Chapter 18.15
ZONING DISTRICTS AND ZONING MAP

Sections:

18.15.010    Purpose.

18.15.020    Zoning map and districts.

18.15.030    Zoning boundaries.

18.15.040    Lots divided by district boundaries.

18.15.050    General authority.

18.15.010 Purpose.

This chapter establishes the zoning districts applied to property within the city and adopts the city’s zoning map. The zoning districts shown on Table 18.15.020 are hereby established and shall be shown on the zoning map. [Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-28].

18.15.020 Zoning map and districts.

The city council hereby adopts the “city of Concord zoning map” (hereinafter referred to as the “zoning map”) on file with the city. The zoning map is hereby incorporated into the development code by reference.

A. Zones Established. The city of Concord shall be divided into zoning districts that implement the Concord general plan, as shown on Table 18.15.020.

B. Zoning District Symbols. The districts established by this section are shown as symbols on the zoning map and consist of letters and numbers, organized as follows:

1. General Land Use Indicator. Each district includes a letter or letters that indicate the primary land use type within the district. For example, “RS” means that the primary land use type is residential single-family.

2. Residential Density or Subdistricts Indicator. The land use symbol for a particular district may include a number that identifies a subdistrict indicating a type of dwelling or use or minimum lot size. For example, “RS-10” identifies a single-family residential district where the minimum lot size is 10,000 square feet.

3. Overlay Zone Indicator. One or more overlay district indicators may be appended to the primary district to identify an overlay district that applies to a site. For example, “RS-12-H” would identify a single-family residential district where the minimum lot size is 12,000 square feet that is subject to the hillside overlay district requirements.

Table 18.15.020

Zoning Districts 

District Symbol

Name of District

General Plan Designation

Residential Districtsdwelling units (du) per net acre (1)

RR-40, RR-20, RR-15

Rural Residential

Rural Residential (< 2.5 du/net acre)

RS-12, RS-10, RS-8, RS-7.5, RS-7, RS-6, RS-5

Single-Family Residential

Low Density (2.5 – 10 du/net acre)

RL

Low Density Residential

Low Density (2.5 – 10 du/net acre)

RM

Medium Density Residential

Medium Density (11 – 32 du/net acre)

RH

High Density Residential

High Density (33 – 100 du/net acre)

North Todos Santos District

NTS

North Todos Santos District

North Todos Santos

Office and Commercial DistrictsFAR (Floor Area Ratio)

CO

Community Office

Community Office (FAR 1.0)

CMX

Commercial Mixed-Use

Commercial Mixed-Use (FAR 1.0; 11 – 40 du/net acre)

NC

Neighborhood Commercial

Neighborhood Commercial (FAR 0.35; 11 – 24 du/net acre)

RC

Regional Commercial

Regional Commercial (FAR 0.5)

SC

Service Commercial

Service Commercial (FAR 0.8)

Downtown Districts

DP

Downtown Pedestrian

Downtown Pedestrian (FAR 4.0; 33 – 100 du/net acre)

DMX

Downtown Mixed-Use

Downtown Mixed-Use (FAR min. 1.0, max 6.0; 33 – 100 du/net acre)

WMX

West Concord Mixed-Use

West Concord Mixed-Use (FAR 4.0)

Business Park and Industrial Districts

OBP

Office Business Park

Business Park (FAR 0.8)

IBP

Industrial Business Park

Business Park (FAR 0.8)

IMX

Industrial Mixed-Use

Industrial Mixed-Use (FAR 1.0)

HI

Heavy Industrial

Heavy Industrial (FAR 0.6)

Public/Quasi Public Districts

PQP

Public/Quasi Public

Public/Quasi Public (FAR 1.5)

Community Land Districts

OS

Open Space

Open Space

PR

Parks and Recreation

Parks

RLC

Rural Land

Rural Conservation

WRC

Wetlands and Resource Conservation

Wetlands/Resource Conservation

Study District

S

Study District

Reuse Area

Overlay Districts

A

Airport Overlay

Buchanan Field Airport

TS

Transit Station Overlay

NA

(1)    A net acre is the portion of a site that can be built on. Typically it is the gross lot area minus any land used for access, public or private streets, trails, open space, floodways or utility easements, except for high density residential, which assumes that sites identified in the housing element are net acres with existing improvements. A net acre is typically 20 to 25 percent less than the gross area.

[Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-29].

18.15.030 Zoning boundaries.

If there is any uncertainty about the location of any district boundary shown on the zoning map, the location of the boundary shall be determined as follows:

A. A boundary shown as approximately following a property line or a city limit line shall be construed to follow such line.

B. A boundary shown as approximately following the centerline of an alley, street, highway, stream, railroad, or similar boundary shall be construed to follow such centerline.

C. A boundary shown as approximately following the right-of-way line of a freeway, street, railroad, or other identifiable boundary shall be construed to follow the right-of-way line or boundary.

D. On unsubdivided land, or where a district boundary divides a lot, the location of the boundary shall be determined by using the scale on the zoning map.

E. If any uncertainty remains as to the location of a district boundary or other feature shown on the zoning map, the location shall be determined by the planning division.

F. When a public street or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the district applicable to each adjacent parcel shall apply to the vacated or abandoned property. [Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-30].

18.15.040 Lots divided by district boundaries.

A. Generally. Where a lot is divided by a zoning boundary, the regulations applicable to each district shall be applied to the area within each district, and no use, other than parking serving a principal use on the site, shall be located in a district in which it is not a permitted or conditionally permitted use.

B. Accessory Facilities. Landscaping, fences, screening or retaining walls, and usable open space may be located on the lot without regard for district boundaries.

C. Density and Floor Area. The maximum permitted number of living units or maximum floor area, if any, shall be calculated according to the lot area within each district and the corresponding density and floor area ratio (FAR) for the district. The resulting maximum permitted number of living units or amount of floor area may be distributed on the lot without regard for district boundaries, as long as all portions of the project comply with the development standards of the district in which they are located (except as allowed by subsection (D) of this section) and all other provisions of this section.

D. Minimum Lot Area, Width, and Frontage. The minimum lot area, width, and frontage requirements of the district that covers the greatest portion of the lot area shall apply to the entire lot. If the lot area is divided equally between two or more districts, the most restrictive requirements shall apply.

E. Exceptions. If more than 60 percent of a lot is located in one district, the planning commission may grant a use permit that allows an exception to the provisions of this section, according to the procedures in Chapter 18.435 CDC (Minor Use Permits and Use Permits). [Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-31].

18.15.050 General authority.

A. The position of zoning administrator is hereby established for the city. The zoning administrator shall hear and decide applications for minor use permits, minor subdivisions, variances, appeals to minor exceptions, and appeals to administrative permits, according to the procedures set forth in Division VIII of this title (Administration). The zoning administrator shall perform other such duties as may be prescribed by laws, resolutions, and motions of the city council.

B. The zoning administrator shall be that person designated from time to time by the manager of the planning division or by the city of Concord community and economic development director.

C. The zoning administrator may refer any application directly to the planning commission for a hearing instead of holding a zoning administrator hearing.

D. The planning division shall adopt rules and regulations for the zoning administrator for the transaction of business meetings and the conduct of meetings. [Ord. 13-5; Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-32].