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Title 14›Chapter 14-12

Part 19 — EM-OS—Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands)

Watsonville Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-09-23 · Watsonville

14-16.1900 Purpose.

The purpose of the Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands) is to provide regulations pertaining to privately owned lands which, because of poor drainage, danger of flooding, danger of land slippage or seismic action, danger of liquefaction, excessive slope, or similar reason related to the physiographic condition of the land, are unsuited or unsafe for intensive human use. The EM-OS District is intended to be located at those places indicated in the environmental constraint maps. Redistricting may also occur within any project area in the event field conditions would so indicate.

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)

14-16.1901 Principal permitted uses.

All principal permitted and accessory uses shall be subject to the approval of an Administrative Review Permit issued without a public hearing by the Zoning Administrator.

GLU 91 Irrigated agriculture.
Exclusions: 913 Greenhouses
in excess of 500 square feet
92 Nonirrigated agriculture
93 Pasture and native vegetation
94 Animals, agriculture
95 Reservoirs, water supply
96 Native vegetation, forest, and
brush
97 Lake, river, stream
98 Slough, marsh

NONAGRICULTURAL USES

115 Barns, storage buildings,
maximum ground floor area
1,000 square feet
8611 Facilities for fish and wildlife
enhancement and preservation
- Open space credited to adjacent
cluster development

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)

14-16.1902 Conditional uses.

The following uses shall be subject to the approval of a Special Use Permit issued through the public hearing process by the Commission:

658 Trails, commercial pedestrian,
equestrian, or bicycle, commercial
854 Park, picnic grounds, commercial or
private
855 Riding academy, commercial or private
87 Private nonprofit facilities

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)

14-16.1903 District regulations.

The following regulations shall be observed in the Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands) for the use proposed, except as otherwise provided in this title or as modified by Special Use Permit:

(a) Distances of structures to
any street or alley or
property line		 20 feet
Distance between
structures		 As allowed by
Uniform
Building Code
Height limitation 25 feet

NONAGRICULTURAL USES

GLU - Accessory buildings and
accessory uses related to
products produced on premises

(b) Density credit. That portion of the area of any parcel which is included in the EM-OS District shall be counted at twenty (20%) percent of its actual area in square feet for the purpose of determining the number of dwelling units permitted on the balance of the parcel lying outside the EM-OS District, or, if the

798-13

(Watsonville Supp. No. xx, 10-25)

14-16.2100

balance of the parcel lies in a commercial or industrial district, the area within the EM-OS District shall be counted at twenty (20%) percent of its actual area for the purpose of determining the permitted commercial or industrial development.

Should any parcel lie partially within the EM-OS District, and partially within a single-family zoning district, the number of dwelling units permitted shall be determined in accordance with the provisions above. The subdivision shall be so designed as to cluster the permitted dwelling units on the portion of the parcel lying in the single-family zoning district. The portion of the parcel lying within the EM-OS District shall be used only for a use listed above, or may be dedicated to the City in satisfaction, or partial satisfaction, of the requirements of the Land Dedication Ordinance.

Should any parcel lie partially within the EM-OS District, and partially within a multi-family zoning district, the number of dwelling units permitted shall be determined in accordance with the provisions above. The Site Plan Review required for all multi-family development shall, in addition to determining conformity with the adopted guidelines of standards, insure that no dwelling units will lie within the boundaries of the EM-OS District and only the uses listed above are established on such lands.

Should any parcel lie partially within the EM-OS District and partially within any district other than a residential district, the uses permitted on such portion shall be those permitted in said district, except that the total area of the parcel as provided above may be taken into consideration in the Site Plan Review process in determining the quantity or extent of the uses permitted. The Site Plan Review shall ensure that only those uses listed above are established on that portion of the site lying within the EM-OS District.

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▸Contents — Watsonville Zoning Code
Watsonville Zoning Code
  1. ▸Title 14
    Overview
    1. § 14-10
    2. Part 1 — General
    3. Part 2 — Development Permits
    4. Part 3 — Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator
    5. Part 4 — Application Process and Official Filing Date
    6. Part 11 — Appeals
    7. Part 12 — Expiration of Approval of Development Permit
    8. Part 13 — Revocation of Permit
    9. Part 14 — Fees
    10. Part 15 — Rounding of Quantities
    11. Chapter 14-11
    12. ▸Chapter 14-12
      Overview
      1. Part 6 — Variances
      2. Part 3 — Administrative Review Permit
      3. Part 14 — Fence Permits 14-12.1400 General Provisions.
      4. Part 3 — Administrative Review Permit
      5. Part 4 — Design Review Permit
      6. Part 6 — Variances
      7. Part 12 — Sign Permit
      8. Part 13 — Temporary Use Permit
      9. Part 10 — CCA—Central Commercial Core Area District
      10. Part 11 — CC—Central Commercial District
      11. Part 17 — EM-A-1—Exclusive Agricultural District
      12. Part 1 — General
      13. Part 2 — R-1—Single-Family Residential District (Low Density)
      14. Part 2 — A: R-1P—Single-Family Planned Residential District
      15. Part 3 — RM-2—Multiple Residential District (Medium Density)
      16. Part 4 — RM-3—Multiple Residential District (High Density)
      17. Part 6 — IG—General Industrial District
      18. Part 7 — R-MH—Residential Manufactured Home Park District
      19. Part 8 — PF—Public Facilities and N— Institutional Districts
      20. Part 10 — Reserved
      21. Part 11 — Reserved
      22. Part 12 — CT—Thoroughfare Commercial District
      23. Part 13 — CN—Neighborhood Commercial District
      24. Part 14 — CNS—Neighborhood Shopping Center District
      25. Part 15 — CO—Office District
      26. Part 16 — CV—Visitor Commercial District
      27. Part 17 — EM-A-1—Exclusive Agricultural District
      28. Part 18 — EM-A-2—Interim Agricultural District
      29. Part 19 — EM-OS—Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands)
      30. Part 20 — EM-HP—Historical Preservation District
      31. Part 21 — EM-SC—Special Condition District
      32. Part 24 — EM-H—Hillside District
      33. Part 25 — PD—Planned Development District
      34. Part 26 — DWSP—Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan District
    13. Chapter 14-17
    14. Chapter 14-21
    15. Chapter 14-22
    16. Chapter 14-23
    17. Chapter 14-24
    18. Chapter 14-25
    19. Chapter 14-28
    20. Chapter 29
    21. Chapter 14-30
    22. Chapter 14-35
    23. Chapter 14-40
    24. Chapter 14-41
    25. Chapter 14-42
    26. Chapter 14-43
    27. Chapter 14-44
    28. Chapter 14-46
    29. Chapter 14-47
    30. Chapter 14-51
    31. Chapter 14-52
    32. Chapter 14-53
    33. Chapter 14-54

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