Article 32 — M-L LIMITED MANUFACTURING DISTRICT

(Amended by O-2181)

The following uses shall be permitted in the M-L zone:

a) Offices, professional and executive or administrative offices of commercial, industrial, financial or other firms by Conditional Use Permit as provided in Chapter 5; b) Scientific research, development or experimental laboratories; c) Manufacture, assembly, testing and repair of components, devices, equipment and systems of an electrical or electromechanical nature, such as, but not limited to: Coils, tubes, transistors, capacitor, and similar components Communication, navigation, transmission, control and guidance equipment and systems Data processing equipment and systems Metering instruments and equipment Phonographs and other audio units Radar and sonar equipment Television and radio equipment d) Manufacture, assembly, testing and repair of optical, medical, dental, drafting, time, musical and photographic equipment, except film. e) Manufacture, assembly and repair of testing equipment. f) Manufacturing, processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, drugs, toiletries and cosmetics, except soap. g) Research and development facilities for the creation of prototypes. h) Printing, engraving, lithographing, blue printing, and photocopying film processing. i) Business service establishments such as electronic computer servicing and addressing services. j) Manufacturing, assembling, compounding and packaging of articles or products from the following previously prepared materials: Bristles, bone, canvas, cellophane, cloth, cork, feathers, felt, fiber, fur, glass, hair, horns, leather *, paper, plastics **, precious/semi-precious stone, precious/semiprecious metal, shells, textiles, tobacco, yarn

*Excluding etching, burning and other odorous operations.

**Excluding any melting or odorous process.

k) Manufacture and packaging of candy.

l) Manufacture of ceramic products utilizing only previously pulverized clay and kilns that are fired only by electricity or natural gas.

m) Mattress manufacturing, rebuilding and repairing.

n) Bakeries.

o) Studio or office for industrial designing, drafting, model making, engineering, architecture, sculpture or painting.

p) Restaurants, auditoriums, libraries, museums, dispensaries, commissaries and recreational and educational facilities provided for the employees of a permitted use only.

q) Other industrial or commercial uses for which a use permit has been granted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 of this Division.

(Added by O-1975; Amended by O-2181)

a) Lot Area. The minimum lot size of any lot shall be fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet; provided, however, that any lot existing as a legally recorded parcel on January 1, 1970, which does not conform to the above minimum requirement may be developed by conditional use permit if the Planning Commission determines that the following conditions apply:

• 1. There are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships resulting from the strict enforcement of this Section; and

2. That the proposed development is integrated with the adjacent developments and does not adversely affect the orderly development of the area or the general welfare of the City.

b) Lot Width. No lot shall be less than sixty (60) feet in width.

c) Lot Coverage. The ground floor area of the structures shall not exceed eighty (80) percent of the total area of the site.

d) Setbacks. There shall be a minimum ten (10) foot setback from all streets; provided, however, that at no point shall any building or structure project into an imaginary place established by an angle of sixty (60) degrees projected from the centerline of any public right-of-way and/or property line.

e) Building Materials. All structures (except signs, trim and minor architectural features) shall be constructed of masonry, ceramics, concrete, wood frame and stucco, metal frame and stucco or other substantial construction materials.

f) Roof Appurtenances. All roof structures, such as air conditioning units, ventilation pipes, etc., shall be screened so as not to be visible from any street, highway or residential or agricultural district, school or park.

a) Loading. Loading facilities shall be located in such a manner that all loading operations take place completely within the property lines of the site. The facilities shall be screened by a landscaped or architectural feature so as not to be visible from any adjoining street or highway or adjoining residential, agricultural, school or park land. Loading space shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3 of this Division.

b) Location of Activities. All activities shall be conducted in enclosed buildings except for storage, loading and unloading, parking of vehicles and similar activities. All areas used for these activities, except parking, shall be enclosed by a solid, uniformly finished wall or fence with solid entrance and exit gates. Such a wall or fence shall be no less than six (6) feet nor more than eight (8) feet in height, and in no case shall goods or materials be stacked or stored higher than said fence.

c) Parking. Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3 of this Division. All off-street parking areas facing residential or agricultural districts, schools or parks shall be enclosed by a decorative masonry wall not less than three (3) feet in height but no higher than eight (8) feet.

d) Trash. All trash and refuse storage areas shall be paved and shall be screened by landscape or architectural feature so that the contents will not be visible from any adjoining street or highway or adjoining residential, agricultural, school or park land.

e) Walls. Where the site abuts a residential or agricultural zone or use, school or park, a solid decorative masonry wall not less than eight (8) feet in height shall be constructed and maintained along the property lines adjoining said residential or agricultural zone, school or park.

f) Landscaping. All required yards abutting upon streets shall be suitably landscaped with trees, shrubs, or planted ground cover and provided with a sprinkling system. These plants shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner at all times. All open and unlandscaped portions of any site shall be graded for proper drainage and maintained in a good condition free from weeds, trash and debris.

g) Signs. Signs shall conform to the following standards:

• 1. No billboards or roof signs shall be permitted.

2. The main building on each parcel or lot may carry the identity of the use or uses provided; said signs are architecturally compatible with the structure.

• 3. A free standing identification sign may be used provided the area conforms to the sections of this Code governing signs.
• 4. Directional signs pointing to parking areas and loading areas are permitted provided they do not exceed six (6) square feet in area.

a) Fire and Explosion. Where no side yard exists between structure, walls must be constructed which have at least a one (1) hour fire rating. Fire suppression equipment, as approved by the Fire Department of the City of Torrance, must be provided and maintained in good working condition on all sites where inflammable or explosive materials are stored or used.

b) Hours of Operation. Operation of establishments shall be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. except with prior approval by the Planning Commission of an application setting forth such information as may be required by the Planning Commission and the Planning Department.

c) Illumination. Lights illuminating sites or structures shall be so installed and maintained that rays will not be directed beyond the property lines.

d) Dust, Smoke, Gas and Odor. No establishment shall generate dust, smoke or gases or create objectionable odors perceptible at or beyond the property line by persons of normal sensibilities. The emission of any such substance from any site shall be in accordance with the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District.

e) Vibration. No equipment, machinery or facility shall be operated so as to generate vibration which is perceptible at or beyond the property line, without the aid of instruments to a person of normal sensibilities.

f) Heat. No establishment will emit heat beyond its property lines which is objectionable to any person of normal sensibilities or causes damage to adjoining property.

g) Noise. Sound pressure emitted from any establishment shall not exceed the following values measured at or beyond the property line:

Before any building or other structure is erected the following shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for approval:

a) A plot plan showing dimensions and location of all existing and proposed buildings, signs, driveways, off-street parking areas, loading and unloading areas, neighboring streets and other pertinent topographic features of the site.

b) Architectural plans and specifications for all proposed building, signs, walls and fences.

c) A description of the proposed operation in sufficient detail to set forth its nature and extent.

d) Landscape architectural plans.

(Added by O-2470)

a) All trash from all uses permitted by this Article shall be kept at all times in enclosures of the type described in this Section.

b) Trash enclosures as required in this Section shall be bounded on three (3) sides by walls of material compatible in color, texture and appearance with the main structure and having a gated opening of sufficient width to permit the removal and replacement of standard size commercial trash bins. The gate of said enclosure shall be constructed of solid, opaque material.

c) Trash bins shall remain in the enclosures except during trash pickup.