A. The size, shape and location of Specific Plan No. 23 presents a unique
development opportunity within the city. The site encompasses two
blocks north of a railroad right-of-way and south of an established
residential neighborhood referred to as the San Dimas Town Core (see
Exhibit A). The easterly project boundary is North Acacia Street and
the westerly project boundary is just east of the Trails Apartment
Complex located at 444 N. Amelia Avenue.
B. Specific Plan No. 23 provides the best mechanism for comprehensive,
high quality, and sensitive development for the project area. The
purpose of Specific Plan No. 23 includes the following:
1.
To ensure that the development of the project area is compatible
to adjacent uses;
2.
To minimize the negative adverse impact of traffic generated
by any development by directing traffic away from the residential
neighborhood;
3.
To incorporate creative and sensitive planning, architecture,
landscape architecture, and engineering to develop a project that
will enhance the existing adjacent uses and promote the existing and
future appearance of San Dimas;
4.
To provide provisions for the continued use and maintenance
of existing improvements as the project areas recycle into development
consistent with the provisions of the design standards within this
specific plan;
5.
To provide home ownership opportunities responsive to the needs
of the community;
6.
To reclaim the currently underutilized site and transform it
into a vibrant living environment;
7.
To provide a desirable, high-quality residential community where
people will want to purchase/live a new home within the city of San
Dimas; and
8.
To stimulate revitalization efforts in nearby underutilized
properties.
(Ord. 938 § 1 (I (A)),
1990; Ord. 1315, 10/8/2024)
The adoption of Specific Plan No. 23 by the city is authorized
by and pursuant to Sections 65450 through 65457 of the California
Government Code.
(Ord. 938 § 1 (I (B)),
1990; Ord. 1315, 10/8/2024)
Specific Plan No. 23 encompasses land area which totals approximately
6.1 acres. The project area is assembled into two land areas roughly
resembling city blocks. Each "block" is adjacent to the railroad right-of-way
which runs in a diagonal manner when compared to a traditional north,
south, east, west grid street system. Each "block" has street frontage,
however, visibility from Bonita Avenue is limited. The project boundaries
are indicated on the attached Exhibit A at the end of this title.
(Ord. 938 § 1 (I (C)),
1990; Ord. 1315, 10/8/2024)
The project area of Specific Plan No. 23 is designated as Mixed
Use - Residential/Industrial by the city's general plan. All development,
uses and activity shall be subject to, but not limited to, the following
general provisions:
A. Unless otherwise specified, all development, uses and activity within
Specific Plan No. 23 shall comply with this code. Terms used in this
chapter shall have the same meaning as defined elsewhere in this code
unless otherwise provided;
B. Any details or issues not specifically covered by this specific plan
shall be subject to the regulations of this code;
C. The review and approval of development within the specific plan area
shall be subject to Section 65450 et seq. of the state Government
Code;
D. All construction within the boundaries of the specific plan area
shall comply with all provisions of the
California Building Code and
the various mechanical, electrical and plumbing codes as applicable
and adopted by the city.
E. Minor modifications to Specific Plan No. 23 which do not alter the intent of this specific plan pursuant to the provisions of Section
18.538.170 of this chapter;
F. If any regulation, condition, program or portion thereof of this
specific plan is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by
any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed
a separate, distinct and independent provision, and the invalidity
of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions
herein; and
G. Any land use designation, permitted use, or conditionally permitted use not specifically provided by Specific Plan No. 23 shall not be permitted without a determination of use by the approving body pursuant to provisions of Chapter
18.192 of this title.
(Ord. 938 § 1 (I (D)),
1990; Ord. 1315, 10/8/2024)
Unless the context otherwise requires, or unless different definitions
are set forth in individual titles, chapters, or sections of this
title, the words or phrases defined in this specific plan shall have
the meaning and construction ascribed to them in this section. When
not inconsistent with the context, words in the singular shall include
the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular. The
word "shall" is mandatory and the word "may" is permissive. Words
and phrases not defined in this chapter shall be defined in the following
sources by the following order: (1) other chapters of this code; (2)
definitions contained in the city adopted chapters of the California
Building Code; (3) definitions contained in legislation of the state;
and (4) Webster's Dictionary.
"Abut"
means contiguous to. For example, two adjoining lots with
a common property line are considered to be abutting.
"Accessory structure"
means a structure located on the same lot or parcel as the
primary structure. Said structure would serve an incidental or accessory
use secondary to the principal use of the land.
"Accessory use"
means a use which is incidental or secondary to the primary
use of the lot or parcel. Such use is devoted exclusively to the primary
land use.
"Adjacent"
means the same as abutting; however, public rights-of-way
and major utility easements shall not be considered as separating
"adjacent" uses.
"Architectural feature"
means a part, portion, projection, or treatment that contributes
to the visual beauty, elegance, historical consistency, or design
integrity of a building or structure, and is not necessary for the
structural integrity of the building or structure or to make said
structure or building habitable. Said architectural feature does not
include signs or other forms of use identification.
"Automobile parking"
means parking of operational and street legal motor vehicles
on a temporary basis within an improved off-street parking area.
"Berm"
means a man-made mound(s) of earth incorporated into a landscape
design used for the purpose of visual screening, decorative features,
and landscape design enhancement.
"Buffer area"
means an area of land used to visibly and physically separate
one use from another. Such a buffer area would typically be devoid
of structures and landscaped in a manner to shield noise, glare and
other nuisances from neighboring uses.
"Building coverage"
means the gross area of a lot or parcel of land occupied
by all of the ground floor, or building footprint, of a building or
structure which is under roof.
"Building height"
means the maximum vertical distance as measured from the
interior floor level to the top of the uppermost part of the structure
through any vertical section.
Building, Non-Conforming.
"Non-conforming building" means a building or portion thereof,
lawfully existing pursuant to the ordinance in effect at the time
of construction or subsequent alteration, but which does not comply
with any development criteria adopted at a later date.
"Building"
means any structure built or maintained for the support,
enclosure and protection of persons, equipment, animals, chattels
or property of any kind. The word "building" as used in this title
includes the word "structure."
"Business frontage"
means the lineal footage of any side of a business building
facing an adjacent street or the unit's designated automobile parking
area and upon which a sign may be located as provided by this specific
plan.
"Business"
means the purchase, sale or other transaction or place thereof
involving the handling, disposition or transaction of any article,
substance, product, service or commodity for livelihood or profit.
Such activity includes an addition, operation, or provision of any
service or service establishment, office building, outdoor advertising
sign and/or structure, recreational and/or amusement enterprise conducted
for livelihood or profit.
"City"
means the city of San Dimas.
"Commercial use"
means a business, normally involving office, retail, sales,
or service uses.
"Common open space"
means land in a development held in common and is/or single
ownership and not reserved for the exclusive use of benefit of an
individual tenant or owner.
"Courtyard"
means an open, unoccupied space, other than a required yard,
on the same lot or parcel with a building or buildings. Such courtyard
is typically bounded on two or more sides by such building(s).
"Density"
shall be determined by dividing the total number of homes
by the net area of the parcel.
"Design review"
means the process of city review and approval of development proposals as required by Chapter
18.12 of this title.
"Display frontage"
means the lineal footage of the front of an area used for
display and sale of merchandise located outdoors. Such display area
typically faces a street or automobile parking area.
"Driveway"
means an unobstructed paved area which provides access to
vehicle parking, loading, or maneuvering area.
"Enclosed building" or "enclosed structure"
means a building or structure with a permanent roof and enclosed
on all sides by solid exterior walls. Such solid exterior walls may
feature windows, loading doors, and customary entrance and exit doors.
"Enclosed space"
means an area enclosed on all sides by a solid physical barrier
such as a fence or wall.
"Existing improvements"
means any improvements which exist at the time of the adoption
of this specific plan. Such existing improvements must have been legally
constructed in compliance with all building and zoning codes in effect
at the time the improvements were constructed.
"Exterior boundary"
means the perimeter of any lot or parcel of land or assembly
of lots or parcels to be developed in an integrated, comprehensive
manner.
"Fence"
for industrial use properties means any device forming a
physical barrier between two areas/parcels. Such barrier may be constructed
of louver, wood stake, decorative masonry (i.e. slump stone, split
face, stucco, stone veneer, brick, etc. plane CMU is not considered
decorative masonry), dog ear lumber, or other similar material in
accordance with adopted city standards.
"Fence"
for residential use properties means any device forming a
physical barrier between two areas/parcels. Such barrier may be constructed
of decorative masonry (i.e. slump stone, split face, stucco, stone
veneer, brick, etc. plane CMU is not considered decorative masonry).
Gates maybe constructed of dog ear lumber, tubular iron, vinyl, or
other similar material in accordance with adopted city standards.
Floor Area, Gross.
"Gross floor area" means the total floor area of a building
under roof measured in square feet. Such measurement would include
each horizontal plane which constitutes a floor as measured to the
outside of the exterior walls of all floors.
"Frontage"
means, with regards to a lot, that side of a lot abutting
on a street, typically the front lot line. With regards to a building,
see "business frontage."
Garages, Private.
"Private garage" means a portion of a building, used primarily
for automobile parking, garages shall not be for habitation.
"Height"
means the vertical distance from the lowest finish grade
to the highest point of the coping of a flat or pitched roof ridge.
"Homeowner Association" or "HOA"
means a community association which is organized within a
development in which individual owners share common interests and
responsibilities for open space, landscaping and facilities.
"Industry"
means the manufacture, fabrication, processing or reduction
of any article, substance or commodity or any other treatment thereof
in such a manner as to change the form, character or appearance thereof.
In addition, it shall include trucking facilities, warehousing, storage
facilities, business facilities serving primarily industry, and similar
enterprises.
"Institutional use"
means a non-profit or quasi-public use or institution, such
as a church, library, public or private school, utility, hospital,
or municipally owned or operated building, structure or land used
for public purpose.
"Landscaping"
means the planting and maintenance of a combination of trees,
shrubs, vines, ground cover, flowers and lawn. In addition, such landscaping
may include design features such as rock and stone, garden-type fencing
and decorative structures. Such design features may also include water
elements, art works, decorative walks, benches, and decorative paving.
"Loading area"
means the portion of a site developed to accommodate loading
spaces including the related aisles, access drives and buffers.
"Loading space"
means an off-street space or berth on the same lot and contiguous
with the building it is intended to serve for temporary parking of
commercial transport vehicles while loading and unloading merchandise,
materials, supplies, manufactured products and similar items.
"Lot"
means any numbered or lettered parcel shown on a recorded
tract map.
"Main building" or "main structure,"
also referred to as principal and primary building or structure.
Such building and structure would contain and enclose the activity
which is the main use of the lot or parcel of land upon which the
building is situated.
"Main use"
means any use of a building, structure, or land which is
the primary feature of the activity conducted on the lot or parcel
of land.
"Mound"
means a raised embankment of earth intended as a landscaping
feature to visually obscure an area or provide design enhancement.
Also see "berm."
"Multi-phase development"
means a development project which is constructed in increments.
Each increment would be capable of existing independently of the others,
but the completed project would be a comprehensive design.
"Off-street parking space"
means a temporary storage area for a motor vehicle that is
not located on a dedicated street right-of-way. Such right-of-way
may be public or private.
"Parking area" or "parking lot"
means a portion of a site devoted to the temporary parking
of motor vehicles, including actual parking spaces, aisles, access
drives, and related landscaping.
"Permitted use"
means any use allowed within the planning area regulations
and subject to the restrictions applicable to that planning areas.
"Private open space"
means a fenced or otherwise screened are designated for a
specific tenant or resident intended for landscape, recreation, or
leisure purposes.
"Public utility installation"
means building(s) or other structure(s) and equipment owned
and operated by a public or private utility company subject to regulation
by the State Public Utilities Commission.
"Quasi-public"
means a use which involves as its primary purpose, the administration
of a required government program or a government regulatory program.
"Retail"
means the selling of goods, wares or merchandise directly
to the ultimate consumer or persons without a resale license.
"Service"
means an act, or any result of useful labor, which does not
in itself produce a tangible commodity.
"Setback"
means the area between the building line and the nearest
property line.
"Sign"
means any device, or part thereof, capable of visual communication
or attraction including any announcement, declaration, demonstration,
display, illustration, insignia or symbol used to advertise or promote
the interest of any person, partnership, association, corporation,
institution, organization, product, service, event, location or other
business entity by any means, including words, letters, figures, designs,
symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images. "Sign"
shall not include any official notice, declaration, warning, or information
sign or structures issued by any federal, state, county or municipal
authority.
"Storage area"
means an area used or intended for the storage of materials,
refuse, or vehicles and equipment not in service.
"Story"
means that portion of the building between the upper surface
of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above except
that if there is no floor above, then the space between such floor
and the ceiling or roof above.
"Street furniture"
means man-made, above ground items that are usually found
in a street right-of-way such as benches, bus stops/enclosures, newspaper
racks, hydrants, traffic lights, signs, utility poles and the like.
"Temporary structure"
means a structure which is permitted within a land use district
without a permanent foundation or footing 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 permitted within a designated land use district
and established for a fixed period of time with the intent of terminating
such use upon the expiration of the time period.
"Unique natural feature"
means that part of the natural environment which adds character
to a location which is not readily found in other locations, and if
altered or damaged cannot be replaced.
"Use"
means, the purpose for which land or a building is occupied,
arranged, designed or intended, or for which either land or building
is, or may be occupied or maintained. A use may be passive, such as
parking and/or storage.
"Yard"
means an open space that lies between the principal building
and the nearest lot line. Such yard is unoccupied and unobstructed
from the ground upward, except as may be specifically provided in
the specific plan. Unless otherwise specified, a yard is fully landscaped.
Yard, Required.
"Required yard" means a yard, as defined in this section,
that occupies the area of a required setback.
(Ord. 938 § 1 (I (E)),
1990; Ord. 1315, 10/8/2024)