Special Use Regulations

ARTICLE 4 SPECIAL USE REGULATIONS -------------------- (go to main index)

10-2.1602 Service stations.

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish land use standards unique to the development, alteration or re-use of service stations in order to assure that service stations are functionally and aesthetically compatible with adjacent uses; provide adequate traffic circulation and off-street parking; minimize visual/noise/air pollution; and reduce pedestrian-vehicular conflict. These standards are in addition to other applicable land use and development standards elsewhere in this chapter,
(b) Criteria.

(1) Site location. Establishment of a new service station may be permitted only when the site is located at the intersection of streets controlled by a traffic signal or when the site is within 200 feet of the intersection of a primary highway as designated by the General Plan and an interstate highway on-ramp or off-ramp.
(2) Site area and size. Establishment of a new service station may be permitted only when the site area is no less than 20,000 square feet, except when it becomes a part of a functionally integrated commercial or industrial complex.
(3) Setbacks. New buildings or additions to existing buildings shall be set back at least twenty-five (25) feet from the street property lines. New gasoline pump islands or additions to existing gasoline pump islands shall be set back at least sixteen (16) feet from any property line.
(4) Signs. All signs shall conform to the provisions of Article 6 of this chapter. For alterations to existing service stations, conformance with the provisions of Article 6 of this chapter shall be as described in subsection (b)(19) of this section.
(5) Driveways. The location and design of driveways shall be as follows. For alterations to existing service stations, conformance shall be as described in subsection (b)(19) of this section.

a. The maximum width of driveways shall be thirty-five (35) feet at the sidewalk, unless the Planning Commission determines a wider driveway is necessary due to the unique nature of the site or due to the volume or pattern of traffic circulation.
b. Access drives shall be no closer than twenty-five (25) feet from the point of intersection of the ultimate right-of-way lines of the adjoining streets, but in no case closer than five (5) feet to the point of curb return.
c. There shall be no more than two (2) driveways for any one street frontage. Such driveways shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet apart and may not be closer than five (5) feet to any side property line except in functionally integrated commercial or industrial complexes.

(6) Walls. Decorative masonry walls shall be constructed where necessary to effectively screen the service station, or uses operating within the service station, from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. For alterations to existing service stations, conformance shall be as described in subsection (b)(19) of this section.
(7) Utilities. All onsite utilities shall be placed underground. For alterations to existing service stations conformance shall be as described in subsection (b)(19) of this section.
(8) Accessory structures. No accessory structures, including movable or portable buildings, shall be permitted on any service station site, except that tire storage cabinets and other small structures may be permitted subject to a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Section 10-2.2506.
(9) Operations. Operations outside permanent structures shall be limited to the dispensing of gasoline, oil, additives, water, air, minor parts replacement, and cleaning and detailing. No painting, body, and fender repair or tire recapping shall be allowed on the site.
(10) Inoperable vehicles. No damaged or permanently disabled vehicles shall be kept on the site for more than forty-eight (48) hours.
(11) Prohibited outside sales. No automobile service station shall engage in the display, storage, rental, or sale of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, boats, campers, dolly carts, garden or household supplies, or other retail items not associated with automobile operation outside the main structure, except as provided in subsection (b)(12) of this section. Such items may be displayed, stored, rented, or sold only inside the walls of the main structure. This prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit the display of auto-related items (i.e. oil, additives, fluids, etc.) from display racks located at pump islands to render efficient service to the motoring public.
(12) Incidental sales and rentals.

a. Subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Section 10-2.2506, incidental convenience items (i.e. soft drinks, candy, cigarettes, etc.) for the immediate consumption of the motoring public may be displayed and sold within an architecturally screened area that is an extension of the main structure and specifically designed for that purpose.
b. Subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Section 10-2506, the rental of trucks and utility trailers within an architecturally screened area designed specifically for that purpose may be permitted as long as such truck and utility trailer rentals shall not interfere with the normal operation of the service station or the efficient circulation of automobiles on the site.

(13) Tow trucks. No more than two (2) tow trucks shall be allowed as an incidental use on any service station site.
(14) Vending machines. All vending machines shall be located inside the building or in an architecturally screened area designated for such machines.
(15) Landscaping. Landscaping and landscape areas shall be installed pursuant to Section 10-2.1900. For alterations to existing service stations, conformance shall be as described in subsection (b)(19) of this section.
(16) Incidental motor vehicle repair. Incidental motor vehicle repair may be permitted subject to a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Section 10-2.2506.
(17) Trash enclosures. Trash enclosures and recycling areas shall be provided pursuant to Section 10-2.1536 and Section 10-2.1538. For alterations to existing service stations, conformance shall be as described in subsection (b)(19) of this section.
(18) Hours of operation. Hours of operation for all service stations shall be compatible with adjacent land uses.
(19) Other improvements. If a Conditional Use Permit is required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, an existing service station shall be reviewed with reference to the criteria in this section as well as to the method of station operation as it relates to station maintenance, compatibility with adjacent land uses and overloading of the site. Conditions of approval may require the applicant to make reasonable efforts to conform with the purpose and criteria of this section, and may include requirements for installation of new signs that conform to Article 6 of this chapter; construction of new driveways, walls, landscaping, and trash enclosures; undergrounding of utilities; removal of accessory structures; and limitations on operations.

(1) New service station. No service station use shall be established on a site unless a Conditional Use Permit is obtained pursuant to Section 10-2.2506 of this chapter.
(2) Existing service station. No equipment, service, or use shall be added to any existing service station within the City, nor shall any structural or architectural alterations, except incidental maintenance, be made to any existing service station within the City, unless a Conditional Use Permit is obtained pursuant to Section 10-2.2506 of this chapter.

a. Abandoned service station. No service station abandoned for a period of two (2) or more years shall resume operation as a service station unless a Conditional Use Permit is obtained pursuant to Section 10-2.2506.

(3) Conversion of existing or abandoned service station. No existing service station or abandoned service station shall be converted to any other use unless a Conditional Use Permit is obtained pursuant to Section 10-2.2506, and the following standards are met:

a. All pumps, pump islands, canopies, signs, insignia, and corporate trademarks, their supporting structures, mountings, and foundations, and all other aboveground improvements which are uniquely associated with service station operations shall be taken down, dismantled, and removed from the site.
b. All gasoline storage tanks, fuel lines, pumps, and other below ground apparatus related to the delivery or disposal of petroleum products shall be excavated and removed from the site or filled in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code as currently adopted by the City.
c. Upon the removal of the tanks, structures, and apparatus specified in subsections a and b of this subsection, the proposed converted service station site shall be resurfaced and landscaped in a manner appropriate to the proposed commercial or industrial use.

(Ord. 2756 c.s., eff. January 18, 1996)

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