Ord 2220 - Amend Sections of Zoning Ord (Chapter 29) Designating Land UseORDINANCE 2220
ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 29)
OF THE TOWN CODE DESIGNATING ZONING AND REGULATIONS FOR
THE SALE OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION, PROHIBITING HOME
OCCUPATION PERMITS, REVOCATIONS AND THE DUTIES OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN COUNCIL
THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, California state law allows local jurisdictions to adopt land use regulations
under its police power and has a substantial interest in regulating zoning and land uses.
WHEREAS, at the Town Council meetings on February 4, 2013 and February 11, 2013,
Town Council received extensive public comments for approximately five hours on the issue of
whether the Town of Los Gatos should consider adopting regulations concerning the business
operations and sales of firearms, ammunition, and /or destructive devices. At the conclusion of
the February 11, 2013, meeting Town Council directed Town staff to study the issues raised by the
community during the Council meetings.
WHEREAS, the Town studied the issues requested by Town Council on February 11,
2013, concerning potential land use regulations of the sale of firearms, ammunition and destructive
devices. The Town held public meetings to obtain comments from the community, received
e -mails from the community, and studied other land use regulations adopted by other jurisdictions
in the Bay Area and Northern California.
WHEREAS, other California cities have adopted zoning ordinances and business
regulations that regulate the sales of firearms and ammunition.
WHEREAS, California Courts have upheld zoning ordinance regulating the location for
the sale of firearms that establish a buffer zone between firearms sales and sensitive locations such
as schools, parks, and residential uses on the basis of public health, safety and welfare concerns.
SECTION I
Town Code Chapter 29 is amended to read as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and
made a part thereof.
SECTION II
It is the intent of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos to supplement State and
Federal law and to not duplicate or contradict such law, and this ordinance shall be construed
consistently with that intention. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of
the other remaining portions of this ordinance. The Town Council hereby declares that it would
have passed this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase thereof,
irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsection, sentences, clauses, or phrases be
declared unconstitutional.
SECTION III
Pursuant to Section 15096 of the CEQA Guidelines, the Town of Los Gatos acts as a
responsible agency for adoption of this ordinance within the Town of Los Gatos. The Town
Council makes the following findings:
That there is no possibility that this project will have a significant impact on the
environment; therefore, the project is not subject to the California Environmental Quality
Act (Section 15061 (b)(3)).
SECTION IV
This Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of
Los Gatos on September 16, 2013, and adopted by the following vote as an ordinance of the Town
of Los Gatos at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos on October 7,
2013. This Ordinance takes effect 30 days after it is adopted.
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COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Marcia Jensen, Steven Leonardis, Diane McNutt, Joe Pirzynski, and Mayor Barbara Spector
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ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
SIGNED:
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MAYOR OF/THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
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- K ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
Section 29.10.020. Definitions.
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Destructive Device means any explosive, incendiary, bomb, grenade or any similar device as
more particularly defined in Title 18, United States Code, and the California Penal Code.
Firearm means any device which is designed to be used as a weapon or may be converted or
modified to be used as a weapon which expels a projectile through a barrel by the force of an
explosion or other form of combustion. A “firearm” includes any device defined in Title 18,
United States Code, and relevant sections of the California Penal Code.
Firearm Ammunition (or Ammunition) means any cartridge cases, primers, bullets, or propellant
powder designed for use in any firearm, and any component thereof.
Retail Sales of Firearms, Ammunition and /or Destructive Devices means any business engaged
in the selling, leasing, or otherwise transferring any firearm, firearm component, ammunition and
/or destructive device as defined in this chapter by means of traditional retail sales, individual or
bulk transactions, internet transactions, or in any other manner indicative of trade.
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Section 29.10.09025 Home Occupations
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(f) Prohibited uses. The following uses are prohibited:
(1) Retail sales of firearms, ammunition and/or destructive devices
(2) Medical offices/uses
EXHIBIT A
(3) Contractor/contracting services which have crews that meets on site prior to traveling to
another job site, or which requires the storage of building materials or equipment on site, or
which will park or store vehicles or construction equipment on site.
Sec. 29.10.195. - Termination of nonconforming use status.
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(b) The following nonconforming uses shall cease at the end of the following time
periods:
(1) A junkyard shall cease ninety (90) days from the date it becomes
nonconforming.
(2) Where there are improvements on land, but of a type for which no
building permit would currently be required, the nonconforming use shall
cease three (3) years from the date the use becomes nonconforming.
(3) Where the land is improved with one (1) or more structures of a type for
which a building permit would currently be required and the structure(s)
are utilized in connection with the nonconforming use, nonconforming use
shall cease twenty (20) years from March 23, 1966, or twenty (20) years
from the date the use became nonconforming, whichever is later.
(4) When a zoning amendment is adopted after 1981 that causes a use to be
nonconforming solely by subjecting it to the requirement of obtaining a
conditional use permit, all uses affected by the amendment shall apply for
a use permit within sixty (60) days after the amendment becomes
effective. Failure to make such application within that time shall make the
subject use immediately unlawful
(5) A business engaged in the retail sales firearms and/or destructive devices
shall cease four (4) years from the date it becomes nonconforming.
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Section 29.20.185. Table of conditional uses.
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(1) Commercial
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r. New retail sales of firearms, ammunition and /or destructive devices as set forth in section
29.70.100
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Put an X under the LM in the Conditional Use Permit Table for item r listed above.
Section 29.20.190. Findings and decisions.
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(d) The deciding body, on the basis of the evidence submitted at the hearing, may deny a
conditional use permit for new retail sales of firearms, ammunition and/or destructive devices if
it finds any of the following:
(1)The proposed use is not in harmony with specific provisions or objectives of the
general plan and the purposes of this chapter;
(2)The proposed use will detract from the existing balance and diversity of businesses in
the industrial district in which the use is proposed to be located; and
(3)The proposed use does not comply with the location requirements as contained in
section 29.70.100.
Section 29.20.198. Review of application for a conditional use permit or modification to a
conditional use permit for retail sales of firearms, ammunition and/or
destructive devices.
(a) When reviewing an application for a conditional use permit or modification to a
conditional use permit for retail sales of firearms, ammunition and/or destructive devices
pursuant to section 29.20.185, the deciding body shall consider the following factors in
addition to those required in section 29.20.190 and section 29.70.100:
(1)Any change in the type of Federal Firearms License, or any other required
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State license or permit, and change to the validity of the licenses held by
the business granted a conditional use permit shall require an application
for a modification of the conditional use permit, and shall be subject to all
required findings set forth in section 29.20.190.
(2)For existing nonconforming businesses that do not have a conditional use
permit, any change in the type of Federal Firearms License type, any
change in the State of California Certificate of Eligibility or any other
required State license or permit, change to the validity of the licenses held
by the business shall require an application for a conditional use permit,
and shall be subject to all required findings set forth in section 29.20.190.
(b)When reviewing an application for retail sales of firearms, ammunition and/or destructive
devices, the deciding body shall impose the following conditions and operating standards:
(1) No person shall engage in the business of selling, leasing, transferring,
advertising or offering or exposing for sale any firearms, ammunition, or
destructive devices without first obtaining a permit pursuant to the
provisions of Sections 14.130.010-14.130.075 of the Town Code. For
purposes of this chapter, engaging in the business of selling or transferring
firearms, ammunition, and /or destructive devices includes the infrequent
sale or transfer, offer, exposing for sale, or advertising of firearms,
ammunition, and /or destructive devices.
(2)Within one year from occupancy the Town Council shall conduct annual
reviews of the conditional use permit for compliance.
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(c)Notice of the hearing shall be subject to section 29.20.565 except that notices shall be
mailed within five hundred (500) feet of the real property that is the subject of the
hearing.
(d)For the purposes of this chapter, any change in the type of Federal Firearms License type
or State license of permits shall be considered an intensification of use.
(e)The deciding body shall make written findings on the application based on substantial
evidence in view of the whole record.
(f)If State or Federal law imposes more stringent requirements than those imposed pursuant
to this section, then those State or Federal requirements shall apply.
Section 29.20.310. - Revocation or modification of a zoning approval.
The Planning Commission on its own motion or on the recommendation of the Planning Director
or the Chief of Police, may, and if requested by the Council shall, hold a hearing to consider
modifying or revoking any zoning approval that has been granted pursuant to this chapter or any
prior ordinance. Notice of the hearing shall be given in the same manner as for the hearing of an
application for zoning approval. Written notice of the hearing shall also be mailed to any
principals making use of, or relying upon, any such zoning approval not less than five (5) days
prior to the date of the hearing.
Section 29.20.750. Planning Commission
The Planning Commission:
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(8) Determines conditional use permit applications that are not assigned to the Development
.
Review Committee or the Town Council
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Section 29.20.755 Town Council
The Town Council:
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(2) Hears and determines Planning Commission recommendations for the adoption or
amendment of the general plan or any specific plans and conditional use permits for
establishments selling alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption and for retail sales of
.
firearms, ammunition and/or destructive devices
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Sec. 29.70.100. - Permitted uses.
(a) Activities allowed in the LM or commercial-industrial zone are those service-
oriented and light industrial uses which may be inappropriate in a general
commercial zone and which are in the following categories:
(1) Retailing.
(2) Personal service businesses.
(3) Service businesses necessary for the conduct of households or businesses.
(4) Office activities approved on or before July 1, 1982; provided, that no
change of use to office shall be permitted in the LM zone.
(5) Limited manufacturing.
(6) Wholesaling and warehousing.
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(b)Examples of proper LM activities are plumbing, heating and electrical
contracting, equipment repair, laundry and dry-cleaning plants, paint supplies,
janitorial services, and towing businesses. Examples of activities which are not
proper in the LM zone are vehicle sales, large scale light industrial activity,
professional or medical offices and general business offices.
(c) Retail sales of firearms, ammunition and/or destructive devices are subject to the
following:
(1)Retail sales of firearms, ammunition and/or destructive devices may be
allowed in the LM zone with a conditional use permit subject to all of the
restrictions and requirements set forth in this chapter and Sections
14.130.010 – 14.130.075 of the Town Code. However, retail sales of
firearms, ammunition and/or destructive devices shall not be permitted
within 250 feet of:
a.Any premise occupied by a public or private daycare center, day care
home, nursery school, elementary, junior high, middle, or high school,
or any other youth educational institution whether public or private.
b.Any premise occupied by a government building, place of worship,
public park or public trail.
c.Any premise occupied by a business which is primarily engaged in
providing activities or instruction to persons under the age of 18 not
listed in section “a” above, existing prior to November 6, 2013.
(2)All distances referred to in this section shall be measured between the
closest points on the exterior property lines or area boundaries of the real
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property involved, except when the applicant proposes to occupy one unit
of a multi-unit structure located on a single parcel, where distances shall
be measured from the exterior boundaries of the unit so occupied.
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