Atwater Municipal Code Ch. 17.37 C-T, Thoroughfare Commercial

To provide for retail commercial, entertainment, and transient residential uses, which are appropriate to thoroughfare locations and dependent upon the traveling public.

C-T areas shall be established as designated in the General Plan, which is in the general vicinity of highways, freeways, on service drives thereof and in proximity to Castle Air Museum, Castle Airport, golf course or similar tourist attracting facilities.

Qualifying areas are preferred to be zoned P-D.

(Ord. CS 569, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

All of the following uses in the C-T zone shall require approval of a conditional use permit by the Planning Commission, unless otherwise required by law.

A. Hotels, motels, and similar transient residential complexes;

B. Public or commercial recreational facilities, such as swimming pools, bowling alleys, skating rinks and golf driving ranges;

C. Restaurants, drive-in restaurants, cocktail lounges* and refreshment stands; (*Bars, not incidental to a restaurant, also need City Council approval.)

D. Curio, souvenir and similar retail shops developed as part of a complex, if possible;

E. Public and quasi-public uses;

F. Shopping centers;

G. Automobile service stations with minor repair as an incidental use;

H. Truck stops or RV parks;

I. Off-site alcoholic beverage sales.

J. Any other use 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 17.37.010.

(Ord. CS 569, 1984; Ord. CS 780, 2-28-2000; Ord. CS 782, 5-8-2000; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

Accessory uses and buildings customarily incidental to an approved use.

(Ord. CS 569, 1984; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

A. Development Standards:

B. Building Height Limits: 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 569, 1984; Ord. CS 950, § 1, 3-10-2014; Ord. CS 1056, § 1, 1-23-2023; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

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

C. Landscaping shall comply with City landscaping standards.

D. Parking and loading as described elsewhere in this title.

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

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

G. All utilities are to be installed underground.

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

(Ord. CS 569, 1984; Ord. CS 667, 1990; Ord. CS 721, 3-27-1995; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)

Editor's note— Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), adopted June 8, 2026, repealed § 17.37.060, which pertained to exceptions and derived from Ord. CS 569, 1984.

Editor's note— Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), adopted June 8, 2026, repealed § 17.37.070, which pertained to signs and derived from Ord. CS 569, 1984.

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

(Ord. CS 569, 1984; Ord. CS 1059, § 1, 3-27-2023; Ord. CS 1081, § 4(Exh. A), 6-8-2026)