02-15-2011 - Public HearingCode Amendment No. 10-02General Exem - Item 10 Attach 7 (2).doc
City of West Covina
Memorandum
A G E N D A
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Planning Department
SUBJECT: STUDY SESSION
CODE AMENDMENT NO. 10-02
Auto Repair in Residential Zones
I. DESCRIPTION
On May 18, 2010, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2010-26 initiating Code Amendment No. 10-02 to address auto repair business operating in residential zones. The initiation of
this code amendment requires that a draft code amendment be presented to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will then make a recommendation and the code amendment will
be presented to the City Council. In order to allow for careful consideration of the code amendment, the study session has been scheduled prior to the public hearing before the Planning
Commission.
II. DISCUSSION
Over the past few years, City staff has received a number of complaints in residential areas of individuals performing auto repairs on vehicles. The City Council, therefore initiated
a code amendment to allow staff to review the current code requirements and recommend modifications to clarify and further define standards to allow for more effective code enforcement
efforts. The purpose of the code amendment is to address auto repair businesses and/or storage of inoperable vehicles in residential zones. Staff from the Public Works Department
(including Community Enhancement and Building Divisions) and the Planning Department met to discuss code enforcement issues and the current code regulations. Based on those discussions,
staff determined that there are three general topics that should be considered, which include the following.
inoperable vehicle storage
repair of vehicles
code cleanup
Inoperable vehicles are vehicles that do not function. They may be visually in good condition (such as a restored classic car), but the engine does not operate and/or the vehicle does
not have a license to operate on public streets. In discussing inoperable vehicles, the term “storage” will be used rather than “park” as by definition, inoperable vehicles don’t move
under their own power. Repair of vehicles is a very well understood topic. However, repair has a range of activity and intensity, from changing windshield wipers to doing bodywork
or rebuilding an engine. Code cleanup refers to making changes for consistency or due to changes in terminology. Based on those topics, staff has identified the following issues:
Inoperable Vehicle Storage
Storage in driveways in the front yard.
Clarify that inoperable vehicles be stored out of view.
Repair
Number of incidents of repair allowed for vehicles not registered to the subject address.
Define “repair.”
Define “incidents of repair.”
Clarify screening requirements for all offsite ground level views.
Add standard establishing the definition of an Auto Broker.
Time of Day Allowed.
A table has been prepared to allow discussion of each of the topics listed above. Staff has separated each item and included a discussion of the issue, options and a recommendation.
The table is attached for your review (Attachment 1). Staff is requesting that the Commission provide direction on each of the proposed revisions to the Code.
III. CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission review the information in the staff report and attached table and provided appropriate direction to staff regarding standards to be included
in the code amendment.
PREPARED BY:
________________________________
Jeff Anderson, AICP
Acting City Planner
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Table
Attachment 2 – City Council Initiation Resolution (Draft)
Attachment 3 – City Council Initiation Staff Report
Attachment 4 – City Council Minutes, 5/4/10