Donation bins, as defined herein, shall be a permitted, accessory use in the Neighborhood Business District (NBD), Municipal Business District (MBD), Regional Business District (RBD), and Light Industrial District (LID), subject to the following:
(a) Review and Approval Procedures, Issuance of Permit and Required License.
(1) A license issued by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 834 of the Lincoln Park City Code and a permit issued by the Building Department shall be required prior to the installation of any donation bin on property in the City of Lincoln Park.
(2) Permit applications shall be submitted to the Building Department along with required fees, as established by the City Council.
(3) The Building Superintendent shall review requests for all donation bins and find that they meet all standards and conditions identified herein. Where appropriate, the Superintendent shall consult with the Police Chief and Fire Chief.
(4) If the request meets all of the standards and conditions identified herein the permit shall be approved. If not, the request shall be denied and the Superintendent shall state the reasons for denial in writing and provide a copy to the applicant.
(b) Standards and Conditions.
(1) Donation bins shall be constructed of metal or a similar durable material and be maintained in good condition and appearance with no structural damage, holes or visible rust and shall be free of any graffiti.
(2) Donation bins shall be of the type that are locked or otherwise secured in such a manner that the contents cannot be accessed by anyone other than those responsible for the retrieval of the contents.
(3) Donation bins shall have, at minimum, one-inch type font, visible from the front of each donation bin that states the name, address, email address, website, and telephone number of the operator. Other signs may be placed on the sides of the donation bin, provided that the total area of signage shall not exceed 20 percent of each side. The donation bin shall not have information, advertising, or logos other than those relating to the operator.
(4) Donation bins shall be serviced and emptied as needed, but at least every 30 days.
(5) The owner of the property on which the bin is located shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, the area surrounding the donation bins, free from any junk, debris or other material.
(6) Donation bins shall not be permitted on any unimproved parcel, shall not be allowed as a principal use of a parcel, and shall not be permitted where the principal use of the land has been closed or unoccupied for more than 30 days.
(7) Donation bins shall not be less than 1,000 feet from another donation bin as measured along a straight line directly from one box to the other. Notwithstanding this separation requirement, up to two donation bins on a single parcel or lot of record are permitted if the parcel or lot is not less than two acres in size and the two donation bins are side by side and are no more than three feet apart.
(8) Donation bins shall not exceed seven feet in height, six feet in width, and six feet in depth.
(9) Donation bins shall not cause a visual obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
(10) Donation bins shall not be placed closer than fifteen feet from:
A. A public sidewalk except that this provision does not apply to a private sidewalk as long as the private sidewalk maintains a five-foot clearance;
B. A public right-of-way;
C. A driveway; or
D. A side or rear property line of adjacent property zoned or used for residential purposes.
(11) Donation bins shall not obstruct or cause safety hazards with regard to a designated fire lane or building exit.
(12) Donation bins shall not:
A. Interfere with an access drive, off-street parking lot maneuvering lane and/or required off-street parking space;
B. Encroach upon an access drive, off-street parking lot maneuvering lane, and/or required off-street parking space.
C. Donation bins shall be placed on a level, hard (asphalt or concrete) paved, dust-free surface.
(Res. 2016-13A. Passed 2-1-16, effective 3-2-16.)