§ 7.3. GC General Commercial District.

7.3.1.

Purpose. The purpose of the general commercial district is to encourage high intensity office, commercial, retail, and service activities generally servicing a city-wide area. This district will be primarily located along major thoroughfares.

7.3.2.

Permitted uses. The following uses shall be permitted in any GC zoning district:

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Accessory use in compliance with the provisions of section 14.10.

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Automobile, boat, or recreational vehicle dealership.

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Boardinghouse, lodginghouse, or rooming house.

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Car wash (full-service or self-service).

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Catering or food preparation business.

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Cemetery or memorial garden.

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Church, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship.

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Cultural or community centers including, but not limited to, libraries, theaters, museums.

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Day care center, kindergarten, or pre-school nursery.

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Financial or insurance institutions.

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Funeral home, mortuary with a crematorium allowed as accessory to an existing funeral home or mortuary.

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Garden shop, plant nursery, or greenhouse facility.

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Golf course.

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Government office or facility.

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Grocery store, retail food store, produce stand, or meat market.

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Hospital or health clinic.

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Hotel or motel.

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Multi-family dwellings.

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Nursing home or congregate care facility.

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Park, playground, community recreation or sports facility.

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Parking lots or decks.

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Personal services including, but not limited to, a barber shop, beauty parlor, florist, photo or artist studio, framing shop, travel agency, ticket office, messenger service, or newsstand.

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Pharmacy, drugstore, or medical supply store.

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Publicly-owned building, facility or land.

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Professional or business office.

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Restaurant.

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Retail goods store.

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Service or repair business (including but not limited to a plumber, electrician, heating/air-conditioning, etc.).

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Theaters, amusement places, private clubs.

7.3.3.

Conditional uses. The following uses shall be permitted in any GC zoning district on a conditional basis, subject to the requirements set forth in the conditional use matrix below:

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Automobile service station
	I.	Review and public hearing by BZA:	No
	II.	Minimum lot size:	N/A
	III.	Special buffer requirements:	See section 13.9
	IV.	Special lighting restrictions:	N/A
	V.	Maximum impervious surface area:	75%
	VI.	Special signage restrictions:	N/A
	VII.	Other special conditions:	1. Operations involving major repairs, bodywork, painting, salvage or storage of automotive vehicles must be conducted within a fully enclosed building.2. Storage of vehicles/boats for reasons other than sale, must be within a fully enclosed building or L4-High Wall or F2-Fence.3. Fuel pumps must be set back a minimum of 25 feet from all property lines.
Commercial communication and cellular towers
	I.	Review and public hearing by BZA:	No
	II.	Minimum lot size:	N/A
	III.	Special buffer requirements:	See section 14.17
	IV.	Special lighting restrictions:	See section 14.17
	V.	Maximum impervious surface area:	N/A
	VI.	Special signage restrictions:	See section 14.17
	VII.	Other special conditions:	See section 14.17
Kennel or animal hospital
	I.	Review and public hearing by BZA:	No
	II.	Minimum lot size:	N/A
	III.	Special buffer requirements:	See section 13.9
	IV.	Special lighting restrictions:	N/A
	V.	Maximum impervious surface area:	75%
	VI.	Special signage restrictions:	N/A
	VII.	Other special conditions:	1. Treatment rooms, cages, kennels, etc., must be maintained within a completely enclosed soundproof building.2. No objectionable noise or odors outside its walls.
Public utility substation, installation, water tower
	I.	Review and public hearing by BZA:	No
	II.	Minimum lot size:	N/A
	III.	Special buffer requirements:	See section 13.9
	IV.	Special lighting restrictions:	N/A
	V.	Maximum impervious surface area:	N/A
	VI.	Special signage restrictions:	No sign is allowed
	VII.	Other special conditions:	None

 

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7.3.4.

Prohibited uses. The following uses are expressly prohibited within any GC zoning district; however, this list shall not be deemed exclusive or all-inclusive:

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Adult entertainment establishment.

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Manufactured housing.

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Outdoor storage of junk, scrap, unlicensed, uninspected, wrecked, crushed, dismantled, or partially dismantled automotive vehicles.

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Storage facility or warehouse.

7.3.5.

Lot specifications. Uses permitted in any GC zoning district shall be required to conform to the following standards:

Requirement		Specification
Minimum lot size:
	Lot area	N/A
	Lot width (at building line)	N/A
Minimum yard sizes:
	Front yard	25 feet
	Rear yard	10 feet
	Side yard	7.5 feet (except where the lot abuts a residential district or a lot occupied by a residential dwelling, where the yards shall at least be equal to that of the district)
Maximum building height:
	Vertical height (highest point)	No maximum
	Stories	No maximum
Maximum impervious surface area		75% of total lot area
Landscaping and screening		See section 13.9
Signage		See article 13
Off-street parking/loading		See article 12

 

(Ord. No. 10-05, § 1, 7-26-2010)