Ordinance - 1080•
ORDINANCE NO. 1080
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WEST COVINA, ADDING A NEW PART 13.5 TO THE
WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE, THEREBY ESTABLISHING
THE REGIONAL -COMMERCIAL (RC) ZONE.
The City Council of the City of West Covina does ordain
as follows:
SECTION 1. Part 13.5 is hereby added to Article IX of
the West Covina Municipal Code to read:
PART 13.5
REGIONAL -COMMERCIAL (R-C) ZONE
9213.6 REGIONAL -COMMERCIAL (R-C ZONE). PURPOSE.
The purpose of the Regional -Commercial (R-C) Zone is to
classify and set standards for a regional business center which
provides a complete line of shop and store types, eating and
entertainment facilities, and business and financial services.
The dominant establishments are one or more department stores
flanked by specialty shops. The regional area of West Covina
is the East San Gabriel Valley,
9213.7 CRITERIA.
The following general criteria are hereby established
for use in the classification or reclassification of land to
the Regional -Commercial Zone:
(a) General Plan - Compliance with the General Plan
shall be establ shy` ed. -
(b) Location - Regional -Commercial business centers
shall be in a strategic location to serve the general regional
area of the East San Gabriel Valley and have direct access on
major traffic carriers (i.e., freeways or major regional
thoroughfares). Land should be topographically suited for such
use.
(c) Need - A demonstrated public need shall be
established with n the regional area.
(d) Site Area - A desirable site size should be a
minimum of thirTy(3Uj acres based upon a guide of two-thirds
(2/3) of an acre of Regional -Commercial for every 10000 persons.
(e) Utilities - The existing utilities systems (water,
sewer, drainage, a ec rfcal, gas,and communications facilities)
are adequate or new systems shall be constructed to adequately
serve a Regional -Commercial land use.
9213.8 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
The following development standards shall apply to all
Regional -Commercial Zone changes unless a waiver of one or more
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and City Council. A request for waiver and the justification
therefor shall be filed in writing at the time that the
application for a zone change is filed.
• (a) Precise Plan of Design
A precise plan of design is not required as part
of a zone change application. Before development a precise plan
of design will be required as specified in Section 9218,
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(b) Architectural Treatment
The regional commercial center shall consist of a
harmonious grouping of buildings, parking areas, and open spaces
designed as an integrated unit.
(c) Non -Conversion
No single family residential structure may be
converted to a Regional -Commercial use.
(d) Underground Utilities
All utilities shall be underground in accordance with
Ordinance No. 1025 amending certain sections of the Municipal Code.
(e ) Off -Street Parking
The following off-street parking spaces shall be
provided:
1. Business, general retail, and personal service -
One parking space for each.250 s uare feet of
gross floor area (see definition.
2. Automobile, boat, or trailer sales or rental;
retail nurseries, lumber yards, and other
open uses- One parking space for each 1,000
square feet of gross land area devoted to
display of such use.
3. Bowling alleys - Five parking spaces for each
alley.
4, Theaters, skating rinks, and other places of
public assembly- One parking space for each
four permanent seats and one for every 40
square feet of assembly area not occupied
by permanent seats.
5. Restaurants (permanent seating, drive-in,, drive
through, or any combination thereof) and
cocktail lounges- One parking space for
every three and one-half permanent seats.
Not less than ten such parking spaces shall
be provided.
6. Motels and hotels - One parking space for
each unit.
7. Medical or dental office - One parking space
for every 150 square feet of gross floor area.
8. Business office - One parking space for every
300 square feet of gross floor area.
9. Billiard rooms - Two parking spaces per billiard
table plus one additional parking space for
each employee.
10. Automobile service stations - One parking space
for each two employees with a minimum of two
such spaces plus one parking space for each
service bay.
(f) Landscaping
1. A minimum of 8% of the total net area (which
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net area shall be computed by excluding streets)
of the development shall be landscaped, permanently
watered and maintained. Approximately one-half
of such landscaped area shall be generally
distributed throughout the parking lot with the
remainder distributed as planted areas around
buildings, peripheral planters around the site,
parkways, street tree wells, and other
appropriate locations. All such planted areas
shall be surrounded by a curb of concrete or
comparable material not less than 6 inches
high.
• 2. No planting area shall be less than 24 square
feet or less than 3 feet in width with the
exception of raised planter boxes around or
in close proximity to buildings.
3. An average of at least one tree of a species
satisfactory to the Recreation and Parks
Department shall be planted for every 10
single row parking stalls or every 20 double
row parking stalls within the parking lot.
4, Landscaping shall consist of combinations of
trees, shrubs, and ground covers with careful
consideration given to eventual size and
spread, susceptibility to disease and pests,
durability, and adaptability to existing
soil and climatic conditions.
5. Each unused space resulting from the design
or layout of parking spaces or accessory
structures which is over 24 square feet
shall be landscaped.
6. The landscaping plan shall be drawn to a
• minimum scale of 1 inch for each 50 feet;
shall indicate the square footage of each
planting area; shall tabulate the square
footage of all landscaped areas and percentage
of the total site devoted to landscaping;
shall identify at the planting area the type
of plant, shall list the botanical and common
names of all plants with the number of each
and their container size; and shall clearly
portray the permanent irrigation system.
(g) Site Size
A Re ional-Commercial center shall generally consist
of at least thirty 130) acrescf usable land. The Regional -Commercial
center may, howeve4 be a combination of many paroles but its
design must be integrated and unified.
(h) Building Coverage
Maximum building coverage of any property within the
Regional -Commercial center shall not exceed 50% after all necessary
street or alley dedications or condemnations.
(i ) Walls i
1. A 36 inch high concrete, masonry, or decorative
block wall shall be provided and maintained on the outside
perimeter of all off-street parking areas abutting or visible from
a public street except at those points of ingress and egress for
either vehicular or pedestrian traffic. The wall shall be set
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back a minimum of 5 feet from the property
line and this setback area shall be landscaped
and maintained.
2. A 6 foot high solid concrete or masonry wall
shall be provided and maintained on the
boundary of any Regional -Commercial center
which abuts or lies across a public alley
from a residential zone except in the front
setback area where said wall shall be 36
inches high.
• (j) Height Limit
Buildings within the Regional -Commercial Zone when
within 100 feet of a single family zone shall have a maximum
height of 25 feet.
(k) Yards
No building or above ground structure shall be
constructed within:
1. 15 feet of the front or rear property lines.
2. 5 feet of each side property line except when
adjacent to residential zoning and development
when said side yard shall be a minimum of 15
feet.
The 5 feet of the front yard nearest the front property line shall
be landscaped and the remaining 10 feet may either be landscaped
or utilized as a portion of a driveway or off-street parking area.
The 6 feet of either a rear or side yard adjacent to
• residential zoning or development shall be landscaped with
specimen plant material and trees (see definition) appropriate
in type and size to create a solid plant screen. Such
landscaping shall be to the approval of the Planning Director as
represented on the approved landscaping plan.
(1) Refuse Storage
All outdoor trash, garbage, and refuse storage
areas shall be screened on all sides from public view by a
minimum 5 1/2 foot high decorative concrete block or masonry wall.
(m) Storage
All storage of wares, merchandise, crates, bottles,
or similar items shall be within ra- completely enclosed building.
(n) Loading Facilities
All loading or unloading facilities shall reasonably
be located at such a depth within a completely enclosed building
as to reasonably contain and restrict the emission of noises
typically attributed to such function as determined by the
Planning Director.
(o) Lighting
• All lighting of the building, landscaping, parking
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lot, or similar facilities shall be so hooded and directed as to
reflect away from adjoining properties.
(p) Mechanical Equipment
All ground mechanical equipment shall be completely
screened behind a permanent structure and all roof top mechanical
equipment shall be placed behind a permanent parapet wall and be
completely restricted from all views.
allowed:
(q) Signs
The following signs and conditions thereto will be
1. Three square feet of advertising sign (see
definition), up to a maximum of 300 square
feet, will be allowed on the front of the
building for every lineal foot of building
frontage (see definition). No such sign
need be less than 40 square feet regardless
of the lineal building frontage. In addition,
such advertising signs may.cover a maximum
of 12% of the front plate glass windows,
but must be neatly painted or of attachable
gold or silver leaf or similar material.
2. Three square feet of identifying sign (see
definition), up to a maximum of 150square
feet, will be allowed on the side and/or
rear of a building for every lineal foot
of building frontage when said side or
rear is oriented to or faces a public
parking area or street. In addition, such
identifying signs may cover a maximum of
12% of the side or rear plate glass windows
(if the above conditions prevail), but must
be neatly painted or of attachable gold or
silver leaf or similar material.
3. All attached signs must be flat against the
building or structure and shall not extend
above the top of the wall; must be constructed
of metal, wood, or comparable weather proof
material; and must be enclosed and bird and
vermin proof, interior signs excepted.
4. One single or multi -faced roof sign, not to
exceed one-third again the height of the
building from the roof surface up to a
maximum of 45 feet, shall be allowed. The
square footage utilized, however, shall in
no case exceed that amount allowed on the
front of the building and shall be subtracted
therefrom. Structural members, other than
main supports, shall not be exposed to public
view.
5. One double-faced or single -face detached
advertising or identifying sign, not to
exceed one and one-fourth the height of
the building or 35 feet from ground level,
whichever is less, will be allowed only
when the building location or configuration
or topographical variation or other like
circumstances preclude the effective use
of a sign on the building but must have
the explicit approval as to necessity,
size and location of either the Planning
Director, Planning Commission, or City Council.
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The square footage of each face, however,
shall in no case exceed that amount allowed
on the front of the building and shall be
subtracted therefrom. All detached signs
shall be placed within a permanently
landscaped area of no less than 24 square
feet surrounded by a concrete or comparable
curb of no less than 6 inches.
6. One name plate, not exceeding 2 square feet
in area, containing the name, address, hours
of operation or license number of an occupant
will be allowed at every exterior entrance
i to a building.
7. One sign attached to the main building, to
exceed 40 square feet of surface area,
pertaining only to the sale, lease, or rental
of the particular building, property, or
premises upon which displayed.
8. No sign may encroach upon or overhang adjacent
property or'public right-of-way unless an
encroachment permit has been approved by the
City Council as set forth in the Municipal
Code,
9. Signs painted on the walls of buildings are
prohibited.
10. Temporary signs painted or attached to either
surface of windows or visible therefrom will
. be allowed on the ground floor level but
shall obscure no more than 20% of the total
square footage of such windows, or signs
totaling no more than 20% of the square footage
of such windows may be allowed in permanent,
• weatherproof display boxes attached flat
against the surface of the building. Such
signage shall advertise only products
available on the.premises and shall be
allowed for a period of no more than 30 days
without total change of copy.
11. All sign illumination will be from the interior,
and no sign visible from a public street shall
be constructed or maintained to flash, rotate,
or in any way simulate motion.
12. The square footage of a sign made up of letters,
words, or symbols within a frame, etc. shall
be determined from the outside edge of the
frame itself. The square footage of a sign
composed of only letters, words, or symbols
shall be determined from imaginary straight
lines drawn around the entire copy or grouping
of such letters, words, or symbols. Only
those portions of the construction elements
that are an integral part of the sign itself
shall be considered in the allocation of
square footage allowed.
13. Banners and pennants without wording erected
for the purpose of advertising the original
opening of a business may be permitted by
the Building Department, with a service
charge of g.00, for a period of not to exceed
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thirty days. The location and size of the same
shall not obstruct the view of neighboring
property. The permit may contain reasonable
conditions including a deposit of $25.00 to
guarantee the removal of the said banners or
pennants at the end of the permit period.
14. One sign bearing the name of the occupants
of the building and conforming to a size of
not more than 5 feet in horizontal length
and 1 foot in vertical height shall be
permitted in addition to the other signs
• allowed herein when such signs are placed
beneath a canopy or roof overhang, with
a minimum clearance of 8 feet from the
sidewalk.
15. A detached sign, no higher than 25 feet from
ground surface, shall be permitted to
identify a shopping center or department store.
The total area of sign displayed shall not
be larger than 100 square feet per face or
200 square feet total when the gross square
feet of floor space of the shopping_ center
or department store is between 30,000 square
feet and 100,000 square feet; shall not be
larger than 200 square feet per face or 400
square feet total when the gross square feet
of floor space of the shopping center or
department store is between 1000000 square
feet and 250s000 square feet; shall not be
larger than 300 square feet per face or 600 .
square feet total when the gross square feet
of floor area of the shopping center or
department store is larger than 250,000 square
feet. The general location and dimensions
of the identification sign shall be approved
• by the Planning Director unless fixed by
a Precise Plan or by the Planning Commission
or by the City Council,
16. The outdoor display and sale of merchandise
and minor temporary signs relating thereto
during special promotional events may be
permitted for the use of any shopping center
or department store for a period of not to
exceed three consecutive shopping days
during any calendar year, such activity to
be conducted wholly on private property.
17. All signs shall be structurally safe, shall
be painted (nontoxic) or of rust inhibitive
material and shall be maintained in good
condition as determined by the Planning
Director, Building and Safety Director,
Planning Commission, or City Council. It
shall further be the reasonsibility of the
property owner of the land and improvements
to remove any sign or signs on premises
abandoned for a period of over 60 days.
18. One temporary double-faced or two single -
face signs, no higher than 10 feet from
ground surface, not to exceed 75 square
feet per face,denoting the proposed or
future construction on a particular site
will be allowed for a period not to exceed
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six months prior to construction, with the
right of renewal for an additional six
months. Said sign may indicate the
particulars of the proposed construction; the
company, firm, individual, etc. instrumental
in its creation; the architect, engineer,
contractor; and rental, sale, or lease
information. If construction commences, said
sign or one similar thereto will be allowed
until seven days after completion of the
project, which will be determined from the
date of the occupancy permit.
19. Service stations, after the granting of an
Unclassified Use Permit, shall be allowed
the following additional signs:
A. Two standard double-faced "A" boards or
similar ground signs, not exceeding 12
square feet per face and a maximum height
of 8 feet above ground level and located
not less than 15 feet from any street,
intersection, or driveway opening.
B. One detached sign, not to exceed one and
one-fourth the height of the building
or 35 feet from ground level, whichever
is less, and not exceeding a total of
50 square feet per face or 100 square
feet total, placed in a permanently
landscaped area of no less than 24
square feet surrounded by a concrete
or comparable curb of no less than 6
Inches,
9213.9 PERMITTED USES.
• No building or improvement or portion thereof shall be
erected, constructed, converted, established, altered, or enlarged,
nor shall any lot -or premises be used except for one or more of
the following purposes. All such uses shall be within an enclosed
building unless specifically stated otherwise.
(a) Auxiliary uses of the following type:
1. Outdoor Amusement Devices, Vending Machines,
Weighing Scales, and similar as an incidental,
auxiliary, or accessory use of those allowed
in the R-C Zone.
(b) Educational facilities of the following type:
1. Barber and Beauty Colleges.
2, Business Schools.
3. Dancing, Art, Music, and similar training schools.
4. Professional Schools.
(c) Financial institutions of the following type:
1. Banks,
2. Savings and Loan Associations.
3. Stock Brokerage Firms.
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(d) Office uses of a business, administrative, service,
consulting, or professional type.
(e) Outdoor display and sales uses of the following type
providing all functions other than display are at all times
conducted within an enclosed building:':
1. Agricultural, Industrial, and Construction
Equipment Sales and Rentals.
2. Automobile, Motorcycle, or Truck Sales, new
or used, including related servicing and repair.
3. Automobile or Truck Trailer Sales or Rentals.
4., Boat Sales, new or used, including related
servicing and repairs.
5. Building Material Sales (excludes lumber yards).
6. Mobile Home Sales or Rentals.
7. Plant Nurseries and related packaged sales or
storage.
8. Swimming Pool Sales and Service.
(f) Recreational and entertainment facilities of the
following type:
1. Athletic Clubs (including appropriate outdoor
activities).
2. Family Billiard Parlors,
3. Bowling Alleys.
4. Gymnasiums.
5. Slot Car Racing,
6. Theaters (excludes open air).
(g) Retail sales facilities of the following type:
1. Antique and Import Stores.
2, Apparel Shops and Accessories.
3. Appliance Stores,
4, Art Supply Shops,
5, Auto Supply Stores,
6, Auto, Tire, Battery and Accessory Stores,
7. Bakery Shops,
8. Book Stores.
9. Business Equipment Sales (includes repairs).
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10. Camera Shops.
11. Candy Shops.
12. Delicatessens.
13, Department Stores,
14. Drug Stores,
15. Dry Goods and Notions Stores,
16. Electrical Supply Stores,
17. Floor Covering Stores,
18, Florist Shops (including outdoor display).
19. Furniture Stores,
20, Gift, Novelty, Card, and Souvenir Shops,
21. Glass Shops (excludes edging, beveling,
silvering, and staining).
22. Grocery Stores,
23. Gun Shops,
24, Hardware Stores,
25, Health Food Stores,
26, Hobby Stores,
27, Ice Cream Stores,
28, Jewelry Stores,
29, Junior Department Stores,
30. Liquor Stores (off -sale).
31. Meat Markets.
32. Music Stores,
33. Newsstands.
34, Paint Stores.
35, Pawn Shops.
36, Pet Shops (excludes dangerous animals and
venomous reptiles, fish and the like).
37. Pottery Sales,
38. Radio and Television Stores,
39. Second -Hand Stores.
40. Shoe Stores.
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41. Sporting Goods Stores,
42. Stamp and Coin Stores,
43, Supermarkets,
44. Stationery Stores.
. 45. Toy Stores,
46. Variety Stores.
(h) Service establishments of the following type:
1. Auto Service Stations (requires Unclassified
Use Permit),
2. Barber and Beauty Shops,
3. Bicycle Shops,
4, Catering Service,
5. Clothing and Costume Rental Establishment.
6. Cocktail Lounges (includes cabaret dancing
with maximum floor size of 500 square feet).
7. Diaper Supply Service,
8. Drapery and Decorating Shops,
9. Dressmaking Shops,
10. Dry Cleaning, Press, or Laundry Shops (excludes
on -site cleaning exc►bit self-service).
. 11. Hotels,
12., Locksmith Shops (integral part of other building).
13. Mail Order House.
14. Massage Parlors (includes sauna bath and similar).
15. Medical and Dental Laboratories,
16. Motels.
17. Parking Lots (outdoor or in structures).
18. Photo Studios,
19. Picture Framing Stores.
20. Reducing Salons,
21. Restaurants (includes cabaret dancing with maximum
floor size of 500 square feet) interior seating
only unless within a patio area.
22. Shoeshine Stands (as integral part of other
building).
23. Shoe Repair Shops,
24, Tailor Shops.
25, Trading Stamp Redemption.
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26. Upholstering Shops.
(i) Service transportation facilities of the following type:
1. Auto Rentals,
2, Bus, Rail, and Taxi Stations,
3, Travel Agencies.
(J) Other uses as specified in Part 16 of this Ordinance
after the granting of an Unclassified Use Permit.
(k) Other Regional -Commercial or related uses which in
the opinion of the Planning Commission and City
Council are similar in character to those enumerated
in the foregoing portions of this section.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage
of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as
required by law.
Passed and approved this loth day of March , 1969.
yor
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGGELES SS.
CITY OF WEST COVINA
I, LELA PRESTON, City Clerk of the City of West Covina,
do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 1080 was
regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on the 24t day of February
1969. That, thereafter, said ordinance was -culy adopted and
passed at a regular meeting of the City Council on the loth day
Of March , 19690 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmen: Chappell, Nichols, Gillum, Lloyd, Gleckman
NOES: Councilmen: None
ABSENT: Councilmen: None
CiTy" Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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C y A orney
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