Part 19 — EM-OS—Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands)
Watsonville Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Watsonville
14-16.1900 Purpose. ¶
The purpose of the Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands) is to provide regulations pertaining to privately owned lands which, because of poor drainage, danger of flooding, danger of land slippage or seismic action, danger of liquefaction, excessive slope, or similar reason related to the physiographic condition of the land, are unsuited or unsafe for intensive human use. The EM-OS District is intended to be located at those places indicated in the environmental constraint maps. Redistricting may also occur within any project area in the event field conditions would so indicate.
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)
14-16.1901 Principal permitted uses. ¶
All principal permitted and accessory uses shall be subject to the approval of an Administrative Review Permit issued without a public hearing by the Zoning Administrator.
| GLU | 91 | Irrigated agriculture. Exclusions: 913 Greenhouses in excess of 500 square feet |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | Nonirrigated agriculture | |
| 93 | Pasture and native vegetation | |
| 94 | Animals, agriculture | |
| 95 | Reservoirs, water supply | |
| 96 | Native vegetation, forest, and brush |
|
| 97 | Lake, river, stream | |
| 98 | Slough, marsh |
NONAGRICULTURAL USES
| 115 | Barns, storage buildings, maximum ground floor area 1,000 square feet |
|
|---|---|---|
| 8611 | Facilities for fish and wildlife enhancement and preservation |
|
| - | Open space credited to adjacent cluster development |
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)
14-16.1902 Conditional uses. ¶
The following uses shall be subject to the approval of a Special Use Permit issued through the public hearing process by the Commission:
| 658 | Trails, commercial pedestrian, equestrian, or bicycle, commercial |
|---|---|
| 854 | Park, picnic grounds, commercial or private |
| 855 | Riding academy, commercial or private |
| 87 | Private nonprofit facilities |
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)
14-16.1903 District regulations. ¶
The following regulations shall be observed in the Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands) for the use proposed, except as otherwise provided in this title or as modified by Special Use Permit:
| (a) | Distances of structures to any street or alley or property line |
20 feet |
|---|---|---|
| Distance between structures |
As allowed by Uniform Building Code |
|
| Height limitation | 25 feet |
NONAGRICULTURAL USES
| GLU | - | Accessory buildings and accessory uses related to products produced on premises |
|---|
(b) Density credit. That portion of the area of any parcel which is included in the EM-OS District shall be counted at twenty (20%) percent of its actual area in square feet for the purpose of determining the number of dwelling units permitted on the balance of the parcel lying outside the EM-OS District, or, if the
798-13
(Watsonville Supp. No. xx, 10-25)
14-16.2100
balance of the parcel lies in a commercial or industrial district, the area within the EM-OS District shall be counted at twenty (20%) percent of its actual area for the purpose of determining the permitted commercial or industrial development.
Should any parcel lie partially within the EM-OS District, and partially within a single-family zoning district, the number of dwelling units permitted shall be determined in accordance with the provisions above. The subdivision shall be so designed as to cluster the permitted dwelling units on the portion of the parcel lying in the single-family zoning district. The portion of the parcel lying within the EM-OS District shall be used only for a use listed above, or may be dedicated to the City in satisfaction, or partial satisfaction, of the requirements of the Land Dedication Ordinance.
Should any parcel lie partially within the EM-OS District, and partially within a multi-family zoning district, the number of dwelling units permitted shall be determined in accordance with the provisions above. The Site Plan Review required for all multi-family development shall, in addition to determining conformity with the adopted guidelines of standards, insure that no dwelling units will lie within the boundaries of the EM-OS District and only the uses listed above are established on such lands.
Should any parcel lie partially within the EM-OS District and partially within any district other than a residential district, the uses permitted on such portion shall be those permitted in said district, except that the total area of the parcel as provided above may be taken into consideration in the Site Plan Review process in determining the quantity or extent of the uses permitted. The Site Plan Review shall ensure that only those uses listed above are established on that portion of the site lying within the EM-OS District.
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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — Watsonville Zoning Code
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▸ Title 14
Overview- Part 1 — General
- Part 2 — Development Permits
- Part 3 — Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator
- Part 4 — Application Process and Official Filing Date
- Part 11 — Appeals
- Part 12 — Expiration of Approval of Development Permit
- Part 13 — Revocation of Permit
- Part 14 — Fees
- Part 15 — Rounding of Quantities
- Part 6 — Variances
- Part 3 — Administrative Review Permit
- Part 14 — Fence Permits 14-12.1400 General Provisions.
- Part 3 — Administrative Review Permit
- Part 4 — Design Review Permit
- Part 6 — Variances
- Part 12 — Sign Permit
- Part 13 — Temporary Use Permit
- Part 10 — CCA—Central Commercial Core Area District
- Part 11 — CC—Central Commercial District
- Part 17 — EM-A-1—Exclusive Agricultural District
- Part 1 — General
- Part 2 — R-1—Single-Family Residential District (Low Density)
- Part 2 — A: R-1P—Single-Family Planned Residential District
- Part 3 — RM-2—Multiple Residential District (Medium Density)
- Part 4 — RM-3—Multiple Residential District (High Density)
- Part 6 — IG—General Industrial District
- Part 7 — R-MH—Residential Manufactured Home Park District
- Part 8 — PF—Public Facilities and N— Institutional Districts
- Part 10 — Reserved
- Part 11 — Reserved
- Part 12 — CT—Thoroughfare Commercial District
- Part 13 — CN—Neighborhood Commercial District
- Part 14 — CNS—Neighborhood Shopping Center District
- Part 15 — CO—Office District
- Part 16 — CV—Visitor Commercial District
- Part 17 — EM-A-1—Exclusive Agricultural District
- Part 18 — EM-A-2—Interim Agricultural District
- Part 19 — EM-OS—Open Space District (Privately Owned Lands)
- Part 20 — EM-HP—Historical Preservation District
- Part 21 — EM-SC—Special Condition District
- Part 24 — EM-H—Hillside District
- Part 25 — PD—Planned Development District
- Part 26 — DWSP—Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan District