitor-serving, commercial and recreational facilities shall be emphasized and located to function safely, efficiently, and harmoniously;

B. Provide, with both general and specific development standards, a high level of site and operational performance with due consideration to visitor needs and opportunities; and

C. Provide visitor-serving commercial land and improvements in the coastal area from uses which are incompatible or more properly located in other zoning districts. (Code 1971, § 15.240.010)

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24.240.020 Uses – Permitted.¶

The following use types are permitted, subject to the provisions of this chapter:

A. Residential.

None.

B. General.

Administrative, Business, and Professional Services.

Automotive and Accessories: Automotive Repairs, Systems.

Automotive and Accessories: Parking.

Business and Professional Support.

Community Meeting.

Cultural and Library Services.

Day Care Centers.

Dining Establishments: Ancillary Service.

Dining Establishments: Fast Counter Service.

Dining Establishments: Full Service.

Dining Establishments: Take Out.

Drinking Establishments.

Food and Beverage Retail Sales.

Government Services.

Lodging Services: Bed and Breakfast Inns.

Personal Services.

Property Maintenance Services.

Recreation Services: Amusement Centers.

Recreation Services: Indoor Entertainment.

Recreation Services: Indoor Sports and Recreation.

Recreation Services: Public Parks and Playgrounds.

Recycling Services: Consumer Recycling Collection Points.

Safety Services.

Shopping Centers: Large.

Shopping Centers: Small.

Utility or Equipment Substations.

Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: Mini.

Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: Minor.

Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: Major.

C. Agricultural.

None. (Code 1971, § 15.240.020; Ord. No. 2000-04, § 38, 1-24-00; Ord. No. 2002-05, § 8, 3-18-02)

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24.240.030 Uses – Subject to a use permit.¶

The following use types may be permitted, subject to the provisions of this chapter; and further provided, that a use permit is approved pursuant to Chapter 24.520:

A. Residential.

None.

B. General.

Automotive and Accessories: Gasoline Sales.

Dining Establishments: Fast Service, Drive-Up.

Education Services: General.

Lodging Services: Hotels and Motels.

Recreation Services: Campgrounds.

Recreation Services: Outdoor Sports and Recreation.

Transportation Services.

C. Agricultural.

None. (Code 1971, § 15.240.030; Ord. No. 2012-024, § 11, 12-17-12)

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24.240.035 Uses – Subject to a director’s permit.¶

The following use types may be permitted, subject to the provisions of this chapter; and further provided, that a director’s permit is approved pursuant to Chapter 24.505:

A. Residential.

None.

B. General.

Farmers’ Market, Certified.

C. Agricultural.

None. (Ord. No. 2012-024, § 12, 12-17-12)

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24.240.040 Uses – Incidental.¶

Incidental uses as defined in Chapter 24.110 may be permitted. (Code 1971, § 15.240.040)

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24.240.050 Uses – Special provisions.¶

Uses listed in Sections 24.240.020 through 24.240.040 must also comply with the following special provisions:

A. Design Review. Design review approval must be obtained to the extent required by Chapter 24.545.

B. Planned Development Permit. Approval of a planned development permit pursuant to Chapter 24.525, or amendment pursuant to Chapter 24.570, is required prior to initiation of a use on an undeveloped site, or prior to any construction of new structures or additions or alterations to existing structures in conjunction with, or in any way related to, the use types listed in Sections 24.238.020 and 24.238.030 except for jetties, breakwaters and other harbor components and the Recycling Services: Consumer Recycling Collection Points and Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: Mini and Minor use types.

C. Temporary Uses. Temporary uses may be conducted in the C-T-O zone to the extent permitted by Chapter 24.120.

D. Domestic Animals. Domestic animals are permitted provided there are no more than four adult animals per establishment; and further provided, that no more than one adult dog shall be permitted per establishment.

E. Livestock Animals. Livestock animals are not permitted in the C-T-O zone.

F. Wild Animals. Wild animals are not permitted in the C-T-O zone.

G. Recycling Services: Consumer Recycling Collection Points. Uses classified in the Recycling Services: Consumer Recycling Collection Point use type must comply with the provisions of Chapter 24.485.

H. Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: Minor. Uses classified in the Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: Minor use type shall require a director’s permit pursuant to Chapter 24.505. (Code 1971, § 15.240.050; Ord. No. 2000-04, § 39, 1-24-00; Ord. No. 2021-017, § 21, 12-13-21)

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24.240.060 Standards – Density.¶

A. Lot Area or Lot Width. There shall be no general minimum lot area or lot width standards for the C-T-O zone; provided, that the decision-making authority may specify minimum lot width or lot area standards for a particular site as a condition of approval of a planned development permit, or amendment thereto, pursuant to Chapter 24.525.

B. Lot Coverage. Buildings or other structures shall not occupy more than 50 percent of any lot in the C-T-O zone. (Code 1971, § 15.240.060)

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24.240.070 Standards – Height.¶

A. Height Determination. The height of buildings and other structures in the C-T-O zone shall be determined in accordance with Section 24.405.040.

B. Maximum Height. Regardless of the number of stories comprising a building or structure, no portion of a building or other structure in the C-T-O zone shall exceed 30 feet in height except as provided in Section 24.405.030. (Code 1971, § 15.240.070)

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24.240.080 Standards – Yards.¶

Fences, walls, and other uses of yards in the C-T-O zone shall comply with the yard regulations set forth in Chapter 24.410. (Code 1971, § 15.240.080)

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24.240.090 Standards – Setbacks.¶

Buildings and other structures, not including fences or walls, on a lot in the C-T-O zone shall comply with the following setback requirements:

A. Front Setbacks. Each lot in this zone shall have a front setback of not less than 20 percent of the depth of the lot; provided, that such front setback need not exceed 20 feet.

B. Side Setbacks. There shall be no general side setback requirements in this zone. However, where the side of a lot in the C-T-O zone abuts a residential zone, there shall be a side setback of not less than 10 percent of the width of the lot; provided, that such side setback shall not be less than three feet, and need not exceed five feet in width.

C. Rear Setbacks. Each lot in this zone shall have a rear setback of not less than 20 percent of the depth of the lot; except that such rear setback need not exceed 20 feet. (Code 1971, § 15.240.090)

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24.240.100 Standards – Other.¶

The following development regulations and standards shall also apply within the C-T-O zone:

A. Parking. Off-street parking shall be provided as required by Chapter 24.415, except as provided in this subsection A.

For the seaward parking corridor, as defined in Chapter 24.110, the number of off-street parking spaces required for general use types shall be determined in accordance with this subsection as follows:

	Use Type	Parking Spaces Required
1.	Administrative, Business, and Professional Services	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Automotive and Accessories: Automotive Repairs, Systems	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Automotive and Accessories: Gasoline Sales	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Business and Professional Support	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Cultural and Library Services	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Dining Establishments: Ancillary Service	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Dining Establishments: Take-Out	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Food and Beverage Retail Sales	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Government Services	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Personal Services	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Safety Services	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Shopping Centers: Large	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Shopping Centers: Small	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
	Transportation Services	One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.
2.	Community Meeting	One space for each four fixed seats or each 96 inches, or fraction thereof, of the length of bench-type seats, or 28 gross square feet where no permanent seats are maintained, in any main meeting area, auditorium, meeting room, sanctuary or place of worship.
3.	Day Care Centers	One space for every group of 13 children plus one for each staff member on site at any one time.
4.	Dining Establishments: Fast Counter Service	One space for each 45 square feet of customer service area plus one space for each 250 square feet of other gross floor area.
	Dining Establishments: Fast Service, Drive-Up	One space for each 45 square feet of customer service area plus one space for each 250 square feet of other gross floor area.
	Dining Establishments: Full Service	One space for each 45 square feet of customer service area plus one space for each 250 square feet of other gross floor area.
	Drinking Establishments	One space for each 45 square feet of customer service area plus one space for each 250 square feet of other gross floor area.
5.	Educational Services: General	Elementary Schools and Middle Schools: One space for each classroom plus one space for each five fixed seats of any area utilized for auditorium purposes or for each 35 gross square feet of seating area where there are no fixed seats in any area utilized for auditorium purposes.
		High Schools: Five spaces for each classroom plus one space for each five fixed seats of any area utilized for auditorium purposes or for each 35 gross square feet of seating area where there are no fixed seats in any area utilized for auditorium purposes.
		Colleges: Seven spaces for each classroom plus one space for each five fixed seats of any area utilized for auditorium purposes or for each 35 gross square feet of seating area where there are no fixed seats in any area utilized for auditorium purposes.
6.	Farmers’ Market, Certified	A number of spaces as determined necessary by the decision-making authority to provide adequate vehicular access while minimizing adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.
	Recreation Services: Outdoor Sports and Recreation	A number of spaces as determined necessary by the decision-making authority to provide adequate vehicular access while minimizing adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.
	Recreation Services: Public Parks and Playgrounds	A number of spaces as determined necessary by the decision-making authority to provide adequate vehicular access while minimizing adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.
7.	Lodging Services: Bed and Breakfast Inns	Two spaces within a garage. Where two spaces within a garage are already being provided for a Family Residential: Single-Family, those two spaces within a garage shall be deemed to adequately meet the requirement of this subsection. One open or covered space for each guest room must also be provided.
8.	Lodging Services: Hotels and Motels	One and one-eighth space for each sleeping unit plus whatever number of spaces may be required for other principal uses (e.g., Dining Establishments, Drinking Establishments, etc.) on the site.
9.	Recreation Services: Amusement Centers	Bowling alleys, tennis courts, handball courts and similar facilities having clearly designated courts or playing areas: Three spaces for each bowling lane or playing court plus whatever number of spaces are required for any other principal uses on the site (e.g., Dining Establishments, Drinking Establishments, etc.)
	Recreation Services: Indoor Sports and Recreation	Bowling alleys, tennis courts, handball courts and similar facilities having clearly designated courts or playing areas: Three spaces for each bowling lane or playing court plus whatever number of spaces are required for any other principal uses on the site (e.g., Dining Establishments, Drinking Establishments, etc.)
		For other participant-oriented facilities, (e.g., skating rinks, amusement centers, fitness centers, billiard parlors): One space for each 100 gross square feet of floor area.
10.	Recreation Services: Indoor Entertainment	One space for each five fixed seats or 35 gross square feet of nonfixed seating area plus one space for each 250 gross square feet of other floor area.
11.	Recreation Services: Campgrounds	One space for each campsite or table, plus one space for each employee, and one additional space for each 25 campsites, and whatever number of spaces are required for other principal use on the site (e.g., Dining Establishments, Drinking Establishments, etc.)
12.	Utility or Equipment Substation	One space for each 250 square feet; provided, that no parking spaces are required for completely automated, unattended facilities.
13.	Automotive and Accessories: Parking	No additional parking spaces required.
	Recycling Services: Consumer Recycling Collection Points	No additional parking spaces required.

B. Signs. All signs must comply with the provisions of Chapter 24.420.

C. Coastal Development. All development within the CP overlay zone must comply with the provisions of Chapters 24.310 and 24.515.

D. Floodplain Overlay Zones. All development within designated floodplain (FP) overlay zones shall comply with the provisions of Chapters 24.320 and 24.530.

E. Open Storage. Except for outdoor displays of merchandise, conditionally allowed by subsection F of this section, open storage of materials and equipment shall be permitted only when incidental to a permitted use on the same lot as that occupied by said use. All areas of a site intended to be used for such open storage shall be shown on the site plan and approved as part of the planned development permit process.

F. Displays for Uses in the Automotive and Accessories Use Type Category. Outdoor display of merchandise in conjunction with uses classified within the Automotive and Accessories: Gasoline Sales and Automotive and Accessories: Automotive Repairs, Systems use types may be permitted; provided, that all the following standards are met:

Lubricating Materials. Not more than one day’s supply of lubricating materials, computed on the basis of average daily sales, may be placed upon the pump island or within two feet of the pump island or primary building. All such lubricating materials must be displayed in appropriate racks.
Tire Display. Not more than two enclosed tire storage or display cabinets are permitted. In lieu of tire cabinets, not more than four individual new tires in appropriate open racks or stands may be displayed; provided, that such racks or stands are located within two feet of the perimeter of the pump island or primary building.
Vending Machines. Vending machines, including, but not limited to, soft drink dispensers or cigarette or candy vending machines, may be displayed within two feet of the perimeter of the primary building. Not more than four such machines are permitted. (Code 1971, § 15.240.100; Ord. No. 2002-05, § 9, 3-18-02; Ord. No. 2021-017, § 21, 12-13-21)

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24.240.110 Nonconformance.¶

All nonconforming uses, nonconforming structures, and nonconforming lots are subject to the provisions of Chapter 24.465. (Code 1971, § 15.240.110)

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