(A) Backyard composting sites shall be allowed in all residential zoning districts or properties with a residential use and are an accessory use to a community garden, subject to the following performance standards:
(1) No composting container may be located closer than five feet to any rear or side property and may not be located within the front yard setback.
(2) No composting container shall be located closer than 20 feet to any residential dwelling, except the dwelling on the property at which the compost container is located.
(3) Composting containers shall be located and designed such that seepage from the compost will not run off into public or private streets, storm sewers, drainage ditches, stormwater basins or neighboring properties.
(4) All composting must occur in a container constructed of wood, wire mesh, or concrete block or a combination thereof, or in a commercially available compost bin designed for composting organic materials.
(5) The maximum height of the composting container shall be five feet.
(6) No composting container may be located within the following Airport Overlay District Zones: APZ-1, APZ-2 and Clear Zone, and may not be located within the Runway Approach Departure Safety Area/Airport Industrial Overlay Districts.
(B) Large composting sites may be permitted as a conditional use in the Agricultural (AG), Light Industrial (LI) and Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning districts, subject to the following performance standards:
(1) A large composting site shall be located on three or more contiguous acres.
(2) No composting activity may be located closer than ten feet to any rear or side property and may not be located within the front yard setback.
(3) No composting activity shall be located closer than 1,000 feet to any property that is residentially zoned or used for a residence, except the dwelling on the property at which the compost activity is located.
(4) Composting activity shall be located and designed such that seepage from the compost will not run off into public or private streets, storm sewers, drainage ditches, stormwater basins or neighboring properties.
(5) All composting must occur in a controlled manner to minimize the creation of nuisances.
(6) Compost materials shall be layered, aerated, moistened, turned and managed to promote effective decomposition of the materials in a safe, secure and sanitary manner.
(7) No composting activity may be located within the following Airport Overlay District Zones: 75-80 dB, greater than 80 dB noise Zone, APZ-1, APZ-2 and Clear Zone, and may not be located within the Runway Approach Departure Safety Area/Airport Industrial Overlay Districts.
(C) Agricultural composting sites that meet the requirements of A.R.S. § 9-461.02(G) are not prevented or restricted by these requirements. Agricultural composting sites are subject to the following performance standards as noted in A.R.S. § 9-461.02(G):
(1) Agricultural composting shall be located on five or more contiguous acres.
(2) An agricultural composting operation shall notify the City of Yuma Fire Department in writing of the location of the composting operation.
(3) Agricultural composting may not be conducted within 1,320 feet of an existing residential use, unless the operations are conducted on farmland or land leased in association with farmland.
(4) No agricultural composting operation may be located within the Airport Overlay District or within the Runway Approach Departure Safety Area/Airport Industrial Overlay Districts.
(D) Nuisance. A backyard composting site or large composting site must not be established or maintained in a manner such that it creates malodorous conditions or other nuisances and any composting shall be suspended or terminated if at any time it is determined by the City of Yuma that a nuisance exists or that conditions exist constituting a fire or health hazard.
(Ord. O2019-001, passed 1-16-2019)