Overview of the CO: Community Office Zoning District in Concord
The CO: Community Office district in the City of Concord provides for a mix of small-scale single and multiple-tenant businesses, professional offices, and medical offices in low-rise buildings that are compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods. The CO: Community Office district allows for a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 1.0, with specific development standards for setbacks, building height, and parking requirements tailored to maintain compatibility with nearby land uses.
Purpose and Applicability of the CO District
The CO: Community Office district is designated to accommodate small-scale professional and medical offices, as well as small to multi-tenant businesses, in low-rise building configurations. The City of Concord designates the CO district to implement the community office land use designation of the general plan, ensuring building intensity remains consistent with compatibility for adjacent residential areas [Section 18.40.010].
The CO: Community Office district is located along various major thoroughfares in the City of Concord, including portions of East Street, Salvio Street, Willow Pass Road, Clayton Road, Oak Grove Road, Treat Boulevard, and Monument Boulevard [Section 18.40.010].
Development Standards for the CO District
Development within the CO: Community Office district must adhere to the standards established in Chapter 18.40, which specifies the following dimensional and intensity requirements:
| Standard | CO District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Density (min/max) | 11 – 40 units/net acre |
| Floor Area Ratio (FAR) (max) | 1.0 |
| Lot Area (min) | 10,000 sq. ft. |
| Lot Width (min) | 100 feet |
| Lot Depth (min) | 100 feet |
| Building Height (max) | 30 feet |
| Front Setback (min) | 10 feet |
| Corner Side Setback (min) | 10 feet |
| Interior Side/Rear Setback (min) | 5 feet |
Note: Residential uses are not permitted on the ground floor in the CO: Community Office district [Section 18.40.030].
Land Use Permissions and Permit Requirements
Land uses within the CO: Community Office district are permitted based on the approval of a zoning clearance, administrative permit, minor use permit, or use permit, as outlined in the residential and commercial land use tables.
- Administrative/Professional Offices: Uses such as professional offices are permitted in the CO: Community Office district subject to the required planning permit [Section 18.40.020; Table 18.40.020].
- Residential Uses: The CO: Community Office district allows residential uses consistent with residential medium density, provided they are not located on the ground floor [Section 18.40.010, 18.40.030].
- Parking Requirements: The CO: Community Office district must provide off-street parking as required by the land use type. For example, administrative/processing offices require 1 space per 350 square feet of gross floor area, and professional offices require 1 space per 300 square feet of gross floor area [Section 18.160.040; Table 18.160.040].
Key Operational Restrictions
The CO: Community Office district mandates that nonresidential uses with outdoor parking or wall openings (e.g., windows and doors) within 100 feet of a residential district must not operate between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless authorized by a planning permit [Section 18.150.130]. Furthermore, any new tenant improvements within existing multi-tenant buildings in the CO: Community Office district are allowed with a zoning clearance if they replace a use in the same or similar use classification [Section 18.25.040].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.25.040 (New Tenants in Existing Buildings)
- Section 18.40.010 (Purpose)
- Section 18.40.020 (Table 18.40.020 – Office and commercial districts – Allowed uses and permit requirements)
- Section 18.40.030 (Table 18.40.030 – Office and commercial districts – Development standards)
- Section 18.150.130 (Performance standards)
- Section 18.160.040 (Parking requirements)