(a)   The B-4 Office Park/Research District and its regulations are established herein in order to achieve, among other, the following purposes:

      (1)   To encourage the logical development of land for office uses in accordance with the objectives in the Comprehensive Plan.

      (2)   To provide Office Park/Research Districts in appropriate and convenient locations to meet the needs of the City's expected future economy for research facilities and office uses.

      (3)   To protect residential neighborhoods adjacent to office uses by controlling the use, spacing, intensity, height and overall development of office sites.

      (4)   To ensure the highest quality of development which protects existing development from incompatible building and site designs and thereby maximizes the long-term marketability of the undeveloped sites in this district.

(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11.)

   (a)   No building and land shall be used, or building designed, erected, altered, moved or maintained, in whole or in part, in an Office Park/Research District, except for the uses set forth in Schedule 1274.02 and the following regulations:

   (b)   Accessory Uses Permitted.

      (1)   Incidental storage of materials within entirely enclosed building(s), when such materials are clearly accessory to the principal use;

      (2)   Signs as regulated by Chapter 1298;

      (3)   Off-street parking as required and set forth in Chapter 1284 of this Zoning Code;

      (4)   Loading facilities as set forth in Chapter 1284 of this Zoning Code;

      (5)   Supporting services in compliance with the following:

         A.   Limited to the sale of products or services that are intended to primarily meet the needs of the employees or patrons of the office uses. These are limited to: coffee shops and the sale of sundries (i.e., newspapers, magazines, candy, snacks).

         B.   Permitted only in an office building that has a minimum of twenty thousand (20,000) gross square feet.

         C.   Shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) square feet of floor area in any building.

         D.   Customer entrance must be through the public entrances to the office building, and shall not be provided through separate exterior building entrances.

         E.   Wholesale sales are not permitted directly from the premises.

         F.   No exterior signs advertising the supporting services are permitted.

      (6)   Restaurants and banks in compliance with the following:

         A.   Permitted only in an office building that has a minimum of forty thousand (40,000) gross square feet.

         B.   Only one (1) restaurant and one (1) bank shall be permitted per building.

         C.   The combined area of the bank and the restaurant shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total floor area of the building and shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the first floor of a building.

         D.   Customer entrance shall be through the public entrances to the office building, and shall not be provided through separate exterior building entrances.

         E.   Wholesale sales are not permitted directly from the premises.

         F.   The nearest portion of any building with a restaurant shall be at least four hundred (400) feet from a Residential District boundary.

         G.   Outdoor seating associated with a restaurant shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the indoor seating capacity of the restaurant.

         H.   Exterior signs shall only be permitted when in compliance with Chapter 1298.

(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11.)

   In the Office Park/Research District, all buildings and land shall abut a street for the required width. The minimum lot area and width and maximum lot coverage for each office, research, and production operation shall be in accordance with the following Schedule 1283.03:

 

 

(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11; Ord. 2017-061. Passed 11-20-17.)

   (a)   Setbacks shall be provided for every principal and accessory building in an Office Park/Research District in accordance with the following Schedule 1283.04 and this Chapter:

 

   (a)   Front Setback. Front setbacks shall be not less than that established in the above schedule unless shown otherwise on the Zoning Map. If a portion of the front yard is used for parking in accordance with the above schedule, a poured concrete curb or precast concrete barrier shall be erected or installed along the parking area line not less than the distance set forth above from the front property lines.

   (b)   Side and Rear Setback. Side and rear setbacks, where adjoining a Residential District, shall be provided as set forth in the above schedule and shall apply to all buildings, structures and parking and open yard uses.

   (c)   Side Setback on Corner Lot. Whenever a building is located on a corner lot, the width of the side setback on the side street shall be not less than fifty (50) feet. The parking setback from the side street shall be not less than thirty (30) feet.

   (d)   Location of Drives. No direct access shall be permitted onto Cleveland-Massillon Road or Ridgewood Road except for lots that have no other street access.

   (e)   Sidewalks. In any Office Park/Research District, pedestrian walking paths shall be reasonably provided between principal buildings, from principal building to accessory uses, and from principal buildings to the edge of the property, in order to create a continuous pedestrian system throughout the Office Park/Research District, and to other adjacent and nearby facilities that reasonably expect pedestrian access. Paths shall be hard surfaced and not less than five (5) feet in width.

(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11.)

   (a)   Principal buildings shall have a maximum height of four (4) floors provided that no part of the building including the roof exceeds sixty-five (65) feet. It is further required that the height of any principal building in any Office Park/Research District that is located between one hundred (100) feet and one hundred ninety-five (195) feet of property in a Residential District, which is either vacant or used for residential purposes, shall have a building height no greater than one-third (1/3) the width of that yard which adjoins such Residential District.

   (b)   Mechanical space for building equipment placed on the building roof may be allowed above the maximum height specified, provided such mechanical space and screening complies with the following:

      (1)   Does not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height;

      (2)   Complies also with subsection 1274.06(a)(1)F.;

      (3)   Is adequately screened from view; and

      (4)   Is approved by the Planning Commission.

(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11; Ord. 2018-003. Passed 2-20-18.)

   Landscaping, screening, and buffering shall be provided in accordance with the provisions set forth in Chapter 1296, Landscaping, Screening, and Open Space Regulations, and the following:

      (1)   Dumpsters. Trash and/or garbage collection and service areas shall be enclosed on all sides by a solid wall or fence and a gate at least one (1) foot higher than the highest refuse container in the collection area if such area is not within an enclosed building or structure, but in no case shall the wall be less than six (6) feet in height. Such solid wall or fence shall be situated so as to screen the view of the collection area from adjacent roads and properties. Such screening shall be constructed of brick, decorative concrete, natural wood, or other durable, long-lasting material and should be the same as or similar to those utilized on the principal building(s). These enclosures are to be located at least five (5) feet from the property line, unless otherwise specifically regulated in this Code. Supplemental plant materials shall be provided at a minimum height of five (5) feet to effectively screen fifty percent (50%) of the wall. Protective steel bollards shall be placed to protect the enclosure from trucks.

      (1)   Earth mounds shall be installed along these roads to give a consistent appearance and shall not be less than four (4) feet in height.

      (2)   Screening plantings shall be installed to supplement these mounds.

      (3)   Any combination of the above shall be acceptable provided the total height is nine (9) feet.

(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11; Ord. 2017-061. Passed 11-20-17; Ord. 2018-003. Passed 2-20-18.)

   (a)   In order to carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter, the Planning Commission shall review site plans that have been prepared for specific areas in the B-4 District. Plans submitted for review shall include the Plan Submission Requirements in Chapter 1240. Such site plans shall be developed in accordance with the criteria set forth in this chapter and in any other applicable provisions of this Zoning Code.

   (b)   Such plans may designate locations for temporary streets or access ways for a limited period until streets or access ways will be constructed at locations to comply with the traffic control requirements of this Zoning Code and the City's Code of Ordinances. After such plans are duly approved by the Planning Commission and Council, they shall be construed as being a part of this Zoning Code and compliance therewith is required unless modifications are subsequently approved by the Planning Commission and Council.

(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11.)