In addition to the general objectives of this chapter, the SU District is included in the zoning ordinance to achieve the following purposes:
(A) 
General. To provide for and regulate the use of land for which flexibility of use and regulation are necessary to ensure consistency with the General Plan, and to encourage the planning of large parcels to achieve integrated design of major developments, good land use planning, and protection of open space, resource, and environmental values.
(B) 
Lands with a Variety of Physical Constraints. To provide for the development of lands with a variety of physical hazard constraints or about which there is a lack of sufficient information about the particular characteristics of the land or where some unusual feature of the known characteristics of the land precludes effective use and regulation of such land under any other zone district.
(C) 
Mixed Uses. To provide for the development of lands which are designated on the General Plan for mixed uses, and where the specific portions of the land reserved for each use have not yet been specified or determined in detail.
(Ord. 3432 § 1, 1983)
(A) 
Allowed Uses.
(1) 
All uses allowed in the RA and R-1 Zone Districts shall be allowed on parcels in the Special Use SU District where the RA and R-1 zone districts are consistent with the General Plan and Local Coastal Program land use designation for the parcel and when authorized at the highest approval levels specified in the uses chart in SCCC § 13.10.322(D) for those districts. Certain disallowed uses that are preexisting on a parcel and were legally established may be considered legal nonconforming uses. See SCCC § 13.10.260 and § 13.10.261 for regulations regarding legal nonconforming uses. For amendments to a use with a valid discretionary permit, see SCCC § 18.10.134.
(2) 
All uses allowed in zone districts other than RA and R-1 shall be allowed on parcels in the Special Use SU District when the applicable zone district is consistent with the General Plan and Local Coastal Program land use designation for the parcel and when authorized at the highest approval level required by all such districts but no lower than a conditional use permit, with the exception of permanent room housing, which shall be allowed with a conditional use or site development permit processed with public notice and a Planning Commission public hearing, subject to SCCC § 13.10.424 through § 13.10.429.
(3) 
Timber harvesting and associated operations, requiring approval of a timber harvesting plan by the California Department of Forestry, are not allowed uses in the Special Use SU Zone District.
(4) 
Vacation rentals are allowed in the Special Use SU District where the underlying General Plan land use designation allows residential uses with no requirement to have any other use. The applicable General Plan land use designations that allow residential uses with no requirement to have any other use are the Agricultural (AG) land use designation, the Existing Park, Recreation and Open Space (O-R) land use designation, the Urban Open Space Lands (O-U) land use designation, and the following residential land use designations: R-M, R-R, R-S, R-UVL, R-UL, R-UM, and R-UH.
(5) 
Non-Retail Commercial Cannabis Uses.
(a) 
Commercial cannabis cultivation uses may be permitted within the Special Use (SU) District, subject to all applicable requirements of Chapter 7.128 SCCC and SCCC § 13.10.650, where the General Plan designation is "R-R" (Rural Residential), "R-M" (Mountain Residential), "AG" (Agriculture) or "I" (Heavy Industry). Where the General Plan designation is R-R, R-M, or AG, cultivation uses may be permitted subject to the limitations applicable under SCCC § 13.10.312(B) and § 13.10.650 in the RA Zone District. Where the General Plan designation is I, cultivation uses may be permitted subject to the limitations applicable under SCCC § 13.10.342(B) and § 13.10.650 in the M-3 Zoning District.
(b) 
Commercial cannabis manufacturing uses may be permitted within the Special Use (SU) District, subject to all applicable requirements of Chapter 7.128 SCCC and SCCC § 13.10.650, where the General Plan designation of the parcel is "R-R" (Rural Residential), "R-M" (Mountain Residential), "AG" (Agriculture) or "I" (Heavy Industry). Where the General Plan designation is R-R, R-M or AG, manufacturing uses may be permitted subject to the limitations applicable under SCCC § 13.10.312(B) and § 13.10.650 in the RA Zone District. Where the General Plan designation is I, manufacturing uses may be permitted subject to the limitations applicable under SCCC § 13.10.342(B) and § 13.10.650 in the M-3 Zoning District.
(c) 
Class 1 cannabis distribution may be permitted within the Special Use (SU) District, subject to all applicable requirements of Chapter 7.128 SCCC and SCCC § 13.10.650, where the General Plan designation of the parcel is "R-R" (Rural Residential), "R-M" (Mountain Residential), "AG" (Agriculture) or "I" (Heavy Industry). Where the General Plan designation is R-R, R-M or AG, Class 1 distribution uses may be permitted subject to the limitations applicable under SCCC § 13.10.312(B) and § 13.10.650 in the RA Zone District. Where the parcel has a General Plan designation of I, Class 1 distribution uses may be permitted subject to the limitations of SCCC § 13.10.342(B) and § 13.10.650 for the M-3 Zoning District. Class 2 cannabis distribution may be permitted within the Special Use (SU) District, subject to all applicable requirements of Chapter 7.128 SCCC and SCCC § 13.10.650, where the General Plan designation is Service Commercial/Light Industry (C-S) or I. Class 2 distribution uses on these parcels may be permitted subject to the limitations of SCCC § 13.10.342(B) and § 13.10.650 for the M-3 Zoning District.
(B) 
Use Permits. A discretionary permit for an allowed use is known as a "use permit." Certain allowed uses are permitted by right and other allowed uses require a use permit as indicated in subsection (A) of this section. The processing procedures and findings for use permits are detailed in Chapter 18.10 SCCC, Discretionary Permit Approval Procedures.
(C) 
Other Discretionary Permits. Physical site development may require a site development permit pursuant to SCCC § 13.11.035, a Coastal Development Permit pursuant to SCCC § 13.20.050, or other discretionary review.
(D) 
Densities.
(1) 
Residential densities allowed in the Special Use Zone District shall be consistent with those specified in the General Plan and Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan, and in Chapter 13.14 SCCC, Rural Residential Density Determinations.
(2) 
Visitor accommodations densities shall be consistent with SCCC § 13.10.689.
(Ord. 3432 § 1, 1983; Ord. 3632 § 12, 1985; Ord. 4577 § 11, 1999; Ord. 5092 § 5, 2011; Ord. 5272 § 8, 2018; Ord. 5305 § 4, 2019; Ord. 5423 § 18, 2022)
(A) 
Site Development Permit. A discretionary permit for physical site development associated with an allowed use is known as a site development permit. The "Site Development Chart" in SCCC § 13.11.037 provides permit requirements for physical site development. The processing procedures and general requirements for site development permits are detailed in Chapters 13.11 and 18.10 SCCC, Discretionary Permit Approval Procedures.
(1) 
Design review is required for some site development permits pursuant to SCCC § 13.11.040 through § 13.11.080.
(2) 
Modification of a site or structure with a valid site development permit may be processed as an amendment to the existing site development permit in accordance with SCCC § 18.10.134. For modifications to a legal nonconforming structure, or modifications to a structure accommodating a legal nonconforming use, see SCCC § 13.10.260, et seq.
(B) 
Site and Structural Dimensions. For single-family dwellings and accessory structures, the SU district development standards shall be the same as those contained in SCCC § 13.10.323 pertaining to residential districts and shall further be based on the size of the parcel for purposes of applying SCCC § 13.10.323(B). For structures other than single-family dwellings and accessory structures, the development standards for any permitted use shall be in keeping with the requirements, restrictions or regulations provided in this chapter for the most restrictive district within which the use is allowed.
(Ord. 3432 § 1, 1983; Ord. 4314 § 6, 1994; Ord. 5423 § 18, 2022)
Division of any parcel in the Special Use SU District shall be allowed only pursuant to the following approvals: two to 19 lots or five to 19 units as a conditional use permit; and 20 or more lots or units as a conditional use permit with approval by the Planning Commission.
(Formerly 13.10.385; Ord. 3432 § 1, 1983; Ord. 3632 § 13, 1985; Ord. 4496-C § 38, 1998; Ord. 5423 § 18, 2022)
(A) 
All regulations of the local fire department or County Fire Marshal shall be met to ensure adequate road access and water availability for fire protection.
(B) 
All requirements of the local sanitation district and water district shall be met, or requirements for on-site sanitation and water systems if applicable to the site location.
(C) 
All improvement requirements and impact fees for community facilities shall be met where required by district or section regulations (SCCC Title 15).
(Ord. 5423 § 18, 2022)
(A) 
Other Regulations. Other development standards applicable to the Special Use Zone District include but are not limited to the following provisions of the SCCC:
Table 13.10.386-1: Site Standards for the SU District
Topic
SCCC Section
General site standards
13.10.510, et seq.
Nonconforming uses and structures
13.10.260, et seq.
General site standards
13.10.500—13.10.600
Use of nondevelopable land
13.10.671
Use of urban open space land
13.10.672
Design review and site development
13.11
Parking and circulation
13.16
Coastal Zone regulations
13.20
Environmental and resource protection restrictions
Title 16
(Ord. 5423 § 18, 2022)