A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish locational criteria, development standards and operational standards to regulate automobile service stations and associated ancillary uses in order to:
1. 
Limit the concentration of automobile service stations with separation, distance, and adjacency to sensitive uses requirements.
2. 
Promote and preserve the public health, safety, convenience, general welfare, and general prosperity of the community. It is the intent of this chapter that automobile service stations shall not create increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic hazards and shall not be detrimental to the ordinary maintenance, development, and redevelopment of the surrounding area as reflected in the general plan.
3. 
Regulate automobile service station development to ensure that the design and operation of such uses effectively mitigate associated impacts of traffic, congestion, excessive pavement, lighting, litter, hazardous materials, and noise.
4. 
Supplement the standards in the underlying zoning district for automobile service stations. In the event of a conflict between these standards and the underlying zoning district standards, the provisions of this section shall apply. Automobile service stations shall also comply with all applicable state and federal regulations regarding site design, pricing signs, containment, maintenance, and operations.
B. 
Applicability. The requirements of this chapter apply all new service station development. Whenever an applicant is required to obtain a building permit and/or approval of a development entitlement from the city, the applicant shall submit sufficient information for the approving authority to determine whether the proposed automobile service station will comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 1017 § 9, 2023)
A. 
Location and Separation Requirements.
1. 
Separation Requirements. Automobile service stations, including ancillary uses, shall be separated from other automobile service stations by a minimum of 1,000 feet. Separation distance shall be measured in a straight line from the nearest property line of said automobile service stations.
a. 
Automobile service station which exclusively provides alternative fuels shall not be subject to the separation requirements of this section.
B. 
General Development Standards. New and reconstructed automobile service stations shall comply with the following development standards.
1. 
Minimum Site Area. 40,000 square feet.
2. 
Maximum Lot Coverage. 40 percent of the total lot size, including the canopy. No more than 20 percent of the total lot area shall be covered by a canopy.
3. 
Maximum Number of Driveways. No more than two driveways or means of access shall be provided to any one street or highway. No more than 35 percent of the street frontage shall be devoted to curb cuts. Within integrated developments, share access driveways are required.
a. 
Driveways shall not be located closer than 25 feet to the end of a curb corner or a common property line when adjacent to a residential zoning district. The planning director may consider deviations from this requirement due to demonstrated site constraints, subject to compliance with all other applicable development standards.
4. 
Pump Islands.
a. 
Pump islands shall be set back a minimum of 60 feet from an adjoining parcel which are used, zoned, or designated by the general plan for residential uses, schools, parks, or religious facility to the nearest edge of the pump island. A canopy or roof structure over a pump island may encroach up to 50 feet within this distance.
b. 
Pump islands shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from any nonresidential property line to the nearest edge of the pump island. A canopy or roof structure over a pump island may encroach up to 15 feet within this distance.
c. 
The pump island shall be situated to provide stacking space for a minimum of two vehicles behind the vehicle parked at the pump closest to any entrance and/or exit driveway.
d. 
At least one pump station shall be accessible to oversize vehicles, including recreational vehicles.
5. 
Ancillary Equipment/Devices. Ancillary equipment/devices such as air compressors shall not be located in any required building setback area.
6. 
Parking Requirements. The automobile service station and any ancillary uses shall comply with all applicable standards of chapter 17.64 (Parking and Loading Standards). Where conflict arises between section, the requirements of this subsection shall take precedent.
a. 
Automobile Service Station. Two spaces minimum. Spaces at the pump island do not satisfy this parking standard. Any additional, ancillary uses on the property shall also include the parking requirements listed below.
b. 
Automobile Service Station with a Convenience Store. Five spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area of the convenience store. Up to 50 percent of the pump islands may be counted as parking spaces at a minimum ratio of one space for each pump island.
c. 
Automobile Service Station with Vehicle Service Bay. One space per service bay.
d. 
Automobile Service Station with Restaurant and/or Car Wash. The parking requirement shall be determined by a parking demand study prepared by an independent traffic engineer licensed by the State of California. The study shall be provided by the applicant, at its sole expense.
e. 
A minimum of one loading space and delivery vehicle stacking area shall be located and designed to avoid undue interference with the public use of streets and alleys, drive aisles, automobile parking spaces, or pedestrian paseos. See chapter 17.64 (Parking and Loading Standards).
C. 
Alternative Fuel Stations.
1. 
A minimum of one alternative fuel stations shall be provided for every four petroleum-based fuel pumps. The alternative fuel stations can be an electric vehicle charging station, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, or other alternative fuel.
a. 
Existing automobile service stations shall add at least one alternative fuel station when proposing an expansion of the existing operation.
2. 
A waiting/seating area shall be provided for customers charging an electric vehicle at a designated charging station.
3. 
Automobile service stations which exclusively provide alternative fuels shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter, with exception to the separation requirements.
D. 
Building Design and Orientation. See chapters 17.130 (Zone and Building Standards) and 17.132 (Building Entrances and Facades) for building design and orientation requirements.
E. 
Lighting. See chapter 17.58 (Outdoor Lighting Standards) for all applicable lighting standards.
F. 
Landscaping. See chapter 17.56 (Landscaping Standards) for all applicable landscaping standards.
(Ord. No. 1017 § 9, 2023; Ord. No. 1023, 1/17/2024)
A. 
Location of Activities. All activities and operations shall be conducted entirely within the enclosed ancillary structure(s), except as follows:
1. 
The dispensing of fuel products from pump islands, vehicle charging, and air and water services, and display of propose tanks for sale.
2. 
Minor emergency repairs including, replacement of headlights, turn indicator bulbs or windshield wipers.
B. 
Site Maintenance. The site including all structures, landscaping, walls/fences, and signs shall be maintained in good repair, in a clean, neat and orderly condition. Driveways, parking, landscape, and service areas shall be maintained and kept free of grease, oil, and other petroleum products in addition to litter. These areas shall be periodically cleaned with equipment that dissolves spilled grease, oil, and other petroleum products without washing them into drainage, gutter, or sewer systems.
C. 
Trash Receptacles. Trash receptacles shall be located at the building entrance and at each pump island. The premises shall be kept free of the accumulation of litter or waste. Removal of waster or litter from the trash receptacles shall occur at a minimum or once each day the business is open.
D. 
Trash Enclosure. A trash enclosure, completely enclosed with a decorative masonry wall not less than six feet high with a solid metal self-enclosing gated opening, and large enough to accommodate standard-sized commercial trash bins, shall be located on the rear portion of the property in a manner which is accessible to refuse collection vehicles. An architecturally integrated trellis shall be provided above the trash enclosure.
E. 
Public Service Facilities. All automobile service stations shall:
1. 
Provide restrooms on site, at no charge, for customer use during normal business hours. The restroom shall be continuously maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. Entrances to restroom facilities shall be located within a building.
2. 
Provide and maintain an air pump and radiator water hose for public use.
F. 
Noise. All outdoor noise generators associated with an automobile service station and any ancillary use(s) shall be identified by the applicant during conditional use permit review and may require the submittal of a professional noise analysis to quantify noise sources.
1. 
Automobile service station and ancillary use noise (e.g., bells, loudspeakers, tools, video/audio pump stations, and sound signals, etc.) shall not be audible from residentially zoned or residentially occupied parcels between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and before 10:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. on Sundays and nationally recognized holidays.
2. 
Automobile service station and ancillary use operations shall comply with all other applicable noise requirements of the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code.
G. 
Hazardous Materials. All necessary permits for the storage and use of hazardous materials shall be obtained. All automobile fluids shall be recycled or removed according to applicable state and federal standards.
H. 
Propane Tank Sales. Propane tank sale displays shall be located outside of any required setback area and shall be stored in a secure display. The city may require landscaping or other type of screening to conceal the propane tanks from public view.
I. 
Mechanical Equipment.
1. 
All hydraulic hoists and pits, all equipment for lubrication, greasing, automobile washing and permitted repairs shall be enclosed entirely within a building.
2. 
All rooftop mechanical equipment shall be screened from view of adjacent properties and public rights-of-way.
3. 
All ground mounted gasoline vapor recovery units and venting pipes shall be partially enclosed with a six-foot-high decorative solid screen wall and landscaping and shall not be located in any required setback area. The city may consider deviations from this requirement due to demonstrated site constraints subject to compliance with all other applicable development standards.
J. 
Ancillary Uses. Ancillary uses related to automobile service stations shall not operate 24 hours a day.
1. 
Convenience Store.
a. 
Outdoor display of merchandise shall be prohibited unless a temporary use permit is obtained pursuant to chapter 17.104 (Temporary Use).
b. 
Alcohol sales related to ancillary uses of automobile service stations located within over concentrated census tracts shall not be allowed.
2. 
Car Wash.
a. 
Applicants shall provide a queuing study prepared by an independent traffic engineer licensed by the State of California. The study shall be provided by the applicant, at its sole expense.
b. 
Applicants shall provide a noise study prepared by an independent acoustical engineer licensed by the State of California. The study shall be provided by the applicant, at its sole expense.
3. 
Vehicle Repair Shop.
a. 
Openings of service bays shall be designed to minimize the visual intrusion onto adjoining public rights-of-way and properties.
b. 
Service bay doors shall not directly face an existing residential development or residential zone.
c. 
Vehicle repair shops shall be limited to battery and ignition services, tire repair and sales, and other accessory sales and services for automobiles; but shall exclude major automobile repairs, tire recapping, steam cleaning, painting, body and fender work, engine overhaul, and other work of a similar nature.
4. 
Restaurants. Drive-through restaurants shall be prohibited.
K. 
Discontinuation of an Automobile Service Station Use or Structure. An automobile service station use that has been legally established and conforms to all standards of title 17 shall not be re-established if such use has been discontinued for a continuous period of 12 months or more.
L. 
Legal Nonconforming. Any automobile service station that is lawfully operating in the city and does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, but which were legally established prior to the date this section was adopted, shall be considered a legal nonconforming use. Except as provided below, legally established nonconforming automobile service stations and ancillary uses on said automobile service station site shall be subject to chapter 17.62 (Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots).
1. 
Modifications to existing automobile service stations or ancillary uses. Automobile service station uses and structures related thereto shall not be enlarged, extended, reconstructed, or moved to a different portion of the lot or parcel of land occupied by such use unless in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. If conformity with standards adopted pursuant to this chapter causes hardship due to existing configuration of on-site buildings or structures, a variance may be applied for, pursuant to section 17.20.030 (Variance).
(Ord. No. 1017 § 9, 2023; Ord. No. 1023, 1/17/2024)