The CB-C, Central Business District is established to promote harmonious new development, redevelopment and rehabilitation of uses in and around the established downtown commercial areas of Danville. The regulations of the CB-C are intended to promulgate the goals of the Comprehensive Plan for thoughtful revitalization and historic preservation while encouraging a balanced mix of uses in Danville's central business area.

Urban design priorities within the CB-C District are to be placed on: (1) encouraging continued use and revitalization of single family residences within the district, (2) providing opportunities for selected businesses consistent with downtown market objectives, (3) reinforcing pedestrian circulation patterns, (4) minimizing vehicular/pedestrian access conflicts among downtown land uses, (5) enhancing the character of the downtown streetscape, (6) maintaining strong continuity with the City's historic architectural precedents, and (7) providing flexibility in the application of harmonious geometric standards and related zoning regulations for site development.

No off-street parking is required for downtown business uses within the CB-C District which do not exceed 20,000 square feet in gross floor area or a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.0. Centralized and coordinated public parking within the central business district is encouraged to serve local business and tourism uses, while off-street parking is recommended on institutional, residential properties and large commercial properties. High density residential development and mixed-used development is encourage to establish residences convenient to places of shopping and work. Outdoor storage is tightly governed to promote an attractive and stable urban environment.

Minimum site improvements for uses within the CB-C District shall include adequate sidewalk improvements, coordination with City streetscape and infrastructure improvements, public water and sewer service, storm drainage, attractive signage, and landscaping and urban design features.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § A, 2-17-04)

Permitted uses shall be those in the following categories which do not exceed 20,000 square feet in lot coverage or a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.0:

1.

Banks and financial institutions (without drive-thru facilities).

2.

Bed and breakfast, inn, or tourist home (as defined).

3.

Business service and office supply establishments.

4.

Call center.

5.

Churches and places of worship.

6.

Day-care facilities (adult or child).

7.

Data storage and data processing center.

8.

Health club, spa and fitness center.

9.

Home occupations.

10.

Hospitals and health care facilities with inpatient services.

11.

Hotels and motels.

12.

Microbrewery or micro-winery.

13.

Movie theaters.

14.

Museum and art gallery.

15.

Offices (general and professional).

16.

Patio dining.

17.

Parking garages and parking lots (private or public, as a principal use).

18.

Personal service establishments.

19.

Public uses.

20.

Radio and television station (exclusive of towers and antennae).

21.

Repair service establishments, provided that any given repair service does not employ more than ten (10) persons on the premises during a single shift and that all repair services are performed indoors. No outdoor use, storage or display is permitted.

22.

Residential dwellings, as an ancillary use in structures with commercial uses on the first floor, and subject to Additional Regulations pertaining to this district.

23.

Restaurants.

24.

Retail sales establishments (exclusive of automobile dealerships and sales establishments, lumber and millwork retail sales and storage yards, and other uses which require outdoor storage of retail goods).

25.

Single family, duplex and two-family residential dwellings, as a principal use, subject to the OT-R District regulations.

26.

Studios for artist, designer, writer, photographer, sculptor or musician.

27.

Temporary retail uses.

28.

Bicycle shop.

29.

Distillery.

30.

Short-term rental, as principal use.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § B, 2-17-04; Ord. No. 2009-12.08, 12-15-09; Ord. No. 2012-11.09, 11-20-12; Ord. No. 2017-08.01, 8-3-17; Ord. No. 2019-07.05, 7-2-19; Ord. No. 2019-09.02, 9-3-19; Ord. No. 2023-04.06, 4-4-23)

The conversion of any residential structure for a non-residential use as the principal use of the building shall be subject to special use permit approval, even if the converted use in question is one of the permitted uses listed above.

1.

Any by-right use for which the establishment's storage or display is conducted outside of an enclosed building.

2.

Any individual use otherwise permitted hereinabove as a by-right use in the CB-C District, but which exceeds 20,000 square feet in lot coverage or a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.0, or any of the following uses:

3.

Any use incorporating drive-thru facilities.

4.

Bus and railroad terminals.

5.

Commercial recreation establishments (limited to indoor uses).

6.

Convenience stores (with or without gasoline services).

7.

Farmers' markets.

8.

Fast food restaurant.

9.

Laundromats/Dry cleaners.

10.

Multifamily and attached residential dwellings, as a principal use, subject the residential density regulations of the CB-C District and, otherwise, to MF-R and A-R District regulations.

11.

Private clubs and lodges.

12.

Private post office and delivery services.

13.

Public utilities.

14.

Repair service establishments, for any given repair service which employs more than ten (10) persons on the premises in a single shift and that all repair services are performed indoors.

15.

Schools, colleges and universities (public and private).

16.

Seasonal retail uses.

17.

Uses permitted by right or by special use permit with lot frontage on the Dan River.

18.

Visitor centers and public restroom facilities.

19.

Waiver of maximum floor area ratio.

20.

Waiver of minimum yard requirements.

21.

Waiver of maximum density for elderly housing.

22.

Kennels, commercial.

23.

Pet clinics.

24.

Veterinary clinics.

25.

Homeless shelter.

26.

Establishments for production, processing, fabrication, assembly, manufacturing, compounding, cleaning, servicing, storage, testing, repair and distribution of materials, goods or products which conform to federal, state and local environmental performance standards with screened outdoor storage permitted, limited to 50% of the area of building coverage (excepting those uses which are specifically prohibited by this article or which require a special use permit.)

27.

Funeral home.

28.

Accessory building or accessory use without a primary building being located on the parcel.

29.

Car washes.

30.

Waiver to maximum sign area.

31.

Waiver of maximum density.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § C, 2-17-04; Ord. No. 2005-02.02, 2-1-05; Ord. No. 2009-11.07, 11-5-09; Ord. No. 2012-05.06, 5-15-12; Ord. No. 2013-11.05, 11-19-13; Ord. No. 2014-11.09, 11-18-14; Ord. No. 2016-05.02, 5-5-16; Ord. No. 2019-12.03, 12-3-19; Ord. No. 2025-06.03, 6-3-25)

1.

Minimum district size: to conform with the official Zoning Map.

2.

Minimum lot area: Not regulated.

3.

Minimum lot width: Not regulated.

4.

No CB-C District lot shall be designed or employed for use in which an area more than 25% of the total lot area is comprised of either of the following physical land units: (a) wetlands and (b) water features.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § D, 2-17-04)

1.

Maximum building height:

a.

Non-residential uses: 80 feet.

b.

Residential uses, as an ancillary use within a commercial structure: 80 feet.

c.

Residential uses, as a primary use: variable, subject to applicable residential district regulations for specific use.

d.

Church spires: 110 feet.

e.

Accessory uses: 24 feet.

2.

Minimum yard requirements:

a.

Front yard: Not regulated; provided front yard dimensions shall conform to within twenty percent (20%) of the setback of the average of the existing, adjacent structures.

b.

Interior and street side yards: no setback except:

(1)

If the property's interior side yard abuts a residential zoning district, then the required setback is ten (10) feet; and

(2)

If the property's street side yard abuts an alley, then the required setback is five (5) feet.

c.

Rear yard: Not regulated; except rear yard shall be at least 10 feet where adjacent to any residential district.

3.

Maximum floor area ratio: 3.0, provided that the floor area ratio of any building may be increased to a maximum of 6.0 by special use permit.

4.

Maximum residential density:

a.

24 dwelling units per net acre for mixed-use structures containing residential dwellings with commercial uses on first floor.

b.

24 dwelling units per net acre for multifamily dwellings.

c.

30 dwelling units per net acre for assisted living, life-care and other forms of housing for the elderly.

d.

10 dwellings units per net acre for single family attached dwellings.

e.

5 dwelling units per net acre for single family detached dwellings.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § E, 2-17-04; Ord. No. 2022-02.01, Exh. A, 2-1-22)

1.

Not regulated for existing structures and uses.

2.

Landscaped open space shall be provided in accord with an approved site plan or subdivision plat.

3.

Stormwater management basins and structures and BMP facilities may be counted towards the minimum open space requirement provided that these basins, structures, and facilities include the appropriate landscaping and maintenance in accordance with the Landscape and Screening Regulations.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § F, 2-17-04)

1.

Notwithstanding governing lot size and yard regulations, the maximum use intensity for any conventional subdivision or lot shall be calculated based on existing land conditions. The yield of a subdivision shall be based on its net developable area, with adjustment factors for physical land units as specified in the table in the following section.

2.

The subdivision plat and/or site plan for a project shall graphically depict the location and area for the physical land units as outlined herein below. A calculation of the net developable area shall be required for all subdivision and site plan submissions.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § G, 2-17-04)

1.

Uses other than single family residential uses shall be subject to site plan approval.

2.

All refuse shall be contained in completely enclosed facilities. Refuse containers and refuse storage shall be located in a paved area and screened from public view by means of fences, wall, or landscaping.

3.

For any use adjacent to uses which in the opinion of the Planning and Zoning Administrator may be adversely affected by the creation of an additional curb cut, such use will require a special use permit.

4.

Off-street parking:

a.

Not withstanding the provisions of Article 8, Parking and Loading Requirements, there are no minimum off-street parking space requirements for downtown retail and non-residential uses in the CB-C District which do not exceed 20,000 square feet in lot coverage or a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.0.

b.

Off-street parking space requirements in accord with Article 8 shall be provided for downtown retail and non-residential uses in the CB-C District which exceed 20,000 square feet in lot coverage or a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.0.

c.

When on-site parking is to be provided on a lot in the CB-C District, such off-street parking shall comply with the Parking and Loading requirements per Article 8.

5.

Establishments offering outdoor dining shall be subject to the provisions regulating such uses in the City Ordinance.

6.

Refer to the Floodplain Zoning Overlay District, where applicable.

7.

Refer to Landscaping and Screening, where applicable.

8.

Refer to the Danville Historic District Design Guidelines and the HP-O District for additional design standards and criteria, where applicable. For properties located within the HP-O District, no site plan shall be approved by the Planning Commission prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness.

9.

Refer to the Signage regulations, where applicable.

10.

Any subdivision or lot which is proposed to be developed on shrink/swell soils shall require a geotechnical report to be submitted with the preliminary plat and plans. Such report shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer and shall address the feasibility of development on the subject soils. No subdivision plat or site plan shall be approved for final recordation until a foundation engineering report has been reviewed by the City. All recorded plats for lots containing shrink/swell soils shall bear the following note: "This lot contains shrink/swell soils which require special engineering design for foundations and structural elements. No structure will be approved for issuance of a building permit until a foundation engineering design prepared by a certified professional engineer has been approved for the proposed structure."

11.

Subject to special use permit approval, the outdoor area devoted to storage, loading and display of goods shall be limited to a maximum of 15% of the total lot area and as otherwise designated on an approved site plan. Outdoor storage, loading and display areas in excess of 15% may be approved under special circumstances when the applicant can demonstrate need and provide expanded and enhanced screening, buffers and landscaping.

(Ord. No. 2004-02.04, Art. 3.K, § H, 2-17-04)