Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 3 Commercial Zone General Development Standards

New land uses and structures and alterations or modifications to existing uses or structures shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the following requirements in all commercial zones.

a. Facility upgrading required. Any major alteration or expansion (as determined by the zoning administrator) that requires development review shall incorporate measures to upgrade all existing facilities to extent feasible within lot constraints (structures, parking, landscaping, signs, etc.) to the current standards of this Chapter.

b. Appearance of structures. Where minimum structure setbacks are provided, streetscape interest and relief shall be provided through special attention to facade treatment, planters, awnings and similar features.

c. Rooftop equipment. All rooftop equipment must be screened on all sides with an opaque screen, parapet or architectural feature that is compatible with the building materials, form and design at a height equal to or greater than the installed equipment height. The height of the roof screen may be up to twelve (12) inches less than the height of the rooftop equipment so long as the equipment is not visible from adjacent property line(s) or a sidewalk(s) on the opposite side of the street. Exceptions to height limits for screening are set forth in Section 36.08.30 (e).

d. Ground-level equipment. All exterior ground-level equipment must be fully screened and located within an enclosure constructed of solid masonry or other suitable building materials consistent with the on-site exterior building materials, form and design at a height to fully screen the equipment, but no taller than eight (8) feet in height. On a case-by-case basis, the zoning administrator may consider and approve additional height to further screen the equipment. Ground-level equipment may include, but is not limited to, ground-water pumping equipment, generators and mechanical equipment.

e. Trash enclosures. Trash enclosures shall be provided in all projects and shall be constructed of solid masonry or other suitable building materials, consistent with the building on-site, and shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height, with solid, view-obstructing gates and a concrete pad in front to accommodate lifting and dropping of the dumpster. Trash enclosures shall be located in inconspicuous locations.

f. Fences and walls. Any fences or walls in required setbacks, other than front and street side setback areas, may not exceed seven (7) feet in height, subject to development review (see Section 36.44.45). On a case-by-case basis, the zoning administrator may consider and approve fences or walls of additional height to meet business security needs.

g. Late-night use and activities. The following standards apply to businesses abutting (either adjacent to or across the street from) residentially zoned properties with ongoing operations or activities between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

1. Businesses abutting residentially zoned properties that are open or have ongoing activities between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. shall be operated in a manner to protect residential properties from excessive noise from any sources during those hours.

2. Upon substantial evidence that businesses' ongoing operations between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. are creating excessive noise, the zoning administrator shall hold a public hearing in accordance with Section 36.48 (Conditional Use Permit) and may apply additional or modified conditions of approval necessary to ensure the operation is compatible with the adjoining residentially zoned property. Said use permit shall be limited to operations or activities occurring between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

h. Facade and site modifications. Per Section 36.44.45, development review approval is required for exterior modifications to existing structures and site changes (including, but not limited to, new or modified landscaping, fencing, changes to parking lot striping or circulation). Exterior modifications performed and/or constructed without appropriate approvals shall require approval through development review of the alteration(s) or to return the building to its original condition. The zoning administrator may require additional improvements to make the building conform to acceptable standards for the area or zone district. Exterior modifications include, but are not limited to, the covering or blocking of window openings, which shall retain visibility between interior and exterior activities unless a permit for exterior modification has been approved through this process.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13; Ord. No. 20.19, § 6, 12/10/19; Ord. No. 01.2024, § 11, 1/23/24.)

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