Bellevue City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
CBD Central Business District
§ 155-10.01 Purpose.
[Amended 1-12-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-002]
The CBD Central Business District is established to preserve and enhance the Village's downtown center for principally retail, office, entertainment and service-oriented businesses along with complementary governmental facilities and services, public uses and spaces, and other uses that contribute to a desirable mix of uses. Uses and development in the CBD is intended to foster safe and appealing public spaces and pedestrian activity and preserve the historical character of the downtown area, including its architectural features, continuous storefronts, and businesses of a comparatively small gross floor area principally serving the local day-to-day needs of residents and visitors in the greater Bellevue area.
§ 155-10.02 Permitted uses.
A.
All uses permitted in the BOS District.
B.
Stores for retail sales and retail services.
C.
Theaters and social clubs.
D.
Printing or publishing.
E.
Restaurants and taverns.
F.
Private clubs and lodge halls.
G.
Public parks and recreation areas.
H.
Uses similar to the above uses.
I.
Accessory structures and uses customarily incident to the above permitted uses, provided such buildings and uses are located on the same lot with permitted use.
§ 155-10.03 Special uses.
[Amended 10-27-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-002]
The following uses may be permitted by the Village Council as provided for in Article XVII:
A.
All special uses of the BOS District, § 155-9.03, subject to requirements of the BOS District.
B.
Apartments above stores (§ 155-17.30).
C.
Sidewalk cafes (§ 155-17.29).
D.
Motels and hotels (§ 155-17.19).
E.
Group day-care and foster care facilities.
F.
Satellite dish antenna over 39 inches in diameter.
G.
Churches and religious institutions.
H.
Anemometer tower over 20 meters high.
I.
Utility grid wind energy system.
J.
On-site use wind energy system over 20 meters high.
K.
Ground-level apartments (§ 155-17.46).
[Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-002]
§ 155-10.04 Required conditions.
[Amended 1-12-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-002]
A.
All required conditions of the BOS District, § 155-9.04.
B.
Building design standards.
(1)
Purpose. The downtown area in the Village is characterized by a variety of historical architectural styles and building materials that combine to create visual harmony and establish a sense of place for the Bellevue community. In order to maintain and enhance these benefits, it is essential that renovations and additions to existing nonresidential buildings and the construction of new nonresidential buildings occur in a manner that is visually compatible with such existing buildings and supports the desired character for the downtown. The purpose of the CBD design standards is to provide regulations so that as existing nonresidential buildings are renovated, remodeled and restored and new nonresidential buildings are constructed, these physical improvements adhere to a consistent set of design standards that will enhance and preserve the historical character and sense of place of downtown Bellevue.
(2)
Applicability. The requirements of this section shall apply to the following uses within the CBD:
(a)
Newly constructed nonresidential buildings.
(b)
Exterior alterations to existing nonresidential buildings that require a building permit.
(3)
Application and review procedures.
(a)
Site plan review. Except for windows as provided in Subsection B(4)(b) below, development projects subject to review under this § 155-10.04B shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission, according to the procedures and requirements for site plan review as set forth in Article XXII and the requirements of this § 155-10.04B.
(b)
Building plans and architectural drawings. In addition to the submittal requirements of § 155-22.02, the site plan application shall also include building plans and architectural drawings to demonstrate compliance with the design standards of this § 155-10.04B.
(4)
Design standards.
(a)
Buildings. Alterations and additions to existing buildings and any new buildings to be constructed within the CBD shall be designed to substantially incorporate such styles and building materials as are contained in any design guidelines for commercial buildings adopted by the Planning Commission. These design guidelines shall be maintained by the Zoning Administrator and shall be available for review by the public.
(b)
Windows.
[1]
Applicability and review. Windows that are proposed to be added to a building, replaced or increased or decreased in size such that a building permit is required, and which face one or more of the following public street segments, shall be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator to determine compliance with this Subsection B(4)(b).
[a]
Public street segments:
Capital Avenue Segment: Williams Street to East Street along both sides of the street. |
Main Street Segment: Mill Street to Catherine Street along both sides of the street. |
Jackson Street Segment: Elizabeth Street to Adams Street along both sides of the street. |
Adams Street Segment: Jackson Street to the Canadian National Railroad right-of-way along both sides of the street. |
Elizabeth Street Segment: Jackson Street to the Canadian National Railroad right-of-way along both sides of the street. |
[2]
All windows.
[a]
A window pane, or multiple window panes stacked vertically, shall not exceed a height of the lesser of one story or 15 feet. This limitation shall not prohibit a single window pane, or multiple window panes stacked vertically, to exceed a height of 15 feet provided the design of such single window pane or multiple window panes appears as spanning separate stories.
[b]
Windows shall be transparent and of nonreflective glass. Only clear or lightly tinted, nonreflective glass in windows and doors, including in display windows, shall be considered transparent.
[c]
Windows shall not be blocked by interior displays, or otherwise have views to the interior obstructed, for a depth of not less than five feet into the building.
[3]
First-story windows.
[a]
The first story of a facade shall be comprised of window surface area that covers a minimum of 40% and a maximum of 90% of the first story wall area, except that this provision shall not apply in the case of those portions of structures used for assembly areas in association with theaters, auditoriums, churches and similar indoor areas where the allowance of light to penetrate the facade would fundamentally undermine the purpose of the indoor area enclosed by such facade.
[b]
The bottom of the window surface area shall be between 30 and 40 inches from the level of the sidewalk beneath the window surface.
[4]
Upper-story windows.
[a]
Between 20% and 40% of the facade wall area for all stories above the first story shall be devoted to transparent windows, except that this provision shall not apply in the case of those portions of structures used for assembly areas in association with theaters, auditoriums, churches and similar indoor areas where the allowance of light to penetrate the facade would fundamentally undermine the purpose of the indoor area enclosed by such facade.
[b]
Windows that are rectangular in shape and part of any story above the first story shall be oriented in a vertical direction.
[c]
Windows that are part of any story above the first story shall contain visible sills and lintels on the exterior wall and no single pane of glass shall exceed 36 square feet in area.
(5)
Modification of standards. The standards of this section may be modified by the Planning Commission or the Zoning Administrator as applicable in their review of a site plan provided the approving body finds that such modifications comply with the following and the approving body documents findings of fact supporting such modifications:
(a)
The modification shall satisfy the purposes stated in § 155-10.04B.
(b)
The modification shall result in the alteration of an existing building or the construction of a new building that is visually compatible and comparable with nearby existing buildings and which maintains or improves upon the historical architectural character of downtown Bellevue through the use of historical or contemporary similar building materials and design.