The following development standards shall apply to all land and structures within this district.
(A) Site area: no requirement.
(B) Frontage, width and depth: no requirement.
(C) Lot coverage: 100%, maximum.
(D) Setbacks: in general, the downtown area is unique in that most of the buildings were constructed at the front of their lot. This allows pedestrians to window-shop as they walk down the street. Parking lots are usually situated to the rear or to the side of buildings, or are segregated from the site entirely. To the extent practical, new construction shall follow this building pattern, as follows:
(1) Front yard: buildings shall be designed so that at least one-half of the parcel frontage shall abut a building wall.
(2) Side yard: no requirement, except that buildings located on corner lots shall be designed so that at least one-half of the side lot-line abuts a building wall.
(3) Rear yard: no requirement
(E) Plaza provisions:
(1) Minimum size: ten feet deep and the width of the entire storefront, or an area incorporating at least 650 square feet.
(2) Paving: a minimum of 80% of the area shall be paved in a decorative paver or textured, colored concrete. Asphalt paving is prohibited as a plaza paving material.
(3) Landscaping: landscaping provided shall be consistent with the requirements of Chapter 10.196, Landscaping.
(4) Walls: walls up to 30 inches tall (which can be used for sitting) may be located on the property line for restaurants or other uses utilizing the plaza for retailing or other similar outdoor uses.
(F) Distance between structures: no requirement.
(G) Building height: 60 feet, maximum.
(H) Fences, walls and hedges:
(1) Maximum fence height in the Downtown Commercial district shall be seven feet, except for walls constructed in pedestrian plazas.
(2) Materials and colors used for fences and walls shall be complementary to the materials and colors used in buildings located on the site.
(I) Off-street parking and loading facilities: off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided for each use as required in Chapter 10.192, Parking and Loading. General parking lot design criteria are as follows:
(1) Parking lots shall be located as much as possible to the rear of buildings.
(2) Parking lots located between the front property line and the primary entrance is prohibited.
(3) Parking lots constructed adjacent to any street right-of-way shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the property line. The parking lot shall be screened by minimum four-foot tall solid wall and landscaping.
(J) Signs: signs shall be designed consistent with the requirements contained in Chapter 10.188, Signs.
(K) Public improvements: new development may be required to install public infrastructure necessary to adequately serve the project, based on requirements of the City Engineer, including sewer, water, and storm drainage lines, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street paving, and street lighting. These improvements shall be constructed consistent with requirements shown in the City of Tulare Standards and Specifications Manual and shall be installed prior to occupancy of any structures on the site.
(L) Traffic safety sight area:
(1) On corner lots, where the intersection consists of a state highway and a designated arterial street, no fence, wall, hedge, sign or building, shrubbery, mounds of earth or other visual obstruction over 36 inches in height above the nearest street curb elevation shall be erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow within the traffic safety sight area. The foregoing provision shall not apply to public utility poles; trees trimmed (to the trunk) to a line at least six feet above the level of the intersection; saplings or plant species of open growth habits and not planted in the form of a hedge, which are so planted and trimmed as to leave at all seasons a clear and unobstructed cross view; supporting members of appurtenances to permanent buildings existing on the date this title becomes effective; official warning signs or signals; freestanding pole signs where the post does not not exceed 12 inches in diameter and the bottom of the sign board is at least six feet above the level of the intersection.
(2) In the downtown district, the following intersections consist of a state highway and an arterial street:
(a) Inyo Avenue and “J” Street;
(b) Inyo Avenue and “M” Street;
(c) “M” Street and Kern Avenue;
(d) “M” Street and Tulare Avenue; and
(e) Tulare Avenue and “O” Street.
(1995 Code, § 10.108.040) (Ord. 00-1854, passed - -2000)