Site planning shall include consideration of adjoining parcels in terms of building configuration, building design, scale of landscaping materials, circulation/parking configuration and access.

The location of freestanding signs shall be integrated with other site planning elements, particularly building location and orientation, landscaping, and access points.

All uses shall be located within an enclosed building unless authorized by a minor use permit.

Visual relief shall be provided for linear buildings by the use of architectural projections or recessed areas that create the appearance of smaller adjoining buildings.

The proportion, size, and shape of new or renovated buildings shall be compatible with existing structures in the same area.

All buildings are encouraged to minimize energy consumption, using such features as:

Buildings with a monochromatic appearance shall be avoided through the use of complementary colors.

All signs associated with the buildings and site shall be integrated in terms of both architecture and color and shall comply with applicable City sign regulations contained in Chapter 30.60.

Building heights may be modified or lowered in order to maintain a reasonable portion of the significant views enjoyed by nearby properties.

Floor area ratio (FAR) shall limit the amount of floor area of a building on a lot or lots. For purposes of determining FAR, the following floor area is excluded.

A minimum setback of 25 feet shall be required wherever a lot in the light industrial zone abuts a lot in any residential zone. This setback may be used for required open off-street parking areas.

Where a light industrial use abuts property in any residential zone, a masonry wall (or equal) of no less than size six feet in height and may be increased to eight feet to resolve any noise or visual impacts measured from the highest finished grade at the property line shall be erected and maintained as separation between the industrial and residential uses. Where the adjacent grade of the abutting residential property is four or more feet lower or higher than the industrial site, the masonry wall shall be a minimum of six feet in height. In addition, 15-gallon trees, 25 feet on center, and shrubbery between the trees shall be installed and maintained along the inside of the wall in a raised planter at least five feet in width to provide a dense landscape screen. Smaller sized trees may be approved provided said trees reach a desired maturity height within three years after project occupancy.

To allow for flexibility in building design and variation/offset in the line of exterior building walls, an average setback may be used for front and street side yards which is not less than the minimum setback required by this chapter. Where an averaged setback is used, the minimum setback for any portion of the building shall be no less than 10 feet.

Required front and street side yards shall be landscaped. This landscaping shall consist predominantly of plant materials except for necessary walks and driveways.

Whenever off-street parking areas are situated across the street from property in a residential zone, a masonry wall or berm three feet in height shall be erected in the landscaped area, between the required landscape area and the parking area, to adequately screen the parking area from the residential properties.

Where feasible, access shall be taken from adjoining collector or local roadways, rather than from a primary arterial or major roadway.

Where access to a primary arterial or major roadway is necessary, access shall be limited to one point for each 300 feet of frontage or one point per parcel if frontage is less than 300 feet.

Access points to adjoining lots shall be shared wherever feasible.

Major access points to centers or groups of parcels sharing a single point of ingress and egress shall be coordinated with openings in existing or planned medians and access points on the opposite side of the roadway.

Reciprocal ingress and egress, circulation, and parking arrangements shall be required to facilitate the ease of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular movements between adjacent residential and non-residential land uses to the extent feasible;

Sidewalks or other safe pedestrian walkways shall be located along streets in all light industrial areas.

Parking areas shall be screened by earth mounding, landscaping, low decorative walls, lowering the grade of the parking area below the street grade, or a combination of any of these methods.

All roof appurtenances including, but not limited to, air conditioning units, and mechanical equipment shall be shielded and architecturally screened from view from on site parking areas, adjacent public streets and adjacent properties.

All ground-mounted mechanical equipment, including heating and air conditioning units, and trash receptacle areas, shall be completely screened from surrounding properties by use of a wall, fence, or landscaping, or shall be enclosed within a building.

All utility connections shall be designed to coordinate with the architectural elements of the site so as not to be exposed except where necessary. Pad mounted transformers and/or meter box locations shall be included in the site plan with an appropriate screening treatment. All new and existing utility connections within the boundaries of the project shall be placed underground, with the exception of existing overhead power transmission lines in excess of 34.5 KV and long distance and main trunk communications facilities. Transformers, terminal boxes, meter cabinets, pedestals, concealed ducts and other facilities may be placed above ground provided they are screened with landscaping.

Trash receptacles and adequate areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials enclosed by a six-foot high masonry wall with view obstructing gates shall be provided in an acceptable location.

Outdoor storage and sales areas shall be entirely enclosed by solid masonry walls not less than six feet in height to adequately screen such areas from view. Reasonable substitutions such as masonry, wood or metal pilasters with wrought iron or chain link and view obscuring material may be approved during design review.

Landscaping in parking areas shall be predominantly trees to provide shade and visual relief.

A combination of deciduous and evergreen trees shall be used for site landscaping, but deciduous trees shall be used primarily along southern and western building exposures to reduce summer sun exposure and increase winter sun exposure.

Landscaping in parking areas shall include one 15-gallon tree for every six parking spaces evenly distributed throughout the parking area.

Site landscaping shall include a combination of trees, shrubbery, vines, and ground-covers, all of which shall be drought tolerant.

All landscaped areas shall be watered by an automatic irrigation system and regularly maintained in healthy and thriving condition free of weeds, trash, and debris.

A minimum of 15% of the site area shall be landscaped and street trees at least 15 gallons in size shall be provided at an average of every 40 feet along all street frontages.

Varieties of plants chosen for landscaping may be restricted through the development review process to protect or preserve views. All required plantings shall be maintained in good growing condition, and whenever necessary, shall be replaced with new plant materials to ensure continued compliance with required landscaping, buffering, and screening requirements. All landscaping shall be maintained in a manner that will not depreciate adjacent property values or otherwise adversely affect adjacent properties.

Lighting placed upon the building shall be architecturally integrated.

All light sources shall be shielded in such a manner that the light is directed away from streets or adjoining properties. Illuminators should be integrated within the architecture of the building. Freestanding lamp posts shall be no taller than 18 feet. The intensity of light at the boundary of any commercial zone shall not exceed 75-foot lamberts from a source of reflected light.

Accessory structures shall not be located in front of or on the street side of the main building(s).

Accessory structures shall meet all of the setback requirements for main buildings.

Architectural features, such as canopies, eaves, steps, balconies, stairways, and others may project not more than four feet into any required setback area.

In any required front or street side yard area, a wall or fence shall not exceed four feet in height. In the required front or street side yard, where a retaining wall is used to increase usable lot area, a wall or fence not exceeding four feet in height may also be erected, provided that the wall or fence is set back a minimum of five feet from the retaining wall.

Electrical fencing is prohibited. Barbed wire is permitted for security purposes. Design review under the authority of the Planning and Building Director shall be required when the barbed wire is visible from a public street.