1.

The Casino Entertainment (C-E) Zoning District establishes standards and conditions for the development and operation of an entertainment and/or casino gaming establishment including accessory uses while promoting the public health, safety, and general welfare insuring development is compatible with existing and anticipated land uses.

2.

Because of the special characteristics of a C-E district, in particular casino gaming establishments, development in this district requires flexibility in signage, exterior lighting, and other standards not typically permitted elsewhere in the City.

Entertainment establishment and/or casino gaming establishment including accessory uses, buildings, and structures customarily subordinate, incidental, and on the premises of such entertainment and/or casino gaming establishment, such as, but not limited to, a hotel and conference center.

1.

Waiver of yard requirements.

2.

Waiver of district size.

3.

Waiver for increase of maximum building height above 250 feet.

1.

The minimum C-E district size is 75 acres.

2.

The minimum lot area in a C-E district is 25 acres.

1.

Maximum building height: 250 feet.

2.

Buildings 200 feet or taller must be set back from any non-building structures that are 200 feet or taller by at least 100 feet. Buildings under 200 feet tall must be set back from any non-building structures that are 200 feet or taller by at least 50 feet.

3.

Minimum yard requirements:

a.

Front yard: 60 feet.

b.

Interior and street side yards: 40 feet.

c.

Rear yard: 40 feet.

(Ord. No. 2022-02.01, Exh. A, 2-1-22)

1.

Notwithstanding applicable provisions of Article 8, Parking and Loading Requirements, there are no minimum off-street parking space requirements for developments in the C-E zoning district.

2.

Off-street parking areas and drives may encroach in to the front yard setback but must not extend into the required ten-foot landscape strip.

3.

Electric Vehicle Parking.

a.

At least ten (10) of the provided parking spaces must have electric vehicle charging stations.

b.

At least 20 of the provided parking spaces must be constructed to accommodate future electric vehicle charging stations.

1.

Development in the C-E district, in particular casino gaming establishments, has unique needs for exterior lighting that require flexibility and would not typically be permitted in other areas of the City.

2.

Exterior lighting must comply with local, state, and federal regulations and must not interfere with any public roadways.

3.

Exterior lighting must comply with Code of Virginia Ch. 12, Title 33.2.

4.

All development in a C-E district must comply with Chapter 41, Article 11 with the following exceptions:

a.

Maximum illumination levels are measured at the exterior boundaries of the district and not at any property boundaries within the district.

b.

Upwardly directed lighting may be used to illuminate buildings, structures, and landscaping in the district.

c.

Awnings or canopies used for building accents over doors, windows, etc., may be internally illuminated (i.e. from underneath or behind the awning).

d.

Searchlights operated within the C-E district must comply with the following regulations:

i.

Searchlights must not be operated so as to constitute a traffic hazard or a nuisance.

ii.

Searchlights must be so operated so as to avoid directing the beam at any building.

iii.

Searchlight beams must not be displayed at an angle greater than 45 degrees from the perpendicular.

iv.

Searchlights must not operate between 12:00 a.m. midnight and 5:00 p.m.

1.

Each C-E district permits up to four freestanding signs with a maximum sign area of 400 square feet each. An additional area not exceeding 200 square feet may be devoted to architectural elements that serve as support or base for each sign and are not part of the message portion of the sign. The maximum freestanding sign height is 40 feet.

2.

Each C-E District may also permit up to four off-site freestanding signs. Off-site freestanding signs are limited in area to 75 square feet. An additional area not exceeding 100 square feet may be devoted to architectural elements that serve as support or base for such sign and are not part of the message portion of the sign. The maximum off-site freestanding sign height is 30 feet.

3.

The combined area of wall, projecting, awning, canopy or marquee signs must not exceed 50 percent of any building façade area. The Zoning Administrator must approve that the signage is of an appropriate scale, incorporated into the building's architectural features, and made of durable materials.

4.

Entryway features that may include one monument/wayfinding sign up to 50 square feet are permitted at each driveway. An additional area not exceeding 25 square feet may be devoted to architectural elements that serve as support or base for such sign and are not part of the message portion of the sign. The maximum entryway sign height is eight feet.

5.

Electronic message boards may be permitted as a part of on-site freestanding and entryway monument signs.

1.

The exterior noise limits for any source of noise in any C-E zone cannot exceed between 70 dBA between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. midnight, when measured at the property line of a residential zone.

2.

The exterior noise limits for any source of noise in any C-E zone must be reduced between 12:00 a.m. midnight and 9:00 a.m. so that when measured at the property line of a residential zone the noise does not exceed 50 dBA.

1.

A minimum ten-foot landscaped buffer must be provided along any property line abutting a street right-of-way. Driveways, utility easements and sidewalks are allowed to encroach into the landscaped buffer.

2.

A minimum 25-foot landscaped buffer must be provided along any property line abutting a residential zoning district.

3.

Ten percent of each development must be open space. Open space does not include building footprints, parking and drive aisles, and any other areas not accessible to the public.

4.

If a C-E district is within 300 feet of a City-designated non-motorized trail, then the development must provide a ten-foot wide shared-use paved path from the development's buildings to the property line closest to the non-motorized trail.

1.

All building exteriors must be clad in durable materials. Vinyl siding/cladding is prohibited exterior building material.

2.

All dumpsters that are visible from a public road must be fully screened. The screening structure must consist of a masonry unit design enclosure and/or materials to match the adjacent building and a metal gate(s) that screens the view of the dumpster.

3.

No driveway may be located within 200 feet of another driveway.

4.

On a corner lot, no curb cut may be closer than 300 feet of the right-of-way extended from the nearest intersecting street.

(Ord. No. 2021-05.04, 5-4-21)