Keeping the cost of housing down has meant going to smaller units, less storage areas, and no room to put excessive or seasonal goods. The proximity to Castle Air Force Base with a large number of personnel on temporary duty also creates a large need for small storage areas.

The following procedures and requirements have been established to create compatibility with surrounding properties, exterior appearance, landscaping, and screening, on-site parking and circulation, fire protection, public improvements, types of items that can be stored, and use limitation of the storage areas.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984)

A mini-warehouse can be defined as, "a building or group of buildings in a controlled access and fenced compound that contains varying sizes of individual, compartmentalized, and controlled access stalls or lockers for the dead storage of customers goods or wares, mainly excess personal property."

Clients are mainly apartment or mobile home dwellers, transients, service clubs, and recently small commercial business owners. A use permit for mini-warehouses may be considered in industrial, highway related and general commercial zones, planned development with mixed uses and residential transition zones.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984; Ord. CS 1058, § 1, 2-27-2023)

Any size of mini-warehouse development requires a use permit in the zoning districts listed in Section 17.49.020, except in the PD zone where it will be considered with the preliminary and final development plan.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984)

One office and one living unit for a manager and his family are permitted, and a full time live-in manager is required. At least five parking spaces need to be provided near the office.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984)

Mini-warehouses are intended for dead storage of personal goods only. All of the following uses shall be prohibited:

A.

Furniture, garage and junk sales.

B.

Auctions, any kind of retail activity.

C.

Automobile repair, and similar uses.

D.

Storage of hazardous or flammable materials.

E.

Cabinet making and similar manufacturing, whether it is for sale or for the storage renters personal use.

F.

No connection to utilities is permitted, no dumping of sewage or trash, no washing of laundry. No living in a stored RV or boat shall be permitted.

G.

Any activity the Planning Commission determines not to be compatible in a dead storage mini-warehouse.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984)

A.

Grading, drainage and improvement plans to be approved by the City Engineer.

B.

Length of the storage building not to exceed 500 feet.

C.

One way traffic on aisles between the structures must have a minimum of 20 foot width, which is also used for loading and unloading. The driveway circulating around the property and connecting aisles shall have a minimum of 30 feet in width serving as a "collector street" and allowing two-way traffic.

D.

Ten percent of the property shall be landscaped including trees. A landscaped buffer is required at least in the setback of the exterior yards, by the entrance, along the property lines adjacent to residential uses, and other locations as determined by the Planning Commission.

E.

Building visible to the public should be faced with stucco or other building material subject to Planning Commission approval.

F.

Fencing must meet both public safety and aesthetic objectives. Wood fencing or other aesthetically pleasing materials should be required.

G.

Proper lighting should be considered throughout the development, shielded away from traffic on nearby streets and residential development.

H.

All items shall be stored inside an enclosed structure.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984)

A.

Disposal of abandoned property by owner/operator of storage business may be approved twice a year by Chief of Police.

B.

Recreational vehicles, automobiles, trucks and boats are permitted to be stored outside of a structure in a special designated area. Stall delineation and improvements to be approved by the Planning Commission.

C.

All storage buildings, except the office and living unit, shall be exempt from parking requirements elsewhere in this title.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984)

Applicants proposing a mini-warehouse development shall supply site plans, landscaping and irrigation plans, grading, drainage, and improvement plans to the Planning Director for processing with the use permit.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984; Ord. CS 1059, § 1, 3-27-2023)

Any Planning Commission decision can be appealed in writing to the City Council within five working days.

(Ord. CS 579, 1984)