ARTICLE
9 - COMMERCIAL DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS
9.00
9.0 COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS
9.1
VILLAGE CENTER DISTRICT
9.11 PURPOSE
The Village Center District is intended to retain
and enhance the character of the area in the vicinity of the intersection of
M-47 (Midland Road) and Washington (also known as Freeland) Road with a
pedestrian oriented environment. This district permits a variety of commercial,
administrative, financial, civic, cultural, residential, entertainment and
recreational activities, located primarily in multiple story buildings.
Many people entering the district will come by automobile and typically
will park once to carry out several errands.
9.12 PERMITTED
USES
The following uses of buildings and premises,
individually or in combination, shall be permitted in the VC Village Center
District. Principal uses are permitted subject to an approved Site Plan.
A.
Retail businesses. Retail business excluded are those which tend to
detract from or interfere with pedestrian shopping activity, such as open air
automobile sales facilities, for example.
B.
Any personal service establishment such as barber and beauty shops, shoe
repair shops, tailors, photographers and similar service establishments.
C.
Dry cleaners
and laundries.
D.
Any office use
or establishment, including but not limited to, general and professional
offices, medical and dental offices, banks and financial institutions, automatic
teller machines, real estate offices, travel agencies, and offices of civic
organization or associations.
E.
Restaurants and
similar establishments, including such establishments that may offer outdoor
dining areas and walk-up service windows. (Amended
F.
Taverns
G.
Motels, hotels.
H.
Apartments.
I.
Theaters,
public assembly halls, concert halls, meeting rooms and clubs.
J.
Public and
semi-public uses including government and public utility offices, libraries,
museums, religious, social and educational institutions and art galleries.
(Amended
K.
Business or instructional schools, such as accounting, typing, clerical,
music, voice, or dance schools.
L.
Funeral parlors.
M.
A combination
of other permitted uses, i.e., commercial and residential uses combined in one
structure.
N.
Bed and
Breakfasts
O.
Accessory uses
and uses customarily associated with the above permitted uses.
P.
Public Service
Installations.
9.13 USES
ALLOWED BY SPECIAL PERMIT
The following special land uses are permitted in
the VC Village Center District:
A. Recreational
uses and facilities which do not serve alcoholic beverages, including but not
limited to, video game arcades, billiard or pool parlors and health clubs.
B. Wireless
communication facilities.
C. Auto
service centers, including oil change shops.
D.
Uses with
drive-in facilities.
E.
Planned Unit
Development.
F.
Day Care and
child care.
G.
Human care
institutions. (Amended
H.
Senior housing.
I.
State Licensed
Residential facilities.
J.
Other Outdoor
Uses/Seasonal Businesses (By administrative Permit)
9.14
APPEARANCE STANDARDS
The following standards are intended to apply
design principles to commercial buildings in the VC Village Center District.
These standards are established to emphasize the importance of the design of the
building site, including structures, plantings, signs, street hardware and other
objects observed by the public. These standards are to be applied to new
construction as well as additions or modifications to existing buildings which
exceed fifty (50%) percent of the floor area or fifty (50%) percent of the
exterior wall surface area of the existing building, whichever is less. Site
plans shall indicate factors necessary to evaluate appearance.
Evaluation of the appearance of a project shall be based on the quality
of its design and relationship to surroundings.
The following factors and characteristics which
affect the appearance of a development will govern the evaluation of a design
submission:
1. Conformance
to ordinances and the appearance standards.
2. Logic
of design.
3. Exterior
space utilization.
4. Architectural
character.
5. Attractiveness.
6. Material
selection.
7. Compatibility
in design with the balance of development in this district.
8. Circulation
- vehicular and pedestrian.
9.
Maintenance
aspects.
1.
The site shall
be planned to accomplish a desirable transition with the streetscape and to
provide for adequate planting, and safe pedestrian movement.
2.
Without
restricting the permissible limits of the VC Zoning District, the height and
scale of each building shall be compatible with its site and existing (or
anticipated) adjoining buildings.
3. Newly
installed utility services, and service revisions necessary due to exterior
alterations shall be underground.
1. The
proposed building shall be generally compatible with the architectural style of
adjoining buildings. Adjacent buildings of widely differing architectural styles
shall be made compatible by such means as screens, sight breaks and materials.
2. Attractive
landscape design transition to adjoining properties shall be provided.
3. Harmony
in texture, lines, and masses is required. Monotony shall be avoided.
1.
While
architectural style is not restricted, new or redevelopment in the VC District,
must have an exterior surface of brick, natural or synthetic stucco, natural or
synthetic stone, decorative block, vinyl, wood or any combination of these
materials. (Amended
2.
Buildings shall be similar in scale and overall compatibility with the
design of permanent neighborhood development.
3.
Materials shall have good architectural character and shall be selected
for harmony of the building with adjoining buildings. Materials shall be
selected for suitability to the type of buildings and the design in which they
are used. Buildings shall have the same materials, or those that are
architecturally compatible in design used for all building walls and other
exterior building components wholly or partly visible from public ways.
Materials shall be of durable quality.
4.
Building components, such as windows, doors, eaves, and parapets, shall
have good proportions and relationships to one another.
5.
Colors shall be harmonious and shall use only compatible accents.
6.
Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on roof, ground, or
buildings shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious with the
building, or they shall be so located as not to be visible from any public ways.
7.
Exterior lighting may be part of the architectural concept. Fixtures,
standards, and all exposed accessories shall be harmonious with building design.
8.
Refuse and
waste removal areas, service yards, storage yards, and exterior work shall be
screened from view from public ways using materials compatible with the
principle building design.
E. SIGNS
:
1. Every
sign shall have good scale and proportion in its design and in its visual
relationship to buildings and surroundings.
2. Identification
signs of a prototype design and corporation logos shall conform to the criteria
for all other signs.
Miscellaneous structures and street hardware shall
be designed to be a part of the architectural concept of design and landscape.
Continued good appearance depends upon the extent
and quality of maintenance. The choice of materials and their use, together with
the types of finishes and other protective measures, must be conducive to easy
maintenance and upkeep. Proper
measures and devices shall be incorporated for protection against the elements,
neglect, damage, and abuse.
9.2
GB GENERAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT
9.21 PURPOSE
The General Business District is intended to permit
retail business and services that are oriented to automobile traffic. This
district encourages commercial uses that require larger off-street parking
facilities and complement pedestrian-oriented businesses in the VC District.
9.22 PERMITTED
USES
A.
Uses allowed in
the VC district.
B. Food
services including the following:
1. Supermarket/grocery
stores.
2. Wholesale
food distributors.
C. Personal
services, including the following: Veterinary offices, including retail sales of
pet supplies and minor surgery/sterilization of small animals.
D. Recreation/amusement
businesses, including the following:
1. Bowling
alleys.
2. Movie
Theaters.
3.
4. Other Indoor
amusement.
E. Automobile
Service Station, Automobile or Vehicle repair
F.
Day Care and
Child Care facilities.
G.
Wholesale
businesses.
H.
Accessory
buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses.
9.23 USES
ALLOWED BY SPECIAL PERMIT
A. Wireless
communication facilities.
B. Golf
driving range, miniature golf
C. Archery/pistol
ranges
D. Automobile
car washes.
E.
Ministorage and self storage facilities.
F.
New and used car/truck dealerships.
G.
Farm implement
sales and service
H.
Recreation
vehicle sales and service
I.
Lumber
yards/home improvement yards
J.
Public utility
buildings, telephone exchange buildings, electric transformer stations and
substations, and gas regulator stations, but not including storage yards.
K.
Other Outdoor
Uses
L.
Planned Unit
Development.
M.
Institutions of
human care. (Amended
N.
Substance abuse
rehabilitation center (Amended
9.3 REGIONAL
BUSINESS DISTRICT
9.31
PURPOSE
The RB District is intended primarily for those
activities and services oriented to a wider region of users than the GB
district. (Amended
9.32
PERMITTED USES
The following uses are permitted in the RB
District:
A.
Uses permitted
in the GB district.
B.
Warehousing and
processing facilities for air and ground package delivery.
C. Automobile
and truck rental terminals/offices.
D. Uses
related to research and production of technical equipment.
E. Nurseries
for Plants and Flowers
F.
Parks/Recreational Facilities
G.
Manufactured
Home Sales
H.
Miniature
storage and self storage facilities
I.
Golf driving
range, miniature golf
J.
Archery/pistol
ranges
K.
Farm implement
sales and service.
L.
Recreation
vehicle sales and service.
M.
Lumber
yards/home improvement yards
N.
Contractors,
landscaping.
9.33
USES ALLOWED BY SPECIAL PERMIT
A.
Wireless
communication facilities
B.
Recreational
Vehicle Parking
C.
Outdoor Uses
D.
Planned Unit
Development
E.
Public utility
buildings, telephone exchange buildings, electric transformer stations and
substations, and gas regulator stations, but not including storage yards.
F.
Institutions
for Human Care (Amended
9.3
GENERAL PROVISIONS
FOR ALL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
In
all commercial districts, the open storage of any equipment, vehicles and all
materials, shall be screened from public view, from a street and from adjoining
properties by an enclosure consisting of a wall equal in height to the
equipment, vehicles and all materials to be stored. In no instance shall said
wall be less in height than four feet six inches (4'6") measured from the
surface of the adjacent building flooring.