§ 9148.6. Cargo Container Storage Facilities. — Carson Zoning Code

A. Development Policy. The objectives of these regulations pertaining to cargo container storage facilities are as follows:
1. To provide for the safe and orderly storage of cargo containers in a manner that minimizes the noise, dust, traffic, blight and other adverse environmental impacts of such a use upon the surrounding area.
2. To ensure that the cargo container storage operation is conducted in a safe manner based upon such factors as the permitted height of such containers, the cargo within the containers, and methods of securing the containers so as to prevent shifting and toppling.
3. To ensure adequate screening of cargo containers from the public right-of-way.
4. To ensure that the site is sufficient in size to accommodate the safe storage of containers in accordance with this Section.
B. Site Development.
1. Setbacks.
  - a. All setbacks abutting a public right-of-way shall be a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet in depth.
- b. All setbacks not abutting a public right-of-way shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) feet in depth.
- c. No encroachments are permitted in any setback except that any existing legal, nonconforming encroachment may be permitted to remain, subject to the provisions of CMC § 9172.23 .

Landscaping and Irrigation.
- a. Landscaping and irrigation plans shall be prepared and signed by a licensed landscape architect and approved by the Community Development Director prior to occupancy.
- b. All landscaped areas shall be well maintained at all times and permanently irrigated with an electronic timer preset for early morning hours.
- c. All required yards adjacent to, or visible from, a public right-of-way shall be landscaped utilizing any combination of the following:
  - (1) Drought resistant plants common to this region, including lawn grasses, flowers, ground covers, vines, shrubs in five (5) to fifteen (15) gallon sizes, and specimen trees;
  - (2) Decorative materials such as rock, bark, gravel, boulders, wood, brick, block, tile, stucco, ornamental iron, and chain link; or
  - (3) Artistic features, such as berms, earth mounds, planter beds, fencing, monuments, artwork, sculptures, and fountains.
Configuration of Cargo Containers.
- a. Cargo containers shall not be stored within five (5) feet of any required screening wall nor within twenty (20) feet of any structure or building.
- b. All cargo containers shall be arranged in parallel rows.
- c. Except as to cargo containers stored within one thousand (1,000) feet of residentially zoned property or institutional uses, as to which the interim provisions relating to "Cargo Container Storage" contained in CMC § 9182.22(A) are applicable during the "Allowable Life" provided for therein, cargo container storage shall comply with the following standards:
  - (1) The first row which is parallel or adjacent to any property line, or any required setback therefrom, may be stacked to a maximum of three (3) high.

(2) The second row which is parallel or in proximity to any property line, or any required setback therefrom, may be stacked to a maximum of three (3) high.
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- (3) The third and any subsequent row which is parallel or in proximity to any property line, or any required setback therefrom, may be stacked to a maximum of four (4) high; and 

- (4) The maximum stacking height on any site is four (4) containers. 
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- d. Cargo container configuration site plan shall be submitted to the Community Development Department for review and approval prior to the commencement of operations. The site plan, as approved by the Director, shall be adhered to at all times.

General Requirements.
- a. Vehicular parking, loading, and maneuvering areas shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of CMC § 9162.05 .
- b. Areas utilized for the storage of cargo containers shall be surfaced with materials approved by the Community Development Department which adequately prevent dust from becoming airborne and prevent the tracking of mud onto public rights-of-way. The site shall be graded to drain onto the street or shall otherwise be drained in a manner approved by the Director of Public Works.
- c. The site shall, to the extent reasonably feasible, be located so as to provide for direct vehicular ingress from and egress to a designated route, as specified in CMC § 3261, and to minimize or preclude ingress from and egress to restricted streets, as defined in CMC § 3260. These requirements shall not apply to any site where cargo containers are received and transported by rail only.
- d. All cargo container storage shall be screened from public rights-of-way. The screening shall be designed and scaled so that its mass and height is compatible with other existing or proposed improvements in the area, and the cargo containers are adequately concealed.
- e. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize or permit the storage of cargo containers containing hazardous materials, substances or wastes which are capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety or property, including, but not limited to, any radioactive material, poison, flammable gas, nonflammable gas, flammable liquid, oxidizer, flammable solid, corrosive material (liquid or solid), irritating materials, combustible liquids, explosives, blasting agents, etiologic agents, organic peroxides, hazardous wastes, and regulated materials of classes A, B, C, D and E, the definitions of which may from time to time be designated by the United States Department of Transportation under Title 49 (commencing with Section 1801) of the United States Code and Title 49 (commencing with Section 107) of the Code of Federal Regulations, and adopted by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol pursuant to Section 2402.7 of the Vehicle Code.
- f. All habitable structures shall be placed on a permanent foundation, and a building permit shall be obtained.
Additional Requirements.

a. Cargo container storage facilities located within a redevelopment project area shall be subject to site plan and design review pursuant to CMC § 9172.23 .
- b. In reviewing any application for a business license for compliance with this Code, or in reviewing and approving any site plan, the Community Development Director may impose such additional requirements as may be required to achieve the objectives in subsection (B)(5)(a) of this Section.

(Ord. 93-1026 § 1; Ord. 88-842 § 1)