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Cathlamet City Zoning Code

18.25 Commercial

District C

No yards are required except for lots the side lines for which are adjacent to any residential district, in which case the regulations shall be the same as in the residential district as to such lines except that where premises are not served with an alley, space shall be provided on the premises for all necessary loading and unloading of vehicles other than private passenger vehicles.

18.25.010 Permitted uses.

In the commercial district (C), no building shall be hereafter erected, unless otherwise provided in this title, except for one or more of the uses described in CMC 18.35.040, and listed below.

(1) Any use permitted in the residential district, provided regulations pertaining thereto as heretofore provided are complied with: namely site, area, open space, yards, height limit and permits;

(2) Retail stores and shops such as are usually needed to serve a residential district, such as:

Grocery stores;

Meat shops;

Retail bakery;

Banks and businesses;

Clothing and general merchandise stores, retail;

Laundries, laundromats, clothes cleaning and pressing;

Hotels and motels;

Lumber yards and building materials, coal and fuel stores; providing, that the yard regulations of this district be observed; and provided further, that no such lumber yards, building material yards, coal and fuel stores shall be maintained closer than 100 feet to the side line of the residential district;

Locksmiths, shoe and other clothing repair shops;

Markets;

Manufacturing, production or treatment of products only when clearly incidental to the conduct of a retail business conducted on the premises;

Parking lots;

Professional or business offices;

Police or fire stations;

Printing establishments and newspaper printing;

Restaurants, cafeterias and catering businesses;

Sales rooms for articles of merchandise;

Studios;

Tourist camps, only when a permit has been obtained from the planning commission;

Theaters, dance halls, skating rinks, or other commercial amusement places, only when a permit therefor has been obtained from the planning commission;

Other retail enterprises that do not impair environmental quality and the lifestyle of the community and to this end such industries shall be allowed only when a permit therefor has been obtained from the planning commission. (Ord. 369 § 5, 1995)

18.25.020 Prohibited uses.

In the commercial district, all buildings and premises may be used for any use except the following:

Uses which would be prohibited in the commercial/industrial district, Chapter 18.30 CMC;

Places of business involving the manufacture or repair of vehicles, heavy equipment, or vehicle engines;

Warehouses or storage rental buildings;

Vehicle, trailer, or manufactured home sale lots;

Stables, kennels, pigeons, poultry, rabbits and livestock;

Mobile homes used for dwelling purposes which do not conform to provisions of Chapter 15.20 CMC;

Repair, storage, and parking of log trucks and trailers, and other trucks and trailers in excess of 12,000 pounds gross weight. (Ord. 369 § 5, 1995)

18.25.030 Height limit.

Whenever any commercial district building is located within, or is adjacent on two sides or more to, any residential district, the building in such commercial district shall be limited to one story in height; provided, however, that the town council may allow additional stories to be built by special permit and consent after examination of the location and upon due proof to the satisfaction of the town council that such additional height will not be unduly detrimental to adjacent and surrounding property. In any event maximum height shall not exceed 50 feet, as measured from street center line adjacent to front of building. (Ord. 369 § 5, 1995)

18.25.040 Front yards, side yards, and rear yards.

No yards are required except for lots the side lines for which are adjacent to any residential district, in which case the regulations shall be the same as in the residential district as to such lines except that where premises are not served with an alley, space shall be provided on the premises for all necessary loading and unloading of vehicles other than private passenger vehicles. (Ord. 369 § 5, 1995)

18.25.050 Dimensional standards – Minimum lot area.

Minimum lot area in the commercial district is 5,000 square feet. Lots already established at the time of the passage of the ordinance codified in this section, if smaller than minimum, need not meet this minimum requirement. (Ord. 410 § 1, 2000; Ord. 369 § 5, 1995)

18.25.070 Signs and sidewalks.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in CMC 12.10.010 for a certain portion of Main Street, no private signs, exhibits, benches or other objects may be placed on a sidewalk unless such object extends no more than three feet from the building adjacent to which they are placed; and provided, that there is at least four feet of free passage.

(2) Private or commercial signs will not exceed a total of 24 square feet per premises on or attached to exterior walls. Additional private or commercial signs are allowed as window displays. Additional noncommercial external signs for public safety are allowed to a limit of an additional 12 square feet.

(3) No sign may extend above the roofline or parapet. Extension of blade signs may not exceed four feet from the premises and must be located above the ground story of the premises.

(4) Private banners and signs may not extend across any town right-of-way unless approved under a conditional use permit.

(5) Externally illuminated signs are allowed at all hours but internally illuminated signs on the exterior of the premises must be turned off during non-operating hours. External neon, LED or similar illuminated signs, or flashing signs are not allowed. Neon, LED or similar illuminated signs, and internally illuminated signs are allowed as window displays; provided, that they are turned off during non-operating hours.

(6) Pole signs are allowed; provided, that they are a minimum of one story high and provided the premises has a minimum of 20-foot setback and one parking space for each 200 square feet of public area within the premises. The square foot limitation of 24 square feet applies to cumulative area of pole signs with exterior signs.

(7) Signs that move may be allowed under a conditional use permit. Signs that must exceed the area restrictions of this provision because of unique circumstances associated with distances, topography, location or obstructions may be allowed under a conditional use permit. Signs in furtherance of events sanctioned by the town council may be allowed under a conditional use permit.

(8) Notwithstanding contrary provisions of CMC 18.45.010, those requirements for turning off internally illuminated and neon, LED or similar illuminated signs during non-operating hours shall apply to any lawfully erected nonconforming sign, even though already installed at the time of the passage of the ordinance codified in this section. Alteration, enlargement, replacement, or modification of a lawfully erected nonconforming sign renders such sign illegal and requires conformance with all provisions contained in this section. (Ord. 561, 2013)