Katy City Zoning Code
§ 20
OPEN STORAGE AND SCREENING REGULATIONS.
20.1
To encourage the most appropriate use of the land and to conserve and protect the value of adjacent land and buildings, regulations are prescribed for the location and screening of open storage of materials, commodities and vehicles of all types in the various districts in accordance with the following standards[.]
20.2
Location of Open Storage.
20.2-1
In addition to the regulations concerning commercial and industrial storage uses, the following regulations shall apply to storage accessory to residential and retail uses.
20.2-2
In all one-family, two-family, multiple-family and mobile home districts, no open accessory storage or display outside a building containing materials or commodities for sale at wholesale or retail or for storage purposes shall be permitted nor shall any motor vehicle or machinery storage, other than that which is incidental to the use of a premises as herein provided, be permitted; nor shall any truck or commercial vehicle storage be permitted, except that one (1) panel delivery or pickup truck not exceeding one and one-half (1-1/2) ton capacity, may be stored by the owner of a premises when such vehicle storage is incidental to the main use of such premises.
20.2-3
In the “C-2” District, no open accessory storage or display of materials and commodities, including used cars for sale, shall be permitted between the street line and the front setback or yard line as herein provided, except that such restrictions shall not apply to provisions of off-street parking facilities in conformance of the requirements of this ordinance. For a gasoline service station, the front setback or yard line applicable to this regulation shall be interpreted as the specified setback for fuel pump islands. Permitted open accessory storage shall be screened as required by section 20.3-2
20.3
Screening Regulations.
20.3-1
Location of Required Screening.
a.
Where the rear or service side of a nonresidential building in a residential district is exposed to a residence and where a nonresidential building in a “C-1”, “C-2” or “M” District is exposed to a residential district boundary line, and where such building is closer than one hundred fifty (150) feet to the boundary line, a screening wall or fence not less than six (6) feet in height shall be erected separating the rear or service side of such building from the adjacent building or residential district. Where all service, storage and loading facilities are contained within a building, the screening provisions of this section shall not apply.
b.
In a “C-1” or “C-2” district where parking for motor vehicles for nonresidential buildings is provided adjacent to a residential district which is occupied or is to be occupied by residential buildings, whether the district boundary lines are separated by a street or alley or not, a screening wall or landscaped visual barrier not less than five (5) feet in height shall be provided along the boundary of such parking area. This requirement does not waive the requirements of any other section of this ordinance.
c.
In all districts where open storage is permitted and screening of the storage area is required, a screening wall or fence shall be provided not less than six (6) feet in height.
d.
Garbage storage areas shall be visually screened by an eight (8) foot high solid fence on all sides except when one (1) side is adjacent to an alley or easement used for garbage pickup service, no screening fence shall be required on that side.
e.
All wrecking yards (junk and salvage) and salvage yards (outside) with open storage of wrecked or salvaged automobiles, machinery, appliances, or other used commodities and equipment, shall be surrounded by a screening wall or fence not less than eight (8) feet in height.
20.3-2
Standards for Screening.
a.
A required sight-obscuring wall or fence shall be constructed of masonry or of a concrete or metal frame or base which supports a permanent type wall material, the surface of which does not contain openings more than forty (40) square inches in each one (1) square foot of surface of such wall or fence, and which surface shall constitute a visual barrier. No openings shall be permitted for access unless a solid gate equaling the height of the wall is provided. Such gate shall remain closed at all times except in actual use.
b.
Where barriers are required for parking facilities as specified in Section 18 such barriers shall consist of a screening wall not less than five (5) feet in height or a landscaped strip not less than six (6) feet in width, containing a solid planting or hedge not less than five (5) feet in height, which planting shall be maintained in a healthy, growing condition.
c.
No screening wall, planting or other visual barrier shall be so located or placed so that it obstructs the vision of motor vehicle drivers approaching any street, drive or alley intersection. This requirement takes precedence over any other requirements of this Section.
d.
Walls and landscaped strips shall be protected from vehicle wheels by a bumper rail or wheel barrier located at least three (3) feet from such planting or wall.
e.
Any wall or fence constructed to comply with any screening provision herein specified shall be maintained so as to meet the minimum standard of screening.
(Ordinance 621 adopted 3/24/83)