ZONING CODE AMENDMENT:
Warehouse Retail Stores (“Big Box”)
Stockton City Council
Agenda Item 16.1
January 10, 2023
• In 2007, Council Adopted the “Big Box” Ordinance limiting warehouse retail stores to no more than 100,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area to non-taxable merchandise (exception for membership stores).
• This intent of this action was to preserve the City’s existing commercial shopping centers.
• In 2018, the General Plan directed staff to explore the 2007 Ordinance and examine its usefulness.
• In 2022, the Council Legislation/Environmental Committee directed staff to initiate code amendment to repeal the 2007 restrictions.
• December 8, 2022, the Planning Commission voted 4-0
(Three Commissioners Absent), recommending the City
Council approve the removal of those restrictions.
Background
• Allows in Commercial, General (CG) and
Commercial, Large-Scale (CL) zones with
Commission Use Permit approval, but not
recommended for Commercial, Downtown
(CD) zone.
• Removes the non-taxable merchandise size
restrictions from the CG, CD, and CL zones.
• Does not change the existing definitions,
process, or design standards.
Proposed Ordinance
Conclusion
• The changes are consistent with the General Plan
and Economic Plan policies to encourage
commercial uses.
• Future use in the CL and CG zone would require
CUP approval to ensure discretionary review and
public hearing consideration.
• Existing design standards in place.
• There are no current or pending applications that
would be impacted by this action.
Recommendation
The City Council adopt an Ordinance:
• Finding no further environmental review is
required; and
• Approving amendments to the Stockton Municipal
Code regarding warehouse retail stores