Chapter 14-40

GENERAL PROVISIONS, EXCEPTIONS, AND MODIFICATIONS

Sections:

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth the general requirements applicable to the development and occupancy of all lands within each of the zoning districts and to establish the nature and the limitations of exceptions which modify the provisions of this title.

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

All uses hereafter developed in any zoning district in the City shall be so designed as to abate or control any dangerous or objectionable elements and so as to minimize traffic conflicts, congestion, or hazards

and the conflicts between uses of different character and intensity. Included are:

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1099-01 C-M, eff. February 22, 2001)

The following shall apply to accessory buildings within the City:

(a) Residential-related accessory buildings:

(1) Accessory buildings must utilize compatible materials, architecture, and color as the principal residence on the site. Accessory buildings may only be constructed on a lot containing a main/principal residence.

(2) No accessory building shall be located in a front or exterior side yard.

(3) Accessory buildings with heights of twelve (12') feet or less shall be located within one (1') foot from any rear or side yard property lines. Accessory structures with heights exceeding twelve (12') feet and to a maximum of sixteen (16') feet shall be set back four (4') feet from any rear or side yard property lines. Under no circumstances may an accessory building exceed sixteen (16') feet unless proposed as

863

(Watsonville Supp. No. 41, 2-23)

14-40.040

an accessory dwelling unit; then the maximum height shall be twenty-eight (28') feet with five (5') foot setbacks from any rear or side yard property lines.

(4) A minimum of six (6') feet shall be provided between accessory buildings and the principal building or another accessory building.

(5) Accessory buildings proposed without living space shall be allowed to have a maximum of two (2) plumbing fixtures where the bathroom is minimally sized to accommodate the two (2) plumbing fixtures.

(6) Accessory buildings not used as ADUs shall not exceed five hundred (500) square feet in size.

(b) Nonresidential related accessory buildings: (1) Design and color should be compatible to the extent practicable with the principal building.

(2) No accessory building shall be located in the front yard area or in front of the principal building.

(3) No accessory building shall be located within one foot of any property line. Where located adjacent to a residential use or residentially zoned property, a minimum ten (10') foot set back shall be maintained.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this Title, no accessory building shall be designated or utilized as habitable space as defined by the California Building Code (CBC).

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, § 1, Ord. 1162-03 C-M, eff. October 23, 2003, and § 1, Ord. 1415-20 (CM), eff. November 26, 2020)

this title are met, a building site may be established in airspace where such rights otherwise exist. (Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)

(a) Vision Triangle Required. In zoning districts which require a front and street side setback for primary structures, all corner parcels shall provide and maintain a clear vision triangle at the intersection of the streets’ right-of-way and adjacent to driveways for the purpose of traffic safety.

(b) Vision Triangle Defined.

(1) Intersections. The intersection vision triangle shall be the area formed by measuring thirty (30') feet along the major street front property line and twenty (20') feet along the minor street property line from the point of intersection, and diagonally connecting the ends of the two (2) lines. See Figure 14-40.060-1.

(2) Driveways. The driveway vision triangle is the area formed by measuring fifteen (15') feet along the driveway and the street from the point of intersection, and diagonally connecting the ends of the two (2) lines. See Figure 14-40.060-1.

(c) Maintenance of Sight Lines.

(1) No structure, vehicle, object, or landscaping over thirty (30") inches in height may be placed within a vision triangle, except as allowed by subsection (c)(2) of this section.

(2) Trees pruned at least eight (8') feet above the established grade of the curb so as to provide clear view by motor vehicle drivers are permitted within a vision triangle.

In any zoning district where no public sanitary sewer is accessible, no lot shall have an area less than that prescribed by the County Health Department. (Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)

Each building site in each zoning district shall be planned and arranged so as to occupy only that portion of a lot not otherwise required as a yard, setback, easement, right-of-way, or other legally established open space, except that, where all other provisions of

864

(Watsonville Supp. No. 41, 2-23)

14-40.070

Figure 14-40.060-1: Vision Triangles

==> picture [343 x 167] intentionally omitted <==

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1451-22 (CM), eff. January 12, 2023)

For the purposes of measuring lot size and area, public and private easements contained within the lot lines, other than street or alley easements, may be included in the computation.

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

The routes of proposed electric overhead transmission lines of sixty (60) kilovolts or greater capacity shall be submitted to the Commission for review and approval or conditional approval prior to the acquisition of the rights-of-way therefor. (Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)

The construction, erection, conversion, establishment, alteration, or enlargement of any structure on any real property is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful, unless the real property shall have a frontage of the full width or of the full length of the lot abutting upon an accepted public or private street improved to the standards of the City, or upon a publicly owned parked facility or plaza, or upon such other public access facility as may be provided in connection with an approved development plan. Flag

lots shall be excepted from the requirements of this section.

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 14, Ord. 557-82 C-M, eff. July 22, 1982)

A residential zoned property exceeding at least two hundred (200') feet in depth measured to the middle of the lot may apply for a minor land division with a private access road with a twenty (20') foot width, if the frontage of the remainder lot along a public street is at least ninety-five (95%) percent of the minimum required frontage for the zoning district. All lots created with a private access road shall also contain the minimum lot area required by the zoning district in which it is located and have adequate emergency access. All other lot standards in Title 13 as it may be amended from time to time, including but not limited to Section 13-3.118(b), apply.

(§ 1, Ord. 1258-10 (CM), eff. June 24, 2010)

The following provisions shall apply to the height limitations stipulated in this title:

(a) The height limitations specified in this title shall not apply to the following uses:

(1) Church spires, belfries, and domes;

864-1

(Watsonville Supp. No. 41, 2-23)

14-40.100

(2) Water tanks, fire observation towers, chimneys, and aids to navigation;

(3) Barns, stables, silos, windmills, and similar agricultural accessory buildings and equipment; (4) Fire walls not extending more than four (4') feet above the height of the building; and

(5) Cupolas, scenery lofts, or other roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans, air-conditioning, or similar equipment used solely to operate and maintain a building.

(b) The height limitations specified in this title may be exceeded for the following uses, subject to a special use permit:

(1) Smoke stacks, monuments, and flagpoles; (2) Stationary antennae for standard AM or FM radio broadcast and receiving and electric power transmission and distribution lines, poles, and towers; and

(3) Places of public assembly, such as churches, schools, and other permitted public and semi-public

864-2

(Watsonville Supp. No. 41, 2-23)

14-40.170

may only be used, maintained, and permitted subject to the following conditions:

(a) Use.

(1) Shipping Containers may be used without the need for review permits for a period of no more than six (6) months in all “R” districts, and one year in all other districts, subject to the location criteria and design standards in this section.

(2) Shipping containers may be used in all districts as a temporary storage facility for not more than one year (total) upon issuance of an Administrative Review Permit and completion of a special building inspection by the Community Development Department. Where the Shipping Container is being used in conjunction with new permitted construction, the Shipping Container must be removed before issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or the final sign-off of the building permit, final permit or one year from permit issuance, whichever occurs first.

(3) Under no provision shall a Shipping Container be used as an Accessory Structure or permanent (longer than one year) storage facility in any “R” district.

(4) No shipping container may be placed or allowed to remain on a parcel in districts other than “R” for more than one year unless and until both a Design Review Permit and a Building Permit are issued.

(5) No Shipping Container shall be used to store any hazardous materials (i.e. toxic, flammable, or combustible). (b) Location.

(iv) Any Shipping Container must be sited so as to minimize visibility from adjoining public rights-of-way and properties.

(c) Administrative Review Permit required. Shipping Containers used as temporary storage facilities for more than six (6) months up to one year (total) are only permitted subject to the issuance of an Administrative Review Permit.

(d) Design Review Permit required. Shipping Containers used as permanent storage facilities in districts other than residential for more than one year are only permitted subject to the issuance of a Design Review Permit pursuant to Chapter 14.11 of this Code.

(e) Design Standards. Shipping containers shall, as a minimum, meet the following design standards:

(1) No alterations shall be made or allowed to the Shipping Container including, but not limited to, doors, windows, electricity, plumbing, or connection of multiple containers.

(2) Existing R-1 and R-1 districts shall be permitted to have only one container no larger than eight (8') feet by twenty (20') feet.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the size and number of Shipping Containers shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator upon consideration of the use of such Shipping Containers for each application.

(§ 1, Ord. 1099-01 C-M, eff. February 22, 2001)

(1) The Shipping Container must be sited in a manner such that it will not detriment to public health and safety:

(i) No reduction of required or disabled parking spaces shall occur,

(ii) No Shipping Container shall be located in a required drive aisle, landscaped areas, or disrupt building exits and fire lanes,

(iii) No Shipping Container shall be located closer than ten (10') feet to any structure, or five (5') feet to any property line, and

867

(Watsonville Supp. No. 46, 5-25)

14-41.100