A.   The intent and purpose of this chapter is to establish a specific plan to guide the physical development of a particular geographic area within the city well suited for the development of job producing industrial uses, but constrained due to existing commercial zoning designations, small size lots, lack of infrastructure and ongoing oil field operations or leaseholds that prevent or discourage development. In an effort to accommodate the city's employment needs, the concepts, regulations and conditions set forth in the general industrial specific plan provide for the development of industrial uses compatible with surrounding land uses and the existing circulation system. This specific plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the State Government Code (Sections 65450 through 65457) and addresses all of the issues and topics specified in those codes.

   B.   Location and Boundaries. The specific plan includes different planning areas. Maps of the planning areas are on file in the offices of the Community Development Department.

   C.   Goals and Objectives. The following are the goals and objectives for development within the general industrial specific plan:

   1.   Encourage the development of privately sponsored, jobs producing, industrial development;

   2.   Encourage the consolidation of existing substandard lots into parcels of suitable size for contemporary planned industrial development with adequate parking and good access to major arterial roads and the freeway system;

   3.   Apply design standards that result in quality development and achieve streetscapes with attractive buildings, enclosed industrial yards and well landscaped yards that provide an aesthetically pleasing buffer for passers-by and neighboring land uses;

   4.   Preserve the quality appearance of an industrial area by providing good quality landscaping initially and by the establishment of controls requiring good quality maintenance thereafter; and

   5.   Provide for the development of safe and secure industrial facilities with adequate infrastructure improvements to promote safe and efficient vehicular traffic flows of goods and materials, and assure security through lighting and alarm systems and site designs that discourage vandalism, theft and other criminal activities.

   D.   Distribution of Land Uses. The distribution of land uses, and extent of the uses of land, including landscaped setbacks or open spaces, within the area covered by the plan is shown in the diagram entitled "Illustrative Site Plan" on file in the offices of the community development department. The text specifying distribution, location and extent of the uses of land is contained herein.

   E.   Public and Private Infrastructure. The proposed distribution, location, and extent and intensity of major components of public and private transportation, sewage, water, drainage, solid waste disposal, energy and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the area covered by the plan and needed to support the land uses described in the plan are shown in the diagrams entitled "Technical Site Plan/Grading Plan/Street Improvement Plan" on file in the offices of the community development department. The text describing the distribution, location, and extent of public and private improvements is contained in the conditions of approval attached to the specific plan project and on file in the community development department.

   F.   Development Standards. Development standards and criteria by which development will proceed and standards for conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable, shall be as described herein.

   G.   Program Implementation. Program implementation measures including regulations, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to carry out projects shall be included in development plans for each project. The city may implement public works projects to facilitate coordinated development of and among development projects, and conditions of approval of development projects may require construction of public improvements.

(Ord. 2009-02-1397 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   The provisions of this chapter shall apply only to property that is designated as SP-19, general industrial specific plan on the official zoning map on file in the offices of the community development department.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   Principal Uses. Principal uses are land uses as follows:

   1.   Area 1 – Concrete batch plant.

   2.   Area 2 - The following General Industrial uses or similar uses as may be approved by the Director of Community Development:

 

 

 

   3.   Area 3 - Recycling and Solid Waste Transfer Facility as defined under the Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (Public Resources Code Sections 40000 et seq.) subject to City Council approval of a Conditional User Permit.

   4.   Area 4 - Truck Terminal and Administrative Offices in conjunction with a Recycling and Solid Waste Transfer Facility subject to the City Council approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

   B.   Accessory Uses. Accessory uses permitted in conjunction with the development shall be those permitted in the GI and LI zones.

   C.   Nonconforming Uses. Existing nonconforming uses may continue as provided in Chapter 20.82.

   D.   Unlisted Uses Prohibited. Unlisted uses shall be prohibited including the following unlisted uses that are expressly prohibited: Auto body repair, auto painting, towing, towing dispatch office, auto wrecking, dismantling, junk yard, trucking yard, transit yard, truck repair, bus, ambulance or van storage, auto shipping, storage of shipping containers, tire recapping, trailer for office use, commercial marijuana activity, medical office, dental office, optometrist office, chiropractic office, hazardous waste management facilities, schools including trade schools, gyms or sports clubs, public storage and vendor food sales.

   E.   The use or temporary use of vacant unimproved land for parking or storage shall be prohibited.

(Ord. 2017-11-1497 § 7, 2017; Ord. 2016-01-1484 § 5; Ord. 2011-04-1424 § 5; Ord. 2010-09-1420, § 1, 2010; Ord. 2009-02-1397 § 2, 3, 2009; Ord. 2007-02-1372 1; Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   Consistency. All property within the general industrial specific plan shall be developed and maintained in accordance with all provisions of the specific plan and applicable ordinances and policies of the City of Signal Hill and any approved plans. In the event of inconsistency between the specific plan and any other ordinance or regulation of the city, the specific plan shall prevail.

   B.   Minor Changes. Development shall be consistent with approved plans. The director of community development may approve minor changes to approved plans or to the physical improvements developed pursuant to approved plans or the director may refer any proposed change to the planning commission for determination.

   C.   Design Standards. The design of buildings, walls, fences, gates, signs and landscaping shall include the use of high quality and durable materials and design elements including offsets and recesses, staggered setbacks, enhanced masonry or tilt-up construction as approved by the planning commission.

   D.   Street Improvements. Public street improvements and private driveways and parking lots shall be designed to accommodate the weight of heavy trucks. The city engineer shall determine design criteria for public streets, alleys, private driveways and parking lots including street widths, alignment, dedications and the need for sidewalks within the public rights-of-way.

   E.   Vacation of Rights-of-Way. To facilitate the consolidation of small lots into suitable size parcels to encourage contemporary industrial development, the city engineer may recommend and the city council may approve the vacation of public rights-of-way.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   Maximum Building or Equipment Height. The maximum height of any building or equipment shall not exceed sixty feet. The maximum permissible number of building stories shall be five.

   B.   Measurement of Building or Equipment Height. Building or equipment height and determination of heights shall be as in Section 20.04.102, "Building Height," of the Signal Hill Municipal Code, except that "natural ground elevation" referenced therein, shall be the elevation(s) of each building pad as established on the approved concept grading plan.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   Front Setback. The front setback shall be five feet to any wall or building as measured from the property line after any required dedication of street right-of-way.

   B.   Side Setback. Between lots side setbacks shall not be required.

   C.   Street Side Setback. Street side setbacks shall be five feet to any fence, wall or building.

   D.   California Avenue setback shall be ten feet fully landscaped.

   E.   Setbacks for Area 3 shall be measured from property line after any required dedication of street right-of-way as follows: fifteen feet for frontage along California Avenue; ten feet at the western property line (along frontage to the vacated segment of Olive Avenue); and five feet along frontage on Patterson Street and none on 28th Street.

   F.   Setbacks for Area 4 shall be measured from property line after any required dedication of street right-of-way as follows: ten feet for frontage along California Avenue and ten feet along Myrtle Avenue and 27th Street. (Ord. 2010-09-1420 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2009-02-1397 § 4, 2009; Ord. 2007-02-1372 2; Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1; Ord. 2012-04-1447 §§ 2, 3, 2012 )

   A.   Required Yards. Required yards shall be those portions of the lot between the property line after dedications and the required setback line. All required yards shall extend the full depth and width of the lot, shall be open from ground to sky, and shall be fully landscaped and automatically irrigated with the exception of the following: driveways, walkways, public utilities and steps.

   B.   Maintenance of Yards. Conditions of approval attached to land use approvals shall require that the applicant record a covenant agreement describing the subject property landscaping and requiring good maintenance of all landscaping including the maintenance of automatic irrigation systems and the replacement of dead or dying plants with plants of the same type and size as shown on approved landscape plans. The director may approve alternative replacement plants.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   Maximum Allowed Hardscape. Hardscape in front and street side setbacks is limited to driveways and walkways only (hardscape includes paved materials, both permeable and non-permeable). The remaining area shall be landscaped and maintained.

   B.   Turf in New Development. Turf in new development is subject to Chapter 13.10.

   C.   Turf Replacement.

   1.   Turf is not a required or preferred landscape material. Drought tolerant landscape materials that retain water on site are strongly encouraged when replacing existing turf.

   2.   Turf replacement in landscape areas of two thousand five hundred square feet or greater is subject to Chapter 13.10. (Ord. 2015-11-1481 § 30)

   Eaves, belt courses, sills and chimneys or any other architectural projection shall not project into required yards.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   Maximum Height. The maximum height for fences, walls and hedges shall be as approved during the site plan and design review process.

   B.   Fences. Fences shall be galvanized steel with screen slats and constructed in accordance with city standard plan No. 230.

   C.   Walls. Walls shall be decorative masonry such as colored split-faced block as may be approved during the site plan and design review process.

   D.   Gates. Gates shall be high quality metal gates of durable construction with visual screening compatible with the design of the wall or fence.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   On-Site Parking Areas. Parking areas shall be provided on private property in paved areas for all of the vehicles operated by the business and all employees of the business. In addition, parking shall be provided for visitors or customers of the business.

   B.   Number of Parking Spaces. The number of parking spaces shall be determined through the Site Plan and Design Review procedures in Chapter 20.52, but shall not be less than the more restrictive of the parking requirement listed in Chapter 20.70, or one parking space for each one thousand square feet of warehouse or manufacturing area within a building and one parking space for each two hundred and fifty square feet of office area within a building.

   C.   Public Streets. Public streets shall not be used for loading or unloading of trucks related to the business, parking or storage of trucks related to the business or for employee parking.

(Ord. 2007-02-1372 3; Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   A.   Trash Storage Area. A trash storage area shall be provided with bins or dumpsters of sufficient size and number to ensure containment of all solid waste materials generated by the use of the site and of sufficient number to promote the city's recycling program.

   B.   Trash Bins. Trash storage bins shall be kept on-site in a location accessible for routine pick-up and not located or stored in a required yard or driveway.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   All signs shall conform to the number, location and size requirements of Chapter 20.58.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   New development shall comply with the requirements of Signal Hill Municipal Code Chapter 9.16 "Noise", except that the presumed ambient base noise level in the chart in Section 9.16.020.B. shall be as follows:

 

 

   A.   Utilities. All on-site water, wastewater, sewage, storm drain, gas, electrical, telephone, cable television, and communications lines and facilities shall be provided by the developer in accordance with the City of Signal Hill standard plans.

   B.   Overhead Utilities. Overhead utility lines may remain overhead, provided the developer removes inactive utility service lines, rearranges existing lines, adds or removes poles and guy wires necessary to improve the appearance of the overhead utility system, clear the public right-of-way of obstacles and improve the overall aesthetic quality of the development. The extent of overhead utility line repair and rework shall be determined at the sole discretion of the director of public works.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   Nonresidential development comprising more than twenty-five thousand square feet of building area shall comply with Section 20.20.075 and provide transportation related improvements including carpool and vanpool preferential parking spaces, bicycle racks, and transportation information displays as specified.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)

   Within the specific plan area it is envisioned that there may be different planning areas and additional industrial uses may be permitted. Rather than establish all such uses initially, the intent is to permit uses to be proposed and then be analyzed environmentally to determine mitigation and appropriate land use conditions. Accordingly, property within the atlantic/spring neighborhood and designated 4.2 general industrial on the general plan land use element, generalized land use map, Figure 3, may be designated as planning areas of SP-19, and Section 20.39.030 will be amended to designate the planning area and the permitted uses, and other appropriate amendments may be made to this specific plan to regulate such uses. Principal uses, which may be considered within additional planning areas include but are not limited to manufacturing, machine shop, auto repair, auto body and paint, warehousing and distribution, assembly, outdoor storage, lumber yard, roofing yard, light and heavy recycling facilities, hazardous waste management facilities, solid waste transfer stations, and utility distribution or generation facilities. However, nothing herein would currently permit such uses within SP-19 except through an amendment of SP-19, which would include the performance of appropriate environmental analysis of the appropriateness of such use.

(Ord. 2006-11-1368 § 1)