01-03-1995 - Auto Repair in Residential ZonesH
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• City of West Covina
Memorandum
TO City Council
City Manager
FROM
Planning Department
AGENDA
ITEM NO. G-1
SUBJECT' AUTO REPAIR IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES DATE 01-03-95
SUMMARY: Complaints have been received regarding continuing violations of
City ordinance regulations regarding the repair of automobiles in
residential zones. A report has been requested to be prepared to
consider options for addressing this issue.
On June 1, 1993, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1922, establishing the
following regulations to control automobile repair activities in residential zones:
• Repair activities may only be conducted within the garage, carport, or on the
d riveway.
• No more than two incidents of repair (each limited to a 72-hour period) may be
conducted on vehicles not belonging to the occupant of the property within a
30-day period.
• Repairs may only be conducted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00
p.m., with the use of power tools prohibited after 8:00 p.m.
• Noise associated with auto repair activities may not exceed the ambient noise
level by more than five decibels at the property line.
• Parking or storage of inoperable vehicles is limited to no.more than 72 hours.
Despite the adoption of these regulations, complaints have.. continued to be
received regarding excessive noise, late night repair activity, and an excessive
number of repair incidents.
To the extent that auto repair in residential zones is still considered to be an
unresolved problem, the basic options that are available are (1) adopting more
restrictive ordinance regulations, and/or (2) taking steps to better enforce the
existing regulations. Each of these options are discussed below.
Noise: The current noise standard of five decibels above the ambient level at the
property line probably represents the strictest standard practicable without being
unreasonable. Because of this, placing more stringent restrictions on noise levels
is not recommended.
Hours of Conduct: Currently, repair activities must cease after 10:00 p.m., with
the use of power tools prohibited after 8:00 p.m. One option would be to change
the limit to 8:00 p.m. for all repair activities. This, might also be beneficial in
controlling power tool noise since it is very difficult to enforce only the prohibition
on power tools between 8:00 p.m: and 10:00 p.m. when other repair activity is
permitted.
Number of Repair Incidents: The current restriction of no more than two
incidents of "outside" repair within a 30-day period is a generally reasonable
standard; however, difficulties in monitoring and enforcing this standard make it
1035-94/A:/C:CC/AUTOREP.RPT/dm/srg
Auto Repair in Res. Zones•
January 3. 1995 - Page 2
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susceptible to unchecked violatic
vehicles registered or belonging
considered prior to the adoption
restrictive on persons wishing
vehicles belonging to friends or r
While disallowing outside repairs
occasional outside repairs would
virtually no enforcement actions. It
enforce against consistent violat
professional repair businesses.
An option would be to limit repairs strictly to
the occupant of the property. This had been
Ordinance No. 1922', but it was felt to be too
conduct "legitimate" occasional repairs on
iay be overly -restrictive on its surface, truly
likely generate few, if any complaints and
Mould, though, make for an easier standard to
rs who may actually be operating quasi -
In general, enforcement of the auto repair regulations presents some difficulties
since it is a temporary activity. Unlike complaints about a building or a fence,
enforcement officers must be on the property at the time that the violations are
occurring to.be able to make a citation.
Noise: Enforcement of noise violations must be proven through readings taken
with a noise meter. This, again, is problematic since the generated noise is
temporary and easily curtailed. While having an established restriction on noise
is purposeful for persons who.are willing to comply voluntarily, its has limited
practical effect on controlling willinglviolators. As mentioned above, controlling
the hours when repairs may be conducted may be more effective in controlling
noise than placing restrictions on the noise itself.'
Hours of Conduct: The most significant problem with enforcing these.
restrictions is that code enforcement personnel are not normally on duty during
the hours that repair activity is prohibited. Consequently, enforcement of most
violations must be handled by the Police Department. While the police have and
are willing to respond to these complaints, they take a lower priority to emergency
calls.
Number of Repair Incidents: The current limitation of two "outside" repair
incidents within a 30-day period presents certain enforcement difficulties. First, a
violation can be proven only afterl the first two permitted incidents have been
documented, including the fact that the vehicles being repaired were not owned
by the occupant. For these reasons, this restriction also has limited practical
effectiveness against persons who conduct outside repairs on a regular or semi -
regular basis.
With the current set of regulation;
upon quick response. Given the w
and the Police Department, this ty
provide. The suggested options
making violations easier to prove.
staff to give a higher level of priori
repair.
effective enforcement is heavily dependent
rkloads of both the code enforcement officers
e of response may sometimes be difficult to
for modifying the regulations may help by
Beyond this, the Council may wish to direct
✓ to responding to complaints regarding auto
1035-94/A:/C:CC/AUTOREP.RPT/d
Auto Repair in Res. Zos
January 3. 1995 - Page 3
RECOMMENDATION .
Staff recommends that the City Council consider options identified in this (report
for controlling the repair of automobiles in residential zones and provide staff with
appropriate direction
-5-0-4140& Mclsaac
Prinel6al Planner
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY
eJ r y W. Collier
a ing Director