Chapter 13-16 — PO/RD Planned Office-Research and Development Mixed-Use District

Hercules Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Hercules

Sec. 13-16.100 Specific Purposes. ¶

In addition to the general purposes listed in Section 13-5.100, the specific purposes of the PO/RD planned office-research and development mixed-use district are to:

Provide areas of adequate size and access to support a wide variety of employment-oriented business and enterprise complexes.
Provide attractive site planning and architectural guidelines for development.
Allow warehouse, distribution and wholesales uses within this district if they directly serve or are essential to businesses in Hercules.
Allow for new light industrial uses related to R & D, manufacturing, and business industrial services. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 16.100.]

Sec. 13-16.200 Review of Plans and General Conditions. ¶

Plans for all new and expanded development and uses shall be submitted to the Community Development Director as per Section 13-40.300. The following general conditions shall apply to all areas designated PO/RD Planned Office-Research and Development.

All new and expanded development shall be subject to Chapter 13-42, Design Review.
All new and expanded uses shall require an administrative or conditional use permit.
A hazardous materials management plan for the facility is to be prepared as part of the design review to regulate use of hazardous materials within the facility and to provide for the storage and disposal of small

amounts of hazardous wastes that may be generated. An emergency response program is required to be part of the management plan. [Ord. 553 § 2, 2024; Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 16.200.]

Sec. 13-16.300 Performance Standards. ¶

The standard performance standards for development specified in Chapter 13-31 shall be met. In addition, the following specific performance standards shall be met:

Design. Structures shall be designed with an attractive architectural theme for the allowed commercial, research and development, administrative office and light industrial development.
Public Health and Safety. New industrial uses that may reasonably be expected to generate substantial odor, dust, noise, vibration, water quality, air quality, public safety, or toxic and hazardous material impacts are prohibited. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 16.300.]

Sec. 13-16.400 Land Use Regulations. ¶

All new and expanded development and uses that are allowed in the PO/RD planned office-research and development mixed-use district are identified in Table 13-16.1. These uses may be subject to compliance with Chapter 13-49 and approval by the Community Development Director.

The predominant uses in this district shall include: research and development; administrative offices; light manufacturing; and office and retail service establishments serving nearby businesses and their employees. Warehouse, distribution and wholesales uses within this district may only be allowed if they directly serve or are essential to businesses in Hercules. Other uses of an industrial or commercial nature that generate low volumes of traffic, and can be shown to be compatible with permitted uses may be allowed pending approval of a conditional use permit. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 16.400.]

Sec. 13-16.500 Property Development Regulations. ¶

The property development regulations presented in Table 13-16.2 establish basic site and design requirements for the PO/RD planned office-research and development mixed-use district. All regulation standards are minimum amounts unless otherwise stated.

Table 13-16.1 Land Use Regulations: PO/RD Planned Office-Research and Development Mixed-Use District

PO/RD Industrial Uses

		PO/RD
Business Industrial Services	A
Light Manufacturing	A
Research and Development	C
Warehouses, Distribution and Storage Facilities	C
Commercial Uses(1)
Hotels and Motels	C
Retail Sales
Retail Stores
2,000 sq ft or less	A
More than 2,000 sq ft	C
Restaurants and Delicatessens	A
Services and Ofces
Athletic Clubs	C
Business Services	A

	PO/RD
Ofces and Banks	A
Residential Uses
Emergency Shelter	A
Public and Quasi-Public Uses
Daycare Facilities (for employees and visitors)	A
Government Ofces	A
Libraries, Museums and Galleries	A
Public Safety Facilities	A
Urgent Medical Care	C
Utility Facilities	C
Accessory Uses and Structures	A(2)

	PO/RD
Key	to Land Use Regulations
A	Administrative Use Permit Required
C	Conditional Use Permit Required
(1)	Retail commercial, ofce and service uses are to serve
	nearby business and their employees.
(2)	Facility or use is directly related to the primary use of site.

Table 13-16.2 Property Development Regulations: PO/RD Planned Office-Research and Development Mixed-Use District

		PO/RD
Site Area (sf)		—
Density (FAR)
	Range	0.25 to 1.00
	Typical	0.30
Lot Size (sq ft)		10,000(1)
Lot Frontage (ft)		100(1)

		PO/RD	See Also
Lot Depth (ft)		100(1)
Setbacks
	Front (ft)	30(2)
	Rear (ft)	20(2)
	Side (ft)	10(2)
	Corner Side (ft)	20(2)
Maximum Site Coverage		50%
Landscaping Minimum		10%
Building Height (ft)		35
Parking		(PDP)	Chapter 13-32
Signage		(PDP)	Chapter 13-34

Key to Land Use Regulations
(1)	Lesser lot size and dimensions may be accepted in an approved planned development plan.

PO/RD See Also (2) Lesser setbacks may be accepted in an approved planned development plan, but minimum setbacks shall be 50 feet front, 100 feet side, 100 feet rear, and 20 feet for parking areas when adjacent to existing residences or residentially zoned area. (PDP) Or as per an approved planned development plan.

[Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; Ord. 484 § 7, 2015; ZO § 16.500.]

==> picture [39 x 19] intentionally omitted <==

The Hercules Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 555, passed March 25, 2025.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official version of the Hercules Municipal Code. Users should contact the City Clerk's Offi f di d b

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code

▸ Contents — Hercules Zoning Code

Hercules Zoning Code