Areas in which motor vehicles or trailers are stored, parked, displayed, or worked upon, other than in one-family residential zones, shall in all respects be improved and maintained in accordance with the following minimum specifications:
A. Setbacks And Landscaping: Each such area shall maintain a setback of ten feet (10') from Wilshire Boulevard or five feet (5') from any other street. The area between the setback line and the public sidewalk or curb and a minimum of two percent (2%) of the internal area shall be developed in landscaping, including a water sprinkling system, as approved by the architectural commission.
B. Protective Devices: Each such area shall have erected and maintained between the setback and use areas an opaque wall or opaque hedge not less than four feet (4') nor more than six feet (6') in height, except that for areas where motor vehicles are displayed for sales purposes only, such wall or hedge need not exceed three feet (3') in height. Notwithstanding the above requirement, where such area is located on or adjacent to a residential zone, the wall height and material requirements of section 10-3-1953 of this chapter shall apply, however, such wall shall be three feet (3') high where located within the required front setback in any residential zone. When no hedge or wall is required along a property line of an area, an approved device shall be installed and maintained as a safeguard to abutting property and public rights of way. No wall or hedge required to be erected and maintained by the provisions of this subsection shall be constructed on either side of a driveway entrance opening onto a street or alley, which wall or hedge would impair a clear and unobstructed cross view of pedestrians on the sidewalk, alley, or lot by motorists about to leave or enter the lot.
C. Surfacing: Each such area shall be paved with asphaltic concrete not less than two inches (2") in thickness or Portland cement concrete not less than four inches (4") in thickness. Each such area shall be graded so as to provide adequate drainage.
D. Lighting: When such area is lighted, the lighting shall be so arranged as to be directed onto the parking area and to reflect away from the residential property.
E. Permits: Before any work is performed on such areas, all necessary permits shall be obtained from the city. Such permits shall include building, electrical, plumbing, sign, and curb cut permits and any applications for any other inspections or approvals which may be necessary in the development of the area.
F. Maintenance: Each such area, including landscaping and setbacks, shall be maintained in a good, clean condition, with grass and shrubbery properly trimmed and signs, walls, and structures properly painted. Periodic inspections to secure compliance shall be made by the building official.
G. Parking Spaces: The number of automobile parking spaces being maintained in connection with an existing building or structure on September 19, 1968, may be reduced, notwithstanding the requirements of section 10-3-2735 of this article, if such reduction results from the required compliance with the provisions of this section.
H. Existing Areas: Each such area lawfully existing and being maintained on November 3, 1967, containing space for more than five (5) automobiles, shall be regarded as nonconforming and shall be removed or rearranged so as to eliminate any conflict with the provisions of this section and to fully comply with all of the requirements of this section on or before October 1, 1970.
I. Approved Alternatives: Subject to the provisions of subsection A of this section, the provisions of this section are not intended to prevent the use of any material, planting, or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this section provided any such alternate has been approved by the building official.
The building official may approve any such alternate provided he finds the material, planting, method, or work offered is for the purpose intended and at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this section in quality, strength, effectiveness, and durability.
The building official may require that sufficient evidence or proof be submitted to substantiate any claim that may be made regarding its use.
J. Setback Exceptions: Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, the setback for each parking area lawfully existing on November 3, 1967, may be modified by the architectural commission upon a finding that the imposition of any such setback, or a portion thereof, would result in a substantial diminution of parking space.
Any applicant or any interested party aggrieved by a decision of the architectural commission made pursuant to the provisions of this subsection may appeal to the council in accordance with the provisions of section 10-3-3011 of this chapter.
K. Minor Accommodation: Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B of this section, a reviewing authority may issue a minor accommodation pursuant to article 36 of this chapter to allow a wall of up to ten feet (10') in height where parking lots and other motor vehicle use areas are adjacent to residentially zoned property, provided that the reviewing authority finds that the wall will not have a substantial adverse impact upon traffic safety, the scale and massing of the streetscape or garden quality of the city.
A reviewing authority may also issue a minor accommodation to allow for any wall material other than masonry, provided the reviewing authority finds that the choice of alternate wall material will not have a substantial adverse impact on the privacy, security or residential quality of the adjacent residential property. (Ord. 67-O-1285, eff. 11-2-1967; amd. Ord. 68-O-1320, eff. 9-19-1968; Ord. 69-O-1349, eff. 7-1-1969; Ord. 69-O-1357, eff. 10-16-1969, retroactive to 10-1-1969; Ord. 69-O-1367, eff. 1-1-1970; Ord. 71-O-1418, eff. 8-5-1971; Ord. 76-O-1615, eff. 8-19-1976; Ord. 88-O-2037, eff. 9-8-1988; Ord. 98-O-2293, eff. 4-17-1998)