A.
Purpose and Intent. A conditional use permit is intended to allow the establishment of those uses which have some special impact or uniqueness such that their effect on the surrounding environment cannot be determined in advance of the use being proposed for a particular location. The conditional use permit provides the city with the means to review the location, design, configuration of uses, operations, and potential impact and compatibility with the surrounding area.
No conditional use permit or permit granting a variance shall have any force or effect until the applicant thereof actually receives such permit signed by the secretary of the planning commission designating the conditions of its issue thereon, and executes his or her written consent or otherwise consents to the conditions imposed. No permit shall be issued until the time for filing an appeal from decisions of the planning commission as provided in Section 17.03.090 has expired, or in the event of such appeal, after the final determination thereof by the city council.
B.
Application Requirements. Applications for conditional use permits shall be completed in accordance with Section 17.03.030 of this development code.
C.
Authority. Conditional use permits shall require a public hearing as follows:
1.
When conditional use permit involves an existing building, the director of planning shall have the authority to approve, conditionally approve or deny an application for a conditional use permit. Decisions of the director of planning may be appealed to the planning commission, pursuant to Section 17.03.090.
2.
When a conditional use permit accompanies an application for a development plan for a new building that is less than ten thousand square feet, the director of planning shall have the authority to approve, conditionally approve, or deny an application for conditional use permit. Decisions of the director of planning may be appealed to the planning commission, pursuant to Section 17.03.090.
3.
When a conditional use permit accompanies an application for a development plan for a new building that is ten thousand square feet or greater, or whenever the director of planning has determined that the matter should be forwarded to the planning commission. The planning commission shall have the authority to approve, conditionally approve, or deny an application for a conditional use permit. Decisions of the planning commission may be appealed to the city council, pursuant to Section 17.03.090.
D.
Hearing and Notice. Upon the determination that a conditional use permit application is complete, a public hearing shall be scheduled with the director of planning or the planning commission. Notice of the time, date and place of public hearing shall be given as provided in Section 17.03.040 of this code.
E.
Findings. In considering applications for conditional use permits, the hearing body, with such conditions as are deemed reasonable in approving or conditionally approving the use, shall find the use will not jeopardize, adversely affect, endanger or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health, safety or general welfare.
1.
To approve or conditionally approve a conditional use permit, the planning commission or planning director (or planning commission and city council on appeal) must make the following findings:
a.
The proposed conditional use is consistent with the general plan and the development code.
b.
The proposed conditional use is compatible with the nature, condition and development of adjacent uses, buildings and structures and the proposed conditional use will not adversely affect the adjacent uses, buildings or structures.
c.
The site for a proposed conditional use is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the yards, walls, fences, parking and loading facilities, buffer areas, landscaping, and other development features prescribed in this development code and required by the planning commission or council in order to integrate the use with other uses in the neighborhood.
d.
The nature of the proposed conditional use is not detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the community.
e.
That the decision to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application for a conditional use permit be based on substantial evidence in view of the record as a whole before the planning director, planning commission, or city council on appeal.
2.
Conditions of approval imposed by the planning director, planning commission or city council on appeal for a conditional use may involve any pertinent factors affecting the establishment, operation or maintenance of the requested use.
3.
Any conditional use permit granted or approved hereunder shall be approved or conditionally approved with the city, and its planning commission and city council retaining and reserving the right and jurisdiction to review and to modify such conditional use permit—including the conditions of approval—based on changed circumstances. Changed circumstances include, but are not limited to, the modification of the business, a change in scope, emphasis, size, or nature of the business, and the expansion, alteration, reconfiguration or change of use.
F.
Notice of Decision. Notice of decision upon an application for a conditional use permit shall be in accordance with Section 17.03.040(E) of this development code.
G.
Expiration of Conditional Use Permit. Within two years of approval of a conditional use permit, commencement of use shall have occurred or the approval shall be subject to expiration. Commencement of use shall be defined by the issuance of a building permit for conditional uses involving new construction or the actual occupancy of an existing structure for a conditional use not involving new construction. If after three years, the commencement of the use for which a conditional use permit was issued has not occurred, the planning director may provide a notice to the permit holder that the conditional use permit is subject to expiration and that a public hearing before the planning commission will be held to determine whether or not the planning commission shall determine that the conditional use permit expired. Notice of the hearing shall be given in accordance with Section 17.03.040. The planning commission shall take evidence regarding what use, if any, the permit holder has made of the conditional use permit and determine if such use is significant to justify extending or continuing the conditional use permit. Additionally, if after commencement of the use under the conditional use permit, the active use of the conditional use permit is discontinued for a period of three years, then the conditional use permit shall be deemed abandoned.
H.
Time Extension. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the permittee may, prior to the expiration of the conditional use permit, apply for up to three one-year extensions of time in which to use the conditional use permit. Each extension of time shall be granted in one-year increments only.
An application for an extension of time shall be made to the planning director, on forms provided by the planning department and shall be filed with the planning department, accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. Within thirty days following the filing of an application for an extension of time, the planning director may approve, conditionally approve or deny the application. An extension of time may be granted by the planning director only upon a determination that the property and use are consistent with the general plan, land use ordinance, and all other city ordinances and regulations. For any time extension that administratively extends an approval that was originally approved at a public hearing, notice of the planning director's decision to administratively approve a time extension shall be posted at the site and mailed at least ten days prior to its approval to the applicant and its representative (as shown on the application); to the property owner (as shown on the latest available equalized assessment roll of the county of Riverside) or the owner's agent; to all persons whose names and addresses appear on the latest available assessment roll of the county of Riverside as owners of property within a distance of six hundred feet from the exterior boundaries of the site for which the application is filed (a minimum of thirty property owners); to anyone filing a written request for notification; and to such other persons whose property might, in the planning director's judgment, be affected by the establishment of the use or zone requested. Notice shall also be sent to public departments, bureaus, or agencies which are determined by the planning director to be affected by the application. For matters that are considered to have special significance or impact, the planning director may refer such items to the planning commission for consideration at a noticed public hearing.
Any conditional use permit which is not used within the time specified in the grant of approval, or, if no time is specified, within one year of the effective date of such approval, shall become subject to termination. The planning director may extend such approval for a period not to exceed one year provided an application requesting the extension is filed prior to the original expiration date. For purposes of this section, "used" means the commencement of construction activity or any activity authorized by the grant of approval or conditional approval.
Any proceeding to enforce the expiration of any conditional use permit or variance granted hereunder shall commence with notice to the permit holder of the city's intent to enforce the same and following the hearing requirements of the following paragraph.
The term "use" shall mean the beginning of a substantial construction of the use that is authorized, which construction must thereafter be pursued diligently to completion, or the actual occupancy of existing buildings or land under terms of the authorized use.
I.
Reservation of Right to Review Conditional Use Permit. Any conditional use permit granted or approved hereunder, shall be approved or conditionally approved with the city, and its planning director, planning commission, and city council retaining and reserving the right and jurisdiction to review and modify such conditional use permit (including the conditions of approval) based on changed circumstances. Changed circumstances include, but are not limited to, the modification of the business, a change in scope, emphasis, size or nature of the business, and the expansion, alteration, reconfiguration or change of use. The reservation of right to review any conditional use permit granted or approved or conditionally approved hereunder by the city, its planning director, planning commission, and city council is in addition to, and not lieu of, the right of the city, its director of planning, planning commission, and city council to review and modify any conditional use permit approved or conditionally approved hereunder for any violations of the conditions imposed on such conditional use permit or for the maintenance of any nuisance condition or other code violation thereon.
J.
Modifications of a Conditional Use Permit. Requests to modify a conditional use permit shall be made in conformance with the provisions of Section 17.05.030.
K.
All conditional use permits that include the on-site consumption of alcohol, shall be physically posted on site in a conspicuous manner viewable to customers, patrons or guests and presented upon request to any law enforcement or city staff authorized to enforce this chapter. The posting shall include the approval letter, conditions of approval, and approved site plan.
(Ord. 95-16 § 2; Ord. 96-19 § 2(I) and (J); Ord. 97-17 § 7; Ord. 03-04 § 2; Ord. 10-07 § 31; Ord. 14-01 § 9; Ord. 19-02 § 9; Ord. 20-08 §§ 5—8; Ord. 23-03 § 16)
