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Emmitsburg City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

20 - COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

17.20.010 - Intent.

A.

Neighborhood Commercial (B-1) District. The B-1 district is intended to permit a limited number of retail and service providers in close proximity to residential uses. This district is intended to encourage the provision of small, safe, attractive, and well located shopping areas amendable to pedestrian use, in a manner that will make them compatible with adjacent residential areas.

B.

General Commercial (B-2) District. The B-2 district is intended to accommodate retail, service, office, entertainment, and limited manufacturing/assembly. It is intended that stores and other facilities will be developed in an attractive and convenient manner with particular attention paid to the safety of pedestrian access and the protection of adjoining residential areas. It is essential that this district have vehicular accessibility from both the central community and the region and that safe and adequate off-street parking and loading are provided.

(Prior code Art. XI (Art. VI intro))

(Ord. No. 10-08, 5-17-10; Ord. No. 20-09, 10-5-20)

17.20.020 - Uses permitted in the neighborhood commercial (B-1) district.

Permitted uses in the neighborhood commercial (B-1) district are as follows:

A.

Lodging, bed and breakfast, rooming house.

B.

Small scale retail business and service providers. Drive-through service is not allowed.

C.

Food service, such as, but not limited to, restaurants, coffee shops, and similar uses, either as a principal use or as one use within a mixed-use structure, such as a convenience store. Drive-through service is not allowed.

D.

Business and Professional Office. Medical and dental offices and clinics, law offices, insurance and real estate offices, banks, finance, consultant, utility company offices, and the like. Animal hospitals and clinics with no open kennels.

E.

Children's nursery, prekindergarten, and other private schools.

F.

Accessory uses or buildings.

G.

Business and advertising signs in accordance with Chapter 17.38.

H.

Residential use in existence as of January 1, 2015 may continue as residential use.

(Prior code Art. XI (Art. VI § 1.0))

(Ord. No. 10-08, 5-17-10; Ord. No. 15-01, 6-15-15; Ord. No. 20-09, 10-5-20)

17.20.030 - Uses permitted in the general commercial (B-2) district.

Any use permitted in the neighborhood commercial (B-1) district as well as the following uses:

A.

Financial institutions, such as bank, savings and loan office; credit union;

B.

Retail business;

C.

Repair services, including, but not limited to electronics, appliances, and small engines;

D.

Automobile service garage or service station;

E.

Automobile sales;

F.

Restaurant, and café, including entertainment activities;

G.

Funeral home;

H.

Accessory uses or buildings;

I.

Car wash;
Water recycling system is required. At least eighty (80) percent of the water must be reclaimed.

J.

Fire, rescue, and emergency service department or company;

K.

Greenhouse or nursery, commercial;

L.

Assembly or light manufacture with no storage, emissions, or noise outside the structure;

M.

Hospital or clinic;

N.

Tavern, night club;

O.

Hotel, motel and associated accessory uses, such as, but not limited to, conference facilities and exercise facilities;

P.

Conference center;

Q.

Place of worship, theater or auditorium;

R.

Recreational facility;

S.

Business and advertising signs in accordance with Chapter 17.38.

(Ord. 03-01: Prior code Art. XI (Art. VI § 2.0))

(Ord. No. 10-08, 5-17-10; Ord. No. 11-08, 5-16-11; Ord. No. 17-10, 9-5-17; Ord. No. 20-09, 10-5-20)

17.20.040 - Reserved.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 10-08, adopted May 17, 2010, deleted 17.20.040, which pertained to uses permitted in the HS highway service district and derived from prior code art. XI(art. VI, § 3.0).

17.20.050 - Reserved.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 10-08, adopted May 17, 2010, deleted 17.20.050, which pertained to special exceptions in the business district and derived from prior code art. XI(art. VI, § 4.0); Ord. 01-13; and Ord. 02-05.

17.20.060 - Required lot area, lot width and yards in commercial districts.

Required lot area, lot width and yards in commercial districts are as follows:

Minimum Lot Area (square feet) Minimum Lot Width (feet) Front Yard Depth (feet) Each Side Yard (feet) Rear Yard Depth (feet)
Neighborhood commercial district (B-1) Not specified Not specified 25 10; 35 where it adjoins residential district 25; 35 where it adjoins residential district
General commercial district (B-2) Not specified Not specified 25 10 25

 

(Prior code Art. XI (Art. VI § 5.0)

(Ord. No. 10-08, 5-17-10; Ord. No. 20-09, 10-5-20)

17.20.070 - Building height regulation in commercial districts.

A.

In the B-1 district, no building shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.

B.

In the B-2, no building shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.

C.

Mechanical systems accessory and necessary to the building function are not included in the height restrictions.

(Prior code Art. XI (Art. VI § 6.0)

(Ord. No. 10-08, 5-17-10)

17.20.080 - Off-street parking and loading.

There shall be provided in the business districts adequate off-street parking and loading in accordance with the schedule in Chapter 17.08.

(Prior code Art. XI (Art. VI § 7.0))

17.20.090 - Commercial district buffer.

Where a commercial zoning district is adjacent to a residential zone, a buffer zone will be provided by the commercial property owner, as follows:

A.

Landscaping, buffer yards, and screening will be installed and maintained in accordance with Section 16.16.110 and Section 17.08.220, as amended.

(Ord. No. 15-02, 6-15-15; Ord. No. 19-08, 1-6-20; Ord. No. 20-09, 10-5-20)