Zoning Standards for the Rural Land (RLC) District in Concord
The Rural Land Conservation (RLC) district in the City of Concord is intended for hillside areas to ensure the protection of scenic value and rural character. While the Concord Development Code identifies the RLC district as a Community Land District, specific quantitative development standards, such as a numerical maximum building height, are not explicitly provided in the code tables for this district.
Purpose of the Rural Land Conservation (RLC) District
The RLC district is applied to hillside areas located to the northeast and southeast of the City of Concord [Section 18.60.010]. The purpose of this district is to ensure the protection of the scenic value and rural character of these areas, and it is consistent with and implements the rural conservation (RCON) land use designation of the Concord general plan [Section 18.60.010].
Development Standards for the RLC District
The Concord Development Code stipulates that development within community land districts, including the Rural Land Conservation (RLC) district, must adhere to standards established by the review authority [Section 18.60.030]. Unlike residential or commercial districts that provide specific tables with maximum height in feet or stories, development within the RLC district is generally guided by the following provisions:
- Review Authority: Development, new uses, and alterations to existing structures in the RLC district are subject to the requirements specified by the development permit [Section 18.60.030].
- Abutting Districts: If a permit does not regulate a specific development feature (such as building height) and that feature is regulated by an abutting district, the regulations of the abutting district shall apply to the adjacent portion of the property [Section 18.60.030].
- General Hillside Requirements: Because the RLC district is applied to hillside areas, projects located on parcels with an average slope of 15 percent or greater must comply with the Hillside Protection regulations in Chapter 18.300 [Section 18.300.020]. These regulations include specific design criteria to minimize grading, preserve natural topography, and protect ridgeline views [Section 18.300.070].
Summary of Development Control
The following table summarizes the regulatory approach for development standards in the Rural Land Conservation (RLC) district:
| Standard | Regulatory Mechanism in RLC District |
|---|---|
| Building Height | Established by the specific development permit or abutting district regulations [Section 18.60.030]. |
| Hillside Constraints | Must comply with Chapter 18.300 (Hillside Protection) for slopes of 15% or greater [Section 18.300.020]. |
| General Development | Subject to Division IV (Development Standards) [Section 18.60.030]. |
Sections Cited
- Section 18.60.010 (Purpose)
- Section 18.60.030 (Community land districts – Development standards)
- Section 18.300.020 (Applicability)
- Section 18.300.070 (Design criteria)