The purpose of this chapter is to establish additional site development standards for specified automobile related uses that are permitted or conditionally permitted in respective commercial zones, industrial zones and Specific Plans. These standards are necessary to address potential adverse impacts of certain auto uses and to provide for a higher quality of development for auto-related uses. The standards are designed to minimize off-site impacts and ensure compatibility with neighboring land uses.

(`78 Code, § 17.72.010.) (Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)

   The land uses specified herein shall comply with the provisions of this chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to newly established land uses as well as expansion or modification to existing uses, buildings or other features of the site layout. The development standards contained in this chapter are in addition to the requirements of the applicable zoning district. They are also in addition to requirements that may be imposed through conditional use permits, precise plans and development plan reviews as applicable.

(`78 Code, § 17.72.020.) (Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)

   (A)   Location.

      (1)   The site shall be located on a major or secondary street.

      (2)   All stations shall be located on a corner of an intersection and the minimum distance between service stations shall be at least 300 feet measured from the closest existing service station; except that service stations may occupy four corners of an intersection of major streets, secondary streets or any combination thereof as shown on the Master Plan.

      (3)   The main service station building shall be located near the corner with pump islands and canopies oriented away from the corner in order to enhance the appearance and internal circulation of service station sites.

   (B)   Minimum site area. The minimum site area shall be 15,000 square feet.

   (C)   Accessory uses.

      (1)   Towing operations, incidental to, in conjunction with or in addition to a permitted service station operation, provided that no more than two towed vehicles are on-site at any given time unless within an enclosed building, and a maximum of one tow truck is stored on site;

      (2)   Convenience store, provided the provisions of division (E) of this section are met;

      (3)   Car washes, if permitted or conditionally permitted by the respective zone or Specific Plan and subject to the requirements of § 17.72.080 of this chapter.

      (4)   Drive-thrus, if permitted or conditionally permitted by the respective zone or Specific Plan and subject to the requirements of the applicable zone or Specific Plan;

      (5)   Auto repair, if permitted or conditionally permitted by the respective zone or Specific Plan, and subject to the requirements of § 17.72.040 of this chapter.

   (D)   Walls. For the protection of the residential area from vehicle lights and noise, when abutting to a residential zone or across the alley from a residential zone, a solid masonry wall six feet in height shall be erected on all interior property lines; the wall to be reduced to three feet in height within a required yard setback area or corner cutback area, except where an existing wall meets the requirements.

   (E)   Paving and parking.

      (1)   The entire open ground area shall be paved except for landscaping.

      (2)   A minimum of three marked parking spaces shall be provided on the property.

      (3)   The provisions of Chapter 17.76 shall apply.

   (F)   Landscaping.

      (1)   Landscaping shall be provided on not less than 6% of the station site area, including, but not limited to the entire corner cut-off area as required by §17.70.050, except those pedestrian walkways approved after site plan review.

      (2)   Non-living landscape materials such as rocks or artificial turf may be utilized, provided these materials do not exceed 20% of the total landscaped area.

      (3)   Each station site shall have no less than three on- or off-site trees. Such trees shall be not less than 15 gallon container size when planted.

      (4)   The provisions of Chapter 17.70 shall apply.

   (G)   Lighting. The provisions of § 17.76.090(B) relating to outdoor lighting shall apply.

   (H)   Signs.

      (1)   Price sign advertising as required by State of California Business and Professions Code § 13531 shall be exempted up to 25 square feet. Any area exceeding this amount shall be considered a regulated sign and included within the maximum sign area allowed by § 17.74.190.

      (2)   Canopy signs shall be allowed at a ratio of one square foot of sign per three lineal feet of canopy elevation up to a maximum of 50 square feet, provided no more than three sides of the canopy may have signs. Area of the signs shall be included within the maximum enterprise identification sign area allowed by § 17.74.190 for the respective elevations.

      (3)   The provisions of Chapter 17.74 shall apply.

   (I)   Outside operations.

      (1)   All outside operations shall, at all times, be limited to the following:

         (a)   Dispensing of gasoline, oil and water;

         (b)   Charging of batteries;

         (c)   Removal and replacement of rims which does not include removal of the rubber tire from the rim nor repair thereof;

      (2)   There shall, at no time, be permitted outdoor storage or display of new or used tires, merchandise, supplies or similar commodities.

      (3)   All trash, including junk tires, shall be stored in an enclosed area screened from view.

      (4)   Outdoor parking of automobiles waiting for service shall not exceed five days.

   (J)   Inside operations.

      (1)   All auto maintenance, tubes or other authorized or permitted repairs must be conducted wholly within the main building and conducted in a manner that complies with § 17.84.040 (performance standards).

      (2)   All maintenance and repairs conducted in connection with a service station are limited to automobile service only and must be in conformance with the requirements of § 17.72.040 of this chapter. Truck repair in excess of one and one-half ton shall not be permitted.

      (3)   All tire repairs shall be conducted wholly within the main building in conformance with § 17.72.040 of this chapter.

   (K)   Safety.

      (1)   All plans and specifications of construction of service stations, new or remodeled, shall conform to the requirements of the currently adopted Uniform Fire Code and shall be submitted to Riverside County Department of Health for review prior to submittal for approval by the City Fire Department.

      (2)   All enclosed structures shall be provided with two points for access.

      (3)   Any convenience store or service station that operates between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. shall provide a silent alarm system easily accessible to the cashiers of such operations. The system shall be subject to the review and approval of the Chief of Police.

(`78 Code, § 17.72.030.) (Ord. 3353 § 3, 2022; Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)

   (A)   All operations shall be conducted within an enclosed building.

   (B)   Outdoor parking of automobiles waiting for service shall not exceed five days. New facilities approved after January 1, 2000 shall screen from public view all vehicles parked outdoors that are waiting for service.

   (C)   Service bays and other service areas shall be oriented toward interior side yards and rear yards and away from streets and public views whenever possible. If the only feasible orientation for a bay is toward a street or other area visible to the general public, then such bay shall be fully screened from public view to the satisfaction of the Planning Director. Screening shall be through the use of solid decorative walls, landscaping, berms or similar method acceptable to the Planning Director.

   (D)   Building openings or service bay doors, with the exception of man doors for exit purposes, shall be located at least fifty (50) feet from adjacent property lines when the property abuts a residential zone.

   (E)   If a new or expanded facility is proposed adjacent to residences or residentially zoned parcels, an acoustical analysis shall be prepared. The acoustical analysis shall be prepared prior to project approval in accordance with the requirements of § 17.84.040 of the Corona Municipal Code, shall assess noise impacts on adjacent areas and shall recommend methods to mitigate off-site noise impacts.

   (F)   Muffling devices shall be utilized for air compressors and other equipment used in the repair and maintenance of automobiles.

   (G)   Required landscape buffers for adjacent residential areas shall have a minimum width of ten feet and shall be densely planted with evergreen trees or shrubs that will reach a height of at least ten feet at maturity for the purpose of providing screening.

(`78 Code, § 17.72.040.) (Ord. 2687 § 1, 2003; Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)

   (A)   Automobiles and trucks for rent shall not be located in required customer parking areas.

   (B)   Any vehicles greater than seven feet in height shall not be located within 35 feet of a street right-of-way or adjacent residentially zoned property.

   (C)   A landscape buffer with a minimum width of ten feet shall be located adjacent to any residentially zoned property and shall be densely planted with evergreen trees or shrubs that will reach a height of at least ten feet at maturity for the purpose of providing screening.

(`78 Code, § 17.72.050.) (Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)

   (A)   The minimum site area for newly established sales lots shall be 40,000 square feet, except motorcycle sales shall have a minimum site area of 20,000 square feet.

   (B)   All service areas shall be completely screened from public view.

   (C)   All parts, accessories and the like shall be stored within a fully enclosed structure.

   (D)   No vehicle repair or service work shall occur outside of a fully enclosed structure. Service bays with individual access from the exterior of the structure shall not directly face or front on a public right-of-way.

   (E)   Lighting standards:

      (1)   All on-site lighting shall be energy efficient, stationary and directed away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way;

      (2)   "Front-row" on-site lighting standards adjacent to public streets shall not exceed 20 feet in height and shall have no more than three fixtures per standard at a minimum of 30 feet on center. The interior of the display area may be illuminated by fixtures not closer than 60 feet to the front line of display lights. These fixtures shall be on standards no higher than 20 feet, shall be spaced no closer than 60 feet on center and shall have no more than four fixtures per pole;

      (3)   Lighting standards for the entire display area shall not exceed 1.75 watts per square foot. Service, storage and employee parking areas shall be lighted by standards not higher than 24 feet. Average wattage for the entire storage area shall not exceed 0.3 watts per square foot;

      (4)   Spot fixtures shall be directed downward only, except at spot display locations along the project’s perimeter walls;

      (5)   Strings of incandescent fixtures shall not be allowed in any exterior area.

   (F)   Parking and display:

      (1)   All loading and unloading of vehicles shall occur on-site where feasible and not in adjoining public rights-of-way;

      (2)   All vehicles associated with the business shall be displayed, parked or stored on-site on paved surfaces only and not in adjoining parkways, streets or alleys;

      (3)   No automobile display or signage shall be allowed on the top of any building;

      (4)   Parking stalls required in accordance with Chapter 17.76.030 of the Municipal Code (parking) shall not be used for the display or storage of vehicles for sale or vehicles waiting to be serviced;

      (5)   Parking of display and sales vehicles is exempt from Municipal Code standards for striping, stall size and aisle width;

      (6)   Any vehicles greater than seven feet in height shall not be located within 35 feet of a street right-of-way or adjacent residentially zoned property;

      (7)   A landscape buffer with a minimum width of ten feet shall be located adjacent to any residentially zoned property and shall be densely planted with evergreen trees or shrubs that will reach a height of at least ten feet at maturity for the purpose of providing screening;

      (8)   An adequate on-site queuing area for servicing customers shall be provided. The queuing area or lanes shall be large enough to hold at least 1.5 vehicles for each service bay in the facility based on a queuing distance of 25 feet per vehicle. On-site driveways may be used for queuing, but may not interfere with access to required parking spaces. Required parking spaces may not be used for queuing.

   (G)   Security fences and walls up to eight feet in height may be permitted along rear and interior side yards subject to review by the Planning Director.

   (H)   Sound attenuation:

      (1)   Noise levels within automobile dealerships, including intercoms and paging systems, shall be maintained at a level that would not be considered a nuisance to surrounding property owners. Where possible, the use of "beepers" or "pagers" should be used in place of an intercom. If an intercom or loudspeaker or similar system is used, the noise created must not be discernable at property lines adjacent to residential or other noise-sensitive land uses in accordance with § 17.84.040(D)(3) of the Corona Municipal Code and shall conform to the city’s noise ordinance (CMC 17.84.040);

      (2)   All repair and maintenance work on automobiles shall be performed in a fully enclosed area only;

      (3)   Access doors to such enclosures shall be screened or face away from all public rights-of-way;

      (4)   Air compressor exhaust stacks shall contain a muffling device;

      (5)   Air conditioning units and mechanical equipment may not be mounted on top of any building unless screened from the view of all adjacent properties by a screening technique involving an integrated architectural design element.

   (I)   In addition to the landscaped street setback required by the zone for a given site, five square feet of landscaping shall be required for each lineal foot of street frontage. The additional landscaping may be placed directly adjacent to the street right-of-way or may be distributed in the area located between the building and the street property line.

   (J)   All signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 17.76 of the Corona Municipal Code.

(`78 Code, § 17.72.060.) (Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)

   All facilities shall comply with the provisions of § 17.72.060 (sale and leasing of new & used automobiles and motorcycle sales) above.

(`78 Code, § 17.72.070.) (Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)

   The provisions listed below apply to all types of car washes, including: car washes where washing is done completely by automated means, usually through the use of a "wash tunnel;” automated means with drying, finishing and detailing done by car wash employees; "self service" facilities where the car owner does the washing utilizing spray hoses, soap and other equipment provided at the facility; and "hand" car washes where facility employees wash and/or wax the car by hand with the use of little if any automated or mechanical means.

   (A)   Queuing lanes entering the washing facility shall be clearly marked on the pavement and shall not obstruct or interfere with required parking stalls and associated drive aisles.

   (B)   Wash tunnels, self serve wash stations, detailing areas and drying/finishing areas shall not be located within 25 feet of adjacent residentially zoned areas.

   (C)   A solid, decorative masonry wall with a minimum height of three feet shall border drying/finishing areas located within 25 feet of a required street setback.

   (D)   Drying/finishing areas shall not obstruct or occupy required parking stalls and drive aisles.

   (E)   Canopies made of nylon, canvas or similar materials are not permitted. Shading, if desired, must be provided by permanent structures made of wood, concrete or other similar durable materials.

   (F)   Vacuum cleaners, water hoses and similar accessory facilities for full service and self-serve car washes shall not be located within 25 feet of adjacent residentially zoned areas.

   (G)   Honking horns, using intercoms or any other methods involving noise to notify customers that their car is ready is not permitted.

   (H)   The operation of all car washes shall conform to the city’s noise ordinance (CMC 17.84.040).

(`78 Code, § 17.72.080.) (Ord. 2437 § 4, 2000.)