Santa Maria City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 12
33 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Section 12-33.101 Intent and purpose.
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to prescribe performance, design and landscaping standards for commercial and industrial districts in order to enhance the quality of the environment for the mutual benefit of all persons and uses both within and around the zoned areas.
(Prior Code § 10-97)
Section 12-33.201 Applicability.
The performance standards set out in this article apply to all uses established within the CPO, CC, C-1, C-2 and FS districts. Determinations of degree of compliance shall be made by the Zoning Administrator.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1)
Section 12-33.202 Exterior design requirements.
(a)
All exterior wall elevations of buildings facing on streets are to have architectural treatment. No building surface fronting on a street shall be a flat, void surface, without architectural treatment.
(b)
All roof-mounted mechanical equipment or duct work which projects vertically more than one and one-half (1-1/2) feet above the roof or roof parapet is to be screened by an enclosure which is detailed consistently with the building design.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1(a))
Section 12-33.203 Landscape design: Generally.
(a)
Use of Artificial Materials. The use of artificial trees, flowers, bushes or vines as fulfillment or partial fulfillment of the landscape provisions is prohibited. Artificial landscape material is defined as any man-made decoration consisting of plastics, paper, processed wood or any synthetic material.
(b)
Sprinkler Systems. Sprinkler systems shall be provided for all landscape areas, except as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(c)
Concrete curbs shall be placed around landscaped areas.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1(b)(1))
Section 12-33.204 Front yard.
Areas utilized for parking, storage, or loading when located in the front yard shall be screened, modulated or integrated from view of access streets, freeways, or adjacent properties. This may be accomplished by employing any combination of the following techniques:
(a)
Lineal masses or shrubs. This method requires use of shrubs that will achieve a height of four to six feet within three years. Minimum size of five gallons is required.
(b)
Lineal or group masses or major scale trees. This method requires use of trees that will ultimately provide foliage that is visible above the roofline from within the total site.
(c)
Lineal or group masses of smaller scale trees. This method requires uses of trees that will ultimately provide foliage or shade patterns on either horizontal or vertical planes.
(d)
Earth mounding and landscaping with ground cover and lineal masses of shrubs.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1(b)(2))
Section 12-33.205 Side and rear yard.
Landscaping in these areas shall consist of the following:
(a)
Trees shall be planted adjacent to structures where possible to provide visual relief, to soften and aid in balancing architectural elements of design. For each side and rear exterior elevation where trees can be provided the quantity shall be equal to one tree for each 30 feet of exterior wall length. Minimum size of plant material shall be 15 gallons.
(b)
All unpaved areas shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs or ground cover.
(c)
Undeveloped areas proposed for future expansion shall be kept in a weed-free condition. Such areas may be planted with appropriate ornamentals, to include ground cover, shrubs and/or trees.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1(b)(3))
Section 12-33.206 Loading areas.
Loading areas when required by this title or proposed by a developer shall be designed or so located as not to be visible from adjacent streets.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1(c))
Section 12-33.207 Refuse collection areas.
Section 12-33.208 Parking.
(a)
The parking requirements as set forth in this section are as prescribed by present City standards. The landscaping requirements for parking lots are intended to screen and soften the visual exposure of bleak asphalt and cars, and to create continuity between parking facilities and the businesses served.
(b)
The typical parking lot landscaping (Figure 4, following page) shall serve as a guide in the development of parking lot landscape design.
(1)
All areas not specifically used for vehicle parking or access shall be landscaped with trees, shrubbery and ground cover. Trees at least equal in number to one per each 12 parking stalls or fraction thereof shall be provided in all parking areas. Minimum size shall be 15 gallons.
(2)
Parking shall be provided at the side or rear of the proposed structures when practicable.
(3)
Parking requirements, i.e., number of spaces, size and configuration, shall be provided per City standards.
(4)
Landscape plans for commercial parking areas shall be approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1(e))
Section 12-33.209 Signs.
It is recognized that every business needs good identification to serve the public effectively. The intent of these provisions is to stipulate general design criteria which call for a designed sign program that relates to the total sign, thus creating better visual effects and continuity in signing, which in turn will protect each business investment by assuring to the maximum degree possible the most effective identification of each business in accord with its individual site and architectural design.
(a)
Signs visible from the exterior of any building shall be designed to maintain a consistent continuity and harmony with the architecture and design of the proposed development. An overall sign program for each shop or use within the proposed development shall be shown on elevations of the building to be constructed. Such signs shall be in conformity with sign standards for the zone in which the facility is to be constructed.
(b)
Signs shall be included as an integral part of the building design. Signs shall be secondary to the architecture of the building and shall avoid dominating the site or overwhelming the building.
(Prior Code § 10-98.1(f)(1))
Section 12-33.210 Lighting.
Section 12-33.211 Outdoor storage.
(a)
All exterior storage areas and service yards, loading docks and ramps, electrical cage enclosures or storage tanks, are to be screened from view from the access streets, freeways and adjacent properties by a fence, wall or mature landscape material.
(b)
All outdoor storage shall be visually screened from access streets, freeways and adjacent properties. The screening shall form a complete opaque screen up to a point eight feet in vertical height, but need not be opaque above that point. The outdoor storage shall be meant to include all company-owned or company-leased and company-operated motor vehicles, with the exception of passenger vehicles.
(c)
No outdoor storage shall be permitted within the front yard or the front yard setback area.
(Prior Code § 10-10.1(f)(3))
Section 12-33.301 Applicability.
The performance standards set out in this article apply to all uses established within the CM, M-1 and M-2 zones. Determination of acceptable compliance shall be made by the Zoning Administrator.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2)
Section 12-33.302 Air pollution.
Any activity, operation or device which causes, or tends to cause, the release of air contaminants into the atmosphere shall comply with the rules and regulations of the county air pollution control district.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(a))
Section 12-33.303 Odors.
The odors released from any operation or activity shall not exceed detectable concentrations beyond lot lines, measured at any location on the lot lines.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(b))
Section 12-33.304 Particulate matter.
The outdoor storage of materials susceptible to releasing wind-borne dust across lot lines is prohibited. All roads within a lot or parcel shall be hard-surface paved. Fugitive sources of dust shall be sealed or controlled to minimize or eliminate such dust release.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(c))
Section 12-33.305 Liquid and solid wastes.
No discharge at any point into any public sewer, private sewerage disposal system or stream, or into the ground, of any materials of such nature or temperature as can contaminate any water supply, interfere with bacterial processes in sewerage treatment or otherwise cause the perpetuation, increase or dissemination of dangerous or offensive elements, shall be permitted, except in accord with standards approved by the California Department of Public Health or such other governmental agency as has jurisdiction of such activities.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(d))
Section 12-33.306 Noise.
Industrial uses shall comply with noise standards as adopted by the City.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(e))
Section 12-33.307 Glare.
(a)
No activity shall be permitted which causes light or glare to be transmitted or reflected in such concentrated quantities as to be detrimental or harmful to the use of surrounding properties or streets. Any operation or activity producing glare shall be conducted or shielded so as not to cause illumination in residential districts in excess of 0.5 footcandle. Flickering or intrinsically bright sources of illumination shall be controlled so as not to be a nuisance in residential districts.
(b)
Illumination levels shall be measured with a photoelectron photometer having a spectral response similar to that of the human eye, following the standard spectral luminous efficiency curve adopted by the International Commission of Illumination.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(f))
Section 12-33.308 Fire and explosive hazards.
The use or storage of flammable or explosive materials shall at all times comply with the fire prevention Code adopted by the City, and all other applicable ordinances and regulations.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(g))
Section 12-33.309 Fissionable materials, radioactivity or electrical disturbance.
No activities shall be permitted which release fissionable or radioactive material into the atmosphere, the ground or sewerage systems, and no activity shall be permitted which emits electrical disturbance affecting the operation at any point of any equipment other than that of the creator of such disturbance.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(h))
Section 12-33.310 Vehicular traffic generation.
The type and volume of vehicular traffic ingressing or egressing the proposed uses may be evaluated by the Zoning Administrator. Such determination may be used to distinguish the acceptability/unacceptability of certain uses in certain industrial zones.
(Prior Code § 10-98.2(i))