Chapter 18.68
SERVICE STATION STANDARDS
Sections:
18.68.020 Minimum site development and maintenance standards.
18.68.030 Standards for service stations.
18.68.040 Cessation of sale of motor vehicle fuels.
18.68.050 Conversion of a full-service station to self-serve only.
18.68.060 Nonconforming outdoor display and storage.
18.68.010 Intent.
The objectives of these standards are to:
(a) Promote design which will be architecturally compatible with other activities to be found in areas where service stations will be located.
(b) Control those aspects of the service station activity and other uses on site which may be damaging to surrounding areas and to confine their effect to the service station site.
(c) Minimize congestion and hazard inherent in an activity of this type. (Zoning Ord. § 34-1).
18.68.020 Minimum site development and maintenance standards.
In addition to the design standards set forth by the zone district in which the service station is located, the following shall apply:
(a) The following minimum landscaped improvements shall be installed and permanently maintained:
(1) A fifteen (15)-foot-wide planter area adjacent to any property line along a public street, with the exception of driveway entrances approved by the Director of Community Development. Minimum planter width shall be measured from the street right-of-way or official plan line.
(2) A five-foot-wide planter area adjacent to all other property lines.
(3) Each planter area shall be landscaped with ground cover, screening shrubs, and trees. Trees shall be spaced at either a minimum distance of thirty-six (36) feet on center or in an alternative design to accomplish an equivalent density of screening and degree of shading, as approved by the Director of Community Development in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.76 SCCC.
(4) Each planter area shall be surrounded with a six-inch raised concrete curbing or planning division-approved equivalent. An automatic irrigation system shall be installed and permanently maintained in working order in each separate planter area.
(b) Service station roofs shall be well designed with generous overhangs; the roofing shall be incombustible materials such as simulated shake or shingle, clay tile, cement tile, slate or other similar materials.
(c) Exterior walls of service stations shall be well designed and compatible with adjoining properties.
(d) The entire service area of the service station shall be paved with a permanent surface of concrete or asphalt. Any unpaved area of the site shall be landscaped and separated from the paved areas by a six-inch concrete curb or other equivalent planning division-approved barrier.
(e) Gasoline pump islands, canopies, compressed air connections, restrooms and similar facilities shall be set back a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from any street right-of-way or official plan line.
(f) Points of cash or other payment shall be designed so as to provide a safe and adequate customer queuing area. Outdoor walk-up service facilities shall be located and designed so as to prevent adverse impacts on adjacent properties zoned residential or designated as residential in the general plan.
(g) Hydraulic hoists, pits and all lubrication, greasing, automobile washing and other service equipment shall be entirely enclosed within a building.
(h) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a solid masonry fence or wall a minimum of six feet in height and similar in color, module, and texture to those materials utilized in the building shall be erected and permanently maintained along all common property lines with residentially zoned property or with property designated as residential in the general plan, or as approved by the Director of Community Development.
(i) Exterior lighting shall be designed so that it is deflected away from adjacent properties and screened from direct view from the street right-of-way.
(j) Signs on the service station premises shall be so located as to not obstruct visibility for drivers or pedestrians. A minimum sight-distance triangle shall be maintained, as determined by the Engineering Department. All signs, except window signs not exceeding twenty-five percent (25%) of individual window area, shall be constructed and maintained within a permanent sign structure, as permitted by Chapter 18.80 SCCC, Sign Regulations.
(k) Auto service buildings shall be set back from the street right-of-way lines a minimum distance of forty (40) feet to provide an adequate area for maneuvering vehicles in the service area and to provide adequate visibility, particularly at intersections.
(l) Driveway locations and accesses shall be provided in accordance with adopted City standards.
(m) An adequate and accessible trash disposal area shall be provided. Said disposal area shall be screened from public view by a masonry enclosure, with solid wood gates, at least six feet in height.
(n) A minimum of eight marked parking spaces shall be provided for customers and employees. For self-service stations with no accessory uses, such as tune-ups or accessory sales, only two such marked spaces need be provided. All such spaces shall be located at least fifteen (15) feet from any street right-of-way or official plan line.
(o) Water and compressed air services shall be available and functioning for public use during station operating hours.
(p) A fully stocked or equipped restroom shall be consistently maintained so as to be available to the public during operating hours. Restroom facilities shall be designed to accommodate the disabled. (Zoning Ord. § 34-2; Ord. 2011 § 14, 2-11-20).
18.68.030 Standards for service stations.
(a) The use of the automobile service station site shall be limited to the retail sales of motor fuel and oil for automobile vehicles; including grease racks, battery and ignition services, tire repair and sales, and other accessory sales and services for automobiles; but shall exclude major automobile repairs, tire recapping, steam cleaning, automatic car washing, painting, body and fender work, engine overhaul, or other work of a similar nature. Nonautomotive sales shall be limited to the following customer convenience items: soft drinks, candy bars, and cigarettes. Operation of accessory sales and services shall be limited to those hours that motor vehicle fuels are offered for sale on site.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no sales, rentals, leasing, dead storage, repair work or dismantling of any kind shall be permitted on the service station site. No vehicle which is waiting for service, or which has been serviced, shall be parked outside a building on the service station site for a period longer than seventy-two (72) hours.
(c) The combination of the retail sales of alcoholic beverages, other than beer and wine, and highway motor vehicle fuels on the same lot is prohibited.
(d) Other uses and activities such as mechanical car-washing facilities, customer convenience stores, sale of beer and wine, major automobile repair, rental or leasing of automobiles, trucks or trailers, outdoor vending machine installations or liquid propane gas installations, and the like not specifically mentioned above, shall be permitted only with a specific use permit granted pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.110 SCCC, except that where the concurrent sales of motor vehicle fuel and beer and wine is requested by an applicant, the specific requirements regarding findings of the Planning Commission, SCCC 18.110.040, shall not apply and the provisions regarding such findings as set forth in this section shall apply.
(e) For purpose of this subsection, the term “alcoholic beverages” does not include beer and/or wine. The combination of the retail sales of alcoholic beverages and highway motor vehicle gasoline on the same lot is prohibited. This prohibition does not apply where the exercise of the rights and privileges were conferred by a duly issued State Alcoholic Beverage Control license for the lot where the exercise of the rights and privileges conferred by the license is consistent with a valid zoning ordinance of the City, and the lot is used in the exercise of such rights and privileges at the time of the effective date of this subsection (e), and while such license continues in operation under the following conditions:
(1) The premises retain the same type of retail liquor license within a license classification.
(2) The licensed premises are operated continuously without substantial change in mode or character of operation.
(f) Subject to the restrictions and limitations of Subdivision (b) of California Business and Professions Code Section 23790.5, the City Planning Commission may deny permission, or grant conditional permission, to an individual applicant to engage in the concurrent retailing of motor vehicle fuel with beer and/or wine for off-premises consumption pursuant to this conditional use permit chapter based on appropriate health, safety, or general welfare standards set forth below:
(1) The conditional permission for any concurrent retailing of motor vehicle fuel with beer and/or wine for off-premises consumption may be granted only by first securing a use permit in each case. The procedure for processing an application for a use permit to engage in the concurrent retailing of motor vehicle fuel with beer and/or wine for off-premises consumption shall be as provided in Chapter 18.110 SCCC, exclusive of SCCC 18.110.040. For the purpose of supporting the Planning Commission’s decision to grant or deny such a use permit application, the following procedure regarding the findings of the Planning Commission shall be used in lieu of SCCC 18.110.040.
(2) In order to grant any use permit, written findings of the Planning Commission shall be:
(A) That the establishment or operation of the use, under the circumstances of the particular case, is essential or desirable to the public convenience or welfare;
(B) That said use will not be detrimental to any of the following:
(i) The health, safety, peace, morals, comfort, and general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of such proposed use;
(ii) Property or improvements in the neighborhood of such proposed use; or
(iii) The general welfare of the City;
(C) That said use is in keeping with the purposes and intent of this title.
(3) The Planning Commission may designate such conditions in connection with the use permit as it deems necessary to secure the purposes of this title, and may require guarantees and evidence that such conditions will be complied with by the applicant.
(4) In order to deny any use permit, written findings of the Planning Commission shall be:
(A) That the establishment or operation of the use, under the circumstances of the particular case, are neither essential nor desirable to the public convenience or welfare;
(B) That said use will be detrimental to any of the following:
(i) The health, safety, peace, morals, comfort, or general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of such proposed use;
(ii) Property or improvements in the neighborhood of such proposed use; or
(iii) The general welfare of the City;
(C) That the applicant has not provided substantial evidence in view of the whole record to justify grant of the use permit.
(5) It is a requirement that the findings be based on substantial evidence in view of the whole record to justify the ultimate decision.
(6) In developing findings, the consideration shall be given to criteria which include the following:
(A) The number of locations of retail on-sale and off-sale licenses in the neighborhood, and the proximity to other establishments dispensing, for sale or other consideration, alcoholic beverages including beer and/or wine;
(B) The proximity to churches, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, nonprofit youth facilities, residences, and other similar uses;
(C) Traffic impacts, lighting, noise, odor, littering and trash disposal, and pedestrian movement;
(D) Availability of parking;
(E) Public loitering, nuisance, conduct of illegal activities on and outside the premises, or other crime problems;
(F) Security and law enforcement problems;
(G) Hours of operation;
(H) Consistency with the City’s general plan;
(I) Physical problems with the site, such as size, setbacks, site coverage, fencing and visual screening, landscaping, maintenance requirements, architecture and design, maximum or minimum square footage of any store;
(J) Limits on alcoholic beverage retailing, such as square footage limitations, restrictions on location on the premises of those displays, and requirements that beer may only be sold unchilled;
(K) Signage regulations;
(L) Whether the proposed use will detrimentally affect any residentially zoned neighborhood in the area;
(M) Any other regulations the City, County, or State place on either of these uses when not combined with the other. (Zoning Ord. § 34-3).
18.68.040 Cessation of sale of motor vehicle fuels.
The cessation of sale of motor vehicle fuel(s) on the service station site for a continuous period exceeding two hundred ten (210) days may be cause for the City to request property owner and/or tenant removal of all service station improvements, including pump islands, buildings, underground storage tanks and accessory improvements. (Zoning Ord. § 34-4).
18.68.050 Conversion of a full-service station to self-serve only.
Any service station functioning as a full-service station as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title shall not convert its last full-service isle to self-serve unless a new use permit is applied for and obtained, and all conditions of use permit approval are complied with. (Zoning Ord. § 34-5).
18.68.060 Nonconforming outdoor display and storage.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title to the contrary, outdoor displays and storage which do not conform to this chapter, but which lawfully existed on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, shall be discontinued within ninety (90) days of such effective date. (Zoning Ord. § 34-6).