These "Good Neighbor Guidelines Warehouse Distribution Facilities"
(referred to as "Good Neighbor Guidelines"), assist planning departments,
developers, property owners, elected officials, community organizations,
and the general public as a tool to potentially help address some
of the complicated choices associated with permitting warehouse/distribution
facilities and understanding the options available when addressing
environmental issues. These Good Neighbor Guidelines are designed
to help minimize the impacts of diesel particulate matter (PM) from
on-road trucks associated with warehouses and distribution centers
on sensitive receptors located within the city of Lathrop.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)
This chapter is applicable to all warehouse distribution facilities throughout the city regardless of size and as defined in Section
17.98.030. This chapter shall supersede any existing requirements in the municipal code and specific plans.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
shall apply:
"Idling"
means the operation of the engine of a vehicle while the
vehicle is not in motion.
"Sensitive receptors"
means populations that are at a heightened risk of negative
health outcomes due to exposure to air pollution, including children,
elderly, asthmatics, and others. The locations where these sensitive
receptors congregate are considered sensitive receptor locations and
include residential communities, schools, parks (excluding trails),
playgrounds, day care centers, nursing homes, and hospitals.
"Warehouse distribution facility"
means a building, structure or other facility primarily used
for the warehousing, storage, sorting, packing, staging, shipping,
receiving, distributing or holding of goods and merchandise of any
kind, typically which are not manufactured, processed or otherwise
produced in the same facility, for any length of time. Warehouse distribution
facilities include but are not limited to wholesale distribution,
distribution centers, moving and transfer storage, cross-dock facilities,
package handling centers, order fulfillment centers, or logistics
centers and facilities.
"Warehouse"
means a building or portion thereof used for the storage,
receiving, shipping, or wholesaling of goods and merchandise, and
any incidental or accessory activities.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)
A. The following landscape buffer and screening requirements shall apply
to warehouse distribution facilities that share a common property
line with a sensitive receptor, except when the distance between the
structure of the existing sensitive receptor and proposed structure
exceeds 300 feet:
1.
For any warehouse distribution facility equal to or less than
50,000 square feet in size, a five-foot landscape buffer shall be
required.
2.
For any warehouse distribution facility larger than 50,000 square
feet in size, a 10-foot landscape buffer shall be required.
3.
For any warehouse distribution facility larger than 400,000
square feet in size, a 15-foot landscape buffer shall be required.
B. The landscape buffer area(s) shall include:
1.
A solid, eight-foot masonry wall(s), or alternative material
approved by the community development director.
2.
Trees with a minimum box size of 24 inches with spacing dependent
on the tree species as recommended by a certified landscape architect.
The buffer may include stormwater bio-filtration, detention or retention
areas.
3.
Drought tolerant and properly irrigated plants and trees to
maintain growth.
C. A berm is encouraged within the landscape buffer area(s) to assist
in screening the warehouse distribution facility.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)
A. The following signage is required for all warehouse distribution
facilities, regardless of size:
1.
Anti-idling signs indicating a five-minute diesel truck engine
idling restriction shall be posted along entrances to the site and
in the dock areas and shall be strictly enforced by the facility operator.
2.
Directional signs consistent with Section
17.84.050 indicating automobile and truck entrances shall be posted along entrances to the site.
3.
Signs shall be installed at all truck exit driveways directing
truck drivers to the truck route as indicated in the truck routing
plan or as specified in a specific plan.
4.
Signs shall be installed in public view with contact information
for a local designated representative who works for the facility operator
and who is designated to receive complaints about excessive dust,
fumes, or odors, and truck and parking complaints for the site. The
sign shall also include information for the San Joaquin Valley Air
Pollution Control District's (SJVAPCD) on-line complaint system
and its complaint call line.
B. All signs under this section shall be legible, durable, and weather-proof.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)
A. The following guidelines shall apply to the construction of a warehouse
distribution facility:
1.
Warehouse distribution facilities shall install solar photovoltaic
(PV) array and an energy storage system (ESS) consistent with the
California Building Code.
2.
A portion of the passenger vehicle parking spaces shall be allocated
for electric vehicles (EV), with all necessary conduit and related
appurtenances installed consistent with the
California Building Code.
B. The following guidelines shall apply to the operation of a warehouse
distribution facility:
1.
The warehouse distribution facility shall incorporate a recycling
program.
2.
New or future tenant improvements for warehouse distribution
facilities for cold storage shall include electrical hookups for refrigeration
units.
3.
Warehouse distribution facilities shall not allow a TRU (transportation
refrigeration unit) to operate while stationary unless the vehicle
is lawfully parked at a location approved for truck parking and not
within 500 feet of a sensitive receptor unless the operator is actively
engaged in the process of loading or unloading cargo or is waiting
in a queue to load or unload cargo for a period not to exceed two
hours.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)
In addition to the application submittal requirements prescribed in Chapters
17.100 and
17.112, the application shall include the following information:
A. Operational signage plan including, but not limited to, location, size, height, and type of illumination. The operational signage plan shall demonstrate compliance with Section
17.98.050 of this chapter.
B. Site plan illustrating a 1,000-foot distance from the property line
in all directions.
C. Truck turning template to verify truck turning movements at entrance
and exit driveways and maneuverability throughout the site.
D. Cross-section and plan view of the landscape buffer area(s).
E. Site lighting photometric plan including information with detail
specifications on fixtures, poles, and wall packs. The site lighting
photometric plan shall illustrate candlepower distribution beyond
the property line.
F. Outdoor break area exhibit(s) illustrating proposed furniture, shade
structure(s), and other proposed equipment.
G. Truck routing plan to and from the State Highway System based on
the city's latest truck route map.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)
Minimize exposure to diesel emissions to sensitive receptors
that are situated in close proximity to the warehouse/distribution
center and eliminate diesel trucks from unnecessarily traversing through
residential neighborhoods by using the following strategies:
A. To the extent feasible, locate driveways, loading docks and internal
circulation routes away from residential uses or any other sensitive
receptors.
B. Enforce compliance with Lathrop Municipal Code Section
10.16.010, requiring the use of designated truck routes.
C. Enforce compliance with Lathrop Municipal Code Section
10.24.050, restricting truck parking in residentially zoned districts.
D. Enforce compliance with Lathrop Municipal Code Section
10.24.110(A), regarding the parking of trailer or semi-trailer upon any street, alley, public way or public place, unless the trailer or semi-trailer is attached to a motor vehicle capable of moving the trailer.
E. Require warehouse/distribution centers to educate drivers by providing
a detailed map identifying the specific truck route between the warehouse/distribution
center and the freeway and/or primary access.
(Ord. 23-449, 11/13/2023)