Grass Valley CPB: Commercial Business Park Zoning District Guide
The CPB: Commercial Business Park district in the City of Grass Valley requires a minimum parcel size of 1.5 acres and allows for a maximum residential density of 8 units per acre for qualifying projects. This district is characterized by a "campus" style environment designed for corporate offices and research firms, maintaining high aesthetic standards and a 50-foot height limit while requiring a minimum of 15% of the site to be landscaped.
Purpose and General Character
The CPB: Commercial Business Park zoning district is applied to areas of the City of Grass Valley intended for high-quality employment centers. The district is defined by a "campus" type character, which emphasizes landscaped open spaces between buildings, screened service areas, and uniform standards for signage and street lighting [Section 17.24.020.E].
A primary goal of the Grass Valley CPB: Commercial Business Park is to provide a professional environment for corporate administrative offices and medium-sized research and development firms. The district regulations ensure compatibility with adjacent residential uses through the use of buffers and high standards of appearance. While the City of Grass Valley allows existing uses that become nonconforming upon the establishment of this zone to remain, such uses are expected to eventually phase into conforming uses over time [Section 17.24.020.E].
Allowed Land Uses
The City of Grass Valley permits a variety of professional, industrial, and limited retail uses within the CPB: Commercial Business Park district. Most permitted uses are intended to support the primary function of a business park.
Professional and Service Uses
The following services are generally permitted (P) or require a Use Permit (UP) in the Grass Valley CPB: Commercial Business Park [Table 2-10]:
- Permitted (P): ATM, Banks and financial services, Medical services (clinics and doctor offices), and Professional/Administrative offices.
- Use Permit Required (UP): Medical services (extended care and hospitals).
Industrial and Research Uses
Industrial activities in the CPB: Commercial Business Park are limited to light and research-oriented operations [Table 2-10]:
- Permitted (P): Manufacturing/processing (light intensity), Media production, and Research and development (R&D) facilities.
- Use Permit Required (UP): Manufacturing/processing (heavy).
Retail and Recreation
Retail is strictly limited to supporting the employees and operations of the business park [Table 2-10]:
- Permitted (P): Office-supporting retail and Restaurants/Cafes/Coffee shops.
- Use Permit Required (UP): Meeting facilities (public or private), Parks/Playgrounds, and Trails.
Residential Components
While primarily a commercial zone, the City of Grass Valley allows limited residential uses in the CPB: Commercial Business Park [Table 2-10]:
- Permitted (P): Accessory dwelling units (ADU), Carriage houses, and Caretaker dwellings.
- Use Permit Required (UP): Mixed-use project residential components.
Development and Site Planning Standards
Development within the Grass Valley CPB: Commercial Business Park must adhere to specific spatial and building standards to maintain its campus-like character.
Site Requirements
| Development Feature | Requirement in CPB District |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 1.5 acres [Table 2-12] |
| Minimum Lot Width | Determined through subdivision review [Table 2-12] |
| Maximum Residential Density | 8 units per acre [Table 2-12] |
| Maximum Building Height | 50 feet / 4 stories [Table 2-12] |
| Minimum Landscaping | 15% of the entire site [Section 17.24.050.D.5.a] |
Setback Standards
Setbacks in the CPB: Commercial Business Park are designed to provide significant separation from public rights-of-way and adjacent properties [Table 2-12].
| Setback Location | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front (Major Street) | 20 ft. for buildings; 40 ft. from back of curb for parking |
| Front (Local Street) | 10 ft. for buildings; 15 ft. from back of curb for parking |
| Side (Interior) | 20 ft. |
| Side (Street Side) | 30 ft. from back of curb |
| Rear | 10 ft. on a site abutting a residential use; none elsewhere |
Additional District Regulations
The City of Grass Valley enforces specific design mandates for the CPB: Commercial Business Park to ensure the "campus" feel is preserved:
- Mechanical Equipment: All heating, cooling, and roof equipment must be screened and integrated into the building's architecture. Outdoor mechanical equipment, utility vaults, and meters must be treated as part of the building design and screened if visible from the street [Section 17.24.050.C.1-2].
- Manufacturing Activities: All manufacturing activities within the CPB: Commercial Business Park must be conducted entirely within an enclosed building [Section 17.24.050.C.4].
- Solar Access: Buildings should be oriented to maximize solar access and utilize energy conservation methods such as solar collectors and double-paned windows [Section 17.24.050.C.3].
- Parking Lot Landscaping: Parking lots must be equally pedestrian and vehicular oriented, featuring shade trees and landscaped fingers [Section 17.34.030].
Sections Cited
- Section 17.24.020 - Purposes of commercial and industrial zones.
- Table 2-10 - Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Commercial and Industrial Zone.
- Table 2-12 - OP and CBP Zone Development Standards.
- Section 17.24.050 - Additional commercial and industrial zone standards.
- Section 17.34.030 - Parking lot landscaping.