A. All land uses shall conform to the purpose and intent of the SP-23 Heritage Square Central Business District Specific Plan and shall comply with the following:
1. Land Use Operations. No operations conducted on any property shall create objectionable and/or obnoxious dust, light, matter, mud, noise, odor, refuse, smoke, steam, vibration, maintenance needs of grounds or buildings, or other nuisance(s). No land use shall be detrimental to the health and welfare of the Signal Hill community.
2. Unlisted or Similar Compatible Uses. Any land use that is not specifically listed in the land use table below, shall not be allowed or permitted within the SP-23 zone area. However, the director shall have the authority to determine whether the proposed use may be permitted when all of the following findings are made by the director in writing and mailed to property owners and residents within a 100-foot radius of the Heritage Square Central Business District property boundaries, and posted on the property:
a. The proposed use is substantially similar to a listed permitted use.
b. The proposed use is compatible with the purpose and intent of this chapter.
c. The proposed use has similar traffic, noise, light, odor, and other operational impacts as a listed permitted use.
d. The operation of the proposed use will not be detrimental to existing uses in the SP-23 area.
B. Appeals. Decisions of the director may be appealed by filing an appeal in writing with the city clerk within ten calendar days of the date of mailing or posting of the notice of the director's decision. An appeal fee shall accompany any filing.
1. Appeals shall be heard by the planning commission. The planning commission may sustain, modify, or overrule the decision of the director. The determination of the planning commission shall be final unless appealed in writing to the city clerk within ten calendar days of receipt of the commission's denial.
2. Decisions of the planning commission may be appealed to the city council utilizing the same procedures as provided herein. The decision of the city council shall be final.
C. Unlisted Use Permit Findings. Consideration of and findings for the determination of the classification, permissibility, or applicability of an unlisted or similar compatible use, as defined in subsection A of this section, shall be based on the degree of compatibility between the use in question and other uses in the SP-23 district. Technical evidence and scientific means, when available, shall be considered in determining the form and intensity of performance standards typically associated with any identifiable type of use in question.
D. Unlisted Standards and Permit Requirements. When the director makes the findings of subsection B of this section in writing, the proposed use will be treated in the same regulatory manner as similar listed permitted uses for allowable location(s), including permits required and all other applicable standards and requirements of this chapter.
E. Existing oil and gas wells may remain pursuant to SHMC Chapter 16; however, no new oil and gas wells may be created on the site.
F. Prohibited Uses. Unlisted uses shall be prohibited, unless deemed substantially similar to a listed permitted use pursuant to subsections A, B, and C above.
G. Permitted Uses. The uses stated below shall be classified and authorized as shown on the table.
P - Permitted use
C - Conditionally permitted
A - Accessory use
T- Temporary use permit required
X - Prohibited
Table 20.23-1 SP-23 Permitted Uses
Land Use Type | Use Category | Procedure Section |
Land Use Type | Use Category | Procedure Section |
Residential Uses | ||
Multi-family dwellings | P | |
Condominiums | P | |
Family day care (M) | P | |
Live-work dwellings (A) | P | |
Accessory dwellings (ADU) (B) | P | State law or any future local ADU ordinance |
Tennis courts, pools, spas, community rooms, or similar recreational facilities | A | |
Pet wash, pet run, pet park or similar facilities | A | |
Temporary tract offices/model homes | T | Section 20.66.210 |
BBQ area, tot playground, splash pad or other outdoor recreational facilities | A | |
Manager/leasing offices | A | |
Home occupations (A) | A | Section 20.04.384 |
Satellite dish antenna (C) | P | |
Parks/Plazas/Open Spaces Uses | ||
Outdoor amphitheater | P | |
Play area or similar public recreational facility | P | |
Public/community plaza/garden | P | |
Street markets/events (D) | T | Section 20.66.210 |
Public/Utilities Uses | ||
Antenna/communication equipment | C | Section 20.20.020 Public Utilities (Y) |
Drill site | X | |
Retail Uses | ||
Apparel | P | |
Art, art galleries | P | |
Artist supplies | P | |
Baked goods (E) | P | |
Bicycles sales/rental | P | |
Books, card/gift shop | P | |
Christmas tree/pumpkin lot | T | Section 20.66.210 |
Flowers, florists, plant store | P | |
Furniture (new) | P | |
General retail not otherwise listed | P | |
Grocery stores with alcoholic beverage sale (F) | C | |
Hobby supplies, craft store, toy store | P | |
Ice cream/candy/nuts/and other confectionary | P | |
Pet store | P | |
Pharmacy | P | |
Photographic supplies | P | |
Shoes | P | |
Sporting goods | P | |
Eating and Drinking Establishments | ||
Restaurants, without alcohol (G) | P | |
Restaurants, with alcoholic beverages (G) | C | |
Restaurants/sandwich shops/delicatessen, take out or fast food only, without alcohol or drive-thru (H) | P | |
Drive-thru | X | |
Eating and Drinking Establishments
| ||
Vendor sales (I) | C | |
Alcoholic beverage manufacturing with tasting room or area (J) | C | |
Bar or cocktail lounge | C | |
Outdoor seating | A | |
Services | ||
Animal grooming | P | |
ATM's interior/exterior wall-mounted, walk-up only (K) | P | |
Barber, beauty, manicure and cosmetics salons/shops | P | |
Bank, savings and loan, credit union | P | |
Dry cleaning (L) | P | |
General office (for service businesses) | P | |
General service business | P | Section 20.26.030 C & D |
Medical, dental and optical lab (retail) | P | |
Shoe repair | P | |
Tailor and alterations | P | |
Footnotes for Chart of Permitted SP-23 Uses
A. Requires a business license. Refer to Section 20.04.384 for home occupation requirements.
B. Allowed externally on properties with single-family homes. Townhomes may have internal/Jr. or garage conversions pursuant to state law.
C. Shall not be located in any required setback area; where determined by the director to be feasible, antennas shall be mounted on the ground; no antenna shall exceed 25 feet in height above grade; antennas shall be screened by landscaping or fencing to the extent feasible, for the purpose of minimizing visibility from adjoining streets and properties; and no antenna shall be of a bright, shiny or glare reflective finish or color.
D. Temporary uses. Temporary uses that build community such as open-air markets, festivals or other special events may be permitted on a case-by-case basis pursuant to Section 20.66.210.
E. Baked goods. All products manufactured on premises shall be sold only on premises.
F. Alcoholic beverages must be packaged and sold for off-premises consumption only.
G. Restaurants with and without alcohol. Outdoor dining is permitted as part of the restaurant use; area used shall be calculated toward parking requirements as floor area.
H. Take out restaurant. Restaurant primarily for off-site consumption of food or drink, containing no more than four seats.
I. Vendor food sales. Indoor/outdoor food sales without a permanent cooking facility and/or fixed place for seating.
J. The following special development standards shall apply to alcoholic beverage manufacturing (ABM), including liquor, beer and wine, with tasting rooms:
1. An ABM with tasting room shall comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations, including a valid license from the California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board for the specific type of alcoholic beverage manufacturing occurring on-site.
2. An ABM with tasting room may not exceed production of 15,000 barrels per year.
3. An ABM with tasting room may not be located within 750 feet of the nearest property line of any school, church, religious facility, residential zoning district, or other ABM with tasting room.
4. All production activities shall be located completely inside the ABM facility.
5. All on-site storage shall be located within the ABM facility.
6. Hours of operation for an ABM with tasting room shall be established by the associated conditional use permit.
7. The purchase, consumption, tasting and sale of alcoholic beverages shall be limited to only those products produced on-site.
8. Food may be sold in a form that is ready to eat at the time of sale. A full service kitchen and service of food prepared within the ABM or tasting room shall be permitted pursuant to the associated conditional use permit conditions of approval and required food service licensing by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. Mobile food service and food trucks with required food service licensing by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department which are located outside of the ABM and tasting room may be permitted pursuant to the conditional use permit conditions of approval.
9. Ancillary retail sales shall be limited to only those retail items directly associated with the on-site ABM facility and tasting room.
10. The ABM with tasting room shall not charge an admission fee, cover charge or require a minimum purchase.
11. A sewage plan and all on-site infrastructure shall be approved by the appropriate city or county departments and shall include a waste water pre-treatment system, clarifier, or equivalent filtering device.
12. If the ABM with tasting room can demonstrate that manufacturing will not be operated/ conducted at the same time as the tasting room hours of operation, then the number of off-street parking spaces for manufacturing use/area may be considered for omission from the total number of required parking space for the business. Any such determination will be noted as a conditional use permit condition of approval.
13. Outdoor seating is permitted as part of the ABM with tasting room use and the area designated for outdoor seating shall be calculated at the same parking ratio as required for the tasting room.
14. An ABM with tasting room shall comply with Chapter 9.16 "Noise" of the Signal Hill Municipal Code.
15. No publicly accessible exterior pay telephones shall be located on the ABM premises.
16. Tours of the ABM and tasting room are allowed as an accessory activity. The operator shall ensure that tours do not negatively impact adjacent businesses or property owners.
17. An ABM with tasting room may be restricted from utilizing natural ventilation practices that may negatively impact neighboring businesses or properties and may be required to install mechanical air filtration systems to the satisfaction of the director.
K. Development standards for automated teller machines (ATM's) walk-up or drive-up. (Interior ATMs shall not be regulated.) Prior to the installation of an ATM machine, the applicant shall: (a) obtain approval of a site plan pursuant to Chapter 20.52; (b) obtain a building permit; and (c) pay building permit fees as established by the city council by resolution and may be adjusted from time to time. The site and elevation plans are subject to police and community development department review and approval. The following shall be included on the plans:
1. Proposed architecture shall complement existing building design and architectural theme.
2. Trash receptacle shall be provided.
3. Security lighting shall be provided.
4. Sign program shall accompany the site plan submittal.
L. Dry cleaning retail. Dry cleaning of clothes in enclosed machines using nonflammable cleaning compounds and including sponging and pressing, with no on-site laundry plant.
M. Pursuant to SB 234 (2019-2020 Legis. Session), as may be amended.
(Ord. 2022-07-1537 § 4 (part), 2022)