Division 6 — Project Grading

If project grading requires the removal or importation of more than 10,000 cubic yards of dirt, soil, sand, gravel, rock, clay, decomposed granite or other similar material from or to a lot, and if more than 20 occupied dwelling units in single-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings or mobile homes, or any combination thereof, or a hospital or accredited public school by the Education Code of the State of California is located within a parallel corridor 300 feet wide on each side of and measured from the edge of the existing right-of-way of the streets forming the proposed transport route, and within a distance equal to the extent of such route, or, within a distance of 2,640 feet, whichever is less, measured from the proposed point of access to such project, then a person shall not engage in project grading in any zone unless such a person either:

• A. Obtains a Conditional Use Permit; or

• B. Submits a plot plan to the Director, who shall approve the plan upon finding that the proposed project grading will comply with the requirements of this Division. The plan approval shall be valid for the time stated by the Director. If no time is stated, such approval shall be good for one (1) year. If the Director finds that there is good cause shown, and that the applicant, in moving material pursuant to such approval, has not violated this or any other ordinance or statute, he may extend the duration of such approval for not more than one (1) year if the applicant files a request for such extension prior to the expiration date of his original approval. Only one (1) extension may be granted.

If more than one hundred thousand (100,000) cubic yards of material are to be moved, and the project is not in conjunction with construction, maintenance or repair by a governmental agency, such person shall obtain a Conditional Use Permit.

Project grading subject to the provisions of this Division shall comply with the following requirements:

• A. A grading permit, when required, shall first be obtained as provided in the Building Code before the commencement of any project grading.

• B. The application to the Director or for a Conditional Use Permit, as the case may be, shall contain statements setting forth the following information:

  1. The names and addresses of all persons owning all or any part of the property from which such material is proposed to be removed and to which such material is proposed to be transported.

  2. The names and addresses of the person or persons who will be conducting the operations proposed.

  3. The proposed ultimate use of the lot.

  4. Such other information as the Director finds necessary in order to determine whether the application should be granted.

  5. In the case of an application for a Conditional Use Permit, the information required pursuant to CMC § 9172.21(A) and § 9173.1.

• C. The applicant shall submit a map showing in sufficient detail the location of the site from which such material is proposed to be removed, the proposed route over streets, and the location to which such material is to be imported.

• D. All hauling as approved under this Section shall be restricted to a route approved by the Director of Public Works.

• E. Compliance shall be made with all applicable requirements of the City and other governmental agencies.

• F. If any condition of this Section is violated, or if any law, statute or ordinance is violated, the privileges granted herein shall lapse and such approval shall be suspended.

• G. Neither the provisions of this Section nor the granting of any permit provided for in this Division authorizes or legalizes the maintenance of a public or private nuisance.

Division 7 Signs

In no case shall a lighted sign or lighting device thereof be so placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public street, walkway or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.

When signs are constructed with two (2) or more faces, all faces may be used except as otherwise specified in this Chapter; provided, that the total sign face area shall be considered to be the sum of the areas of the faces.

Any sign which does not conform to the provisions of this Chapter shall be made to conform or shall be removed as provided in Division 2 of Part 8 of this Chapter.

All signs shall be maintained in good repair, including display surfaces which shall be kept neatly painted or pasted.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions of this Section shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 2 of Article I of this Code. (Ord. 79-479 § 10)

The provisions of this Chapter regulating signs shall not apply to the following signs except as otherwise indicated herein:

• A. Official notices issued by any court, public body, or public officer.

• B. Notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty, or for any person in giving legal notices.

• C. Traffic, directional, warning or informational signs required or authorized by the public authority having jurisdiction.

• D. Official signs used for emergency purposes only.

• E. Permanent memorial or historical signs, plaques or markers.

• F. Public utility signs, provided such signs do not exceed three (3) square feet in sign face area.

The following advertising signs shall be prohibited in all zones:

• A. "A" frame or "sandwich board" signs.

• B. Flashing or scintillating signs.

• C. Revolving signs.

• D. Devices dispensing bubbles and free-floating particles of matter.

• E. Any notice, placard, bill, card, poster, sticker, banner, sign, advertising, or any device calculated to attract the attention of the public which any person posts, prints, sticks, stamps, tacks or otherwise affixes or causes the same to be done to or upon any public street, walkway, crosswalk, or right-of-way, curb, lamp post, hydrant, tree, telephone, lighting system, or any fixture of the police or fire alarm system.

• F. Devices projecting, or otherwise reproducing, the image of an advertising sign or message or any surface or object.

• G. Signs which project into an existing or future street right-of-way.

• H. Signs, affixed to a building, which project above the height of a building wall or roof fascia.

• I. Signs, Flags, Streamers, Etc., on Vehicles. No real estate advertising sign or open house sign, and no flag, streamer, pennant, lead-in, or directional sign, or similar sign that is not permanently affixed to a vehicle, shall be placed in or upon any vehicle, trailer or other device that is parked on a public street, right-of-way, or place for the purpose of drawing attention to any property for sale, lease or rent. No person owning or having possession or control of any vehicle shall permit a vehicle to be used for such purpose.

• (Ord. 80-513 § 3; Ord. 15-1563 §§ 9, 10)

Repealed by Ord. 12-1500. (Ord. 98-1140 § 2)

Any sign authorized by Article IX (Planning and Zoning) of the Carson Municipal Code may contain noncommercial copy in lieu of any other copy. Signs containing noncommercial copy are subject to the same time, place, and manner restrictions as business signs. (Ord. 15-1563 § 11)

The Director may summarily and without prior notice remove any unauthorized sign in the public right-of-way that is placed in violation of any of the provisions of the Carson Municipal Code. Provided, that the owner of the sign appears on the face of the sign, the Director may mail written notice within forty-eight (48) hours after such removal to the sign's owner or agent.

The Director shall release any sign removed pursuant to this Section to the owner thereof upon payment of a per-sign fee, as determined by City Council resolution, for the removal and keeping of the sign. If the sign is not claimed within ten (10) days after removal, the Director shall order the destruction of the sign.

(Ord. 15-1563 § 12)