Ordinance No. 825
ORDINANCE NO. 825
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COMMERCE, CALIFORNIA, ENACTING ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT
AMENDMENT (“ZTA”) NO. 25-04 AMENDING TITLE 19 (ZONING) OF THE COMMERCE MUNICIPAL CODE (“CMC”) TO ALLOW
ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN CERTAIN MANUFACTURING
ZONES, CREATE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS USE, AND
REVISE THE DEFINITION FOR ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENTS.
WHEREAS, the City of Commerce (“City”) is a general law city, incorporated under the laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (“ZTA”) No. 25-04 is to establish regulations to amend Title 19 (Zoning) of the Commerce Municipal Code (“CMC”) to allow entertainment establishments in Commercial-Manufacturing (“C/M-1”), and Heavy Manufacturing (“M-2”) zones (“certain manufacturing zones”), create parking requirements for this use, and revise the definition for entertainment establishments (“Ordinance”); and
WHEREAS, the City initiated the proposed Ordinance pursuant to Commerce Municipal Code (“CMC”) § 19.39.280; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance was reviewed by the Director of Community Development, in part, for consistency with the General Plan and conformity with the CMC; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq., (herein referenced to as “CEQA”)), the State of California Guidelines for implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000, et seq., (herein referred to as the “CEQA Guidelines”)), the City is the “lead agency” for the preparation and consideration of environmental documents for “projects”, as the term is defined in Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, it was determined that proposed Ordinance ensures the City has the necessary regulations to protect the public, health, and safety; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 17, 2025 and voted 4-0-1 to recommend that the City Council approve a ZTA No. 25-04; and WHEREAS, the City Council, after due inspection, investigation, and study made by itself and on its behalf, and after due consideration of all evidence and reports offered at said hearing with respect to the proposed Project, does find that all other legal perquisites to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred.
Ordinance No. 826
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF COMMERCE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council hereby finds that the adoption of this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq. “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”). The City reviewed the environmental impacts of the proposed Ordinance. No additional environmental review is required for this Ordinance pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15060(c)(2), § 15378(b)(5) § 15301 § 15303 and § 15061(b)(3). The proposed Ordinance is exempt from CEQA because it is a ZTA which regulates entertainment establishments Citywide, which will not have a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and does not qualify as a “project” under CEQA because it will not make physical changes to the environment.
The proposed Ordinance is also exempt from CEQA under the common sense exemption that it will not affect the environment. All future proposals will require their own environmental review as outlined by CEQA guidelines.
Section 2. The City Council hereby makes the following findings of fact:
A. That the proposed Zoning Text Amendment is consistent with the goals, policies, and objectives of the general plan. The proposed ZTA is consistent with the goals, policies, and objectives of the Commerce General Plan, as it would promote the following: 1) Community Development Policy 4.1. The City of Commerce will explore the feasibility of developing an area devoted to active family recreation; and 2) Community Development Policy 4.2. The City of Commerce will promote the development of commercial enterprises that provide family entertainment.
B. That the proposed zoning ordinance text amendment will not adversely affect surrounding properties. The proposed ZTA will not adversely affect surrounding properties because the ordinance will not result in physical changes. Any projects that utilize the proposed regulations will be properly analyzed for potential impacts and consistency with the adopted regulations governing entertainment establishments in certain manufacturing zones.
C. That the proposed zoning ordinance text amendment promotes public health, safety, and general welfare and serves the goals and purposes of this Title 19.
The proposed ZTA is designed to advance public health, safety, and general welfare by establishing clear regulations for entertainment establishments within certain manufacturing zones. These guidelines ensure that such venues operate safely and responsibly, creating enjoyable spaces for residents and visitors. Furthermore, the ZTA will enable existing restaurants to expand their operations with entertainment opportunities, ultimately boosting local business activity while generating tax revenue for the City.
Section 3. Title 19 (Zoning), and more specifically, Table 19.11.030A (Uses in Industrial Districts) of the CMC is hereby amended to add the following section:
Revised Table 19.11.030A to add 12.6 Entertainment Establishment.
Ordinance No. 826
Use C/M-1 M-1 M-2 *Notes and Exceptions
12.6 Entertainment
Establishment
C X C a. A Development Agreement is
required with appropriate
standards and public benefits
negotiated with the city, pursuant
to the procedures set forth in this
code.
b. Entertainment establishments are
subject to the requirements set
forth in Division 24, Section 19.31
of this title.
Section 4. Title 19 (Zoning), Table 19.21.040A (Off-Street Parking Requirements) of the CMC is hereby amended to add the following section under manufacturing:
Revised Table 19.21.040A, Off-Street Parking Requirements to add parking requirements for Entertainment Establishments
Land Use Required Off-Street Parking Spaces
Resident/Guest/Employee Parking Compact/Truck Parking
Manufacturing
Entertainment
Establishments
A parking study prepared by a licensed
engineer is required to determine parking
for an entertainment establishment. To
utilize off-site parking, a shared parking
agreement is required between the
applicant and other affected property
owners must be executed and filed with
the City, permitting use of those spaces.
A transportation plan is required for
remote parking situated further than
1,000 feet away.
Compact: Maximum
10% where 20+
spaces are provided
All ADA spaces
required for each
event must be
provided on-site
pursuant to current
accessibility
regulations.
Section 5. Title 19 (Zoning), and more specifically, Section 19.45.020 (“E” Definitions) of the CMC is hereby amended to replace the definition of “Entertainment Establishment” as follows (proposed deletions are shown with red strikeouts and proposed new language is shown with bold red text):
""Entertainment establishment" means a place of business that provides any form of indoor or outdoor entertainment such as live performance, sporting events, exhibitions, shows, or acts, including but not limited to the playing of musical instruments; Ordinance No. 826
singing; dancing; performing in a play, sketch, or scene; concerts; reciting prose or poetry; or exhibiting any clothing, wearing apparel, or costumes for the purpose of gaining, diverting, or holding the attention of guests, patrons, or invitees. A business or use shall be considered an entertainment establishment if such entertainment is either the primary business principal use or an accessory use conducted on the premises or is provided in conjunction with any other primary business principal use.” Section 6. Title 19 (Zoning), and more specifically, Section 19.45.200 (“S” Definitions) of the CMC is hereby amended to add the definition of “Sensitive Noise Receptors” as follows:
““Sensitive Noise Receptors” means locations where people live, work, or gather and where the presence of unwanted, excessive or prolonged sound may adversely affect activities or may be detrimental to the health and welfare of individuals. These locations typically include residential uses, hospitals, schools, libraries, parks, places of public assembly and nursing homes.”
Section 7. Division 24. – Entertainment Establishments of Chapter 19.31 is hereby added in its entirety to the CMC as follows:
DIVISION 24. – ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENTS
19.31.790 Development standards and use conditions.
Any entertainment establishments shall be subject to the following standards and conditions on use:
(1) Distance Requirement to Sensitive Noise Receptors:
a. Indoor events: Entertainment establishments with indoor events shall not be located within two hundred (200) feet from sensitive noise receptors as defined in this code. However, the distance requirement for entertainment establishments with indoor events only shall not apply to properties located on Atlantic Boulevard and Washington Boulevard. While the distance requirement of this section may not apply to properties located on Atlantic Boulevard and Washington Boulevard, the city may deny an application if it is determined that a use adversely affects any adjacent or nearby property. b. Outdoor events: Entertainment establishments with outdoor events shall not be located within five-hundred (500) feet from sensitive noise receptors as defined in this code.
(2) Limited hours of operation. Where the proposed use is within two hundred feet from sensitive noise receptors, it shall have limited hours of operation, or designed and operated, so as to avoid disruption or excessive noise between the hours of ten o'clock p.m. and seven o'clock a.m. Through the development agreement process, and on a case-by-case basis, the city council may approve and/or modify the hours of operation.
(3) Parking findings. The city may allow the use of street parking or remote, off-site parking for entertainment establishments on a case-by-case basis. Prior to Ordinance No. 826
approving the use of street parking or remote, off-site parking, the decisionmaking body shall make the following findings, as applicable:
a. The use of street parking will not negatively impact sensitive noise receptors.
b. The use of street parking will not negatively impact surrounding businesses. c. The location of remote parking will not be detrimental to public health, safety, and welfare.
Section 8. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Chapter is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Chapter. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Chapter, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 9. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 14th day of October 2025. __________________________
Ivan Altamirano, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Lena Shumway