These regulations are established to promote and preserve the public health, safety, convenience, and general welfare by ensuring that automobile service stations are located and operated so as not to create increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic hazards and not be detrimental to the ordinary maintenance, development, and redevelopment of the surrounding area.

(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)

   (A)   A Conditional Use Permit will be required for automobile service stations under the following conditions:

      (1)   Construction of new service stations.

      (2)   Reopening of a service station that has been vacant for a period of at least six months.

      (3)   Renovation, alteration or additions to existing service stations when such change exceeds 50% of the value of the existing building or structure as officially established by the latest records of the County Assessor of the County;

   (B)   Service stations on properties annexed to the city which do not comply with permitted activity and services, or the requirement regarding trash enclosure, storage space and landscaping, will be considered nonconforming and subject to nonconforming provisions as set forth in Chapters 16.110 through 16.118 (Nonconformities) of this Title 16.

   (C)   All new, reopened, renovated, or annexed service stations, or those requesting any substantial change in services rendered, will be required to meet all of the requirements of this chapter unless this chapter specifically states that the Planning Commission may modify that particular requirement.

(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)

   In addition to the sale of motor fuels, activities and services will be permitted, limited or precluded as set forth in this section.

   (A)   Rental of vehicles.

      (1)   The rental of automobiles, trucks, trailers, and similar vehicles may be permitted, provided the site contains adequate space for display and/or parking and further provided such rentals are displayed and/or parked in only an area so designated as part of the conditional use permit.

      (2)   Unless expressly stated otherwise as part of the conditional use permit, displaying and/or parking of rentals must not occur within 20 feet of any street frontage property line.

   (B)   Storage and display of merchandise.

      (1)   All new and used merchandise must be stored and displayed only within the service station building, except new and reconditioned tires, batteries, accessories, and lubrication items which are maintained in movable or enclosed cabinets or racks designed for the display and sale of said merchandise may be displayed outside.

      (2)   The location of enclosed cabinets and racks must be designated on the conditional use permit.

      (3)   Products which render an express convenience of service to the customer, such as pump island racks containing oil cans and additives, may be displayed under the pump island canopy when maintained in a cabinet or display rack. Such cabinets or racks must not obstruct vehicular access to the pump island.

   (C)   Body work, tire recapping and rental of heavy equipment prohibited. All painting, welding, body and fender repair, tire recapping and the rental of other heavy equipment and the sale and rental of other merchandise, other than that specified in this division, is expressly prohibited.

   (D)   Vending machines. Vending machines will be permitted only per the standards set forth in Chapter 16.74 of this Title 16.

   (E)   Temporary promotions.

      (1)   The sale and storage of merchandise not customarily related to the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles will be permitted with a Temporary Use Permit and subject to the requirements set forth in Chapter 16.228 (Temporary Use Permits) of this Title 16.

      (2)   Subparagraph (1) above does not apply to items which are provided free or at a reduced price to the customers with purchase of products from the service station.

   (F)   Public telephones. Public telephones are permitted, provided they will not be within 20 feet of any street frontage property line and are located to be visible from the public right-of-way and accessible on a 24-hour basis.

   (G)   Restriction on merchandise sale and rental. The sales and rental of any type of merchandise not related to the motoring public is prohibited.

   (H)   Tow truck and service vehicles. Tow trucks and similar service vehicles may be allowed if approved as part of the conditional use permit. Such vehicles must be parked only in an area expressly provided and approved as part of the conditional use permit.

   (I)   Use as commercial parking lot. The use of a service station as a commercial parking lot is prohibited, unless expressly approved as part of the conditional use permit.

   (J)   Storage and trash.

      (1)   Storage and trash must be kept only in areas approved as part of the conditional use permit, and must not be placed higher than the walls enclosing such areas.

      (2)   Trash may be collected in containers at the pump islands or inside buildings and service bays.

   (K)   Hours of operation. Hours of operation may be designated as part of the conditional use permit if exceptional circumstances exist, such as proximity to residential zones.

   (L)   Removal, overhaul and replacement of engines.

      (1)   The removal, overhaul, and replacement of motors, differentials, and transmissions is permitted, provided these activities occur within a completely enclosed building and on vehicles with a rated capacity not to exceed 1-1/2 tons.

      (2)   These activities will constitute only an accessory and incidental use of the service station operation and must not create obnoxious odors, smoke, noise, vibration, or otherwise create a nuisance.

   (M)   Recreational vehicle dumping stations. Recreational vehicle dumping stations are permitted, subject to applicable requirements of the Ventura County Health Department.

   (N)   Enclosure of used or discarded automobile parts. No used or discarded automotive parts or equipment or permanently disabled, junk or wrecked vehicles may be located outside the service station building, except within an enclosed trash storage area screened from public view.

(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)

   Automobile service stations must be located only at intersections of streets and highways designated on the city's adopted circulation element of the general plan or in commercial shopping centers, as follows:

   (A)   Arterial having a right-of-way width of 100 feet.

   (B)   Collector streets having a right-of-way width of 80 or 84 feet.

   (C)   Properties fronting on a primary thoroughfare and siding on a freeway right-of-way.

   (D)   Within commercial developments with a land area of 2 acres or more under one ownership.

(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)

   (A)   Design. The architectural design of service station developments must be compatible with the character of development of the area in which it is to be located. However, innovative architectural design and site layout which would contribute to the efficiency and appearance of the station and minimize adverse effects on adjacent property is encouraged.

   (B)   Site size.

      (1)   The minimum area of a corner site must be 22,500 square feet, with a minimum frontage of 150 feet on one street.

      (2)   When a service station on a corner site is developed as a part of a commercial shopping center on a development site greater than two acres in size, the service station site may be reduced to 15,000 square feet, provided the additional required area is provided within the mutual parking and access areas.

   (C)   Access.

      (1)   Two driveways on each street frontage may be permitted with the approval of the City Engineer. Access driveways must be no closer than 35 feet from the point of intersection of the ultimate right-of-way lines of the adjoining streets, but in no case closer than five feet to the point of curb return. Such driveways must be at least 25 feet apart and they may be no closer than five feet to the side property line.

      (2)   Where a service station is part of a commercial development site, a combined driveway for both the service station and adjacent shopping center or commercial property must be designated and provided.

   (D)   Lot grading and drainage. Grading of service station sites must provide a minimum rise, in order to insure required fall for drainage, and must be engineered in a compatible manner with the surrounding properties. All drainage to the street must be by underground structures to avoid drainage across city sidewalks or drive aprons, and will be subject to the approval of the Public Works Director.

   (E)   Setbacks. Notwithstanding the setback requirements for the zone district in which the service station is located, all buildings must be set back from interior and street frontage property lines a minimum of 30 feet. Pump islands parallel to the adjacent street must be set back a minimum of 20 feet from all property lines. Pump islands perpendicular to the adjacent street must be set back a minimum of 24 feet from all property lines.

   (F)   Canopy structure.

      (1)   Every pump island must be covered by a canopy structure designed and constructed of material to blend with the main building.

      (2)   Where design permits, the pump island canopy structure must be attached to and made an integral part of the main building structure.

      (3)   Canopies must be a minimum of 10 feet from any street frontage property line.

   (G)   Storage area. Each service station must have a storage area. The required storage area may be constructed outside of the main building, provided that it is enclosed by a six-foot high solid masonry wall with a view-obscuring gate made of a durable metal material, and is roofed and contiguous to the main building, unless approved otherwise as a part of the conditional use permit.

   (H)   Trash enclosure.

      (1)   Each service station must have at least one trash enclosure constructed to the standards described in § 16.40.110 (Solid Waste/Recycling Receptacles and Enclosures) of this Title 16.

      (2)   No trash, including discarded oil cans, batteries, signs, tires, and the like, must be stored or deposited on any section of the site, except in the trash area.

   (I)   Restrooms.

      (1)   All service stations must contain restroom facilities for use by employees and patrons.

      (2)   All restroom entrances must be situated either to the side, to the rear, or within the main building.

      (3)   The restroom area may be situated in a location other than above if approved by the Planning Commission as part of the Conditional Use Permit.

   (J)   Perimeter walls.

      (1)   Whenever a service station abuts property in a residential zone, a solid masonry wall not less than six feet high must be constructed along the property line abutting the residential zone. However, front yard walls must not exceed 3.5 feet in height. The wall must be constructed in accordance with wall standards outlined in Chapter 16.44 (Fences, Walls and Hedges) of this Title 16. A wall need not be installed when building walls or other acceptable walls already exist on such property lines, or if the service station is part of a shopping center development. The wall requirements may be modified as part of the conditional use permit.

      (2)   A wall constructed on the interior property lines must make provisions for tree wells or landscaped planting areas not less than 16 square feet in area. When included as part of the wall design, the wells or planting should be spaced not less than eight feet nor more than 16 feet apart. Continuous planters or planters of uneven length may satisfy this requirement if they are at least one-third of the length of the wall, and include trees planted not more than 16 feet apart.

   (K)   Landscaping.

      (1)   Notwithstanding the landscaping requirements for the zone district in which the service station is located, at least 10% of the site must be landscaped with live plant materials. Planting areas must include but are not limited to the following:

         (a)   All landscaped planters must be enclosed with a masonry curb not less than six inches high above the finished grade of the site.

         (b)   A minimum five-foot-wide (inside dimension) raised planter, with a six-inch curb face made of concrete, brick or other masonry materials, must be provided along all street property lines between street access points for purpose of separating pump islands from the sidewalk. Landscaped planters may be rounded at driveway entrances utilizing a minimum ten-foot radius.

         (c)   A minimum of 150 square feet of raised planter with curb, minimum six inches in height, must be provided at the street frontage of the intersecting corner of the site, from curb cut to curb cut.

         (d)   All planting other than trees must be so maintained so as not to exceed a height greater than 30 inches, must not be thorny or spiked, and must not extend over the sidewalk or public right-of-way.

         (e)   Trees of minimum size 15 gallons must be placed in the parkway area (between curb face and back of sidewalk) with spacing and variety of trees to be determined by the Planning and Building Directors.

         (f)   Except for common traffic movement drives, service stations within shopping centers must be delineated from the remainder of the property by a landscaped buffer with minimum inside dimensions of four feet enclosed by a six-inch curb made of concrete, brick or other masonry material. Common and integrated traffic movement drives between the service station and the remainder of the property will be encouraged.

         (g)   All planting areas must be provided with a permanent irrigation system of a design suitable for the type and arrangement of the plant material selected.

      (2)   All planted areas must be maintained so as not to constitute a health or fire hazard.

(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)

   (A)   All service stations are subject to the sign regulations of Chapter 16.48 (Signs) of this Title 16.

   (B)   If additional signs are proposed or if modifications to the sign regulations are necessary or desirable for the service station, they may be requested and considered concurrently with the conditional use permit for the service station.

   (C)   Signs requested at a later date must be considered as modifications to the conditional use permit.

(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)

   In the event of conflicting provisions between these development standards and any development standards required by the zone district where development will occur, the development standards required by this chapter will take precedence.

(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)