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Broadview Heights City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 1277

C-4 SHOPPING CENTER DISTRICT

§ 1277.01 PURPOSES.

   The purpose of the C-4 Shopping Center District is to encourage the development of planned, integrated shopping centers within the city, and to regulate the provision of shopping center uses so as to not detract from the value, health and safety of existing residential neighborhoods. C-4 Shopping Center Districts shall be located on arterial thoroughfares, consistent with the city’s overall development plan and the Downtown Master Plan.
(Ord. 126-98, passed 6-15-1998; Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002)

§ 1277.02 PERMITTED USES.

   The following uses are permitted in a C-4 Shopping Center District:
   (A)   The uses enumerated for Class C-1 and Class C-2 Districts, provided that such uses shall be grouped as a shopping center serving the ordinary needs of the community, with off-street parking facilities in accordance with Chapter 1284, and further provided that the maximum permissible area (square footage dimension) for grocery and/or retail stores shall be 60,000 square feet;
   (B)   Theaters and moving picture shows;
   (C)   Offices;
   (D)   Department and variety stores;
   (E)   Office park development, when permitted, meeting the requirements for the C-3 Office Space District, except that yard regulations must meet C-4 District requirements; and
   (F)   Outbuildings, when permitted, of a similar architectural design as the main buildings as permitted in divisions (A) through (F) above.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002)

§ 1277.03 PERMITTED ACCESSORY USES.

   The following uses are permitted: residential dwelling units when located above a permitted principal use, provided that the minimum size of each residential dwelling unit shall be not less than as governed by the requirements of § 1271.11.
(Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002)

§ 1277.04 MINIMUM LOT AREA.

   (A)   The minimum lot area for a shopping center development in the C-4 Shopping Center District is five acres except as follows:
      (1)   It shall be a minimum of 23 acres at the southwest corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads;
      (2)   It shall be a minimum of 14 acres at the northwest corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads;
      (3)   It shall be a minimum of 13 acres at the southeast corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads; and
      (4)   It shall be a minimum of eight acres at the northeast corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads.
   (B)   A shopping center development may be established upon a tract of land in single ownership or under unified control, provided that a site development plan for a planned business center has been prepared, submitted and approved in accordance with this chapter.
   (C)   An office park development shall be a minimum of three acres in areas except as follows:
      (1)   It shall be a minimum of 23 acres at the southwest corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads;
      (2)   It shall be a minimum of 14 acres at the northwest corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads;
      (3)   It shall be a minimum of 13 acres at the southeast corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads; and
      (4)   It shall be a minimum of eight acres at the northeast corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads.
(Ord. 97-00, passed 7-24-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002)

§ 1277.05 LANDSCAPING.

   A minimum of 20% of the total land area within the development shall be landscaped. The area required to be landscaped shall be planted in a time frame as set forth in the developer’s agreement, and thereafter such landscaped area shall be maintained with permanent plants and materials in accordance with the approved landscaping plan. The Planning Commission may, at its discretion, lower the percentage of landscaping to no less than 15% if the landscaped areas are grouped to provide an open usable public area within the shopping center development consistent with the City’s Downtown Development Plan. In addition to the above landscaping requirement, any development at the intersection of Royalton and Broadview Roads shall contain a least one-half acre of usable public area (green space) placed directly at the corner of the two intersecting roads. Details of said “usable public area” shall be spelled out in the developer’s agreement. All landscaped areas shall be underground irrigation that is automatically operated. All such landscaping plans shall be reviewed and subject to final approval by the Planning Commission and Council and shall be consistent with the following regulations.
   (A)   Screening and Buffering Next to Residential Districts. All side and rear yards adjoining residential districts shall be provided with a year-round visual or barrier composed of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Where deemed necessary, the Planning Commission may require other planting or earth mounds or fences to supplement natural elements required by this Code of Ordinances in order to achieve a sufficient screening effect.
   (B)   Landscaped Strip to Screen Front Parking.
      (1)   No parking may be situated in a required front yard. Where sufficient space exists to provide off-street parking between the front setback line and the main building, such commercial sites shall provide and maintain a 20-foot irrigated landscaped strip adjacent to the street right-of-way lines, except for required vehicular and pedestrian accessways.
      (2)   Exception: along Broadview Road.
   (C)   Utilities. All utilities serving the buildings and site of a shopping center development, including electric and telephone installations and all supporting equipment thereto, shall be placed underground or within main buildings on the site. Where such supporting equipment cannot be located within a main building, no such equipment shall be visible from any front, side or rear lot line. All pole lighting shall be of a Western Reserve style and design as determined by the Planning Commission.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002; Ord. 137-12, passed 9-17-2012; Ord. 12-14, passed 4-21-2014)

§ 1277.06 YARD AND SETBACK REGULATIONS.

   The following minimum yard and setback requirements shall be provided for shopping center developments in the C-4 Zoning District:
   (A)   Main Buildings.
         (1)   Front Yard Setback.
         (a)   From right-of-way except from Broadview Road: 25 ft.; and
         (b)   From Broadview Road: 0 ft.
      (2)   Side Yard Setback.
         (a)   Abutting residential district:100 ft.; and
         (b)   Abutting nonresidential district: 50 ft.
      (3)   Rear Yard Setback.
         (a)   Abutting residential district: 100 ft.; and
         (b)   Abutting nonresidential district: 50 ft.
   (B)   Parking Areas and Drives.
      (1)   Front Yard Setback.
         (a)   From right-of-way except from Broadview Road: 25 ft.; and
         (b)   From Broadview Road: 0 ft.
      (2)   Side Yard Setback.
         (a)   Abutting residential district: 75 ft.; and
         (b)   Abutting nonresidential district: 10 ft.
      (3)   Rear Yard Setback.
         (a)   Abutting residential district: 75 ft.; and
         (b)   Abutting nonresidential district: 10 ft.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002)

§ 1277.07 MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM HEIGHT AND SIZE OF BUILDINGS.

   The minimum height of any main building (as permitted in § 1277.02(A) through (F)) in the C-4 Shopping Center District, shall not be less than one and one-half stories of leasable floor space from the finished grade. However, 50% of the main buildings shall be not less than two stories in height of leasable floor space. The height of any main or accessory building in the C-4 Shopping Center District shall not exceed four stories or 50 feet, excluding roof pitch, from the finished grade. The maximum permissible area of any single tenant/user’s grocery and/or retail store(s) shall not exceed 60,000 square feet of gross area.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002)

§ 1277.08 OFF-STREET PARKING.

   Vehicular and pedestrian access to such off-street parking areas shall be in conformity with Chapter 1284 and shall be provided and maintained as approved by the Planning Commission. Lighting and location of entrances and exits shall be provided as required by § 1276.08 and § 1277.05(C). No loading spaces shall be located in a required side or front yard.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002; Ord. 15-10, passed 2-1-2010)

§ 1277.09 SIGNS.

   The size, location and nature of outdoor signs, including the manner of illumination in accordance with Chapter 1328 (formerly Chapter 1479), shall be provided as approved in the shopping center development plan as reviewed by the Planning Commission.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002; Ord. 137-12, passed 9-17-2012)

§ 1277.10 SITE DEVELOPMENT PLANS; REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

   (A)   Preliminary Plan; Information Required. Site development plans for all proposed commercial sites, and for all exterior modifications to existing commercial sites in C-4 Shopping Center Districts, shall be required as set forth in this section. The overall site plan shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for its review and recommendation to Council for its final approval. The site development plan shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one inch equals 100 feet and shall include the following:
      (1)   Survey. A survey of the property and topography, showing the land owned and proposed for development;
      (2)   Buildings. The locations, size, height and use of all main and accessory buildings proposed to be situated on the lot;
      (3)   Traffic. The proposed system of circulation of vehicular traffic, including delivery trucks; details for connections to present streets; plans for assuring pedestrian access to and around the buildings; type of pavements; estimates of vehicular traffic volumes; and plans for control of traffic in and around the commercial site;
      (4)   Utilities. The plans for all utility installations and connections and estimated requirements;
      (5)   Parking Areas. A layout and estimate of the number of parking spaces, loading areas, design features, type of pavement, location and type of lighting fixtures, and proposed location of on-site drainage ways and storm water retention facilities for the development;
      (6)   Loop Road for Any Development at the Southwest Corner of Broadview and Royalton Roads. The plans for a street located at the westerly and southerly property boundaries shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 1248, and shall indicate any and all traffic signals deemed necessary by the city; and
      (7)   Miscellaneous Requirements. Other site developments proposed for the project, including a detailed landscaping plan, including planting areas, proposed berms and barriers, and strips adjoining residential areas, and loading and trash collection areas, and the siting of proposed outdoor approved by the Planning Commission. All grading, drainage, paving and site improvement plans shall be inspected by the City Engineer. All of the costs for reviews, approvals and inspections shall be paid for by the developer.
   (B)   Additional Information Required. In addition to the site development plan, the developer shall submit the following additional information in support of the application:
      (1)   A market analysis summary, including identification of the trade area of the proposed shopping center; trade area population, present and future; and net potential customer buying power for stores in the proposed shopping center;
      (2)   A financial report shall satisfy the Planning Commission as the financial responsibility of the proponent to carry the proposal to completion in full compliance with this chapter, including the source of construction funds, and information on leasing arrangements;
      (3)   A traffic study, which shall include an estimate of traffic volumes to be generated by the development and the assignment of traffic to proposed entrances and exits;
      (4)   Time schedule; and
      (5)   Substantiation of ownership, which shall include a certification of a title company that the record owners of the property, as represented on the application for the shopping center development, are correct.
   (C)   Review by City Departments; Action by Council. Upon receipt of a preliminary site development plan with supporting data for the development of a shopping center, the Secretary of the Planning Commission shall transmit a copy thereof to the appropriate departments within the city for their review, reports and recommendations. The appropriate city departments shall, within 30 days from receiving the preliminary site development plan and supporting data, provide and furnish to the Planning Commission their reports.
      (1)   Conditions. The Planning Commission may stipulate conditions on the shopping center development, or any portions of the shopping center development that may be in the public interests in a developer’s agreement that is acceptable, in form, to the City Law Director and approved by Council.
      (2)   Reports to Council. Within 60 days, unless extended for good cause, after a preliminary site development has been filed with the Secretary, the Planning Commission shall evaluate the plans and reports of the appropriate city departments and shall furnish to Council its detailed report and recommendations, in writing, with respect thereto. The report of the Planning Commission shall include a finding either that the preliminary site plan and supporting data comply with regulations, standards and criteria prescribed in this chapter for planning shopping centers applicable to the proposal, or a finding of failure of such compliance, and the Commission’s action that the preliminary site plan is approved, disapproved or modified. If in any such evaluation the Planning Commission finds that any regulations, standards or criteria prescribed by this chapter are inapplicable because of the unusual conditions related to the shopping center or to the nature and quality of the proposed design, it may recommend to Council that an adjustment will not be in conflict with the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare of the city.
      (3)   Action by Council. Council, at not later than its next regular meeting following receipt of the Planning Commission report, shall set a date for a public hearing on the preliminary site development plan, which hearing date shall be published in the local newspapers. Following the completion of such public hearing, and review of any public input, Council shall then proceed to act upon the preliminary development plan.
   (D)   Final Plan; Information Required; Action by Council. Following affirmative action of the preliminary site development plan by Council, the Secretary of the Planning Commission shall notify the developer of such action and authorize him or her to proceed with the preparation of the final development plan of the shopping center.
      (1)   The final development plan shall contain all of the information required under the provisions of this chapter, as well as any other information requested by the Planning Commission and/or Council in their review of the preliminary site development plan.
      (2)   Within 60 days, unless extended for good cause, from the date on which the final development plan is filed with the Secretary, the Planning Commission shall review, approve or disapprove such plan. In order to approve such final development plan, the Planning Commission must first find that the proposed final development plan of a shopping center is in substantial compliance with the preliminary development plan heretofore approved; that it complies with all of the conditions which may have been imposed in the approval of the preliminary site development plan; that it is in compliance with the design criteria and provisions of this chapter which apply particularly to any plan of a Shopping Center District; and that all applicable provisions of the subdivision regulations have been complied with.
   (E)   Approval.
      (1)   If the site development plan is not acceptable to both the Planning Commission and Council, based on the requirements and intent of this section, a revised site plan may be submitted.
      (2)   Only when final or revised final plans are acceptable to the City Council, having first received the recommendation of the Planning Commission, and any variances requested, shall final approval be given. In the event that the Planning Commission recommends that said final or revised final plans should not be accepted by the City Council, said plans shall only be approved upon the concurrence of at least two-thirds of the members of City Council.
      (3)   At any time after the approval of a site development plan, the owner may request a change, which request shall be subject to the same procedures and conditions of approval as the original application.
   (F)   Building and Occupancy Permits.
      (1)   No building permit shall be issued for the improvement of a parcel or any portion thereof, or for the erection of any building or structure in a C-4 District unless and until a site development plan has been approved by the Planning Commission and Council in accordance with this section. If and when any proposed site development plan has been approved, the Building Commissioner shall then issue the necessary building and other permits upon payment of the required fees and compliance with applicable codes.
      (2)   An occupancy permit shall be issued by the Building Commissioner, provided that the use, placement and dimensions of all buildings, exterior lighting fixtures, driveways, sidewalks, parking areas and curb cuts, and the installation of landscaping, fences and walks, conform to the site development plan approved by the Council, as otherwise specified herein.
   (G)   Time Limitation for Commencing Construction. A building permit shall be secured and construction begun in accordance with the approved final site development plan within 12 months after the effective date of approval of such site development plan. An application may be made by the developer to the Planning Commission for not more than a six-month extension of the time limit for commencement of construction. If construction is not begun within the specified time limits, the approved site development plan shall become null and void.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002; Ord. 137-12, passed 9-17-2012)

§ 1277.11 SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS.

   In the C-4 District, the following supplemental regulations must also be met.
   (A)   Conformity to Site Plan. All buildings and grounds shall be designed, constructed and maintained as approved in the site development plan. All landscaping, sidewalks, pedestrian plazas, parking areas and building exteriors shall be maintained free of any unsafe, unsightly or blighting conditions which deteriorate the appearance, character, safety or value of the city or the surrounding area.
   (B)   Off-Street Parking. All off-street parking areas, including parking garages, shall be designed and constructed so as to provide safe, efficient and visually appealing parking facilities. Entrances, aisles and spaces shall be clearly controlled, marked, channeled and separated. Ends of aisles and drives shall be controlled with concrete curbs and landscape islands.
   (C)   Pedestrian Access. Restricted pedestrian access from the parking area to the building entrance shall be provided.
   (D)   Lighting. Floodlighting or other lighting of buildings, signs and parking areas shall be located and designed so as to shield the light source from adjoining residences and shall be of a constant intensity. In addition, in no event shall any lighting be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public thoroughfare so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
   (E)   Location of Entrances and Exits. Entrances and exits shall be located to minimize traffic congestion and avoid undue interference with pedestrian access to street corners. There shall be not more than two access ways from any one property to a public highway for 400 feet of street frontage, nor more than one access way if the frontage is less than 150 feet. There shall be no entrances or exits within 60 feet of any residential district. If the property frontages are on two or more streets, the driveways shall be located as far from the street intersection as practicable, and no driveway shall be located within 75 feet of street intersections as measured from the right-of-way line. Access ways shall be not less than 18 feet nor more than 36 feet in width at the property line. Access lanes shall be provided as deemed necessary for fire and emergency vehicles.
   (F)   Appearance. The architectural appearance of main and accessory buildings shall be approved by the Planning Commission.
   (G)   Adult Entertainment Businesses. Notwithstanding anything contained in this chapter to the contrary, no person shall cause or permit the establishment of an adult entertainment business within one mile of a public or private school, preschool or day-care center, or within 1,000 feet of any residential zoning district, residential dwelling, church or park. For purposes of this division, distances shall be measured in a straight line without regard to intervening structures or objects, from the nearest portion of the building within which the adult entertainment business is located to the nearest residential district boundary lines, or to the nearest property lines of the premises of a public or private school, preschool, or day-care center or residential zone, residential dwelling, church or park.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002; Ord. 137-12, passed 9-17-2012)

§ 1277.12 VARIANCES.

   The Board of Zoning Appeals, with the recommendation of the Planning Commission, may vary or permit exceptions to any of the provisions of this chapter if it finds that such variance or exception will not violate the spirit or intent of this chapter and that a more harmonious and useful development will result.
(Ord. 69-00, passed 5-8-2000; Ord. 142-02, passed 10-7-2002)