Chapter 17.72
AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATIONS

Sections:

17.72.010    Purpose

17.72.020    Permit Requirements And Exemptions

17.72.030    Location And Separation Requirements

17.72.040    Development And Operational Standards

17.72.010 Purpose:

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate service station development to ensure that the design and operation of such uses effectively mitigate associated problems with traffic, congestion, excessive pavement and lighting, litter, hazardous materials, and noise. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.72.020 Permit Reauirements And Exemptions:

Service stations are permitted in the C-N (neighborhood commercial), C-R (retail business), C-H (highway commercial), and I-L (light industrial) zoning districts in addition to the GWO (gateway overlay) and RCO (regional commercial overlay) overlay districts with approval of a conditional use permit as described in section 17.26.040, table 17.26-1 of this title, in compliance with provisions of section 17.16.060, "Conditional Use Permit", of this title. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.72.030 Location And Separation Requirements:

Automobile service station uses shall be established no closer than five hundred feet (500') from any other automobile service station use in the city. Said distance shall be measured in a straight line from the nearest property line of the sites on which each such automobile service station use is located. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, an automobile service station proposed to be located on a corner lot adjoining an intersection may be located within five hundred feet (500') of another automobile service station located on a corner lot adjoining the same intersection, however, no more than two (2) automobile service stations may be located on corner lots adjoining anyone intersection. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.72.040 Development And Operational Standards:

The development standards in this section are intended to supplement the standards in the underlying zoning district for service station uses. In the event of conflict between these standards and the underlying zoning district standards, the provisions of this section shall apply. Service station uses shall also comply with all applicable state and federal regulations regarding site design, pricing signs, containment, maintenance, and operations.

A.    Minimum Lot Size: The minimum lot size to accommodate a service station in the city is fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.

B.    Lot Coverage: Maximum lot coverage for a service station (including canopy) is forty percent (40%) of the total lot size. No more than twenty percent (20%) of the total lot area shall be covered by a canopy.

C.    Setbacks: No building shall be located within thirty feet (30') of any public right of way or within fifteen feet (15') of any interior parcel line. Gasoline pump islands, canopies, compressed air connections, restrooms and similar facilities shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet (20') from any public right of way and fifteen feet (15') from any interior parcel line.

D.    Landscaping: In order to provide adequate screening for the large expanses of pavement associated with service station use, a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the site shall be landscaped, concentrated at the perimeter of the site. Street frontage landscaping shall be a minimum of fifteen feet (15') in width and bermed to no less than two feet (2') in height. Minimum five foot (5') wide landscape planter areas shall be provided adjacent to all other property lines. Planter areas shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs, and ground cover including the following specific standards:

1.    Trees along all street frontages shall be fast growing evergreen species, a minimum of twenty four inch (24") box and two and one-half inch (2 1/2 ") caliper in size, planted no farther apart on center than thirty feet (30').

2.    Shrubs planted along all street frontages shall be a minimum five (5) gallon size and shall be designed and maintained to screen vehicles from view from adjacent roadways to a minimum continuous overall height of thirty inches (30"), measured from the finished grade of on site pavement abutting the planter.

E.    Access/Circulation: The intent of the specific access and circulation standards below is to ensure safe and convenient internal circulation and access to and from the site, while minimizing the negative visual impact of multiple curb cuts, discontinuous landscape, and excessive pavement.

1.    No more than two (2) exterior points of access (driveways along abutting streets) shall be provided for each service station, regardless of the length or number of street frontages. No more than thirty five percent (35%) of the street frontage shall be devoted to curb cuts. Within integrated developments, shared access driveways are preferred. The minimum throat depth for driveways shall be fifty feet (50').

2.    The internal circulation system shall allow for vehicle stacking without blocking ingress and egress on and off the site. The pump island shall be situated to provide stacking space for a minimum of two (2) vehicles behind the vehicle parked at the pump closest to the entrance and/or exit driveway.

F.    Pedestrian Access To Convenience Market: A minimum of one continuous four foot (4') wide internal pedestrian walkway shall be provided from the perimeter public sidewalk of each abutting street to the nearest entrance to the convenience market. Internal pedestrian walkways shall be distinguished from driving surfaces through the use of raised sidewalks, special pavers, bricks, or scored/stamped concrete.

G.    Building Placement And Orientation: Buildings shall be placed close to the street and oriented to the public view.

H.    Building And Canopy Design: The service station building and/or canopy shall be designed for architectural compatibility with the surrounding area. The maximum height for all service station buildings (including canopy) shall be twenty five feet (25'). In order to reduce the visual impact of the canopy structure and corresponding lighting, the maximum height of the canopy clearance shall be fifteen feet (15') and the maximum width of the canopy fascia shall be thirty inches (30"). Canopy fascia shall match the color and texture of the primary building.

I.    Signs: All signs, except window signs, shall be constructed and maintained within a permanent sign structure. Except as provided below, service station signs are subject to compliance with provisions of chapter 17.62, "Signs", of this title:

1.    Building Signs: Allowable sign area for building signs is one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of primary building frontage, up to a maximum sign area of fifty (50) square feet.

2.    Freestanding Signs: One freestanding monument sign is permitted for corporate identification with a maximum sign area of twenty four (24) square feet and a six foot (6') height limit. Pricing signs shall be incorporated into such monument sign, the area of which shall not count against the maximum allowable freestanding sign area. Service stations located on a corner parcel shall locate the monument sign at the intersection for visibility from both abutting street rights of way. Said sign shall be located outside of the visibility requirement.

J.    Parking: In addition to the off street vehicle parking provisions in chapter 17.58, "Parking", of this title, the following standards apply to service station uses:

1.    Prohibited Parking: Customer and employee parking shall not be utilized for vehicle repair, finishing work or storage of vehicles. No vehicle which is waiting for service, or which has been serviced, shall be parked on site for a period of longer than seventy two (72) hours.

2.    For Sale Vehicle Parking Prohibited: No vehicle shall be parked on the premises for the purpose of offering it for sale.

3.    Outdoor Display Of Materials: Temporary and permanent outdoor display and sale of products shall be limited to one display rack near the entrance to the corresponding pay booth or convenience/service building and one display rack on each pump island. Display racks shall have a maximum area of ten (10) square feet at the base with a maximum height of six feet (6'). Display racks shall not obstruct required vehicle or pedestrian access.

K.    Lighting: In addition to the lighting provisions of chapter 17.56, "Lighting", of this title, canopy lighting shall be recessed so that the luminaire does not extend below the surface of the underside of the canopy.

L.    Noise: All outdoor noise generators associated with the business shall be identified by the applicant during conditional use permit review and may require the submittal of a professional noise analysis to quantify noise sources. All outdoor speakers and video/audio pump stations and sound signals associated with the service stations shall be turned off daily between the hours of ten o’clock (10:00) P.M. and seven o’clock (7:00) A.M. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)