The following are the district regulations for the M-2 Industrial District:

   1.   Permitted Principal Uses and Structures. Following are the principal uses and structures permitted in the M-2 Heavy Industrial District:

      A.   Uses permitted in the M-1A District, provided that no dwelling unit is permitted except those of employees having duties in connection with any premises requiring them to live on said premises, including families of such employees when living with them.

      B.   Any other use not otherwise prohibited by law; provided, however, the following uses shall be permitted subject to approval by the Board of Adjustment after public hearing, and after report and recommendation by the Commission. The Board shall consider the following provisions in its determination upon the particular use at the location requested:

         (1)   The proposed location, design, construction, and operation of the particular use adequately safeguards the health, safety and general welfare of persons residing or working in adjoining or surrounding property.

         (2)   Such use shall not impair an inadequate supply of light and air to surrounding property.

         (3)   Such use shall not unduly increase congestion in the streets, or public danger of fire and safety.

         (4)   Such use shall not diminish or impair established property values in adjoining or surrounding property.

         (5)   Such use shall be in accord with the intent, purpose, and spirit of this Zoning Code and the Comprehensive Plan of the City. No permit will be issued in the M-2 Heavy Industrial District, other than those uses meeting the requirements listed in M-1A, except as specifically approved by the Board of Adjustment.

   2.   Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures. Following are the accessory uses and structures permitted in M-2 Heavy Industrial District:

      A.   Uses and structures clearly incidental and necessary to their permitted principal uses or structures of this district.

      B.   Temporary buildings used in conjunction with construction work, provided that such buildings are removed promptly upon completion of the construction work.

      C.   Dwelling units for watchmen or caretakers employed on the premises provided that an open yard of at least 2,400 square feet is reserved and maintained for use by the occupants.

   3.   Special Exception Uses and Structures. Subject to subsection 2 of Section 168.13 and the other requirements contained herein, the Board of Adjustment may permit the following special exception uses and structures:

      A.   The best practical means known for the disposal of refuse matter or water carried waste, the abatement of obnoxious or offensive odor, smoke, dust, gas, noise or similar nuisance shall be employed.

      B.   All principal buildings and all accessory buildings or structures housing a use permitted only in the M-2 District shall be located at least 200 feet from any “R” District boundary.

      C.   All facilities required for the discharge, collection and treatment of liquid, solid or gaseous wastes shall be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with the regulations of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

      D.   Sanitary landfill or waste disposal area, provided it is not used for disposal of dead animals, that refuse shall be covered with dirt daily if it contains raw garbage, that a nuisance due to smoke, odor or blowing of trash and debris shall not be created and that the site shall be restored to a condition compatible with the adjacent area upon conclusion of the dump operation. An access road having at least a graveled surface and five parking spaces shall be provided. No landfill or waste disposal area shall be located closer than one-fourth mile to any dwelling, park, school or place of public assembly.

      E.   Auto wrecking and junk yards on site of two acres or more provided that the front yard be maintained as an open space free of weeds and debris; that the site be enclosed with a six-foot-high fence or a suitable landscape planting that will screen the operation from the view of adjacent public streets and places of public assembly, parks, recreation areas and residential properties; and that a minimum of one parking space for each employee and one space for each vehicle used by the facility be provided.

      F.   Bulk storage of petroleum products under pressure provided that such uses shall not be located within 500 feet of any existing dwelling, park, school or place of public assembly; and that it is located so that prevailing winds will not cause fumes, odors or gases to be carried toward developed properties in the vicinity; that one parking space for each employee and one space for each vehicle or trailer used by the industry be provided.

      G.   Concrete products manufacture and central mixing and proportioning plants provided that such uses shall be located so that prevailing winds will not cause dust or odors to adversely affect uses in non-industrial districts; that one off-street parking space for each employee and one space for each vehicle used by the industry be provided.

   4.   Minimum Lot Area and Width. There are no minimum lot area and width requirements in the M-2 Heavy Industrial District.

   5.   Minimum Required Front, Side and Rear Yards. The following minimum front, side and rear yards are required in the M-2 Heavy Industrial District:

      A.   Front – 50 feet.

      B.   Rear – 40 feet.

      C.   Side – 30 feet.

      D.   Street side, corner lot – 50 feet.

   6.   Maximum Height. The maximum height for structures in the M-2 Heavy Industrial District is 60 feet.

   7.   Permitted Signs. Permitted signs in the M-2 Heavy Industrial District are as follows:

      A.   Temporary sign advertising the sale or lease of the premises, not exceeding 12 square feet in area.

      B.   Billboards and advertising signs, provided:

         (1)   They are not within 150 feet of a highway intersection, highway structure, residence, park, school, cemetery, public or semi-public building.

         (2)   They are not within 150 feet of another billboard or advertising sign.

      C.   Trade, business or industry identification signs for firms located on the site provided that:

         (1)   Free-standing signs shall not exceed 150 square feet in area or 25 feet in height. Such sign shall not be located closer than 10 feet to the right-of-way line.

         (2)   A directory sign or monument sign may be substituted in place of a post sign, subject to the requirements set forth above. A monument sign shall not be more than 10 feet in height and shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any property line.

         (3)   Signs mounted flush on the wall of a building shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the wall of the building on which they are located or 200 square feet, whichever is smaller.

         (4)   Overhanging signs, attached to a building shall not project above the height of the building or more than four feet from the wall of the building and shall not have more than 100 square feet of area.

         (5)   Not more than one sign of each category above may be provided for any single use, although each sign may be a double faced or back to back sign.

      D.   All signs and billboards shall be maintained in a neat and presentable condition and in the event that they shall become illegible or their use shall cease they shall be promptly removed and the area occupied restored to a condition free from refuse and debris.

      E.   Any sign not conforming to these regulations shall be made to conform or moved to a conforming location or be removed.

   8.   Off-Street Parking and Loading. Spaces for off-street parking and loading shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 166.21(14).

   9.   Site Plan Requirements. See Section 166.21(16).

   10.   Minimum Open Space. The total land area devoted to open space and landscaping shall not be less than 10 percent of the gross land area included in the building lot. Such open space shall be maintained as grassed and landscaped area and shall not include access drives, parking areas, structures or buildings; except ornamental structures included as part of the landscaping theme.

   11.   Special Requirements. No raw material, finished product or waste product that may cause dust or odor which would adversely affect adjoining properties shall be stored outside a building nor shall any other debris or waste product be permitted to accumulate on the site.