The Central Business Zone is intended to be the high-density, compact, pedestrian-oriented shopping, office, service and entertainment area in the City.  Development and redevelopment within this zone should occur in compact groupings in order to intensify the density of usable commercial spaces, while increasing the availability of open spaces, plazas or pedestrian ways.  The zone is intended to accommodate a wide range of retail, service, office and residential uses.

1.   Permitted Uses.

   A.   Business and personal service establishments, except drive-in facilities.

   B.   Retail establishments, including restaurants, except drive-in facilities.

   C.   Office uses.

   D.   Meeting halls.

   E.   Theaters.

   F.   Bed and breakfast inns.

2.   Provisional Uses.

   A.   Dwellings, provided they are located above the ground floor of a principal use permitted in this zone.  Three (3) roomers may reside in each dwelling unit.

   B.   Elderly housing subject to the provisions of Section 165.30.

   C.   Hotels or motels, provided that parking spaces shall be in accordance with Section 165.33.

   D.   Wholesale establishments in conjunction with retail establishments.

3.   Conditional Uses.

   A.   Child daycare facilities.

   B.   Clubs.

   C.   Commercial recreational uses.

   D.   Off-street parking subject to the provisions of Section 165.33.

   E.   Public utilities.

   F.   Religious institutions.

   G.   Schools - specialized private instruction.

   H.   Transient housing.

4.   Dimensional Requirements.

   A.   Minimum Lot Area:  None

   B.   Minimum Lot Width:  None

   C.   Minimum Lot Frontage:  None

   D.   Minimum Yards:

      (1)   Front - None

      (2)   Side - None

      (3)   Rear - None

   E.   Maximum Building Bulk:

      (1)   Height – None  (If any building or structure is to be located in an area regulated by the Mason City Municipal Airport Zoning Ordinance, any lower height regulation of such ordinance shall prevail.)

      (2)   Lot Coverage - None

      (3)   Floor Area Ratio - 10.0

5.   General Provisions.  All principal and accessory uses permitted within this zone are subject to the requirements of the following sections of this chapter:

   A.   Permitted Accessory Uses and Buildings – See Section 165.31.

   B.   Accessory Use and Building Regulations – See Section 165.32.

   C.   Off-street Parking Requirements – See Section 165.33.

   D.   Off-street Loading Requirements – not applicable.

   E.   Sign Regulations – See Section 165.35.

   F.   Fence Regulations – See Section 165.36.

   G.   Dimensional Requirements – See Sections 165.37 through 165.40.

   H.   Tree Regulations – See Section 165.41.

   I.   Performance Standards – See Sections 165.42 and 165.43.

   J.   Nonconformities – See Section 165.44.

6.   Special Provisions.

   A.   The floor area ratio may exceed 10, up to and including 12, for any lot for which a use provides off-street loading meeting the requirements of Section 165.34.

   B.   The floor area ratio may exceed 10, up to and including 12, for any lot on which a use provides for a pedestrian plaza that abuts a public street or pedestrian mall and that has an area equal to or greater than twenty percent (20%) of the lot area.