§ 16.52.140. Recycling facilities.

Recycling facilities allowed within the general commercial (GC) district shall include reverse vending machines and small collection facilities as defined in Section 16.04.070, and shall be subject to the following standards.

A.

Reverse Vending Machines. Reverse vending machines may be approved subject to Plot Plan Review pursuant to Section 16.16.060 of this title only if the following conditions are met:

1.

The machines are established in conjunction with a commercial use or community service facility that is in compliance with this title and the building and fire codes of the city.

2.

The machines are located within thirty (30) feet of the entrance to the commercial structure and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation.

3.

The machines do not occupy parking spaces required by the primary use.

4.

The machines occupy no more than fifty (50) square feet of floor space per installation, including any protective enclosure, and shall be no more than eight feet in height.

5.

The machines are constructed and maintained with durable, waterproof and rustproof material.

6.

The machines are clearly marked to identify the type of material to be deposited, operating instructions, and the identity and phone number of the operator or responsible person to call if the machine is inoperative.

7.

The machines have a sign area of a maximum of four square feet per machine, exclusive of operating instructions.

8.

The machines are maintained in a clean, litter-free condition on a daily basis.

9.

The machines have at least the operating hours of the host use.

10.

The machines are illuminated to ensure comfortable and safe operation if operating hours are between dust and dawn.

B.

Small Collection Facilities.

1.

Small collection facilities, may be approved subject to plot plan review, only if the following conditions are met:

a.

The facilities are established in conjunction with an existing commercial use or community service facility that is in compliance with this title and the building and fire code of the city.

b.

The facilities are no larger than five hundred (500) square feet and occupy no more than five parking spaces not including space that will be periodically needed for removal of materials or exchange of containers.

c.

The facilities are set back at least ten (10) feet from any property line and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation.

d.

The facilities use no power-driven processing equipment except for reverse vending machines.

e.

The facilities use containers that are constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material, covered when site is not attended, secured from unauthorized entry or removal of material and shall be of a capacity sufficient to accommodate materials collected and collection schedule.

f.

All recyclable material is stored in containers or in the mobile unit vehicle, and materials are not left outside of containers when an attendant is not present.

g.

The facilities are maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials. Mobile facilities, where truck or containers are removed at the end of each collection day, shall be swept at the end of each collection day.

h.

The operation of the facilities do not exceed noise levels of sixty (60) dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, and seventy (70) dBA at a nonresidential property line.

i.

The facilities do not impair the landscaping required by this title for any concurrent use by this title or any permit issued pursuant thereto.

j.

The facilities are adequately screened, and the design, height, materials and location of screening shall be approved by the planning director.

2.

Occupation of parking spaces by the facility and by the attendant may not reduce available parking spaces below the minimum number required for the primary host use unless all of the following conditions exist:

a.

The facility is located in a convenience zone or a potential convenience zone as designated by the California Department of Conservation.

b.

A parking study shows that existing parking capacity is not already fully utilized during the time the recycling facility will be on the site.

c.

The approval will be reconsidered at the end of eighteen (18) months.

d.

A reduction in available parking spaces in an established parking facility may then be allowed as follows:

i.

For a commercial host use:

Number of Available Parking Spaces	Maximum Reduction
0—25	0
26—35	2
36—49	3
50—99	4
100+	5

 

ii.

For a community facility host use: A maximum five spaces reduction will be allowed when not in conflict with parking needs of the host use.

3.

No additional parking spaces 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.

4.

Mobile recycling units shall have an area clearly marked to prohibit other vehicular parking during hours when the mobile unit is scheduled to be present.

5.

Attended facilities located within one hundred (100) feet of a property zoned or occupied for residential use shall operate only during the hours between nine a.m. and seven p.m.

6.

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.

7.

Containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited; the facility shall be dearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation, and shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling enclosure or containers.

8.

Signs may be provided as follows:

a.

Recycling facilities may have identification signs with a maximum of twenty (20) percent per side of the facility or sixteen (16) square feet, whichever is less, however in the case of a wheeled facility, the side will be measured from the pavement to the top of the container;

b.

Signs must be consistent with the character of the location;

c.

Directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the planning director if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation, or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way;

d.

The planning director may authorize increases in the number and size of signs upon findings that it is compatible with adjacent businesses pursuant to standards or criteria therefor established through the plot plan approval.

9.

If the plot plan review approval expires without renewal, the collection facility shall be removed from the site on the day following permit expiration.

(Prior code § 9-11.130)