A.

Because of the peculiar operational characteristics and traffic congestion connected with automobile service stations, carry-outs, car washes, drive-ins, and fast-food business, the C-5 commercial district is established primarily for the location of such uses. Once such a district has been established, the only uses permitted on the property shall be as follows:

1.

Retail fuel sales, filling stations and automobile service stations;

2.

Carry-outs;

3.

Car washes;

4.

Drive-ins;

5.

Establishments serving food or beverages to customers in their automobiles;

6.

Fast-food business.

B.

For any permitted use in a C-5 commercial district, except fuel sales, filling stations and automobile service stations that are governed by the provisions contained in C.C. Sections 3357.12 through 3357.18, the following physical characteristics of the property shall be applicable:

1.

The minimum lot area shall be not less than 15,000 square feet.

2.

The minimum lot width at the front building line shall be not less than 120 feet.

C.

For any permitted use in a C-5 commercial district, except fuel sales, filling stations and automobile service stations that are governed by the provisions contained in C.C. Sections 3357.12 through 3357.18, the yard and building line requirements in C.C. 3357.04 shall be applicable with the following additional provisions:

1.

Whenever any portion of the property abuts property used or zoned for any type of residential use then there shall be a landscaped yard of not less than ten feet in width provided along that portion of the property line abutting the property used or zoned for any type of residential purposes.

2.

No portion of any building or structure shall be located or extend closer than 25 feet to either a front or street side property line.

D.

For any permitted uses in a C-5 commercial district, except fuel sales, filling stations, and automobile service stations that are governed by the provisions contained in C.C. Sections 3357.11 through 3357.18, the height of any building or structure shall not exceed 25 feet.

E.

In any C-5 commercial district, provisions shall be made for access, and off-street parking and loading facilities as required by the off-street parking and loading chapter and the general site development standards of this Code.

F.

In addition to all other development standards specified elsewhere in this Zoning Code or in other city codes, the following requirements shall be applicable:

1.

The location of all curb cuts and traffic flow patterns shall require the approval and a permit from the division of transportation prior to any curb being cut or any driveway being installed.

2.

Any use, such as a car wash, that could cause a drainage problem, shall require the approval of the division of water reclamation, and such uses may be required to install storm sewers as required to alleviate the problem.

3.

Any use, such as a fast-food business, that could cause a traffic congestion problem shall require approval of the division of transportation, and such uses may be required to install frontage roads as required to alleviate the problem.

4.

Any use, such as a fast-food business, that could create an excessive litter problem, may be required to install fences as determined by the department, and trash receptacles as may be required by the division of health and division of refuse collection, to alleviate the problem.

5.

Other city departments and divisions whose operations or area of jurisdiction may be affected by the proposed use may recommend to the department of development additional requirements necessary to comply with various city codes applicable to the use and to protect and preserve the public health, safety, and welfare.

6.

If, at the time of public hearings on the application for a rezoning to the C-5 commercial district, council has imposed any specific development standards or other requirements, then the site plans submitted for the zoning clearance shall show full compliance with all such standards and requirements.

(Ord. 2836-96 § 7; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. 1909-01 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0128-2009, § 1, 2-9-2009; Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 73, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 9, 5-3-2010; Ord. No. 1149-2012, § 1, 7-16-2012; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025)

A.

Monopole telecommunication antennas are permitted uses in the C-5 commercial district except in the following locations, where a special permit is required:

1.

Any property or parcel listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Columbus Register of Historic Properties, or that is included in an architectural review commission area.

B.

The following standards for monopole telecommunication antennas shall apply:

1.

A certificate of zoning clearance shall be issued only after the following conditions have been met:

a.

Affidavits have been submitted by the applicant and placed on file with the director attesting to the lack of any reasonable alternative, including collocation and concealment, to the construction of the monopole antenna as well as documentation of this finding;

b.

Affidavits have been submitted by the applicant and been placed on file with the director attesting to the owner's willingness to allow other entities to rent or lease space for additional antennas on the monopole antenna for commercially reasonable terms.

2.

The base of all monopole telecommunication antenna sites and associated support structures shall be screened and buffered and may be enclosed by a security fence. The buffer shall contain hedges or other plants that provide a five-foot high, 75 percent opaque screen. Existing vegetation and topography can be used as part of this screening.

3.

At no time shall any monopole telecommunication antenna have affixed or attached to it in any way any lights, reflectors, signs, banners, graphics, or other illumination device, except as required by the Federal Aviation Administration or the Federal Communications Commission. All exterior finishes shall be, unless otherwise required, neutral grey in color.

4.

The base of all monopole telecommunication antenna sites and associated support structures shall be set back 200 percent of the total height of the antenna from all residentially zoned districts. All support structures shall meet district setbacks.

5.

Monopole telecommunication antennas shall be exempt from C.C. 3312 and C.C. 3309.14 up to a maximum height of:

a.

100 feet if built for one or more providers;

b.

150 feet if built for two or more providers;

6.

Within 180 days of the termination of use of the monopole telecommunication antenna, the monopole telecommunication antenna and all associated structures and buildings shall be removed from the site or shall be declared a nuisance as per C.C. 4107.

C.

A rooftop telecommunication installation for receiving or transmitting wireless telecommunications may be erected on any existing legal structure 50 feet or more in height provided that it is in accordance with C.C. 3309.142(C).

(Ord. 90-98 § 7 (part); Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 74, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 1792-2011, § 1(Attach. 1), 12-12-2011)

Highway Oriented Commercial Development Standards

The front yard on any lot shall be as established by C.C. 3357.03, notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 3303, Definitions.

No building or structure or portion of a building or structure other than an unenclosed balcony or unenclosed ground floor porch and steps from such porch to the ground shall be erected, constructed or extended between a building line and the street property line as established in C.C. Sections 3357.04 and 3357.05, hereinafter set forth.

For the purposes of C.C. Sections 3357.04 and 3357.05, the term "building line" shall mean "required building line" and both shall mean the minimum required building setback from any and all streets, corner lots included (however, see C.C. 3357.05).

The term "frontage" as used in subsequent sections shall mean the area on the same side of a street between two nearest intersecting streets on each side of subject property (alleys not included).

An unenclosed front porch or an unenclosed front balcony shall be a porch or balcony that is not enclosed in any way by glass, solid panels or any other material, with the exception of a balustrade or railing not to exceed three feet in height above the floor of such front porch or balcony.

Front porches or balconies may be enclosed by screens provided that: (1) the construction is such that the outside air is free to circulate throughout the porch at all times, (2) screen panels cannot be interchanged with glass or other type solid panels and (3) any additional structural members do not exceed two inches in depth by three inches in width.

In all highway oriented commercial districts, the building lines are established as follows:

_____

(Ord. 1425-90.)

_____

(a)

Corner Property in Old Subdivision. Where a building or other structure is to be erected or extended on a corner property and where subject property is 65 feet or less in width so that the required building line cannot be applied equitably along the longer side of the corner lot as determined by the enforcement officer, then the distance of the building line from the property line of the street along the longer side of subject corner lot may be reduced to the following minimum distance:

(1)

corner property with a width of not over 65 feet and not under 40 feet - 20% of property width.

(2)

Corner property with a width of less than 40 feet -20% of property width minus two percent for each foot of lesser width than 40 feet.

(3)

Corner property under 36 feet in width - None.

(b)

Corner Ownership Containing Two or More Lots. Where the ownership of a corner property has a width of more than 65 feet and contains more than one adjacent lot, one of which is a corner lot, the provisions of subsection (a) above shall not apply.

(c)

Garage on Corner Property in Old Subdivision. On a corner property where the side of the principal building on subject property or ownership may be located nearer than ten feet from the street along the longer side of the corner lot, the garage may be located at the following minimum distance from such street property line and subject to the following conditions:

(1)

Corner property with a width of 50 feet or more -20% of property width.

(2)

Corner property with a width of less than 50 feet but not under 40 feet - ten feet.

(3)

Corner property with a width of less than 40 feet:

If entrance to garage is on the side facing the street along the longer side of the lot and cannot be relocated conveniently to face the rear end of the lot, build the garage with an inside depth from the entrance doors only to include the customary length of a private passenger automobile, and build the garage as near as permitted to interior side lot line. Additional length of garage is allowed, provided entrance doors are set back from the street not less than 20 percent of property width. However, where said garage is built to include only the customary length of a private passenger automobile but cannot set back of the building line as required in subsection (a) above, then such garage may be built up to the interior side lot line (notwithstanding the required side yard along such interior lot line) if the wall facing said interior lot line is of masonry construction and contains no windows and the roof thereof is of fire-resistant materials.

Editor's Note: Former Section 3357.06 was repealed by Ordinance 2450-85.

Whenever only a portion of a recorded lot is proposed as a building site, or whenever two or more portions of two or more recorded lots are proposed to be combined to a form a building site, or whenever two or more recorded lots or portions thereof are proposed to be combined to form a building site, the proposed building site as shown on the plot or site plan submitted shall be considered to be a newly created single lot, and such newly created lot shall not be reduced in size or divided or split if such reduction, division, or split will result in a lot or parcel which would fail to meet any of the requirements of the Zoning Code.

Editor's Note: Former Section 3357.08 was repealed by Ordinance 18-85. See Chapter 3342.

Editor's Note: Former Section 3357.09 was repealed by Ordinance 18-85. See Section 3342.28.

Editor's Note: Former Section 3357.10 was repealed by Ordinance 18-85. See Section 3342.29.

Editor's Note: Former Section 3357.11 was repealed by Ordinance 18-85. See Section 3342.08.

Accessory Uses in a Highway Oriented Commercial Development

No fuel sales establishment, service station, or filling station shall be erected or established which shall have any part of its proposed building structure located within 100 feet of the building structure of a public or parochial school, church, playground, public library, hospital, orphanage, or children's home now existing or for which building permit has been issued or is in effect, except as follows:

A.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any such institution now located in any district zoned for business, by acquiring premises therein or erecting additional buildings thereon to shorten the 100-foot limit between such institutional structure heretofore erected, and such proposed filling station structure as defined by this Zoning Code;

B.

It is further provided, however, that in the event the governing body of such public or parochial school, church, playground, public library, hospital, orphanage or children's home, files its consent in writing with the Director or an authorized representative, a fuel sales establishment or filling station may be erected or established nearer than 100 feet, but not nearer than 50 feet from the building structure of any such institution.

C.

Solar energy collection may be conducted as an accessory use, subject to the following:

1.

Equipment directly related to the gathering of solar energy shall be exempt from screening requirements.

2.

Electricity collected on-site may be distributed off-site for use or sale.

(Ord. 377-95; Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 10, 5-3-2010; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 1501-2022, § 31, 6-13-2022)

(a)

Minimum lot area, width and depth.

(1)

For fuel sales establishments and filling stations without service bays: minimum lot area of 15,000 square feet, minimum lot width at the right-of-way line of 150 feet, and a minimum lot depth of 100 feet.

(2)

For a service station with service bay: minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet, minimum lot width at the right-of-way line of 150 feet, and a minimum depth of 120 feet.

(b)

Pump island and building location. No portion of any building, canopy, structure, or vehicles service area, pump or pump island, shall be located within, project into, or overhang any required minimum front yard or street side yard, as specified in C.C. 3357.04.

(c)

Storage of commercial waste. Commercial waste shall be stored within a bulk waste container situated within a permanent screen wall located in such a manner as to be screened from the view of those outside the property and in such a manner as to be accessible to bulk waste container pick-up vehicle. This facility shall be maintained in a sanitary and healthful manner as not to be harmful or offensive to those on or outside the property.

(d)

Residential buffer. In any area where a fuel sales use (including filling stations and service stations) is contiguous to or abuts property located in a Residential or Apartment Residential District, or abuts property used for residential purposes, there shall be provided along that portion of the perimeter of the fuel sales property which abuts such residentially zoned or used property, a buffer strip consisting of either a ten-foot wide landscaping area with a four-foot high masonry or wood wall and planting material of sufficient height to provide an effective screen, or a 20-foot wide landscaped earth mound with a minimum height of four feet.

(Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 11, 5-3-2010)

Accessory uses to service stations shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, trailer rental, vehicle rental, vehicle sales, and storage of vehicles or trailers. These accessory uses will be permitted if in conformance with the following standards:

(a)

Shall not be permitted on a service station site where within 250 feet of the exterior boundaries of the service station property there is any residential use or residential or apartment residential districts.

(b)

Shall not occupy or cover more than ten percent of the lot area.

(c)

Shall not be located in any required front yard or street side yard.

(d)

Shall not be located in any residential buffer area.

(e)

Shall not be located within 25 feet of any pump island.

(Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 12, 5-3-2010; Ord. No. 1501-2022, § 32, 6-13-2022)

Vending machines, and portable display racks for automobile accessories, are permitted subject to the following conditions:

(a)

All types of vending machines except ice machines and telephone booths shall be located inside the building.

(b)

Ice machines may be built into an exterior wall in such a manner as not to be visible from any public street, or may be located outside of the building provided they are under a roof of the same architectural style as the main building and that the roof will be not more than two feet above the top of the machine.

(c)

Only one permanent or one portable display rack for oil, windshield washer fluid, windshield wiper blades and anti-freeze products shall be permitted on each pump island.

(d)

All outside display racks for tires, batteries and other automobile accessories as well as other merchandise of all kinds and nature are prohibited, except that one such rack not more than three feet in length and three feet in height and two feet in depth, located not more than three feet from a wall of the building may be permitted.

Repealed by Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 13, adopted May 3, 2010.

Repealed by Ordinance 543-72.

An abandoned service station, filling station, or fuel sales establishment is one which has ceased operations or is closed to the public for at least six months in any 12 month period.

The owner or lessee of the abandoned service station, filling station, or fuel sales establishment or related structures shall, within, seven days of the beginning of the closure period referred to herein:

(a)

Install wheel blocks, firmly attached, across the driveway entrance to the service station to prohibit unauthorized vehicle parking or abandonment of motor vehicles;

(b)

Shall remove all signs and pumps;

(c)

Shall board up all windows, garage doors and entrances to prevent the breakage of glass and the unauthorized entrance therein;

(d)

Take appropriate action as required by the city of Columbus Fire Code to treat abandoned underground tanks and;

(e)

Shall during the closure period cut all grass, remove all rubbish and weeds and continue such maintenance as may be necessary to prevent the building or structure from deteriorating into a state of disrepair.

(Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 14, 5-3-2010)

Conditional Uses in a Highway Oriented Commercial Development

Repealed by Ordinance 18-85. See Sections 3342.16, 3342.19.

Drive-in markets, carry outs and any other drive-in facility may be established.

Within the city, no buildings or premises shall be used and no buildings shall be erected which are arranged, intended or designed to be used as an automobile service station, filling station, or fuel sales establishment, except upon the issuance of certificate of zoning clearance, subject to all the development standards in C.C. Sections 3357.11 through 3357.18.

(Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 15, 5-3-2010; Ord. No. 1294-2013, § 1, 7-22-2013)