Chapter 10.24 COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

Chapter 10.24
COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

Sections:

10.24.050 Site development requirements.

10.24.010 Specific purposes.

In addition to the general purposes established in SMC 10.10.030 (Title and purpose), the specific purposes of the commercial zoning districts are as follows:

A. To provide space for diverse types of commercial activity to serve people and industry, while maintaining and strengthening the economic base of the City of Sausalito;

B. To implement the general plan by designating a variety of commercial districts so that all appropriate types of commercial activity may have a suitable location;

C. To permit the establishment of varying commercial uses in locations suitable both to individual enterprises and the entire City of Sausalito;

D. To promote the constructive improvement and orderly growth of the existing well-located commercial centers and districts; and

E. To protect residential districts adjacent to commercial uses. [Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003.]

10.24.020 Additional purposes.

The additional purposes of each commercial district are as follows:

Central Commercial (CC):

A. To provide for a wide variety of retail and service businesses to serve Sausalito residents and visitors;

B. To provide for enhanced quality and reduced redundancy of downtown’s available merchandise;

C. To maintain an inviting shopping environment for visitors and residents, utilizing the area’s natural attributes;

D. To provide for, and encourage, ground-floor retail business with upper-floor residential uses;

E. To promote continuous retail frontage and prohibit establishments that tend to break up such continuity; and

F. To provide for accessory manufacturing uses, incidental to primary commercial activity.

Mixed Commercial and Residential (CR):

G. To provide for local-serving retail and service businesses and residential uses where mutually compatible;

H. To provide for local-serving commercial uses;

I. To provide a pedestrian-oriented experience for local residents; and

J. To provide for accessory manufacturing uses, incidental to primary commercial activity.

Neighborhood Commercial (CN):

K. To provide local-serving retail and service businesses in a location and manner that serve nearby commercial and residential areas;

L. To provide one-stop convenience services in the three distinct neighborhood commercial centers; and

M. To provide for accessory manufacturing uses, incidental to primary commercial activity.

Shopping Center (SC):

N. To provide for sales of frequently-purchased household necessities and services for local residents.

Commercial Waterfront (CW):

O. To protect the waterfront area, while promoting uses that benefit from, and need, a waterfront location.

Waterfront (W):

P. To protect the waterfront area while promoting marine-oriented uses which will benefit from, and need, a waterfront location. The waterfront (W) district is divided into two subdistricts for the purposes of Table 10.24-1, including the base district (W) and combined with the marinship overlay (W-M) (SMC 10.28.050, Marinship (-M)). [Ord. 1251 § 1 (Att. 1), 2018; Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003.]

10.24.030 Allowable land uses.

Table 10.24-1 (Land Uses Allowed in Commercial Districts) outlines the uses that are allowed in each commercial district. The notations indicate whether each use is permitted or requires one of two permits, as indicated in the legend. Blanks indicate the use is not allowed in that particular district. The last column identifies sections of the Zoning Ordinance where additional requirements are found and apply to the land use, including those from Chapter 10.44 SMC (Specific Use Requirements). Additional requirements may also be applicable.

Table 10.24-1

LAND USES ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
1
Land Use	CC	CR	CN	SC	CW	W	W-M	See SMC
Manufacturing and Processing Uses
Commercial fishing facilities					P	P	CUP
Drydocks					CUP	CUP	CUP
Marine industrial use					P	P	P
Printing and publishing	CUP				CUP
Recycling collection stations	MUP	MUP	MUP	P	MUP	MUP	MUP	SMC 10.44.200 (Recycling collection stations)
Recreation, Education, and Public Assembly Uses
Religious institutions, clubs and fraternal organizations	P	CUP	P					SMC 10.44.110 (Religious institutions, private clubs and fraternal organizations)
Libraries and museums	MUP				CUP
Parks, playgrounds	P	P	P		P	P
Piers and wharves	MUP				P	P	P
Private club or facility	CUP		CUP
Recreation and fitness centers		CUP	CUP
Schools – specialized education and training	P	CUP	CUP		P	P
Temporary uses and events	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	SMC 10.44.310 (Temporary uses)
Theaters and meeting halls	CUP	CUP
Yacht clubs	CUP				CUP	CUP	P2
Residential Uses
Accessory dwelling units	P	P	P					SMC 10.44.080 (Accessory dwelling units)9
Home occupations	P	P	P		P			SMC 10.44.030 (Home occupations)
Houseboats							CUP3
Liveaboards					CUP	CUP	CUP	SMC 10.44.170 (Liveaboards)
Residential accessory uses	P	P	P					SMC 10.44.020 (Accessory uses and structures)
Senior housing projects	CUP	CUP	CUP4					SMC 10.44.120 (Senior housing projects)
Single room occupancy housing	CUP	CUP	CUP					SMC 10.88.040 (Definitions)
Supportive housing, levels above first (street or ground) only8	P	P or CUP	P4					SMC 10.88.040 (Definitions)
Transitional housing, levels above first (street or ground) only8	P	P or CUP	P4					SMC 10.88.040 (Definitions)
Upper floor residential
One to six dwelling units	P	P or CUP	P4					SMC 10.44.190 (Residential use in commercial districts)
Seven or more dwelling units	CUP	CUP	CUP4					SMC 10.44.190 (Residential use in commercial districts)
Retail Trade
Art galleries dealing in original art	P	CUP						SMC 10.44.230 (Visitor serving stores and art galleries)
Building material stores	P	P	P		P
Drinking establishments	CUP	CUP	CUP		CUP5
Formula retail (applies to all forms of retail trade)	CUP		CUP	CUP				SMC 10.44.240 (Formula retail)
Full service supermarket				P
Furniture, furnishings and equipment stores	P	P	P		P
Grocery stores	P	P	P		P
Jewelry stores – precious metals and gems	P	P
Liquor stores	P	CUP	CUP
Lumberyard				CUP
Plant nurseries	CUP		CUP		CUP
Recreational equipment sales and rentals	P	P			P	P
Restaurants	P	CUP	CUP		P		CUP6	SMC 10.44.210 (Restaurants) and 10.44.220 (Outdoor dining areas)
Outdoor dining (on public right-of-way or private property)	MUP	MUP	MUP		MUP		MUP
Retail stores, general merchandise (nonvisitor serving)	P	P	P
Secondhand or thrift stores	P	P	P
Visitor serving stores	CUP							SMC 10.44.230 (Visitor serving stores)
Wholesale and retail fish sales	P	P	P		P	P	CUP
Wine shops	P	P
Service Uses
Banks and financial services – retail	P	CUP	P					SMC 10.44.340 (Banks and financial service – retail in the CR District)
Business support services	P	P	P		P
Child day care								SMC 10.44.100 (Child day care)
Centers	P	CUP	CUP
Large family care homes		MUP	MUP
Small family care homes		P	P
Columbariums and mortuaries		CUP	CUP
Marine applied arts					P	P	CUP
Marine commercial services					P	P	P
Marine fuel facility					CUP	CUP	CUP
Medical services – clinics and laboratories	MUP	CUP	CUP		CUP
Office conversion of an existing or previously existing retail trade, commercial services, drinking/eating or residential use	CUP	CUP	CUP		CUP			SMC 10.44.250 (Office conversions)
Offices (new structure or replacement of existing office)	P	P	CUP		CUP
Offices, temporary	MUP	MUP	MUP		MUP	MUP	MUP	SMC 10.44.280 (Offices, temporary)
Personal services	P	P	P
Public safety facilities	P	P	P		P	P
Minor public utility facilities	MUP	MUP	MUP			MUP
Major public utility facilities	CUP	CUP	CUP			CUP
Repair and maintenance – consumer products	P	P	P
Service stations		CUP	CUP		CUP			SMC 10.44.260 (Service stations)
Storage, accessory		P	P		P	P		SMC 10.44.050 (Storage, accessory)
Upholstery shops		P	P		P
Veterinary clinic	CUP	CUP	CUP		CUP	CUP	CUP	SMC 10.44.180 (Veterinary clinics)
Warehousing		CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP
Transient Lodging
Bed and breakfasts	CUP		CUP
Hotels	CUP		CUP
Transportation and Communications Uses
Wireless communications facilities	See Chapter 10.45 SMC (Standards and Criteria for Wireless Communications Facilities)							Chapter 10.45 SMC
Boat launching ramps					CUP	CUP	CUP
Dry boat storage				CUP	CUP	P	P
Harbor facilities and marinas					P	P	P7	SMC 10.44.140 (Harbor and marina facilities)
Off-street parking facilities (private and commercial)	CUP	CUP	CUP					SMC 10.40.100 – 10.40.120 (Parking – standards, requirements, design)
Pipelines and transmission lines		P	P		P	MUP
Transit stations and terminals	CUP	CUP	CUP
P MUP CUP	Permitted use Minor use permit required Conditional use permit required							Chapter 10.58 SMC Chapter 10.60 SMC

1 Zoning permit required for all uses. (See Chapter 10.52 SMC.)

2 Tax-exempt yacht clubs only, subject to restrictions in the marinship specific plan.

3 No new houseboats are allowed. Existing houseboats may be legalized with a conditional use permit.

4 Residential uses are permitted above the ground floor in the CN zoning districts located in the Second and Main Street area and the Bridgeway and Spring Street area. Residential uses are not permitted in the CN zoning district located along Bridgeway between Coloma Street and Ebbtide Avenue.

5 Other than beer and wine for on-site consumption as an accessory use.

6 Not to exceed 20 seats.

7 Marine service harbors only.

8 Supportive housing and transitional housing shall be subject to those restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zoning district.

9 Accessory dwelling units in the CC, CR, and CN districts are only permitted on lots containing multifamily dwellings as defined in SMC 10.44.080(C), and subject to SMC 10.44.080.

[Ord. 1281 § 2, 2020; Ord. 1251 § 1 (Att. 1), 2018; Ord. 1224 § 2, 2014; Ord. 1223 § 4, 2014; Ord. 1205 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003.]

10.24.040 Special requirements.

A. Incidental Manufacturing. Incidental manufacturing, fabricating, processing, packaging, treating and related storage will be allowed in the CC, CR and CN districts, subject to the following:

1. Incidental use or storage shall be in the same line of merchandise or service as the retail or service business conducted on the premises;

2. Gross floor area occupied by incidental use shall not exceed 50 percent; and

3. No more than five employees shall be engaged in the activities.

B. New Development in CR District. Unless authorized as a conditional use pursuant to Chapter 10.60 SMC (Conditional Use Permits), any use proposed above the ground floor within the CR zoning district shall be residential.

C. Outdoor Display of Merchandise and Commercial Uses. All uses and related commercial activities shall be conducted in enclosed buildings except for the following uses or activities when related to permitted or conditionally permitted use within a commercial zoning district:

1. Delivery of fuel, lubricants, and incidental servicing of automobiles (service station);

2. Parking and loading facilities;

3. Outdoor eating and drinking areas (MUP required);

4. Recreation facilities;

5. Public utility substations;

6. Display of plants, flowers, and garden care and decoration items (nurseries, florist shops);

7. Display of household and garden hardwares (hardware stores);

8. Marine industrial uses;

9. Storage and lumber yards (CUP required);

10. Storage incidental to industrial uses.

D. Large Frontage Retail. Unless authorized as a conditional use pursuant to Chapter 10.60 SMC (Conditional Use Permits), retail trade businesses that front only one street and contain over 50 feet of lineal street frontage are prohibited. A conditional use permit shall also be required for any retail trade business located in a corner building with two street frontages on a corner lot that has more than 50 feet of lineal frontage on the primary street. The measurement of frontage shall be calculated separately for each tenant in a multitenant building. This requirement does not apply in the shopping center district. [Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003.]

10.24.050 Site development requirements.

Table 10.24-2 (Site Development Standards – Commercial Zoning Districts) establishes parcel requirements, residential density and site development standards for the commercial zoning districts. Minimum standards are provided for parcel size, lot width and setbacks. Residential density, floor area ratio, building coverage and height limits are maximum amounts allowed. Specific uses may be subject to additional, specific standards. Certain standards vary depending on the applicable situation. Refer to noted sections. The commercial neighborhood (CN) district is divided into two subdistricts (CN-1 and CN-2) for regulating maximum floor area ratio and maximum coverage.

Table 10.24-2

SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS – COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
Development Requirement	CC	CR	CN		SC	CW	W	W-M	See SMC
Minimum parcel size	5,000 sf	5,000 sf	5,000 sf		10,000 sf	5,000 sf	25,000 sf	See Table 10.28-1 for site development standards	SMC 10.40.030 (Minimum parcel standards) and SMC Title 9
Minimum lot width	50 feet	50 feet	50 feet		50 feet	50 feet	50 feet		SMC 10.28.060 (Planned development (-Pd))
Maximum density 1 du per	1,500 sf	1,500 sf	1,500 sf		N/A	10% of total berths (1)	10% of total berths (1)		SMC 10.44.170 (Liveaboards)
Maximum floor area ratio	1.3	1.00	-1	-2	.20	.30	.30		SMC 10.40.040 (Floor area ratio)
Maximum floor area ratio	1.3	1.00	.50	.35	.20	.30	.30		SMC 10.40.040 (Floor area ratio)
Maximum building coverage	100%	70%	70%	50%	50%	30%	30%		SMC 10.40.050 (Building coverage limits)
Minimum Setbacks									SMC 10.40.080 (Exceptions to required setbacks), 10.40.070 (Setbacks and yards), and Chapter 10.44 SMC (Specific Use Requirements)
Front	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	See Table 10.28-1 for site development standards
Side (2)	10 feet	10 feet	10 feet		(3)	(3)	(3)
Rear (2)	15 feet	15 feet	15 feet		20 feet	20 feet	15 feet
Maximum building height	32 feet	32 feet	32 feet		32 feet	25 feet	32 feet		SMC 10.40.060 (Height requirements)

(1) Density allowed for liveaboard residential uses.

(2) Setback required only when adjacent to residential zoning district. See noted section for additional setback requirements between structures on the same site and in other situations. Different setbacks may also apply if district is combined with other zoning districts.

(3) One-half the building height, but no less than five feet.

The following requirements also apply:

A. Minimum Lot Size. New parcels proposed in a subdivision shall also comply with applicable provisions of SMC Title 9 (Subdivisions). Existing parcels which do not meet the minimum lot area or width requirements specified by this section may be developed in accordance with the development standards outlined in Table 10.24-2 (Site Development Standards – Commercial Zoning Districts); provided, that the subject parcel has been legally created.

B. Setbacks. Setbacks will only be required where the subject parcel is adjacent to a residential zoning district. Additional requirements for setbacks between structures on the same site, and setbacks in other situations, are established by SMC 10.40.080 (Exceptions to required setbacks) and by Chapter 10.44 SMC (Specific Use Requirements) for certain specific land uses.

C. Residential Density. Allowed density for liveaboard residential uses in the W district shall be one unit for each 10 berths in a marina. [Ord. 1205 § 2, 2012; Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003.]