By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia

Glendale Planning Commission last week unanimously recommended the Council adopt regulations controlling where and how many donation drop boxes are allowed citywide.

Currently the boxes show up throughout the city and there is difficulty in find out who owns them, according to Planning Director Jon Froke.

“If any industry needs it, it is this industry,” said resident Robert Singer. “I would encourage you to absolutely regulate this industry and once it is place, enforce it.”

Mr. Singer said he has spent the last 20 years managing shopping centers in the Valley and donation boxes become dumping grounds for trash.

Mr. Froke said there is support from the community and the industry to regulation the boxes and that the proposed zoning text amendment is similar to what has been adopted in Phoenix, Surprise and Peoria.

The proposal after feedback from the City Council includes the following:
• Temporary use permits, good for three years, are required.
• Donation drop boxes are to be allowed in commercial zoning districts, including sites zoned PAD, Planned Area Development.
• Donation drop boxes would not be permitted in residential neighborhoods that are zoned PAD, nor permitted in apartment complexes.
• Donation drop boxes are proposed to be allowed on public and private school sites as well as police and fire stations, churches, city libraries and city parks.
• The proposal does not differentiate between nonprofit and for-profit donation drop boxes. If a donation drop box is owned and operated by a nonprofit, then a label stating so needs to be placed on the box.
• Donation box allotments are; 1 acre, one box, 1-3 acres, two boxes and 3-plus acres, four boxes. Additionally, no more than two donation bins can be clustered together in any one location.
• The property owner has the right to remove a donation drop box at any time.

Mr. Froke said staff is looking at a nominal fee of about $200 for the permit, which would defray the cost of staff time, including code enforcement.