Three (3) zoning districts are provided for office development. The office districts accommodate a range of suburban office space alternatives in keeping with the residential and local business atmosphere in the village.

The O-1 office/residential district is intended to provide for small offices in the older areas of the village adjacent to the central business areas where it is possible to retain the residential character and appearance of the village and at the same time promote limited office and service activity. The uses permitted are characterized by low traffic volume and limited outdoor advertising. The regulations of the O-1 district are designed to encourage the retention and renovation of sound existing structures and to ensure that the office uses remain compatible with the residential uses while permitting the area to maintain a distinctive residential character. Replacement structures in the O-1 district also must have a residential character and appearance. The O-1 district normally is small in size and located to provide a transition between residential areas and less restricted districts.

The O-2 limited office district is designed to provide for the general needs of business and professional offices and related business uses on small sites in scattered areas throughout the village. Bulk and height regulations encourage development that is architecturally consistent with smaller sites and compatible with nearby residential uses.

The O-3 office campus district is provided to accommodate the needs of business and professional offices and related business uses in a campus setting. These uses typically require a somewhat wider range of office space with a somewhat higher intensity of pedestrian and vehicular traffic movements. That increased intensity often can be accommodated better in a campus setting. Bulk and height regulations are consistent with a moderate amount of development. (Ord., 10-2004)

The following uses and no others are permitted as of right in the office districts indicated in the following table. In interpreting the use designations, reference should be made to the "Standard Industrial Classification Manual", the North American industry classification system, and chapter 15 of this title. SIC codes and NAICS codes, where applicable, are given in parentheses following each use listing.

 

(Ord., 10-2004; amd. Ord. 2009-07-640, 7-6-2009; Ord. 2019-11-337, 11-4-2019)

Except as specifically limited, the uses listed in the following table may be permitted in the office districts indicated subject to the issuance of a special use permit as provided in chapter 19 of this title. In interpreting the use designations, reference should be made to the "Standard Industrial Classification Manual", the North American industry classification system, and chapter 15 of this title. SIC codes and NAICS codes, where applicable, are given in parentheses following each use listing.

 

(Ord., 10-2004; amd. Ord. 2009-07-640, 7-6-2009; Ord. 2013-09-907, 9-3-2013; Ord. 2020-12-394, 12-21-2020; Ord. 2024-01-542, 1-15-2024)

Accessory structures and uses are permitted in all office districts subject to the provisions of section 9-9-1 of this title. (Ord., 10-2004)

Temporary uses are permitted in all office districts subject to the provisions of section 9-9-2 of this title. (Ord., 10-2004)

The parking and loading requirements applicable in all office districts are set forth in sections 9-10-1 and 9-10-2 of this title. (Ord., 10-2004)

The sign regulations applicable in all office districts are set forth in the Lake Zurich municipal code. (Ord., 10-2004)

Landscaping and lighting standards for uses and structures in the office districts are set forth in chapter 8 of this title. (Ord., 10-2004; amd. Ord. 2016-6-137, 6-6-2016)

   A.   Exterior Appearance Review: No construction or development requiring a building permit and affecting the exterior appearance of any structure shall be permitted in any office district except after approval of the building permit application pursuant to chapter 21 of this title.

   B.   O-1 Specialty Office District:

      1.   Conversion Of Existing Structures: No permitted or specially permitted use shall be established in the O-1 district by the conversion or rebuilding of any structure originally designed for a residential use, unless the existing residential character of the structure is retained. The quality of exterior design shall be equal on all facades of the structure, and the materials used shall be of the same or comparable quality on all facades of the structure.

      2.   New Structures: Any new structure constructed in the O-1 district shall be designed to be compatible in appearance with adjacent single-family residential structures. Flat roofs shall be prohibited. The quality of exterior design shall be equal on all facades of the structure, and the materials used shall be of the same or comparable quality on all facades of the structure.

      3.   Visual Compatibility: All conversions of existing structures or new construction shall be designed to be visually compatible in terms of the materials used, shapes, textures, colors, projections, proportions, and scale with the buildings, public ways, and places to which they are visually related.

   C.   Compliance With DR Downtown Redevelopment Overlay District: All construction and development on property within the DR downtown redevelopment overlay district (see section 9-7D-1 of this title) shall comply with all standards and requirements set forth in that overlay district. (Ord., 10-2004)

The building height, lot, yard, floor area ratio, and landscaped surface requirements applicable in the office districts are set forth in the following table:

 

   F.   Exceptions And Explanatory Notes:

      1.   Height Exception For Flagpoles: Flagpoles may extend to a height of 10 feet above the highest point of the roof of the principal structure.

      2.   Nonconforming Lots: See section 9-11-5 of this title for lot requirements with respect to legal nonconforming lots of record.

      3.   Minimum Lot Area: Water areas and land areas with natural resource restrictions including floodplains, wetlands, and low land conservancy soils are not included as part of the calculation of the required minimum lot area.

      4.   Visibility Across Corners: Any other provision of this zoning code to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing shall be erected, placed, planted, allowed to grow, or maintained on any corner lot in any office district in violation of the provisions of subsection 4-2-1-3C of the Lake Zurich municipal code.

      5.   Special Setbacks For Signs: Special setbacks established for some signs in the Lake Zurich municipal code shall control over the yards established in the table.

      6.   Specified Structures And Uses In Required Yards: The following structures and uses, except as limited below, may be located in any required yard:

         a.   Statuary, arbors, trellises, and ornamental light standards having a height of 8 feet or less; and

         b.   Eaves and gutters projecting not more than 3 feet from an exterior wall; and

         c.   Awnings, canopies, bay windows, and balconies projecting not more than 3 feet from an exterior wall for a distance not more than 1/3 of the length of such wall; provided, however, that in side yards in the O-1 district such projections shall not exceed 2 feet for a distance not more than 1/4 of the length of such wall; and

         d.   Chimneys, flues, belt courses, leaders, sills, pilasters, lintels, ornamental features, cornices, and the like projecting not more than 2 feet from an exterior wall; and

         e.   Outside stairways projecting from an exterior wall not more than 3 feet and having a height of 4 feet or less; and

         f.   Flagpoles; and

         g.   Terraces; and

         h.   Recreational devices accessory to daycare services; and

         i.   Fitness trails; and

         j.   Fences, walls, and hedges, subject to the limitations of the Lake Zurich municipal code; and

         k.   Driveways, subject to the limitations of subsection 9-10-1C of this title.

      7.   Side And Rear Yard Regulations For Accessory Structures And Uses In The O-1 District: Accessory parking areas and lots wherever located and other detached accessory structures and uses when located within the rear 25 percent of the lot shall not be required to maintain an interior side or rear yard or setback in the O-1 district in excess of 8 feet if such interior side or rear yard is contiguous to any property zoned in any residential district or in excess of 5 feet if no part of such interior side or rear yard is contiguous to any property zoned in any residential district; provided, however, that this regulation shall not apply to antennas and antenna support structures and provided further, however, that no accessory structure or use, or combination of such structures or uses, located within an otherwise required side or rear yard pursuant to this subsection F7 shall occupy more than 30 percent of such required yard.

      8.   Special Yards Abutting Ela Road And Cuba Road: Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, all yards along every lot line abutting Ela Road or Cuba Road shall be not less than 40 feet.

      9.   Special Yards Abutting Route 12 And Route 22: Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, all yards along every lot line abutting Route 12 or abutting Route 22 between Ela Road and the westernmost village limits shall be not less than 50 feet.

(Ord., 10-2004)