SR-8-D (52)
r.... :b
LUTM:PB:DKW:nh:carwash.pcword.p1an
Council Mtg: June l, 1993
JUN 1 1993
Santa Monica, Calirornia
TO:
Mayor and city Council
FROM:
city Staff
SUBJECT: Emergency Ordinance Establishing
Automobile Washing Facilities
Standards
for
INTRODUCTION
The city Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance
regulating the establishment or automobile washing facilities.
Such establishments are defined in the zoning ordinance, but are
root listed as permitted or conditionally permitted uses. An
ordinance establishing where such automobile washing facilities
would be permitted or conditionally permitted and setting
development and operational parameters is attached.
BACKGROUND
The City council directed the preparation of an ordinance which
would indicate where automobile washing facilities are permitted
or conditionally permitted and which would also establish
development standards for such uses.
The attached ordinance
would allow such facilities with a Conditional Use permitt (CUP)
in the C4 Highway Commercial District, and as a permitted use in
the Ml Industrial Conservation District unless located within 100
feet of a residential district, in which case a CUP would be
required. Detailed development standards would also be created,
- 1 -
i'''' b
J~:l. i 1993
.
regulating
setbacks,
parking,
hours
of
operation,
water
recycling, and other aspects of the facility.
If the Council adopts an interim ordinance regulating automobile
washing facilities, staff will initiate the process for adoption
of a permanent ordinance.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
No budget or financial impacts are anticipated as a result of the
adoption of the recommendations of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Courll:;il adopt the attached emergency
ordinance.
Prepared by: Paul Berlant, LUTM Director
D. Kenyon Webster, Planning Manager
Land Use and Transportation Management Department
Attachment: Interim Ordinance
~. - 2 -
..
-t
CA:MHS:a:\wash1\wpadv\pc
City Council Meeting 6-1-93
Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR AUTOMOBILE
WASHING FACILITIES IN CERTAIN ZONES ON
AN INTERIM BASIS AND DECLARING THE PRESENCE
OF AN EMERGENCY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Findings.
The City Council finds and
declares:
(a) The Zon1ng Ordinance defines "automob1le washing
facility" but does not author1ze that use in any zoning district.
The City intends to study the Zoning Ordinance and determine
under what conditions automobile washing facilities should be
authorized, and what standards should apply to those facilities.
(b) Pending such study and amendment of the Zoning
Ord1nance, it 1S necessary on an interim basis to allo#
automobile washing facilities in designated zoning districts,
subject to specified standards. Without such an interim measure,
new automob1le washing facilities would be effectively banned
from all districts 1n the C1ty. Automobile washing facilities
are a necessary serV1ce and convenience to Santa Monica citizens
1
so long as the development of the facility appropriately takes
into account the potential effect on the integrity and character
of the district in which the use it to be located; the
compatibility of the use with the surrounding neighborhood and
general area in which the use is to be located; and other
potential detrimental effects.
(c) The existlng ban on automobile washing facilities poses
a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, and
welfare of the citizens, for the reasons set forth above, and the
potentlal for continued denial of such use would result in a
threat to public health, safety, or welfare.
SECTION 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Ordinance is to
ensure that automobile washing facilities do not result in an
adverse impact on adJacent land uses, especially residential
uses, and to provide for the mitigation of potential nOlse,
fumes, litter, runoff, bright lights and parking problems which
may be associated with automoblle washlng facllities. While
automobile washing facllitles are needed by residents, visitors,
and employees in the City, the traffic, glare, and patterns of
use associated with automobile washing facilities, pa~ticularly
those open twenty-four (24) hours per day, may be incompatible
wlth nearby uses, partlcularly residential uses. Therefore, In
the interest of protecting the health, safety, and general
welfare of the City and its residents, special regulation shall
be lmposed on automobile washing facilities, consistent with the
2
goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan.
SECTION 3. Interim zoning. Notwithstanding provisions of
the Zoning Ordinance to the contrary, applications for Automobile
Wash1ng Facilities shall be accepted and reviewed in accordance
with the following standards:
(a) Permitted uses. Automobile washing facilities shall be
a permitted use in the Ml Industrial Conservation District if
located more than one hundred (100) feet from a res1dential
d1strict.
(b) Conditionally Permitted Uses. Automob1le washing
fac1l1ties shall be permitted subject to the approval of a
conditional use permit in the Ml Industrial Conservation District
1f located wlth1n one hundred (100) feet of a residential
distr~ct, and in the C4 Highway Commercial District.
(c) Property Development Standards. Any Automobile Washing
Facility author~zed by thls Ord1nance shall comply with the
property development standards for the district in which it 1S to
be located (including setback, he~ght, etc.), and with the
following standards:
(1) Minimum Parcel Size. Seven thousand five hundred
(7,500) square feet.
(2) M~n~mum Street Frontaqe. One hundred (IOO) feet.
(3) Setbacks. No building or structure shall be
located withln thirty (30) feet of any public right-of-way or
within twenty (20) feet of any interior parcel line.
3
(4) Canopies. Any canopy shall be at least five (5)
feet from any property line.
(5) Walls. Automobile washing facilities shall be
separated from adjacent property other than street frontage by a
masonry wall of not less than six (6) feet in height. If
adjacent property is commercially developed and a solid wall
already exists on the property l1ne, the Zoning Administrator may
modify or waive this requirement as necessary to achieve the
purposes of this ordinance. Materials, textures, colors, and
design of all walls shall be compatible with the design of the
principal structure on the parcel and adjacent properties. No
wall required to be erected and maintained by the provisions of
this Sectlon shall be constructed w1thin five (5) feet of a
dr1veway entrance or vehicle accessway opening onto a street or
alley which would obstruct a cross view of pedestrians on the
sidewalk, alley, or elsewhere, by motorists entering or exiting
the parcel.
(6) Paving. The site shall be entirely paved, except
for bUlldings and landscaping.
(7) Landscap1nq. The site shall be landscaped
pursuant to the following standards:
(1) A minimum of ten percent (10%) of the site
shall be landscaped, and shall lnclude, at a minimum, a planting
strlp at least three (3) feet wide along all interior parcel
llnes, non-driveway street frontages, and adjacent to buildings.
Planters shall be surrounded by masonry or concrete curbs and so
4
arranged as to preclude motor vehicles from driving across the
sidewalk at locations other than access driveways. Permanent
opaque landscaping or berming shall be provided and maintained in
the planters at a helght of not less than three (3) feet above
the average adjacent grade.
(ii) A minimum of one hundred fifty (150) square
foot landscaped area shall be provided at the intersection of two
(2) property lines at a street corner.
(iii) All landscaped areas shall be properly
maintained in a neat, orderly, and safe manner, pursuant to
Subchapter 9.04.10.02 of the Zonlng Ordinance. Such landscaping
and malntenance shall include, but not be limited to, the
installatlon and use of an automatic irrigation system,
permanently and completely installed, which dellvers water
directly to all landscaped areas.
(iv) All street trees shall be preserved or
replaced where misslng, as requlred by the City, and driveways
and vehlcle approaches shall be designed so as not to necessitate
the removal of any existing street trees.
(v) Final landscaping design treatment shall be
subJect to review and approval by the Architectural Review Board.
(8) Access and Clrculation. Unless otherwise approved
by the Parking and Traffic Engineer, no more than two (2)
drlveways with a maximum wldth of thlrty-five (35) feet shall be
permitted on anyone (1) street frontage and shall be located as
follows:
5
(i) Driveways shall not be located closer than
fifty (50) feet from a street intersection, fifteen (15) feet
from a residential property line or alley, nor as to otherwise
interfere with the movement and safety of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic.
(ii) All washing facilities shall be located
within a building which is enclosed except those openings
necessary for vehicular and pedestrian access. Such openings
shall not face any adJacent residentially zoned property. Access
to the washing area shall not be located with1n 50 feet of a
residentially zoned property.
(9) Parkinq. Parklng shall be provided in the
following manner:
(l) There shall be a minimum of two (2) parking
spaces for each washing stall, not including the stall, plus one
(1) space for each three hundred (300) square feet of retail
area. For facilities without deflned stalls, the calculated
minlmurn stall number shall be equal to one (l) stall for each
twenty (20) linear feet of washlng area lane.
(ll) The parking area shall be landscaped and
striped ln conformance with Subchapter 9.04.10.02 of the Zoning
Ordinance.
(ill) Customer and employee parking shall not be
utilized for automobile repair or storage of vehicles. Customer
parking areas may be used for hand drying of vehicles.
(iv) No vehicle that will be or has been serviced
6
may be parked on public streets, sidewalks, parkways, driveways,
or alleys.
(v) No vehicle may be parked on the premises for
the purpose of offering it for sale unless the establishment has
also been approved for automobile sales.
(10) Restrooms. Except for self-service automobile
washing facilities, each automobile washing facility shall
provide a men's and women's restroom which are accessible to
customers, including the physically disabled, during all hours
the establishment~s open to the public. Restrooms shall be
attached to a structure on site with entrances or signage visible
from the waitlng area or cashier statlon, shall be maintained on
a regular basls, and concealed from Vlew of adjacent properties
by planters or decorative screening.
(11) Telephones. At least one (1) public telephone
shall be provided at each Automohlle Washing Facility.
(12) Vending Machlnes. Coin-operated vending machines
may he permltted withln or abuttlng a structure for the purpose
of dlspenslng items commonly found ln Automobile Washing
Facilities, such as refreshments and maps.
(13) Game Machines. Up to three (3) arcade or game
machines or other coin-operated electronic machines shall be
permitted if located within an enclosed building.
(14) Location of Activities. All washing, vacuuming,
waxing, machlne drYlng and related activities and operations
shall be conducted entlrely within an enclosed service building,
7
except as follows:
(i) Hand drying of vehicles.
(ii) The sale of items from vending machines
placed next to the main build1ng in a designated area which shall
not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet and shall be screened from
public view.
(15) Refuse storaqe and Disposal. A trash and
recycling area shall be provided and screened on at least three
(3) sides from public view by a solid opaque impact-resistant
wall not less tha~ five (5) feet in height as required by
Subchapter 9.04.10 of the Zoning Ordinance.
(i) All trash and recycled materials shall be
deposited in the trash area and the gates leading thereto shall
be ma1ntalned in working order and shall remain closed except
when ~n use.
(11) Refuse bins shall be provided and placed in
a location conven1ent for customers.
(1ii) Trash areas shall not be used for storage.
The prem1ses shall be kept in a neat and orderly condit1on at all
times and all improvements shall be maintained in a condition of
reasonable repalr and appearance.
No used or discarded
€
automotive parts or equlpment, or permanently disabled~ junked,
or wrecked vehicles may be stored outside the main building.
(16) Util1ties. All utilities shall be placed
underground.
(17) Lightinq. All lighting shall comply with the
8
provisions of Subchapter 9.04.10.02 of the zoning Ordinance.
(18) Operation of Facilities. The facility shall at
all times be operated in a manner not detrimental to surrounding
properties or residents. Site activities shall not produce or be
reasonably anticipated to produce any of the following:
(i) Damage or nuisance from noise, smoke, odor,
dust, or vibrat~on.
(ii) Hazard from explosion, contamination, or
fire.
(iii) Hazard occas~oned by the unusual volume or
character of traffic, or the congregating of a large number of
people or vehicles.
(iv) Glare from headlights.
(19) Hours of Operation. If located within one
hundred (100) feet of a res1dential district, operation of the
establishment shall be prohlb1ted between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00
a.m., except that on Saturdays, operations shall be prohibited
between 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and on Sundays, operatlons
shall be prohibited between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
(20) Outdoor Loudspeakers. There shall be no outdoor
loudspeakers or public address systems.
(21) Security Plan. A security plan shall be
developed by the applicant and approved by the Chief of Police
prior to issuance of a building permit.
(22) Queuinq of Vehicles. An on-site queuing plan for
service customers shall be provlded for the approval of the
9
Parking and Traffic Engineer. On-s1te driveways may be used for
queuing, but may not interfere with access to required parking
spaces.
(23) Water Recyclinq. Recycling of water used for
vehicle washing shall be maximized. The Department of General
services shall approve recycling systems used at automobile
washing facillties.
(24) Air Quality.
(i) All mechan1cal ventilating equipment shall be
directed to top story exhaust vents which face away from any
adjacent residentlal properties.
(ii) Exhaust systems shall be equ~pped with
appropriate and reasonably available control technology to
minlmize or el~minate noxious pollutants which would otherwise be
emitted.
(25) Noise. All operations at the site shall comply
wlth the City's NOlse Ordinance, as set forth in Chapter 4.12 of
the Santa Monlca Municipal Code.
SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall be of no further force and
effect 45 days from its adoption, unless, prior to that date,
~
after a public hearing, notlced pursuant to Santa Monica
Municlpal Code Section 9.04.20.16.050, the city council, by
maJority vote, extends the interim ordinance.
SECTION 5. ThlS Ordlnance is declared to be an urgency
10
measure adopted pursuant to the provisions of Santa Monica
Municipal Code Section 9.04.20.16.060 and Santa Monica City
Charter section 615. It is necessary for preserving the public
peace, health and safety, and the urgency for its adoption 1S set
forth in the findings above.
SECTION 6. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code
or appendices thereto, or Ordinance 1678(CCS), inconsistent with
the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed or modified
to that extent necessary to affect the provisions of this
Ordinance.
SECTION 7. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this Ord1nance is for any reason held to be invalid or
unconstltutlonal by a decislon of any court of any competent
Jurlsdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remalnlng portions of this Ordlnance. The City Councll hereby
declares that lt would have passed thlS Ordinance, and each and
every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalld or unconstitutional without regard to whether
any portlon of the Ordlnance would~be subsequently declared
invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 8. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall
attest to the passage of this Ordlnance. The City Clerk shall
11
cause the same to be published once in the official newspaper
within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become
effective upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
(\ ~
I~
G~!') J - ~~-~
J SE ' LAWRENCE
cting City Attorney
12