Atwater Municipal Code Ch. 17.35 C-N, Neighborhood Commercial

To provide attractive areas for the day to day shopping needs of the residential neighborhoods. Small shopping centers are preferred to individual establishments because they provide better parking facilities without creating traffic hazards caused by too many curb cuts. Combination of several small lots therefore is more desirable.

(Ord. CS 566, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

Any retail business or service establishment, such as a grocery store, bake shop, drug store, barber and beauty shop, laundry and dry-cleaning pickup station, child care center, business or professional office or financial institution, supply commodities, performing services for residents of the neighborhood, and any other use which is determined by the Community Development Director to be of a similar general character and intensity as the above permitted uses, and is consistent with the purpose of this zone as described in Section 17.35.010.

(Ord. CS 566, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

Accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a permitted use such as parking and incidental storage facilities and telephone booths.

(Ord. CS 566, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

The following uses may be considered by the Planning Commission through the use permit procedure:

A. Restaurants, cafes, soda fountains, not including entertainment or dancing, or sale of liquor, beer or other alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises;

B. Public and quasi-public uses;

C. Social halls, lodges, fraternal organizations and clubs;

D. Uses not in enclosed buildings;

E. Off-site alcoholic beverage sales.

F. Any other use determined by the Community Development Director to be of a similar general character and intensity as the above conditional uses, and is consistent with the purpose of this zone as described in Section 17.35.010.

(Ord. CS 566, 1984; Ord. CS 780, 2-28-2000; Ord. CS 782, 5-8-2000; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

A. No lot shall be created that would be smaller than 7,500 square feet. All existing lots that are smaller shall be developed in compliance with this chapter.

B. No building constructed in this zone shall exceed a height of 35 feet unless the following has occurred:

1. The Fire Marshal and Chief Building Official, or designees, have both approved the site plans, improvement plans, and other required submittals for the project; and

2. The Planning Commission finds, based on the applicant's submitted study, that the project will not result in adverse visual, air quality, light, or privacy impacts on adjacent or surrounding properties.

Additional conditions of approval may be imposed by the Planning Commission relative to the project as it relates to this section.

(Ord. CS 566, 1984; Ord. CS 950, § 1, 3-10-2014; Ord. CS 1056, § 1, 1-23-2023; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

Editor's note— Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), adopted June 8, 2026, repealed § 17.35.060, which pertained to exceptions and derived from Ord. CS 566, 1984.

All development in this district shall also comply with the following:

A. A minimum of ten percent landscaping shall be provided on every property.

B. Landscaping shall comply with City landscape standards.

C. Street trees are to be planted in compliance with adopted City standards.

D. Parking to be in compliance with requirements elsewhere in this title.

E. Loading zones required in addition to alleys shall be not less than ten feet wide, 20 feet deep, with a clearance height of not less than 14 feet and shall provide space for vehicles loading and unloading while at the same time not in any way blocking the alley to moving traffic.

F. A six-foot high solid fence or wall shall be required on the property line abutting any residential zone or land designated for future residential use in the General Plan.

G. Trash and recycling receptacles shall be located in an enclosure and screened from view. All enclosures must meet applicable building-related standards.

H. All utilities shall be installed underground.

I. Refer to Section 17.03.100 for requirements for collection and loading recyclable materials in development projects.

(Ord. CS 566, 1984; Ord. CS 667, 1990; Ord. CS 721, 3-27-1995; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

All uses in the C-N zone shall require site plan approval and design review, to the extent required elsewhere in this title.

(Ord. CS 566, 1984; Ord. CS 1059, § 1, 3-27-2023; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)