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Editor’s Note: The title of Part 10 was amended pursuant to Ord. 975, 6/16/2016.
Elizabethtown City Zoning Code
PART 10
G-C GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT 1
§ 1001 Intended Purpose.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.1; as amended by Ord. 975, 6/16/2016]
The General Commercial District seeks to accommodate the needs for distribution of goods and services to the consumer in a retail and/or professional office setting in accordance with the Regional Strategic Plan. This district generally coincides with public utility service areas and is within the Designated Growth Area. The district seeks to properly manage business development to provide for efficient and safe transportation and compatibility with neighboring uses. The uses provided in this district are meant to serve local residents as well as those motorists passing through the area.
§ 1002 Permitted Uses.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.2; as amended by Ord. 882, 2/15/2007; and by Ord. 946, 3/21/2013]
1.
Dwelling units when accessory and incidental to a permitted nonresidential use.
2.
Financial institutions; business and professional offices.
3.
Eating establishments.
4.
Any retail business whose principal activity is the sale of merchandise in an enclosed building.
5.
Funeral homes.
6.
Retail sales in which both a workshop and repair shop and retail showroom are required.
7.
Motels, hotels, and bed-and-breakfast establishments.
8.
Studios or galleries for the display and/or instruction of dance, art, music or similar cultural pursuits.
9.
Movie theaters and performing arts theaters.
10.
Indoor recreational facilities, excluding video arcades.
11.
Bakery, candy, pastry, confectionery or ice cream retail sales, with minor related processing permitted.
12.
Bus passenger stations.
13.
Automobile service stations.
14.
Automobile garages for the storage and repair of motor vehicles, but not automobile body shops.
15.
Vehicular sales establishments.
16.
Car washes.
17.
Florists, greenhouses, roadside produce markets, or nurseries, provided that all incidental equipment and supplies, including fertilizers and empty cans, are kept within a building.
18.
Fitness centers.
19.
Medical centers, dental offices or chiropractic clinics.
20.
Municipal buildings and facilities.
21.
Public utility and communication uses where operation requirements necessitate locating within the district.
22.
Laundromats.
23.
Retail pet shops.
24.
Outdoor eating activity as an accessory use to a permitted principal use.
§ 1003 Special Exceptions.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.3; as amended by Ord. 882, 2/15/2007; and by Ord. 946, 3/21/2013]
The following special exceptions may be permitted by the Zoning Hearing Board, following review and comment by the Planning Commission, pursuant to standards and criteria as set forth in the supplemental regulations, Part 13, and the special exception regulations, Part 14:
§ 1004 Conditional Uses.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.4; as amended by Ord. 856, 3/17/2005, § 2; and by Ord. 882, 2/15/2007]
The following conditional use may be permitted by Borough Council, following review and comment by the Planning Commission, pursuant to standards and criteria as set forth in the supplemental regulations, Part 13, and the conditional use regulations, Part 15:
A.
Shopping centers.
B.
Clubs, lodges and fraternal organizations.
C.
Permitted uses that involve construction or the modification of structures, buildings, and/or uses that result in structures, buildings, or uses in excess of 10,000 square feet (gross floor area or gross square footage). Conditional use review is pursuant to the standards and criteria set forth in § 1516.
§ 1005 Accessory Uses.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.5]
An accessory structure or use on the same lot which is customarily incidental to a permitted principal use is permitted. Each accessory use shall comply with the provisions contained in this Part and the supplemental regulations.
§ 1006 Use Restrictions.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.7]
The above specified uses shall be permitted only under the following conditions.
A.
Such stores, shops and businesses shall be conducted within an enclosed building, except as otherwise permitted in accordance with the supplemental regulations.
B.
Such uses, operations or products are not obnoxious or offensive by reason of the emission of gas, odor, dust, smoke, noise, vibration, refuse matter or other causes in accordance with the supplemental regulations.
C.
There shall be no manufacturing, compounding, processing or treatment of products other than that which is clearly incidental and essential to the retail store, and when all such products are sold on the premises.
§ 1007 Outside Storage and Display.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.7]
Outside storage and display when accessory to a permitted use shall be allowed provided that the following provisions are met:
A.
Outside storage or display shall not occupy any part of a street (or alley) right-of-way and no other area intended or designed for vehicular or pedestrian use, required parking areas or required front yard.
B.
Outside storage or display area shall occupy an area of less than 1/2 of the existing building coverage. In no case shall more than 25% of the lot area be used for outside storage or display.
C.
Outside storage areas shall be shielded from view from all public streets in an appropriate manner.
§ 1008 Height Regulations.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.8]
The height of a building shall not exceed 35 feet.
§ 1009 Lot Area, Lot Width and Impervious Coverage Regulations.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.9]
Lot area, lot width and impervious coverage requirements of not less that the following dimensions shall be provided for each structure or use hereafter erected, established or altered for any use permitted within this district:
§ 1010 Setback Regulations.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.10]
The following setback regulations apply to all uses permitted within this district unless otherwise specified herein:
A.
Front yard: 30 feet.
B.
Side yards: 10 feet. No side yard shall be required where structures abut one another, provided that a written agreement is entered into by such property owners and submitted to the Zoning Officer. However, in no case shall common party walls be permitted between properties of separate ownership.
C.
Rear yard: 25 feet.
D.
Buffer yards/screen plantings shall be provided in accordance with the supplemental regulations.
§ 1011 Off-street Parking/Access and Loading/Unloading.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.11]
Off-street parking/access and loading/unloading shall be provided in accordance with Part 16.