The regulations set forth in this section and elsewhere in this chapter which are applicable shall apply in the “M-1” Light Industrial District.

1.   Purpose and Intent. This District is intended to establish areas for light manufacturing and related uses which can maintain high standards of appearance, including open spaces and landscaping, and limit external effects such as noise, odors, smoke, and vibration.

2.   Principal Permitted Uses. A building or premises shall be used only for the following purposes.

   A.   Any business, professional, retail or service establishments permitted in a “C” District.

   B.   Industrial establishments and services such as the following:

Automobile construction, assembly or factories specializing in the rework or rebuilding or automobile components.

Blacksmith, welding, or other metal shop.

Bread factory.

Contractor’s equipment and materials storage yard.

Creamery, bottling works, dairy ice cream manufacturing, ice manufacturing, and cold storage plant.

Foundry casting lightweight non-ferrous metals, or electric foundry not causing noxious fumes or odors.

Grain elevators.

Manufacturing, compounding, processing, packaging, or treatment of materials.

Motor freight terminal.

Printing plant.

Sawmill, planing mill, including manufacture of wood products.

Sheet metal shops.

   C.   Any other similar use which is found by the Zoning Administrator to be a use similar to one of the above named uses and, in his or her opinion, conforms to the intent of this section.

   D.   Any residential use shall be prohibited, except for caretaker’s quarters incidental to a permitted industrial use.

3.   Accessory Uses. Any accessory use customarily accessory and incidental to a permitted principal use, providing such use shall be wholly contained within the principal structure, or shall be screened from general public view by walls, buffer, landscaping, etc.

4.   Required Conditions. No use shall be permitted to be established or maintained which by reason of its nature or manner of operation is or may become hazardous, noxious, offensive or pollute the air or water due the emission of cinders, dust, gas fumes, noise, odor, smoke, refuse matter or water-carried waste.

5.   Height Regulations. No building shall exceed 45 feet in height. A special permit may be issued by the City Council (after recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission) for buildings in excess of this restriction; providing the minimum separation (or setback) between the building in question and the nearest property line of any residential parcel, whether zoned or used as residential property, is as follows:

   A.   For building heights greater than 45 feet up to and including 75 feet, the minimum required separation is 75 feet.

   B.   For building heights greater than 75 feet up to and including 125 feet, the minimum required separation is 100 feet.

   C.   For building heights greater than 125 feet up to and including 200 feet, the minimum required separation is 125 feet.

   D.   For building heights greater than 200 feet, the minimum required separation is 500 feet.

In issuing a special permit, street right-of-way, public property, and the applicant's own property may be considered as property that will be used in determining whether the required separation (or setback) for the additional height is satisfied. The issuance of a special permit is the sole remedy under this Code of Ordinances for any request to construct a structure greater than 45 feet in height.

6.   Lot Area, Lot Frontage and Yard Requirements. The following minimum requirements shall be observed:

   A.   Lot area   10,000 square feet

   B.   Lot width   75 feet

   C.   Front yard depth   45 feet

   D.   Side yard, each side   10 feet

   E.   Rear yard depth   45 feet

All yards in the “M-1” District, abutting a public thoroughfare shall be considered front yards and shall comply with the requirements for a front yard.

In an “M-1” District adjacent to any “R” District, the minimum setback shall be fifty feet from the “M-1” District boundary lines, except in such cases where the District line is construed to follow the centerline of a public thoroughfare, wherein such cases shall be determined by the provisions for the required minimum front yard depth.

7.   Off-street Parking Requirements. Off-street requirements are governed by Section 165.42 of this chapter. 

8.   Open Space Requirements. All buildings and land use shall comply with the following: On each lot there shall be provided an open space equal to at least 20 percent of the total lot area; said space shall be unencumbered with any structure or off-street parking and shall be landscaped and well maintained with grass, trees and shrubbery, except for areas used as pedestrian walks and ingress-egress drives; and ingress-egress drives shall not exceed two 20-foot lanes which are separated by open space. On parcels greater than three acres in size, the Planning and Zoning Commission may recommend to the Council, in connection with the approval of a landscaping plan, a reduction in the required open space requirements to less than 20 percent, but at least 10 percent. The Council may accept, reject, or modify the recommendation. For purposes of complying with the foregoing requirements, any parcels of real estate on opposite sides of a street right-of-way which are owned by the same titleholder and utilized in the same commercial enterprise shall be considered as one parcel.

9.   Buffers Required. Buffers may be required in accord with Section 165.43 of this chapter.