Cornwall City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 13
GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT GC
§ 14-1301 Purpose.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
The regulations of the General Commercial District are designed to provide suitable locations for larger-scale and/or highway-oriented retail, service, and entertainment businesses. The uses provided in this district are meant to serve local residents as well as those motorists passing through the Borough. Access to these areas is provided by adjoining major roads. Specific setbacks are imposed upon outdoor storage areas to protect adjoining properties.
§ 14-1302 Permitted Uses.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
1.
Stores for the commercial retailing of all consumer goods not otherwise prohibited by law.
2.
Personal services shops including barbershops, beauty parlors, tailors, shoe repair, dry cleaning, laundromats, florists, etc.
3.
Specialty shops for custom work and articles to be sold at retail on the premises, such as baking, confectionary, dressmaking, printing, and similar shops and services.
4.
Nurseries and commercial greenhouses.
6.
Medical, dental, and veterinary clinics, laboratories, and associated pharmacies.
7.
Banks, savings and loan associations, finance agencies, and other offices providing business or professional services.
8.
Messenger, dispatch, express, and courier services.
9.
Taxi and bus passenger stations, and transfer trucking facilities.
10.
Mortuary and undertaking establishments.
11.
Printing and publishing firms.
12.
Shops for contractors, plumbers, heating, air conditioning/cooling, painting, and upholstering specialists.
14.
All other uses which in the opinion of the Zoning Officer are similar to the above uses and in harmony with the intent of the regulations for this district. When a proposed use is not sufficiently similar to enable the Zoning Officer to make a ruling, the Zoning Hearing Board shall make a determination as authorized in Article 30 of this Chapter.
15.
Customary accessory uses and buildings incidental to any of the above permitted uses as provided for in Article 22 of this Chapter.
§ 14-1303 Conditional Uses.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
1.
Upon approval by Borough Council, the following conditional uses are permitted, provided the use complies with the conditions listed herein and the applicable requirements specified in Article 26 of this Chapter:
A.
Automobile body shops provided the following conditions are met:
(1)
All work shall be conducted indoors.
(2)
Paint booths shall be adequately filtered and vented to minimize exhaust of noxious fumes.
(3)
Flammable and/or combustible materials shall be stored within a fireproof enclosure within the principal structure or within an accessory building located no less than 50 feet from any lot line.
(4)
Outdoor storage of auto parts or equipment shall not be permitted at any time.
B.
Multiple commercial use complexes and shopping centers provided that the following conditions are met:
(1)
The multiple commercial use complex or shopping center shall consist of a group of two or more commercial retailing uses, planned, designed, and constructed as one principal structure. Each commercial establishment within the complex shall share at least one party wall with another establishment.
(2)
The minimum lot size shall be determined by the gross floor area of the principal structure, according to the following table:
Total Gross Floor Area | Minimum Lot Area Required |
|---|---|
0–20,000 square feet | 1 acre |
20,001–40,000 square feet | 2 acres |
Greater than 40,000 square feet | 2 acres plus 1 acre for each 15,000 square feet (or fraction thereof) in excess of the initial 40,000 square feet of floor area |
C.
Indoor amusement enterprises such as theaters, arenas, bowling alleys, dance halls, and other recreation or entertainment establishments.
D.
Restaurant facilities of all types, including sit-down, drive-in, drive through or fast food, tearooms, cafes, and other places serving food or beverages, including private, membership, or social clubs and beverage distribution centers.
E.
Hotels, motels, and boarding houses.
F.
Automobile dealers and automobile washes.
G.
Gasoline stations and repair garages subject to the following regulations:
(1)
No repair work shall be performed out of doors.
(2)
All automotive parts, dismantled and derelict vehicles, and similar articles shall be stored only within an enclosed building.
(3)
The use and storage of all flammable and combustible liquids shall comply with the requirements set forth by the Fire Marshall Division of the Pennsylvania State Police, based on 37 Pa.Code, Chapters 11 and 13, as amended, and the following requirements, whichever are greater:
(a)
All gasoline and petroleum pumps shall be located outside of any buildings, and no less than 35 feet from any road right-of-way line or lot line.
(b)
All fuel, oil or similar combustible petroleum products storage tanks shall be located underground at least 35 feet from any road right-of-way line or lot line.
§ 14-1304 Performance Required.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
In order for any of the above listed uses to be permitted, they must be nonobjectionable in terms of smoke or dust emission, odors, noise, heat, vibration, visual impact, or glare, and shall not be injurious or have an adverse effect on adjacent areas or the Borough as a whole. Should the Zoning Officer require additional information in order to make a determination concerning the above-mentioned dangers, the applicant shall provide said information to the Zoning Officer as part of the permit application.
§ 14-1305 Lot Area, Building Height, and Yard Requirements.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
1.
A lot width, lot area, lot coverage, yard setback, and building height requirement of not less than the dimensions shown in the following table, unless otherwise specified heretofore in §§14-1302, 14-1303, or elsewhere in this Chapter, shall be provided for every commercial use and/or principal nonresidential building or use erected, altered, or established in this district.
A.
District Requirements.
Lot Requirements | Yard Requirements | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Min. Lot Area | Min. Lot Width | Max. Lot Coverage | Front | One Side | Total Sides | Rear |
1 acre | 200 feet | 50% | 60 feet | 30 feet | 60 feet | 30 feet |
B.
Where a side or rear yard adjoins a residential district, said yard(s) shall be no less than 50 feet in width and shall be designated as buffer yards and landscaped in accordance with Article 23 of this Chapter.
C.
No building shall exceed 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in height, which ever is less, unless authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
§ 14-1306 Minimum Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
Off-street parking and loading shall be provided for in accordance with Article 24 of this Chapter.
§ 14-1307 Signs and Advertising Structures.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with Article 25 of this Chapter.
§ 14-1308 Supplementary District Regulations.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
The supplementary district regulations in Article 22 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.
§ 14-1309 Environmental Improvements and Energy Conservation Requirements.
[Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008]
The environmental and energy requirements in Article 23 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.