See Athletic complex or ball field. (G1)
“Bank or credit union, main branch” means an institution providing retail banking services.
This classification includes only those institutions engaged in the on-site circulation of money, loan services, or merchant banking services. This use excludes a payday lender or checkcashing establishment. For administration, headquarters, or other offices of banks and credit unions without retail banking services with on-site circulation of money see Office, professional or commercial. (J2)
“Bar, nightclub, or lounge” means an establishment that provides alcoholic beverages for consumption on the site and may or may not provide food service, and that may provide live entertainment and/or dancing. This use typically requires an ABC Type 40, 42, 48, 60, or 61 license. (B2)
“Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa” means an establishment that provides personal care treatments or massage therapy of hair, skin, nails, and/or face where overnight accommodations are not provided. This use includes the application of permanent facial makeup but does not include other forms of tattooing or body art application. (J3) “Bed and breakfast inn” means a transient lodging establishment that is predominantly residential in character, is primarily engaged in providing overnight or otherwise temporary lodging for the general public, and where a breakfast meal is customarily included in the lodging rate. Alcoholic beverages served to overnight guests typically requires an ABC Type 67 license. (2) (H2)
“Boarding house or rooming house” means a building containing a single dwelling unit and provisions for five or more persons, where lodging is provided with or without meals for compensation. This definition does not include assisted living, skilled nursing, or hospice facility, bed and breakfast inn, or residential care facility. (3) (H3) “Boat, recreational vehicle (RV), and truck sales” means an open area or building, other than a street, used for the display, sale, or rental of new or used boats, campers, camper trailers, recreational vehicles, trucks over one-ton class, and other vehicles or sporting equipment of similar size, and where no repair work is done except minor incidental repairs and servicing of vehicles and equipment to be displayed, sold or rented on the premises. (I6) “Brewery, winery, or distillery” is an establishment that manufactures beer, wine, distilled spirits or similar alcoholic beverages, including processing, storage, aging, packaging, bottling, and shipping. Consumption can occur on or off the site in accordance with the establishment’s ABC license restrictions and can include tasting facilities and/or a restaurant. This use typically requires an ABC Type 01, 02, 03, or 04 license. (D4)
“Brewpub” means a restaurant that also brews limited amounts of beer (less than 5,000 barrels) for consumption on the site. This use typically requires an ABC Type 75 license. (B3) “Building materials and supply or home improvement store” means an establishment selling a mix of lumber, building materials, tools, residential appliances, nursery items, and home furnishings. (I7)
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“Bus, transit, or train station” means a terminal facility where transit vehicles load or unload passengers, along with supporting services such as ticket sales and waiting areas. Bus, transit, or train station does not include a transit stop along a route in the public right-of-way where no additional services are provided. (K2)
Business school. See School, charter, trade, vocational, art, business, or professional. (C13) “Call center” means an office used primarily for receiving or transmitting a large volume of requests by telephone to administer product support or information inquiries from consumers or to conduct telemarketing, solicitation of charitable or political donations, debt collection, or market research. (E1)
“Cannabis” means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis indica, or Cannabis ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. “Cannabis” also means the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from cannabis. “Cannabis” does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. For the purpose of this division, “cannabis” does not mean “industrial hemp” as defined by Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code. (51-61) (L1-L11)
“Cannabis product” means cannabis that has undergone a process whereby the plant material has been transformed into a concentrate, including, but not limited to, concentrated cannabis, or an edible or topical product containing cannabis or concentrated cannabis and other ingredients; - intended to be sold for use by medical cannabis patients in California pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), found at Section 11362.5 of the California Health and Safety Code (asthe same may be amended from time-to-time) or pursuant to the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. For purposes of this title, "medical cannabis" does not include industrial hemp as defined by Section 81000 of the California Food and Agricultural Code or Section 11018.5 of the California Health and Safety Code. (51-61) (L1-L11) “Cannabis cultivation” means any activity, whether occurring indoors or outdoors, involving the propagation, planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, and/or trimming of cannabis plants or any part thereof for any purpose. (51) (52) (L1) (L2) “Cannabis delivery” shall be as defined in the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, California Business and Professions Code Section 19300.5(m), as that section may be amended from time to time, and includes the commercial transfer of cannabis or cannabis products from a dispensary as well as the use of any technology platform owned, controlled, and/or licensed by the dispensary, or independently licensed by the state of California under the Medicinal and Adult- Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) that enables anyone to arrange for a commercial transfer, up to an amount determined to be authorized by the state of California, or any of its departments or divisions, to anyone for any purpose. (53) (L3) “Cannabis dispensary” means a commercial cannabis business facility where cannabis, cannabis products, or devices for the use of cannabis or cannabis products are offered, either individually or in any combination, for retail sale, including an establishment (whether fixed 291
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or mobile) that delivers, pursuant to express authorization, cannabis and cannabis products as part of a retail sale.
(59) (L9)
“Cannabis distribution” means the wholesale procurement, and sale, of cannabis or cannabis products between entities licensed pursuant to MAUCRSA, AUMA and any subsequent state of California legislation regarding the same. (54) (L4) “Cannabis laboratory testing” means offering or performing testing and/or activities relating to evaluation of, or assessing the quality and/or characteristics of, cannabis or cannabis products; carried out by any entity, accredited and licensed by the state of California, bureau of marijuana control, or otherwise accredited by any other independent accrediting body, within a facility or at any other location. (55) (L5)
“Cannabis manufacturing” means to compound, blend, extract, infuse, or otherwise make or prepare a cannabis product. The manufacturer conducts the production, preparation, propagation, or compounding of cannabis or cannabis products either directly or indirectly or by extraction methods, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis at a fixed location that packages or repackages cannabis or cannabis products or labels or relabels its container. (56) (L6) “Cannabis transporting” means the conveyance by a person, issued a state license authorizing the point-to-point movement of cannabis or cannabis products, in amounts authorized by the state of California, or by one of its departments or divisions under the MAUCRSA and/or AUMA. (61) (L11)
“Car wash, automatic or full service” means a facility for washing vehicles using conveyorized and/or mechanized equipment where the washing of the vehicle is performed by equipment, the facility’s employees, or both. (J4)
“Car wash, self-service” means a facility for washing vehicles where the user of the vehicle uses handheld equipment, typically coin-operated, to wash the vehicle. (J5) “Card room” means an establishment providing legal gambling combined with card games, and can include a restaurant, bar, or other ancillary entertainment. (C2) “Caretaker residence or quarters” is a residence that is an accessory to a primary use of the site, for housing a person or persons who are tasked with caring for or securing the site on a parttime or full-time basis. Second dwelling unit includes a caretaker residence or quarters in residential zones. (A2)
“Carnival or circus” means a temporary outdoor amusement center, bazaar or fair, either involving use of special purpose equipment or conducted by professional operators, or both, and where activities include such things as rides, exhibitions, food service, sales, or small-scale games. Carnival or circus does not include a non-profit event sponsored by a local school or religious institution. (C4)
“Carpet cleaning and dyeing” means an establishment that provides for the cleaning and dyeing of rugs, carpet, and upholstery. (J6)
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“Cemetery” means land and facilities used or intended to be used for the burial or interment of the dead, and includes a columbarium, crematorium, mausoleum and/or mortuary when operated in conjunction with and within the boundary of the facility. (F1) Charter School. See School, charter, trade, vocational, art, business, or professional. (C13) Check cashing establishment. See Payday lender or checking cashing establishment. (J20) Child care center. See Daycare Center. (L16)
“Club, lodge, or private meeting hall” means a large room or building used for public gatherings where membership or invitation istypically required to attend. It can include a dance floor, lodge rooms, conference rooms, dining rooms, drinking establishments for members and their guests only, and exhibit rooms. Alcoholic beverage service to members and their guests typically requires an ABC Type 51, 52, or 57 license. (C3) “Cold storage or ice house” means a facility for the storage food or other items in an artificially cooled place for the purpose of preservation, and/or for producing large amounts of ice. (K3) “College or university, private or public” means a school or group of schools that provides post- secondary education usually resulting in a degree. (C5) Clinic, medical. See Urgent care center or other walk-in clinic. (E9) “Commercial recreation facility, indoor” means indoor recreational facilities that are operated as a business and open to the general public for an entry fee or pay per use. Examples include indoor uses such as, but are not limited to, a bowling alley, bounce house, skating rink, batting cage, miniature golf, swimming pool, climbing wall, arcade, and similar uses. Food and beverage service can be provided as an ancillary use. (G2) “Commercial recreation facility, outdoor” means outdoor recreational facilities that are operated as a business and open to the general public for an entry fee or pay per use. Examples include outdoor uses such as, but are not limited to, a batting cage, miniature golf, water slide, go-cart racing, and similar uses. Food and beverage service can be provided as an ancillary use. (G3)
“Communications broadcasting or media studio” means a facility that is equipped for sound recording, the transmission of radio and television programs, or the production of motion pictures, television programs, videos, music, cellular phone applications or video games. (E1) “Communications equipment building.” See Electric distribution and transmission substation, gas regulator station, communications equipment building, public service pumping station, or elevated pressure tank. (F4)
“Community center or facility” means an assembly building used typically for non-profit social, recreational, and cultural activities. (62) (F2) “Community garden” means an area of land managed and maintained by an individual or group to grow and harvest food and horticultural products for personal or group consumption. The garden may be divided into separate garden plots for cultivation by one or more individuals or may be farmed collectively by members of the group. (F3) “Construction materials recycling” means a yard or facility that collects leftover construction materials that may be recycled or reused as an alternative to disposal in landfill site. Examples of construction materials include lumber, drywall, masonry, cabinets, metals and appliances, 293
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cardboard and paper, asphalt roofing, plastic and vinyl, doors and windows, tubs, sinks, and toilets. (J7)
“Convenience store, with or without fuel sales” means an establishment with extended operating hours and in a convenient location, stocking a limited range of household goods and groceries. Retail fuel sales may or may not also be provided. (I8) “Convention or conference center” means facilities designed and used for conventions, conferences, seminars, trade shows, product displays, and other events in which groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically have at least one auditorium and may also contain concert halls, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and conference rooms, as well as accessory uses such as facilities for food preparation and serving and administrative offices. Convention or conference center does not include conference rooms that may be an ancillary use in a hotel and motel. (C6) “Copy, printing, or mailing service” means an establishment providing printing, photocopying, engraving, binding, packaging, mailing and related services to both businesses and individuals. (J8)
“Cottage Food Operation” means a home-based business involving the preparation and/or packaging of certain foods in private-home kitchens for sale primarily by the resident family. (A3) (33)
“Crematorium” is a structure or building substantially exposed above ground intended to be used for the cremation and/or interment of the cremated remains of a deceased person or animal. (J9)
“Daycare facility” means a facility providing supervision, feeding and nonmedical care of persons, usually but not necessarily children, for a time period of less than 24 hours. Daycare facilities are further divided into the following categories:
“Daycare, adult large family” means a facility licensed by the State of California that is located in a single-unit residence or other dwelling unit where a resident of the dwelling provides care and supervision for up to 12 adults over the age of 18 for periods of less than 24 hours a day. (64) (L11)
“Daycare, adult small family” means a facility licensed by the State of California that is located in a single-unit residence or other dwelling unit where a resident of the dwelling provides care and supervision for up to six adults over the age of 18 for periods of less than 24 hours a day. (63) (L10)
“Daycare, large family" meansregularly provided care, protection, and supervision of children, in the care giver's own home, for periods of less than 24 hours per day, while the parents or authorized representatives are away for seven to 14 children. (66) (L13) “Daycare,small family" meansregularly provided care, protection, and supervision of children, in the care giver's own home, for periods of less than 24 hours per day, while the parents or authorized representatives are away for up to eight children. (65) (L12) “Daycare center” means any adult or child care facility of any capacity, other than a family care home, in which less than 24-hour per day nonmedical care and supervision are provided in a group setting. This classification includes nursery schools, preschools, and daycare facilities 294
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for children or adults, and any other daycare facility licensed by the State of California. (67) (A4) (L14)
Day spa. See Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa. (J3) “Drive-thru pick-up window” means the ancillary use of a window or other opening in the wall of building through which goods, or services are provided directly to customers in motor vehicles. (A5) (A6)
“Dry cleaning or laundromat” means an establishment providing laundry, dry cleaning, and other related services for individual customers on a pick-up and drop-off basis or where with coin- operated washing and drying machines are available for customer use. (J10) Duplex. See Multi-family dwelling. (12) (13) (14) (H11) (H12) (H13) Dwelling, accessory.
See Accessory dwelling. (30)
Dwelling, multiple-family. See Multi-family dwelling. (12) (13) (14) (H11) (H12) (H13) Dwelling, single-family. See Single-family dwelling. (18) (19) (H18) (H19) “Electrical distribution and transmission substation, gas regulator station, communications equipment building, public service pumping station, or elevated pressure tank" means the assembly of above-ground buildings or equipment on a separate lot that is part of a system for the distribution or transmission of electric power, natural gas, domestic water, or communications. Wireless communication facilities are not included in this definition. (68) (F4)
“Electric vehicle recharging facility” means one or more publicly available parking spaces served by electric vehicle service equipment and is typically an ancillary use in a parking garage or parking lot. (A7)
Elevated pressure tank. See Electric distribution and transmission substation, gas regulator station, communications equipment building, public service pumping station, or elevated pressure tank. (F4)
“Emergency Shelter” means a facility providing housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less where housing is not denied because of an inability to pay (see California Health and Safety Code Section 50801). (4) (H4) “Employee housing” means property used temporarily or seasonally (not more than 180 days in any calendar year) for the residential use of unrelated persons/families employed to perform agricultural or industrial labor either on or off-site of agricultural activities. The accommodations may consist of any living quarters, dwelling, boarding house, tent (only temporary occupancy), bunkhouse (only temporary occupancy), mobilehome, manufactured home, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, or other housing accommodations maintained in one or more buildings, or one or more sites, and the premises upon which they are situated, including area set aside for parking of mobilehomes and manufactured homes or camping of employees by the employer. Employee housing may also involve permanent residency if the housing accommodation is a mobilehome, manufactured home, travel trailer, or recreational vehicle pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17021.5. Specifically, there are two (2) types of employee housing as follows:
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1. Employee Housing, Large: Employee housing that serves more than six (6) employees and consists of no more than 36 beds in group quarters or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household. (6) (H6)
2. Employee Housing, Small: Employee housing that serves six (6) or fewer employees.
The housing may be in a single or multi-family residence. (5) (H5) “Equipment rental yard” means an establishment offering a wide variety of large equipment or tools for rent, much of which is stored outdoors when not being used. (J11) “Exterminator or pest control service” means an establishment specializing in the elimination of vermin, insects, or other similar pests from a building or grounds, especially by the controlled application of toxic chemicals. (J12)
“Fairgrounds” means an area with indoor and outdoor facilities where fairs, circuses, or exhibitions are held. (F5)
“Farmers market” means a facility or area where several farmers or growers gather on a periodic basis to provide fresh fruits, vegetables, or other locally-grown agricultural products directly to consumers. (I10)
“Feed and seed store” means an establishment that provides feed, seed, and animal and agricultural supplies primarily in bulk quantities. (I11) “Food catering” means an establishment that prepares and delivers food and beverages for offsite consumption, typically at a special event, without provision for on-site pickup or consumption. (J13)
“Food locker” means an establishment that rents lockers, compartments, or space for the storage of frozen food. A food locker may also include the preparation or dressing of animal carcasses for consumption but does not include the slaughtering of animals. (K4) “Food market” means an establishment that provides a wide variety of fresh produce and meat, canned and packaged food items, small household goods, and similar items that are typically consumed and used off premises. It can also contain a section where prepared foods are sold and consumed on-site. (I12)
“Food produce stand” means an area or building set aside for the sale of agricultural produce that is grown primarily on the site. (I13)
“Fortune telling” means an establishment where people’s fortunes are predicted through the use of astrology, card reading, numerology, etc. (J14)
“Fuel distributing” means a facility that is a base of operations for the bulk distribution of gasoline, propane, butane, or other another site. (J15) “Fuel sales, fleet, or cardlock” means an establishment that is typically unattended and provides gasoline, propane, diesel fuel, and/or other liquid or gaseous fuels mainly for commercial fleet vehicles. (I14)
“Fuel sales, retail” means an establishment that provides gasoline, propane, diesel fuel, and/or other liquid or gaseous fuels directly to consumers. (I15) 296
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“Funeral home or mortuary” means an establishment where deceased are prepared for burial or cremation, and funeral services may be conducted. It can include an area where funeral vehicles are stored, and caskets and other funeral supplies are sold. (C7) “Games of skill or amusement” means machines, devices or apparatus, the operation or use of which is made possible by the deposit or placement of any currency, plate, disc, slug or key into any slot or crevice, for the purpose or use as a game or amusement. This use does not include games, machines, or devices used for a purpose that is prohibited by law. (A9) (A10) “Garden shop” means an establishment that provides live plants and related products mainly to residential consumers, with a portion of the establishment typically located outdoors. (I16) Gas regulator station. See Electric distribution and transmission substation, gas regulator station, communications equipment building, public service pumping station, or elevated pressure tank. (F4)
Gas station. See Fuel sales, retail. (I15)
“Golf course or country club” means one or more golf courses, with accessory facilities and uses that can include clubhouses with bar and restaurant, locker and shower facilities; driving ranges; "pro shops" for onsite sales of golfing equipment; and golf cart storage and sales facilities. (G4)
“Government office; local, state, or federal” means a facility owned or operated by a local, state, or federal government that provides services to the public such as employment assistance, public assistance, motor vehicle registration and licensing services and similar activities commonly accustomed to having sizeable assemblages of people waiting for service, whether pedestrian or vehicular. This use does not include a government-owned facility that is more specifically defined in this chapter, such as fairgrounds, cemetery, post office, or public safety facility. (F6)
“Guest house” means living quarters without a kitchen, located on the same premises with a main residence. (35)
Hair salon. See Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa. (J3) “Hazardous waste facility” means all contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances and improvements on the land used for the treatment, transfer, storage, resource recovery, disposal or recycling of hazardous waste, and may consist of one or more treatment, transfer, storage, resource recovery, disposal or recycling hazardous waste management units, or combinations of these units. (See Health and Safety Code Section 25117.1.) (D5) “Health or fitness facility, large” means a fitness center, gymnasium, health club or athletic club that typically charges a membership fee and includes any of the following: indoor sauna, spa or hot tub facilities; a swimming pool, or a tennis, basketball or handball court. (G5) “Health or Fitness Facility, small” means a fitness center, health club or athletic club that typically charges a membership fee and does not include any of the following: indoor sauna, spa or hot tub facilities; a swimming pool, or a tennis, basketball or handball court. (G6) Heliport. See Airport or heliport. (K1)
“Home occupation” means a commercial business activity conducted as an accessory use within a residence. (A9)
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“Hospital, general or psychiatric” means a facility that provides medical, psychiatric, or surgical service for sick or injured persons, primarily on an in-patient basis, and including ancillary facilities for out-patient and emergency treatment, diagnostic services, training, research, administration and services to patients, employees, or visitors. (E4) “Hotel or motel” means a building or group of buildings in one complex consisting of multiple guest rooms intended or designed to be occupied on a temporary basis, and typically providing ancillary services such as a restaurant, lounge, pool or exercise room, meeting rooms, and/or other personal services. Alcoholic beverages served to overnight guests outside of a restaurant or bar/lounge typically requires an ABC Type 70 license. (7) (H7) “Industrial or manufacturing facility, heavy” means a facility that manufactures products from extracted or raw materials or recycled or secondary materials, or the bulk storage and handling of such products and materials. This use includes operations such as biomass energy conversion; production apparel manufacturing; photographic processing plants; leather and allied product manufacturing; wood product manufacturing; paper manufacturing; chemical manufacturing; plastics and rubber products manufacturing; nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing; primary metal manufacturing; fabricated metal product manufacturing; and automotive and heavy equipment manufacturing. This use does not include Agricultural products processing. (D6)
“Industrial or manufacturing facility, light” means a facility that manufactures products from previously prepared materials completely within an enclosed building, and that produces minimal impacts on nearby properties. This use includes the manufacturing of finished parts or products primarily from previously prepared materials; commercial laundries and dry cleaning plants; monument works; printing, engraving, and publishing; sign production or manufacturing; machine and electrical shops; computer and electronic product manufacturing; furniture and related product manufacturing; and industrial services. The use also includes the preparation and/or packaging of food for off-site consumption. (D7) “Junior accessory dwelling unit” – please see “accessory dwelling unit, junior” “Junkyard, wrecking yard, or salvage facility” means a facility that accepts, collects, and stores junk, scrap, or salvable material, including junk metals or other scrap materials, and/or that stores, dismantles, wrecks, or allows parts removal of more than three (3) non-operating automobiles, other vehicles, or machinery for a period of more than 30 days. (K5) “Keeping of household pets” means the keeping, raising, and caring for domesticated animals that are not considered domestic agricultural animals by the definition of Animal raising, and typically including dogs, cats, birds, fish or other similar sized animals. Also, see Animal raising. (A10)
“Kennel or animal boarding” means any facility where four or more dogs, cats, or other small animals are kept overnight for profit, breeding, care, or exhibiting. This use does not include a pet store. (J16)
“Laboratory, general, medical, or dental” means a facility that conducts scientific or medical experiments, research, or teaching, typically within a completely enclosed building. (E3) “Landscape nursery” means a facility that grows, maintains, and provides trees, plants, and other nursery products for transplant in another location typically to both retailer and wholesale customers. (I17)
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Large Family Daycare. See Daycare, Large Family (L15)
“Library, museum, or cultural facility” means a facility operated entirely on a public or nonprofit basis for the purpose of providing education, information, training, and/or entertainment of a civic or cultural nature. (C8)
“Linen, diaper or uniform supply service” means an establishment providing high volume laundry and garment services, including power laundries (family and commercial), garment pressing and dry cleaning, linen supply, diaper service, and industrial laundries. This use does not include dry cleaning or laundromat. (J17)
“Liquor store” means an establishment that provides for the sale of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and/or distilled spirits for consumption off the site, along with other retail items.
This use typically requires an ABC Type 20 or 21 license. Limited consumption on the site can occur only when the appropriate ABC license is obtained, typically an ABC Type 86 license. (I18)
“Live/Work facility” means a building that combines a complete dwelling unit with a commercial or office work space, with both occupancies used by the same person or family. (H8)
Lodge. See Club, lodge, or private meeting hall (C3) Lounge. See Bar, nightclub, or lounge. (B2)
“Low Barrier Navigation Center” means a Housing First, low-barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter, and housing, as defined by Government Code Section 65660.
1. “Low Barrier” means best practices to reduce barriers to entry, and may include, but is not limited to, the following:
a. The presence of partners if it is not a population-specific site, such as for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, women, or youth.
b. Pets.
c. The storage of possessions.
d. Privacy, such as partitions around beds in a dormitory setting or in larger rooms containing more than two beds, or private rooms. (4) (H4) Lumberyard. See Building materials and supply or home improvement store. (I7) “Manufactured home” means a structure that was constructed on or after June 15, 1976, is transportable in one or more sections, is eight (8) body feet or more in width, or forty (40) body feet or more in length, in the traveling mode, or, when erected on site, is three hundred twenty (320) or more square feet, and is designed to be used as a single-family dwelling when connected to the required utilities. (8) (9) (H9) (H10) “Manufactured home sales yard” means an establishment that stores and provides manufactured homes, typically in an open setting with a sales office. (I19) Massage therapy. See Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa. (J3) 299
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“Meat packing or slaughterhouse” means a facility used for the killing or dressing of animals, including cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, or poultry, and the storage, freezing, curing, or packaging of meat or meat products. (D8)
“Meat packing or slaughterhouse” means a facility that slaughters animals and/or packages animal meat for food. (D8)
“Microbrewery” means an establishment that produces small batches of beer for sale on or off of the site and may or may not include food service. Typically, a microbrewery produces fewer than 15,000 barrels of beer or ale per year. This use typically requires an ABC Type 23 license. (B4)
“Mining, quarry, or sand and gravel excavation” means an area of land where rock, ore, stone and similar materials are excavated and processed for sale for use off-site. (D9) “Mini-warehouse or self-storage facility” means an establishment providing rental space, such as rooms, lockers, or containers for the storage of goods and materials, typically on a monthly basis. This use does not include Food locker or Warehouse or distribution center. (K6) “Mobilehome” means a structure that was constructed prior to June 15, 1976, is transportable in one or more sections, is eight (8) body feet or more in width, or 40 body feet or more in length, in the traveling mode, or, when erected on site, is 320 or more square feet, and is designed to be used as a single-family dwelling when connected to the required utilities. (9) (H10)
“Mobilehome park” means an area of land where two or more mobilehome sites are rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, to accommodate mobilehomes or manufactured homes used as a residence. (10) (H11)
“Mobile vendor or food truck” means an establishment that sells food, drinks, or merchandise by means of a motorized or non-motorized vehicle, such as a wagon, pushcart, handcart, bicycle, motorized cart, or food truck that periodically parks to provide food or other wares to customers.
(69) (A11)
Motel. See Hotel or motel. (H6)
“Motor vehicle repair or service, major” means an establishment that provides major repair or servicing of motor vehicles, such as body, chassis, engine, transmission, or exhaust repair or modification. (J18)
“Motor vehicle repair or service, minor” means an establishment that provides minor repair or servicing of motor vehicles, such as the replacement of tires or batteries, smog inspection, window tinting, car stereo installation, oil and filter change, wheel alignment, and fluid flushing, refill, or replacement. (J19)
“Multi-family dwelling” means a building or group of buildings in one complex with multiple separate housing units. A multi-family dwelling can have two units (a duplex,) three units (a triplex,) four units (a fourplex,) or five or more units. Multi-family dwelling includes a mixed use building that also provides separate space for commercial or office use but does not include an attached single-family dwelling. (11) (12) (13) (H12) (H13) (H14) Nail care. See Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa. (J3) 300
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“News, magazine, or flower stand, outdoor” means an establishment that provides newspapers, magazines, flowers, or other similar goods, typically to pedestrians passing by, in a permanent structure open to the outdoors. This use does not include sales from temporary booths or structures. (I20)
Nightclub. See Bar, nightclub, or lounge. (B2)
“Office; medical, dental, or optometry” means an establishment that provides services, typically by appointment, dealing with human health including dental, chiropractic, medical, optometry, physical therapy, psychology, psychiatry, family counseling, or therapy. This use does not include Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa. (E5) “Offices, professional or commercial” means an establishment that provides administrative, clerical, technical, professional or similar business services and typically where products or goods are not provided. Examples include escrow and title, insurance, mortgage, real estate, accounting, architecture, graphic design, finance, consulting, engineering, legal, and similar services. (E6)
“Optical retailer” means an establishment that provides prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, and where optometry services are not provided on the site. Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses may be made on the premises. (I24)
“Outdoor advertising structure” means a structure of any kind or character, erected or maintained for outdoor advertising purposes, upon which a sign may be placed that advertises a use, product, or service that is not provided off-site. (A12) “Outdoor storage” means the storage of goods or materials outside of any building or structure, but not including storage of a temporary or emergency nature. (70) (A13) “Park or playground” means an open area typically landscaped and containing play equipment that provides rest and recreation, usually owned by a public agency or homeowner’s association. (71) (G7)
“Parking facility, off-site” means an area, lot, or structure with one or more levels, other than a street or other public right-of-way, that provides for the parking of motor vehicles as a primary use on the site. This use does not include parking areas or lots that are ancillary and specifically intended to provide parking for the primary use on the site. (K7) “Pawn shop” means an establishment that provides secured loans to customers, with items of personal property used as collateral. (I21)
“Payday lender or check cashing establishment” is an establishment that cashes checks, warrants, or money orders for a fee, and/or provides short term loans, usually at a high interest rate, that must be paid in full when the borrower receives their next pay check. This use does not include Bank or credit union. (J20)
“Pet grooming” is a personal service establishment that, for a fee, trims, cleans or curries domestic pets such as dogs and cats and which may sell pet supplies. This use does not include Kennel or animal boarding. (J21)
“Pet store” means an establishment where dogs, cats, or other small animals are kept and offered for sale. (I22)
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“Pharmacy” means an establishment that provides prescription drugs under the supervision of a pharmacist and can also provide other retail products. (E7) “Photography studio” means an establishment where customers can have their portraits taken professionally. (J22)
“Pool hall or billiard parlor” means an establishment where pool and/or billiard games are played for a fee. (C9)
“Post office” means a facility that accepts, processes, and sorts mail, operated by the United States Postal Service. (F7)
Private meeting hall. See Club, lodge, or private meeting hall (C3) Professional school. See School, charter, trade, vocational, art, business, or professional. (C13) Produce stand. See Food produce stand. (I13)
“Public corporation yard, utility yard, or vehicle and heavy equipment maintenance and storage yard” means a facility that provides for maintenance, servicing, or storage of fleet vehicles, equipment, or supplies, or for the dispatching of service vehicles; or distribution of supplies or construction materials required in connection with a business activity, public utility service, transportation service, government service, or similar activity. (F8) “Public safety facility or station” means a facility that is a base for providing public safety and emergency services, including police, fire protection and emergency services. This use does not include Ambulance service. (F9)
Public service pumping station. See Electric distribution and transmission substation, gas regulator station, communications equipment building, public service pumping station, or elevated pressure tank. (F4)
“Recreational vehicle park” means a lot or area of land where two or more spaces are rented to users of recreational vehicles for overnight parking and use, and that typically provide support services, such as utility hookups and sewer dump facilities. (15) (H15) “Recycling, processing or sorting facility” means a facility used for the collection, processing and preparation of recyclable material for efficient shipment, or to an end-user's specifications, by such means as bailing, briquetting, compacting, flattening, grinding, crushing, mechanical sorting, shredding, cleaning, and remanufacturing. (J25) “Recycling, large collection facility” means a facility located in an area of over 500 square feet that accepts recyclable materials from the public by donation, redemption, or purchase for temporary storage and transport to a processing and sorting facility. (J24) “Recycling, small collection facility” means facility located in an area of not more than 500 square feet that provides for the redemption of California CRV redeemable beverage containers by means of a kiosk, container, mobile unit, reverse vending machine or other collection method. (J23)
“Repair shop, large appliance or equipment” means an establishment that restores or repairs major appliances or equipment that generally cannot be easily moved by a single person and is typically placed on the floor. This use typically provides all of its service on-site and includes repair of large motorized equipment that are not vehicles. (J26) 302
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“Repair shop, small appliance or equipment” means an establishment that restores or repairs small appliances or equipment that generally can be moved by one person and is typically repaired on a table or work bench. This use typically provides all of its service on-site, and includes services such as gunsmithing, lawnmower repair, and home computer repair. (J27) “Research and development facility” means a facility that is primarily used for the research, design, development, and testing of biological, chemical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and/or optical components in advance of product manufacturing. This use does not involve the fabrication, mass manufacture, or processing of products. (D10) “Residential care facility” means a single-family dwelling, group care facility, or similar facility licensed by the State of California for 24-hour non-medical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual. (15) (16) (H16) (H17) “Residential dwelling located in the same building with office or commercial use” means a building that contains a mix of both residential dwelling units and space used for commercial or office uses. (H18)
“Restaurant, full service” means an establishment providing preparation and sale of a variety of food and beverages with full table service by wait staff. Takeout or delivery service and/or live entertainment may also be provided. If alcoholic beverages are served, this use typically requires an ABC Type 41 or 47 license. (B5)
“Restaurant, limited service with drive-thru pickup window” means an establishment providing preparation and sale of a variety of food and beverages for consumption on or off the site by ordering and paying at a counter or drive-thru window. Delivery service and/or live entertainment may also be provided. (B6) (B7) (B8)
“Restaurant, limited service without drive-thru pickup window” means an establishment providing preparation and sale of a variety of food and beverages by ordering and paying at a counter. Takeout or delivery service and/or live entertainment may also be provided. Drivethru pickup windows are not provided. If alcoholic beverages are served, this use typically requires an ABC Type 41 or 47 license. (B8)
“Retail sales store” means an establishment providing retail products. This use includes all retail sales establishments that are not more specifically defined in this chapter. (I23) (I24) “Retail sales solely via internet, direct mail, or telephone” means an establishment providing retail products for sale and delivery only via internet, direct mail, or telephone communication, with a floor space for storage of products of less than 5,000 square feet. This use does not include a Call center or a Warehouse or distribution center. If alcoholic beverages are sold, this use typically requires an ABC Type 85 license. (I25) Rooming house. See Boarding house or rooming house. (3) (H3) “School, private (kindergarten to 12th grade)” means a facility owned and/or operated by a private entity that educates minors in courses of study required by the California Education Code. This use includes a kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, special institution of education, or combination of these, and includes a technical, vocational, or art school only when the students are primarily minors. This use does not include home schooling at a residence. (72) (C11)
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“School, public (kindergarten to 12th grade)” means a facility owned and/or operated by a publicly funded school district that educates minors in courses of study required by the California Education Code. This use includes a kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, special institution of education, or combination of these, and includes a technical, vocational, or artschool only when the students are primarily minors. This use does not include a charter school. (73) (C12)
"School; charter, trade, vocational, business, or professional” means a facility that is operated either with public funds under a charter contract or with private funds, and that offers specific educational instruction to children and/or adults. This use includes charter schools, secretarial schools, beauty and cosmetology schools, modeling schools, language schools, computer or electronics training schools, arts schools, and automotive repair schools, and similar specialized schools. (74) (C13)
Scrap metal processing. See Junk yard, wrecking yard, or salvage yard. (K5) “Secondhand or thrift store” means an establishment that accepts donations of secondhand items and clothing and is typically operated for charitable purposes. (I26) Self-storage facility. See self-storage facility (75) (K6) Service station. See Fuel sales, retail, and Motor vehicle repair or service, minor. (I15) (J19) “Shooting range, indoor” means an establishment that is used for archery or firearms practice in a fully-enclosed facility. (J28)
“Shooting range, outdoor” means an establishment that is used for archery or firearms practice, either wholly or partially outdoors. (J29)
Sign manufacturing and production. See Industrial or manufacturing facility, light (D7) “Single-family dwelling, attached” means a building with two residential dwelling units located on portions of two lots with a building firewall along the lot line, such that the dwelling units may be sold separately. (17) (H19)
Single-family dwelling, detached” means a building with one residential dwelling unit located on one lot. (18) (H20)
“Single-room occupancy (SRO)” means a residential facility of two or more separate individual rooms with typically less than 500 square feet of floor space, with or without separate kitchen or bathroom facilities for each room, rented on a weekly or monthly basis.
Single-room occupancy does not include Hotel or motel. (19) (H21) Small family Daycare. See Daycare, small family. (64)
“Social service office, assistance center, or guidance center” means a facility that provides counseling, guidance, recuperative, or similar services for persons requiring rehabilitation assistance as a result of economic hardship, mental disability, alcoholism, detention, drug addiction, or similar conditions. This use does not include facilities that provide overnight stay. (F10)
“Specialty construction or trade service” means an establishment that provides construction, installation or maintenance services activities that are typically specialized trade activities, and where some of the service may be provided off-site. This use includes establishments that 304
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provide services such as plumbing, electrical work, painting, irrigation, heating/air conditioning, and masonry. This use does not include Repair shop or Motor vehicle repair or service. (J30)
“Storm drainage basin, with or without a park” means a facility that collects storm water from off- site locations into a sunken basin. The facility may be inaccessible to the public or may be designed to provide partial public access for recreational use. (76) (F11) “Studio for martial arts, music, dance, yoga, exercise, gymnastics or similar” means a facility that provides group or individualized instruction in a specific activity typically related to the arts. This use does not include Health or fitness facility. (C14) “Supportive housing” means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to an onsite or offsite service that assists the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community, as defined in Government Code Section 65582(g).. Servicestypically include assistance designed to meet the needs of the target population in retaining housing, living and working in the community, and/or improving health and may include case management, mental health treatment, and life skills. (20) (H22) “Swap meet or flea market” means a facility that provides typically compartmentalized space, either indoors or outdoors, to vendors who sells or barter merchandise. This use does not include ‘Farmers market,’ ‘Auction or sales house,’ or ‘Auction or sales yard.’ (I27) “Tailoring or clothing alterations” means an establishment that provides custom making or altering of clothing when not an ancillary use in a clothing store. (J31) “Tattooing or body art” means an establishment that provides tattooing, body piercing, and other forms of body art allowed by the California Health and Safety Code, except that body art involving ear piercing and permanent cosmetic application are not included and are considered ancillary uses in other establishments. This use does not include any use that is more specifically defined in Section 17.62.020. (J32)
“Temporary materials or equipment storage yard” means a facility that is used to store, park, house, or prepare equipment, dirt, materials, or temporary offices or shops to support a construction or demolition activity occurring on another site. (40) (A14) “Temporary sales office” means a facility that provides temporary office space to support the sale of residences or other structures and can include related parking. (A15) “Theater, live or movie” means a facility with an auditorium for viewing movies, plays, acts, or other performances. (C15)
“Tobacco, smoke, or vape shop” means an establishment that provides tobacco or vape products or tobacco or vape related paraphernalia in an area greater than 40% of its total available retail floor space. (I28)
Trade school. See School, charter, trade, vocational, art, business, or professional. (C13) Transit station. See Bus, transit, or train station. (K2) Travel center. See Truck stop or Travel center. (K8)
“Transitional housing” means buildings configured as rental housing developments, but operated under program requirements that require for the termination of assistance and 305
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recirculation of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at a predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six months,” as defined in Government Code Section 65582(j). (21) (H23)
“Truck stop or travel center” means an establishment or group of establishments designed to operate together that provide fuel, overnight parking, lodging, food, convenience goods, or other services primarily to truckers and travelers. (K8) “Trucking or transportation terminal” means a facility designed specifically for large trucks or other vehicles to load, unload, or transfer freight, cargo containers, or other items being shipped, along with associated fueling areas, maintenance facilities, and offices. (K9) “Urgent care center or other walk-in clinic” means a facility that provides medical treatment of injuries or illnesses that do not require treatment typically provided in an emergency room, typically without an appointment. This use includes urgent care centers, free clinics, hospitalbased health clinics, and community health clinics, but does not include ancillary retail clinics located within a retail store, food market, or pharmacy. (E8) “Vehicle impound yard” means a facility that provides temporary storage of vehicles that have been removed or impounded from public or private property at the direction of a peace officer or because of local ordinance or judicial order. (K10)
“Vending machines” means a device that dispenses a product or service upon activation by the receiver of that product or service. Products can include items such as ice; food and beverages, movies and video games, lottery tickets, newspapers, or similar items, but does not include fueling pumps. (A16)
“Veterinary clinic or office” means a facility where animals are examined, diagnosed, or treated, but typically not kept overnight. (J33)
“Veterinary hospital” means a facility where animals are kept for observation, diagnosis, treatment, or medical care, and can include overnight surveillance. (J34) Vocational school. See School, charter, trade, vocational, art, business, or professional. (C13) “Warehouse or distribution center" means a facility for storage of goods or materials that will eventually be redistributed to retailers, wholesalers, or directly to consumers. This use does not include Mini-warehouse or self-storage facility. (K11) Winery. See Brewery or winery. (D4)
“Wireless Communication Facility” means an unstaffed facility that transmits and receives wireless telecommunications, and typically consists of an antenna array, connection cables, and equipment room, and an antenna support structure tower, or pole. (F12) 306
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Chapter 17.98
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sections:
17.98.010 Applicability.
17.98.020 Definition of terms.
17.98.010 Applicability.
The terms, words, and phrases defined in this chapter shall apply to this title.
17.98.020 Definition of terms.
“Abutting” means two (2) or more parcels sharing a common boundary at least at one point. “Abandoned” means failure to develop, maintain or use a building, structure or improvement or failure to conduct a use upon real property for a stated period of time. “Access” means safe, adequate and usable ingress or egress to real property, structures or improvements.
“Action” means the decision made by the review authority on a land use application, including appropriate findings, environmental determination and conditions of approval, where applicable.
“Addition” means any construction which increases the size of a building or facility in terms of site coverage, height, length, width, or gross floor area. “Alley” is a public thoroughfare for the use of pedestrians and/or vehicles, producing only a secondary means of access to the abutting property.
“Alteration” means any construction or physical change in the internal arrangement of rooms or the supporting members of a building or structure or change in the appearance of any building or structure.
“Antenna” means a device for transmitting or receiving radio, television or any other transmitted signal.
“Applicant” means owner(s) of property, or their agent(s) who are seeking privileges provided by this title.
“Attached” means any structure that has a wall or roof in common with another structure. “Basement” means a portion of building partly or wholly underground and having more than one- half (1/2) of its height below the average level of the adjoining ground. “Berm” means a mound or embankment of earth.
“Block” means a parcel of land surrounded by public streets, highways, freeways, railroad rights- of-way, flood control channels, creeks, washes, rivers or unsubdivided acreage or any combination thereof.
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“Building” means a permanently located structure, having a roof, for the housing or enclosure of persons, possessions, or property of any kind. Mobile homes, travel trailers and other vehicles, even though permanently immobilized, shall not be deemed to be buildings. “Building area” means the net portion of the lot remaining after deducting all required setbacks from the gross area of the lot.
“Building height” means the vertical distance between the average finished ground surface adjacent to the structure and to the highest point of the structure, excluding architectural features and appurtenances such as, but not limited to, chimneys, vents, antennas, elevators, and similar mechanical equipment.
“Building, main” means a building in which the principal use of the real property is conducted. “Building setback area, front” means an area extending across the full width of the lot between the front lot line or the existing or future street right-of-way and a structural setback line parallel thereto. On corner lots, the shortest street frontage shall be the front building setback area.
“Building setback area, interior side” means an area extending from the required front building setback area or, where there is no required front building setback area, from the front lot line to the required rear building setback area or, where there is no required rear building setback area, to the rear lot line and from the interior side lot line to a setback line parallel thereto. “Building setback area, rear” means an area extending across the full width of the lot between the rear lot line and a setback line parallel thereto.
“Building setback area, side” means a building setback area between the side lot line and a line parallel thereto and extending from the front building setback area to the rear building setback area.
“Building setback area, street side” means an area extending from the required front building setback area or, where there is no required front building setback area, from the front lot line to the rear lot line, and from the side street lot line, or the existing or future side street rightof-way (whichever is greater) to a structural setback line parallel thereto. “Building site” means the ground area of a building together with all open spaces required by this title.
“By-Right” means that the permitting required for projects subject to by-right approval shall not be subject to discretionary review or approval, such as a conditional use permit, nor be subject to a public review hearing or other local government review to deliberate or make judgements on the projects merits to deny the project as a residential use; the process of reviewing a design should not be considered a "project" under California's Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as defined in Section 21100 of the Public Resources Code.
“Carport” means a permanent roofed structure not completely enclosed to be used for vehicle parking.
“City” means the City of Woodlake.
“Commercial vehicle” means a vehicle customarily used a part of a business for the transportation of goods or people.
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“Commission” means the Planning Commission of the City of Woodlake. “Conditional use” means a use that may locate within a zone only upon taking measures to address issues that may make the use detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare and will not impair the integrity and character of the zoned district. “Conditional use permit (CUP)” means a discretionary entitlement which may be granted under the provisions of thistitle and which when granted authorizes a specific use to be made of a specific property, subject to compliance with all terms and conditions imposed on the entitlement.
“Construction commencement” means the start of construction of a substantial portion on-site and off-site structural improvements after a building permit has been issued. “Council” means the City Council of the City of Woodlake. “County” means the County of Tulare.
“Court” means an open, unoccupied space, other than a yard, unobstructed from ground to sky on the same lot with a building or buildings and which is bounded on two or more sides by the walls of a building.
“Days” means consecutive calendar days unless otherwise stated. “Decibel (dB / dBA)” is a unit for describing the amplitude of sound, as it is heard by the human ear.
“Density” means the number of dwelling units per gross acre, unless otherwise stated, for residential uses.
“Density Bonus” means an increase in the allowable number of residences granted by the city or county in return for the project’s providing low- or moderate-income housing. A housing development that provides 20% of its units for lower-income households, 10% of its units for very- low income households, or 50% of its units for seniors is entitled to a density bonus and other concessions (See California Government Code section 65915). “Design” means the planning and engineering of the following: street alignments, grades and widths; drainage and sanitary facilities and utilities, including alignment and grades thereof; location and size of all required easements and rights-of-way; fire roads and fire breaks; lot size and configuration; traffic access; grading; land to be dedicated for park or recreational purposes; building, structures and improvements and other such specific physical requirements.
“Detached” means any building or structure that does not have a wall or roof in common with any other building or structure.
“Developer Incentives/Concessions” means a reduction in site development standards or a modification of Zoning Ordinance requirements or architectural design requirements that exceed the minimum building standards approved by the California Building Standards Commission as provided in Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code.
“Developer Waiver” means reduction of development standards that will have the effect of physically precluding the construction of a development meeting the criteria at the densities or with the concessions or incentives permitted in Government Code Section 65915. 309
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“Development” means any change or alteration of real property or its boundary lines, and including, without limitation, the placement or erection of any solid material, structure or improvement thereon; discharge or disposal of any dredged material or any gaseous liquid, solid or thermal waste; grading, removing, dredging, mining or extraction of any soil or materials; change in the density or intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to, subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (commencing with Section 66410 of the Government Code), and any other division of land, including lot splits, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of such land by a public agency for public recreational use; change in the intensity of use of water, or of access thereto; construction, reconstruction, demolition or alteration of the size of any structure including any facility of any private, public or municipal utility; and the removal of any major vegetation. As used in this title, “structure” includes but is not limited to any building, road, pipe, flume, conduit, siphon, aqueduct, telephone line, and electrical power transmission and distribution line. A “project,” as defined in Government Code Section 65931, is included with this definition.
“Development agreement” means a binding contract between a developer and a city or county establishing the conditions under which a particular development may occur. The local government "freezes" the regulations applicable to the site for an agreed upon period of time. (see California Government Code section 65864)
“Development permit” means a discretionary entitlement which may be granted under the provisions of this title and which when granted authorizes a specific use to be made of specific property, subject to compliance with all terms and conditions imposed on the entitlement. “Display area” means the area of a building in a retail sales store used to display goods that are for sale.
“Driveway” means a permanently surfaced area providing direct access for vehicles between a street and a permitted off-street parking or loading area. “Dwelling” or “Dwelling Unit” means a room or group of rooms (including sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities, but not more than one kitchen), which constitutes an independent housekeeping unit, occupied or intended for occupancy by one household on a long-term basis. A dwelling unit shall have interior access between all habitable spaces, except that a junior accessory dwelling unit containing all facilities necessary for living, sleeping, eating, food preparation, and sanitation need not maintain interior access to the remainder of the dwelling unit.
“Easement” means a grant of property rights by the property owner to the public, or any specific person.
“Electric vehicle” means a vehicle that uses a plug-in battery to provide all or part of the motive power of the vehicle, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or plug-in fuel cell vehicle.
“Electric vehicle service equipment” means an electric component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles by permitting the transfer of electric energy to a battery or other storage device in an electric vehicle.
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“Establishment” means land, buildings, rooms, space, and/or equipment necessary for conducting business.
“Façade” means the exterior wall of a building exposed to public view or that wall viewed by persons not within the building.
“Family” is an individual or a group of persons living together who constitute a bona fide single- family housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit, not including a fraternity, sorority, club, or other group of persons occupying a hotel, lodging house or institution of any kind. “Facility” means land, buildings, rooms, space, and/or equipment necessary for doing something.
“FAR (Floor Area Ratio)” is a measure of development intensity. FAR is the ratio of the floor area of a building to the area of its site. For instance, both a two-story building that covers an entire lot and a four-story building that covers 1/2 of a lot have a FAR of 2. “Fence” means a barrier surrounding or located upon a parcel of real property or a portion thereof and intended to prevent escape or intrusion therefrom or to identify a boundary identity, including without limitation, screened, solid (90%) or more closed to air, light and vision), open (50% or more), or temporary and which may be constructed from wood, metal or masonry material or any combination thereof.
“Floor area” means the gross area included within the surrounding exterior finish wall surface of a building or portion thereof, exclusive of courtyards. “Furniture” means the things placed in a room which equips it for living. This normally includes beds, tables, chairs, sofas, desks, and shelves. Home appliances, outdoor/patio furniture, wall cabinets, garage storage units and home furnishing accessories are excluded from the definition of furniture.
“Garage” means an enclosed building, or a portion of an enclosed building used for the parking of vehicles.
“General Plan” means a document adopted by the City Council containing statement of policies, including text and diagrams, setting forth objectives, principles, standards, and plan proposals, for the future physical development of the City of Woodlake. “Glare” means the effect produced by brightness sufficient to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility.
“Grade” means the degree of rise of descent of a sloping surface. “Grade, finished” means the final elevation of the ground surface after development. “Grade, natural” means the elevation of the ground surface in its natural state before man-made alterations.
“Grading” means the stripping, cutting, filling, stockpiling of earth or land, including the land in its cut or filled condition.
“Gross acreage” means the total area within the lot lines of a lot or parcel of land before public streets, easements, or other areas to be dedicated or reserved for public use are deducted from such lot or parcel and does not include adjacent lands already dedicated for such purposes. “Hazardous waste” means either of the following:
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1. A waste, or combination of wastes, which because of its quantity, concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics may either:
a. Cause, or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness, or b. Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or environment when improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed of, or otherwise managed;
2. A waste which meets any of the criteria for the identification of a hazardous waste adopted by the State Department of Health Services pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 25117 or any other federal, state or local law or regulation;
3. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous wastes;
4. Unless expressly provided otherwise, the term “hazardous waste” shall be understood to also include extremely hazardous waste and acutely hazardous waste. (Health and Safety Code Section 25117.)
“Improvement” means any item which becomes part of, placed upon, or is affixed to real estate. “Infill development site” means a parcel or group of parcels that make up a site that is vacant or underutilized and is surrounded by developed land or parcels on at least 75% of its perimeter.
Infill development sites include previously developed sites that may/will be redeveloped. “Integrated shopping center” means a combination of three (3) or more business establishments permitted or conditional permitted in the zone district in which they are located where offstreet parking, landscaping, lighting, or other features are developed, managed and maintained jointly.
“Kitchen” means any room, all or any part of which is designed and/or used for cooking and the preparation of food.
“Landscaping” means an area devoted to, or developed and maintained predominantly with, native or exotic plant materials including lawn, groundcover, trees, shrubs and other plant materials; artificial turf and other permeable surfaces; and also including accessory decorative outdoor landscape elements such as pools, fountains, paved or decorated surfaces (excluding driveways, parking, loading or storage areas), and sculptural elements. “Land use” means a description of how land (real estate) is occupied or utilized. “Loading Space” means an off-street space or berth on the same lot with a building or contiguous to a group of buildings for the temporary parking of a commercial vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.
“Lot” means a parcel, tract or area of land established by plat, subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law, to be used, developed or built upon. The classifications of lots are:
1. “Corner” means a lot located at the intersection of two or more streets at an angle of not more than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees. If the angle is greater than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees, the lot shall be considered an interior lot.
2. “Flag” means a lot having access or an easement to a public or private street by a narrow, private right-of-way.
3. “Interior” means a lot abutting only one street.
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4. “Key” means a lot with a side lot line that abuts the rear lot line of any one or more adjoining lots.
5. “Reverse corner” means a corner lot, the rear of which abuts the side of another lot.
6. “Through” means a lot having frontage on two generally parallel streets, with only one primary access.
“Lot area” means the net horizontal area within bounding lot lines after dedication. “Lot coverage” means the area of a lot covered by buildings excluding eaves, projecting balconies, ground-level paving, landscaping, and open recreational facilities. “Lot depth” is the horizontal distance between the midpoint of the front lot line and the midpoint of the rear lot line.
“Lot frontage” means the portion of the lot contiguous to the street. “Lot line” means any boundary of a lot. The classifications of lot lines are:
1. “Front” means on an interior lot, the line separating the parcel from the street. On a corner lot, the shorter lot line abutting a street. (If the lot lines on a corner lot are equal in length, the front lot line shall be determined by the director). On a through lot, the lot line abutting the street providing the primary access to the lot.
2. “Interior” means any lot line not abutting a street.
3. “Rear” means a lot line, not intersecting a front lot line, which is most distant from and most closely parallel to the front lot line.
“Lot Width” means the horizontal distance between side lot lines, measured at the front setback line.
“Low Barrier Navigation Center use by-right” has the meaning defined in subdivision (i) of Section 65583.2. Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the California Public Resources Code shall not apply to actions taken by a public agency to lease, convey, or encumber land owned by a public agency, or to facilitate the lease, conveyance, or encumbrance of land owned by a public agency, or to provide financial assistance to, or otherwise approve, a Low-Barrier Navigation Center constructed or allowed under Section
17.60.230.
“Mall” means a large building or series of connected buildings containing a variety of retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment activities including, but not limited to, such activities as theaters, arcades, amusement rides, rock-climbing and other indoor recreation opportunities that serve a regional population.
“Median” means a paved or planted area separating a street or highway into two (2) or more lanes of opposite directions of travel.
“Nonconforming lot” means a lot, the area, frontage or dimensions of which do not conform to the provisions of this zoning code.
“Nonconforming structure” means a structure, lot or use which did conform to applicable laws when constructed or initiated, and which does not now conform to the provisions of this zoning code.
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“Nonconforming use” means a use complying with applicable laws when established but which does not conform to the provisions of this zoning code. “Open space” means any parcel or area of land or water essentially unimproved and set aside, dedicated, designated, or reserved for public or private use or enjoyment or for the use and enjoyment of owners and occupants of land adjoining or neighboring such open space. Does not include area covered by buildings or accessory structures (except recreational structures), paved areas (except recreational facilities), proposed and existing public and private streets or driveways, and school sites.
“Open space, usable” means recreational or leisure space for the shared use of residents of a multi- unit development and may include gardens, playgrounds, courtyards, swimming pools, sitting areas, court games, recreation rooms, exercise rooms or gyms, spas, community rooms, lawn/turf used for open play, ponds, fountains, atriums, picnic areas, rooftop gardens or green roofs, or similar uses or facilities.
“Overhang” means the part of a roof or wall that extends beyond the façade of a lower wall. “Overlay district” is a district established by this zoning code which may be applied to a lot or portion thereof only in combination with a base district. “Parapet” means the extension of the main walls of a building above the roof level. “Parcel” means a parcel of land under one ownership that has been legally subdivided or combined and is shown as a single parcel on the latest recorded map in the County recorder’s office.
“Parking area” means any public or private land area designed and used for parking motor vehicles including parking lots, garages, private driveways, and legally designated areas of public streets.
“Parking lot” is an off-street, ground-level area, usually surfaced and improved, for the temporary storage of motor vehicles.
“Parking ratio” means the number of parking spaces provided per 1,000 square feet of floor area. “Parking, shared” means a public or private parking area used jointly by two or more uses.
“Parking space” is the space marked for the parking of a motor vehicle within a public or private parking area.
“Parking structure or structured parking” means a multi-story car park (also called a parking garage or indoor parking) designed for car parking and where there are a number of floors or levels on which parking takes place.
“Parkway” means that portion of the public street right-of-way between the curb or curb line and the adjacent sidewalk or property line, as applicable, used for or which may be used for the purpose of planting and maintaining street trees, shrubs, hedges, or other plants. In some areas within the city, park strips may extend into a private property’s yard beyond the sidewalk. Park strips may be located on private property or may abut private property. “Performance standards” means zoning regulations that permit uses based on a particular set of standards of operation rather than on particular type of use. Performance standards may 314
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provide specific criteria to limit noise, air pollution, emissions, odors, vibration, dust, dirt, glare, heat, fire hazards, wastes, traffic impacts, or visual impact of a use. “Permit” means a written governmental permission issued by an authorized official, empowering the holder thereof to do some act not forbidden by law, but not allowed without such authorization.
“Person” means any individual, firm, co-partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, company, joint stock association, corporation, estate, trust, organization, business, business trust, public agency, school district, state of California, and its political subdivisions or instrumentalities, receiver, syndicate or any group or combination thereof, acting as a unit, including any trustee, receiver or assignee. “Permitted use” means any use allowed in a land use zoning district and subject to the provisions applicable to that district.
“Planned unit development (PUD)” means the development of a parcel(s) or structure(s) with two or more different land uses such as, but not limited to a combination of residential, office, manufacturing, retail, public or entertainment in a single or physically integrated group of structures.
“Principal use” means the primary or predominate use of any lot, building or structure. “Project” means the total development within the boundaries as defined on the development plan.
“Public right-of-way” means a strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription, voluntary purchase and sale, or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a road, trail, water line, sanitary sewer and/or any other public uses. “Recreational vehicle” means a vehicle or trailer capable of human habitation or designed or used for recreational camping or travel use, whether self-propelled or mounted on or drawn by another vehicle, or any structure inspected, approved and designated a recreational vehicle and bearing the insignia of the state of California or any other state or federal agency having the authority to approve recreational vehicles. RVs include, without limitation, any of the following: camp trailer, as defined by the California Vehicle Code Section 324; house car, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 362; trailer coach, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 635; mobile home, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 396; bus, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 233, whether altered or unaltered or for commercial or private use; boat, watercraft, and/or trailer for a boat or watercraft; trailers designed to carry persons, property or animals on its own structure and to be drawn by a motor vehicle; and recreational vehicle, as defined by the California Health and Safety Code Section 18010. “Recycling” means the process by which waste products are reduced to raw materials and transformed into new reused or reconstructed products which meet the quality standards necessary to be used in the marketplace.
“Review authority” means the person, committee, commission, or council responsible for the review and/or final action on a land use entitlement.
“Right-of-way” means a strip of land acquired by purchase, reservation, dedication, forced dedication, prescription, or condemnation and intended to be occupied or occupied by a road, 315
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crosswalk, railroad, electric transmission lines, oil or gas pipeline, water line, sanitary storm sewer, and other similar uses.
“Rounding of quantities” means the consideration of distances, unit density, density bonus calculations, or other aspects of development or the physical environment expressed in numerical quantities which are fractions of whole numbers; the numbers are to be rounded to the nearest highest whole number when the fraction is.5 or more, and to the next lowest whole number when the fraction is.5, except as otherwise provided in this zoning code. “Screened or screening” means shielded, concealed, and effectively hidden from view by a person standing at ground level on an abutting site, or outside the area, screened by a fence, wall, hedge, berm, or similar architectural or landscape feature that is at least 90% view obscuring.
“Setback” means the area between the setback line and property line. “Setback line” is a line within a lot parallel to and measured from a corresponding lot line, forming the boundary of a required yard and governing the placement of structures and uses on the lot.
“Shipping container” means a standardized reusable vessel, prefabricated container, or structure originally designed for or capable of being mounted or moved by rail, truck, or ship.
This definition includes the terms seatrain, C-Train, C-van, ISO container, and cargo container. “Sign” means any letter or symbol made of cloth, metal, paint, paper, wood or other material of any kind whatsoever placed for advertising, identification or other similar purposes on the ground or on any wall, post, fence, building, structure, vehicle or on any place whatsoever. “Single-room occupancy (SRO)” means a residential facility of two or more separate individual rooms with typically less than 500 square feet of floor space, with or without separate kitchen or bathroom facilities for each room, rented on a weekly or monthly basis. An SRO may not be occupied by more than one person. Single-room occupancy does not include Hotel or motel.
“Site” the land or area that is the subject of a development project or use and may include more than one lot or parcel.
“Site area” means the net horizontal area included within the boundary lines of a site, not including the area within the established right-of-way of a public street, future public street, or railroad, or any other area dedicated or to be dedicated for a public use. “Site plan” means a plan, prepared to scale, showing accurately and with complete dimensioning all of the buildings, structures, and uses and the exact manner of development proposed for a specific parcel of land.
“Slope” means the degree of deviation of a surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percentage or degrees.
“Solar facilities” means the airspace over a parcel that provides access for solar energy system to absorb energy from the sun.
“Specific plan” means a plan consisting of text, maps and other documents and exhibits regulating development within a defined area of the city, consistent with the General Plan and the provisions of Government Code Section 65450 et seq. 316
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“Story” means that portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of any floor next above it, or if there be no floor above it, then the space between such floor and ceiling next above it.
“Street” means any public or private thoroughfare with a width of twenty feet (20’) or more which affords a primary means of access to abutting property. “Street, private” means a street in private ownership, not dedicated as a public street, which provides the principal means of vehicular access to a property and not to be construed to mean driveways, alleys, or parking areas.
“Street, public” is a street owned and maintained by the City, the County, or the State. The term includes streets offered for dedication which have been improved or for which a bonded improvement agreement is in effect.
“Structural Alterations” means any change in the supporting members of a structure such as the bearing walls or partitions, columns, beams, or girders. “Structure” means anything constructed or built. An edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner. “Structure, accessory” means a subordinate building which is incidental and not attached to the main building or use on the same lot. If an accessory building is attached to the main building or if the roof is a continuation of the main building roof, the accessory building shall be considered an addition to the main building. Includes structures regardless of whether a Building Permit is required, including, but not limited to, enclosed and unenclosed patios, barns, guesthouses, second dwelling units, garages, carports, storage buildings/sheds, trellis, gazebos, decks, and real or artificial rockscapes.
“Structure, temporary” means a structure without any foundation or footings and which is removed when the designated time period, activity, or use for which the temporary structure was erected has ceased.
“Target population” means persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities, including mental illness, HIV or AIDS, substance abuse, or other chronic health condition, or individuals eligible for services provided pursuant to the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and may include, among other populations, adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people. “Temporary structure” is a structure without any foundation or footings, and which is removed when the designated time period, activity, or use for which the temporary structure was erected has ceased.
“Temporary use” means a use established for a designated period of time, with the intent to discontinue the use at the end of the designated time period. “Traffic safety sight area” means a space that is set aside on a corner lot in which all visual obstructions, such as structures and plantings, which inhibit visibility and thus cause a hazard to traffic and pedestrian safety are prohibited.
“Transient basis” means a continuous period of two (2) weeks or less. 317
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“Underutilized land” means land with a structure or structures that occupy only a small portion of the land and is being used significantly below its potential use. “Use” means the purpose (type or extent) for which land or a building is arranged, designed or intended or for which either land or a structure is occupied or maintained. “Use initiation” means the implementation of a use on a parcel or occupancy of a structure, or construction of substantial site improvements after a building permit has been issued, subject to determination by the director.
“Use, accessory” means a use which is incidental to, and customarily associated with, a specified principal use and which meets the applicable conditions set forth in this ordinance. “Use, allowed” means a use listed by the regulation of any particular district as a permitted use within that district and permitted therein as a matter of right when conducted in accord with the regulations established by this Ordinance.
“Use, conditional” means a use listed by the regulations of any particular district as a conditional use within that district and allowable therein, solely on a discretionary and conditional basis, subject to development/design review or to a Conditional Use Permit, and to all other regulations established by this Code.
“Use, principal” means a use which fulfills a primary function of a household, establishment, institution, or other entity.
“Use, temporary” means a use established for a fixed period of time with the intent to discontinue such use upon the expiration of the time period. “Variance” means a discretionary entitlement which permits the departure from the strict application of the development standards contained in this zoning code. “Vehicle” means self-propelled device by which persons or property may be moved upon a highway, excepting a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
“Wildlands” means any area of land that is essentially unimproved, in a natural state of hydrology, vegetation and animal life, and not under cultivation. “Yard” means an open space that lies between the principal or accessory building or buildings and the nearest lot line.
“Zero Lot Line” means the location of a building on a lot in such a manner that one or more of the building's sides rest directly on a lot line.
“Zoning certificate of occupancy” means a permit issued by the community development department which allows the occupancy of a structure which conforms to all applicable provisions of this chapter and any and all conditions or requirements issued by the City or any of its departments, or by any other federal, state or local agency or body. “Zoning district” means a portion of the city within which certain uses of land and structures are defined, and regulations are specified.
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Section 3. CEQA REVIEW. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) [there is no possibility the activity in question may have a significant affirmative effect on the environment]. In addition to the foregoing general exemption, the City Council further finds that the ordinance is categorically exempt from review under CEQA under the Class 8 categorical exemption [regulatory activity to assure the protection of the environment]. The City Administrator is hereby directed to ensure that a Notice of Exemption is filed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15062 [14 C.C.R. § 15062].
Section 4. NO LIABILITY. The provisions of this ordinance shall not in any way be construed as imposing any duty of care, liability or responsibility for damage to person or property upon the City of Woodlake, or any official, employee or agent thereof.
Section 5. PENDING ACTIONS. Nothing in this ordinance or in the codes hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding pending or impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance or code repealed by this ordinance, nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this ordinance.
Section 6. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases of this ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City Council of the City of Woodlake hereby declares that it would have adopted each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.
Section 7. CONSTRUCTION. The City Council intends this ordinance to 319
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supplement, not to duplicate or contradict, applicable State and Federal law and this ordinance shall be construed in light of that intent. To the extent the provisions of the Woodlake Municipal Code as amended by this ordinance are substantially the same as provisions in the Woodlake Municipal Code existing prior to the effectiveness of this ordinance, then those amended provisions shall be construed as continuations of the earlier provisions and not as new enactments.
Section 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. The foregoing ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of the passage hereof. Prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the enactment hereof a certified copy of this ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk pursuant to Government Code section 36933(c)(1) and a summary shall be published once in the Foothill Sun Gazette, a newspaper printed and published in the City of Woodlake, State of California, together with the names of the Council members voting for and against the same.
THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodlake, State of California, on _______________ at a regular meeting of said Council duly and regularly convened on said day by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Rudy Mendoza
Mayor, City of Woodlake
ATTEST:
Irene Zacarias
City Clerk
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City of Woodlake
AGENDA ITEM V-B
April 28, 2025
Prepared by Emmanuel Llamas, City Staff
SUBJECT:
Action: Adoption of Resolution: Receive Public Comments, Waive 2nd Reading, and Adopting Ordinance Amending the Land Use Element of the Woodlake General Plan
PUBLIC HEARING
BACKGROUND:
The City of Woodlake is undergoing a review of its General Plan to ensure compliance with recent State laws, and California Housing and Community Development Department requirements for compliance and certification of the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element.
DISCUSSION:
Below is a summary of the Land Use Element language which is being proposed to be amended:
Woodlake General Plan 2008 to 2028 Land Use Element – The City of Woodlake proposes to remove person per acre requirements for Very Low Density Residential, Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, and High-Density Residential land use designations.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Planning Commission and City staff recommend Adopting Ordinance Amending the Land Use Element of the Woodlake General Plan to comply with State Laws.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact on the City of Woodlake General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution: Receive Public Comments, Waive 2nd Reading, and Adopting Ordinance Amending the Land Use Element of the Woodlake General Plan.
2. Draft General Plan Land Use Element amendment
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BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WOODLAKE
COUNTY OF TULARE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In the matter of:
RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS AND )
WAIVING THE 2ND READING AND ) Resolution No. 25-
ADOPTING ORDINANCE AMENDING )
THE WOODLAKE GENERAL PLAN )
LAND USE ELEMENT AMENDMENT )
Council member ______________, offered the following resolution to receive Public Comments, Waive 2nd reading, and Adopting Ordinance amending the Land Use Element of the Woodlake General Plan.
WHEREAS, the City of Woodlake wishes to add or amend the Woodlake General Plan Land Use Element:
The City of Woodlake proposes to remove person per acre requirements for Very Low Density Residential, Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, and High-Density Residential land use designations. City of Woodlake wishes to amend the Land Use Element to ensure compliance with recent State laws, and California Housing and Community Development Department requirements for compliance and certification of the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element; and WHEREAS, the City of Woodlake held a public hearing at the April 16, 2025, Planning Commission meeting and at the April 28, 2025 City Council meeting to receive comments regarding this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the ordinance amendments and set the 2nd hearing date for the City Council meeting on April 28, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF WOODLAKE DOES RESOLVE to receive public comments, waive 2nd reading, and is adopting ordinance amending the Land Use Element of the Woodlake General Plan.
The foregoing resolution was adopted upon a motion of Council member ____________ and seconded by Council member ________________ and carried by the following vote at the City Council meeting held on April 28, 2025.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
________________________
Rudy Mendoza, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Irene Zacarias, City Clerk
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ORDINANCE NO. ______
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WOODLLAKE
GENERAL PLAN – LAND USE ELEMENT
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WOODLAKE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. PURPOSE. The provisions of this ordinance are intended to promote public health, safety, comfort and general welfare, to encourage safe and orderly growth and maintain compliance with state and federal laws.
Section 2. FINDINGS.
WHEREAS The City of Woodlake is undergoing a review of local City Ordinances and General Plan Elements to ensure compliance with recent State laws, and California Housing and Community Development Department requirements for compliance and certification of the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element.
WHEREAS Requirements in this ordinance are consistent with other adopted goals and policies of the City of Woodlake
Section 3. CODE ADOPTION. Woodlake General Plan – Land Use Element is hereby enacted and added to the City of Woodlake Municipal Code to read in its entirety as follows:
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Woodlake General Plan
Land Use Element
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W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
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Industrial Land Demand, High Population Estimate, 2018
7,524 (2008 population)/64.72 acres of industrial land (2008) = 1 acre industrial land per 110 persons
9,307 (2018 estimated population)/1 acre of industrial land per 116 persons = 80 acres of industrial land needed
80 acres of industrial land needed - 64.72 acres of existing industrial land - 74 acres of vacant industrial land = a surplus of 58.66 acres of vacant industrial land Industrial Land Demand, High Population Estimate, 2028
7,524 (2008 population)/64.72 acres of industrial land (2008) = 1 acre of industrial land per 116 persons
11,514 (2028 estimated population)/1 acre of industrial per 116 persons = 99 acres of industrial land needed
99 acres of industrial land needed - 64.72 acres of existing industrial land - 74 acres of vacant industrial land = a surplus of 39.67 acres of of vacant industrial land Land Use Element
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W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
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Park Land Demand
Park land demand projections (low and high) for the years 2018 and 2028 are calculated below. Parks uses include open space, sport and recreation facilities, and water features.
Criteria for the location and demand for this type of land use are as follows:
• The City of Woodlake has set a standard through its Conservation, Open Space, Parks and Recreation Element of 3 acres of parkland for every 1000 persons in Woodlake (Note: Many communities opt for 5 acres per acre, however, given that Woodlake enjoys existing open space features in or near Woodlake, like Bravo Lake, the St. Johns River, or Bravo Lake Botanical Garden, the need for 5 acres of parkland per 1000 persons is unnecessary). .
• The open space associated with school grounds, botanical gardens, Bravo Lake and and land adjacent to waterways, like St. Johns River and Antelope Creek, will not be counted as park land.
• The City of Woodlake currently has 10.9 acres of passive and active parkland. • The City of Woodlake’s current parkland ratio is 1.54 acres of parkland for every 1000 persons
Land Use Element
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W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
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Park land demand, low population projection, 2018
Three acres of parkland per 1000 persons or 1 acre of parkland per 333 persons 8,809 (2018 estimated population)/1 acre of parkland per 333 persons = 26.54 acres of parkland
26.54 acres of parkland needed - 10.9 acres of existing parkland = 15.55 acres of parkland needed by 2018
Park land demand, high population projection, 2018
Three acres of parkland per 1000 persons or 1 acre of parkland per 333 persons 9,307 (2018 estimated population)/1 acre of parkland per 333 persons = 27.95 acres of parkland
27.95 acres of parkland needed - 10.9 acres of existing parkland = 17.04 acres of parkland needed by 2018
Park land demand, low population projection, 2028
Three acres of parkland per 1000 persons or 1 acre of parkland per 333 persons 10,315 (2028 estimated population)/1 acre of parkland per 333 persons = 30.98 acres of parkland
30.98 acres of parkland needed - 10.9 acres of existing parkland = 20.08 acres of parkland needed by 2028
Park land demand, high population projection, 2028
Three acres of parkland per 1000 persons or 1 acre of parkland per 333 persons 11,514 (2028 estimated population)/1 acre of parkland per 333 persons = 34.58 acres of parkland
34.58 acres of parkland needed - 10.9 acres of existing parkland = 23.68 acres of parkland needed by 2028
Land Use Element
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W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
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School Land Demand
School land demand projections for the years 2018 and 2028 are calculated below. The high population projection for 2018 and 2028 was used because it is in the best interest of Woodlake’s school districts and the students they serve to identify, purchase and construct schools before the existing schools are impacted with too many students. Using the higher population projection will achieve this objective. Criteria for the location and demand for this type of land use are as follows:
• The Woodlake Union School and Woodlake High School Districts have set acreage figures for the following types of schools: elementary school, 10 to 20 acres; middle school, 15 to 25 acres; and high school, 40 acres or more. • The Woodlake Elementary School and Woodlake High School Districts have set enrollment figures for the following types of schools: elementary school, 600 to 700 students; middle school, 750 to 900 students; and high school, 1000 to 2000 students.
• Elementary school sites should be located within walking distance of the neighborhoods they are to serve; all sections of Woodlake should be effectively served by elementary schools.
• Middle school sites should be located within walking distance of the neighborhoods they are to serve; all sections of Woodlake should be effectively served.
• For the 2007/08 school year, Woodlake’s school districts reported the following enrollments: Castle Rock Elementary (3-5), 537 students; Francis J. White Elementary (K-2), 507 students; Woodlake Valley Middle School (6-8), 521 students; Woodlake High School (9-12), 714 students; Continuation High School, 52 students; and Community Day School, 17 students.
• The percentage of school enrollment to city population is expressed as follows:
K-2 grades, 507 students/7,394 population or 6.85 percent; 3-5 grades, 537 students/7,394 population or 7.26 percent; 6-8 grades, 521 students/7,394 population or 7.04 percent; and grades 9-12, 714 students/7,394 population or
9.65 percent.
Land Use Element
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W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
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School land demand, high population projection, 2018
Grades K-2
9,307 (2018 population) x .0685 percent = 638 students/ 700 students per school site = .91 elementary school sites needed by 2018
.91 sites needed by 2018 - 1 current site (F.J. White Elementary) = 0 sites needed by 2018 Grades 3-5
9,307 (2018 population) x .0726 = 676 students/ 700 students per school site = .97 elementary school sites needed by 2018
.97 sites needed by 2018 - 1 current site (Castle Rock Elementary) = 0 sites needed by 2018
Grades 6-8
9,307 (2018 population) x .0704= 655 students/ 750 students per school site = .87 middle school sites needed by 2018
.87 sites needed by - 1 current site (Woodlake Middle School) = 0 sites needed by 2018 Grades 9-12
9,307 (2018 population) x .0965= 898 students/1500 students per school site = .6 high school sites needed by 2018
.6 sites needed by - 1 current site (Woodlake High School) = 0 sites needed by 2018 Land Use Element
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LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AND POPULATION DENSITIES
The land use designations delineated on the Woodlake land use map are described below.
For residential land use designations, maximum population densities are provided. A generalized location criteria for each land use designation is also provided below.
Residential
Very Low Density - a maximum of two dwelling units per gross acre. Development in this category may not be required to install sidewalks, curbs/gutters or street lights, or connect to the city's waste water collection system. It will be required to connect to the city's water system. This designation shall be reserved for those lands that are on the fringe of the community, have already been divided into lot sizes that are one-half acre or larger, or are required to "buffer" an industrial, agricultural or public use. The Wells Tract, a county subdivision located east of town, and parcels along Riverside Avenue are examples of this type of land use designation.
Very low density residential uses range from 1/2-acre to 2-acre lots. They operate on septic tank leach line systems and individual wells. The raising of livestock is sometimes permitted.
Land Use Element
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Low Density - a maximum of 5 dwelling units per gross acre. Development in this category shall be required to install sidewalks, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and street lights, and connect to the city's sewer, storm drain and water systems.
This designation shall be reserved for those lands that are appropriate for single family dwellings, and other uses compatible with single family uses, including churches, daycare centers, community centers, parks, and schools. These lands shall generally be located in areas of the community that are free from conflicting land uses, such as service commercial and industrial uses.
The most common residential density category among cities in the San Joaquin Valley is low density residential, five dwelling units per gross acre or less.
Land Use Element
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Medium Density - a maximum of 15 dwelling units per gross acre. Development in this category shall be required to install all the same improvements that are required in the low density residential designation. Medium density development could encompass a mix of single family and multi-family uses, including duplex, triplex, four-plex units and mobile home parks. These lands shall generally be located in areas of the community that are free from conflicting land uses, such as service commercial and industrial uses, and are situated near the center of Woodlake. Land between Valencia Boulevard and Holly Street on both sides of Lakeview are good examples of medium density residential uses.
Medium density residential is often composed duplex and tri-plex units.
Each quadrant of the community will contain land that is designated for this type of residential development. This action will insure that each quadrant of the community has a mix of housing types.
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High Density - a maximum of 29 dwelling units per gross acre. Development in this category could encompass apartment complexes, senior citizen projects or single family condominiums. These lands shall generally be located in areas of the community that are free from conflicting land uses, are located near the center of Woodlake, and are generally situated on corner lots, where major streets intersect. There currently exists five apartment complexes that fall into this land use category. A sixth one was recently approved by the City Council for 60 apartment units. To reach this unit number, the applicant requested and received a density bonus
Multi-family units recently constructed financed by federal tax credits.
Office
An office designation shall be reserved for lands located along Valencia and Naranjo Boulevards in or near the downtown. Some of the parcels within these two areas contain single family dwellings. By designating these units for office uses, it would be the intent of the General Plan to encourage “adaptive reuse” of the structures. Converting these homes to an office use lends character to the neighborhood and may Land Use Element
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serve to protect some of the structures from being demolished.
When this designation is applied to lands that contain single family dwellings, these units should be adjacent to commercial uses, should have alley access, and should be in a neighborhood that is in transition. In certain instances, blocks just off Valencia or Naranjo Boulevards in the downtown are appropriate for office designations.
Commercial
Neighborhood commercial designations shall be located within or adjacent to a residential neighborhood located on the fringe of the community. This designation shall provide local residents with nearby commercial uses that would be used on a frequent basis. The neighborhood commercial center should be designed for pedestrian access, the building(s) should have an architectural theme, the site should be landscaped and signs should be strictly regulated.
Community commercial designations shall be reserved for properties generally located on Valencia and Naranjo Boulevards and for specific blocks just off these boulevards. This designation shall provide for shopping centers, highway commercial uses, retail uses, and offices. Development within this designation will have the following distinguishing features - the building sites will be required to be landscaped, parking shall be constructed off-street, signs shall be regulated and new uses or extensive expansion of existing uses shall undergo site plan review. Lands designated community commercial may be required to comply with Woodlake’s downtown design standards.
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Woodlake’s only shopping center, located just off the city’s main street, State Highway 245.
Service commercial designations shall be reserved for properties generally located in Woodlake’s two industrial parks, and to a lesser extent, the Woodlake Airport. This designation shall provide for uses that include a mix of light industrial and heavy commercial uses. Development with this designation will have the following distinguishing features - the buildings will have front yard landscaping, parking shall be off-street, all visible equipment and storage areas shall be fenced and screened from public view, lighting shall not be allowed to illuminate surrounding properties, signs will be regulated and new uses or extensive expansion of existing uses shall undergo site plan review. For service commercial uses on airport lands, the standards for development may vary from traditional service commercial development standards.
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and west of Valenica Boulevard. As the community grows in population and the demand for community commercial properties increases, it is intended that service commercial uses along Naranjo would be phased out and replaced with community commercial uses.
Fruit Growers Supply is a good example of a well designed service commercial use.
Industrial
Industrial development will be restricted to Woodlake’s two industrial parks and the Woodlake Airport. The larger of the two parks is situated on the south side of Naranjo Boulevard between Road 196 and Antelope Creek. The smaller of the two industrial parks is situated along south Acacia Street between Ropes and Deltha Avenues. This designation will provide for uses that are involved in manufacturing, processing, warehousing, and certain service commercial uses. Industrial uses adjacent to the Woodlake Airport will most likely be related to airport uses.
Development with this designation will have the following distinguishing features - the Land Use Element
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subject site will be landscaped, parking lots will be constructed off-street and will be landscaped, storage areas shall be fenced and screened, signs shall be regulated and new uses shall undergo site plan review.
Public Facilities
This designation is reserved for facilities that are frequented by the public, including schools, the post office, and city hall. Development with this designation will have the following distinguishing features - the subject site will be landscaped, off-street parking will be required and signs shall be regulated. All new public facilities shall undergo site plan review. Schools will receive special attention in regards to pedestrian, bike and bus circulation.
Open Space
This designation is applied to lands that will remain generally free of buildings. Uses that would receive this designation would include parks, agricultural land, playing fields, open space along waterways, such as the St. Johns River and Antelope Creek, Bravo Lake, Bravo Lake Botanical Garden, and properties on steeply sloping lands.
Bravo Lake and the foothills and agricultural lands that adjoin the urbanized portions of Woodlake will be designated as “open space.” Land Use Element
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Urban Reserve (Agriculture)
This designation is applied to lands that are being, or have the capacity to be, actively farmed but are within the planning area and proposed to be eventually developed.
Further, this designation could also be applied to lands that contain agriculturally- related uses, such as packing houses, cold storage operations or agriculturally-related businesses.
The purpose of this designation is to protect agriculture from urban encroachment, maintain land in agriculture until the time is appropriate for conversion to urban uses, and to insure that conflicts do not arise between agriculture and urban uses.
Land that is on the fringe of Woodlake will remain in a reserve status, usually under agricultural production, until the community requires the land to meet its urban development needs.
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PLANNING ISSUES AND LAND USE GOALS
Land use goals express a city’s values and its vision for the future. They can refer to image and appearance, economic viability, health and safety, preservation of resources or fiscal soundness. Some of the goals listed below are the product of previously approved planning documents - housing element, Woodlake Redevelopment Plan, or Woodlake Zoning Ordinance.
Growth Management
The planning (management) of Woodlake’s growth - direction, rate, density and arrangement of land uses is an important aspect of the general plan. A city that is wellplanned is more attractive to potential residents, developers, businesses and investors than one that is poorly planned - land use conflicts, urban sprawl, a nonviable downtown, poor circulation patterns and blighted sections of town.
Discouraging urban sprawl is an important growth management objective in Woodlake.
Woodlake has realized that a community that is compact and avoids sprawl has more efficient, cost effective infrastructure and service delivery systems than a community that lacks these characteristics.
• Maintain Woodlake as a small, agriculturally-oriented city surrounded by farmland and open space features.
• Use natural barriers as a means of delineating the urbanized portion of Woodlake, including the St. Johns River, Antelope Creek, Bravo Lake, and foothill lands.
• Promote Smart Growth planning principals in order to discourage urban sprawl and the premature urbanization of agricultural land. • Encourage the County of Tulare to upzone properties that surround the City of Woodlake so as to avoid future land use conflicts. An example of upzoning would be a reclassification of land from the AE (exclusive agriculture, five acre minimum) to the AE-20 (exclusive agriculture, 20 acre minimum) zone district.
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Community Image
Image is an important community asset. It can influence how people feel about a community. A community that is clean, well-maintained, visually appealing and properly planned will (1) attract outside investment, (2) encourage people to maintain their property, (3) cause real estate values to appreciate and (4) stimulate city revenues - tax increment, sales tax and property taxes.
• An attractive, clean and well-maintained community.
• A community that is free of land use conflicts.
• A city that portrays a “sense of community” through community events like the Woodlake Rodeo or events at the Woodlake Charros facility or the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden.
• A friendly community that encourages public involvement. • A community that portrays an image that is progressive and energetic.
Economic Development
The economic base of a city can be divided into two categories: 1) basic industries that produce and sell goods that bring new money into Woodlake (Monrovia Nursery and U.S. Towers); and 2) service and retail industries (Wood Bros. cabinet shop and Fruit Growers Supply) that provide services and sell goods that simply circulate existing money in Woodlake. The stimulation of either type of industry has a positive impact on Woodlake’s economy, which in turn, affects employment, housing starts, the city’s fiscal affairs and household income.
• Increase tourism.
• Promote the development of the Woodlake Airport with airport-related uses. • Market agriculture as a tourist attraction by encouraging visitation of the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden.
• Work with existing businesses in the community to foster expansion, efficiency Land Use Element
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or better site design, such as site appearance, traffic circulation or building design.
• Attract technologies to the Woodlake area that are related to the citrus, olive and nursery industries.
• Assist existing industries to expand their operations and increase employment by providing financial incentives.
• Increase the number of businesses operating in Woodlake in order to generate more sales, property, business and transient occupancy taxes.
Employment
For those persons in the labor force, having a job is a fundamental need. The income generated from a job allows a person or family to pay for food, shelter, transportation, education, health care and recreation. To a great degree, a person’s or family’s qualityof-life is based on their job. A city’s vitality and viability is also influenced by people having a job. A high unemployment rate (lack of jobs) can have an adverse impact on city revenues, crime rates and the existence of physical blight, whereas, a low unemployment rate can have the opposite affect.
• Diversify employment base.
• Attract industries that are complementary to the existing workforce, and do not adversely affect air quality, the city’s waster water treatment facility or the city’s water system. Further, industries that do not have a negative impact on the health or safety of the immediate neighborhood or on the community as a whole.
• Encourage stable, year-around employment.
Housing (from Woodlake Housing Element, adopted 2004)
Providing safe and decent housing for its citizens is a fundamental objective of all cities.
Housing need is a complex issue, consisting of at least three major components: housing affordability, housing quality and housing quantity. In addition, certain Land Use Element
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segments of the population have unique needs, including the elderly, the handicapped, female heads of household, large families, and farm workers. • To develop through public and private channels, sufficient new housing to insure the availability of affordable housing for all households in Woodlake. • To manage housing and community development in a mannerthat will promote the long-term integrity and value of each new housing unit and the environment in which it is located.
• To provide a choice of housing locations for all residents. • To maintain and improve the quality of the existing housing stock and the neighborhoods in which it is located.
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• To promote equal access to safe and decent housing for all economic groups. • To promote energy conservation activities in all residential neighborhoods.
Fiscal Conditions
Revenue from local taxes is the lifeblood of a city’s financial condition. Without a steady, diversified and reliable revenue stream, a city will have a difficult time paying for and financing its services and infrastructure. Decisions on land use matters can influence the fiscal condition of a city. For example, a viable downtown can enhance sales tax revenues, while a blighted downtown can have a depressing effect on sales tax revenue. A lack of shopping outlets (goods for sale) can cause persons to shop in nearby cities because the choice of outlets is greater and in many cases, the goods are less expensive. This condition leads to sales tax “leakage” - Woodlake residents spending their monies in other, nearby cities.
• Encourage a strong sales tax base.
Fruit Growers Supply is a strong sales tax generator for the City of Woodlake.
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• Facilitate the construction of a small motel in Woodlake and impose a transient occupancy tax.
• Insure that development impact fees pay for public improvements required by the general plan and infrastructure master plans.
• Promote public-private and public-public partnerships towards the construction of projects that are of significant community value. • Enhance tax increment revenues by encouraging development to occur in the redevelopment district.
• Retain the services of a grant writer to apply for housing, infrastructure, road and open space funds.
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Infrastructure
A well designed, maintained and managed infrastructure system is necessary for the proper and efficient operation of a city. Local city councils quickly understand the importance of the infrastructure system if citizens complain about poor water quality or pressure, the waste water treatment plant emitting odors, or the streets flooding every time it rains.
From an economic development perspective, businesses wishing to locate in a city are concerned about the same issues. For example, if the business is an industry that generates large volumes of effluent, it will be concerned about the capacity of the treatment plant and its ability of treat certain types of effluent. Failure of a city to provide assurances that the industry can be accommodated by the city’s infrastructure system will most likely cause that business to seek another city. • Adequately finance infrastructure systems.
• Periodically update infrastructure master plans, including sewer, water and storm drainage plans.
• Insure infrastructure master plans and the general plan are in concert with each other.
• Maintain, rebuild and upgrade infrastructure systems. • Every three years the city should review its development impact fees to insure that the necessary funds are being collected to pay for future capital infrastructure improvements.
Resources
There are two types of resources - natural and man-made. A natural resource is defined as “any form of matter or energy obtained from the environment that meets human needs.” It includes air, water, land and native plants and animals. The wise use and management of these resources can influence a community’s quality-of-life. With population growth and its secondary impacts, including air and water pollution, and urbanization of agricultural land, planning (resource management) is one of the primary tools used to insure a community’s quality-of-life standard.
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Man-made resources are those that include the built-environment (historic homes, neighborhoods, and public places, like parks, gardens, and lakes) and cultural resources (public art, historic sites and prehistoric sites). Through planning, these resources can be preserved for the public’s long-term enjoyment and education. This preservation effort also creates a city that is more interesting and visually appealing.
Natural Resources
• Conserve natural resources, including native trees, agricultural land, and water.
• Preserve air quality.
• Promote ground water recharge.
• Promote energy and water conservation
• Preserve plants and animals of special concern.
Man-Made Resources
• Preserve historic buildings
• Discourage uses that are architecturally incompatible with existing structures in historic neighborhoods
• Encourage adaptive reuse of historic structures that are zoned for non-residential uses
Open Space, Parks, and Recreation
Open space, parks and recreation add to the quality-of-life in a community. Open space delineates the edge of a community and affords the public views of orange groves, fields and/or the Sierras. People that live in a city that is surrounded by open space benefit psychologically because they can visually or physically take advantage of an open space feature.
A park is an outdoor open space feature that can accommodate an assortment of recreation and leisure activities. A park can include playgrounds, community recreation Land Use Element
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facilities, playing fields and community centers. Paralleling a city’s park system is its recreation program. A city’s recreation department is responsible for programing various activities, services and events in its park system. To have an effective recreation program, a city must also have a good park system.
This Element is contained in its entirety in Part 2 on the General Plan. The goals of this element have been provided below in order to give the reader how the goals of this element relate to that of the Land Use Element.
• Plan for adequate park and recreation facilities to meet existing and future needs in Woodlake.
• Establish parks in appropriate locations and ensure their design caters to the needs of the community.
• Create and preserve open space in the Woodlake area to meet the needs of the community now, and in the future.
• Establish policies to reduce the impact of urbanization on agricultural lands, while allowing the City to grow.
• Protect air and water quality from negative impacts.
• Consider energy conservation in the planning and design of new and existing development in Woodlake.
• The City of Woodlake should explore opportunities for generating energy or conserving energy.
• Minimize the impact of new development on biotic resources in the planning area.
• Take actions to promote Woodlake’s historic identity and protect cultural resources.
• Preserve the natural areas on the Woodlake Airport as open space.
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Agriculture
Agriculture is the primary industry in the Woodlake area. This basic industry employs about 23 percent of Woodlake’s labor force (2000 US Census). When other agriculturallyrelated sectors of the economy are factored in, the agricultural labor force increases to 35 percent. Agriculture is a relatively stable industry when compared to other sectors of the economy, like manufacturing, tourism and transportation industries. For this reason, agriculture should be encouraged and protected in the Woodlake area. Further, land use policies that minimize the impacts between urban and agricultural uses should be promoted.
• Preserve agricultural land that lies outside the planning area. • Discourage land uses outside the planning area of the general plan that conflict with existing agricultural operations.
• Insure that Woodlake’s agriculturally-related businesses are encouraged to continue to operate and/or expand where appropriate.
Residential Neighborhoods
The “neighborhood” is the fundamental building block of a city. The health and qualityof-life of a community is best measured at the neighborhood level. If a city’s neighborhoods are noisy, contain excessive traffic, are unkempt, or include incompatible land uses, then the city as a whole is most likely spiraling towards a state of blight. In terms of community priorities, preservation of the neighborhood ranks as an important land use goal.
The ideal neighborhood should be inviting, quiet, cool in the summer, children-friendly, pedestrian-oriented and architecturally interesting. It should appreciate in value over time and it should provide for a wide range of housing types, styles and prices.
The multi-family neighborhood is a necessary part of a city’s housing stock. It provides housing opportunities for persons or families who do not wish to own a single family dwelling or who can not afford to own one. Improperly located, designed or maintained, the multi-family neighborhood can have an adverse impact on surrounding neighborhoods and the community as a whole. To protect the health, safety and welfare of persons living adjacent to and within the multi-family Land Use Element
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neighborhood, the location, design and long-term maintenance of this type of housing must be well thought out.
• Revitalize blighted neighborhoods using redevelopment and CDBG funds. • Protect existing neighborhoods from incompatible land uses. • Promote neighborhoods that are quiet, visually pleasing, and cool. • Promote attractive, well-maintained and designed residential neighborhoods. • Large multi-family projects should provide an on-site manager.
Commercial Development
The Woodlake General Plan provides four types of commercial development - central, office, service and neighborhood. Each of these types of commercial uses is required if the community wishes to provide services and shopping opportunities for its citizens.
Further, if a city is going to maintain its sales tax base, it is imperative that it not only retain its own shoppers but that it also attract shoppers from surrounding cities and outlying rural areas.
For each type of commercial development to be successful, it must be properly located, it must have adequate access and it should be designed so that it will attract patrons.
For example, a parcel of land that is designated for community commercial uses should front onto a major roadway (with high traffic volumes), it should be designed so that it is attractive and visible from the roadway and it should incorporate ample off-street parking.
Office commercial is almost as important to the economic well-being of a community as other types of commercial or industrial uses. Offices support both small and large businesses, which on average, have a higher wage scale than most of the agricultural economy and some of the manufacturing/warehousing economy. • Insure that developable land is available for different types of commercial development, including offices.
• Promote commercial development that is aesthetically pleasing.
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• Promote the conversion of residential dwellings in the downtown into office and/or retail uses.
• Reduce sales-tax leakage.
• Encourage commercial development to be pedestrian-oriented. • Encourage the replacement of service commercial operations (auto repair and towing services) that exist along Naranjo Boulevard with retail and offices.
Industrial Development
Industrial uses are generally the economic foundation of a city. It is a source of employment and it provides a flow of revenue into the city from outside sources - other businesses buying raw materials or finished goods from the local industry.
Industries are typically poor land use neighbors because they can generate large volumes of truck traffic, they can produce noise and odors, and they can be unsightly. For these reasons, it is important that they be properly located in the community - away from land uses that are sensitive to these conditions, such as schools, residential development and parks.
• Promote and encourage agriculturally-related industries. • Diversify the City’s industrial base.
• Promote agriculturally-related tourism.
• Attract small, light industries.
• Attract technologies that are related to agriculture, including irrigation, plant science, and pest management.
• Promote airport-related development at the Woodlake Airport.
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Schools
One of the most frequently asked questions by families contemplating a move to a city is “How are the schools?” The education of one’s children is very important to most parents. A school system that can’t deliver a “good” education will adversely impact a city. Families and businesses contemplating a move to a city with a poor school system may opt for another city. In fact, if a city has a good school system, this attribute will sometimes be used as a marketing tool by the Chamber of Commerce, home builders and economic development professionals to attract persons and businesses to the community.
• Schools that are easily accessible and free from land use and circulation conflicts.
• Schools that have adequate land for future expansion. • Encourage the schools to forge partnerships with other public entities. • Work with educational institutions to fashion a training program that teaches skills that mirror local industrial sectors, including equipment repair, irrigation technology, food processing, nurseries, and agricultural technology. • Encourage college courses to be taught in the Woodlake area.
Public Safety and Emergency Medical Services and Health Care These types of services are crucial to the public’s health, safety and welfare. Public safety, which includes police and fire, insures that the public and their property are protected from criminal elements, exposure to hazardous materials, and fire. Emergency medical services responds to calls for emergency medical assistance and potentially, transport of the victim to a local health care facility. Health care facilities, which include hospitals, medical clinics and other types of medical-related uses, provide to the public physical and psychological care and treatment.
Public Safety and Emergency Medical Services
• A community that is free of crime and fire hazards.
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• Adequately financed police department.
• Woodlake should facilitate a cooperative working relationship between Woodlake’s police department and other public safety departments, including the Tulare County Sheriffs Department, the Visalia Police Department and the Tulare County Probation Department
• A full-time ambulance service should be provided in Woodlake. • A cooperative working relationship between the Woodlake Fire Department and the Tulare County Fire Department should be established.
Health Care
• Promote the continued operation and future expansion of health care facilities within the community, including not-for-profit health care clinics. • The City and Kaweah Delta District Hospital should work together on projects that are of mutual benefit.
Public Facilities
Construction of city halls, police and fire stations, recreation centers, or parks can benefit a city by providing new employment, new investment in a blighted section of town, and/or it can improve the city’s image. For example, a public facility like a new city hall, built in or near the downtown can bring additional people to that area of the community, it may encourage new development on surrounding properties or it can promote a sense of community pride.
• The city should forge partnerships with other public entities in the financing and construction of public facilities.
• The Bravo Lake Botanical Garden, built on city-owned land, should be enhanced with additional improvements that make the operation more attractive to tourists and local residents.
• Where possible, public facilities should have multi-purpose uses.
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A multi-purpose room on the campus of F.J. White Elementary School. • The Woodlake Airport, a city-owned facility, should be upgraded with a new runway in order to attract investors to the facility.
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LAND USE POLICIES AND ACTIONS
For each land use-related topic, this section of the element will provide a list of policies and actions that will facilitate implementation of the land use goals delineated in the previous chapter.
Growth Management
• Maintain Woodlake as a small, agriculturally-oriented city surrounded by farmland and open space features.
1. Insure that Woodlake is surrounded by agricultural land that is zoned for large parcel agriculture (e.g. AE-20).
a. The City shall notify the County of Tulare that all agricultural land that is within its Sphere of Influence (SOI) and outside its city limits should be zoned to the AE20 zone district. b. The City shall protest any division of land requests within its Sphere of Influence that would create non-viable agricultural parcels. • Use natural barriers as a means of delineating the urbanized portion of Woodlake, including the St. Johns River, Antelope Creek, Bravo Lake and foothill lands.
1. The City of Woodlake shall establish the southern alignment of its Sphere of Influence (SOI) along the St. Johns River and Friant-Kern Canal.
2. Woodlake’s urban development boundary line (20- year growth line) shall follow Antelope Creek between Naranjo Boulevard and Cajon Avenue.
3. Woodlake’s urban development boundary line (20-year growth line) and Sphere of Influence shall align with St. Johns Street, a street that separates foothill and agricultural lands from lands that can be potentially urbanized.
• Promote Smart Growth planning principals in order to discourage urban sprawl and the premature urbanization of agricultural land.
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to its Planned Unit Development (PUD) zone district.
a. The Smart Growth planning principles shall potentially include reduced yard standards, passive solar orientation, narrower streets, unique architectural dwelling designs, and water and energy conservation measures.
2. The City shall promote mixed-use development where appropriate. a. The City shall amend its Zoning Ordinance to provide for a mixed-use zone district.
b. The City should identify sites in the downtown core where mixed-use development would be appropriate.
• Encourage the County of Tulare to upzone properties that surround the City of Woodlake so as to avoid future land use conflicts.
1. Insure that Woodlake is surrounded by agricultural land that is zoned for large parcel agriculture (e.g. AE-20).
a. The City shall notify the County of Tulare that all agricultural land that is within its Sphere of Influence and outside its city limits should be zoned to the AE-20 zone district.
b. The City shall protest any division of land requests within its Sphere of Influence that would create non-viable agricultural parcels.
Community Image
• An attractive, clean and well-maintained community.
1. The City shall upgrade the community signs at the city’s two designated entryways. a. The City of Woodlake shall devote general fund monies to upgrade the two entry signs that are located on Naranjo Boulevard west of town and on Valencia Boulevard, adjacent to the airport.
b. The City of Woodlake shall erect smaller versions of its entry signs at its north and east entrances.
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2. The City shall insure that street sweeping, trash pickup, and the maintenance of public grounds and buildings are completed on a weekly basis.
3. A downtown maintenance district should be formed to pay for the cost of maintaining improvements in the downtown, such as landscaping, street furniture, parking lots and lighting.
4. The City should actively enforce the State Housing Code, which provides a procedure for abating or rehabilitating unsafe, dilapidated residential structures. a. The Woodlake Building Department shall report to the City Council on an annual basis their progress on rehabilitating or removing unsafe residential structures.
b. The Planning Department shall maintain a city map that identifies the location of unsafe residential dwellings.
c. The Woodlake Redevelopment Agency shall explore the use of state or federal funds to promote infill residential development while concurrently facilitating the removal of unsafe residential structures.
d. The Woodlake Fire District should implement a program wherein property owners who have properties that have accumulated junk, litter, vehicles, etc. should be required to clear their properties so that the material does not become a fire hazard.
5. The City should facilitate a landscaping program in parks and within the downtown that promotes shading, color, and interesting form.
a. The City shall apply for an urban forestry grant to pay for the planting of trees in the downtown.
6. The Woodlake Police Department shall continue to actively enforce the city’s vehicle abatement program and illegal parking on residential property.
7. The City shall actively enforce its new sign ordinance.
8. The City shall identify an area in the community where an underground district should be formed. This typically involves a roadway that is lined with utility poles.
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a. The City will contact Southern California Edison (SCE) to collaborate on the formation of an underground district consistent with Rule 20A. • A community that is free of land use conflicts
1. Legal, non-conforming land uses should not be allowed to be enlarged physically or operationally.
2. The city shall actively enforce existing zoning and building regulations that preclude or eliminate uses of land or buildings that present conflicts for adjacent properties.
3. The city shall insure that commercial uses do not operate in residential neighborhoods unless the operator of the commercial use has secured a home occupation permit from the city.
• A city that portrays a “sense of community” through community events like the Woodlake Rodeo or events at the Woodlake Charros facility or the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden.
1. Woodlake should continue to promote public events and celebrations in its downtown and in public places, like parks, schools and buildings, that bring citizens together.
a. Promote a Farmers Market in the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden. b. Promote a 10-k run around Bravo Lake.
c. The City should contact the Urban Tree Foundation to seek their assistance in the development of a tree planting program in Woodlake.
2. The City of Woodlake working with the Woodlake Chamber of Commerce should sponsor an annual event at the Woodlake Botanical Garden that brings people who are interested in horticulture from outside the community.
3. The City of Woodlake in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce should sponsor an annual event at the Woodlake Airport that brings people who are interested in flying from outside the community.
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4. The City should work with other public entities and service organizations to jointly work on projects that benefit Woodlake as a whole.
a. The City Planner should make presentations to various community organizations to solicit their help in financing, constructing and/or maintaining public art or beautification improvements, such as mini-parks, statues, fountains, specimen trees or murals.
• A friendly community that encourages public involvement.
1. The City should form a citizens advisory committee that reports to the city council on a myriad of topics, including beautification, gangs, recreation and any other topic suggested by the city council.
2. The City should convene an annual study session with Woodlake Schools to discuss planning matters that are of mutual interest.
a. The City Manager will coordinate with the Woodlake Schools to set a date for a joint meeting between the two agencies.
b. The City Manager will meet with the Woodlake Schools Superintendent to prepare an agenda for the joint meeting.
3. The City Council and Planning Commission should hold biannual study sessions to discuss planning-related matters.
a. The City Manager and City Planner will set a date and formulate an agenda for these joint meetings.
Economic Development
• Increase tourism.
1. Woodlake should facilitate the construction of a small hotel in the downtown or at the airport to provide overnight opportunities for tourists.
2. The Woodlake Memorial Building should be marketed for various annual events, like dances associated with the Woodlake Rodeo.
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a. The Woodlake Chamber of Commerce should identify two additional events that could be held annually at the Woodlake Memorial Building that would attract persons to Woodlake. The events could be related to the citrus or cattle industries, irrigation technology and/or the packing house/cold storage sector.
3. Advertise in magazines and travel journals about the City of Woodlake and its botanical garden and airport.
4. Upgrade the web page for the City of Woodlake.
a. The City Council should budget general funds for the upgrading of the web page for the City of Woodlake.
b. Woodlake’s web site should provide a photographic essay of the city’s botanical garden, downtown, airport, its local agricultural industries and other images of the community. The site should also provide socio-economic information on the city along with maps.
• Promote the development of the Woodlake Airport with airport-related uses.
1. Encourage development at the Woodlake Airport consistent with the Airport Master Plan. Development could include service commercial uses, light industrial uses or tourist-related uses, like a hotel, a rent-a-car operation or restaurant.
2. Provide redevelopment funds as incentives to attract users to the airport, which could include free land, free connection to sewer and water lines, or forgiveness of development impact fees.
• Market agriculture as a tourist attraction by encouraging visitation of the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden.
1. The City of Woodlake should take a more active role in the marketing of the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden.
a. The City should develop a timeline, a financing plan, and a schematic plan for the Garden, including planning for off-site improvements such as curb, gutter and sidewalks.
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b. The City should seek state and private grants for the installation of additional improvements throughout the Garden.
• Work with existing businesses in the community to foster expansion, efficiency, or better site appearance, traffic circulation or building design. a. The City should utilize redevelopment or CDBG funds to assist existing businesses in an upgrade of their operations, which could involve expansion or a building or parking lot, redevelopment of a building facade, or installation of landscaping and irrigation.
b. The City could apply for state grants to install curb, gutter and sidewalks in front of existing businesses to make them more marketable. • Attract technologies to the Woodlake area that are related to the citrus, nursery and olive industries.
1. The City working with the EDC (Economic Development Corporation) should develop an information packet detailing the benefits of locating the above types of businesses in Woodlake.
2. The City explore the purchase of the Wheeling-Pacific building so that it can be marketed to companies that may wish to locate in the Woodlake area, including industries in the agricultural field.
• Assist existing industries to expand their operations and increase employment by providing financial incentives.
1. The City should contact on an annual basis existing industries to determine if they have plans for expansion and if there are tasks that the city could assist them with to make their expansion more successful.
a. The Redevelopment Agency could use redevelopment or CDBG funds to finance an existing business.
• Increase the number of businesses operating in Woodlake in order to generate more sales, property, business and transient occupancy taxes.
1. Promote the development of a motel or hotel in Woodlake.
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a. The City should contact motel/hotel developers to solicit their input in regards to type of incentives they would require to develop a complex in town.
2. Promote the redevelopment of underutilized commercial uses located along Naranjo Boulevard.
a. The subject properties should be reclassified from service commercial uses to community commercial, which permits both retail and office uses. b. The City of Woodlake should consider purchasing properties along Naranjo Boulevard so that development can be facilitated in a manner consistent with the design vision for this corridor.
3. Promote the development of multi-story buildings in the downtown, including residential uses.
4. Contact existing businesses in the downtown through the Chamber of Commerce to determine if there are improvements the city can make to enhance business activity. a. The Woodlake Redevelopment Agency should continue its facade renovation funding to businesses who wish to develop in this area. b. Where opportunities arise, the City should purchase land in the downtown for public parking lots.
Employment
• Diversify employment base
1. The City should consider the purchase of the Wheeling-Pacific plant located on the southeast corner of Road 196 and Naranjo Boulevard.
a. The City should extend a water line to the building to enhance it marketability.
b. The City should extend West Bravo Street westward to Road 196, which would run along the rear of the Wheeling-Pacific building. c. The City should purchase the railroad right-of-way that forms the northern Land Use Element
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boundary of the Wheeling-Pacific site. This right-of-way could be used for drainage, landscaping or parking.
2. The City should be prepared to apply for state infrastructure grants to assist potential businesses that may wish to build in one of Woodlake’s industrial parks. a. The City should contact the EDC to discover what types of grant opportunities exist for infrastructure improvements.
3. The City should market the Woodlake Airport as a future site for industrial development or airport-related commercial uses.
• Attract industries that are complementary to the existing work force, that do not adversely affect air quality, the city’s waste water treatment facility or the city’s water system and do not have a negative impact on the health and safety of the neighborhood or on the community as a whole.
1. Seek industries that compliment the local work force, such as agricultural equipment repair and manufacturing, nurseries, warehouses and packing houses, and trucking and farm management.
2. The City Engineer will review each industry that wishes to locate in Woodlake to insure that the project will not have an adverse impact on Woodlake’s sewer or water systems. Should the City Engineer make such a findings, the city will require a mitigated negative declaration or an environmental impact report to be prepared on the proposed industry.
a. The City Engineer will require industries that generate high strength industrial effluent to mitigate this impact by either pre-treating the effluent or by paying an appropriate wastewater impact fee to defray the city’s cost of treating the effluent.
3. New industrial uses will be processed through Woodlake’s site plan review process to insure that they do not conflict with surrounding land uses or adversely impact the health and safety of the community.
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Fiscal Conditions
• Encourage a strong sales tax base.
1. The City should attempt to reverse the leakage of sales tax dollars to surrounding communities by:
a. continuing to improve on the image of the downtown and its associated businesses;
b. work to attract new retail establishments to the Naranjo and Valencia corridors.
c. widen State Routes 216 and 245 with curb, gutter, sidewalk and street paveout where lacking.
• Facilitate the construction of a small motel in Woodlake and impose a transient occupancy tax.
1. The City of Woodlake should attempt to attract a small hotel, which could be located in the downtown or at the airport.
• Insure that development impact fees pay for public improvements required by the general plan and infrastructure master plans.
1. A new fee schedule shall be developed for Woodlake’s development impact fees. a. The City Engineer shall review Woodlake’s sewer, water and storm drainage impact fees and forward a recommendation to the City Council regarding any modification.
b. The City Planner shall review Woodlake’s park impact fees and forward a recommendation to the City Council regarding any modification. c. The City Planner shall identify any new impact fees that would be appropriate for financing public improvements delineated by the General Plan.
2. The cost of the General Plan shall be collected through building permit fees.
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a. The fee schedule for building permits in Woodlake shall be amended to include a fee for the cost or preparing and maintaining the General Plan
3. The fees for Woodlake’s planning, subdivision and zoning applications should be reviewed and amended every three years.
a. These fees should be developed consistent with AB 1600. • Promote public-private and public-public partnerships towards the construction of projects that are of significant community value.
1. The City should form a group composed of public and private entities interested the development of the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden, including the Woodlake school districts, College of Sequoias, and the U.C. Extension Service.
2. The City should work with the private sector in the upgrading and development of the Woodlake Airport. Private sector developers could include a rental car agency, a small hotel, airport-related industries and restaurant operators. • Enhance tax increment revenues by encouraging development to occur in the redevelopment district.
1. The City should seek state and federal grants to promote infill development in the redevelopment district, including HELP, CDBG, and HOME funds. a. The City could consider encouraging higher residential densities in the redevelopment district in order to encourage infill development. b. The City should apply for state grants that can be used to encourage infill residential development, including Proposition 1C monies.
2. The Redevelopment Agency should fashion a financial assistance program that promotes development within the District. This program would have the Agency participating financially based on the number of new jobs being created. a. Financial assistance by the Agency shall be based on job creation and/or assessed value.
3. The Redevelopment Agency should, on behalf of existing companies or companies interested in locating in Woodlake, apply for state or federal grants that assist the Land Use Element
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company with off-site improvements, purchase of land or equipment or training of employees.
a. The Agency should identify state or federal grants that are available for the above listed costs.
b. The Agency should send a letter to existing companies in Woodlake asking about their long-term needs in terms of expanding their operation. c. Retain the services of a grant-writer to apply for housing, infrastructure, roadway and open space funds.
Infrastructure
• Adequately finance infrastructure systems.
1. The City shall install water, sewer and storm drainage improvements that correct existing infrastructure deficiencies.
a. Woodlake’s water, sewer and storm drainage master plans shall be reviewed in order to insure that they can properly and efficiently serve future development provided for by the Land Use Element.
b. The City’s water, sewer and storm drainage development impact fees shall be reviewed on an annual basis. This review should focus on the relationship between the amount of fees being collected for each of the accounts and the future capital needs of each system based on development trends in Woodlake.
c. The modification of the City’s development impact fees should processed consistent with AB 1600.
2. The City should continue to seek state and federal grants for the upgrading and expansion of its infrastructure systems.
• Insure infrastructure master plans and the general plan are in concert with each other.
1. The Land Use Element shall identify where development will occur in Woodlake over the next 20 years. The Element will be fashioned so that it is generally in concert Land Use Element
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with existing master plans.
• Maintain, rebuild and upgrade infrastructure systems.
1. The City shall update its 5-Year Capital Improvement Program to insure that its infrastructure system can accommodate the urban growth provided for by the Land Use Element.
2. The Redevelopment Agency shall prepare a 5-Year Capital Improvement Program to assist in the maintenance, rebuilding and upgrading of Woodlake’s infrastructure system.
3. The City should work with the private sector to participate in the upgrading of the infrastructure system when it is developing in the City. a. From time to time, the City may wish to work with a developer to upgrade a part of the infrastructure or street system that is not part of the project being developed.
Resources (see Open Space, Parks, Recreation and Conservation Element) The goals listed below are discussed in detail in the Open Space, Parks, Recreation and Conservation Element. They have been listed below to give the reader an understanding of how the goals of this element are intertwined with that of the Land Use Element.
• Plan for adequate park and recreation facilities to meet existing and future needs in Woodlake.
• Establish parks in appropriate locations and ensure their design caters to the needs of the community.
• Create and preserve open space in the Woodlake area to meet the needs of the community now, and in the future.
• Establish policies to reduce the impact of urbanization on agricultural lands, Land Use Element
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while allowing the City to grow.
• Protect air and water quality from negative impacts.
• Consider energy conservation in the planning and design of new and existing development in Woodlake.
• The City of Woodlake should explore opportun ities for generating energy or conserving energy.
• Minimize the impact of new development on biotic resources in the planning area.
• Take actions to promote Woodlake’s historic identity and protect cultural resources.
• Preserve the natural areas on the Woodlake Airport as open space.
Agriculture
• Preserve agricultural land that lies outside the planning area.
1. Encourage Tulare County to apply large-lot agricultural zoning (20-acre minimum) to land within Woodlake’s Sphere of Influence.
2. The City shall oppose any county development within its Sphere of Influence, including agriculturally-related industries and small-lot agricultural parcels. a. When the City receives such a request from the County of Tulare, the planning department will send a letter indicating that they do not support the approval of the proposed land use.
3. The City shall encourage the county to place lands around Woodlake, outside its urban area boundary line, into an agricultural preserve. a. The City shall send a letter to the County indicating that they support the formation of agricultural preserves outside the City’s sphere of influence.
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• Discourage land uses outside the planning area of the general plan that conflict with existing agricultural operations.
1. Encourage the county to apply large-lot agricultural zoning to land within Woodlake’s Urban Development Boundary line.
a. Send a letter to the Tulare County Resources Management Agency requesting that all land within this portion of the planning area be zoned to the AE-20 (exclusive agriculture, 20 acre minimum) zone district.
2. Apply an agricultural designation to land within the planning area that is not slated for urban development within the next 20 years.
a. Adoption of the Land Use Element and Land Use Map will implement this policy.
• Insure that Woodlake’s agriculturally-related businesses are encouraged to operate at their current location and to expand if appropriate.
1. The City will fast track proposals to expand existing agriculturally-related businesses.
2. The City will explore opportunities to assist in the expansion of these businesses.
Residential Neighborhoods
• Revitalize blighted neighborhoods using redevelopment and CDBG funds.
1. Remove substandard homes from residential neighborhoods. a. The City shall abate or rehabilitate residential dwellings through the process described in the State Housing Code.
b. The Redevelopment Agency should explore the purchase of substandard housing in order to clear the property for new, low to moderate income housing.
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c. The City shall work with Self-Help Enterprises to identify substandard homes that can be demolished and replaced with new residential units. Self-Help could use HELP or CDBG funds to purchase substandard dwellings.
2. Rehabilitate homes that have deteriorated.
a. The City should contract with Self-Help Enterprises to rehabilitate homes that have deteriorated.
3. Upgrade public improvements in blighted neighborhoods, including sidewalks, alleys, street trees, roadways, parkways and street lights. a. Establish an annual objective for repairing or replacing broken curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
b. Replant vacant parkways with street trees.
c. Identify alleys that can be abandoned and initiate the process consistent with the Streets and Highways Code.
d. Upgrade alleys with pavement, where possible.
4. Encourage residential infill development in neighborhoods that are blighted. a. Consider increasing the allowable underlying density on land that will support a residential infill project by utilizing Woodlake’s PD (planned development) zone district.
b. Utilize state housing grants that can mitigate blight in neighborhoods by removing dilapidated housing and replacing it with new, standard housing.
Woodlake has recently used the state’s HELP program to promote new infill housing.
5. Continue to enforce sections of Woodlake Municipal Code that prohibit certain activities in Woodlake’s residential zone districts. This section reads as follows:
Prohibited Uses
The outside placement, parking, storage or stockpiling of equipment, materials, Land Use Element
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vehicles, furnishings or commodities, not associated with the normal use, maintenance or repair of a residential dwelling or its accessory structures, and including but not limited to farm equipment, port-potties, picking ladders, agricultural produce, produce boxes and bins, trucks larger than one ton, scrap materials, inoperable vehicles and appliances or furniture. • Protect existing neighborhoods from incompatible land uses.
1. Insure that the city’s zoning ordinance regulations do not permit uses that will be incompatible with residential neighborhoods. Persons wishing to conduct a business in a residential district shall be required to comply with Woodlake’s Home Occupation regulations, which serves to minimize the impact of the business on the residential neighborhood.
2. The planning and building department will work together to insure that building and zoning code violations are corrected and/or eliminated. a. The city on a monthly basis will send out correction letters to persons who are in violation of planning or building code regulations. b. The planning and building department will work with the Police Department’s code enforcement officer to insure that zoning and building codes are enforced.
3. The city will annually seek state grant and loan funds that can assist in the elimination of blight in residential neighborhoods.
a. The City should work with Self-Help Enterprises and the Tulare County Housing Authority to develop a residential in fill program that will replace dilapidated housing with new housing, using state funds.
4. The Woodlake Redevelopment Agency will use its low to moderate housing income (LMI) funds to eliminate conditions of blight in residential neighborhoods. • Promote neighborhoods that are quiet, visually pleasing, and cool.
1. The City should discourage land uses that are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.
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a. Adoption of the Land Use Element and Land Use Map will implement this policy.
b. New development should be required to install street trees to improve the aesthetics of the site and also reduce summer temperatures. • Promote attractive, well-maintained and designed residential neighborhoods.
2. The City should continue to utilize its Planned Development Combining District which promotes:
a. Tree-lined streets.
b. Neighborhood parks.
c. Dwellings that are architecturally interesting.
d. Common areas that are maintained by Landscaping and Lighting Districts. e. Narrow streets.
3. Encourage residential developments and adjacent land uses to be pedestrianoriented. a. All residential developments with walls should provide openings for pedestrian and bike traffic.
b. Land uses adjacent to residential developments should provide for pedestrian access between the two types of developments. • Large multi-family projects should incorporate design features that insure that the project is compatible with adjacent properties and the larger neighborhood.
1. Apartment/condominium development should utilize architectural styles that are native and traditional to Woodlake.
a. Regardless of size or number of units, apartment/condominium projects should be designed to integrate into the surrounding neighborhood. b. Dwelling units should be "pulled forward" on the lot, towards the street, with parking to the rear. This helps apartment / condominium projects better harmonize with the existing streetscape and surrounding neighborhood. c. Dwelling units fronting the street should include a front door facing the Land Use Element
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street.
d. Dwelling units with doors facing streets should include a front porch with a minimum of six feet of depth and a minimum of eight feet of width.
2. All apartments/condominium development should incorporate the following elements:
a. Varied front setbacks within the same structure with staggered unit plans. b. Varied roof lines (especially where the building exceeds 20 feet in height).
Roof lines of large buildings should be varied to reduce apparent scale and mass.
Use of overhanging eves, parapet wall details and three dimensional cornice treatments can enhance character of the roof line area. c. Use reverse building plans to add variety.
d. A maximum of two adjacent units with identical exterior colors. e. Exterior walls on single story dwelling units that face a street should contain a base treatment and a wall of a contrasting material; exterior walls of a two-story dwelling shall be constructed of two different building materials and/or painted with two different colors.
f. Stairways should be designed as an integral part of the overall structure and should incorporate materials used in the main building. Exposed "Motelstyle" prefabricated stairways composed of concrete and open wrought-iron railing is discouraged. Common stairways should be designed to serve a limited number of units.
g. Accessory structures such as club houses, equipment buildings, and trash enclosures should be architecturally treated to be consistent with main buildings. h. Large roof mounted equipment is prohibited except in select in-fill type projects where space is critical. Where necessitated such equipment should be screened from view through the use of parapets or screening that complement the architectural character of the building.
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properties. Utilitarian light fixtures are discouraged.
3. Apartment/condominium developments should be well landscaped, ideally incorporating an appropriate combination of turf, shrubs and shade trees. Not more than fifty percent of the landscaped area should be composed of turf; xerophytic shrubs should be utilized as well as tree species where possible.
Commercial Development
• Insure that different types of commercial development are provided for in Woodlake, including central, neighborhood and service commercial; office and mixed-use.
1. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to add office and residential uses to the central and neighborhood commercial zone districts subject to a conditional use permit.
2. Allow service commercial uses to be located in Woodlake’s industrial parks. a. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to provide for service commercial uses in the industrial zone district.
3. Permit certain types of retail uses on properties that are zoned for office. a. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to provide for certain retail uses in the office zone district.
• Promote commercial development that is aesthetically pleasing.
1. All commercial developments shall be processed through the city’s site plan review process.
a. Require each commercial development to be built consistent with an architectural theme.
b. All commercial parking lots shall be landscaped and shall be provided with pedestrian-oriented circulation patterns.
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to upgrade improvements such as parking, landscaping, pedestrian features, setbacks and signage.
a. Amend the Woodlake Zoning Ordinance to add the upgraded development standards to each commercial zone district.
• Promote the conversion of residential dwellings in the downtown into office and/or retail uses.
1. Insure that Woodlake’s Zoning Ordinance permits residential dwelling units in the downtown to be converted to office or retail uses.
a. All conversions will be processed through the city’s site plan review process.
b. The Woodlake Redevelopment Agency will continue to offer financial assistance to businesses locating in the downtown and to existing establishments that are undergoing facade renovation.
• Reduce sales-tax leakage.
1. Encourage a used automobile dealership to locate in Woodlake. a. Insure that commercial zones along Naranjo Boulevard allow for new and used auto dealerships, subject to a conditional use permit. b. Identify other types of dealerships (boats, trailers, farm equipment) that could be located along Naranjo Boulevard.
2. Continue to promote shopping in Woodlake’s downtown. a. Continue to identify other uses that could be located in the downtown that would be compatible with existing downtown uses, like antique stores, gift shops, restaurants, and banks.
b. Continue to work with building owners in the renovation of their building facades in order to make the storefronts more attractive. c. Continue to identify, design and construct downtown streetscape improvements that make the downtown a more desirable place to visit and Land Use Element
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shop, including paseos, alleys, and streets.
3. Promote the development of commercially designated land on both sides of Naranjo and Valencia Boulevard with commercial uses that enhance the city’s sales tax position. a. Insure that the commercial zoning applied to lands along Valencia Boulevard allows uses that are compatible with each other, like shopping centers, offices and fast food operations. This zoning should not include commercial uses like auto repair, corporation yards and light industrial uses. b. Promote commercial infill in the Woodlake Plaza Shopping Center by improving its appearance and accessibility.
c. Promote commercial development along Naranjo Boulevard that will enhance Woodlake sales tax position. Stores could include lumber yards, tire shops, used car development, etc.
d. Encourage the replacement of service commercial uses (auto repair and towing) that exist along of Naranjo Boulevard with retail establishments and offices.
• Encourage commercial development to be pedestrian-oriented.
1. Through design, require new commercial development to be accessible by the walking public.
a. During Woodlake’s site plan review process the city will insure that the design of the commercial development will be pedestrian-oriented. b. Continue to encourage downtown stores to open their stores from the rear.
Industrial Development
• Promote and encourage agriculturally-related industries.
1. The Land Use Map will designate sufficient acreage for the development of industries that are agriculturally-related.
a. Adoption of the Land Use Map will implement this policy.
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b. Develop the south side of Naranjo Boulevard between Roads 196 and 204 as an industrial facility that could cater to citrus industry for transportation, packing and cold storage uses.
• Diversify the City’s industrial base.
1. Encourage industrial development at the Woodlake Airport. a. The City shall insure that the Woodlake Airport Master Plan provides for industrial development.
b. The City shall amend its Zoning Ordinance to add industrial uses to the airport zone district subject to a conditional use permit.
2. Utilize redevelopment funds to financially assist new companies to locate in Woodlake.
a. Financial assistance should be based on the number of jobs being created by the new company and/or by the hourly wages paid by the company.
3. The City should utilize Measure R funds to improve roadways that provide access to properties designated for industrial growth.
• Promote agriculturally-related tourism.
1. The City working with the agricultural community should develop tours of various sectors of the agricultural economy, including farms, packing houses, cold storage plants and other related businesses.
a. The City, working with the Chamber of Commerce, should form a citizen advisory committee composed of persons knowledgeable about the local agricultural economy.
b. The Chamber of Commerce should maintain a list of docents who can conduct tours of local farms and agriculturally-related plants (e.g. packing houses and cold storage plants).
2. The City should develop tours of the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden.
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a. The Chamber of Commerce should maintain a list of docents who can conduct tours of the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden.
3. The City should facilitate the development of a tourist-based citrus farm that has examples of all the different varieties of citrus species. a. The City shall contact the U. C. Extension Service, U. C. Riverside and representatives of the local citrus industry to gather information on how such a farm could be created.
• Attract small, light industries.
1. The Woodlake Zoning Ordinance will be amended to allow to small, light industrial uses in the City’s service commercial district.
2. The City shall review other zone districts in the Woodlake Zoning Ordinance to determine if there are opportunities to allow these types of uses in non-industrial zones on a small scale.
3. The City shall promote the development of light industrial uses along segments of Naranjo Boulevard, west of Valencia Boulevard, within the Woodlake Airport, and on South Acacia Street.
a. The City will develop design standards for these corridors. b. The City will insure that these corridors are served with adequate infrastructure.
c. The Woodlake Redevelopment Agency will financially assist the development of light industrial uses along these corridors based on job creation and/or wages paid.
• Attract technologies that are related to agriculture, including irrigation, plant science, and pest management.
1. The City working with the Chamber of Commerce will prepare an annual questionnaire that can be sent to local agricultural industries asking them about their type of business, do they know of like industries that would like to relocate to Woodlake and are there incentives that the city could offer to assist in the expansion of their existing business.
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• Promote airport-related development at the Woodlake Airport.
1. The City should make an application to the FAA to secure a grant to upgrade the airport.
a. The City should solicit airport related businesses to move to the Woodlake Airport, including a motel, restaurant, and a car rental agency. b. The City should fashion an infrastructure master plan for the airport so that potential industrial users are aware of the location and size of these improvements.
Schools
• Schools that are easily accessible and free from land use and circulation conflicts.
1. Schools should be located in areas of the community where they are easily accessible for school-aged students.
a. Schools should be designed so that they can be accessed from adjacent residential developments.
b. Schools should be designed so that students can be easily dropped off by their parents.
c. Bus drop-off zones should be separate from where parents drop off their children.
d. Roadways adjacent to schools should be provided with sidewalks, properly stripped crosswalks and signage.
2. The location of schools should not be on roadways that attract other types of traffic (e.g. commuter, industrial or commercial traffic).
a. Schools should not front onto major collector or arterial roadways.
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b. Sidewalks should be installed on all streets around a school site. c. Schools should be connected to bike path systems.
3. To the best extent possible, schools should be centrally located. a. Existing, centrally located schools should buy adjacent property for future expansion.
b. The Woodlake Elementary School District should investigate the purchase of a future elementary school site.
• Schools that have adequate land for future expansion.
1. When schools are purchasing land for future expansion, additional land should be purchased in case other types of school facilities are required. • Encourage the schools to forge partnerships with other public entities.
1. The City and Woodlake Schools should work on projects jointly, including recreation building, a joint cooperation yard and playing fields.
2. The Woodlake High School District should forge a working relationship with College of Sequoias as it pertains to agricultural, technical and mechanical training courses. • Work with educational institutions to fashion a training program that teaches skills that mirror local industrial sectors, including equipment repair, irrigation technology, food processing, nurseries, and agricultural technology.
1. The Woodlake High School District should develop training and vocational programs for students that wish to be employed in the above sectors. a. The School District should develop programs in cooperation with Proteus Inc., C-Set, and the Tulare County Private Industry Council. b. The high school district should develop vocational programs for the citrus industry.
• Encourage college courses to be taught in the Woodlake area.
Land Use Element
90 384
W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
2 0 0 8 t o 2 0 2 8
1. The Woodlake High School District should provide classroom space for College of Sequoias classes.
2. The Woodlake High School District should make its facilities available to other institutions that wish to provide instruction, training, or certification.
Public Safety
• A community that is free of crime and fire hazards
1. Through Woodlake’s site plan review process, new developments should be designed so that that crime and fire safety are considered in the design. a. Insure that all new uses have water available to the site and that proper water pressure is also available.
b. Buildings larger than 5,000 square feet in size should be equipped with sprinklers.
c. Insure that all new uses are properly equipped with on-site lighting to promote safety.
2. The City will continue to upgrade its water system to insure that adequate water pressure is maintained throughout the system.
a. The City should amend its development impact fee schedule to provide funds for replacement of older water lines.
b. The City should amend its development impact fee schedule to provide funds for the construction of new water wells and water storage tanks.
3. Residential development should be designed so that two points of access are provided.
a. The Site Plan Review Committee will insure that new developments provide proper access for public safety vehicles.
• Adequately financed public safety departments
Land Use Element
91 385
W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
2 0 0 8 t o 2 0 2 8
1. The City should apply for state and federal grants that can provide money to supplement the city’s police department revenue.
2. The City should collect a development impact fee that can be used for capital improvements.
a. Consistent with AB 1600, the City of Woodlake should create a development impact fee for public safety for public safety improvements, including buildings, equipment or grounds.
3. The Police Department should implement innovative programs that promote an efficient delivery system, such as:
a. Volunteer program
b. Take-Home Car Program
c. K-9 Unit Program
4. The Fire Department should implement innovative programs that promote an efficient delivery system, such as:
a. Volunteer program
b. Aggressive fire prevention program
c. Promoting sprinklers to be installed in new commercial and industrial developments
• Woodlake should facilitate a cooperative working relationship between the police department and other public safety departments, including the Tulare County Sheriffs Department, the Visalia Police Department, and the Tulare County Probation Department.
1. The City should be financially supportive of the police department’s collaboration with other agencies in law enforcement.
2. The City should be financially supportive of the police department’s efforts towards Land Use Element
92 386
W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
2 0 0 8 t o 2 0 2 8
gang suppression.
Emergency Medical Services and Health Care
• An efficient medical emergency delivery system
1. The City should work with the Exeter Ambulance District to insure that persons in the Woodlake area are well served in regards to response time by ambulances. • Promote the continued operation and future expansion of health facilities within the community, including not-for-profit health care clinics.
1. The City should work with Kaweah Delta District Hospital and other entities that provide medical care to provide medical services to the community, especially for lowincome families.
2. The City should encourage the District Hospital to provide outreach programs to Woodlake and other smaller cities.
• The City and Kaweah Delta District Hospital should work together on projects that are of mutual benefit.
1. The City and Kaweah Delta District Hospital should jointly work on opportunities to provide medical services to the community that are not presently available from private or non-profit clinics.
Public Facilities
• The city should forge partnerships with other public entities in the financing and construction of public facilities.
1. A Corporation Yard that could be jointly used by the City of Woodlake and Woodlake Schools should be investigated.
a. Joint use buildings could be constructed at the school district’s industrially zoned site on West Bravo Avenue.
2. Woodlake schools should identify building projects where the city could financially become involved. These projects could include:
Land Use Element
93 387
W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
2 0 0 8 t o 2 0 2 8
a. multi-purpose room
b. recreation fields
c. theater
• The Bravo Lake Botanical Garden, built on city-owned land, should be enhanced with additional improvements that make the operation more attractive to tourist
1. The City should apply for state or private grants to further develop the Garden with needed improvements.
2. The City should market the Garden on their web site, and in local publications and national magazines.
• Where possible, public facilities should have multi-purpose uses.
1. The restoration of public buildings should always provide for public meeting rooms. a. Public meeting rooms should be equipped with modern audiovisual equipment and the room should also be wired for modern telecommunications.
2. The City should investigate utilizing one a room in one of its buildings as a teleconferencing center.
• The Woodlake Airport, a city-owned facility should be upgraded with a new runway in order to attract investors the the facility.
1. The City should apply for a FAA grant to upgrade its airport consistent with its airport master plan.
Land Use Element
94 388
W o o d l a k e G e n e r a l P l a n
2 0 0 8 t o 2 0 2 8
Land Use Designation/Zoning District Matrix
Land Use Element
95 389
W o o d l a k e G e n e r a
l P l a n 2 0 0 8 t
o 2 0 2 8
Land Use Map
The Woodlake land use map (Exhibit No. 4) delineates the ultimate uses of land in and around Woodlake. It is to be read in conjunction with the land use descriptions and special regulations detailed in the land use element text. The land use map shows areas intended for urban development during the term of the General Plan.
Land Use Element
96 390
Section 3. CEQA REVIEW. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) [there is no possibility the activity in question may have a significant affirmative effect on the environment]. In addition to the foregoing general exemption, the City Council further finds that the ordinance is categorically exempt from review under CEQA under the Class 8 categorical exemption [regulatory activity to assure the protection of the environment]. The City Administrator is hereby directed to ensure that a Notice of Exemption is filed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15062 [14 C.C.R. § 15062].
Section 4. NO LIABILITY. The provisions of this ordinance shall not in any way be construed as imposing any duty of care, liability or responsibility for damage to person or property upon the City of Woodlake, or any official, employee or agent thereof.
Section 5. PENDING ACTIONS. Nothing in this ordinance or in the codes hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding pending or impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance or code repealed by this ordinance, nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this ordinance.
Section 6. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases of this ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City Council of the City of Woodlake hereby declares that it would have adopted each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.
Section 7. CONSTRUCTION. The City Council intends this ordinance to supplement, not to duplicate or contradict, applicable state and federal law and this ordinance shall be construed in light of that intent. To the extent the provisions of the Woodlake Municipal Code as amended by this ordinance are substantially the same as provisions in the Woodlake Municipal Code existing prior to the effectiveness of this ordinance, then those amended provisions shall be construed as continuations of the earlier provisions and not as new enactments.
391
Section 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. The foregoing ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of the passage hereof. Prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the enactment hereof a certified copy of this ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk pursuant to Government Code section 36933(c)(1) and a summary shall be published once in the , a newspaper printed and published in the City of Woodlake, State of California, together with the names of the Council members voting for and against the same.
THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodlake, State of California, on , 2025 at a regular meeting of said Council duly and regularly convened on said day by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Rudy Mendoza
Mayor, City of Woodlake
ATTEST:
Irene Zacarias
City Clerk
392
City of Woodlake
AGENDA ITEM V-C
April 28, 2025
Prepared by Emmanuel Llamas, City Staff
SUBJECT:
Action: Adoption of Resolutions: Receive Public Comments, Waive 2nd Reading, and Adopting Ordinance Amending Chapter 17.06 Zone Districts and Zoning Map of the Woodlake Municipal Code – PUBLIC HEARING
BACKGROUND:
The City of Woodlake is undergoing a review of local City Ordinances to ensure compliance with recent California State Fire Marshal mandates pertaining to Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map updates.
DISCUSSION:
Below is a summary of the Zoning Ordinance which is being proposed to be amended:
Chapter 17.06 Zone Districts and Zoning Map – The City of Woodlake is proposing to adopt the model ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Planning Commission and City staff recommend Adopting Ordinance Amending Chapter
17.06 Zone Districts and Zoning Map of the Woodlake Municipal Code to comply with State Laws.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact on the City of Woodlake General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution: Receive Public Comments, Waive 2nd Reading, and Adopting Ordinance Amending Chapter 17.06 Zone Districts and Zoning Map of the Woodlake Municipal Code
2. Model Ordinance.
3. Draft Ordinance Chapter 17.06
4. Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
5. CA Fire Chiefs Association Quick Info Flyer
6. LRA Legislation Factsheet
393
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WOODLAKE
COUNTY OF TULARE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In the matter of:
RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS AND )
WAIVING THE 2ND READING AND ) Resolution No. 25-
ADOPTING ORDINANCE AMENDING )
CHAPTER 17.06 OF THE )
WOODLAKE MUNICIPAL CODE )
Council member ______________, offered the following resolution to receive Public Comments, Waive 2nd reading, and Adopting Ordinance amending Chapter 17.06 of the Woodlake Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, the City of Woodlake wishes to add or amend the following ordinances:
Chapter 17.06 Zone Districts and Zoning Map – The City of Woodlake is proposing to adopt the model ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
WHEREAS, the City of Woodlake wishes to amend the Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the City of Woodlake held a public hearing at the April 16, 2025, Planning Commission meetings and at the April 28, 2025, City Council meeting, to receive comments regarding this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the ordinance amendments and set the 2nd hearing date for the City Council meeting on April 28, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF WOODLAKE DOES RESOLVE receiving public comments, waive 2nd reading, and is adopting an ordinance amending Chapter 17.06 of the Woodlake Municipal Code.
The foregoing resolution was adopted upon a motion of Council member ____________ and seconded by Council member _______________ and carried by the following vote at the City Council meeting held on April 28, 2025
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
________________________
Rudy Mendoza, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Irene Zacarias, City Clerk
394
REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREAS
2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE SUPPLEMENT—BLUE 49-7 EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024 SECTION 4911
MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION
ORDINANCE NO.
An ordinance of the City of Woodlake to designate fire hazard severity zones. The Planning Commission of the City of Woodlake ordains as follows:
The City hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
The map, approved by the city is hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled “City of Woodlake Fire Hazard Severity Zones.” Date: 4/16/2025
The official map is also located electronically on the following website:
www.cityofwoodlake.com
The Planning Commission recommends the approval of the ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zone Adoption to the Woodlake City Council at the next Council meeting set for April 28, 2025.
On the motion of Member , seconded by Member:
The roll call vote:
Ayes: Noes: Abstain: Absent:
The foregoing ordinance was passed and adopted by Planning Commission and recommended for adoption by City Council this day of 2025 Ordinance ###
(Name)
Chuck Mann, Chair
Attest: Approved as to form:
(Name) (Name)
Clerk City of Woodlake
395
City of Woodlake Municipal Code Title 17 – Zoning Ordinance 1 January 2025
ORDINANCE NO. ###
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING CHAPTER 17 - WOODLAKE
ZONING ORDINANCE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WOODLAKE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. PURPOSE. The provisions of this ordinance are intended to promote public health, safety, comfort and general welfare, to encourage safe and orderly growth and maintain compliance with state and federal laws.
Section 2. FINDINGS.
WHEREAS The City of Woodlake is undergoing a review of local City Ordinances to ensure compliance with recent California State Fire Marshal mandates pertaining to Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map updates.
WHEREAS Requirements in this ordinance are consistent with other adopted goals and policies of the City of Woodlake
Section 3. CODE ADOPTION. Chapter 17.06 Zone Districts and Zoning Map is hereby enacted and added to the City of Woodlake Municipal Code to read in its entirety as follows:
396
City of Woodlake Municipal Code Title 17 – Zoning Ordinance 2 January 2025
Chapter 17.06
ZONE DISTRICTS AND ZONING MAP
Sections:
17.06.010 Purpose.
17.06.020 Applicability.
17.06.030 Establishment of zone districts.
17.06.040 Establishment of zoning map.
17.06.050 Interpretation of zone boundary lines.
17.06.060 Zone changes.
17.06.070 Prezoning.
17.06.080 Right-of-way abandonment.
17.06.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish zone districts and a zoning map to classify, regulate, restrict, and segregate the uses of land and buildings, to regulate and restrict the height and bulk of buildings, to regulate the area of yards and other open spaces about buildings, and to regulate the density of population.
17.06.020 Applicability.
The zoning districts are applicable in all areas of the City.
17.06.030 Establishment of zone districts.
A. Base zone districts establish the basic land use and property development regulations applicable to all property within the City, as provided in Section 17.02.110. Overlay zone districts provide additional regulations that are to be exercised over certain lands within the overlay zone to meet special community health, safety, welfare, environmental, or development objectives described by the General Plan or a specific plan. Overlay zone district regulations apply in addition to base zone district regulations and other regulations of this chapter.
B. The base zoning districts are hereby established as follows:
1. Very Low Density Residential zone, abbreviated R-VL.
2. Low Density Residential zone, abbreviated as R-L.
3. Medium Density Residential zone, abbreviated as R-M.
4. High Density Residential zone, abbreviated as R-H.
5. Neighborhood Commercial zone, abbreviated as C-N.
6. Service Commercial zone, abbreviated as C-S.
7. Mixed-Use zone, abbreviated as MU.
8. Professional Office zone, abbreviated as PO.
397
City of Woodlake Municipal Code Title 17 – Zoning Ordinance 3 January 2025
9. Industrial zone, abbreviated as I.
10. Public Facilities zone, abbreviated as PF.
11. Open Space zone, abbreviated as OS.
C. The overlay zoning districts are hereby established as follows:
1. Downtown Design overlay zone, abbreviated as DD.
2. Airport overlay zone, abbreviated as AO.
D. Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone:
1. As established by the California Department of Forestry and Fire protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178, any area designated as a Local Responsibility Area Fire Severy Zone within the City will require development standards to abide by Government Code Section 51182
17.06.040 Establishment of zoning map.
A. To ensure that comprehensive zoning regulations may be applied uniformly to all incorporated territory upon adoption of this title, a zoning map is hereby established to delineate the location and boundaries of zone districts within the City. The zoning map is incorporated into this title by this reference with the same force and effect as if the boundaries, together with any notations, references, and information shown on the zoning map were specifically stated and described in this title.
B. The zoning map, together with such additional maps as may be adopted in accordance with the provisions of this title, shall be collectively known as the “City of Woodlake Zoning Map.” C. The official copy of the zoning map shall be kept, maintained, and made available to the public by the Woodlake Community Development Department. The zoning map may be maintained in hard copy and/or electronic formats.
D. All property within incorporated territory shall be delineated within a zoning district on the zoning map.
E. The location of zoning districts on the zoning map shall be consistent with the applicable policies and land use designations set forth in the General Plan.
17.06.050 Interpretation of zone boundary lines.
Whenever any uncertainty exists as to the boundary line between two zoning districts shown on the zoning map, the following interpretations shall control:
A. Where a zoning boundary line is indicated as following a street, alley, railroad right-of-way, drainage channel, or other watercourse, the center line of such street, alley, railroad right-ofway, drainage channel, or other watercourse shall be the boundary line.
B. Where a zoning boundary line is indicated as following a lot line or property line, the boundary line shall be construed as following such lot line or property line.
C. Where a zoning boundary line is not indicated as following a street or alley and does not follow or coincide approximately with a lot line or property line, the zoning boundary line shall be determined by the Director utilizing the scale designated on the zoning map. 398
City of Woodlake Municipal Code Title 17 – Zoning Ordinance 4 January 2025
D. Where further uncertainty exists, the Planning Commission, upon a written application from the owner of the property in question or upon its own motion, shall determine the location of the zoning boundary line in question, giving due consideration to the location indicated on the zoning map, the purposes and objectives of the zoning ordinance, and the applicable policies set forth in the General Plan.
17.06.060 Zone changes.
A. Changes to the zoning map shall be approved by ordinance of the City Council in accordance with Chapter 17.86.
B. When the Director determines that there is a technical error on the zoning map, the zoning map may be corrected to remove the technical error without approval of an ordinance.
17.06.070 Prezoning.
Territories proposed for annexation into the city shall be prezoned concurrent with the City Council initiation of annexation proceedings, in accordance with Chapter 17.86.
17.06.080 Right-of-way abandonment.
When a public street, alley, or railroad right-of-way is abandoned, the abandoned territory shall be immediately, and without any further action, included in the zoning district of the adjacent territory.
Section 3. CEQA REVIEW. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) [there is no possibility the activity in question may have a significant affirmative effect on the environment]. In addition to the foregoing general exemption, the City Council further finds that the ordinance is categorically exempt from review under CEQA under the Class 8 categorical exemption [regulatory activity to assure the protection of the environment]. The City Administrator is hereby directed to ensure that a Notice of Exemption is filed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15062 [14 C.C.R. § 15062].
Section 4. NO LIABILITY. The provisions of this ordinance shall not in any way be construed as imposing any duty of care, liability or responsibility for damage to person or property upon the City of Woodlake, or any official, employee or agent thereof.
Section 5. PENDING ACTIONS. Nothing in this ordinance or in the codes hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding pending or impending 399
City of Woodlake Municipal Code Title 17 – Zoning Ordinance 5 January 2025
in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance or code repealed by this ordinance, nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this ordinance.
Section 6. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases of this ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City Council of the City of Woodlake hereby declares that it would have adopted each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.
Section 7. CONSTRUCTION. The City Council intends this ordinance to supplement, not to duplicate or contradict, applicable State and Federal law and this ordinance shall be construed in light of that intent. To the extent the provisions of the Woodlake Municipal Code as amended by this ordinance are substantially the same as provisions in the Woodlake Municipal Code existing prior to the effectiveness of this ordinance, then those amended provisions shall be construed as continuations of the earlier provisions and not as new enactments.
Section 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. The foregoing ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of the passage hereof. Prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the enactment hereof a certified copy of this ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk pursuant to Government Code section 36933(c)(1) and a summary shall be published once in the Foothill Sun Gazette, a newspaper printed and published in the City of Woodlake, State of California, together with the names of the Council members voting for and against the same.
400
City of Woodlake Municipal Code Title 17 – Zoning Ordinance 6 January 2025
THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodlake, State of California, on _______________ at a regular meeting of said Council duly and regularly convened on said day by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Rudy Mendoza
Mayor, City of Woodlake
ATTEST:
Irene Zacarias
City Clerk
401
City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:
Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency The State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire
Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Waterbody
Federal Responsibility
Area (FRA)
Unzoned LRA
Incorporated City
Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers
Scale: 1:23,000 at 11" x 17"
Km 0 1
Mi 0 1
High Moderate
High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
Woodlake
216
245
UNINCORPORATED
TULARE CO.
March 10, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF WOODLAKE – TULARE COUNTY
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility
Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024
402
THE NEW MAPS WILL INCLUDE:
• GOVERNMENT CODE 51178 REQUIRES THE STATE TO
IDENTIFY MODERATE AND HIGH ZONES IN ADDITION TO
VERY HIGH.
• PREVIOUS LRA MAPS ONLY CONTAINED VERY HIGH.
• THESE MAPS MAY INCLUDE NEW AREAS THAT WERE NOT
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.
• SPECIFIC ACTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO OCCUR WITH 30
DAYS AND 120 DAYS OF TRANSMITTAL.
REQUIREMENTS IN THE Fl RST 30 DA VS:
• GOVERNMENT CODE 51178.5 REQUIRES LOCAL
AGENCIES TO MAKE THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR
PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT.
• THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUR AGENCY WEB
PORTAL WITH A REPOSITORY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
• PUBLIC COMMENTS CAN BE SUBMITTED WITH THE STAFF
REPORT TO YOUR GOVERNING BODY AT THE TIME OF
ORDINANCE ADOPTION.
REQUIREMENTS IN THE Fl RST 120 DA VS:
• GOVERNMENT CODE 51179 REQUIRES THE LOCAL
AGENCY TO DESIGNATE, BY ORDINANCE, MODERATE,
HIGH, AND VERY HIGH ZONES WITHIN 120 DAYS.
• A MODEL ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN
SECTION 4911 OF THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE OR
ONLINE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE
MARSHAL AT SFM ADOPTED MODEL ORDINANCE.
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR AGENCIES WITH LRA:
• GOVERNMENT CODE 511 79 DOES NOT ALLOW LOCAL
AGENCIES TO DECREASE THE LEVEL OF FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONE OR TO REMOVE AREAS FROM THE
RECOMMENDED MAP.
• GOVERNMENT CODE 51179 DOES ALLOW A LOCAL
AGENCY TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL AREAS NOT
IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.
• THE COMMENT PERIOD IS SPECIFICALLY FOR
COMMENT AND THE COMMENTS CANNOT BE USED TO
DECREASE OR REMOVE AREAS FROM THE
RECOMMENDED MAP.
• WORK WITH YOUR AGENCY LEGAL COUNSEL TO
ENSURE ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET.
403
404
405
406
FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
What do Fire Hazard Severity Zones measure?
The Fire Hazard Severity Zone map reflects “hazard,” not “risk”. The map is like flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a par琀椀cular area being inundated by floodwaters, and not specifically prescrip琀椀ve of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical condi琀椀ons that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mi琀椀ga琀椀on measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduc琀椀on efforts.
“Risk” is the poten琀椀al damage a fire can do to the area under exis琀椀ng condi琀椀ons, accoun琀椀ng for any modifica琀椀ons such as fuel reduc琀椀on projects, defensible space, and igni琀椀on resistant building construc琀椀on.
What is a Fire Hazard Severity Zone or FHSZ?
Public Resource Code 4202; The State Fire Marshal shall classify lands within State Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Each zone shall embrace rela琀椀vely homogeneous lands and shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors present, including areas where winds have been iden琀椀fied by the department as a major cause of wildfire spread.
Government Code 51178; The State Fire Marshal shall iden琀椀fy areas in the state as Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been iden琀椀fied by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
Will the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones affect my ability to get or maintain insurance? Insurance companies use risk models, which differ from hazard models, because they consider the suscep琀椀bility of a structure to damage from fire and other short-term factors that are not included in hazard modeling. It is unlikely that insurance risk models would u琀椀lize CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones as a factor, but much of the same data that is used in the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model are likely included in the insurance companies’ risk models. However, insurance risk models incorporate many addi琀椀onal factors and that change more frequently than those that CAL FIRE includes in its hazard mapping, which is built to remain steady for the next 10+ years.
General
407
FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
When were the maps last updated?
In 2007, CAL FIRE updated the FHSZs for the en琀椀re State Responsibility Area (SRA). Between 2008- 2011 the department worked with local governments to make recommenda琀椀ons of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within Local Responsibility Area (LRA).
Why are fire hazard severity maps being updated?
The hazard maps are being updated to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are suscep琀椀ble to wildfire. The hazard mapping process will incorporate new science in local climate data and improved fire assessment modeling in determining hazard ra琀椀ngs.
Where do Fire Hazard Severity Zones apply?
Fire Hazard Severity Zones are found in areas where the state has financial responsibility for wildfire protec琀椀on and preven琀椀on, called the State Responsibility Area. More than 31 million acres are in this area. Under Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021) Government Code 51178 was amended to also iden琀椀fy the Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones with the Very High in Local Responsibility Area (LRA).
What are the uses of Fire Hazard Severity Zones?
The zones are used for several purposes including to designate areas where California’s defensible space standards and wildland urban interface building codes are required. They can be a factor in real estate disclosure, and local governments may consider them in their general plan.
What are the key elements of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model? The fire hazard severity model for wildland fire has two key elements: probability of an area burning and expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather condi琀椀ons. The zones reflect areas that have similar burn probabili琀椀es and fire behavior characteris琀椀cs. The factors considered in determining fire hazard within wildland areas are fire history, flame length, terrain, local weather, and poten琀椀al fuel over a 50-year period. Outside of wildlands, the model considers factors that might lead to buildings being threatened, including terrain, weather, urban vegeta琀椀on cover, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, fire history, and fire hazard in nearby wildlands.
FHSZs are not a structure loss model, as key informa琀椀on regarding structure igni琀椀on (such as roof type, etc.) is not included.
General
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FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
How do the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps differ from California Public U琀椀li琀椀es Commission (CPUC) High Fire Threat District Maps?
The California Public U琀椀li琀椀es Commission (CPUC) sponsored map, known as "CPUC High Fire Threat District Map” (HFTD), includes similar factors as those in the FHSZ maps, however the CPUC HFTD Map is designed specifically for iden琀椀fying areas where there is an increased risk for u琀椀lity associated wildfires. As such, the CPUC map includes fire hazards associated with historical powerline-caused wildfires, current fuel condi琀椀ons, and scores areas based on where fires start, as opposed to where poten琀椀al fires may cause impacts.
Why is my property in a different zone than the adjacent area, which looks similar? In wildland areas, zone edges are a result of the way zones are delineated. Specifically, zones represent areas of similar slope and fuel poten琀椀al. Zone boundaries divide zones based on geographic and vegeta琀椀on features that align with fire hazard poten琀椀al; although, at a local scale, it may appear that the immediate area is similar on both sides of the edge. The class value within a zone is based on the average hazard score across the whole zone, so areas that are in the same zone but not immediately adjacent to a local area can have an influence on the final zone classifica琀椀on. Classifica琀椀on outside of wildland areas is based on the fire hazard of the adjacent wildland and the probability of flames and embers threatening buildings.
How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined?
CAL FIRE used the best available science and data to develop, and field test a model that served as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluated the probability of the area burning and poten琀椀al fire behavior in the area. Many factors were included such as fire history, vegeta琀椀on, flame length, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, terrain, and weather.
What new data will be included in the new model, and how does this differ from the previous model?
A 2 km grid of climate data covering the years 2003-2018 is being used in the update. The previous model used stock weather inputs across the state to calculate wildland fire intensity scores. The updated model will adjust fire intensity scores based on the most extreme fire weather at a given loca琀椀on, considering temperature, humidity, and wind speed. In addi琀椀on, ember transport is being modeled based on local distribu琀椀ons of observed wind speed and direc琀椀on values instead of using a generic buffer distance for urban areas adjacent to wildlands.
General
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FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
How can I search the Fire Hazard Severity Zone of a property? You can search by address to find your current designa琀椀on on the web at: osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ Why does the model place an emphasis on the spread of embers? Embers spread wildfire because they can travel long distances in the wind and ignite vegeta琀椀on, roofs, a琀cs (by ge琀ng into vents), and decks.
Why do waterbodies have a Fire Hazard Severity Zone Classifica琀椀on? All areas in State Responsibility Area, including water bodies, require a Fire Hazard Severity Zone designa琀椀on. The 2007 FHSZ maps zoned all water as Moderate by default. In the 2023 FHSZ model we added a buffer of FHSZ from the surrounding wildland into water bodies to account for poten琀椀al threat of embers to buildings on docks and house boats, as well as varia琀椀on in reservoir height that occurs with drought.
How does CAL FIRE assist Local Governments in Fire Hazard Severity Zones? CAL FIRE’s Land Use Planning Program is a specialized unit that provides support to local governments by providing fire safety exper琀椀se on the State’s wildland urban interface building codes, wildfire safety codes, as well as helping in the development of the safety elements in general plans.
General
410
FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
What is State Responsibility Area or SRA?
SRA is a legal term defining the area where the state has financial responsibility for wildland fire protec琀椀on and preven琀椀on. Incorporated ci琀椀es and federal ownership are not included. Within the SRA, CAL FIRE is responsible for fire preven琀椀on and suppression. There are more than 31 million acres in SRA, with an es琀椀mated 1.7 million people and 800,000 exis琀椀ng homes.
How is State Responsibility Area determined?
The Board of Forestry and Fire Protec琀椀on (Board) classifies land as State Responsibility Area. The legal defini琀椀on of SRA is found in the Public Resources Code Sec琀椀on 4125. The Board has developed detailed procedures to classify lands as State Responsibility Area. Lands are removed from SRA when they become incorporated by a city, change in ownership to the federal government, become more densely populated, or are converted to intensive agriculture that minimizes the risk of wildfire. While some lands are removed from SRA automa琀椀cally, the Board typically reviews changes every five years.
What Fire Hazard Severity Zones are in State Responsibility Area? All of the State Responsibility Area is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Lands are either ranked as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
What are the wildland urban interface (WUI) building codes in State Responsibility Area? The WUI building codes (California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 7A) reduce the risk of embers fanned by wind-blown wildfires from igni琀椀ng buildings. The codes for roofing, siding, decking, windows, and vents apply throughout all State Responsibility Area regardless of the fire hazard severity ranking. Ember-resistant building materials can be found at:
h琀琀ps://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/fire-engineering-and-inves琀椀ga琀椀ons/building-materials-lis琀椀ng/ State Responsibility Area
411
FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the various Fire Hazard Severity Zones? Classifica琀椀on of a wildland zone as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Hazard is based on the average hazard across the area included in the zone, which have a minimum size of 200 acres. In wildlands, hazard is a func琀椀on of modeled flame length under the worst condi琀椀ons and annual burn probability. Both these factors generally increase with increasing hazard level, but there may be instances where one value is Very High and the other is low, pushing the overall hazard into a more intermediate ranking. On average, both modeled flame length and burn probability increase by roughly 40-60% between hazard classes.
Is the GIS data for Fire Hazard Severity Zones available for download? The data inputs used to develop the Fire Hazard Severity Zones are iden琀椀fied in the Ini琀椀al Statement of Reasons (ISOR) Title 19 Development (ca.gov). CAL FIRE has developed an addi琀椀onal data package which consists of sequen琀椀al modeling steps, including any data inputs that were not already publicly available and referenced in the ISOR. The data package encompasses 34 spa琀椀al datasets and 8 tables, provided in raster, polygon, and table format. These datasets are forma琀琀ed for Esri ArcGIS so昀琀ware, except for four tables provided in Excel. Ten of the datasets are updated versions used to produce an edited SRA FHSZ map following the public comment period that ended April 4, 2023. Upon formal adop琀椀on of the FHSZ map, the final SRA FHSZ geospa琀椀al data file will become available. The data package is available on the FHSZ website Fire Hazard Severity Zones (ca.gov) under the science and methods banner.
State Responsibility Area
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FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Local Responsibility Area or LRA?
Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are incorporated ci琀椀es, urban regions, agriculture lands, and por琀椀ons of the desert where the local government is responsible for wildfire protec琀椀on. This is typically provided by city fire departments, fire protec琀椀on districts, coun琀椀es, and by CAL FIRE under contract.
When did Fire Hazard Severity Zones begin in Local Responsibility Area? Assembly Bill 337 (Bates, 1992) prompted by the devasta琀椀ng Oakland Hills Fire of 1991, calls for CAL FIRE to evaluate fire hazard severity in Local Responsibility Area and to make a recommenda琀椀on to the local jurisdic琀椀on where Very High FHSZ exist. Government Code 51175 then provides direc琀椀on for the local jurisdic琀椀on to take appropriate ac琀椀on.
How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined in Local Responsibility Areas? CAL FIRE uses an extension of the State Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone model as the basis for evalua琀椀ng fire hazard in Local Responsibility Area. The Local Responsibility Area hazard ra琀椀ng reflects flame and ember intrusion from adjacent wildlands and from flammable vegeta琀椀on in the urban area.
What are the requirements for landowners in Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas?
California’s WUI building codes (CBC Chapter 7A) apply to the design and construc琀椀on of new buildings located in High and Very High FHSZs in Local Responsibility Areas. Local ordinances may require igni琀椀on resistant construc琀椀on for remodel projects. Check with your local building department to determine which igni琀椀on resistant building codes apply to your project. In addi琀椀on, Government Code Sec琀椀on 51182 calls for defensible space clearance and other wildland fire safety prac琀椀ces for buildings. Owners are also required to make a natural hazard disclosure as part of a real estate transfer. For informa琀椀on regarding home hardening and defensible space clearance, visit www.readyforwildfire.org.
Does the designa琀椀on of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area trigger the 100-foot clearance requirement?
Yes, per Government Code 51182 unless a local government has passed a more stringent requirement, the 100-foot defensible space clearance applies. For informa琀椀on regarding home hardening and defensible space clearance, visit www.readyforwildfire.org.
Local Responsibility Area
413
FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my property in a different zone than the adjacent area, which looks similar? In non-wildland areas, zone edges occur based on distance to the wildland edge. Because hazard in these areas is largely determined by incoming embers from adjacent wildland, urban areas that are similar in vegeta琀椀on type and housing density may have a change in FHSZ class as the distance to the wildland edge increases. Areas immediately adjacent to wildland receive the same FHSZ score as that wildland where fire originates, and the model then produces lower scores as the distance to wildland edge increases.
What is the process for developing Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area? CAL FIRE uses the same modeling data that is used to map the State Responsibility Area. The map, along with a model ordinance, are then sent to the governing body for adop琀椀on.
How are the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones impac琀椀ng development? Many of the changes expanding Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas have been supported by the building industry. CAL FIRE works closely with the building industry when se琀ng various building codes and defensible space requirements, so we are working together to not affect development itself but to make sure development matches the hazards of that area.
When will the Local Responsibility Area Map be released? The Local Responsibility Area map process will happen a昀琀er the State Responsibility Area process has been completed, which is es琀椀mated to occur in winter of 2025.
Why haven’t Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes been classified before in the Local Responsibility Area?
New legisla琀椀on, Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), now requires the adop琀椀on of all three Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes in the Local Responsibility Area. Previously only Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones were required for adop琀椀on in Local Responsibility Areas.
Local Responsibility Area
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LRA Legislation Factsheet
Assembly Bill No.337
An act to add Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) to Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, and to amend Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to fire protection.
[Enrolled, January 28, 1991]
AB 337, Bates. Very high fire hazard severity zones.
(1) Under existing law, the State Board of Forestry is required to classify all lands within the state, in accordance with prescribed criteria, for the purpose of determining areas in which the financial responsibility of preventing and suppressing fires is primarily the responsibility of the state.
This bill would declare that the prevention of fires is not a municipal affair but is instead, a matter of statewide concern, and would make a finding and declaration of the Legislature that its provisions apply to all local agencies, including, but not limited to, charter cities, charter counties, and charter cities and counties. The bill would prohibit that finding from limiting the authority of a local agency, as defined, from imposing more restrictive fire and panic safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law.
The bill would state that it is not the intent of the Legislature to limit or restrict the authority of a local agency to impose more restrictive fire and panic safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law.
This bill would require the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify areas in the state as very high fire hazard severity zones within all counties pursuant to a prescribed schedule. The bill would require local agencies, as defined, to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severity zones in their jurisdiction after receiving recommendations from the director, except as prescribed. The bill would authorize local agencies to include or exclude areas following certain findings and would require changes made by local agencies to be final and not rebuttable by the director. By requiring local agencies to designate very high fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdictions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of any high fire hazard security zones. 415
LRA Legislation Factsheet
Assembly Bill No.337 (Continued)
(2) Under existing law, any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains any building or structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area or forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands, or grass-covered lands, or any land that is covered with flammable material, is required to undertake specified fire protection measures, including the maintenance of specified firebreaks.
The bill would enact requirements of this nature for any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains, any occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush-covered land, grass-covered land, or land covered with flammable material, which area or land is within a very high fire hazard severity zone, as described in (1).
The bill would authorize local agencies to exempt certain structures and would exempt certain land or water areas.
The bill would make violation of these requirements an infraction or misdemeanor, as specified, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime, and would specify related matters.
This bill would require local agencies to notify owners of property of violation and would authorize local agencies to correct the conditions and make a lien upon the property, as prescribed. By creating these requirements, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would permit a violation of these requirements to be considered a public nuisance, as specified.
(3) Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt, amend, and repeal regulations for roof coverings and openings into the attic areas of buildings in those fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility lands as designated by the director. Existing law requires the director to classify lands within state responsibility areas into fire hazard severity zones.
This bill would instead require the State Fire Marshal to propose, and would require the State Building Standards Commission to adopt, amend, and repeal those regulations. The bill would also require the State Fire Marshal to propose, and would require the State Building Standards Commission to adopt, amend, and repeal, those regulations for buildings in very high fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility lands, designated by the director, and in very high fire hazard severity zones as described in (1). The bill would require roofs on all new buildings and certain existing buildings in both of those zones to be at least a class B roof that complies with Standard 32-7 of the Uniform Building Code, as adopted in the California Building Standards Code. The bill would impose requirements on installers and roofing materials and make other related changes. The bill would exempt historic buildings, as defined, from these provisions.
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LRA Legislation Factsheet
Senate Bill No.63
CHAPTER 382
An act to amend Sections 51177, 51178, 51178.5, 51182, and 51189 of the Government Code, to amend Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Sections 4124.5 and 4291 of, and to add and repeal Sections 4123.8, 4291.5, and 4291.6 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to fire prevention.
[Approved by Governor September 28, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2021.] SB 63, Stern. Fire prevention: vegetation management: public education: grants: defensible space:
fire hazard severity zones.
(1) Existing law requires the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify areas of the state as very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency, within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the director that identifies very high fire hazard severity zones, to make the information available for public review, as provided.
This bill, among other things, would also require the director to identify areas of the state as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones. The bill would modify the factors the director is required to use to identify areas into fire hazard severity zones, as provided. The bill would require a local agency to make this information available for public review and comment, as provided. By expanding the responsibility of a local agency, the bill would impose a statemandated local program.
This bill would also make conforming changes.
(2) Existing law requires a person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, brushcovered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable material that is within a very high fire hazard severity zone, as designated by a local agency, or a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining those areas or lands within a state responsibility area, to maintain a defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, as specified. Existing law authorizes a greater distance than specified above on the specified land in a very high fire hazard severity zone. Existing law specifies that clearance beyond the property line may only be required if state law, local ordinance, rule, or regulation includes certain findings and specifies that clearance on adjacent property shall only be conducted following written consent by the adjacent landowner.
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LRA Legislation Factsheet
Amended by Senate Bill No.63
Government Code 51178
The State Fire Marshal shall identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 382, Sec. 2.5. (SB 63) Effective January 1, 2022.) Government Code 51178.5
Within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the State Fire Marshal that identifies fire hazard severity zones pursuant to Section 51178, a local agency shall make the information available for public review and comment. The information shall be presented in a format that is understandable and accessible to the general public, including, but not limited to, maps. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 382, Sec. 3.5. (SB 63) Effective January 1, 2022.) 418
LRA Legislation Factsheet
Assembly Bill No. 211
CHAPTER 574
An act to amend Sections 11891, 11893, 12581, 12996, 12998, 12999.4, and 12999.5 of, and to add Sections 12999.6 and 13001 to, the Food and Agricultural Code, to amend Section 51179 of the Government Code, to amend Sections 44274.10, 44274.11, 44274.12, 44274.13, and 44274.14 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend Sections 3113, 4799.05, 14503.5.1, 14538, 14549.2, 14581, 42052, and 42060 of, to add Sections 14537.5, 14548, 14555, and 21166.3 to, to add Part 5 (commencing with Section 75250) to Division 44 of, and to repeal Section 75250.1 of, the Public Resources Code, to amend Section 43152.6 of, and to amend and repeal Section 43152.10 of, the Revenue and Taxation Code, to amend Section 13198 of the Water Code, to amend the Budget Act of 2021 (Chapters 21, 69, and 240 of the Statutes of 2021) by amending Item 8570-002-0001 of Section
2.00 of that act, and to amend the Budget Act of 2021 (Chapter 44 of the Statutes of 2022) by amending Items 3540-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of that act, relating to public resources, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget. [Approved by Governor September 27, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2022.] AB 211, Committee on Budget. Public resources trailer bill. (2) Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas of the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. Existing law authorizes a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence, as provided.
This bill would additionally require a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate and high fire hazard severity zones within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. By expanding the responsibility of a local agency, the bill would impose a statemandated local program. The bill would additionally authorize a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. The bill would prohibit the local agency from decreasing the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency, as provided.
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LRA Legislation Factsheet
Amended by Assembly Bill No. 211
Government Code 51179
(a) A local agency shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178.
(b) (1) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.
(2) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. (3) A local agency shall not decrease the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency, and, in exercising its discretion pursuant to paragraph (2), may only increase the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency.
(c) The local agency shall transmit a copy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption. (d) Changes made by a local agency to the recommendations made by the State Fire Marshal shall be final and shall not be rebuttable by the State Fire Marshal. (e) The State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones.
(f) Any ordinance adopted by a local agency pursuant to this section that substantially conforms to the model ordinance of the State Fire Marshal shall be presumed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.
(g) A local agency shall post a notice at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. If the agency amends the map, pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of this section, the notice shall instead identify the location of the amended map. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 574, Sec. 10. (AB 211) Effective September 27, 2022.) 420
LRA Legislation Factsheet
Increasing Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ)
Area and Designation
Government Code section 51179 requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high FHSZ within 120 days of receiving the identified FHSZ’s from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178.
The law does not allow for a local jurisdiction to request changes or provide comments to the State Fire Marshal on the FHSZ designations. However, a local agency may choose to increase the designation of a FHSZ from the FHSZ identified by the State Fire Marshal, or designate areas as having a FHSZ that were not designated in a FHSZ by the State Fire Marshal. This may occur because FHSZ zone edges in the maps and data from the State Fire Marshal are not aligned with parcel boundaries or roads that some may consider for lines of convenance when adopting ordinances. A local agency is not allowed to reduce the designation of a FHSZ classification from the State Fire Marshal (i.e. a local agency cannot make an area designated as High by the State Fire Marshal, Moderate in its adopted ordinance).
However, a local jurisdiction can increase the designation from the one identified by the State Fire Marshal. If a local agency decides to increase the designation of a FHSZ, it may do so if it does the following:
1. If increasing the designation to Very High, a local agency must make a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection.
2. If increasing the designation to Moderate or High, a local agency may do this at its discretion.
If a local agency decides to include areas in its FHSZ adopted ordinance not identified as being in a FHSZ by the State Fire Marshal, it may include those areas if it does the following:
1. If including areas not identified as being in a FHSZ and designating it as Very High, a local agency must make a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection.
2. If including areas not identified as being in a FHSZ and designating it as Moderate or High, a local agency may do this at its discretion.
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LRA Legislation Factsheet
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City of Woodlake
AGENDA ITEM V-D
April 28, 2025
Prepared by Emmanuel Llamas, City Staff
SUBJECT:
Action: Adoption of Resolution: Adoption of Policy to Prioritize Allocation of Water and Sewer Services to Affordable Housing Projects
BACKGROUND:
The City of Woodlake is undergoing a review of its local housing policies to ensure compliance with recent State laws, and the California Housing and Community Development Department requirements for compliance and certification of the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element.
Senate Bill 1087 created a statue which requires local governments to provide a copy of the adopted housing element to water and sewer providers. In addition, water and sewer providers must grant priority for service allocations to proposed developments that include housing units affordable to lower-income households.
DISCUSSION:
Water and Sewer providers must abide by SB1087 Chapter 727 which requires the City to • Adopt written policies and procedures that grant priority to proposed development that includes housing affordable to lower-income households
• Prohibit denying or conditioning the approval or reducing the amount of service for an application for development that includes housing affordable to lower-income households, unless specific written findings are made
• Require water management plans to included projected water use for single-family and multi-family housing needed for lower-income households.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
City staff recommend Adoption of Policy to Prioritize Allocation of Water and Sewer Services to Affordable Housing Projects.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact on the City of Woodlake General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution: Adoption of Policy to Prioritize Allocation of Water and Sewer Services to Affordable Housing Projects
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RESOLUTION X-XX
1 BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WOODLAKE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WOODLAKE ADOPTING A
SERVICE PRIORITY POLICY FOR LOWER-INCOME DEVELOPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SB 1087
WHEREAS, in 2005, the California State Legislature enacted Chapter 727, Statutes of 2005 (Senate Bill (SB) 1087), which amended Government Code Section 65589.7 and requires water and sewer providers to grant priority for water and sewer service to proposed developments that include housing units affordable to lower-income households; and WHEREAS, SB 1087 requires providers of water or sewer services to adopt written policies and procedures with specific objective standards for providing priority service to affordable housing projects and update those policies at least once every five years thereafter; and
WHEREAS, the City of Woodlake is a water service and sewer service provider subject to the requirements of SB 1087; and
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, DETERMINED AND ORDERED by the City Council as follows:
Section 1: Policy and Procedures
A. In accordance with SB 1087, the City shall grant water or sewer service priority to any “proposed development that includes units for lower-income households.” For purposes of this policy, “proposed development that includes units for lower-income households” shall be developments that include dwelling units to be sold or rented to lower-income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, at an affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or an affordable rent, as described in Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code.
B. In accordance with SB 1087, it is further established that the City shall not deny or condition that approval of an application for water or sewer services to, or reduce the amount of such services applied for by, a proposed development that includes housing units affordable to lower-income households unless the City makes specific written findings that the denial, condition, or reduction is necessary due to the existence of one of the following:
a. The City does not have a sufficient water supply as defined in Section 66473.7(a)(2) of the Government Code or is operating under a water shortage emergency as defined in Section 350 of the Water Code, or does not have sufficient water treatment or distribution capacity to serve the needs of the proposed affordable housing development as demonstrated by a written engineering analysis and report; or b. The City is subject to a compliance order issued by the Department of Public Health that prohibits new water connections; or
c. The applicant fails to agree to reasonable terms and conditions for water service from the City which is generally applicable to other development projects seeking water service from the City including, but not limited to, payment of any fee or charge authorized by Section 66013 of the Government Code.
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RESOLUTION X-XX
2 Section 2. Rescission of Conflicting Resolutions of Policies. All prior resolutions or policies inconsistent with this Resolution are hereby repealed but only to the extent that they conflict with this Resolution.
Section 3. No Entitlement to Service Created. As further evidenced by Sections 10635(c) and 10914 of the Water Code, and Section 66473.7(m) of the Government Code, nothing in this Resolution is intended or shall be constructed as creating a right or entitlement to water service or any specified level of water service, nor shall this Resolution be construed to either impose, expand, or limit any duty concerning the City’s obligation to provide service to its existing customers or to any future potential customers.
Section 4. Effective Date. This resolution shall be effective as of __________.
Section 5. Review of Service Policies. At least once every five years (5) after passage of this resolution, the policies contained in this resolution shall be presented to the City Council for review and evaluation of the written policies governing water services to proposed developments that include housing units for lower-income households.
BE lT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council hereby recommends approval of the Service Priority Policy for Lower-Income Development.
The foregoing resolution was adopted upon a motion of City Council member _______________, second by City Council member_______________, regular meeting of the Woodlake City Council on April 28, 2025, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
________________________
Rudy Mendoza, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Irene Zacarias, City Clerk
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