300.10: SCREENING:

A. Screening of Mechanical Equipment. All mechanical and electrical equipment and antennas shall be screened or incorporated into the design of buildings so as not to be visible from the street, freeway, or adjacent residential districts. Such equipment includes, but is not limited to, all roof-mounted equipment, utility meters, cable equipment, telephone entry boxes, backflow prevention devices, irrigation control valves, electrical transformers and pull boxes. Screening devices shall be consistent with the exterior colors and materials of the buildings to which they are attached.

B. Roof Access Ladders and Fire Sprinkler Risers. Roof access ladders and fire sprinkler risers shall be located internally as allowed by the California Building Code.

• C. Parking Areas. Parking areas shall be screened from view from public streets and adjacent residential properties according to the following standards:

1. Height. Screening of parking lots from adjacent public streets shall be three (3) feet in height. Screening along interior lot lines that abut residential districts shall be six (6) feet in height, except within the required front setback of the applicable zoning district, where screening shall be three (3) feet in height.

2. Materials. Screening may consist of one (1) or any combination of the methods listed below.

• a. Walls. Low-profile walls consisting of decorative concrete, stone, or masonry materials.

• b. Fences. An open fence of wrought iron or similar material combined with plant materials to form an opaque screen. This option does not include the use of chain-link or vinyl fencing.

• c. Planting. Plant materials consisting of compact evergreen plants that form an opaque screen. Such plant materials shall achieve a minimum height of two (2) feet within eighteen (18) months after initial installation.

• d. Berms. Berms planted with grass, ground cover, or other low-growing plant materials.

• D. Drive-Through Facilities. Vehicle lanes for drive-throughs shall be screened from public streets to a height of three and one-half (3.5) feet. Screening devices shall consist of walls and/or berms.

E. Common Property Lines. A six (6) foot high wall shall be provided on the interior lot lines where any non-residential use abuts a residential district or residential use where there is no alley. Such screening wall shall be provided at the time of new construction or expansion of buildings, or changes from one (1) use classification to another non-residential use classification.

1. Location. Screening walls shall follow the lot line of the lot to be screened, or shall be so arranged within the boundaries of the lot so as to substantially hide from adjoining lots the building, facility, or activity required to be screened.

2. Height. The six (6) foot high screening wall shall step down to three and one-half (3.5) feet in height from the side property line intersecting the front property line to a depth equal to the required front or side yard setback of the abutting residential use in order to provide for safe line of sight for vehicular traffic. Wall height may be increased in height to accommodate adequate sound attenuation as required through the findings of an acoustical analysis prepared by an acoustical professional. The design of such improvements shall be approved by the City Engineer.

3. Materials. The screening wall shall be a masonry block wall. Block walls shall match the standard colors allowed in the City’s graffiti abatement program. The City Engineer may approve new wall/fencing materials that become available in the future for use as an alternative to a masonry block wall based on its proven comparable properties for durability, sound, light, and glare attenuation. Topography, berming, and other alternative methods of mitigating the nuisance of noise and light might be considered at time of project review.

4. Timing. If the residential use develops prior to the non-residential use, a six (6) foot high wood fence may be constructed. If the non-residential use or residential use develops adjacent to existing development the wall shall be constructed with the new development. Where a six (6) foot high wood fence already exists, the masonry wall footing, when

constructed, shall comply with City standards. The narrow offset portion of the masonry wall footing shall abut the existing wood fence posts, or close thereto. The gap between the fence shall be sealed with a top rail approved by the City Engineer. A condition of approval may be imposed upon the developer of the non-residential use to work with the adjacent property owner to eliminate the abutting and parallel wood fence. Said wall shall be constructed concurrently with the non-residential development. Those uses subject to a Conditional Use Permit may be evaluated to determine applicability of the wall requirement.

F. State Route. Where a residential use abuts State Route rights-of-way or State Route frontage road rights-of-way, screening according to the following shall be installed along that frontage.

1. Height. An eight (8) foot high wall shall be provided unless an acoustical analysis prepared by an acoustical professional verifies that an appropriate height greater or lesser than the eight (8) feet is warranted or, subject to the approval of any discretionary permit (i.e. Conditional Use Permit, parcel or subdivision map). The design of such improvements shall be approved by the City Engineer.

Height. An eight (8) foot high wall shall be provided unless an acoustical analysis prepared by an acoustical professional verifies that an appropriate height greater or lesser than the eight (8) feet is warranted or, subject to the approval of any discretionary permit (i.e. Conditional Use Permit, parcel or subdivision map). The design of such improvements shall be approved by the City Engineer.

2. Material. The screening wall shall be a masonry block wall constructed of decorative, split-face block and brown in color per the approved colors maintained in the Community Development Department. The wall shall include decorative columns, spaced no more than sixty (60) feet apart, with stone veneer. The entire wall, including the columns, shall be capped on top. The City Engineer may approve new wall/fencing materials that become available in the future for use as an alternative to a masonry block wall based on its proven comparable properties for durability, sound, light, and glare attenuation. Topography, berming, and other alternative methods of mitigating the nuisance of noise and light may be considered at time of project review.

3. Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided along these walls to include trees, shrubs, groundcover and vines in order to improve the aesthetics of the wall and prevent graffiti. Adequate land and access shall be provided to install and maintain such landscaping, to the satisfaction of the Parks and Leisure Services Director. Maintenance of wall landscaping shall be provided by the developer, or by an assessment district established for such maintenance in perpetuity.

G. Adjacent to Residential Uses. The Zoning Administrator may require a block wall based on the site design of the parking or service area or where other noise, light, and glare are oriented toward a residential use. The wall design shall be approved as part of the project by the City Engineer to ensure that adequate line of sight distance is provided. (Ord. 1866, 1119-2019)