The purpose of this chapter is to achieve the following:

1.

Provision of appropriate commercial areas for retail and service establishments, neighborhood and regional convenience and office uses required by residents of the city and the area in a manner consistent with the comprehensive plan;

2.

Provision of adequate space to meet the needs of commercial development, including off-street parking and loading;

3.

Minimize traffic congestion and encourage that utility services are available to support development consistent with the comprehensive plan;

4.

Protection of commercial areas from excessive noise, illumination, unsightliness, odor and smoke;

5.

Promotion of high standards of site planning for commercial retail and office developments within the city;

6.

Provision of employment opportunities for existing and future residents of the city and those of adjacent communities;

7.

Provision for land uses which meet the needs of and attract regional populations, in addition to local residents;

8.

Ensure compatibility with adjacent land uses.

(Ord. 543 § 1 (part), 2001)

Please refer to specific zoning designation for permitted and conditionally permitted uses.

(Ord. 543 § 1 (part), 2001)

A.

General Standards. The following standards are minimum unless stated as maximum. The standards shall apply to development in all commercial zoning, except as otherwise provided for in this title:

1.

There shall be no visible storage from adjacent right-of-way of motor vehicles, trailers, airplanes, boats, recreational vehicles, or their composite parts; loose rubbish, garbage, junk, or their receptacles; tents; equipment; or building materials in any portion of a lot. No storage shall occur on any vacant parcel.

2.

Outdoor storage yards shall be surrounded by a sight-obscuring fence at least six (6) feet high. The sight-obscuring fence is to have a normal maintenance in keeping with the character of adjacent development.

3.

Every parcel with an occupiable structure shall have a trash receptacle on the premises. The trash receptacle shall comply with adopted city standards and be of sufficient size to accommodate the trash generated by the use. The receptacle(s) shall be screened from public view on at least three sides by an opaque wall six (6) feet in height and on the fourth side by an opaque gate not less than five (5) feet in height. The gate shall be maintained in working order and shall remain closed except when in use. The wall and gate shall be architecturally compatible with the surrounding structures.

4.

All mechanical equipment should be screened in a manner which is architecturally integrated with the main structure. Vents, ducts, chimneys and steeples shall be exempt from this provision.

5.

All elevations of a building shall be of contiguous design.

6.

Outdoor paging systems shall be prohibited.

7.

All commercial development is encouraged to incorporate alternative transportation and transit into its site planning. Alternative transportation shall include pedestrian connections to adjacent land uses, bicycle lanes and parking facilities. Transit facilities shall be reviewed with community transit, to determine need and locations for commuter facilities, bus stops and shelters.

8.

All proposed commercial development projects should provide for safe continuous pedestrian walkways adjacent to structures, to prevent pedestrians from having to walk in driveways or roadways wherever possible.

9.

Commercial expansion of greater than fifty (50) percent of assessed value and/or new development which proposes and/or maintains an access to SR2 shall be required to prepare and submit a channelization, circulation and traffic study as part of the site plan review. Commercial expansion of greater than fifty (50) percent of assessed value and/or new development which creates eight (8) or more parking spaces may be required to prepare and submit a channelization, circulation and traffic study as part of the site plan review. The project applicant shall show that the amount of traffic generated complies with LOS standards adopted in the city's comprehensive plan. Property which abuts SR 2 shall be limited to one (1) point of direct access to the highway. All others shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) points of vehicular access on any one (1) arterial unless it can be demonstrated that additional points of vehicular access would not materially impede the flow of traffic on the adjoining streets or arterials.

10.

For all new development and expansions to existing development that increase the assessed value by:

a.

Fifty (50) percent or more; or

b.

Thirty (30) percent or more when abutting an arterial shall require street frontage improvements consisting of curb, gutter, sidewalks, and planting strips (as required by Chapter 16 GBMC). In areas that have site constraints that haven't been caused by the developer that limit these full improvements, alternative designs using paved walkways, parallel parking, landscape buffers, etc., may be considered. All street frontage improvements shall conform to city street and landscaping standards. Alternative designs such as meandering sidewalks and streetscapes may be considered in lieu of conventional designs.

11.

All on-site lighting shall be stationary, low glare and directed away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way. Light sources, including canopy, perimeter and flood lights shall be energy efficient, stationary and shielded or recessed within the roof canopy so that the service station shall be indirectly visible.

12.

On-site video games may be installed or operated on the premises without approval of a conditional use permit on a one (1) game per one thousand (1,000) square foot basis, or a total of one vide game machine if the store has less than one thousand (1,000) square feet. An applicant may install and operate more video game machines provided the following conditions are satisfied:

a.

Specified hours of operations, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.;

b.

On-site staff is over the age of eighteen (18); and

c.

Business has an public restroom on-site.

13.

Public pay telephones provided on-site shall not be capable of accepting incoming calls. Public telephones shall be featured with call out service only.

B.

Containment of Uses. All uses permitted in the commercial zones shall be entirely contained within a closed structure except the following:

1.

Public utility installations;

2.

Eating establishments where the space for outdoor public service is adjacent to the closed structure and does not disrupt vehicular traffic within or adjacent to the zone;

3.

Outdoor advertising structures;

4.

Parking and loading facilities;

5.

Plant nurseries;

6.

Outdoor storage areas, when in conjunction with an enclosed principal use;

7.

Permitted motor vehicle sales;

8.

Service stations and/or vehicle repair sales when in conjunction with an enclosed principal use.

C.

Commercial Zoning Specific Standards. The following specific standards shall apply to automobile sales, convenience stores, retail stores, drive-through restaurants, malls, mini self-storage, and fuel service stations in commercial zones.

1.

Automobile Sales. Automobile sales dealerships in the city must conform to the following standards:

a.

The minimum site area shall be nine thousand six hundred (9,600) square feet.

b.

All parts, accessories, etc., shall be stored within a fully enclosed structure.

c.

Service and associated car storage areas shall be completely screened from public view.

d.

An adequate on-site queuing area for service customers shall be provided. Required parking spaces may not be counted as queuing spaces.

e.

No vehicle service or repair work shall occur except within a fully enclosed structure. Openings of service bays shall be designed to minimize the visual intrusion onto adjoining properties and public roadways.

2.

Convenience Stores. The retail sale of groceries, staples, sundry items and/or alcoholic beverages where the gross floor area is less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet shall be constructed and operated in the following manner:

a.

The minimum site area shall be nine thousand six hundred (9,600) square feet except when on-site dispensing of automotive fuels is provided, the minimum site area shall be twelve thousand five hundred (12,500) square feet.

b.

The site shall have direct frontage along an arterial or collector street with two (2) developed points of access to site.

c.

No convenience store shall be located closer than five hundred (500) feet from an existing or previously approved convenience store, or an existing day care facility, elementary, junior high, senior high school, as measured from one (1) property line to another.

d.

The premises shall be kept in a neat and orderly condition at all times.

e.

If on-site dispensing of automotive fuels is provided, the design, location and operation of these facilities shall be consistent with the provisions of subsection (C)(7) of this section. Additionally, the cashier location shall provide direct visual or television monitor access to the pump islands and the vehicles parked adjacent to the islands.

f.

A bicycle rack shall be installed in a convenient location visible from the inside of the store.

g.

Each convenience store shall provide a public restroom located within the store.

3.

Retail Stores. The retail sale of groceries, staples, sundry items and/or alcoholic beverages where the gross floor area is two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet or larger shall be constructed and operated in the following manner:

a.

The minimum site area shall be nine thousand six hundred (9,600) square feet.

b.

The site shall have direct frontage along an arterial or collector street with two (2) developed point of access.

c.

The premises shall be kept in a neat and orderly condition at all times.

d.

Each retail store shall provide a public restroom located within the store.

4.

Drive-Through Restaurants. Drive-through restaurants shall be constructed and operated in the following manner:

a.

The minimum site area shall be nine thousand six hundred (9,600) square feet.

b.

Pedestrian walkways should not intersect the drive-through aisles, but where they do they shall have clear visibility, and they must be emphasized by enriched paving or striping.

c.

Drive-through aisles shall have a minimum twelve (12) feet in width on curves and a minimum often feet in width on straight sections.

d.

Drive-through aisles shall provide sufficient stacking area behind the menu board to accommodate a minimum of six (6) cars before the menu board.

e.

Landscaping shall screen drive-through or drive-in aisles from the public right-of-way and shall be used to minimize the visual impact of reader board signs and directional signs.

f.

Parking areas and drive-through aisle and structure shall be setback from the public right-of-way curb faces a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet.

g.

Menu boards shall be a maximum of thirty (30) square feet, with a maximum height of seven (7) feet, and shall face away from the street.

h.

Drive-through restaurants within an integrated shopping center shall have an architectural style consistent with the theme established in the center. The architecture of any drive-through restaurant must provide compatibility with surrounding uses in form, materials, colors, scale, etc.

i.

No drive-through aisles shall exit directly onto a public right-of-way

5.

Malls. (Multi-tenant shopping centers) shall comply with the following standards:

a.

All development and operational standards outlined in Section 17.30.030 (B), except for item No. 4 shall apply.

b.

The development shall provide internal continuity, uniformity, and compatibility relating to architectural design, vehicular and pedestrian access, and on-site provisions for landscaping, loading, parking and signage.

c.

To the extent feasible, the on-site vehicular circulation system shall provide continuity with adjacent and similar commercial developments.

6.

Mini-Self-Storage. Mini-self-storage facilities are subject to a conditional use permit as regulated by Chapter 17.72 GBMC and shall be constructed and operated in the following manner:

a.

The minimum site area shall be twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.

b.

The site shall be paved except for structures and landscaping.

c.

The site shall be completely enclosed with a minimum six-foot high fence, wall or vegetation barrier, except for points of ingress and egress (including emergency fire access, which shall be properly gated. The gate(s) shall be maintained in good working order and shall remain closed except when in use.

d.

No business activity shall be conducted other than the rental of storage spaces for inactive storage use.

e.

All storage shall be located within a fully enclosed structure(s). Outside storage of vehicles, boats and/or recreational vehicles shall be reviewed during permit review, and shall be allowed if adequate screening to adjacent properties is provided.

f.

No flammable or otherwise hazardous materials shall be stored on-site.

g.

Residential quarters for up to two managers or caretakers may be provided in the development.

h.

The development shall provide for two (2) parking spaces for the manager or caretaker, and a minimum of five spaces located adjacent or in a close proximity to the manager's quarters for customer parking.

i.

Aisle width shall be a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet between buildings to provide unobstructed and safe circulation.

j.

Storage facilities located adjacent to residential districts shall have their hours of operation restricted to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

7.

Fuel Service Stations. Service stations are subject to a conditional use permit as regulated by Chapter 17.72 GBMC and shall comply with the following standards:

a.

The minimum parcel size shall be nine thousand, six hundred (9,600) square feet.

b.

All activities and operations shall be conducted entirely within an enclosed structure, except a follows:

i.

The dispensing of petroleum products, water and air from pump islands,

ii.

The provision of emergency service of a minor nature,

iii.

The sale of items via vending machines which shall be placed next to the main structure in a designated area not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet, and which must be screened from public view.

c.

Pump islands shall be located a minimum of twenty (20) feet from a property line, however, a canopy or roof structure over a pump island may encroach up to ten (10) feet within this distance. Additionally, the cashier location shall provide direct visual or television monitor access to the pump islands and the vehicles parked adjacent to the islands.

d.

The maximum number of points of ingress/egress to any one street shall be two (2).

e.

There shall be a minimum distance of thirty (30) feet between curb cuts along a street frontage.

f.

Outside storage of motor vehicles is prohibited.

g.

No vehicle may be parked on the premises for the purpose of offering same for sale.

h.

Openings of service bays shall be designed to minimize the visual intrusion onto adjoining properties and public roadways.

i.

No used or discarded automotive parts or equipment, or disabled, junked or wrecked vehicles may be located in any open area outside the main structure.

j.

Restroom entrances viewable from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way shall be concealed from view by planters or decorative screening.

k.

All loading and pump island bay areas shall be constructed with concrete.

(Ord. 595 § 24, 2005; Ord. 543 § 1 (part), 2001)