Article 40 — 18A. COMMUNITY RETAIL (C-R) ZONING DISTRICT

§ 40.18A.010. Purpose. ¶

The purpose of the community retail (CR) district is to provide space within the community for moderate-sized retail stores and compatible accessory uses to provide shopping opportunities for Davis residents that cannot be accommodated in the downtown core area or the neighborhood shopping centers.

(Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.015. Permitted uses. ¶

The principal permitted uses of land in a community retail zone are as follows:

(a) Food or grocery store, as defined in Section 40.01.010 , up to a maximum of twenty-five thousand square feet.
(b) Apparel, shoes and accessory sales between eight thousand and twenty-five thousand square feet per individual use.
(c) Houseware, hobby, and gift stores between eight thousand and twenty-five thousand square feet per individual use.
(d) Other community retail stores, such as appliances, department stores, general merchandise, furniture, linens, electronics, hardware, building supplies, sporting goods, or specialty food stores, up to a maximum of twenty-five thousand square feet per individual use.
(e) Neighborhood retail and personal services, such as video rental, restaurants, dry cleaning, beauty supplies and services, up to an aggregate maximum of twenty thousand square feet for any specific center.
(f) Financial institutions, professional and administrative offices, up to an aggregate maximum of ten percent of the square footage for any specific subdivision or center.
(g) Pharmacy, up to a maximum of twenty-five thousand square feet.

(h) Residential uses above the ground floor. (Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.020. Accessory uses. ¶

The following accessory uses shall be permitted in a community retail district:

(a) Signs, subject to the provisions of Section 40.26.020(e)(5) .
(b) Accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a permitted use, subject to the provisions of Section 40.26.010 .
(Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.030. Conditional uses. ¶

The following conditional uses may be permitted in a community retail district:

(a) Food stores over twenty-five thousand square feet, up to a maximum of forty thousand square feet.
(b) Uses listed in Section 40.18.010(b) through (g) over twenty-five thousand square feet, up to a maximum of fifty thousand square feet.
(c) Commercial recreation.
(d) Automobile service stations, with or without car wash or convenience market, subject to the provisions of Section 40.26.130 .
(e) Drive-through facilities, subject to the provisions of Section 40.26.420 .
(f) Public and semipublic uses of a recreational, educational, religious, cultural or public service type, but not including corporation yards, storage or repair yards, warehouses and similar uses.
(g) Freestanding signs exceeding eight feet in height, subject to the provisions of Section 40.26.020(e)(5) .
(Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.040. Prohibited uses. ¶

The following uses are prohibited in a community retail district:

(a) Entertainment uses.

(b) Minimarts or convenience markets, other than those accessory to a service station. (Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.050. Height regulations. ¶

No building in a CR district shall exceed thirty feet and one story within twenty-five feet of any R-1 or R-2 district, otherwise fifty feet in height.

(Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.060. Area and yard requirements. ¶

The following minimum area and yard requirements shall be observed for the CR zoning district, except where increased for conditional uses or as provided in Section 40.27.060 or 40.27.080 .

(a) Front yard. Zero feet.
(b) Side yards. Zero feet, except when abutting an R-1 or R-2 district, then not less than twenty feet.

(c) Rear yard. Zero feet, except when abutting an R-1 or R-2 district, then not less than twenty feet. (Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.070. Special conditions. ¶

(a) Site plan and architectural approval by the director shall be required for all uses, in accordance with Articles 40.13A and 40.31 of this chapter.
(b) Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be required for all uses, as provided in Section 40.25.010 .

(c) Landscaping and screening shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 40.26.250 . (Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006; Ord. 2390 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2421 § 6, 2013; Ord. 2677, 11/4/2025)

§ 40.18A.080. Findings for conditional use permits. ¶

In addition to the requirements of Section 40.30.080 , retail conditional uses shall require a determination by the planning commission that the size is desirable in order to meet community retail needs; that the store will generally offer categories of merchandise otherwise under represented in the city based on the best available economic data; and that the proposed use shall not undermine the economic viability of the downtown in that the use shall be complementary to existing or proposed uses in the downtown and shall continue the preservation of the downtown as the primary retail destination.

(Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)

§ 40.18A.090. Design principles. ¶

The following design principles shall be incorporated into all new community retail developments. These design principles shall be considered and incorporated as feasible into converted or altered community retail developments:

(a) Buildings shall be oriented to the street and sidewalk.
(b) Parking areas shall be located behind buildings.
(c) Bicycle parking shall be provided near building entrances, with convenient and logical access to bikeways and streets.
(d) Pedestrian connections shall be provided from adjacent properties.
(e) Buildings shall incorporate energy-efficient and environmental concepts such as natural ventilation and lighting.

(f) Centers shall include outdoor seating and gathering areas for customers and employees. (Ord. 2232 § 1, 2006)