Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Darien City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

44 NC Neighborhood Commercial District

§ 17.44.010 Description and purpose.

[Prior code § 17.0311(1)]
This district is intended to permit small scale commercial development which is compatible with the desired overall neighborhood community character of the area in general, and with adjacent residential development in particular. The desired neighborhood community character of the development is attained through landscape surface area ratio (LSR) requirements, and by restricting the maximum building size (MBS) of all buildings within each instance of this district to 5,000 square feet. Significant areas of landscaping are required in this district to ensure that this effect is achieved. In order to ensure a minimum of disruption to residential development, no development within this district shall take direct access to a local residential street or a residential collector street.
Rationale. This district is used to provide both convenience oriented goods and services and for the permanent protection of adjacent residential areas by permitting only a limited range of commercial activities. Together, these requirements ensure that the desired character is maintained as long as the NC district designation is retained, regardless of how much development occurs within that area.

§ 17.44.020 List of allowable land uses.

[Prior code § 17.0311(2)]
A. 
Land uses permitted by right:
Selective cutting (per Section 17.08.060).
Passive outdoor public recreation (per Section 17.10.010).
Office (per Section 17.12.010).
Personal or professional services (per Section 17.12.020).
Indoor sales or service (per Section 17.12.030).
Indoor maintenance service (per Section 17.12.050).
B. 
Land uses permitted as special use:
Cultivation (per Section 17.08.010).
Active outdoor public recreation (per Section 17.10.020).
Indoor institutional (per Section 17.10.030).
Public services and utilities (per Section 17.10.050).
C. 
Land uses permitted as conditional use:
Single-Family: eight-thousand-square-foot lot.
Twin house/duplex: 5,000 square feet per du.
Two-flat: eight-thousand-square-foot lot.
Townhouse: 3,600 square feet per du (up to 12 units).
Multiplex: 3,600 square feet per du (up to 12 units).
Apartment: 3,600 square feet per du (up to 12 units).
Institutional residential: 1,980 square feet per du (per Section 17.10.060).
Clear cutting (per Section 17.08.070).
Outdoor institutional (per Section 17.10.040).
Institutional residential: eight-thousand-square-foot lot (per Section 17.10.060).
Community living arrangement (one to eight residents) (per Section 17.10.070).
Community living arrangement (nine to 15 residents) (per Section 17.10.080).
Community living arrangement (16 or more residents) (per 17.10.090).
In-vehicle sales or service (per Section 17.12.070).
Indoor commercial entertainment (per Section 17.12.080).
Bed and breakfast establishments (per Section 17.12.120).
Group day care center (nine or more children) (per Section 17.12.130).
Boarding house (per Section 17.12.150).
D. 
Land Uses Permitted as Accessory Uses.
1. 
Land uses permitted by right:
Farm residence (per Section 17.20.030).
Detached garage or shed (per Section 17.20.040).
2. 
Land uses permitted as special use:
Home occupation (per Section 17.20.110).
3. 
Land uses permitted as conditional use:
Commercial apartment (per Section 17.20.020).
In-vehicle sales and service (per Section 17.20.080).
Light industrial incidental to indoor sales (per Section 17.20.100).
E. 
Land uses permitted as temporary uses:
General temporary outdoor sales (per Section 17.22.010).
Outdoor assembly (per Section 17.22.020).
Seasonal outdoor sales of products (per Section 17.22.030).

§ 17.44.030 Regulations applicable to residential uses.

[Prior code § 17.0311(3)]
For single-family dwellings see the RS-3 district; for two-family dwellings see the RD district; and for townhouse, multiplex, apartment and institutional residential development, see the RM district.
A. 
Residential density and intensity requirements: (see RS-3, RD, and RM).
B. 
Residential bulk requirements: (see RS-3, RD, and RM).
C. 
Residential landscaping requirements: not applicable for single-family. See nonresidential landscaping requirements for two- and multifamily residential.
D. 
Residential performance standards: (see Chapter 17.66).
E. 
Residential signage regulations: (see Chapter 17.62).

§ 17.44.040 Regulations applicable to nonresidential uses.

[Prior code § 17.0311(4)]
A. 
Nonresidential Density and Intensity Requirements.
Minimum zoning district area: 8,000 square feet.
Minimum landscape surface ratio (LSR): 25%.
Maximum building size (MBS): 5,000 square feet.
B. 
Nonresidential bulk requirements.
1. 
Minimum lot area: 8,000 square feet.
2. 
Minimum lot width: 66 feet.
3. 
Minimum street frontage: 50 feet.
4. 
Minimum setbacks: (Note Subsection (B)(5) of this section, along zoning district boundaries).
a. 
Building to front or street side lot line: 25 feet. Forty feet for a lot adjacent to a street with an officially mapped right-of-way equal to or exceeding 100 feet.
b. 
Building to residential side lot line: 10 feet.
c. 
Building to residential rear lot line: 25 feet.
d. 
Building to nonresidential side lot line: 10 feet.
e. 
Building to nonresidential rear lot line: 25 feet.
5. 
Peripheral setback: See Section 17.68.100(D), Table B along zoning district boundary.
6. 
Minimum paved surface setback: five feet from side or rear; 10 feet from street.
7. 
Minimum building separation: 20 feet.
8. 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
9. 
Minimum number of off-street parking spaces required on the lot: see parking lot requirements per specific land use in Chapters 17.06 through 17.24.
C. 
Nonresidential Landscaping Requirements (Nonresidential, Two- and Multifamily).
1. 
Forty landscaping points per 100 linear feet of building foundation.
2. 
Fifteen landscaping points per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.
3. 
Forty landscaping points per 100 linear feet of street frontage.
4. 
Eighty landscaping points per 10,000 square feet paved area/20 stalls.
D. 
Nonresidential performance standards: (see Chapter 17.66).
E. 
Nonresidential signage regulations: (see Chapter 17.62).