Watsonville Municipal Code Part 2-A R-1P

14-16.250 Purpose.¶

The purpose of the Single-Family Planned Residential District is to stabilize and protect the residential characteristics of the district, to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life, to provide for single-family dwellings on individual lots and the services appurtenant thereto, and to retain in perpetuity the special conditions and modifications of the Master Plan and tentative maps imposed on all development located within the R-1P District.

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

Exceptions & meaning →

14-16.251 Principal permitted uses.¶

The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:

GLU	01	Single-family dwelling
	02	Two (2) unit development
	03	Urban lot split
	09	Employee housing (six (6) or fewer employees)
	09	Farmworker dwelling unit
	09	Supportive housing
	09	Transitional housing
DLU	724	Child care homes up to fourteen (14) children

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1440-22 (CM), eff. November 24, 2022, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025, § 2, Ord. 1488-26 (CM), eff. June 25, 2026)

Exceptions & meaning →

14-16.252 Accessory uses.¶

The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:

DLU	4821	Amateur radio antennas
	6324	Private garage accessory to a principal residence
	872	Private swimming pool accessory to a principal residence
	9130	Greenhouses
	9131	Residential accessory uses
		Home occupations (if permitted in individual subdivision CC&Rs)
	02	Accessory dwelling unit
	02	Junior accessory dwelling unit

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 991-96 C-M, eff. February 8, 1996, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1162-03 C-M, eff. October 23, 2003, and § 1, Ord. 1412-20 (CM), eff. November 26, 2020, § 2, Ord. 1488-26 (CM), eff. June 25, 2026)

Exceptions & meaning →

14-16.253 Conditional uses.¶

(a) The following uses require an Administrative Use Permit:

DLU	4821	Amateur radio antennas exceeding the height limit of the district
	6931	Temporary structures or areas for storage or office for the duration of the project construction only

(b) Modification(s) of the district regulations listed in Section 14-16.254 shall be subject to the approval of a Special Use Permit issued with a public hearing by the City Council.

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 801-89 C-M, eff. July 27, 1989, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, and § 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

Exceptions & meaning →

14-16.254 District regulations.¶

The following provisions are minimums and are subject to conditional approval of a Master Plan prior to applying for tentative map review:

PROVISION	MINIMUMS SUBJECT TO CONDITIONAL APPROVAL
Lot size, minimum area square feet:
Interior lot	3,000
Exterior lot	3,500
Frontage
Interior lot at front setback (feet)	30
Exterior lot at front setback (feet)	35
“Flag lots” see Subdivision Ordinance. Building separations as allowed by U.B.C.
Minimum yard setback requirements
Front of residence (feet)	20
Rear Yard: (feet) Provide five hundred (500) square feet minimum open area in rear third of lot	5
Side Yard
Interior lot: (determined by acceptable modification as requested)	Varies
Exterior lot: (street side only - feet)	10
Exterior lot—interior side (determined by acceptable modification as requested)	Varies
“Zero” lot line (when acceptable)	Yes
Accessory Buildings, detached, in rear half of lot—side and rear (feet)	1
Accessory buildings adjacent to alley (feet)	5
Maximum Building Heights
Principal building (2 stories) (feet)	28
With Special Use Permit (principal building only) (2 stories) (feet)	30
Accessory buildings (1 story) (feet)	18
Maximum lot coverage, total structures	45%
Includes principal and accessory buildings and required parking spaces.
Excludes recreational facilities, walks, outdoor living and open space areas.
Open Space	Permitted Use: Single Lot Subdivision
The following alternatives will be reviewed by the Commission, and final choice will become a condition of the subdivision map, if approved by Council:
1. No common open space	X
2. Open space dedicated to City	X
3. Open space with subdivision homeowner maintenance district	X
4. Open space in private ownership	X

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 814-89 C-M, eff. September 7, 1989)

Exceptions & meaning →

14-16.255 Minimum net land area.¶

All land development projects within the R-1P District shall provide a total net project area equivalent to four thousand (4,000) square feet of land per dwelling unit exclusive of required on-site public street rights-of-way or lands determined to be unbuildable.

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

Exceptions & meaning →

14-16.256 Limitations to R-1P regulations.¶

(a) Each individual subdivision within the R-1P District shall conform to all special conditions and modifications imposed at the time of the Master Plan and tentative map approval of such subdivision.

(b) The provisions of the R-1P District shall apply only to subdivisions containing two hundred (200) or more lots in the total project as delineated on the Master Plan.

(d) Existing subdivisions assigned the R-1P Single-Family Planned Residential District shall be considered conforming in all respects at the time of reclassification to the R-1P District; provided, however, any new additions or physical changes within the new district shall be processed in accordance with this title as amended and shall conform to all local codes and ordinances.

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

Exceptions & meaning →

14-16.257 Master Plan regulations.¶

14-16.257.1 Applications.¶

(a) The initial action in connection with the making of any new Single-Family Planned Residential District project application shall be to file a preliminary Master Plan, which shall contain the following:

(1) A site plan showing lot sizes and building locations;

(2) Preliminary drawings of typical residential models, floor plans, and elevations;

(3) The general layout of all proposed common areas, together with all facilities and amenities provided within the common areas for the enjoyment and use of the project unit owners;

(4) Delineate all lands classified as “unbuildable” and establish boundaries to allow for reclassifications to the EM-OS Open Space District (Privately-Owned Lands) in order to allow developer density credit as provided in Section 14-16.1900; and

(5) The developer shall provide a Statement of Purpose, including reasons for the project request, an outline of special features, a background of the developer’s experience, a list of modifications requested, and a phasing schedule of development construction.

(b) A report to the Commission shall be filed by the Planning Director, including a staff review of the application for the requested district and a Master Plan review.

(c) Applications for Master Plan review shall be subject to a filing and investigation fee as determined by resolution of the Council in addition to the regular fees for reclassification and subdivision processing. All applications shall be subject to CEQA and local E.I.R. guidelines.

(d) Reclassification processing shall be contingent upon Master Plan approval by the Commission and shall follow zoning map amendment procedures as set forth in this title.

(e) Subsequent modifications of a Master Plan shall be presented to the Commission for its approval prior to tentative map review.

(f) Lands designated for any individual subdivision community facilities or community center shall be governed by the regulations established in the CC&Rs as adopted and approved with the tentative map.

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

Exceptions & meaning →