According to city staff, over the past few years, code enforcement and planning departments have been handling an increased number of violations for unauthorized donation boxes on commercial properties. Staff also said the donation boxes have become property maintenance issues with donated material cluttering the site outside of the box.
City staff presented amendments to provide criteria and site plan requirements showing compliance measures.
The amendments are intended to establish regulations to ensure donation boxes are properly maintained and are aesthetically pleasing throughout the city, according to staff.
The following recommendations were made by staff regarding donation boxes:
- All donation boxes will now require an approved site plan ensuring donation boxes are in compliance and include the property owner’s permission.
- Donated items will not be permitted to lay around the donation boxes. A regular pickup plan must be provided by the applicant as a requirement for approval.
- Donation boxes are prohibited to sit within parking spaces, sidewalks and landscape buffers.
- The standards will apply to donation boxes already placed in commercial areas without prior approval. This ordinance will allow current operators a one-year grace period to come into compliance. Code enforcement has the authority to issue citations to donation boxes not in compliance.
