Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 11 Am-2 (agriculturally Related - Medium Industrial)

The purpose of the AM-2 (agricultural related industrial) zone is to:

A. Provide a zone that is consistent with the intent of the general plan to protect agriculture and at the same time allow limited but compatible and consistent agricultural related industrial land uses within the agricultural land use categories as defined in the general plan.

B. Provide uses that are suitable for agricultural related medium intensity industrial land uses, yet are still consistent with the general plan and compatible with the agricultural land uses in the vicinity, that are intended not to create adverse impacts on adjacent agricultural land or adjacent infrastructure.

C. Provide an opportunity for existing industrial uses or for existing M-2 and M-2-N zones to become consistent with the general plan without becoming pre-existing, nonconforming uses.

D. Provide an opportunity for on-farm processing of agricultural related products and produce that while industrial in nature, can be safely, effectively done within the agricultural designated land uses without adversely affecting either the surrounding agricultural land uses and without becoming a detriment on planned industrial areas.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following uses are permitted in the AM-2 zone provided they meet the requirements of this title:

a) Agricultural accessory structure(s) (including cargo containers).

b) Agricultural chemical manufacturing.

c) Agricultural chemical (fertilizer, pesticide, etc.) sales, handling and shipping (not disposal).

d) Agricultural signs, less than one hundred (100) square feet and less than fifteen (15) feet in height. See Section 90511.10.

e) All agricultural (farming) uses in the A-3 zone as listed under Section 90509.01.

f) Animal grooming and training facility.

g) Animal kennel or boarding facility.

h) Aquaculture product packaging, processing and shipping plant.

i) Cold storage facilities for agricultural products.

j) Composting facility.

k) Contract harvesting businesses.

l) Cotton gins.

m) Creamery and other dairy product processing.

n) Dehydration plant.

o) Electrical vehicles charging stations as an accessory use (incidental to primary use).

p) Equestrian establishment.

q) Farm implement manufacturing (medium manufacturing and assembly with more than twenty (20) employees).

r) Farm implement rental facility.

s) Farm implement repair facility (facility with more than twenty (20) employees).

t) Farm implement sales and parts (new).

u) Farm implement sales (used) (include dismantling).

v) Farmers market.

w) Farm labor bus transport facility.

x) Farm labor housing.

y) Feed stores (rental and wholesale).

z) Fuel (bulk) sales.

aa) Gardening and landscape supply store.

bb) Industrial hemp, including the cultivation, harvesting and testing, and light processing, subject to Division 4, Chapter 6 of Title 9, Land Use Ordinance and Title 14 of the Imperial County Codified Ordinances.

cc) Industrial hemp manufacturing into semi-finished and finished products, subject to Division 4,, Chapter 6 of Title 9 Land Use Ordinance and Title 14 of the Imperial County Codified Ordinances.

dd) Mineral exploration.

ee) Packing facility for agricultural products.

ff) Poultry butchering including processing and shipping.

gg) Processing facility for agricultural products.

hh) Accessory dwelling unit incidental to primary use (i.e. caretakers residence, owners residence, security guards residence) per Section 90405.02.

ii) Seed processing facility.

jj) Seed store, retail and wholesale.

kk) Slaughterhouse.

ll) Solar energy extraction generation provided that it is for on-site consumption only.

mm) Vegetable and other produce packaging, processing and shipping plant.

nn) Veterinary clinic/hospital.

oo) Winery.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following uses are permitted in the AM-2 Zone provided they meet the requirements of this Title:

a) Agricultural pesticide manufacturing.

b) Asphalt and concrete batch plants.

c) Blacksmith shop.

d) Coffee roasting.

e) Commercial Cannabis Manufacturing, subject to Division 4 Chapter 6 of Title 9 Land Use Ordinance and Title 14 of the Imperial County Codified Ordinance.

f) Communication Towers: including radio, television, cellular, digital, along with the necessary support equipment such as receivers, transmitters, antennas, satellite dishes, relays, etc. (subject to requirements of this zone and Division 24; Section 92401 "Communications Facilities Ordinance" et al).

g) Manufacturing, compounding, assembling or treating or articles or merchandise from previously prepared materials as follows: bone, quartz, feather, felt, fur, hair, horn, paper, leather, tobacco, wood, manufacturing of batteries, manufacturing of ice, manufacturing of soap, manufacturing of textiles.

h) Mineral extraction facility.

i) Race track for horse or dog racing.

j) Rendering facility.

k) Soap manufacturing.

l) Sold waste transfer station.

m) Taxidermist.

h) Temporary contractor's yard.

o) Manufacturing.

p) Waste to energy facility.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20; Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

All uses not expressly permitted in Section 90511.01 or 90511.02 are strictly prohibited.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

No portion of any lot within the AM-2 zone shall contain less than two acres (net).

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

In order for structures and/or facilities and/or land uses allowed in the AM-2 zone to be consistent with the intent of the general plan they shall meet the minimum requirements of this title, applicable state and federal regulations and the following standards:

A. Traffic: Any AM-2 use that generates in excess of one hundred (100) ADT (to and from the facility) shall prepare a traffic study and shall implement all traffic mitigation measures, including turn lanes, signal lights, signage etc., as determined by the department of public works.

B. Air Quality: Any AM-2 use shall comply with and obtain permits from the air quality control district prior to construction/operation, if determined necessary by the air pollution control officer.

C. Water and Wastewater: Any AM-2 use that requires by federal, state or local law/code or employs people shall provide treated (potable) water meeting the California drinking water standard. Likewise any such facility shall provide for wastewater treatment meeting California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB) standards.

D. AG Compatibility: It shall be the obligation through studies, if necessary, for the proponent/owner of an AM-2 facility/use to prove that the use is compatible with the adjacent agricultural land uses.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following yard setback requirements shall apply in the AM-2 zone:

A. Front Yard. Except as otherwise provided, the front yard minimum setback for all buildings shall be as follows:

1. Twenty-five (25) feet minimum from public right-of-way; and/or

2. Eighty (80) feet from centerline of existing or proposed secondary arterial; and/or

3. Sixty (60) feet from centerline of existing or proposed local street; and/or

4. Sixty-five (65) feet from centerline of existing or proposed collector.

B. Side Yard. Except as otherwise provided, the side yard minimum setback for all buildings shall be as follows:

1. Ten (10) feet on each side, except that on a corner lot, the side facing a street shall be the same as the front yard.

2. The side yard may be zero feet setback where the construction of the wall including parapet is of four-hour fire-resistant construction and provided the overall height of the structure is less than twenty (20) feet.

C. Rear Yard. Except as otherwise provided, the rear yard minimum setback for all buildings shall be as follows:

1. Ten (10) feet minimum.

2. The side yard may be zero feet setback where the construction of the wall including parapet is of four-hour fire-resistant construction and provided the overall height of the structure is less than twenty (20) feet.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following height limit shall apply in the AM-2 zone:

A. Primary Structure: Eighty (80) feet.

B. Accessory Structure(s): Thirty (30) feet.

C. Architectural appurtenances such as TV and radio antennae, communication towers, silo elevators shall not exceed one hundred (100) feet.

D. All height limits shall meet and be subject to other divisions within this title and other applicable regulations such as the airport land use compatibility plan.

NOTE: Height shall be measured from the average ground level (AGL) of the parcel.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following minimum distances between structures in the AM-2 zone shall be provided:

A. There shall be at least twenty (20) feet between the primary structure and any accessory structure.

B. There shall be at least fifty (50) feet between a light industrial use structure and a residence.

C. There shall be at least one hundred (100) feet between any structure housing animals or processing animals and a residence.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The parking for the AM-2 zone shall be the same as required for the M-1 zone.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following signs shall be permitted in the AM-2 zone; however, all signs shall be subject to Section 90401 as applicable:

A. Temporary real estate signs advertising the property for sale or rent, and not to exceed twenty (20) square feet.

B. Temporary construction signs not to exceed forty (40) square feet.

C. Temporary political, religious or civic campaign signs, not to exceed three months.

D. Agricultural signs not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet.

E. Institutional identification signs.

F. Off-site directional signs.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

Landscaping in the AM-2 zone shall be the same as the M-1 zone.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)