To create a zone which:

1.

Provides for basic retail, commercial, and office service uses in addition to those uses normally permitted in downtown locations. These commercial uses may be relatively large or intense in nature and require convenient access.

2.

Their proximity and location in relation to residential districts should be carefully considered in order to avoid any adverse impact on the residential areas.

(Ord. 2015-04, 11/10/2015)

Editor's note— Ord. 2019-02, adopted Feb. 12, 2019, repealed § 15.14.020 which derived from Ord. 2015-04, adopted Nov. 10, 2015, and Ord. 2018-05, adopted Sept. 11, 2018.

Minimum Lot and Development Standards

*Chimneys, flagpoles, church towers and other similar structures in excess of 27 feet, not used for human occupancy may be allowed on a case by case basis with a conditional use permit.

1.

Structures to have access. All structures shall be on a lot adjacent to a public street or with access to an approved private street, and shall be so located on lots as to provide safe and convenient access for emergency services.

2.

Adequate space must be provided for snow removal, storm water and drainage.

3.

No trash, used materials, or wrecked or abandoned vehicles or equipment shall be stored in an open area. Trash collection and recycling areas, service areas, mechanical equipment and loading docks shall be screened on all sides so that no portion of such areas are visible from public streets, alleys or adjacent properties. Required screening may include new and existing planting, walls, fences, screen panels, doors, topographic changes, buildings, horizontal separation, or any combination thereof.

4.

Signs. All signs in the General Commercial shall be in accordance with KMC 15.25 of this land use ordinance.

5.

**Building must have a five-foot side setback from the edge of a finished roof.

6.

Development must meet architectural and design guidelines found in 15.21.040.

7.

***Only existing single family dwelling units are permitted in the GC zone. All existing homes as of the adoption of this section are legal non-complying structures and must follow the guidelines as outlined in 15.27.070, as modified below:

a.

A non-complying structure may be continued by the present or a future property owner.

b.

The owner of a single family dwelling unit may voluntarily demolish and reconstruct or restore the single family dwelling unit so long as the reconstructed single family dwelling unit complies with current setback, height and other restrictions as defined in the Kamas Municipal Code.

c.

The owner of a single family dwelling unit may remodel and expand so long as such reconstruction conforms to current setback, height and other restrictions and Section 15.35 as applicable in the Kamas Municipal Code.

d.

Once a single family dwelling unit is used for a permitted non-residential use, the structure loses its legal non-complying status and may only be used as permitted by applicable zoning.

(Ord. 2015-04, 11/10/2015; Ord. No. 2021-10, § 1(Exh. A), 12/14/2021; Ord. 2022-09, § 1(Exh. A), 5/10/2022; Ord. No. 2023-01, § 1(Exh. A), 3/14/2023)

Fencing in the General Commercial Zone shall be handled on a case by case basis as approved by the planning commission. No fence, wall, hedge or similar structure in excess of 42 inches in height which will prevent a clear view to automobile drivers of approaching vehicles or pedestrians shall be placed in such a way as to obstruct clear vision. On corner lots, this distance shall be 25 feet from the point of intersection of the street right-of-way lines.

A decorative wall or fence at least six feet in height shall be erected along all property lines which lie adjacent to a residential zone.

(Ord. 2015-04, 11/10/2015)

The operation of any use permitted in this district is subject to the following standards of performance:

1.

All uses must be operated so that all practical means are used to confine any noise, odor, dust, smoke, vibration or other similar feature to the premises upon which they are located.

2.

Any light used to illuminate signs, parking areas, or for any other purpose shall be non-glaring, energy efficient and so arranged as to confine direct light beams to the lighted property by appropriate directional hooding.

(Ord. 2015-04, 11/10/2015)

Parking standards in KMC 15.25, Parking, also apply to the following on-site parking requirements. Lighting standards are required for lots that require more than 25 spaces and are outlined in KMC 15.25.090.

The planning commission may, upon application by the owner or lessee of any property, authorize the joint use of parking facilities under the conditions specified in KMC 15.25.060.

(Ord. 2015-04, 11/10/2015; Ord. 2018-05, 9/11/2018; Ord. No. 2022-05, § 1(Exh. A), 2/22/2022; Ord. No. 2023-06, § 1, 10/10/2023; Ord. No. 2024-01, 1/9/2024; Ord. No. 2025-09, § 1 (Exh. A), 9/23/2025)

The landscaping requirements found in this section are in addition to any other landscaping requirements found in KMC 15.24 of this land use ordinance. Each applicant for commercial development shall submit a complete and detailed landscaping plan for review by the Kamas City Planning Commission concurrently with the submission of other documents and plans.

All setback areas adjacent to a public street shall be fully landscaped and properly maintained. Trees shall be planted at the rate of at least one tree per 30 lineal feet along the public street. The applicant shall provide appropriate guarantees on the trees, and shall have no less than a 1½ inch to two inch in caliper in size. Trees may be planted in clusters to create a more natural and/or screening effect, if appropriate.

All disturbed ground areas shall contain grass, or another ground cover acceptable to the planning commission, and shall be sufficiently irrigated. Shrubs, flowerbeds, bark mulch, and other appropriate ground cover is highly encouraged. All landscaped areas shall be maintained using a sprinkling and/or irrigation system which is capable of being engaged automatically on a regular basis.

Parking areas shall be screened from public view using a landscaped berm, decorative screening wall, planted hedge, or other like manner as approved by the planning commission.

(Ord. 2015-04, 11/10/2015)