An Official Land Use Zoning Ordinance of the City of Bellflower
is hereby adopted and established as in hereafter set forth in this
title, in order to encourage the most appropriate use of the land;
to conserve and stabilize the value of property; provide adequate
open space for light and air, and to prevent and permit adequate control
of fires, to prevent undue concentration of the population; to lessen
congestion on streets; to facilitate adequate provisions for community
facilities and utilities, including transportation, water supply,
sewage disposal, schools, parks and other public requirements which
promote the public peace, health, safety, morale and general welfare,
all in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan for the orderly development
of the City and its environs.
(Prior code § 19-1.1)
This title shall be known as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City
of Bellflower," and may be cited as such.
(Prior code § 19-1.2)
No building shall be erected, no existing building shall be
moved, altered or added to, or enlarged, nor shall any land, building
or premises be used or designated for any purpose or in any manner
other than for a use or purpose as may be permitted in the district
in which the building, land or premises is located.
(Prior code § 19-1.3)
No building shall be erected, reconstructed or structurally
altered to exceed in height the limit designated for the district
in which the building is located.
(Prior code § 19-1.4)
No building shall be erected, nor shall any existing building
be altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any open space surrounding
any building be encroached upon, or reduced in any manner, except
in conformity to the yard, building site area, principal lot frontage
and building location regulations designated for the district in which
the building or open space is located.
(Prior code § 19-1.5)
No yard or other open space provided about any building for
the purpose of complying with provisions of this title shall be considered
as providing a yard or open space for any other building, and no yard
or other open space on one lot shall be considered as providing a
yard or open space for a building on any other lot.
(Prior code § 19-1.6)
The street frontage of a lot shall be not less than 50 feet
for any lot created after the effective date of the ordinance codified
in this title.
(Prior code § 19-1.7)
A.
Continuation
of Previously Granted Exceptions and Special Use Permits. All exceptions
or variances and Special Use Permits or Conditional Use Permits granted
pursuant to the provisions of any zoning ordinance of the City shall
be deemed to exist hereafter as a variance or Conditional Use Permit
and shall be subject to all the conditions and provisions governing
such variance or Conditional Use Permit upon the effective date of
the ordinance codified in this title.
B.
Procedure
Regarding Pending Proceedings. When prior to the effective date of
said ordinance and pursuant to any zoning ordinance of the City an
action has been taken under any of the following conditions, such
action shall be deemed to have been pursuant to the provisions of
this title and shall be processed, insofar as possible, in accordance
with this title.
C.
Continuation
of Existing Nonconforming Uses. No use established or conducted, nor
any building or improvement existing or maintained, in violation of
any of the former zoning regulations of this City, shall be deemed
to have acquired a legal nonconforming status by reason of the adoption
of these regulations.
(Prior code § 19-1.8)
These regulations shall be deemed and construed to be the minimum
requirements necessary for the promotion of the public health, safety,
interest and welfare, unless the context of a specific regulation
clearly provides otherwise.
(Prior code § 19-1.9)
Unless otherwise specifically permitted by Title 14 and Chapter 17.94 of this Code, and notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, no new use is permitted unless it is permitted by both State and Federal law.
(Prior code § 19-1.10; Ord. 1323 § 6, 8/28/17)
A.
Definition.
For purposes of this section, "public project" means a construction
or maintenance project developed on City-owned property or in the
public right-of-way and designed for public use as approved by the
City Council.
B.
Findings.
The City Council may exempt a public project from the regulations
of Title 17 to this Code, by resolution, upon making the following
findings:
1.
That
reasonable attempts were made to comply with the regulations contained
in this title;
2.
That
strict and literal interpretation and enforcement of this title would
inhibit the City's ability to maintain public health, safety, and
general welfare in a particular instance; and
3.
That
granting of the exemption will not be detrimental to the public health,
safety, and general welfare or materially injurious to properties
or improvements in the vicinity.
(Ord. 1333 § 2, 1/23/17)
A.
The
Director has the authority and responsibility to hear and act upon
all matters as specified in this title.
B.
The
Director has the authority to interpret the use provisions applicable
to each zone district identified in this title. In the event that
a specific use or type of use is not listed, the Director has the
authority to determine which listed use is most similar to the proposed
use and thereby determine whether the use is permitted, permitted
subject to conditional use permit review and approval, permitted as
a temporary use, or prohibited. In determining "similarity," the Director
must make all of the following findings:
1.
The
proposed use must meet the intent of, and be consistent with the goals,
objectives and policies of the General Plan;
2.
The
proposed use must meet the stated purpose and general intent of the
district in which the use is proposed to be located;
3.
The
proposed use cannot adversely impact the public health, safety and
general welfare of the City's residents; and
4.
The
proposed use must share characteristics common with, and not be of
greater intensity, density or generate more environmental impact,
than those uses listed in the permitted uses section.
C.
Any
applicant, interested person, or public official may appeal any decision
of the Director to the Planning Commission in accordance with the
appeal procedures set forth in this title.
(Ord. 1417 § 6, 8/8/22)
If ambiguity arises concerning the appropriate classification
of a particular use within the meaning and intent of this title, or
if ambiguity exists with respect to matters of height, yard requirements,
area requirements, or zone boundaries, it is the Director's duty to
ascertain all pertinent facts, and to set forth in writing the findings
and the interpretations. The Director can refer the matter to the
Planning Commission as a scheduled matter not requiring public hearing,
and the findings and interpretations of the Planning Commission will
be set forth in the recorded minutes. Thereafter, such interpretations
will govern.
(Ord. 1417 § 7, 8/8/22)
