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Johnston City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 169

NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

169.01 APPLICATION

The restrictions, regulations, standards and guidelines in this Chapter for land use and development shall apply to the following zoning districts within the City:

C-1Neighborhood Commercial District
C-2Community Commercial District
C-3Regional Commercial District
E-1Office Employment District
E-2General Employment District
M-1Light Industrial District
M-2General Industrial District

Effective on: 5/1/2023

169.02 DISTRICT INTENTS

The following statements specify the intents of the zoning districts established to regulate areas of the City considered appropriate for non-residential uses:

  1. 1.
    Neighborhood Commercial District. The intent of the C-1 District is to accommodate low intensity commercial retail and service uses that serve the needs of nearby residents.
  2. 2.
    Community Commercial District. The intent of the C-2 District is to provide a broad range of commercial and retail uses and services which are intended to serve the community market area.
  3. 3.
    Regional Commercial District. The intent of the C-3 District is to accommodate medium and high intensity commercial uses with access and visibility to major streets and which are intended to serve the regional market area. This district should be located away from residential areas.
  4. 4.
    Office Employment District. The intent of the E-1 District is to provide a suitable environment for employment centers, offices, workplaces, and associated complementary uses. This district is meant to accommodate traditional employment uses, as well as reflect the changing workplace environment. Specific design standards for this district encourage high quality exterior design techniques which yield visual attractiveness.
  5. 5.
    General Employment District. The intent of the E-2 District is to provide a suitable environment for a wide variety of employment uses including retail, service, office, and warehousing with a strong focus on the physical attributes of a site. Specific design standards for this district promote flexibility of use within a structure while encouraging high quality exterior design techniques which yield visual attractiveness.
  6. 6.
    Light Industrial District. The intent of the M-1 District is to provide areas of the City suitable for light industrial uses such as assembly, fabrication, and processing of goods and materials, where industrial activities are conducted primarily within buildings and where the byproducts of industrial activities, such as noise, odors, smoke, and storage are generally confined within buildings and ordinarily do not have nuisance impacts on surrounding properties.
  7. 7.
    General Industrial District. The intent of the M-2 District is to provide areas of the City suitable for moderate to heavy industrial uses such as manufacturing, assembly, processing, warehousing, and distribution which generally require larger land areas, significant exterior operation or storage of equipment and materials, and/or where the byproducts of industrial activities, such as noise, odors, smoke, and storage, may have nuisance impacts on surrounding properties.

Effective on: 5/1/2023

169.03 USE REGULATIONS

  • 1.
    General Provisions
    1. A.
      When a property is located within the boundaries of one (1) or more overlay districts, the most restrictive use provision among the overlay and base zoning districts shall apply.
    2. B.
      All uses are subject to any other applicable provision of this Zoning Ordinance and any other chapter of this Code of Ordinances including but not limited to the following:
      1. 1.
        Off-Street Parking and Loading. See CHAPTER 180.
      2. 2.
        Landscaping and Open Space requirements. See CHAPTER 181.
      3. 3.
        Buffer requirements. See CHAPTER 182.
      4. 4.
        Architectural standards. See CHAPTER 185.
      5. 5.
        Sign regulations. See CHAPTER 187.
      6. 6.
        Site Plan requirements. See CHAPTER 190.
  • 2.
    Use Tables
    1. A.
      Table 169.1 Principal Uses and Table 169.2 Accessory Uses list land uses and indicate whether they are permitted, permitted with standards, permitted with Site Plan Review, special, temporary, or prohibited in each zoning district. The tables also include references to whether additional use specific standards are applicable to that use. The following definitions shall be referenced when using Tables 169.1 and 169.2:
      1. 1.
        Permitted Use - a “P” in a cell of the use table indicates that the land use is allowed by right in the zoning district.
      2. 2.
        Permitted with Standards Use – a “PS” in a cell of the use table indicates that the land use is allowed in the zoning district as long as certain use-specific standards as described in Chapters 176 and 177 are met.
      3. 3.
        Site Plan Review – an “SPR” in a cell of the use table indicates that the land use is allowed in the zoning district only upon approval of a Site Plan Review as described in CHAPTER 190 LAND USE PROCEDURES and in compliance with any use-specific standards identified in Chapters 176 and 177.
      4. 4.
        Special Use – an “S” in a cell of the use table indicates that the land use is allowed in the zoning district only upon approval of a Special Use Permit as described in CHAPTER 190 LAND USE PROCEDURES and in compliance with any use-specific standards identified in Chapters 176 and 177.
      5. 5.
        Temporary Use – a “T” in the cell of the use table indicates that the land use is a temporary use. These uses are regulated by the procedures and standards listed in CHAPTER 178 TEMPORARY USES.
      6. 6.
        Prohibited Use – a blank cell in the use table indicates that the land use is prohibited in that zoning district.
    2. B.
      In the event a proposed use is not listed in the use table, the Zoning Administrator shall make a determination if the use is consistent by type, intensity, physical characteristics, style, size, and purpose with any use listed in Tables 169.1 and 169.2.
      1. 1.
        If found to be consistent with a listed use, the proposed use shall be treated the same as the listed use.
      2. 2.
        If the proposed use is not found to be consistent with any listed use, the Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, or property owner may request an amendment to this Chapter to provide for the proposed use.
    3. C.
      Table 169.1 Principal Uses
  • Table 169.1 Principal UsesCommercialEmploymentIndustrialUse Specific Standards Reference
    C‐1C‐2C‐3E‐1E‐2M‐1M‐2 
    Accessory dwelling unit       177.01
    Accessory retailPSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.02
    Accessory retail, temporaryTTTTTTT177.02
    Accessory structurePSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.03
    Car wash SPRSPRSPRSPRSPRSPR177.04
    Central utility plant or electrical generatorPSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.05
    Child care home        
    Child development home        
    Community gardenPP P    
    Construction‐related temporary useTTTTTTT 
    Cylinder recharging  SPRSPRSPRSPRSPR 
    DeckPSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.06
    Drive‐through facilitySPRSPRSPRSPRSPR  177.07
    Fireworks salesTTTTTTT 
    Food/beverage standTTTTTTT 
    Garden centerTTTTTTT 
    Greenhouse        
    Home occupation       177.08
    Keeping of animals, domestic       177.09
    Keeping of animals, non‐domestic       177.09
    Keeping of beesPSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.10
    Mobile food unitTTTTTTT 
    Outdoor diningPSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.11
    Outdoor displayPSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.12
    Outdoor storage   SPRSPRSPRSPR177.13
    Produce standTTTTTTT 
    Recreational amenity, private        
    Remote work        
    Residential swimming pool       177.14
    Seasonal roadside stand        
    Short‐term vacation rental       177.15
    SignPSPSPSPSPSPSPSCh. 187
    Small‐scale solar energy generation systemPSPSPSPSPSPSPS177.16
    Small‐scale wind energy systemSSSSSSS177.17
    Storage of gasoline, fuel oil, or their derivativesSSPRSPRSPRSPRSPRSPR177.18
    Technical training facilityPPPPPPP 
    Wellness, fitness, or exercise facilityPPPPPPP 

    Effective on: 5/1/2023

    169.04 LOT DIMENSIONS

  • 1.
    All lot dimension standards listed in this Section are subject to the exemptions listed in CHAPTER 167 Introduction to Zoning Districts.
  • 2.
    Table 169.3 establishes the minimum lot area and lot width requirements for each zoning district.
  • Table 169.3 Lot Dimensions
    Districts Min. Lot Width (ft.)Min. Lot Area (sq. ft.)
    CommercialC-110020,000
    C-210020,000
    C-310020,000
    EmploymentE-110020,000
    E-210020,000
    IndustrialM-110020,000
    M-210020,000

    Effective on: 5/1/2023

    169.05 SITE DIMENSIONS

  • 1.
    All site dimension standards listed in this Section are subject to the exceptions specified in CHAPTER 167 Introduction to Zoning Districts.
  • 2.
    Table 169.4 establishes the minimum site dimension standards for each zoning district.
  • Table 169.4 Site Dimensions
    DistrictsFront Setback Minimum (ft.)Side Setback Minimum (ft.)Corner Side Setback Minimum (ft.)Rear Setback Minimum (ft.)Maximum Building Height
    CommercialC-1301012035Lesser of 35 ft. or 3 stories
    C-230101,22035Lessor of 50 ft. or 4 stories3
    C-330101,22035Lesser of 60 ft. or 5 stories3
    EmploymentE-1301012035Lessor of 50 ft. or 4 stories3
    E-230101,22035Lesser of 60 ft. or 5 stories3
    IndustrialM-150101,22050Lessor of 50 ft. or 4 stories 3
    M-250101,22050None

    Effective on: 5/1/2023