Lacey City Zoning Code
16.27 General
Commercial District
16.27.010 Intent.
It is the intent of this chapter to:
A. Permit, in designated areas, commercial uses and activities which depend more heavily on convenient vehicular access than pedestrian access, and which do not require locations in other commercial districts, or which may be inappropriate in other commercial districts;
B. Limit location of general commercial areas to sites having safe and efficient access to major transportation routes;
C. Identify the types of commercial uses appropriate or acceptable in the general commercial district;
D. Provide development standards to enhance the efficient operation of these districts, and to achieve minimum adverse impact on the community as a whole, especially on adjacent properties having different land use characteristics. (Ord. 583 §2.19(A), 1980).
16.27.020 Permitted uses.
A. Specific types of uses permitted in this district are those commercial activities which are more dependent on direct vehicular access than the activities permitted in other districts, including the following:
1. Retail and commercial establishments such as:
a. Food stores and drug (variety) stores;
b. Building, hardware, and garden materials;
c. Auto supply stores;
d. Gasoline service stations;
e. Liquor stores;
f. Used good retail stores;
g. Sporting goods and related stores;
h. Books and stationery, video, and art supply stores;
i. Hobby, toy and game shops;
j. Photographic and electronics stores;
k. Fabric stores;
l. Florists;
m. Pet shops;
n. Bulk retail stores;
o. Personal services;
p. Professional and business services;
q. Banks and financial offices;
r. Greenhouses and garden materials;
s. Other similar retail, professional and business uses as approved by the site plan review committee;
2. Sales and/or servicing of:
a. Appliances and home furnishings;
b. Automotive equipment;
c. Boats and marine equipment;
d. Building contractors, including plumbing, electrical, etc.;
e. Campers, manufactured homes and trailers;
f. Car washes and service stations;
g. Farm equipment and supplies;
h. Lumber yards and hardware;
i. Laundry and dry cleaning, both commercial and self-service;
3. Eating and drinking places, including drive-ins;
4. Commercial recreation, such as:
a. Personal amusement or recreation establishments such as those featuring mechanical or electronic games, games of skill such as billiards, bowling, table tennis, and the like; and
b. Drive-in theaters;
5. Recycling centers for the collection and temporary storage of materials; provided, that the storage and collection operation is conducted within an enclosed building having a maximum gross floor area of four thousand square feet. All recycling centers must be reviewed and approved prior to operation by the site plan review committee;
6. Child day care centers as provided in Chapter 16.65 LMC;
7. Urban agricultural uses as provided for and limited under Chapter 16.21 LMC.
B. Similar or related uses permitted as follows:
1. Distributive business establishments such as wholesaling and warehousing, including for example:
a. Mail order warehouses;
b. Automotive parts wholesalers;
2. Other, unlisted, similar or related uses, and criteria for determination of similarity or relatedness, as follows:
a. Uses similar to, or related to, those listed in subsection A of this section are permitted upon a finding of the enforcing officer and/or the site plan review committee that a particular unlisted use does not conflict with the intent of this chapter or the policies of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
b. The criteria for such finding of similarity shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) That the proposed use is appropriate in this district;
(2) That the development standards for permitted uses can be met by the proposed use;
(3) That the public need is served by the proposed use.
C. Conditional uses may be permitted as provided for in Chapter 16.66 LMC.
As a conditional use the city may consider administrative offices or other facilities of governmental institutions. However, before the city approves such use, it must be demonstrated the use is complementary to adjacent retail uses, enhances the retail environment and will not adversely impact the city’s economic development strategies for the zone.
D. On-site hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities as an accessory use to any activity generating hazardous waste and lawfully allowed in this zone; provided, that such facilities meet the state siting criteria adopted pursuant to the requirements of RCW 70.105.210. (Ord. 1539 §81, 2019; Ord. 1395 §4, 2012; Ord. 1380 §1, 2012; Ord. 1368 §29, 2011; Ord. 1220 §29, 2004; Ord. 1179 §9, 2002; Ord. 1066 §1, 1997; Ord. 967 §1, 1993; Ord. 927 §11, 1992; Ord. 835 §7, 1988; Ord. 691 §15, 1984; Ord. 647 §1, 1982; Ord. 583 §2.19(B)(1-3), 1980).
16.27.030 Prohibited uses.
Uses other than those identified or described in LMC 16.27.020 are prohibited, including but not limited to:
A. Auto wrecking yards including junk, scrap metal, and other material salvage operations with the exception of recycling centers as provided for in LMC 16.27.020;
B. Storage of explosives or materials of such character or in such quantities as to constitute a significantly greater hazard to persons, property or environmental health than that posed by materials commonly used or stored in the ordinary retail and service establishments permitted in this district. (Ord. 691 §16, 1984; Ord. 647 §2, 1982; Ord. 618 §6, 1981; Ord. 583 §2.19(B)(4), 1980).
16.27.040 Environmental performance standards.
A. It shall be the responsibility of the operator and/or the proprietor of any permitted use to provide such evidence and technical data as the enforcing officer may require to demonstrate that the use or activity is or will be in compliance with the environmental performance standards of Chapter 16.57 LMC. Failure of the enforcing officer to require such information shall not be construed as relieving the operator and/or the proprietor from compliance with the environmental performance standards of this title.
B. An environmental determination shall be made by the responsible official in accordance with the procedures contained in Chapter 16.84 LMC. (Ord. 1220 §30, 2004; Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(1), 1980).
16.27.050 Site area.
The minimum size of any parcel to be developed in this district shall be ten thousand square feet. (Ord. 1220 §31, 2004; Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(a), 1980).
16.27.060 Building location.
Location of buildings or structures on site, if adjacent parcels are in same zoning district or in another commercial or light industrial district, shall be as follows:
A. Setbacks from side property lines, fifteen feet;
B. Setbacks from rear property lines, fifteen feet;
C. Setbacks from front property lines fifteen feet.
Setbacks required by this section may be waived by the site plan review committee pursuant to the policies of this chapter. (Ord. 1539 §82, 2019; Ord. 1220 §32, 2004; Ord. 1130 §8, 2000; Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(b), 1980).
16.27.070 Adjacent areas.
Parcels or lots which share a common boundary with properties in a residential or open space/ institutional district shall provide a fifteen foot strip for landscaping along said common boundary in accordance with LMC 16.80.030. (Ord. 1220 §33, 2004; Ord. 1125 §1, 2000; Ord. 618 §7, 1981; Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(c), 1980).
16.27.080 Repealed
Repealed by Ord. 1130. (Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(d)(1), 1980).
16.27.090 Repealed
Repealed by Ord. 1496. (Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(d)(2), 1980).
16.27.100 Off-street parking.
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 16.72 LMC. (Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(d)(3), 1980).
16.27.110 Height.
Maximum height of buildings shall be eighty feet. Provided however, that structures adjacent to residential zoned properties that exceed forty feet in height shall be setback from such residential properties a minimum of ten feet of setback for each ten feet of building height. Provided further building height may exceed eighty feet through a conditional use permit process. Conditional use permit approval shall be based upon adequate justification for exceeding the height including, but not limited to, compatibility with surrounding uses within the zone, the incorporation of unique architectural features, and mitigation of adverse environmental impacts. (Ord. 1125 §2, 2000; Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(e), 1980).
16.27.120 Landscaping.
All requirements of Chapter 16.80 LMC shall be satisfied. (Ord. 1044 §§14-15, 1996; Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(f), 1980).
16.27.130 Stormwater runoff.
Stormwater management is required and shall comply with the current City of Lacey Stormwater Design Manual and shall be subject to the city’s review and approval, and shall, moreover, comply with Chapter 15.22 LMC pertaining to community facilities. (Ord. 1496 §72, 2016; Ord. 1380 §1, 2012; Ord. 583 §2.19(C)(2)(g), 1980).