Chapter 23.913
AUTOMOTIVE AND VEHICLE USES
Sections:
23.913.010 Purpose and applicability.
23.913.020 Automobile dismantling.
23.913.040 Accessory automobile sales and rental uses.
23.913.010 Purpose and applicability.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish site planning, development, and/or operating standards for automotive and vehicle uses within individual or multiple zoning districts. Specifically, this chapter includes regulations for automobile dismantling and service stations. It is the city’s intent, in establishing these standards, to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of these uses and activities on adjacent and surrounding land uses by applying special location and design requirements beyond those otherwise required in the underlying zoning district.
B. Applicability. The regulations and standards contained in this chapter shall apply only to automobile dismantling and service stations as expressly identified in the corresponding section and shall be in addition to any other development standards and regulations contained elsewhere within this zoning code (e.g., lighting, landscaping, parking). These uses may only be located in those zoning districts as described in, and shall only be authorized in concert with the permit requirements of, Article 3 of this title (Zoning Districts, Allowable Uses, and General Development Standards). [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. B); Ord. 12-2011 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 27-2008 § 1 (Exh. A § 5.5.010)].
23.913.020 Automobile dismantling.
A. Purpose and Applicability. The regulations contained in this section shall apply to new or expanded automobile dismantling uses as defined in RCMC 23.1104.040 (Land use definitions). The establishment of new automobile dismantling uses shall be consistent with the allowed use provisions of Article 3 of this title (Zoning Districts, Allowable Uses, and General Development Standards) and the standards contained within this section, as well as other development standards as required in the underlying zoning district. Where the standards of the underlying district conflict with the standards herein, these standards shall apply. The intent of these provisions is to promote compatibility between automobile dismantling and adjacent uses through the application of special screening provisions.
B. Location. Automobile dismantling uses may only be located in those zoning districts as described in Article 3 of this title (Zoning Districts, Allowed Land Uses, and Development Standards).
C. Screening. All outdoor storage areas of the automobile dismantling use shall be screened from public view consistent with the standards of RCMC 23.731.080(A)(8) (Screening for Special Uses). [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. B); Ord. 12-2011 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 27-2008 § 1 (Exh. A § 5.5.020)].
23.913.030 Service stations.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish requirements for the location and construction of new service stations (as defined in RCMC 23.1104.040, Land use definitions). The intent of these provisions is to ensure that new service stations are compatible with surrounding uses and activities by mitigating associated problems with traffic, congestion, excessive pavement and lighting, litter, and hazardous materials.
B. Applicability. The regulations contained in this section shall apply to service stations as defined in RCMC 23.1104.040 (Land use definitions). The establishment of new service stations shall be consistent with the allowed use provisions of Article 3 of this title (Zoning Districts, Allowable Uses, and General Development Standards) and the standards contained within this section, as well as other development standards as required in the underlying zoning district. Where the standards of the underlying district conflict with the standards herein, these standards shall apply.
C. Special Requirements for Use Permit Approval.
1. Approving Authority. In those instances where a conditional use permit is required by Article 3 of this title (Zoning Districts, Allowable Uses, and General Development Standards) for the establishment of a new service station, the designated approving authority shall be the council.
2. Conditions of Approval. In addition to any other conditions which may be imposed, any conditional use permit issued pursuant to this section shall include the following conditions:
a. If the operation of the service station is discontinued for any reason for a continuous period in excess of 180 days, such discontinuance of operation shall be grounds for revocation or modification of the conditional use permit, consistent with RCMC 23.173.080 (Permit revocation or modification); and
b. Upon the revocation of the conditional use permit, the applicant shall remove all buildings, pumps, pump islands, signs, underground storage tanks, fences, walls, and all other structures and instruments related to the service station and shall return the property to substantially the condition it was in prior to the construction of the service station.
D. Location Requirements.
1. Abutting Residential Zones or Uses. No new service stations shall be permitted or located on lots abutting property in any agricultural or residential zoning district or residential use, unless the designated approving authority can make the finding that the design of the service station, along with the conditions placed upon the conditional use permit, will mitigate any adverse effects the station may have on the abutting property. In the event that the property adjacent to an existing service station is subsequently rezoned to an agricultural or residential zoning district, such rezoning shall not cause the service station to be nonconforming with regard to this location requirement.
2. Location near Nonoperational Service Stations. In deciding whether a service station shall be permitted pursuant to this section, the designated approving authority shall consider, in addition to any other limitation provided by this section, whether there are any vacant or unoccupied service stations within a half-mile radius of the proposed service station site and, if so, shall determine whether the area immediate to such proposed service station suffers from an overconcentration of service stations. If it is determined that the area does suffer from an overconcentration of service stations, then the application for a conditional use permit shall be denied. An “overconcentration of service stations” shall be defined as when the approval of a new service station would result in five or more stations within a radius of 350 feet around the proposed site and 10 stations in a one-and-one-half-square-mile area around the proposed site.
E. Development and Design Standards. The following special standards apply to all new service stations and qualifying expansions/improvements to existing service stations. Service station uses shall also comply with all applicable state and federal regulations regarding site design, pricing signs, containment, maintenance, and operations.
1. Frontage. The minimum public street frontage shall be 135 feet on each public street for all new service stations.
2. Pump Islands. Service station pump islands may be placed in required yards provided they are no closer than 15 feet to the street right-of-way.
3. Access Driveways. Driveway design shall be consistent with the city of Rancho Cordova public works improvement standards, except that the minimum width for driveways shall be 35 feet. The width shall be expanded to 45 feet whenever the driveway accesses a street with a width of, or with a planned ultimate width of, 84 feet or greater. Driveways shall be no closer than 40 feet from the nearest intersecting point of street right-of-way lines, or as otherwise determined by the public works director for traffic safety.
4. Landscaping. Landscape shall be provided consistent with the provisions of RCMC 23.716.060(D) (Service Stations).
5. Signs. Signs shall be consistent with the standards of Chapter 23.743 RCMC (Signs).
6. Fences and Walls. A wall shall be provided between service stations and abutting residential zoning or uses consistent with the provisions of RCMC 23.731.080(A)(8) (Screening for Special Uses).
7. Structure Height. Structures shall observe the height limits of the underlying zoning district, except that canopies constructed over pump islands located outside the buildable area of the lot shall not exceed a maximum height of 17 feet. Deviations from these standards may be allowed in conjunction with design review. [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. B); Ord. 13-2013 § 4 (Exh. B); Ord. 12-2011 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 27-2008 § 1 (Exh. A § 5.5.030)].
23.913.040 Accessory automobile sales and rental uses.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish requirements for automobile sales and rentals when this activity is accessory to a primary use. The display and storage of these vehicles can consume needed customer parking spaces, can have negative visual impacts and can result in other activities which may not be allowed in this zoning district, or not allowed without a conditional use permit (e.g., auto repair and/or detailing).
B. Development Standards.
1. Vehicles for sale or for rent may not occupy required parking spaces.
2. Vehicles must be directly related to the primary use (e.g., home improvement store renting trucks to carry large products to customer’s home is permitted). [Ord. 4-2017 § 3 (Exh. B); Ord. 12-2011 § 3 (Exh. A)].
23.913.050 Car washes.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate car washes with development standards that address the mitigation of traffic, congestion, and noise.
B. Applicability. Development standards herein shall apply to all new primary or accessory car wash facilities and will be reviewed in conjunction with the required conditional use permit and design review application.
C. Development and Design Standards. The following standards shall be the minimum requirements for all car wash facilities. Deviations from these standards may be considered as part of a conditional use permit.
1. Drive Aisles. The minimum standard for drive aisles are as follows:
a. Aisles shall have a 12-foot minimum width on curves and an 11-foot minimum width on straight sections.
b. Aisles shall provide a minimum of 60 feet reservoir space.
c. Aisle entrances and exits shall be at least 25 feet from an intersection of public rights-of-way, measured at the closest intersecting curbs and at least 25 feet from the curb-cut on an adjacent property.
d. Aisles shall be separated from the site’s ingress and egress routes or access to a parking space.
e. Landscaping of aisles shall be consistent with the requirements of RCMC 23.716.060(C) (Screening of Drive-Through Aisles).
2. Site Layout. The building shall be oriented on the site to minimize visibility of the car wash entrance from public rights-of-way.
3. Hours of Operation. Car wash facilities shall not be allowed to operate 24 hours per day.
4. Noise. Vacuums shall be equipped with automatic shut-off timers to prevent use when the facility is closed. Vacuums shall be located a minimum of 25 feet from any residentially zoned property or use. [Ord. 4-2018 § 3 (Exh. A)].