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

• (a) Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to meet the requirements of the State Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986; to meet community recycling needs; and to insure the compatibility of recycling facilities with surrounding uses for the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of the City and its residents. This section is not intended to regulate the establishment of recycling areas on residential properties for private use, which is addressed in Section 10-2.1538 of this Chapter.
• (b) Criteria.
• (1) Reverse vending machines. Reverse vending machines operated as a secondary use within a commercial building located in a commercial or industrial zone shall be permitted. Reverse vending machines located outside of a building in commercial and industrial zones shall be permitted subject to Administrative Design Review pursuant to Section 10-2.2500. An application for Administrative Design Review shall be subject to the following development criteria in addition to all other applicable land use and development standards in this chapter:
• a. The reverse vending machines shall be established in conjunction with a commercial or industrial use or a religious institution, fraternal organization, service club, or similar nonprofit corporation which is either in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the Building and Fire Codes of the City or is a legal nonconforming building;
• b. The reverse vending machines shall be located within thirty (30) feet of the entrance to the building containing the primary use and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;
• c. The reverse vending machines shall not occupy parking spaces required by the primary use;
• d. The reverse vending machines shall occupy no more than fifty (50) square feet of floor space per installation, including any protective enclosure, and shall be no more than eight (8) feet in height;
• e. The reverse vending machines shall be constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof materials. Containers shall be placed within a pad including curbing or other means to protect against spills of any material where necessary;
• f. The reverse vending machines shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material to be deposited, operating instructions, and the identity and telephone number of the operator or responsible person to call if the machine is inoperative;
• g. The reverse vending machines shall have a sign area of a maximum of four (4) square feet per machine, solely for the purpose of identifying the recycling facility or materials accepted for recycling. Additional area The reverse vending machines shall be permitted to provide operating instructions;
• h. Onsite directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the Chief of Planning if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way. Directional signs in the public right-of-way shall require approval by the Engineering Department. Directional signs shall include the City's recycling logo;
• i. The reverse vending machines and immediate vicinity shall be maintained in a clean, litter-free, odor-free, and pest-free condition on a daily basis;
• j. The operating hours shall be at least the operating hours of the host use;
• k. The reverse vending machines shall be illuminated to ensure comfortable and safe operation if the operating hours are between dusk and dawn;
• l. The reverse vending machines shall not violate the City's noise regulations;
• m. The reverse vending machines shall be located and designed to be aesthetically compatible with the host use and with surrounding uses; and
• n. The reverse vending machines shall be found by the Planning Division to have no significant detrimental impact on surrounding properties.
• (2) Small collection facilities. A small collection facility may be permitted in any commercial or industrial zone subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Section 10-2.2506. An application for a Conditional Use Permit shall be subject to the following development criteria in addition to all other applicable land use and development standards in this chapter:
• a. The facility shall be established in conjunction with an existing commercial or industrial use or a religious institution, fraternal organization, service club, or similar nonprofit corporation which is either in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the Building and Fire Codes of the City or is a legal nonconforming building;
• b. The facility shall be no larger than 800 square feet;
• c. The facility shall not reduce available parking spaces below the minimum number required for the primary host use;
• d. The facility shall be set back at least ten (10) feet from any street line and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;
• e. The facility shall be located to minimize any impact on adjacent residentially zoned or occupied property;
• f. The facility shall accept only glass, metals, plastic containers, papers, and other recyclable or reusable items approved by the Director of Public Works;
• g. The facility shall use no power-driven processing equipment, except for reverse vending machines;
• h. The facility shall use containers which are constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof materials, covered when the site is not attended, and secured from unauthorized entry or the removal of material and shall be of a capacity sufficient to accommodate materials collected. Collections shall be at least weekly. Containers shall be placed within a pad including curbing or other means to protect against spills of any materials where necessary;
• i. The facility shall store all recyclable materials in containers or in the mobile unit vehicle and shall not leave materials outside of the containers when an attendant is not present;
• j. The facility shall be maintained free of litter, odors, pests, and any other undesirable material, and mobile facilities shall be swept at the end of each collection day;
• k. The facility shall not violate the City's noise regulations;
• l. Attended facilities located within 100 feet of a property zoned or occupied for residential use shall operate only during the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.;
• m. Containers for the twenty-four (24) hour donation of materials shall be at least thirty (30) feet from any property zoned or occupied for residential use, unless there is a recognized service corridor and acoustical shielding between the containers and the residential use;
• n. The containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material which may be deposited. The facility shall be clearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation and display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling enclosure or containers;
• o. Signs may be provided as follows:
• 1. Recycling facilities may have identification signs with a maximum of twenty (20%) percent per side or twenty (20) square feet, whichever is less, in addition to the informational signs required by subsection n of this subsection. In the case of a wheeled facility, the side will be measured from the pavement to the top of the container;
• 2. The signs shall be consistent with the character of the location; and
• 3. Onsite directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the Chief of Planning if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way. Directional signs in the public right-of-way shall require approval by the Engineering Department. Directional signs shall include the City's recycling logo;
• p. The facility shall not impair the landscaping required for any concurrent use by this title or any permit issued pursuant thereto;
• q. No additional parking space will be required for customers of a small collection facility located at the established parking lot of a host use. One space will be provided for the attendant, if needed;
• r. The facility shall be located and designed to be aesthetically compatible with the host use and with surrounding uses; and
• s. The Planning Commission shall retain jurisdiction over all approved small collection facilities to ensure compliance with the standards set forth in this subsection and may require a new hearing in the event such standards are violated.
• (3) Large collection facilities. A large collection facility may be permitted in any industrial zone subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Section 10-2.2506. All applications for Conditional Use Permits for large collection facilities shall be referred to the Public Works Commission for its study and recommendations before submission to the Planning Commission. An application for a Conditional Use Permit shall be subject to the following development criteria in addition to all other applicable land use and development standards in this chapter.
• a. The facility shall not abut a property zoned for residential use.
• b. The facility shall be screened from the public right-of-way by operating in an enclosed building or shall be within an area enclosed by a decorative block wall at least six (6) feet in height, with landscaping, and at least 150 feet from property zoned for residential use.
• c. The facility shall not violate the City's noise regulations.
• d. The setbacks and landscaping requirements shall be those provided for the zone in which it is located.
• e. All exterior storage of materials shall be in sturdy containers which are covered, secured, and maintained in good condition or may be baled or palletized. Storage containers for flammable materials shall be constructed of nonflammable materials. Oil storage shall be in containers approved by the Fire Department. No storage, excluding truck trailers and overseas containers, shall be visible above the height of the wall.
• f. The site shall be maintained free of litter, odors, pests, and any other undesirable material and shall be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis.
• g. Space shall be provided on the site for six (6) vehicles or the anticipated peak customer load, whichever is higher, to circulate and to deposit recyclable materials.
• h. One parking space shall be provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the recycling facility, and one parking space shall be required for each employee on the largest shift.
• i. If the facility is located within 500 feet of property zoned for or occupied by a residential use, the facility shall not be in operation between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• j. Containers provided for after-hours donations of recyclable materials shall be at least fifty (50) feet from any property zoned for or occupied by a residential use, shall be of sturdy, rustproof construction, shall have sufficient capacity to accommodate the materials collected, and shall be secure from unauthorized entry or the removal of materials.
• k. Donation areas shall be kept free of litter and any other undesirable material. The containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of materials which may be deposited. The facility shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.
• l. The facility shall be clearly marked with the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation. Identification and informational signs shall be subject to the sign standards applicable to the zone in which the facility is located. Onsite directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the Chief of Planning if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way. Directional signs in the public right-of-way shall require approval by the Engineering Department. Directional signs shall include the City's recycling logo.
• m. Power-driven processing, including aluminum foil and can compacting, baling, plastic shredding, or other light processing activities necessary for efficient temporary storage and the shipment of materials, may be approved through the Conditional Use Permit process by the Planning Commission, subject to meeting the noise and all other applicable standards set forth in this subsection
• n. Containers and storage areas shall be placed within a pad including curbing or other means to protect against spills of any material where necessary.
• o. The Planning Commission shall retain jurisdiction over all approved large collection facilities to ensure compliance with the standards set forth in this subsection and may require a new hearing in the event such standards are violated.
• (4) Processing facilities. A light processing facility may be permitted in any industrial zone subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Section 10-2.2506. All applications for Conditional Use Permits for light processing facilities shall be referred to the Public Works Commission for its study and recommendations before submission to the Planning Commission. An application for a Conditional Use Permit shall be subject to the following development criteria in addition to all other applicable land use and development standards in this chapter:
• a. The facility shall not abut a property zoned for or occupied by a residential use.
• b. The processor shall operate in a wholly enclosed building, except for incidental storage, or:
• 1. Within an area enclosed on all sides by a decorative block wall not less than eight (8) feet in height and landscaped on all street frontages; and
• 2. Located at least 150 feet from property zoned for or occupied by a residential use.
• c. Power-driven processing shall be permitted provided all noise level requirements are met. Light processing facilities shall be limited to baling, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding, and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and the repairing of reusable materials.
• d. A light processing facility shall be no larger than 45,000 square feet and shall have no more than an average of two (2) outbound truck shipments of material per day and may not shred, compact, or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers.
• e. A processing facility may accept used motor oil for recycling from the generator in accordance with Section 25250.11 of the Health and Safety Code of the State.
• f. The setbacks and landscaping requirements shall be those provided for the zone in which the facility is located.
• g. All exterior storage of materials shall be in sturdy containers or enclosures which are covered, secured, and maintained in good condition or may be baled or palletized. Storage containers for flammable materials shall be constructed of nonflammable materials. Oil storage shall be in containers approved by the Fire Department. No storage, excluding truck trailers and overseas containers, shall be visible above the height of the wall. Containers and storage areas shall be placed within a pad including curbing or other means to protect against spills of any material where necessary.
• h. The site shall be maintained free of litter, odors, pests, and any other undesirable material, and shall be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis, and shall be secured from unauthorized entry and the removal of materials when attendants are not present.
• i. Space shall be provided on the site for the anticipated peak load of customers to circulate, park, and deposit recyclable materials. If the facility is open to the public, space shall be provided for a minimum of ten (10) customers or the peak load, whichever is higher.
• j. One parking space shall be provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the processing center, and one parking space shall be required for each employee on the largest shift.
• k. The facility shall not violate the City's noise regulations.
• l. If the facility is located within 500 feet of property zoned for or occupied by a residential use, the facility shall not be in operation between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The facility shall be administered by onsite personnel during the hours the facility is open.
• m. Containers provided for after-hours donations of recyclable materials shall be at least fifty (50) feet from any property zoned for or occupied by a residential use, shall be of sturdy, rustproof construction, shall have sufficient capacity to accommodate the materials collected, and shall be secure from unauthorized entry or the removal of materials.
• n. Donation areas shall be kept free of litter, odors, pests, and any other undesirable material. The containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material which may be deposited. The facility shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.
• o. The facility shall be clearly marked with the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation. Identification signs shall be subject to the sign standards applicable to the zone in which the facility is located. Onsite directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the Chief of Planning if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way. Directional signs in the public right-of-way shall require approval by the Engineering Department. Directional signs shall include the City's recycling logo.
• p. No dust, fumes, smoke, vibration, or odors above ambient levels may be detectable on neighboring properties.
• q. The Planning Commission shall retain jurisdiction over all approved processing facilities to ensure compliance with the standards set forth in this subsection and may require a new hearing in the event such standards are violated.

(Ord. 2756 c.s., eff. January 18, 1996, as amended by Ord. 2786, eff. January 2, 1997)

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