The intent of this chapter is to establish standards and regulations
for retail pharmacies and financial institutions such as banks and/or
credit unions that sell products or provide services to occupants
in vehicles, including drive-in or drive-up windows or drive-through
services. When the word "Banks" is referred to in this chapter, it
shall include credit unions and other federally regulated financial
institutions. The special standards and regulations are intended to
reduce or minimize impacts on adjacent uses, promote safety and efficient
on-site vehicular and pedestrian circulation, and reduce traffic conflicts
with traffic on adjacent streets.
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All bank and pharmacy establishments that include the operation
of a drive-up or drive-through facility to provide retail sales of
pharmaceuticals or banking services while a customer remains in a
motor vehicle shall meet the requirements of this chapter.
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It shall be unlawful for any person or business to operate a drive-up or drive-through facility that does not meet the requirements of this chapter and other applicable provisions of Title
16 and without a conditional use permit approved pursuant to Chapter
16.303. If a conditional use permit is approved pursuant to this chapter the provisions of Chapter 15.051 pertaining to drive-through facilities shall not be applicable.
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A bank or pharmacy with a drive-in or drive-through facility
permitted under this chapter shall be sited as a stand-alone facility
or within a commercial center that has street frontage along a major
or secondary arterial street as such are designated in the City's
General Plan.
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In addition to meeting all applicable commercial development standards of Chapters
16.040 and
16.051, all bank and pharmacy drive-through facilities shall also meet the following standards and requirements specific to pharmacy drive-through facilities:
A. Design
All drive-through facilities shall be integrated with the design
of the principal building in which the bank or pharmacy is located.
The building and site layout shall be such that the design supports
a pedestrian friendly environment and is oriented toward the street.
To the extent possible, stacking lanes, vehicle service windows, and
parking should be located to the rear and sides of a building, maximizing
the view of the building from the street edge.
B. Separation
from Sensitive Uses
All drive-through facilities shall be visually screened from
residential development with landscaping, decorative concrete walls,
other constructed development, or a combination thereof. The facility
shall be oriented such that headlights of vehicles utilizing drive-through
aisles do not directly illuminate nearby residential development or
other sensitive uses.
C. Curb
Cuts
The number of curb cuts shall be kept to the minimum determined
necessary by the City Engineer. No curb cut shall be closer than 50
feet from the point of intersection of the street side property lines.
Unless the City Engineer finds that additional curb cuts will improve
on-site vehicular/pedestrian circulation, curb cuts for drive-through
facilities shall be limited as follows:
1. If the bank or pharmacy is part of a commercial center, curb cuts
shall be allowed only for driveways shared by the uses in the center.
2. If not part of a larger commercial center, there shall be no more
than two curb cuts on any one street for driveways to the bank or
pharmacy, and no more than one curb cut per street for driveways to
the bank or pharmacy if located at the intersection of two streets.
Where feasible, combined driveways with adjacent development are encouraged.
In determining the feasibility of combined driveways, the City Engineer
shall consider the typography of adjoining sites, building locations,
and vehicle/pedestrian safety.
D. Cross
Access Easements
Cross access easements with abutting properties shall be established
wherever feasible and appropriate considering adjacent uses. Design
features shall make it visually obvious that the abutting properties
can be accessed via service drives between the properties. Stub-outs
shall be provided if abutting properties are not yet developed.
E. On-Site
Circulation
All sites with drive-through facilities shall provide an on-site
circulation pattern that minimizes conflicts between drive-through
traffic, and pedestrians and bicyclists. If pedestrian walkways intersect
drive-through aisles, the walkways shall have clear visibility, be
emphasized with enriched paving and striping, and include warning
signs aimed at both the pedestrian and vehicle.
F. Drive-Through
Aisles
No drive-through aisles shall exit directly into a public street.
Aisles should be integrated with the on-site circulation and to merge
with the driveway. Drive-through aisles shall have a minimum width
of 11 feet on curves and a minimum 10 feet on straight sections.
G. Stacking
Lane
A lane shall be provided for vehicles waiting for drive-through
service. Such lanes shall be physically separated from other traffic
circulation on the site. The stacking lane shall accommodate a minimum
of two cars per drive-through window or automatic teller machine (ATM)
in addition to car(s) receiving service. Where adjacent to other travel
lanes, the stacking lane shall be separated from the other traffic
lanes by landscaping, concrete or asphalt curbing, or other suitable
protective device. On-site circulation shall be such that customers
that park and shop are not forced to exit the parking area through
the stacking lane.
H. Directional
Signing
Pavement markers and signs shall be provided that indicate the
entrance, exit, and one-way path of drive-through lanes.
I. Idling
Limitation Signs
Signs shall be provided that instruct drivers to turn off engines
while they are waiting in the drive-through queue.
J. Lighting
All exterior lighting sources shall be installed, arranged, and shielded so as to prevent direct illumination of residential development or other sensitive uses. All lamps in exterior light fixtures shall be covered with diffusing lenses. No drop down lens shall be permitted in under canopy lighting (lens shall not extend below the bottom of the light fixture in under canopy lighting). Parking lot lighting shall be subject to parking lot lighting standards in Chapter
16.136 and a 30-day lighting level review pursuant to Chapter
16.154.
K. Noise
Any speaker boxes shall be oriented so as not to adversely impact
residential development. As a condition of the conditional use permit,
the speakers shall be subject to a 30-day staff review after they
become operational. During the 30-day review the speaker noise will
be evaluated. If staff finds the speaker noise to be excessive or
a nuisance to adjacent development, the owner of the business shall
be required to work with staff in mitigating the noise by reducing
the speaker volume, reorienting the speakers, and/or by taking another
action determined appropriate by the Director of Community Development.
L. Hours
Hours of operation shall be established by the Planning Commission
as part of the conditional use permit approval as necessary to achieve
compatibility with surrounding uses and may be modified over time
as determined appropriate by the Planning Commission.
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In addition to the notice requirements in Chapter
16.303 applicable to all conditional use permits, notice of any public hearing on a proposed drive-through facility or a physical modification of an existing drive-through facility shall also be given to one or more locally based organizations that provide support to the blind, aged, and/or disabled communities, in order that they may participate in such hearing.
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The above standards constitute the minimum deemed necessary under general circumstances and in most cases to prevent adverse effects from permitted drive-through facilities. Other and further standards may be required as conditions of approval to ensure that such uses are in accordance with the intent of this chapter and the findings required for approval of conditional use permits pursuant to Chapter
16.303.
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If any drive-through facility approved pursuant to this chapter is discontinued for a period of 12 months or longer, the conditional use permit for such facility shall be void pursuant to Chapter
16.303.
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