The purpose of this chapter is to establish performance standards that are intended to ensure that uses and activities are conducted in a manner that protects the public health and safety and do not produce adverse impacts on surrounding properties or the community at large.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

The standards contained in this chapter shall apply to uses and activities in all zoning districts within the city of Rohnert Park. Applicants for proposed projects may be required to provide evidence that all of the applicable standards may be satisfied by the project, prior to its approval. If necessary, the city may retain a professional expert or designated regulatory agency to assist in assessing the possible impacts of a use or activity, with any costs incurred to be paid by the applicant or business owner.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

A.

No uses or activities shall create noise levels which exceed the following standards:

NOISE STANDARDS

(1) ;hg;The maximum interior noise level for residential uses shall be forty-five dBa with all openings closed.

(2) ;hg;For commercial and industrial properties, the measurement shall be at the property line of the use or activity.

(3) ;hg;Restricted hours may be modified through conditions of an approved conditional, administrative, or temporary use permit.

(4) ;hg;For stadium property see Rohnert Park Municipal Code Chapter 9.44.

B.

The noise standards above shall be modified as follows to account for the effects of time and duration on noise levels:

1.

Noise that is produced for no more than a cumulative period of five minutes in any hour may exceed the above standards by five dBa except between the hours of 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

2.

Noise that is produced for no more than a cumulative period of one minute in any hour may exceed the above standard by ten dBa except between the hours of 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

3.

Mechanical and electrical equipment shall provide adequate shielding and baffling so that noise levels from such equipment will not exceed the above noise levels when measured at the property line.

C.

Noise shall be measured with a sound level meter that meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute. Noise levels shall be measured in decibels (dBa) on a sound level meter using the A-weighted filter network. Calibration checks of the instrument shall be made at the time any noise measurement is made. Excluded from these standards are occasional sounds generated by the movement of public safety vehicles and railroad equipment.

D.

New development within existing or projected sixty-five dBa noise corridors shown in the general plan shall undergo a technical acoustical analysis by a professional acoustical engineer, which shall serve as the basis for designing mitigation measures.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

No continuous frequent or repetitive odors are permitted which are perceptible on or beyond adjacent property lines. An odor detected no more than a total of fifteen minutes in any one-day shall not be deemed to be continuous, frequent or repetitive for this regulation. No dust or particulate matter shall be emitted that is detectable at boundary lines or property by a reasonable person without instruments. Exhaust air ducts shall be located or directed away from abutting residentially-zoned properties.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

All lighting, reflective surfaces or any other sources of illumination shall be utilized in a manner that produces no glare on public streets or on any other parcel. Lights shall be of the minimum illumination necessary for a given application and shall be directed downward and shielded at lot lines so as not to be directly visible from an adjoining residential district. For regulations regarding the illumination of signage, please refer to the sign ordinance.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

For areas identified in the Rohnert Park general plan as creek protection zones (see Figure 6.2-2 in the general plan), creek protection zones shall be maintained for a minimum of fifty feet measured from the tops of the banks and a strip of land extending laterally outward from the top of each bank. For all other creek areas, a creek protection zone of twenty feet shall be maintained. Where significant habitat areas or high potential wetlands exist, this setback shall be extended to protect the resource, as required by the planning commission or city council at time of project approval, or by the planning and community development director. Development shall not occur within the creek protection zones, except for greenway enhancement (e.g., trails and bikeways). City engineering department approval shall be required for the following activities within creek protection zones:

A.

Construction, alteration, or removal of any structure;

B.

Excavation, filling, or grading;

C.

Removal or planting of vegetation (except for removal of invasive plant species);

D.

Alteration of any embankment.

In addition, any applicable design criteria of the Sonoma County water agency shall be followed.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

Projects shall be subject to site plan and development review per Section 17.25.030 of this title. Particular emphasis shall be placed on any adopted city design guidelines. Projects shall conform to specific design standards included in area and specific plans as applicable.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

The storage, use, transportation or production of products that, either in the raw or finished state, constitute a fire hazard as defined by the director of the department of public safety shall be subject to the fire codes and approval of the city of Rohnert Park department of public safety. Department of public safety personnel may, without prior notice, visit and observe operations on the site and any directives issued by said personnel shall be satisfied in a timely manner. All hazardous materials must comply with the provisions of this title.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

The use, handling, storage and transportation of waste materials, including hazardous wastes, shall comply with the provisions of the California Hazardous Materials Regulations and any other applicable laws. Discharge at any point into a public or private sewage disposal system, stream, or the ground, of any material that could contaminate any water supply, or otherwise cause the emission of dangerous or offensive elements is prohibited. No exceptions are allowed unless in accordance with regulations, licenses or approvals of the various local and state agencies having jurisdiction over such activities.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

Sidewalks, curbs and gutters shall be provided on all public streets, as required by the city engineer. Street trees shall be provided in accordance with the regulations of Section 17.14.070 of this title and/or as stipulated by a master tree planting palette.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

A.

During the construction of a project, the construction site shall be secured by temporary fencing.

B.

All portions of the construction site shall be watered as necessary to reduce emissions of dust and other particulate matter and all stockpiles shall be covered. Public streets shall be kept dirt free to the satisfaction of the city engineer.

C.

All construction and transport equipment shall be muffled in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, and the noise standards of this chapter. Construction and transport equipment shall be operated so as to minimize exhaust emissions.

D.

Construction hours shall be as stipulated in Section 9.44.120 of this code, or as otherwise approved by the city engineer.

E.

All water run-off from construction sites shall be controlled. During construction trucks and equipment should be running only when necessary.

F.

At the end of construction, local road surfaces shall be returned to pre-construction condition by the developer.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

All exterior mechanical equipment, except window air conditioning units, shall be screened from public view, including adjacent properties. Equipment to be screened includes but is not limited to, heating and/or air conditioning units, water tanks, valves, back flow protection devices, solar and photovoltaic panels, and transformers. Screening materials may be solid concrete, wood or other opaque material or a combination of fence/wall and landscaping and shall effectively screen mechanical equipment so that it is not readily visible from the public right-of-way, as approved by the planning and community development director (See Chapter 17.14 of this title). See Section 17.08.040 of this title for regulations regarding the screening of communication facilities.

Activities requiring outdoor storage must be screened from view per Chapter 17.14 of this title. Machinery or equipment which, because of size and function, cannot be installed for practical purposes within an enclosed building shall also be screened.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

A.

Trash enclosures shall be required for multiple family, commercial and industrial uses.

B.

The following regulations shall apply regarding materials, construction and design.

1.

The walls of the trash enclosure structure shall be constructed of solid masonry material with a decorative exterior surface finish compatible to the main structure(s). The trash enclosure walls shall be a minimum six feet in height and the minimum dimensions shall be adequate for the size and number of dumpster units and recycling bins.

2.

The trash enclosure structure shall have solid heavy gauge metal gates.

3.

The trash enclosure shall feature a floor and approach that is paved with a durable all-weather surface approved by the city engineer.

4.

Trash receptacles shall be covered or a cover structure shall be constructed above the enclosure so as to protect its contents from the elements.

5.

The trash enclosure for residential developments should be designed to allow walk-in access by residents without requiring the main enclosure gates to be opened.

6.

Signage identifying the types of recyclable materials accepted for collection at the trash enclosure shall be conspicuously posted within the enclosure.

7.

The trash enclosure shall be designed so that adverse impacts such as noise, odor, vectors, or glare are minimized through the use of adequate separation, fencing, landscaping, or other means.

C.

If visible from public view, the perimeter of the trash enclosure structure shall be planted with landscaping, including a combination of shrubs and/or climbing evergreen vines.

D.

No trash enclosure shall be located in any required streetside setback area.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

All properties in the city of Rohnert Park shall, at all times, be maintained by their respective owners in good order. This shall include litter management and the repair and maintenance of all structures, fences, signs, walks, driveways, lawns, landscaping, painting, etc., as may be necessary to maintain good order. Enforcement of this provision shall be per Chapter 1.24 of this code.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

A.

Underground utility service is required for all new development. All utility service laterals and equipment, including, but not limited to, electric, communication, and cable television lines, installed in and for the purpose of supplying service to any new construction or use shall be installed underground on the property to be served and from the property to be served to the point of connection with the utility's distribution facilities, in accordance with utility rules as approved by the Public Utilities Commission of the State, except for equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and risers from concealed ducts (see Section 17.12.120 of this title.)

B.

The property owner shall be responsible for complying with the requirements of this section and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies involved for the installation of such facilities.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)