§ 21.32.225. Screening required.

A.

General. The following required screening shall apply in all commercial districts:

1.

Open Storage. Open storage shall be prohibited. Certain merchandise is permitted to be displayed outdoors for sale or rent as indicated in Tables 32-1 and 32-1A.

2.

Parking Lots. All parking lots shall be screened as provided for in Section 21.41.266 and Chapter 21.42.

3.

Adjacent To Residential Districts. All commercial uses adjoining or abutting a residential district shall be screened by a solid fence or wall not less than six feet, six inches (6′6″) in height, except in the front yard of the residential lot, where the fence or wall shall be three feet (3′) in height.

4.

Parking Structures. All sides of a parking structure abutting a public street shall be screened by trees, vines or other decorative screening approved by the Director of Development Services. See Chapter 21.42 for additional requirements.

B.

Mechanical Equipment on Rooftops. The City recognizes that mechanical equipment on rooftops can be unattractive and can provide areas for unsecured entry into buildings. Therefore, the following restrictions shall be required to improve the aesthetic quality of the City and the security of each building. These restrictions shall apply in all commercial zoning districts within the City.

1.

Required. In all commercial zones, rooftop mechanical equipment, except solar collectors and rain gutters, shall be screened on all sides by screening not less than the height of the equipment being screened. In the high rise overlay and planned development districts, such equipment shall also be screened from view from higher buildings in the zone to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Building.

2.

Secured. All rooftop mechanical equipment shall be secured from unauthorized entry to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Building.

3.

Materials. All rooftop mechanical equipment screening devices shall be of a material requiring a low degree of maintenance. Wood shall generally not be utilized unless it can be shown that proper maintenance will occur. All screening devices shall be well integrated into the design of the building through such items as parapet walls continuous with the walls of the structure, false roofs, or equipment rooms. Louvered designs are acceptable if consistent with the building design style.

4.

Substitutions. Well-planned, compact, architecturally integrated rooftop equipment may be substituted for screening with the approval of the Director of Planning and Building.

(ORD-10-0031, § 2, 2010; Ord. C-7663 §§ 17, 18, 1999; Ord. C-7047 § 18, 1992: Ord. C-6684 § 42 (part), 1990: Ord. C-6533 § 1 (part), 1988)