A. General. This section describes the intent for each of the city’s commercial and industrial zones. These intent statements are to be used to guide the interpretation of the regulations associated with each zone. The planning director is authorized to make interpretations of these regulations based on their analysis of them together with clear and objective reasons for such interpretation.

B. C-1, Light Commercial Zone. The C-1 light commercial zone is intended for lower intensity commercial adjacent to residential neighborhoods. This zone generally serves as a transition zone between higher and lower intensity land uses and provides retail and professional services. This zone represents the primary commercial designation for small- to moderate-scale commercial activities compatible by having similar performance standards and should be developed in a manner which is consistent with and attracts pedestrian-oriented activities. This zone encourages a broad mix of small-scale uses such as leisure shopping, office, eating and drinking establishments, entertainment and assembly uses and provides amenities conducive to attracting shoppers and pedestrians. Building height, size, and orientation are the primary standards that will be used to maintain the smaller, more pedestrian scale uses within this zone.

C. C-2, Heavy Commercial Zone. The intent of the C-2 heavy commercial zone is to allow for medium to high intensity uses consisting of a wide range of retail, commercial, entertainment, office, services, and professional uses. This zone is intended to accommodate uses which are oriented to automobiles either as a mode or target of the commercial service while fostering a pedestrian orientation. The uses allowed can include outside activities, display, fabrication or service features when not the predominant portion of the use. The uses enumerated in this classification may be larger in scale and building size and have more potential for impacts to surrounding properties and street systems than those uses permitted in the more restrictive commercial classifications.

D. C-AG, Auburn Gateway Zone. The intent of the C-AG Auburn gateway zone is to provide for a pedestrian-oriented mix of retail, office, middle housing, and multifamily residential uses in the Northeast Auburn Special Area Plan and Auburn Gateway Planned Action area, as described in Chapter 18.08 ACC. This classification is also intended to allow flexibility in design and the combination of uses that is responsive to market demands. The uses enumerated in this classification anticipate a mix of multifamily residential, middle housing, retail, and office uses that is coordinated through a site-specific planning process. The multifamily residential must be located in a multi-story building. Certain heavy commercial uses permitted in other commercial classifications are not permitted in this zone because of the potential for conflicts with multifamily residential uses, in order to achieve a quality of environment that is conducive to this mix of uses.

E. M-1, Light Industrial Zone. The intent of the M-1 light industrial zone is to accommodate a variety of industrial, manufacturing, commercial, and limited residential uses in an industrial environment, and to preserve land primarily for industrial and commercial uses, and to implement the economic goals of the comprehensive plan, and to provide a greater flexibility within the zoning regulations for those uses which are non-nuisance in terms of air and water pollution, noise, vibration, glare or odor. The industrial/commercial character of this zone is intended to address the way in which industrial and commercial uses are carried out rather than the actual types of products made. An essential aspect of this zone is the need to maintain a quality of development that attracts rather than discourages further investment in industrial and commercial development. While allowed, outdoor storage will be regulated in a manner that mitigates visual impacts taking surrounding uses and vehicular corridors into consideration.

F. M-2, Heavy Industrial Zone. The M-2 heavy industrial zone is intended to accommodate a broad range of manufacturing and industrial uses. Permitted activity may vary from medium to higher intensity uses that involve the manufacture, fabrication, assembly, or processing of raw and/or finished materials. Heavy industrial uses should not be located near residential development. While other uses may be sited within this zone, permits for such uses should not be issued if such uses will discourage use of adjacent sites for heavy industry, interrupt the continuity of industrial sites, or produce traffic in conflict with the industrial uses. (Ord. 6959 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 6885 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 6728 § 3 (Exh. C), 2019; Ord. 6433 § 26, 2012.)

A. General Permit Requirements. Table 18.23.030 identifies the uses of land allowed in each commercial and industrial zone and the land use approval process required to establish each use.

B. Requirements for Certain Specific Land Uses. Where the last column (Standards for Specific Land Uses) in Table 18.23.030 includes a reference to a code section number, the referenced section determines other requirements and standards applicable to the use regardless of whether it is permitted outright or requires an administrative or conditional use permit.

C. Uses Affected by the Airport Overlay. Refer to Chapter 18.38 ACC to determine whether uses are separately prohibited by that chapter or will be required to comply with additional regulations that are associated with the airport overlay.

A. Hereafter, no use shall be conducted and no building, structure and appurtenance shall be erected, relocated, remodeled, reconstructed, altered or enlarged unless in compliance with the requirements in Tables 18.23.040A (C-1, C-2, and C-AG Zone Development Standards) and 18.23.040B (M-1 and M-2 Zone Development Standards) and in compliance with the provisions of this title, and then only after securing all permits and approvals required hereby. These standards may be modified through either an administrative variance or variance, subject to the procedures of Chapter 18.70 ACC.

A. Loading and unloading docks shall not be visible from the street.

B. Mechanical equipment on rooftops shall be sited and designed to minimize noise and effectively screen the equipment from view from adjacent properties and rights-of-way. The following methods, or a combination thereof, may be used:

Materials used to screen mechanical equipment shall be the same as or compatible with the design of the principal structure. (Ord. 6959 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 6885 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 6433 § 26, 2012.)